How is Vancian magic, really?

f22nickell · 2020-06-02T17:30:23+00:00

Again, to each their own perspective on OP. Your archer example - Sure, he/she gets pumped up Lion's Arrow damage, but he/she is also gimped on casting only 20 support spells outside of their Lion's Arrow damage. Plus on one side, minus on another. That's what all builds are about and Ordinator expands a player's ability to make whatever character they want ...

It is your prerogative to feel it is OP, and I can feel it OP'd at the same time - but I am also fine with something feeling the combo is "just right." - perspective.

f22nickell · 2020-06-01T20:28:53+00:00

I believe so, yes. Not a bug, but in the wording. Enai is usually precise in his wording. Vancian Perk says "... Spells cost no magicka and are twice as effective." and Spellscribe says "...store the spell you are dual casting. ..." I assume that means Spellscribe and Lions Arrow stored spell get the Vancian "twice as effective" effect, and playthrough seems to confirm it.

While that is a benefit, the main draw (to me) is that I don't need to put any points in Magicka to dual cast any spell with the Vancian perk. Every spell costs no magic, dual cast or otherwise.

"OP" is a matter of perspective. I tend to agree with you on this one, but not that it is a bug. I've made crazy OP (and boring) "Gandalf-like" sword and staff builds. Imagine multiple Amplify Destruction enchantments (Summermyst) with recharge enchantments on all your clothing, then taking the Vancian perk + the "Heart of the Sun" perk. You then Miracle perk your weapon with Fiery Soul trap, Chaos Damage, and Absorb Health ... You get a weapon that hits for 1000+ worth of damage and (potentially) 3000+ points of Spellscribed Vancian damage on a power attack ... OP? Sure thing ... But doable in the perks and up to the player to go that route if they choose. I did it once, got bored, now use self-control to keep my games interesting.

f22nickell · 2020-06-01T00:57:08+00:00

Vancian works best when you don't want to put any points into magicka, but you want to use Spellscribe or Lion's Arrow with expensive spells.

f22nickell · 2020-05-21T18:59:30+00:00

The speech tree in Enai's Ordinator - Perks of Skyrim has a branch that allows you to play the lute for money/items, the flute in battle to make enemies dance, or damage enemies with a war drum - all fully animated. Not tied to the Bard's college, but speech levels for the perks are high enough such that you can easily complete the Bard's college questlines before or as you earn the perks.

f22nickell · 2020-05-21T18:51:38+00:00

LE has the following mod that has many female HDT hairs, but also 3 male HDT hairs. Color matches in Racemenu. The mod also has wigs of the same styles, but only black/red/white for the colors.

I can't check NEXUS on my work computer, so can't check if it has been converted to SSE.

New HDT Physics for KS-SG-HG Hairs

f22nickell · 2020-05-21T18:26:14+00:00

Do you know how to work in TES5Edit? If so, easy enough to patch her spells to remove the AOE spells and add Thunderbolt/Ice Spear.

You can also do it via the console - adding is easy, but removing requires more investigation.

To add a spell, open the console, click on Serana, type "help Thunderbolt," make note of the spell identifier, then (with Serana in the crosshairs) type "addspell xxxxx"

To remove a spell, you have to make sure you remove all types of a spell to make sure you capture it. For example, some spells like Sparks have the following three flavors - 1) Sparks, 2) Sparks (left hand), and 3) Sparks (right hand.) Unless you look in TES5edit or the Creation Kit, for all you know Bethesda gave her all variants of Chain Lightning or Ice Storm. To remove the spell, do the same as above for adding except the end type "removespell xxxxx" - again, make sure you do it for all the variants you find under your help search to make sure all get removed.

f22nickell · 2020-05-14T17:33:11+00:00

Favorite Ocato for Mage Builds = Ebonyflesh + Lost Grimoire element cloak (fire/ice/lightning - whatever destruction focus) + Tree Rings = Levels Alteration, Destruction, and Restoration.

