Re: LEGENDS - Spells

From: griffith@xcf.Berkeley.EDU (Jim "The Big Dweeb" Griffith)

Date: Tue, 30 Mar 1993 23:44:51 +0000

In article <Yfi6uTe00WBNM2rJ8d@andrew.cmu.edu> Theodore Wadsworth <tw1t+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>I have noticed that there are very few 1st and 2nd level battle and duel
>spells.  Are there any 2nd level worth learning or should I try to
>research 3rd level spells. i.e. => What are the best battle and duel
>spell (by level)?

In duels, it should be straightforward - each spell says exactly what it does,
and you're typically attacking a single-monster party (a lair).  So I'll
concentrate on battles.

For the most part, you want to think in terms of slots.  What is going to allow
you to kill the most CF at any given moment?  The more you kill, the better
your chances of making them break.  Here are some examples:

1) a battle spell which does 20x arcane rating
	2) a battle spell which gives your slot +20%AF for all rounds
	3) a battle spell which gives the opposing slot -20%AF for all rounds
	4) a battle spell which gives you +50% for the charge round.

Assume for the sake of argument that you are a 30th level arcanist.  Your
slot is

1) 300 human rangers broadsword plate shield TRL 8 CF 39, DF 16, AF 72
		INV/DAM 0/0, MR/SAR 2/2, SA 0

Assume for the sake of argument that your opponent's slot is:

1) 150 netherworld human bow TRL 10 CF 55, DF 5, AF 72, MAF 124
		INV/DAM 2/2, MR/SAR 2/1, SA 2 each (300 total)

Assume identical tactics, in a legion vs. legion battle.

In case 1, you will do 20*30/2/55 = 5 soldiers dead in the magic round.
In case 2, you will do an additional 300*39*.2/2/5/55 = 4 soldiers dead in the
first round, decreasing as your troops get killed
In case 3, they will do 150*55*.2/16/39 = 2 less of your soldiers killed per
round, decresing as his troops get killed.
In case 4, you will do an additional 300*39*.5/2/5/55 = 10 soldiers killed
in the charge round.

The only one which is clearly inferior is #1 - if your army doesn't break in
the special attack or magical attack rounds, you're better off with case 4.

The answer here is that no case is clearly superior.  In each case, you
should figure out the impact like I did above, and determine which result is
the one you really want.  If you think you can make the enemy break by doing
a lot of damage, you should cast the charge round spell.  If not, then if you
have a lot of soldiers, then you want to increase your own slot's strength.
If your opponent's slot is larger, then you want to decrease his strength.
Straight damage is only really valuable when you know the damage is going to
kill an entire slot.  Each situation calls for different measures, and it's
best if you have lots of options.  In RTI5, my slot leaders all have Repel
Undead III (-60% to opposing undead slot), Shadowstorm (-20% to opposing
slot), Summon Fog (+50% to enemy slot in charge round), and Illusionary
Darkness (+30% to your slot).  I just set spells based on what a particular
situation calls for.

Jim

--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Griffith  /--OO--\     | Two great powers are on our side: the power of
 ...!ucbvax!scam!griffith  | Love and the power of Arithmetic.  These two are
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References

LEGENDS - Spells
Theodore Wadsworth <tw1t+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Tue, 30 Mar 1993 16:00:31 +0000