Skyrim Tips and Tricks » Discussions

An Argument for 'Fire Storm'

• Teccam

  

  Member
   

  June 14, 2014

  Yeah, I agree as well. And I told James as much, and I stick by it. I also agree with you in that adding an image or two could help break it up a bit. I feel like most T&T regulars are happy to check out some math, but a big wall of text can be intimidating even to those people.

  James, this is one of your more exhaustive discussions; even breaking it into three parts, each part is as long as anything else you've written. This much text with nothing to break it up can be daunting to read for some people. Though, that doesn't really excuse anyone who overlooked this info -- why would you join this group if you're not interested in actually understanding the mechanics?

  Still, images could help ... If you want, I could grab some screenshots of a character nuking the crap out of a few draugr or something. Hell, I might even be able to finagle a video.

  [Side Note: Word of the day today is finagle.]

  This'll get more likes and more views as it continues to generate discussion among those of us who did read it, and who appreciate the value of what you're contributing to the group. And when it's inevitably featured in a future T&T showcase.... 

  Yeah, I agree as well. And I told James as much, and I stick by it. I also agree with you in that adding an image or two could help break it up a bit. I feel like most T&T regulars are happy to check out some math, but a big wall of text can be intimidating even to those people.

  James, this is one of your more exhaustive discussions; even breaking it into three parts, each part is as long as anything else you've written. This much text with nothing to break it up can be daunting to read for some people. Though, that doesn't really excuse anyone who overlooked this info -- why would you join this group if you're not interested in actually understanding the mechanics?

  Still, images could help ... If you want, I could grab some screenshots of a character nuking the crap out of a few draugr or something. Hell, I might even be able to finagle a video.

  [Side Note: Word of the day today is finagle.]

  This'll get more likes and more views as it continues to generate discussion among those of us who did read it, and who appreciate the value of what you're contributing to the group. And when it's inevitably featured in a future T&T showcase.... 

• Parabola

  

  Member
   

  June 14, 2014

  Really good stuff here and in the prior discussion. It's possible that one slight problem with this info is the barrier to actually achieving all this in game. I've not reached master destruction once on any character and necromage can be a pain too. This certainly gives something to aim for though, I love the mental image of a mabrigash type heavy armoured battlemage surrounded by enemies and weaving through the graceful build up to fire storm before nuking the room!

  Really good stuff here and in the prior discussion. It's possible that one slight problem with this info is the barrier to actually achieving all this in game. I've not reached master destruction once on any character and necromage can be a pain too. This certainly gives something to aim for though, I love the mental image of a mabrigash type heavy armoured battlemage surrounded by enemies and weaving through the graceful build up to fire storm before nuking the room!
• James

  

  Member
   

  June 17, 2014

  I was having a very bad day (family issues) when I posted that complaint and regret doing so. 

  When I mentioned in Part #1 that the original draft was well over 20 pages long (before adding equations) I was being quite serious, which is why I broke it up into parts.  What you see here is the product of close to a dozen rewrites and is about as simplified as I'm willing to make it.  In all honesty this is little more than probably 8th grade math and to really understand, in depth, a lot of the core game mechanics that are being used you probably need at least beginning university level math.  I will absolutely try to add ideas like pictures to any future discussions if it's something people will like, I prefer the current format but it's something I can adapt.

  I'm not prepared to just state HOW to make something work without explaining WHY it works the way it does, the way I tend to approach this site is 'Character Builds' is where people post cool new ideas and discoveries and this section is where the nerds try and dissect exactly what is happening.  If people aren't interested in the game mechanics that's their choice.  As far as I can tell these discussions are the first to cover taper mechanics so it's taken a long time to work this stuff out.

  I will eventually be posting about sun damage but I'm going to be taking some time off from Skyrim.  I've spent over a month working on these so I'm sort of tired of it

  

  P.S.

  I mentioned to BenC that I had been working on stealth mechanics before this and you all should see that mathematical mess!

  I was having a very bad day (family issues) when I posted that complaint and regret doing so. 

  When I mentioned in Part #1 that the original draft was well over 20 pages long (before adding equations) I was being quite serious, which is why I broke it up into parts.  What you see here is the product of close to a dozen rewrites and is about as simplified as I'm willing to make it.  In all honesty this is little more than probably 8th grade math and to really understand, in depth, a lot of the core game mechanics that are being used you probably need at least beginning university level math.  I will absolutely try to add ideas like pictures to any future discussions if it's something people will like, I prefer the current format but it's something I can adapt.

  I'm not prepared to just state HOW to make something work without explaining WHY it works the way it does, the way I tend to approach this site is 'Character Builds' is where people post cool new ideas and discoveries and this section is where the nerds try and dissect exactly what is happening.  If people aren't interested in the game mechanics that's their choice.  As far as I can tell these discussions are the first to cover taper mechanics so it's taken a long time to work this stuff out.

