Experience problem?

[Loren]

I was looking in the hall of fame. The #1 and #2 in number of kills--with thousands of kills each--have about 50 experience!

Neither unit has ever been in combat, they have been casting nukes. Why does Flames from the Sky give me kills but not experience from those kills?

[Endoperez]

Experience increases attack, defense, precision, and eventually strength, encumberance and hp. Casting Flames from the Sky isn't THAT different from casting, say, Augury, and shouldn't increase these abilities. Research ability doesn't increase either, but that's unfortunate side-effect of all the experience bonuses being tied together.

[Morkilus]

God forbid a use-based skill leveling system like in Oblivion.

[Zeldor]

Endoperez:

Experience increases research ability.

[Endoperez]

I know that. I meant that while it would be nice that casting spells increased research ability, I would rather that things stay as they are; that is, no experience from spellcasting even if it means there are no research bonuses for mages with hundreds of kills.

[Zeldor]

I don't think that casting Murdering Winter many times makes a mage more intelligent and wise http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Ironhawk]

Why not? Casting a spell is a skill, just as fighting is a skill.

[Loren]

Ironhawk said:
Why not? Casting a spell is a skill, just as fighting is a skill.



Exactly. Mages cast, fighters swing swords.

The only problem I see is that the bonuses are unrelated to what you're doing.

The sword-swinger should get tougher, the mage should improve his magic. That should be easy enough to define by looking at the balance of magic vs might in the character getting the increase. Have two or three tables of effects instead of just one.

[NTJedi]

Loren said:
I was looking in the hall of fame. The #1 and #2 in number of kills--with thousands of kills each--have about 50 experience!

Neither unit has ever been in combat, they have been casting nukes. Why does Flames from the Sky give me kills but not experience from those kills?



Flames from the Sky is a spell which brings no danger the mage unless a fire/ice dome exists. There's no reason for a mage to suddenly become as experienced as a veteran mage which has spent all his time fighting in battles.

___ Look at it from this angle: ___
Would a diplomatic official suddenly gain experience after pressing a nuke button which killed 200,000 individuals? Obviously a veteran soldier would remain more experienced.

[konming]

However these high level overland spells are very difficult to cast and involves very complex procedure and difficult rituals as well as taking a full month to complete. I think a magician should learn a lot from casting these spells. These are not the spells you can cast in just 60 seconds, after all.

[NTJedi]

konming said:
These are not the spells you can cast in just 60 seconds, after all.



I don't see anything within the spell descriptions saying some spells take longer to cast than others. You are making assumptions.
Just because a higher level mage is required to cast a spell doesn't mean it takes longer.

[Edi]

NTJedi said:

konming said:
These are not the spells you can cast in just 60 seconds, after all.



I don't see anything within the spell descriptions saying some spells take longer to cast than others. You are making assumptions.
Just because a higher level mage is required to cast a spell doesn't mean it takes longer.


IIRC according to the manual, ritual spells take too long to cast to be usable in combat and there have been references to requiring most of the month (given that 1 turn = 1 month), so konmig's premises are actually more solid than yours in this case.

[Endoperez]

But by that logic, summoning Elemental Royalty should give experience, or casting any rituals at all.

"You cast Dome of Air! Congratulations!You have gained a level! You have gained a level! You get +2 attack, defence, precision and morale!"

[Arralen]

1. go to store
2. buy lantern
3. level Angband/Mordor by casting "Flames from the Sky" seven times


.. oops, wrong game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[NTJedi]

Edi said:

NTJedi said:

konming said:
These are not the spells you can cast in just 60 seconds, after all.



I don't see anything within the spell descriptions saying some spells take longer to cast than others. You are making assumptions.
Just because a higher level mage is required to cast a spell doesn't mean it takes longer.


IIRC according to the manual, ritual spells take too long to cast to be usable in combat and there have been references to requiring most of the month (given that 1 turn = 1 month), so konmig's premises are actually more solid than yours in this case.



My point was there's no indication if a spell such as searching for a magic site requires more time compared with flames from the sky. Compare rituals with rituals next time. I'm not sure why you'd think Illwinter made a mistake here. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

As Endoperez mentions a good example.

[thejeff]

On the other hand: "You've slain 200 hundred troops in close combat! Congratulations! You have gained a level! You have gained a level! You get +2 research."
make no sense either.

It's a simplification for game purposes. Looking for a realistic rationale makes little sense.