Question about increasing magic skills

[Tennessee Ernie Ford]

I've done a lot of experimenting with this (running a solo character, it really matters how you get skill points) and have come to some definite conclusions. The first two lists are things that I'm completely convinced of b/c of testing (they aren't just theories; I've tried 'em out).

• Matters.
• Combat matters. Casting spells in combat makes it significantly more likely to increase skills (there does need to be an enemy, though).
• Spell difficulty matters. Casting 5 Lights is not as effective as one Hypnotic Lure.
• Spell choice matters. For some reason, Sonic Boom (nearly) always adds skill points.
• Mixing matters. An Alchemist can increase the alchemy skill by mixing potions, more the first time. Also a good way to increase Artifacts skills for the party.
• Prime stat matters. You can increase realm spells faster if you have high INT. Wizardry also likes INT, Divinity likes PIE, Alc likes DEX, and Psionics wants SEN.

• Does not matter.
• Need doesn't matter. Casting Heal on PCs w/full HPs works just as well as casting on the wounded.
• Success doesn't matter. Fizzles and backfires seem just as effective as success.
• Character level doesn't matter, much. An L20 Mage with 90 in Wiz and 100 in Fire can still up the Wiz skill by casting Light (of course, not as much as a lower level character with lower skills).

• Not sure about...
• Not sure about 7 L1 vs. 1 L7.It's certainly faster to cast 1 L7 spell, but I'm not convinced it matters.
• Character level might matterI don't know if an L10 Mage casting Light ups Fire/Wiz as fast (or faster) than an L1 or L20 Mage. I don't how much PC level vs. Class level affect this either.
• Known spells might matter. Knowing more or fewer spells might also have an effect...but it's hard to separate this from the advantage of having the extra SPs you get with knowing more spells.

[ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: Tennessee Ernie Ford ]

[Brak]

To Vesselle,

What we are talking about with the blue is this: Cast a spell, then act like you are going to cast again, go back and look at the spell name for the spell you just cast...it is blue before you even select it to be cast. Now I read somewhere that this blue status before casting it is an indication that it was cast too recently for you gain skill by casting it again. But I don't think this to be true. I have noticed lately I have cast spells that were blue before I slected them and still was able to gain skill points by casting it. Perhaps since turning a spell blue when you select it is the games way of saying "I am selected so you can cast me now" if it is already blue before you select it that is the game saying "since this was the last spell you cast it is preselected for your use from the re-cast last spell icon". Just a theory.

Does anyone know what the little diamonds and squares and circles mean that are next to some of my spell names in the casting screen?

[Serops]

The various symbols refer to the target of the spell.

square = one group
triangle = anyone in the cone
circle = anyone w/in the radius
diamond = a single target

[ 01-21-2002: Message edited by: Serops ]

[DraconisRex]

quote:

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Originally posted by catzenpewters:
I thought a spell had to be necessary in order to help up you a level. For example, light couldn't have already been cast, and heal would have to be used on someone who actually needed healing. Am I wrong?

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Yep. Sorry. Just cast'em bay-bee. Woohoo.

Actually, I do have an observation that may or may not be correct. It appears that you either have a small (and decreasing at higher level) probability each time you cast the spell, OR you're working on some cumulative probablity to advance in power. I'm not sure.