Casting speed

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Some items can increase the casting speed, for example the overpowered Robe of Vecna, or the necklace given by the Shadow Thiefs.
- Do theese items realy works?
- And what is the normal casting speed?
- Does it increasing by levels?

 

Could you clear one thing up for me, do Sorcerers cast spells faster than Mages?
Through testing and checking this doesnt seem to be the case, but people are talking and im simply listening.

 

I knew it!!

 

Technically, they do cast at the same speed. However, there are some spells that are the same for both priest and wizard that cast at different speeds. For example, Dispel Magic cast at 6 for priest and 3 for wizard; and Animate Dead casts at 1 for priests and 5 for wizards. These are exactly the same spells in every other way.

 

You're right. Sorry.

 

Hmm... Taluntain are you sure? I seem to recall using the Robe of Vecna numerous times, and aside from the normal pause you'd have to wait before casting a new spell, there was no additional waiting. So you can actually cast 2 fireballs in about the same time you would normally cast 2 magic missiles. Only that even the magic missiles laung faster with 1 less casting time.

I've found it very useful in combat situations in comparison to other mages in my group who always lag because of the casting time. Even if it did only give you the first-strike, nothing else, at least it boosts your reaction time (always good to keep the mage in reserve when you see an enemy is casting a spell, just in case you'd need remove fear, combat dispell or something) and chances of getting that spell in the air before someone hits the mage and cancels it.

Oh well, it's a nice cloak nevertheless. As for overpowering, I wouldn't whine as long as you find no more than 1 of them in the game.

 

Right, I've finally checked that overpowered Robe and it is behaving as I thought.
I'm not sure what people think about it, but obviously some things are not clear here. So let's first break the mystery over the so called casting speed.

A round in BG2 is 6 seconds long. The spellcasting time determines when in the round your character will actually release the spell effects. A zero means right at the start, and 10 means right at the end. Five means halfway through. OK?
Now, there is no "spells per round" modifier as with weapons that would make possible for the spellcaster to actually cast two or more spells in one round. At least don't think it exists. Don't mention the attacked mages instant casting 4356 protections over themselves, those things are scripted in that way. Note that weapon speed behaves in a same way as casting speed.

And what does the lousy robe do then? It allows the spellcaster to cast slow casting spell BEFORE he is hit. Example:
Don't worry about Edwin if someone attacks him if he has Robe of Vecna equipped. Edwin will now cast Death with speed 2 instead of original 6 (not many weapons have speed 2) and Edwin's opponents will die in agony before they even have a chance to swing their weapons! And you still don't think it's overpowered?

The pauses Tal is referring to are nothing but pauses between two rounds. When our Edwin casts first spell almost instantly, he still has to wait 6 seconds for next round to cast another spell.
You may check all this by selecting an option "pause at round end" or something like that. The console command to get Robe of Vecna in your game is:
CLUAConsole:CreateItem("WA2ROBE")

To prevent possible abuses of this command I've posted for experimenting reasons, it will be removed tomorrow.

 

Yes, that´s right! But then that would mean I was wrong... damnit. What I mean is, I do recall casting high-level spells with mages (or for example fire elementals with Jaheira) and should the spell take long enough, they´d actually start casting a new spell instantantly after the first spell is finished. This would support the theory of every 1 spell fitting into one round, the casting speed determining when. So no matter what the casting speed, only once per round.

Then Robe of Vecna really does merely boost the reaction speed... But you can always make the waiting for next round more useful by having cast some Melf´s Minute Meteors on you, I think.

 

To be able to cast a spell before beeing hit usually means to be able to cast at all since a hit usually interrupts spellcasting.

The casting time vs. weapon speed argument isn't that convincing either: Just let the attack be done by a fighter (or better a kensai) with a shortsword (or better: Kundane) or a dagger (whichever) there. They should be able to hit first.

To be honest, I just fon't understand what is "abusive" about the robe of vecna. The only thing you can say is that it allows you to playe your spellcaster closer to the frontline.

 

Ragusa, there is no kensai opponent in SoA.
Majority of opponents have weapon speed slower that the mage equipped with that robe. The problematic part as I see it is that even Amulet of Power is not overpowered with spellcasting speed decrease.
As for frontline spellcasters, you can always pick up MC or DC mage.

Oh, that reminds me...
/me goes to post a request at BIS official boards to disable usage of overpowered items in non-collectors edition of IWD2

 

Extremist,
sure the majority of opponents in BG-2 SoA is slower. But so what - a mage is a backliner anyway? AFAIK there are at least two kensai opponents in SoA ... though I may be worng and there is just one:

* Koshi, renowned for wielding C'Fury and for dieing in a hail of arrows and
* iirc there is one kensai in the party you meet in Firkraag's dungeon (at least there was someone using kai ability and wielding wakizashis and katanas).

Of course, since I always play with ToB installed this may be different in SoA only - though I doubt it. I don't really see the point in stating that the amulet of power is less overpowered than the robe of vecna ... You and the bonus pack ... this dispute is kinda pointless ...

[This message has been edited by Ragusa (edited May 20, 2002).]

 

I was serious up there. There is no kensai in SoA.
Koshi is pure fighter as you may see if you summon him and add in your party (HLKOSHI).
I don't know who in the dungeon you're referring to, but that is not kensai either.

The talking about this is not pointless. The bonus merchants items must be demistified before someone says that finishing the game with them is more satisfying then without them.
But let me ask you something, where can you find such items for small bucks in the Chapter 2 in normal game except Staff of Rynn? I wouldn't say anything if those items were Chapter 6 items, but no, you can get them before you even move your backside from the Waukeen's Promenade. Such a thrilling game! So challenging!

 

If there is no way casting like a maniac, then how the hell did Gorion do it?
Or he is an overpowered-ultrablaster-Megaarchmage?(at level 19 if I remeber well)
(And I'm not stronger than Elminster, but he is only level 26)
Vecna's robe is goody, yeah, you can't cast spells like a maniac, but you can't lose your spells so easily. It also hastes the priest spells.( My mage/priest was quite overpowered)

 

Once again you are right, in a legalistic way. As you well know, nothing is as it should be in the game due to lazy programming: Take Cattie Brie (C6CATTI/ C6CATTI2) for example: The IEE sais she's male ... or take Akae (AKAE; the other "kensai" in Firkraag's dungeon I mentioned): She is a plain fighter, no kensai - surprisingly though she has 3 kai abilities as spells memorized ...
And yes, Koshi is no Kensai too but maybe you should correct that in a fixpack Extremist

 

Catti-brie is male?

Can I just diverge from the topic a bit (oh well actually it is quite well diverged already) and ask:

Are there ANY kits as enemies in SoA? I know there should be a beastmaster in the Copper Coronet - but maybe that's just in the description. And, of course you can run into a bounty hunter enemy. BTW Is wulfgar scripted as a barbarian?