Can anyone explain what the different rank classifications of magic mean...in terms of general utilization? Is there a rough skill level in primary and/or secondary skills that determine when you can expect to successfully cast spells of each level? More specifically how many ranks before I can expect to be capable of casting minimal power advanced or esoteric spells?
GOLDENOAK
ISHARON
Re: New to Magic
06/30/2014 09:23 PM CDT
>>Goldenoak: Can anyone explain what the different rank classifications of magic mean...in terms of general utilization? Is there a rough skill level in primary and/or secondary skills that determine when you can expect to successfully cast spells of each level? More specifically how many ranks before I can expect to be capable of casting minimal power advanced or esoteric spells?
The amount of mana that you channel into the spell determines the power and/or duration of the spell, modified by your SPELL STANCE. Each spell has a minimum amount of mana needed (minimum prep) and a maximum amount of mana that it can possibly use (maximum prep). Casting a spell with maximum mana is often referred to as "capping" the spell.
The relevant magic skill (augmentation, debilitation, targeted magic, utility, and/or warding) determines how much mana you can channel into a spell. Primary magic (or sorcery if you are casting a spell designed to use a different type of mana) acts as a "mastery" skill that provides a boost (if higher than the other magic skill) and a cap on max effective skill (if lower than the other magic skill).
The introductory, basic, advanced, and esoteric designations provide a very rough estimate of the skill range that a spell covers. There is very little difference between introductory and basic: they start at about 1 rank and take 400-600 ranks to cap. Advanced spells start at 70-100 ranks and take approximately 800 ranks to cap. Esoteric starts at 250 ranks and caps at up to 1,000 ranks.
Far more useful is the specific min and max skill ratings that you can see by DISCERNing a spell, asking a guildleader about the spell, or checking Elanthipedia. For example, DISCERN LAY WARD tells you:
>>This is a battle spell, intended to be prepared quickly and cast on a single target while in battle. It can be cast without a target. It requires a minimum of six mana streams, and can expand to a maximum of one hundred ten mana streams woven into it. To begin to be able to cast this spell, you will need to reach the rank of a lowly novice. By the time you have mastered this spell, you will be ranked as a true authority in your abilities as a caster. It requires the Warding skill to cast effectively. Before you can learn this spell, you must know one of Gauge Flow, Ease Burden or Strange Arrow. It will also cost one spell slot.
Those descriptions refer to the "exp RP" values. Lowly novice means 0-9 ranks. True authority means 580-599 ranks. So you should be able to cast the spell with the minimum 6 mana right out the box, but you won't be able to "cap" the spell at 110 mana until you have 580-599 ranks in warding.
Having the relevant "mastery" magical feats allows you to channel more mana into a spell than your skill would normally allow.
Additionally, spells are easier to cast when you wait for a full prep ("You feel fully prepared to cast your spell") before casting.
Lastly, attunement governs your ability to detect and manipulate (HARNESS) mana. Having more attunement ranks makes spells less taxing on your attunement. The magical feats of deep attunement, efficient harnessing, and efficient channeling (for cyclic spells) also help you manage attunement.
The arcana skill governs your ability to use magical devices such as cambrinth, the substance that stores magical energy for later use in spells. Larger cambrinth requires more arcana skill to use than smaller cambrinth. Using cambrinth is slower than straight harnessing, but it is easier on your attunement.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall rank!
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The amount of mana that you channel into the spell determines the power and/or duration of the spell, modified by your SPELL STANCE. Each spell has a minimum amount of mana needed (minimum prep) and a maximum amount of mana that it can possibly use (maximum prep). Casting a spell with maximum mana is often referred to as "capping" the spell.
The relevant magic skill (augmentation, debilitation, targeted magic, utility, and/or warding) determines how much mana you can channel into a spell. Primary magic (or sorcery if you are casting a spell designed to use a different type of mana) acts as a "mastery" skill that provides a boost (if higher than the other magic skill) and a cap on max effective skill (if lower than the other magic skill).
The introductory, basic, advanced, and esoteric designations provide a very rough estimate of the skill range that a spell covers. There is very little difference between introductory and basic: they start at about 1 rank and take 400-600 ranks to cap. Advanced spells start at 70-100 ranks and take approximately 800 ranks to cap. Esoteric starts at 250 ranks and caps at up to 1,000 ranks.