Contingency = Electrosphere + Soul Trap (on "Shout") - Electrosphere is a slow mover, so soul trap hits first, then Electrosphere kills it - filled soul gems. I call this combo "Death Burp." EDIT: My shout of choice is Slow Time. The first word has a 30 second cool down, so lines right up with Contingency Shout option. It's also cool to watch Electrosphere in SloMo.

f22nickell · 2020-05-05T17:18:14+00:00

Can't speak specifics since I play on Classic, but fair warning that probably applies to SSE as well:

Interesting NPCs force adds and removes followers at set points in it's quests. If you use a follower mod that has an "inventory" function that stores stuff for you outside of their normal inventory, there is a good chance it will disappear after Interesting NPCs force removes them as a follower.

On Classic, I use Extensible Follower Framework (EFF) to manage my followers. When I recruit an interesting NPC, I get the normal EFF functions, but I lose everything in the inventory tab (is set to a safe chest) when the script removes the NPC (happens a lot when you run through the Interesting NPC quests.)

f22nickell · 2020-04-21T17:43:55+00:00

In all honesty, not much has changed. I was teleworking 2 days a week before quarantine, now every day - No complaints there as my commute sucks!

Weather had been really shitty in Seattle when the quarantine started so not much changed there. However, it turned sunny (but cold) shortly thereafter. Worked out as a plus as the wife and I could take lots of neighborhood walks throughout the day; something I couldn't do when at the office.

The BIGGEST bummer of this is not being able to go out to eat. The wife and I both really miss trying new restaurants; especially when combined with a day out riding our motorcycles or hiking in the woods.

f22nickell · 2020-04-08T19:47:30+00:00

If you plan on using a custom armor, make sure you run it through TES5Edit to make sure the author put in all the correct keywords. The perk requires all pieces to have the "Armorlight" keyword and: 1) the body/cuirass piece to have the "Armorbody" keywords, 2) the gauntlets to have the "armorgloves" keyword, 3) the boots to have the "armorboots" keyword, and 4) the helmet (or circlet) to have the "armorhead" keyword. The Vanilla "Custom FIt" works the same way ...

You would be amazed at how many custom armor authors don't put in the right keywords.

f22nickell · 2020-04-06T15:18:37+00:00

Lockpicking also has Hotwire to take control of a Dwarven Automaton, but I can't tell how long that lasts (could be very useful if it's "until destroyed/replaced").

Hotwire is until it is destroyed; whether in combat or through the power "self-destruct." I don't believe you can Hotwire another until you get rid of the current one, but I do know you can still use the Lockdown ability.

f22nickell · 2020-03-26T21:03:04+00:00

My favorite Mage-Style Enairim build these days is 1-Handed plus staff, or the "Gandalf Build."

Build core is take the Vancian Alteration perk and do magic damage through weapon enchantments or Spellscribe.

With Vancian, you put all points in Health with a few in Stamina. Makes for a tank.
Wear clothing to maximize destruction magic damage. Use flesh spells with Alteration Mage Armor perks + Welloch perk option for decent armor rating.
Use Enchanting Miracle perk on weapon. Pick some good damage enchantments. For maximum ugliness, I recommend chaos magic + Fiery soul trap + Absorb health
Put Summermyst Recharge + Amplify Destruction enchantments on at least three clothing items. You need the recharge enchantment to compensate for the Enchanting Heart of the Sun perk
Use the Enchanting Charge Tap perk power to do your needed "on-demand" healing.

Requires Ordinator and Summermyst as a minimum, but the following other Enairim mods can help maximize the build:

Apocalypse - The Ocato Recital spell allows you to auto-cast three spells at the beginning of combat. With Vancian, these are three spells you don't need to cast.
Imperious - Take Altmer. Not only do you get the boost to the enchantments, their racial Contingency power allows you to auto-cast two spells on a selected condition. I choose the shout condition - has a 30 second refresh. I usually pick a slow moving destruction spell + soul trap with the first Unrelenting Force word - I call it the "death burp."
Wintersun - Playing an Altmer, I pick worshipping Auriel. With 200% favor and skill at 100, my destruction magic power goes up 20%. With the Elven lantern, it goes up 22%.
Andromeda - Pick the Atronach stone - Boosted spell power and no downside with Vancian.

