Mage armor has been much maligned as an overly powerful spell the way NWN originally implemented it. It gives (on other servers) +1 armor, +1 dodge, +1 natural and +1 deflection (which didnt stack with any other bonuses except dodge ones which always stack)

Obviously this was too powerful for this server, and I tend to agree because it can be cast on any character. It will turn a character with FULL PLATE armor on.. into a character who's effectively wearing +3 full plate armor on.

One of the fundamental rules for spell balancing (if i'm out of line tell me so) is that spells should be at least minimally effective at the level you get them. It always seemed reasonable to me, that if I get to be a level 5 wizard and I just get my first level 3 spells.. that the durations or effect etc should be usable.

Currently mage armor has been changed to +1 dodge for every 4 levels.. that means that for a level 1-3 sorceror or wizard the spell has NO EFFECT at all.. I'm all for balancing the power of spells at high levels but to nerf the low level characters (and multi-class) for it, seems like a bit too much.

Shield spell gives +4 deflection and makes you immune to magic missile (and the other pure energy missile spells on this server)

Mage armor should be +4 armor... which means that if you're wearing no armor, it's like the spell has made you a suit made of "force", specifically a breastplate of force. Which is in tune with how a conjuration of force would work. Now if you're already wearing padded (+1 armor), or leather (+2) or studded (+3) it will still only give you +4.. it wont stack. If you're wearing chain shirt or beyond the spell doesnt do anything at all. (until you for example have your normal chain shirt eaten by a rust monster :D )

I've only just joined the server and maybe my opinion holds no water at all, but I thought I'd throw my 2 pennies in :) If you really want to change mage armor into a DODGE bonus spell rather than an armor bonus.. thats fine.. but it NEEDS at least give level 1-3 wizard/sorcs +1 dodge bonus and then get better later.

p.s. The server has a great feel so far.

Might want to do a quick search. Mage Armor is only temporarily adjusted while they fix a bug with it.

Thanks for the suggestion, what you suggested is precisely what would be ideal for us -- however it's a very low priority to make it work that way and is a bit complicated.

Our main scripter is tragically swamped with work and illness at the moment, when he has more time in 1-2 weeks a lot of adjustments and improvements will be made.

I'm less busy/sick at the moment, but the issue remains that what's actually needed here is an entire AC stacking script system. As best I understand it, this would be extremely non-trivial to design-- if anybody knows how this can be done easily, or has experience with this sort of thing, please let me know. Otherwise, because it requires a major amount of work and isn't extremely high priority, this won't be at the top of my list of things to do -- although I would very much like to have the spell working.

Done!