To bolt or not

[wetsand]

I reactivated my level 46 halfling bane cleric. I'm now debating keeping spell aim. He is in CoL. I like having the option to bolt but his mana pool really can't support a full hunt of 306 vs 302. I know there was some changes recently that benefit training in spell aiming but I'm not hip to all the changes. Am I going to hate myself if I drop SA for more spell ranks? Here's what I had in mind for changes:


(at level 46), your base skill bonuses, ranks and goals are:
Skill Name | Actual Actual
| Bonus Ranks Goals In-Game Time to Goal
Armor Use..........................| 40 8 8
Physical Fitness...................| 147 47 47
Magic Item Use.....................| 147 47 47
Spell Aiming.......................| 193 93.909 0 79 days, 3 hours, 32 minutes
Harness Power......................| 146 46 46
Spirit Mana Control................| 147 47 47
Spiritual Lore - Religion..........| 120 30 30
Perception.........................| 147 47 47
Climbing...........................| 130 35 35
Swimming...........................| 90 20 20
First Aid..........................| 147 47 47

Spell Lists
Major Spiritual....................| 25 30 ASAP (will rise when points are available)

Spell Lists
Minor Spiritual....................| 24 30 ASAP (will rise when points are available)

Spell Lists
Cleric.............................| 66 70 ASAP (will rise when points are available)
Training Points: 44 Phy 0 Mnt (1442 Phy converted to Mnt)

[Taernath]

https://i.imgur.com/KNIn7sV.jpg

tl;dr version is clerics are being encouraged to use a variety of spells instead of just standard bane/smite, some of which use spell aim, via 320's mana reduction benefit. It's not absolutely necessary, but you should try it out to see if it works for you.

[wetsand]

.....via 320's mana reduction benefit....

I forgot about this. I switched to 320(SMRv2 attack) followed up with 317, 309, 306 evoke or cast, 302. Working well so far, occasionally have to wrack.

[Shoosh]

Start with low mana spells early in your rotation. Each different spell cast increases the percentage mana saved. So casting 302 then 309 then 302 then 317 would be more efficient. Also, 309 and 320 both use spell aim in addition to 306. I respec’d to max CS and spell aim and I bolt and ward bow. Hunting is much more dynamic and fun.


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[Donquix]

Pure CS is likely still better, or at least more optimized if you're just trying to get from 0 to 100 as easy as possible. But bolting is so close now the extra variety and flexability is hard to pass up. I'm around the same level as OP and switched from pure CS to bolting, including overtraining lores enough to pick up 30 religion + 20 summoning for web bolt, and it's nice.

If you have stats placed for growth and are smaller races you likely have a high dex bonus and stat placement so, hey lean into that fat +30 AS you get from that.

[wetsand]

Thank you for the reassurance to stick with SA.


You gesture at a dybbuk.
Mana swirls into the visible spectrum and manifests as an ethereal, flat black censer swinging pendulously through the air beside you. A dark grey haze of incense smoke trails in its wake, quickly spreading in sinuous tendrils through the area.

[SMR result: 113 (Open d100: 36)]
A dybbuk becomes enveloped in the incense smoke!
... 20 points of damage!
Flesh removed, forming a long gash across abdomen!

As the fragrant haze settles over you, you feel revitalized.
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
(Forcing stance down to guarded)
>
[ Ethereal Censer: +0:00:30, 0:00:29 remaining. ]
>
You chant a reverent litany, clasping your hands while focusing upon the Divine Fury spell...
Your spell is ready.
>
You channel at a dybbuk.
Particles of dust and soot rise from the floor at your feet as you release a pulsating, platinum ripple of energy toward a dybbuk!
CS: +230 - TD: +176 + CvA: +25 + d100: +66 == +145
Warding failed!
The dybbuk is cloaked in a blinding platinum light and assailed for 62 points of damage!
... 35 points of damage!
Superheated energy causes the artery in the dybbuk's leg to explode!
It is knocked to the ground!
The dybbuk is stunned!
... 15 points of damage!
Acid splatters on the dybbuk's cheek leaving a bright red burn!

** Necrotic energy from your faewood runestaff overflows into you! **

You feel energized!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
>
You chant a reverent litany, clasping your hands while focusing upon the Condemn spell...
Your spell is ready.
>
You gesture at a dybbuk.
[SMR result: 210 (Open d100: 68, Bonus: 72)]
A shifting rent in reality forms near a dybbuk, and from it blows a caustic, alien wind.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 35 points of damage!
... 25 points of damage!
Burn to cheek. Not a pretty sight.
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.
>
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 35 points of damage!
... 25 points of damage!
Spray of caustic liquid burns the skin along the back!
>
You chant a reverent litany, clasping your hands while focusing upon the Holy Bolt spell...
Your spell is ready.
>
You gesture at a dybbuk.
Your faewood runestaff glows intensely with a verdant light!
You hurl a stream of holy water at a dybbuk!
AS: +335 vs DS: +110 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +60 = +314
... and hit for 163 points of damage!
Acid bath empties chest. It's a lot cleaner now.
The dybbuk wails in terrifying pain one last time and lies still.
You sense Marlu's condemnation of a dybbuk wane.
You feel the unnatural surge of necrotic power wane away.
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.

