72 replies to this topic

[Feanor]

Never, as long as you don't pass the 1 sec limit. As long as there are spells with 0 casting time, AC lasts forever.

Oh my god !

[Rathwellin the Bard]

Well, Littiz I hope you are sitting down.

I tried out Aura Cleansing last night ? and I?m worried that it might be just a bit too powerful!

I used CLUA to give my Sorcerer the Robe of Vecna and the Amulet of Power.

Oh My %$#....

I really like AC ? but this may be just a bit much.

And Littiz's response

EDIT: BTW, after all of your *#$%$"!"£, I wouldn't change it back even with a gun pointed right at my head...
You wanted it, you keep it 

EDIT2: I didn't the consider the possibility of loads of Abi Dahlzim's though...
Ouch, no matter, Aura Cleansing needs 4 other picks before being pickable...

Feanor I believe that we have come full circle.

Oh my god !

I will say in defense of Aura Cleansing that.

1. It's finicky. If you move it's over ... and that easy to do in real combat. Short range spells like Skull Trap can easily cause you to inadvertently move. I've also found that sometimes even just turning around 2 or 3 times to hit different targets can cause AC to end.

2. The speed that lets you get off 41 spells can be it's own curse. What good do 41 spells do if your target went Ethereal or Improved Invisible just before AC goes off? AC isn't like IA where the opponents effect might wear off before the end of the duration.

But yeah ... it is powerful with the Robe, Amulet, & Speed Increase HLAs....

[Littiz]

The point is that the effect of Improved Alacrity is prone to abuses.
We didn't invent that.
I just tried to think about an alternative for Sorcs... sorcs and mages already were able to cast infinite spells through IA and a couple of items.

Items aside, now things work this way:

• Mages have a "long" version of the effect, which they can use immediately and even for combining high level spells. They can also use it with good freedom of movement and all, and they can adapt to an evolving strategic situation.
  
• Sorcs have only a "fast and furious" version, which they can use with many limitations, after many other HLAs picks and only for low level spells.

If you take items in consideration, abuses may appear, both parts

Edited by Littiz, 24 May 2004 - 08:50 AM.

[Feanor]

Littiz, Maestro, I have a suggestion about Aura Cleansing. After the effect is gone, sorcerer's spells should be disabled for 10 seconds. That's because it would be expected for the sorcerer to be exhausted after using such a powerful ability (I mean AC would drain him of his magical energy and he would normally need some time to recover). What are your opinions about this ?

2. The speed that lets you get off 41 spells can be it's own curse. What good do 41 spells do if your target went Ethereal or Improved Invisible just before AC goes off?

Cast True Seeing or use area effect spells (Incendiary Cloud, Abi Dalzim, Death Fog and so on).

[T.G.Maestro]

Littiz, Maestro, I have a suggestion about Aura Cleansing. After the effect is gone, sorcerer's spells should be disabled for 10 seconds. That's because it would be expected for the sorcerer to be exhausted after using such a powerful ability (I mean AC would drain him of his magical energy and he would normally need some time to recover).

I'd accept such a modification, but I'm sure many would hate it, since it would be another "HLA with panalties". But again, I like the idea of some drawback.
A possible option would be to significantly increase this ability's casting time.

[Littiz]

remember that it's an innate, not a spell.
If I'm not mistaken, those aren't affected by spellcasting speed decreases.

[T.G.Maestro]

Really? I'll have to test this.

[the bigg]

From what I remember, Minsc's berzeker ability can be interrupted by damage (spellcasting speed =1, maybe?), while the GrWhirlWind has a spellcasting speed of 0. The longest spellcasting I've heard of is the spell that is cast by the priestess during Weimeric's Ritual, it has a spellcasting speed of 60...

[T.G.Maestro]

From what I remember, Minsc's berzeker ability can be interrupted by damage (spellcasting speed =1, maybe?), while the GrWhirlWind has a spellcasting speed of 0.

A good example. Now I remember, innates can be interrupted the same way by damage. It depends on the casting time.

[Rathwellin the Bard]

TG ... you live!

I was starting to doubt!

Oh, and just to stay on topic Aura Cleansing should have a casting time roughly the same as IA IMO.

[T.G.Maestro]

TG ... you live!

Heh, had to deal with a few exams.. erm, actually I still have to deal with 3, but thats another story...

Oh, and just to stay on topic Aura Cleansing should have a casting time roughly the same as IA

Yes, it will have 9, as originally planned by Littiz.

[Littiz]

Ehm, I originally planned 1
Fast and furious, as opposed to long and careful (of the mage version).
Maybe 9 would be a bit too much, but I won't start an exhausting debate here

[Rathwellin the Bard]

Ehm, I originally planned 1
Fast and furious, as opposed to long and careful (of the mage version).
Maybe 9 would be a bit too much, but I won't start an exhausting debate here

To me it honestly doesn't matter that much.

As TGM pointed out with the Robe of Vecna and the Amulet of Power and 3 choices of Spellcasting Speed Increase that 9 casting time goes back to 1 anyway. It's only as the casting time creeps over 9 that it will really slow down for high level Sorcerers.