Mage Eaters / Nightshade

[Jasede]

Hey guys,

haven't been around for a bit. Amazing changes and new stuff.

Just one thing. How do you feel about getting rid or revamping the mage eaters and the abjurer's nightshade script? I know they are a part of EfU but I feel like they either don't work quite right anymore or are overly complicated. Do we really need 'em to be affected by the season and such? Nobody tracks that! Right now the situation is that I don't bother buyin' nightshade any because 99% of the time that's just like using it when you cast, the chance to call is pretty high either way with the low, random-feeling duration.

I feel like maybe some newer scripts, and as a programmer I got no idea how this could be possible, must be interfering with the old ones somehow. I chomp on some 'shade and bam, already calling the buggers.

I feel like ya could revamp this stuff. No offense to Arkov, his system was great and worked really well but it just don't seem to work right no more. Just like a simple percentage chance would be good. Something like...

Cast magic / no nightshade:
3% small
0.75% medium
0.015 large

Cast magic / nightshade:
0.25% small
0.01% medium
0% large


Those are just made up and I pulled from nowhere but right now it just feels significantly weirder.

I definitely know that when I used to play, Nightshade could be relied on, and now you really can't 'cause it runs out in like 5 rounds. Crazy stuff.

[Raininghell]

If we have to have a magic eater system in place. I honestly would rather want it random and unpredictable. But that is just me I suppose.

I mean. Are anyone sure if there isn't any bugs in the system? Also 5 rounds sounds a bit much, I like the idea of it being slightly altered?

Edited cause of recalling this rule:
- 2. Commenting on other peoples' suggestions. We never pool in how many people are for or against any one suggestion. If your comments are too negative or too positive, please keep them. If they give constructive feedback to the suggestion, please say them. But keep it friendly!

[Jasede]

What else would you call a random chance if not random and unpredictable?
'cause if you can I sure want your help with picking my lottery numbers.

[The Old Hack]

Hm. I am kind of torn. Being a frequent player of casters, I find the eaters an unmitigated pain in the neck. On one hand, it does give the Underdark a unique and threatening mood; on the other, chomping down on nightshade only to have eaters appear only a minute later is... depressing to say the least. Especially given how expensive the nightshade is.

I think what depresses me the most is that I was outright told "only Arkov really knew how this works" so there is no way of knowing if this is a bug or if it will ever get better. I would feel happier if at least the DMs knew what was going on, even if they kept it secret -- that way I would at least have the feeling that there was a plan for it instead of mere digital caprice. I would feel happier still if there was some sort of IC way of knowing when these times came and left -- messages like, "The Weave feels thick and threatening with desperately hungry magic eaters" would at least let you know that the Bad Times are Here.

[Howlando]

We'll take a look at it. Magic eaters spawning directly after ingesting nightshade may be a bug.

[scrappayeti]

I like oldhacks idea that there is a way to know the season IG. Even if only the spellguard know , they could occasionally send warnings out. Even though they make me mad occasionally, I would hate to see the mechanic removed or de-seasoned. It's the little things like this that make efu so deep
 and unique an environment.