Tiny Question on Storms -- and thanks
 

First of all, thanks a lot for all the replies and help I have received from the people on this site, the majority of which have been very friendly and tolerating to my newcomerness and the questions I have been posing.

Some kind soul suggested to try Man as a beginner because of the (relatively) easy way to learn magic, so I am, and with some success -- thanks! I am concentrating on Nature and Air (of course) and going alteration and then conjuration, and maybe I will try construction too.

There is this one spell Thunder Strike I think it is called -- can only cast during a storm. And someone wrote on some post I can no longer find that there is an item you can make which always summons a storm on the battlefield -- does anyone know which item that is and what is needed to make it? Cant find that....

(Subquestion: would it also perhaps be a bad idea to do this with Man, however, because of the archers who will have a tough time in storms?)

thanks

Re: Tiny Question on Storms -- and thanks
 

Staff of Storms, 2-hd weapon, requires Air-3 and thus 20 gems, was Cons-6 (but may be Cons-4 post-patch? Need to check). Causes storms and can be used to cast lightning bolts. The 2-hd unique sword Tempest also causes this, and permits a Thunderstrike cast per action, but is harder to forge being unique and air-4.
Yes, it'll hurt precision, although you might be able to compensate somewhat with Wind Guide. However, if you can get lightning immunity, something like Wrathful Skies is potentially rather deadly.

Re: Tiny Question on Storms -- and thanks
 

By the time you have a staff of storms, you won't be relying so heavily on longbows anyways - your initial expansion will probably be over by then. A small group set to guard commander might be able to sneak attack a province - Thunder Ward, Wrathful Skies, beat feet out of there. OTOH, man's mages only come from the capital, so they're rather at a premium (i.e. you probably won't want to try this with them).