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petertmorgan · 12-09-2003, 12:17 PM

Regarding lightning strikes -

In my experience the chance of a lightning strike depends on several things

1) Initiative relative to enemy - which depends on speed, senses, and weapon, as well as enemy initiative and your own encumbrance/weight class of armor (see below).

2) Total encumbrance - should be about or less than one-third of capacity for a reasonable chance of lightning strike.

3) Weight class of equipped items - armor, in particular can be minimal, light, medium, heavy, or special in addition to its actual weight.

4) ?? sword skill and level relative to opponents level??

Currently playing a mook samurai putting all points into dex, speed, and senses equally, wearing only minimal weight class items (e.g. robes, buskins, skullcap), using either katana or bloodlust (+ wakisashi), keeping encumbrance to about 55-70 out of 180 capacity, I have been getting a lightning strike about once every 8-10 rounds or so, (so occasionally get two in the same combat!). Currently am level 8 or 9 and have not noticed any decline in lightning strikes but rather an increase since equipping bloodlust. I have never previously had this kind of success getting lightning strikes, but previously I played samurai more 'conservatively', equipping the best armor, putting some points into strength, maybe. After noticing initiative get lowered by heavier armor items (even with encumbrance still 'white'), I decided to play the way I am now, am am very happy with the results.

- Regarding spell casting ability going down slightly in subsequent rounds -

I have definitely noticed this, particularly with spell casters in who are borderline in their skills (casting a spell they were just barely able to learn/primary attribute not too high because I'm focussing on something else/etc.) The only thing I can think of that definitely goes down after one round of combat wherein you cast a spell is Stamina. I think that stamina may have a slight effect on ability to cast spells at higher power, and in the caster of borderline ability, this effect is noticeable (particularly as we are always trying to get one level higher out of our borderline casters)
If this is correct, then ability to cast at higher power later in the combat could be due to two things 1) someone cast stamina or rest all or drank a stamina restoring potion or
2) your skill level went up somewhere inbetween the earlier and later rounds. I notice this happening a lot, and not just when I notice the drop in performance first.

[ 12-09-2003, 12:23 PM: Message edited by: petertmorgan ]

12-09-2003, 12:17 PM	#5
petertmorgan Dungeon Master Join Date: August 13, 2003 Location: CT Age: 54 Posts: 69	Regarding lightning strikes - In my experience the chance of a lightning strike depends on several things 1) Initiative relative to enemy - which depends on speed, senses, and weapon, as well as enemy initiative and your own encumbrance/weight class of armor (see below). 2) Total encumbrance - should be about or less than one-third of capacity for a reasonable chance of lightning strike. 3) Weight class of equipped items - armor, in particular can be minimal, light, medium, heavy, or special in addition to its actual weight. 4) ?? sword skill and level relative to opponents level?? Currently playing a mook samurai putting all points into dex, speed, and senses equally, wearing only minimal weight class items (e.g. robes, buskins, skullcap), using either katana or bloodlust (+ wakisashi), keeping encumbrance to about 55-70 out of 180 capacity, I have been getting a lightning strike about once every 8-10 rounds or so, (so occasionally get two in the same combat!). Currently am level 8 or 9 and have not noticed any decline in lightning strikes but rather an increase since equipping bloodlust. I have never previously had this kind of success getting lightning strikes, but previously I played samurai more 'conservatively', equipping the best armor, putting some points into strength, maybe. After noticing initiative get lowered by heavier armor items (even with encumbrance still 'white'), I decided to play the way I am now, am am very happy with the results. - Regarding spell casting ability going down slightly in subsequent rounds - I have definitely noticed this, particularly with spell casters in who are borderline in their skills (casting a spell they were just barely able to learn/primary attribute not too high because I'm focussing on something else/etc.) The only thing I can think of that definitely goes down after one round of combat wherein you cast a spell is Stamina. I think that stamina may have a slight effect on ability to cast spells at higher power, and in the caster of borderline ability, this effect is noticeable (particularly as we are always trying to get one level higher out of our borderline casters) If this is correct, then ability to cast at higher power later in the combat could be due to two things 1) someone cast stamina or rest all or drank a stamina restoring potion or 2) your skill level went up somewhere inbetween the earlier and later rounds. I notice this happening a lot, and not just when I notice the drop in performance first. [ 12-09-2003, 12:23 PM: Message edited by: petertmorgan ]