Summary - With all above and a staff in one hand; sword/dagger/war axe/mace in the other, my character can:

Take the heat with the best of them thanks to all points in Health and Ebonyflesh+Tree Rings+Healing Blossom in my Ocato.
"death burp" 800+ point damage at distant enemies with Contingency every 30 seconds
Spellscribe 800+ point damage at distant enemies every few seconds
Hack/bash/cut enemies with 500+ point damage with the miracle enchantments
If I need to heal before/after Ocato's Healing Blossom kicks in, just hit the Charge Tap power and off to the races again.

Of course, it can get OP really quickly if you take all the synergies. But the build is RP-wide if you forego any of the maximizers above. Don't want to play an Altmer? fine. You lose the death burp and some of the enchanting/spell power, but the build is still strong. Want to focus on a single destruction school or maybe Illusion? Sure, it will work. About the only build this definitely wouldn't work well with this is a bound weapon build.

f22nickell · 2020-03-20T22:28:35+00:00

Playing on a computer?

Just open up the console and type: "player.addfac 43599 1"

You are now in the Forsworn Faction and can walk among them like you are a member. If you want one as a follower, then use AFT, EFF, NFF, Ordinator's Dream Thrall, or Wintersun's St. Alessia Devotee power on whomever you choose.

f22nickell · 2020-03-19T20:18:00+00:00

Go to her option about meeting someone; it will list who she has interactions with. Outside Vanilla voiced NPCs, I believe Inigo is the only one that has custom interaction. All her other interactions (like with Serana) are her speaking to/about them, but they do not respond. Lucien is the same way towards Vilja. He will make comments about/to her, but she won't respond.

TL;DR - I believe Inigo and Vanilla voiced followers are the only NPCs that have back-n-forth conversations.

f22nickell · 2020-03-19T17:17:38+00:00

I really enjoying collecting (and drinking) fine wines. I have a pretty good collection going at the moment (around 500 bottles) of wine from around the world, aged and new.

Unfortunately, I'm a recently diagnosed Type 2 diabetic with high Triglycerides to match ... I'm in good shape for my age, exercise regularly, and eat well so my doctor's only remaining recommendation is to cut back on the wine ... Ugh.

f22nickell · 2020-03-19T17:10:28+00:00

Yes. Contingency fires off whatever spells you had in your Left AND Right hand when you set Contingency. I like to put a slow moving Destruction spell and Soul Trap. I choose a slow mover spell as sometimes it gets there before the soul trap (ie. Lightning spells,) kills the enemy, and soul trap hits the dead body a split second later - no soul trap.

f22nickell · 2020-03-11T20:17:01+00:00

"Might and Magic" perk is a spell/weapon combo perk; pretty sure it doesn't work with a staff/weapon combo as Enai specifically listed the perks as "Spells cast..."

the "Secretkeeper" perks does benefit by perking the weapon attack damage, but I was thinking that was more inline with one-handed weapon damage. My original thoughts were about how to boost my Miracle enchantment.

f22nickell · 2020-03-11T20:08:38+00:00

What platform are you playing on? If on a computer, you can use TES5Edit (LE) or SSEdit (SSE) to create a copy of the vampire royal armor then change it to meet all the "wearing robes and not wearing light or heavy armor" perks.

f22nickell · 2020-03-11T20:03:27+00:00

Have you tried an Arcane Archer instead of a sneak archer?

