i agree that there is a problem that needs a "fix". i assume the intended solutions by the devs would be for the player to use resist spells. but their base cost is to high and i never used an active resist spell... with the default value of 2 you get a 60-60% resist spell for 20 sec with 120 mana cost. with the default value of 2 you get a 60-60% resist spell for 30 sec with a below 50% cast chance with lvl 100 restoration. with it set to 1, you get a 60-60% resist spell for 30 seconds with 90 mana cost. fighting an enemy that reflects, and only have such short duration resist spells is tedious or the mana cost is to high. absorb health being "the best" i also don't like.
so for me this mod solves this problem the wrong way, so i'll make my own with .... you know the quote! or maybe someone reads this and makes it...^^ i guess the weakness to element spells may also be worth looking at.
ps. the values i would have left at 20 and 60% pps. thanks for the ideas (=
Oh, I absolutely feel there are multiple ways to fix this problem. My main problem with reflect is the lack of visual indicator that it is active. In other words, you don't know when you need to counter it with a resist spell without diving into the wiki to find out which enemies have the passive, unless you cast it before every combat (and buff routines are not particularly fun and engaging), or engage in exhaustive trial and error.
Ideally, I would move the Shield visual effect to Reflect, so that it is very clear, and then make the shield graphic less intrusive. While making shield less visible is very doable (ironically by giving it the comparatively much subtler Reflect effect), Reflect is coded to only display its graphic for a couple seconds, an issue not really fixable with the Construction Set (I'm not really skilled enough to do anything besides the Set).
Also, in relation to your other notes, I absolutely agree that resist spells should be cheaper! I am in fact working on my own magic cost mod that could, of course, fix this issue another way, or be used in tandem, or whatever.
tldr; i thought this was a simple, quick fix that isn't just erasing the effect, and it would be compatible with any magic cost adjustment mods, like the one I am planning on making.
ps. Yeah they probably could have been left at the base percentages, but i think reflect is a stronger effect, so i felt the spell absorb option needed a buff.
Edit: Just saw you post the mod doing what you suggested, I'm going to be doing arguably too much math to try to balance my own magic costs (likely targeting enchantability and soul strength as well), but i think it would work just fine. Gonna endorse that.
reflect having a visual shield effect would be cool. besides what you noted about it is only displayed for a few seconds, it also isn't visible if it's a passive ability, only if it is a spell :/ i'm sure there is a MWSE/Lua option and if anyone with the skills to do that is reading, i plan to update my spell fx mod, and this is something i would try to do.
looking forward to your magic cost mod, more options are good.
ps. Yeah they probably could have been left at the base percentages, but i think reflect is a stronger effect, so i felt the spell absorb option needed a buff.
i get it and even agree on it in theory, but i would get annoyed if more spells would not hit, then i would rather get reflected harder but miss less spells, but that's just me xD there would also be the option to combine it, 10% reflect with 10% absorb and 30% reflect with 30% absorb. or what ever values desired.
For what it might be worth you you, I have been rewarded by taking something like https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/43870 and putting it into the CS to tweak as I need.
My favorite self-invented tweak is using a mod that unpauses dialogues, and decimating the cost of Charm. It introduces a delicious new decision tension between the duration and the power of custom Charm spells. There are many other good cases to be made for spell effect cost adjustments, to be sure.
There exist texture replacers for the default visual effects of the Shield spell effect, like https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/49784
I actually made a mod just for myself to take the shield effect away (and to have as a file to play with what spell visuals to use where)
I'm also making a spell cost mod! (though tbh it will probably be more of a full rebalance mod, as the spell costs are heavily tied to enchant values, and rebalancing enchantment values of equipment is also a thing I really want to do, and would necessitate adjusting other values as well for balance, rarity, weight, base values, gold value... its taking a bit. I have 5 spreadsheet about it already lol)
Glad you like it! I had similar feelings and took a bit of time thinking about what to do. Not totally happy with the result, but as with much of Morrowind, its good enough for me imo.
7 comments
i assume the intended solutions by the devs would be for the player to use resist spells.
but their base cost is to high and i never used an active resist spell...
with the default value of 2 you get a 60-60% resist spell for 20 sec with 120 mana cost.
with the default value of 2 you get a 60-60% resist spell for 30 sec with a below 50% cast chance with lvl 100 restoration.
with it set to 1, you get a 60-60% resist spell for 30 seconds with 90 mana cost.
fighting an enemy that reflects, and only have such short duration resist spells is tedious or the mana cost is to high.
absorb health being "the best" i also don't like.
so for me this mod solves this problem the wrong way, so i'll make my own with .... you know the quote!
or maybe someone reads this and makes it...^^
i guess the weakness to element spells may also be worth looking at.
ps. the values i would have left at 20 and 60%
pps. thanks for the ideas (=
Ideally, I would move the Shield visual effect to Reflect, so that it is very clear, and then make the shield graphic less intrusive. While making shield less visible is very doable (ironically by giving it the comparatively much subtler Reflect effect), Reflect is coded to only display its graphic for a couple seconds, an issue not really fixable with the Construction Set (I'm not really skilled enough to do anything besides the Set).
Also, in relation to your other notes, I absolutely agree that resist spells should be cheaper! I am in fact working on my own magic cost mod that could, of course, fix this issue another way, or be used in tandem, or whatever.
tldr; i thought this was a simple, quick fix that isn't just erasing the effect, and it would be compatible with any magic cost adjustment mods, like the one I am planning on making.
ps. Yeah they probably could have been left at the base percentages, but i think reflect is a stronger effect, so i felt the spell absorb option needed a buff.
Edit: Just saw you post the mod doing what you suggested, I'm going to be doing arguably too much math to try to balance my own magic costs (likely targeting enchantability and soul strength as well), but i think it would work just fine. Gonna endorse that.
i'm sure there is a MWSE/Lua option and if anyone with the skills to do that is reading, i plan to update my spell fx mod, and this is something i would try to do.
looking forward to your magic cost mod, more options are good.
would not hit, then i would rather get reflected harder but miss less spells, but that's just me xD
there would also be the option to combine it, 10% reflect with 10% absorb and 30% reflect with 30% absorb. or what ever values desired.
cheers
My favorite self-invented tweak is using a mod that unpauses dialogues, and decimating the cost of Charm. It introduces a delicious new decision tension between the duration and the power of custom Charm spells. There are many other good cases to be made for spell effect cost adjustments, to be sure.
There exist texture replacers for the default visual effects of the Shield spell effect, like https://www.nexusmods.com/morrowind/mods/49784
I'm also making a spell cost mod! (though tbh it will probably be more of a full rebalance mod, as the spell costs are heavily tied to enchant values, and rebalancing enchantment values of equipment is also a thing I really want to do, and would necessitate adjusting other values as well for balance, rarity, weight, base values, gold value... its taking a bit. I have 5 spreadsheet about it already lol)