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Old 11-09-2015, 03:56 PM   #1
Bibiribobiri
 
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Default Using high cost spells

Hi all,

I was wandering how can mages effectively handle high cost spells (like, for instance great healing) that they do not have enough FP to use.

The “best” approach I found was to use manastone + recover energy.
Assuming manastone skill = 15 (95.4%) and recover energy = 15 (1 FP at every 5 minutes of rest), you could create one 10 point manastone in 4h10min (with 62.4% probability). So, with a few days to prepare, a HT11 mage could create a lot of 10 points mana stone and cast several great healing spells in a day (if he could rest between fights). Also, he could create a lot of smaller manastones (5 points, for instance) and cast several costly spells (like great haste) in a single fight.

Is it that easy or am I missing something here?
Is there a limitation that I am not foreseeing here?
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Old 11-09-2015, 05:12 PM   #2
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Default Re: Using high cost spells

There is also high skill, ritual casting, and Energy Reserve... but no, outside of big Powerstones and Manastones, there is no general way to whip out the high cost spells quickly.


For slowly, you use Ritual Casting.


But generally most wizards avoid the high cost spells for day-to-day usage. They'd use Minor and Major Healing for instance and pull out Greater Healing for "If the Knight isn't back on his feet at full strength we are all going to die" moments. Or use ritual casting when in a safe place where they can take their time.
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Old 11-09-2015, 05:27 PM   #3
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Default Re: Using high cost spells

Note that great healing is not that expensive for the type of spell it is.

A typical "fairly low point" mage would likely have about 14 FP and if they wanted to use a spell like that they likely would have skill 15+ for -1 cost.

Thus that would result in a required 5-6 point power stone that is only $595/790.

If you allow energy reserves and/or higher point values the mage can then cast that spell likely without power stones or with a minimal powerstone.

Note that mages always want more wealth... as more wealth is more money for power stones..
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Old 11-10-2015, 03:30 AM   #4
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Default Re: Using high cost spells

High Skill > You'll cast faster and cheaper and even be able to maintain spells without cost.

ER or FP > Higher pool to be able to fuel more/higher cost spells in combat.

Pauts > Expendable mana "potions"

Gems/Manastones > Keep in mind when you create one they are _depleted_ so they can't be used right away AND when you have more than 1 gem around they recharge dividing the mana* between all them in the same proportion, so it'll take ages to recharge a lot of small gems (and thus why mages normally sought after big capacity gems).

* 1 Gemstone recharges 1 mana/day
2 Gemstones will recharge 1 mana for each only after 2 days
4 Gemstones will recharge 1 mana for each only after 4 days...

And I can't remember if it was a house rule of my games or RAW, but afaik you can only tap a single source each time for a spell...so you can only use mana from a single Gemstone for a spell casting what makes multiple small Gemstones kinda useless for big expenditure spells.
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Old 11-10-2015, 03:44 AM   #5
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Default Re: Using high cost spells

Quote:
Originally Posted by T.K. View Post
High Skill > You'll cast faster and cheaper and even be able to maintain spells without cost.

ER or FP > Higher pool to be able to fuel more/higher cost spells in combat.

Pauts > Expendable mana "potions"

Gems/Manastones > Keep in mind when you create one they are _depleted_ so they can't be used right away AND when you have more than 1 gem around they recharge dividing the mana* between all them in the same proportion, so it'll take ages to recharge a lot of small gems (and thus why mages normally sought after big capacity gems).

* 1 Gemstone recharges 1 mana/day
2 Gemstones will recharge 1 mana for each only after 2 days
4 Gemstones will recharge 1 mana for each only after 4 days...

And I can't remember if it was a house rule of my games or RAW, but afaik you can only tap a single source each time for a spell...so you can only use mana from a single Gemstone for a spell casting what makes multiple small Gemstones kinda useless for big expenditure spells.
No, it's RAW you can only use a single Powerstone at a time, and as for recharging, if you have a 6 foot staff you can put a Powerstone at each end and they won't interfere with each other
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Old 11-10-2015, 05:06 AM   #6
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Default Re: Using high cost spells

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Originally Posted by scc View Post
No, it's RAW you can only use a single Powerstone at a time, and as for recharging, if you have a 6 foot staff you can put a Powerstone at each end and they won't interfere with each other
Indeed, this seems to be a good basic combination commonly used in out games, where the two most powerful powerstones you have are on the staff.

mages then tend to try to find other methods of carry-along racks for other power stones..
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Old 11-10-2015, 05:40 AM   #7
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Default Re: Using high cost spells

Quote:
Originally Posted by scc View Post
No, it's RAW you can only use a single Powerstone at a time, and as for recharging, if you have a 6 foot staff you can put a Powerstone at each end and they won't interfere with each other
Well, yeah... but It's beyond unpractical in most cases.

Imagine going down a dungeon tunnel holding a huge 6feet+ staff with your precious gems strapped around its edges...

Or your group getting into your tavern room and seeing your improvised ceiling clothesline with some gems hanging around it...


Also...I might be an evil GM, but I'd certainly row for breakage of them all the time when they're strapped like this instead of enchanted as part of a magical staff of sorts
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Old 11-10-2015, 05:47 AM   #8
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Default Re: Using high cost spells

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Originally Posted by T.K. View Post
Well, yeah... but It's beyond unpractical in most cases.

Imagine going down a dungeon tunnel holding a huge 6feet+ staff with your precious gems strapped around its edges...
You mostly want that +2 yards reach from staff spell in any case.. and they tend not to be "strapped" on, but instead mounted properly.

Quote:
Or your group getting into your tavern room and seeing your improvised ceiling clothesline with some gems hanging around it...
That is expected behavior. Though it does not tend to be improvised. It is the light weight rack that is held up by apportation that tends to get the stares...

Quote:
Also...I might be a evil GM, but I'd certainly row for breakage of them all the time when they're strapped like this instead of enchanted as part of a magical staff of sorts
Do you roll breakage for peoples belts? scabbards? hats? boots? and other stuff strapped on people that are not enchanted as part of them?
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Old 11-10-2015, 05:47 AM   #9
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Default Re: Using high cost spells

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Originally Posted by weby View Post
mages then tend to try to find other methods of carry-along racks for other power stones..
A 24 foot long string dragged along could hold three more low-power stones for charging while traveling. Porters would be better.
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Old 11-10-2015, 05:58 AM   #10
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Default Re: Using high cost spells

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Originally Posted by Culture20 View Post
A 24 foot long string dragged along could hold three more low-power stones for charging while traveling. Porters would be better.
Note that create servant spell only costs 1 FP to maintain and is thus free to maintain at base skill 15+
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