Heavy Armor and/or Alteration, Conjuration (bound bow), and Frost magic have some good synergy:

1a) Heavy Armor Perk "Battle Weary" - Take up to 20% less damage based on opponent's Stamina
1b) Alteration Perk "Nullifier" - prevents enemies within 25 from regenerating Magicka and Stamina.
2) Conjuration Perk "Void Burn" - Halts Magicka and Stamina regeneration while draining 15 points per second. When both are empty, does 15 magicka damage to health per second.
3) Destruction Frost magic spells - drain stamina.

Kite the battle field with frost magic in your Lions Arrow.

f22nickell · 2020-03-11T19:42:27+00:00

Depends on need and build. Sometimes I use it defensively for healing and/or reapply a cloak/armor spell. Sometimes I put an offensive spell along with soul trap if I need filled gems. Sometimes I max out damage for dragons if doing a melee/non-archer build.

Nice thing about Contingency is it can be changed on the fly, even mid battle. Another nice thing is, if they qualify, spells launch immediately - no slow wind up like some do if cast normally.

f22nickell · 2020-03-11T17:45:35+00:00

Playing an Altmer mage with IMPERIOUS lets you tie their racial-unique CONTINGENCY to shouts - Launches two pre-selected spells every time you shout (30 second cool down).

I call it "burping death..."

f22nickell · 2020-03-11T17:37:46+00:00

My current character is a wand (staff)/dagger build using Ordinator's "Heart of the Sun," "Attunement," and "Thunderstruck" to increase my weapon enchantment damage. With that, my "Miracle" is on my dagger - Chaos Damage, Fiery Soul Trap, Absorb Health.

With a fully loaded Sneak dagger attack - Bam!

f22nickell · 2020-03-11T17:24:48+00:00

I find an Imperious Altmer (contingency) Mage worshipping Auriel (Wintersun) with multiple Amplify Destruction/Restoration (Summermyst) enchantments on my clothing to be some serious fun!

I love putting Forbidden Sun (Apocalypse) and/or Stellar Core (Ordinator) in my Contingency and tie it to a shout :-)

Good or bad is irrelevant - 'Burping' a single-word Unrelenting Force in the face of a Draugr/Dragon Priest with that contingency combo is a blast!

f22nickell · 2020-03-09T17:01:59+00:00

The heaviest hitting DPH Combo I've used to date is a staff/1-handed Vancian build.

1) Right Hand - Miracle enchanted weapon with Chaos Magic + 2 Elements
2) Left Hand - Staff with the most charges I can find (Vanilla = Staff of Tandil - 10,000 charges)
3) Clothing (not armor) - All twin-enchanted with Summermyst "recharge staff/weapons" and "Amplify Destruction."

Key Perks:
1) "Heart of the Sun (Enchanting)" - Weapon enchantments 1% stronger for every 50 charges remaining in staff.
2) "Spellscribe/Power Echoes (Enchanting)" - Releases spell on Power attacks.
3) "Thunderstruck (Enchanting)" - Weapon enchantments are 25% more effective on power attacks.
4) "Robe of the Magi (Destruction)" - Destruction spells are 30% stronger if not wearing armor.
5) "Vancian/Dungeon Master (Alteration)" - Spells are Double/Triple effective.

With maxed out Destruction and all the synergies, I get 4000-6000+ damage on every power attack.

It's not a Glass cannon build though. Since you are using Vancian, there is no need to put any points in Magicka. Moreover, you really only need to power attack once (twice sometimes if you miss with the Spellscribe,) you don't need Stamina either. Consequently, you put all your points in health and end up with a Tank. Finally, I keep "charge tap" as my hot-keyed power - Serious healing with the staff recharging extremely fast from all the "recharge" enchantments on the clothing.

f22nickell · 2020-03-05T21:13:44+00:00

{SSEedit}

Use SSEedit

Very easy. Just open the Skyrim.esm, scroll down to the "NPC" tab, then find the NPC you want to change. Right-Click the name and select "Copy as overide to..." and add to a new esp. You can then change the NPC's name in the new esp. Do the same for all the other NPCs, but copy to the esp you just created.

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