72 replies to this topic

[Kish]

It would be...strange, certainly. But I see no real room for comparison between resolution and real-time vs. turn-based.

[Kish]

They're both things the player chooses for his or her convenience, and shouldn't impact on the decisions characters take ingame.

Shouldn't impact? Choosing real-time or turn-based is guaranteed to make a massive difference to the difficulty of every combat. Whether you can change weapons beyond those in the quick slots, or use potions/scrolls/wands beyond those in the quick slots--and, even without Aura Cleansing, even without Improved Alacrity for that matter, whether you can cast as many spells as your character is capable of casting. It's not a case of "without Aura Cleansing, I can play real-time and never waste a spellcasting opportunity," and unless you contend that it is, obviously real time/turn based impacts on the decisions characters take ingame.

Real time vs. turn-based is better compared to the difficulty slider than to resolution.

[jester]

But there's a distinction between playing style ingame and out-of-game.

If there was a spell that was only available to players who played at 800x600 resolution, that would be pretty rubbish, no?

That would be a case of mixing ingame with game surrounding variables, just like not allowing Mac users to use any scrolls or something. Just like Greater Cleave IIRC from IWD2 some might not use this to its full potential and some might see it as a complete waste. I mean it goes without saying that those who do find it appropriate will enjoy it very much.

[Rathwellin the Bard]

Just IMO,

1. It?s trivially easy to turn pause on spell cast off and on in game & works regardless of hardware unlike resolution.

2. The fact that the Sorcerer no longer has Dragons Breath, Comet, and IA coming out of his 9th level spells per day lets him cast a *lot* of timestops which is functionally nearly equivalent to TS + IA.

3. If you don?t like this HLA or it doesn?t fit your playstyle, there are plenty of other ones to choose from.

[Caedwyr]

Yep, aura cleansing requires autopause to be used effectively, and even if the autopause is used one movement by the character wastes the ability. I'd argue for a more effective ability that is less than IA, but still useful. 1 round rather than 1 second duration for example. The argument that the Sorcerer can now chain large numbers of Azi-Dhazim's Horrid Wiltings off can be countered by noticing that ADHW does not bypass magic resistance like Dragon Breath does, which is something the sorcerer has lost. Also, with the removal of the Mage HLAs, the Sorcerer doesn't have any new HLAs that are a safe to use heavy damage spell. This is ok, but really the Aura Cleansing ability doesn't give much more than Improved Alacrity did, if the later was used with the Autopause feature.

[Jinnai]

WEll this is myself speaking but as espically if you aren't playing solo, autopause isn't bad. In fact I'd argue everyone should use it (atleast if you do more than solo, but even then) because you are only 1 person and your controlling multuple people...you can't expect to beat the cpu in speed.

The only other way would be a good AI.

[Baltrek]

The only other way would be a good AI.

Or hellacious scripts!

The argument that the Sorcerer can now chain large numbers of Azi-Dhazim's Horrid Wiltings off can be countered by noticing that ADHW does not bypass magic resistance like Dragon Breath does, which is something the sorcerer has lost.

Of course, you could lead off with a couple G.M.'s or lower resistances, too.

[Caedwyr]

True, but Dragon's Breath only requires the Greater Malison, which can be chained into the IA more easily/just as easily as it can be put into the Aura Cleansing.

[Littiz]

As Kish says.
If you want to simulate a superhuman speed, you can't expect the player to provide it, you must use the needed tools.

I see your point, don't misunderstand me.
But think about spells like Spell Immunity, for example. You get the menu, but if you click somewhere else in the wrong moment, you lose the spells.
Yet, I assume the character wouldn't ever do something as "clicking somewhere else"....
Alas, we have to deal with the interface to interact with that world.

Again, I see your point, but frankly it doesn't seem a terrible issue to me.
Consider the following points:
-We needed to address balance
-No other effects are available (like something for the proposed 2 Spells/round limit)
-We had no more room for portrait icons

This ability solves these problems perfectly, it is a most fortunate idea, imho.
To remove it, I'd need a proper alternative, first.
If someone can provide it, I will listen.

EDIT: before finding out about the autopause, I used only the spacebar.
You can use it with Aura Cleansing instead of the autopause, and I'm sure you'll waste it in the same proportion you'd do with IA.
A second in game is long to pass, during combat. As long as you pause the game with the icon still active, you can cast a new spell (AC is only used with spells that reached 0 casting time)

[Feanor]

In fact, how long Aura Cleansing lasts ? Using Autopause, I was able to cast 5 Mordekainen's Swords, one Protection from Magical Weapons, 7 Lower Resistance, 7 Greater Malison, 7 Melf's Acid Arrow, 7 Flame Arrow, 7 Magic Missile. So, 41 spells cast. And I ended not because Aura Cleansing effects ended, but because I was running out of spells...

[T.G.Maestro]

In fact, how long Aura Cleansing lasts ?

1 second.

Using Autopause

Try it by avoiding the autopause, it is a bit challanging that way. You can reach the same results with some skills however.

[Feanor]

1 second.

41 (!!!) spells cast in a second ?

Try it by avoiding the autopause, it is a bit challanging that way. You can reach the same results with some skills however. 

I did and that's why I thought Aura Cleansing does not work.

[T.G.Maestro]

41 (!!!) spells cast in a second ?

Yep, see the description. That amount is a VERY extreme valua however - I'm sure you had the Robe of Vecna and/or the Amulet of Power AND a few points in Spellcasting Speed Increase. Remove one of these bonuses, and the result will be much more moderate.

I did and that's why I thought Aura Cleansing does not work

As I said, it requires some skills in fast-clicking .

[Feanor]

Yep, see the description. That amount is a VERY extreme valua however - I'm sure you had the Robe of Vecna and/or the Amulet of Power AND a few points in Spellcasting Speed Increase.

Yeap, I had Robe of Vecna and 3 points in Spellcasting Speed Increase. With this, even the Ascension final was no match for me...

[T.G.Maestro]

Indeed, it is a massive weapon in the hands of a sorcerer, it can easily turn a lost battle to victory, if used at the right moment.

Do you feel it unbalanced Feanor? While it is powerful, I'd like to add that you can reach a very similar state with a mage and using Improved Alacrity in combination with Robe of Vecna and the A.of Power - and that effect lasts 12 seconds...
And if I remember correctly, you can use AC once/day only, right? And it has at least 3 prerequisites?

[Feanor]

And if I remember correctly, you can use AC once/day only, right? And it has at least 3 prerequisites?

That's right. And it indeed requires 3 prerequisites, but to make AC very effective you must pick Spell Casting Speed Increase 3 times. But what troubled me was that there seems to be no limit about how many spells you can cast. I mean I cast 41 spells and I ended not because AC was over, but because I had no more spells to cast (and the game started to run a little bit slower too). By the way, if I had had more spells, when it would have stopped ?

[T.G.Maestro]

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.