A new idea for magic scales

[Jasper]

I like this idea, although I agree with Chris the random paths should be restricted to what one already has. Drain doesn't need any extra penalty, as it already increasingly decrements.

[Jasper]

A bit off topic, but another thought is that magic/drain could also effect the arrival of heroes.

[Saber Cherry]

Originally posted by Argitoth:
Magic -1 -2 and -3 could give a 5, 10, 15% chance of a mage losing a level in a random path.

No way! What would be worse than buying a level-1 mage and randomly getting no magic? Not good.

[Keir Maxwell]

I like Chris's idea - quirky, useful but hard to exploit.

I agree that priests should be kept seperate. Holy/unholy powers are not part of my view of what a magic scale affects.

Cheers

Keir

[Argitoth]

Originally posted by Saber Cherry:

quote:

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Originally posted by Argitoth:
Magic -1 -2 and -3 could give a 5, 10, 15% chance of a mage losing a level in a random path.

No way! What would be worse than buying a level-1 mage and randomly getting no magic? Not good.

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Dood, ok... I'm just saying stuff. All I care about is that holy/unholy paths have no chance of getting a +1 bonus. And once again, I am not for or against the idea.

[Humer]

Originally posted by Chris Byler:
Whenever any mage is recruited (not summoned) in any province with a magic scale there is a chance (I propose 5% per level of magic) that he (or she, as appropriate) will be talented. A talented mage gets +1 power to one randomly selected path of magic he already has (after taking random picks into account). One-path mages (like Anathemants) will get a predictable bonus, and many-path mages (like Masters of Five Elements) will get an unpredictable bonus.

Nice idea! Magic scales are not on top of my list when designing a nation, this would certainly make it worth investing.

Suggestion: New ability "Talented: [path]", where [path] is one of the static paths of the nation. Probability should be somewhat high to make it appealing enough, somewhere in the region of 10%/scale (too much?). Effect would be the like the talented mage is using a appropriate gem for the casting. They could be scripted to cast higher-power spells and additional gems (if used) go toward fatigue reduction. They still couldn't cast [path]+2 spells. Small implementation (I hope), minor thing, major lure.

- Humer

[Nagot Gick Fel]

Originally posted by Chris Byler:
I've never been happy with magic scales only helping research and not helping actual use of magic.

Well, a magic scale does help the use of magic on the battlefield, as it reduces fatigue drastically.

Talent would change that

I have another idea. Why not give mages a penetration bonus when it comes to casting resistable rituals - like Mind Hunt - just like their target's MR is modified by the magic/drain scale of the province he's in?

Magic +3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 Drain (origin)
Bonus +1 +1 0 0 0 -1 -1

A magic scale could even help penetrating magical domes:

Magic +3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 Drain (origin)
Bonus +5% +5% 0% 0% 0% -5% -5%