This spell does not work as intended with NPCs. The AI simply doesn't care if it's knocked down and moves to attack anyways. I think all knockdowns are bugged, wich explains my complain about gresse not working when i was first arround.
I think it would be good if instead of knocking them down, the spell would stun them for 3 round. The effect is basically the same (in both ocacions, the creatures are simply made prone, the animation is all that changes) And would make this spell very usefull.
Unfortunately, if it was changed to stun, creatures immune to mind effects would be immune to the spell.
Really? thought that was a spell thing, not an effect thing.
It's still better than having the AI ignoring the effect thoguh...
This spell is mostly useful as a PvP spell. It works great there.
I imagine the AI issue can be fixed.
Dobut it. But if it can, by all means do! maybe then gresse will be as awsome as it used to be.
Mass slow from grease is still really powerful. Especially when combined with other nasty AoE spells.
I'd rather just seen an AI revamp, it's pretty horrid. They go for sneak attackers 100% of the time whether it's melee or ranged. If they aren't changing to sneak attackers they are 99% fixed on a single target no matter what they do (Invis, stealth, invis + stealth) that they will chasing them to great lengths and engine limitations, which apparently allows them to totally ignore knockdowns by spells or the feat.
The only good thing about the current AI is the mages being made more challenging, otherwise it's pretty horrible.
The AI does not automatically go for sneak attackers, someone explained it to me once while I was playing my rogue.
The AI does have some quirks though that you need to work in order to play a rogue effectively, however it does make sense if you think about it.
They're going to go for the lightly armored person stabbing or shooting them in the back over the person in full plate that its harder to put a dent in.
Quote from: FleetingHeart;143473Mass slow from grease is still really powerful. Especially when combined with other nasty AoE spells.
It's still usefull when combined with other spells and/or items. But if not it makes only a minimal diference. But i used to cast it then throw my druid into the fray inside it, enemies fall down, my druid doesn't. THAT was powerfull.
Anyway, back to the AI thing, can it be fixed?
I've noticed the KD thing, mainly with wild orcs. It works on most other mobs though. But yeah, AI should be fixed ... if possible.
As has been suggested before, mobs whose AI causes them to flee, (Chosen Arcanists/Hunters from EfU and Wild Orc Hunters from EfU:A) override knockdown effects from spells/feats until their move action is concluded, at which time they collapse in a heap.
It would be better to have the Gust of Wind spell clear the actions of a knocked-down creature prior to knocking them down, if the issue is as Halfbrood says.
Sounds like it would work.