Training magic

[Uthgard]

Has anyone noticed, when training magic, if casting at the lowest level many times as opposed to the highest successful level matters?

[Scatter]

Yes. The number of times you cast is what counts toward Skill advances, regardless of power level. Spell level makes a difference, though. (Nuclear Blast builds Skill faster than Light, but a 1-dot Blast is as much practise as a 7-dot one)

[booklord]

I engaged in 3 types of spell training.

First was Earth spell training on everyone's favorite vault door. The second was to find a trapped chest on cast divine Trap repeatedly on it. I found the fastest method was to cast the spell at level 3. The reason is you can position the mouse cursor so that after pressing the cast spell button it is centered over the third power level setting. I could then cast the spell rapidly without having to move the mouse at all until the all of the characters (using the keyboard to switch characters) who could cast the spell were out of juice and needed to rest. It was a real time saver.

The final type I used was to use the fire in Arnika to practice healing spells. It was a longer process than I liked, but some group members were proving so inept at casting healing spells ( *Cough* ranger monk *cough* ) that it was becoming quite the liability.

[MasterPooBaa]

With my extensive magic experiece yes casting magic lots of times at low levels (green) gives you quicker advances in realm skills.

However it seems to run out of steam at around 85 to 90. To get up to 100 skill points you ahve to cast a heck of alot of spells at low level, and it seems to be more advantageous to cast them at a higher level.

Then there are the realm skill points, wizardry, divinity, alchemy & psionics.
When trying to up them by casting spells i seem to have the most sucess when i cast spells at yellow orange or red, e.g. very taxing on the character with a great risk of backfires.

So level 1-2-3 spells at green to begin with, 6-7 when you skills are reaching 90.

[Wereboar]

I think there are two different types of skill increases when casting.

The normal one mostly depends on the number of spells you cast. After x suitable casts, you have the chance to get one point of skill increase. This might be dependend on spell level, so that a high level spell increases the counter more than a low level one.

The other type is when you cast a spell in yelow or red. It seems that every time a spell fails, you have an additional chance to get a skill increase.

[Ziggurat]

I agree with Wereboar, from my experience in many games. A failed high level spell has a better chance of raising your stats than even a successful one. Of course, in battle it may mean your lives may be seriously up the creek. But battle and paddle.

[Brian]

Can someone please tell me how to train magic at the fountain with the big statue??? BRIAN

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

I use the Monestary for anyone who has healing. Just "run" off the waterfall (make sure ya' got 50-60 htps) use shift "M" to heal, rest and run back up to the waterfall and repeat. Make sure you rapidly hit the "M" key u ntil all the mana is used up. You'll lvl pretty fast this way.

[Scatter]

uh, i don't know anything about training magic at a fountain, or why you'd want to, unless it's the fountain in Trynnton that restores XP (and Hexes you, but only very briefly). The problem with buff training, though, is that you don't get Skill increases for casting while the last one is still in full effect. If you cast at Power Level 1 (one green circle), then at PL2 and then PL3 etc. you'll get "credit" for them all, but once you've done the PL7, you can cast all you want, but until it's been 1/7 the spell's duration, your Skills won't train. So the best speed training for Magic depends on your School.
If you want to practise Wizardry or Alchemy (and the Earth realm), you find a lock that's hard to open, and cast little Knock-Knocks at it. This you can do in the non-public vault at the Bank. Get a couple Mana Stones, and you don't have to sleep to restore SP. (use only 2 charges, then sell-buy back to get recharged).
If you want to build up Psionics or Divinity (and the Mental realm) you can cast Charm repeatedly at a Vendor (preferably one who'll buy and sell the Mana Stones) or you can Divine a Trap repeatedly. Other Realms are better practised in front of some range-attack mobs that aren't hitting you much. Just cast a bunch of damage spells from around the spectrum at PL1, and heal the mobs before they die.

[Brian]

Thank you Scatter for the tips BRIAN