  I will eventually be posting about sun damage but I'm going to be taking some time off from Skyrim.  I've spent over a month working on these so I'm sort of tired of it

  

  P.S.

  I mentioned to BenC that I had been working on stealth mechanics before this and you all should see that mathematical mess!

• James

  

  Member
   

  June 17, 2014

  I had actually never played as a destruction mage before this playthrough (I played it on Legendary) and I found it was incredibly quick to level to 100 Destruction.  I never used training either so I find it hard to understand how it would be all that hard.  Restoration was slower to level at first but once you hit the level where you can use the circle spells it becomes simple (can spam the spell while walking around).  I found wards level Restoration fairly quickly, particularily when fighting dragons.

  This was one of the quicker characters to max out that I've played.

  P.S.

  Keep in mind that a lot of this information also applies to the Fireball spell and the vampire's bane spell which are both Adept.

  I had actually never played as a destruction mage before this playthrough (I played it on Legendary) and I found it was incredibly quick to level to 100 Destruction.  I never used training either so I find it hard to understand how it would be all that hard.  Restoration was slower to level at first but once you hit the level where you can use the circle spells it becomes simple (can spam the spell while walking around).  I found wards level Restoration fairly quickly, particularily when fighting dragons.

  This was one of the quicker characters to max out that I've played.

  P.S.

  Keep in mind that a lot of this information also applies to the Fireball spell and the vampire's bane spell which are both Adept.

• Alastor

  

  Member
   

  June 17, 2014

  Yo James, this presentation is perfect. Your breakdown is great and pictures aren't gonna make a difference IMO. I admit that I skipped through this one a bit but it's not because it was too complicated. It's because I saw right where it was going so I jumped to the good stuff. Actually, maybe you made it too simple to read, extending the post longer than necessary. Another reason it may not be drawing as much attention is because the spell itself is a Master spell. I know how hard it is to level a Destruction to 100 so that may be a bit of a turn off too. But as you've demonstrated it's well worth the grinding :) Keep up the posts and don't worry about touching up the presentation. People who want to understand it will figure it out.

  Yo James, this presentation is perfect. Your breakdown is great and pictures aren't gonna make a difference IMO. I admit that I skipped through this one a bit but it's not because it was too complicated. It's because I saw right where it was going so I jumped to the good stuff. Actually, maybe you made it too simple to read, extending the post longer than necessary. Another reason it may not be drawing as much attention is because the spell itself is a Master spell. I know how hard it is to level a Destruction to 100 so that may be a bit of a turn off too. But as you've demonstrated it's well worth the grinding :) Keep up the posts and don't worry about touching up the presentation. People who want to understand it will figure it out.
• Incomitatus

  

  Member
   

  June 26, 2014

  I've written mechanics and gameplay guides for other games, and one thing I've figured out is that those sorts of write-ups are rarely instant blockbuster hits. They build likes and views steadily over time, though.

  I've written mechanics and gameplay guides for other games, and one thing I've figured out is that those sorts of write-ups are rarely instant blockbuster hits. They build likes and views steadily over time, though.

• James

  

  Member
   

  July 27, 2014

  might hit 25 likes by Christmas!

  might hit 25 likes by Christmas!

• Tolveor

  

  Member
   

  October 12, 2014

  This is fantastic James, and anyone who doesn't understand that math is just lazy imo. You really broke it down well, and we start this kind of math in the 4th grade looks like, so no excuses here. (I checked the curicullum) Really looking forward to the 3rd part.

  As a side note, if someone wants to try leveling up a destruction mage, check out the evoker by paul england. The key to leveling up destruction is really to focus on it, and it really isnt that bad.

  This is fantastic James, and anyone who doesn't understand that math is just lazy imo. You really broke it down well, and we start this kind of math in the 4th grade looks like, so no excuses here. (I checked the curicullum) Really looking forward to the 3rd part.

  As a side note, if someone wants to try leveling up a destruction mage, check out the evoker by paul england. The key to leveling up destruction is really to focus on it, and it really isnt that bad.

• James

  

  Member
   

  January 10, 2015

  It's not very advanced stuff but I find most people loathe all things math/science in general. I was quite surprised how fast destruction leveled once I commited to using it, by the time it hit level 100 I found all of my other magic skills were lagging behind it (had to dedicate training to restoration just to keep pace).

  It's not very advanced stuff but I find most people loathe all things math/science in general. I was quite surprised how fast destruction leveled once I commited to using it, by the time it hit level 100 I found all of my other magic skills were lagging behind it (had to dedicate training to restoration just to keep pace).
• Raid

  

  Member
   

  June 11, 2015

  Are we ever going to see the third part of this? Was really looking forward to the Dawnbreaker/Bane of the Undead/Sun Spell stuff...

  Are we ever going to see the third part of this? Was really looking forward to the Dawnbreaker/Bane of the Undead/Sun Spell stuff...