Spell Mantles and Multi-Damage Spells

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PhaerimmBane
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:50 pm

Spell Mantles and Multi-Damage Spells

Post by PhaerimmBane » Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:36 am

As it stands, Spell Mantles will read multiple instances of damage from spells such as Flame Arrow and Darkbolt as separate spells, for the purpose of absorbing those spells. This is problematic as Dark Bolt is only a 5th lvl spell, while Greater Spell Mantle is either 8 or 9 depending on class.
The problem therein, is even upon a maximum roll, a Greater Spell Mantle can absorb up to 22 levels of spells.
A Darkbolt, cast by a level 10 spellcaster (The level most spellcasters get access to 5th lvl spells) can immediately break a spell mantle, counting as 5 levels per bolt, at 25 spell levels total, and up to level 14 (the level where Darkbolt hits max scaling), it will not only guarantee breaking the GSM, but will also apply damage due to counting as 35 levels of spells.
As far as resources go, this makes the Spell Mantles entirely worthless as long as they are recognized, given their rather unique VFX, this is easy to spot.
Ultimately, I feel that either Spell Mantles deserve a buff to make them worthwhile (or at least worth the spell component cost)
Or a code needs to be implemented to prevent multiple bolts from the same spell from counting as separate spell levels.

Halibutthead
Posts: 187
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2018 5:56 pm

Re: Spell Mantles and Multi-Damage Spells

Post by Halibutthead » Thu Aug 11, 2022 3:43 am

One lesser spell breach will crack it, too. Its nothing new, and I've always considered spells like flame arrow to be direct counters to spell mantle, myself

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Dreams
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Re: Spell Mantles and Multi-Damage Spells

Post by Dreams » Thu Aug 11, 2022 4:16 am

Flame Arrow is the mantle breaker for this very reason. It's basically been the standard spell to pop a mantle from when NWN came out to now.

perseid
Posts: 333
Joined: Fri Sep 17, 2021 7:01 am

Re: Spell Mantles and Multi-Damage Spells

Post by perseid » Thu Aug 11, 2022 4:31 am

Forcing someone to waste an action to pop your mantle doesn't seem useless. Especially when, as others have pointed out, a breach would just pop it anyway.

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-XXX-
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Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2016 1:49 am

Re: Spell Mantles and Multi-Damage Spells

Post by -XXX- » Thu Aug 11, 2022 9:59 am

It's not a bug, it's a feature and a staple of PvP dynamics.
Spell mantles aren't supposed to counter all spells (some spells even fully ignore spell mantles by design).
IMO this applies twofold now that their duration is turn/lvl.

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Algol
Posts: 156
Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2019 2:40 pm

Re: Spell Mantles and Multi-Damage Spells

Post by Algol » Thu Aug 11, 2022 10:13 am

If you had globe of invulnerability active on yourself as well, would it soak spells before the spell mantle?

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