[Methais]

To bolt or not


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpL_xVNLxAc

[Chuno]

... and ward bow

What is ward bow? Also, as a whole, when does this type of hunting become viable? My cleric is 20, but I haven't played him for a couple years, but he's a pure warder. Should have a fix I can use on him, but I really like the idea of what you have going on up above.

[wetsand]

What is ward bow? Also, as a whole, when does this type of hunting become viable? My cleric is 20, but I haven't played him for a couple years, but he's a pure warder. Should have a fix I can use on him, but I really like the idea of what you have going on up above.

Not sure what ward bow is, maybe a ranged cleric? Level 20 might be a tad early to be able to support 320 constantly but I could be wrong. Do you currently train in spell aim?

[Mikalmas]

Not sure what ward bow is, maybe a ranged cleric? Level 20 might be a tad early to be able to support 320 constantly but I could be wrong. Do you currently train in spell aim?

320 costs the 20 mana up front but its returned to you by the end of the spell (30 seconds), so its effectively free to use

[Shoosh]

What is ward bow? Also, as a whole, when does this type of hunting become viable? My cleric is 20, but I haven't played him for a couple years, but he's a pure warder. Should have a fix I can use on him, but I really like the idea of what you have going on up above.

I use spell aim AND ward now. It was a typo.

Also, at 45 I have more than enough mana to fry using any combination of spells without using society mana skills. My mana pool is about 176. If you’re having problems you might not be hunting in the right areas or training correctly.

Some critters are more susceptible to warding vs bolts and vice versa. So training both gives you more flexibility in hunting choices.


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[wetsand]

Using 320 in combat is nice but 309 is really where spell aim shines.

Normal cast(level 47 vs level 55 creature):

You gesture at an eidolon.
[SMR result: 140 (Open d100: 81)]
A shifting rent in reality forms near an eidolon, and from it blows a caustic, alien wind.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the eidolon for 18 points of damage!
... 25 points of damage!
Quick strike to the right leg!
The eidolon makes no bones about it.
It is knocked to the ground!
The eidolon is stunned!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.

Evoked(level 47 vs level 48 creature):

You gesture at a dybbuk.
[SMR result: 155 (Open d100: 81, Bonus: 1)]
A shifting rent in reality forms near a dybbuk, and from it blows a caustic, alien wind.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 23 points of damage!
... 20 points of damage!
Acid splash near the eye causes blisters that almost swell it shut!
The dybbuk is stunned!
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 19 points of damage!
... 15 points of damage!
Splash of acid hits shoulder and runs down the back in a painful trail.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 23 points of damage!
... 15 points of damage!
The dybbuk avoids the worst of the attack but still gets a singed forearm.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 24 points of damage!
... 15 points of damage!
Bit of acid strikes the dybbuk's calf leaving bright red spots.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 22 points of damage!
... 20 points of damage!
Acid reaches the chest causing a nasty rash!
The caustic wind dies as the shifting rent near a dybbuk fades away.
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.

[Donquix]

Using 320 in combat is nice but 309 is really where spell aim shines.

Normal cast(level 47 vs level 55 creature):

You gesture at an eidolon.
[SMR result: 140 (Open d100: 81)]
A shifting rent in reality forms near an eidolon, and from it blows a caustic, alien wind.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the eidolon for 18 points of damage!
... 25 points of damage!
Quick strike to the right leg!
The eidolon makes no bones about it.
It is knocked to the ground!
The eidolon is stunned!
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.

Evoked(level 47 vs level 48 creature):

You gesture at a dybbuk.
[SMR result: 155 (Open d100: 81, Bonus: 1)]
A shifting rent in reality forms near a dybbuk, and from it blows a caustic, alien wind.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 23 points of damage!
... 20 points of damage!
Acid splash near the eye causes blisters that almost swell it shut!
The dybbuk is stunned!
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 19 points of damage!
... 15 points of damage!
Splash of acid hits shoulder and runs down the back in a painful trail.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 23 points of damage!
... 15 points of damage!
The dybbuk avoids the worst of the attack but still gets a singed forearm.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 24 points of damage!
... 15 points of damage!
Bit of acid strikes the dybbuk's calf leaving bright red spots.
Barbed, glistening tentacles dart from the tear in space and rip into the dybbuk for 22 points of damage!
... 20 points of damage!
Acid reaches the chest causing a nasty rash!
The caustic wind dies as the shifting rent near a dybbuk fades away.
Cast Roundtime 3 Seconds.

That Marlu messaging is wild.

[Realk]

I started training in spell aim somewhere around the time this thread came out because I had not really explored the changes to 320, or 309 .. Right now a few trains later i'm just slightly under 1x for my train level 75... and 309 and 320 still are well worth the mana even lacking in SA.. I'm excited to see how kick ass it is at 2x ... not enough to actually respec for it though...:shrug: so maybe i'll know cap

[Donquix]

I started training in spell aim somewhere around the time this thread came out because I had not really explored the changes to 320, or 309 .. Right now a few trains later i'm just slightly under 1x for my train level 75... and 309 and 320 still are well worth the mana even lacking in SA.. I'm excited to see how kick ass it is at 2x ... not enough to actually respec for it though...:shrug: so maybe i'll know cap

the best part of spell aim is evoke 306 because you basically go all Ark of the Covenant on people.