Far more useful is the specific min and max skill ratings that you can see by DISCERNing a spell, asking a guildleader about the spell, or checking Elanthipedia. For example, DISCERN LAY WARD tells you:
>>This is a battle spell, intended to be prepared quickly and cast on a single target while in battle. It can be cast without a target. It requires a minimum of six mana streams, and can expand to a maximum of one hundred ten mana streams woven into it. To begin to be able to cast this spell, you will need to reach the rank of a lowly novice. By the time you have mastered this spell, you will be ranked as a true authority in your abilities as a caster. It requires the Warding skill to cast effectively. Before you can learn this spell, you must know one of Gauge Flow, Ease Burden or Strange Arrow. It will also cost one spell slot.
Those descriptions refer to the "exp RP" values. Lowly novice means 0-9 ranks. True authority means 580-599 ranks. So you should be able to cast the spell with the minimum 6 mana right out the box, but you won't be able to "cap" the spell at 110 mana until you have 580-599 ranks in warding.
Having the relevant "mastery" magical feats allows you to channel more mana into a spell than your skill would normally allow.
Additionally, spells are easier to cast when you wait for a full prep ("You feel fully prepared to cast your spell") before casting.
Lastly, attunement governs your ability to detect and manipulate (HARNESS) mana. Having more attunement ranks makes spells less taxing on your attunement. The magical feats of deep attunement, efficient harnessing, and efficient channeling (for cyclic spells) also help you manage attunement.
The arcana skill governs your ability to use magical devices such as cambrinth, the substance that stores magical energy for later use in spells. Larger cambrinth requires more arcana skill to use than smaller cambrinth. Using cambrinth is slower than straight harnessing, but it is easier on your attunement.
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall rank!
Vote for DragonRealms on Top MUD Sites: http://www.topmudsites.com/vote-DragonRealms.html
FLINT-TIPPED
Re: New to Magic
06/30/2014 09:31 PM CDT
>Can anyone explain what the different rank classifications of magic mean...in terms of general utilization? Is there a rough skill level in primary and/or secondary skills that determine when you can expect to successfully cast spells of each level? More specifically how many ranks before I can expect to be capable of casting minimal power advanced or esoteric spells?
The classification system is just an approximation of relative difficulty in most cases. Spells within a specific classification can vary widely as far as minimum ranks required, skill required to cap a spell and minimum and maximum preparation values. Esoteric spell A does not necessarily have the same skill requirements to cast as esoteric spell B.
The Discern verb <Discern spellname> theoretically will tell you how many ranks you need to cast a spell at minimum prep and how many ranks you need to cap a spell, however it's currently gated by skill so you probably don't have the skills to get an accurate full discern. If you aren't seeing the information you want, ask a higher skilled mage to discern a spell for you and they'll be able to tell you how much skill you'll need. You can sometimes skew this number by adjusting potency via spell stances. Spell Stance Help explains.
In some cases you can find the discern information on elanthipedia as well. (as in the example below)
https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Clear_Vision
Discern uses rp style descriptions of skill rather than numerical ranks so you'll need to refer to Experience RP Help to see what the descriptors equate to in actual numerical ranks.
Vote:
http://www.topmudsites.com/vote-DragonRealms.html
The classification system is just an approximation of relative difficulty in most cases. Spells within a specific classification can vary widely as far as minimum ranks required, skill required to cap a spell and minimum and maximum preparation values. Esoteric spell A does not necessarily have the same skill requirements to cast as esoteric spell B.
The Discern verb <Discern spellname> theoretically will tell you how many ranks you need to cast a spell at minimum prep and how many ranks you need to cap a spell, however it's currently gated by skill so you probably don't have the skills to get an accurate full discern. If you aren't seeing the information you want, ask a higher skilled mage to discern a spell for you and they'll be able to tell you how much skill you'll need. You can sometimes skew this number by adjusting potency via spell stances. Spell Stance Help explains.
In some cases you can find the discern information on elanthipedia as well. (as in the example below)
https://elanthipedia.play.net/mediawiki/index.php/Clear_Vision
Discern uses rp style descriptions of skill rather than numerical ranks so you'll need to refer to Experience RP Help to see what the descriptors equate to in actual numerical ranks.
Vote:
http://www.topmudsites.com/vote-DragonRealms.html
