Wisdom casting

[bigoldgrizzly]

Not sure if this is the right place for this thread, but since the answer will affect the way I continue to build this character, I guess it's as good a place as any.

My question is if there is any way to tell what your wisdom casting strength is? If not, I'd recommend adding a line (on the character screen) to show this number. I'm an archer, warrior, priest and I'm about to put some ability points into wisdom casting, but I'm not quite clear about how casting strength will be calculated. I have an 18 Wis right now as a warrior (higher of course as a priest). I understand how the success roll works based on casting strength and mana cost, but would appreciate any insight on how the casting strength is calculated. (The ability description is not completely clear to me).

Also, should the priest class get an inherent bonus to wisdom casting? It seems to me that they should. ;D

[Variaz]

Here's the info from the formulas guide:

WISDOM-BASED CASTING SUCCESS RATE

A new feature in Portralis is to allow the use of wisdom to cast
a spell. You can do this using the 'p' command. You will then select
a spell as you normally would. The advantage to this is that the
spell will cost no mana to cast, but the success rate is not always
guaranteed. Here's how the success rate is determined:

Wisdom >= spell's cost

If your wisdom is equal or higher than the spell's cost, you get
automatic success.

Wisdom < spell's cost

A Casting Strength is determined, and will be rolled against the
spell's cost.

Casting Strength = (Wisdom - 5) * 5

Two random numbers will be returned. The first number is a random
number between 1 and the Casting Strength. The second is a number
between 1 and the spell's mana cost. If the first number is higher
or equal, you win the roll, and the spell is cast. Otherwise,
you fail casting the spell.

Spell's cost is more than three times the casting force:

If you try to cast a very costly spell with a low casting strength,
be aware that the spell becomes "risky". If you fail casting a risky
spell, you will take damages equal to the spell's cost, you will
be confused for 5 turns and your wisdom will be lowered by 5 points.

If you plan on using Wisdom-based spellcasting, don't forget that
the Priest has the "Improved Wisdom Casting" ability!

[bigoldgrizzly]

Sorry, I guess I wasn't too clear. I do understand the basics of wisdom casting, and the basic casting strength. Where I get fuzzy is how the priest ability changes it. From your post:

admin said:

...A Casting Strength is determined, and will be rolled against the spell's cost.

Casting Strength = (Wisdom - 5) * 5

...If you plan on using Wisdom-based spellcasting, don't forget that the Priest has the "Improved Wisdom Casting" ability!

So lets take a real world example... Say you have Wisdom=43. Then your basic casting strength is (43-5)*5=190. That means several things. First, any spell with a cost of 43 mana or less is free. Second, using a 95 mana spell as an example. You make two rolls one from 1 to 190 the second from 1 to 95. If the first roll is bigger the spell works (my math may not be perfect, but this should mean about a 75% success rate on this spell). Also with the 190 casting strength, spells don't get risky until 3*190, or a cost of 570. So far I have it right, correct? Then we go to the priest ability, and I quote from the ability help file:

8. Improved Wisdom Casting(Passive, level 6)

Effect: Improve the success rate of wisdom-based spellcasting.
Extra points: - Add 1 to cast strength/wisdom for every 10 points.
- Casting strength improves by 10% for every points.
- For every 20 points, adds 1 to the "risky" spell multiplier.

I don't really understand what this is trying to tell me... Using the same wisdom of 43, could someone do the math for me at an improved wisdom casting of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20? Please, just fill in (or correct) my table:

Imp. Wis Casting_Free casting up to_Casting Strength_Dangerous Cost
_______1_______ ____43 mana____ _____190_____ _____570_____
_______2_______ ____43 mana____ _____??? _____ _____570_____
_______5_______ ____43 mana____ _____??? _____ _____570_____
______10_______ ____43 mana____ _____??? _____ _____570_____
______20_______ ____43 mana____ _____??? _____ _____760_____

I'm assuming that the ability only changes the casting strength, and not the second random number (which is the spell's cost in mana). Do I have it right? If so how are the casting strengths calculated?

Thanks in advance, and sorry if I'm being a pain...

[Variaz]

Without any points in this ability, your casting strength is determined by (wisdom - 5) * X, where X is equal to 5, +1 for ever 10 points in Improved Wisdom Casting. Then, every points adds 10% bonus to the final casting strength.

For risky spells cost, it starts at three times your casting strength, but at 20 points it becomes four times, and then five at 40, six at 60 and so on...

With your example of Wisdom 43...

Imp. Wis Casting_Free casting up to_Casting Strength_Dangerous Cost
_______1_______ ____43 mana____ _____209 _____ _____627_____
_______2_______ ____43 mana____ _____228 _____ _____684_____
_______5_______ ____43 mana____ _____285 _____ _____855_____
______10_______ ____43 mana____ _____456 _____ _____1368_____
______20_______ ____43 mana____ _____798 _____ _____3192_____
______100______ ____43 mana____ _____5700 _____ _____45600_____

Hope this is more clear!

[bigoldgrizzly]

Thanks, that helps a lot. ;D I guess I just needed a numbers example to see how it works. It looks like it's worth it to put 10 points into it to get the big jump in casting strength.

I still say this would be a good number to see on a character screen.... but that's just me.

Thanks again.

[Variaz]

I guess the ability's description is not very clear though, especially if you haven't read the formula in the formulas guide. But as you can see, if you're serious about wisdom casting, this ability makes it a much more viable option!

[kipar]

It will be very nice if in the spells list were visible failure-rates (or sucess rates) in percents as in Hengband. Otherwise i use only 100% success spells because it's too difficult to calcute relative effectiveness = damage*(1-failure_rate/100%) every time i increase wisdom.