Enemy Casters : V

» Mon May 14, 2012 8:12 am

Hi,

After fighting a good number of casters in various places, I noticed they never run out of magicka. Though they wear robes to regenerate it 75% faster, as I do, I seem to be the only one with a limited reserve. They put up their Wards while casting, summon creatures, and I can't ever break through without being forced to Thu'um their faces, and even that doesn't always do it reliably.

So, are they supposed to never run out and be able to put up a Ward so I can't deal with them, or am I supposed to regenerate magicka that fast as well? I have no magicka-harming diseases or effects on.. so what's the explanation?

Thanks.

» Mon May 14, 2012 4:39 am

I noticed this too. I used my full bar of sparks on a mage, yet he was still casting...

» Sun May 13, 2012 10:19 pm

Hmmm... I think it might be somewhat that way, maybe it's due to the fact of distance.... or depends on spell they use or how they use it, might be shorter bursts of it but not apparent due to AI.
I know the best way to get the enemy casters to stop blasting you with spells is to simply get in close to them.... they'll switch to daggers, and then easier to dodge and blast them into oblivion.

Also.... Dual Cast will help, though it does deplete your Magicka

» Mon May 14, 2012 5:29 am

I'm not sure. Here's my understanding.

Mana regen on items only works out of combat for players. It works in combat for NPCs. I have nonetheless seen NPCs run out of mana and resort to melee attacks. Many also use staffs, which don't deplete in NPC hands.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:41 am

Yeah the mob casters are the only reason I questioned the people who were complaining about Destruction being weak. Those casters can really eff me up.

» Mon May 14, 2012 4:41 am

The same way Archers never run out of arrows. been this way in all Elder Scrolls.

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:19 am

Hmmm... I think it might be somewhat that way, but only due to the fact of distance. Also can depend on spell they use or how they use it, might be shorter bursts of it but not apparent due to AI.
I know the best way to get the enemy casters to stop blasting you with spells is to simply get in close to them.... they'll switch to daggers, and then easier to dodge and blast them into oblivion.

Also.... Dual Cast will help, though it does deplete your Magicka

I appreciate the response. I normally attack with dual-cast spells. All it does is break their Ward, but they put another right back up and continue at it. It would make more sense if, when doing more damage than the Ward can repel, the target takes the excess damage, but they don't.

Getting in close may work, but if I'm a caster as well, would it make sense to run up to my enemy? What if there's no way to get over to my enemy? I hope these questions aren't rhetorical.

» Mon May 14, 2012 7:34 am

I've yet to see one run out of mana, even while casting shield and using damaging spells.

» Mon May 14, 2012 2:59 am

This makes drain magicka effects (poisons and shock effect) completely useless if it's true. However, in-game stuff all point towards shock being good against mages in your hands too, so you'd think it does affect their mana bar. Either they are drinking potions, which is highly likely, or using their highborn ability (if NPCs use their racial powers) or they have a lot higher mana bar than we have to begin with, at all levels.

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:29 pm

I run enemy magic users out of mana all the time. I typically use shock spells against other mages. When they run out, they'll run at you usually with a dagger and try to stab you. At that point, you can just obliterate them without too much risk since their mana seems to regenerate a lot slower than your own.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:29 am

They might be gulping down potions like I do when I am in a casting frenzy. I try to sneak up and get the first shot. It helps to have a companion as a distraction.

» Sun May 13, 2012 11:38 pm

So what's the use of damage magicka poisons and such if they have never run out?

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:51 pm

I've never seen one run outa mana. I had thought that they did since sometimes they attack with a dagger. However as posted above that was only because I had moved into melee range.

One point though. You can drain all their mana away and then they take a long time before they can cast anything. I tried this on a number of casters with the staff of magnus. Some casters don't even have daggers so they just chase you can pathetically attempt to punch you to death.

» Mon May 14, 2012 11:59 am

They might be gulping down potions like I do when I am in a casting frenzy. I try to sneak up and get the first shot. It helps to have a companion as a distraction.

A comforting thought, but they only ever have 1 magicka potion on them, if any. Usually none.

Oh, and they don't always stop casting when you're in melee range.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:32 am

They do for me. Granted, they might have a more Magicka pool than me [ I never level up the damn thing. ] but they always switch to melee after some time, a tell-tale sign they are porked if you are the warrior type closing into their poor fleshy hitboxes. Though be aware that enchanted weapons and staffs NEVER deplete in the hands of an NPC. Meaning, if you got a powerful enchanted weapon, you are better off giving this to your companion. ;]

» Mon May 14, 2012 12:53 am

I've never seen them run out of mana. They just keep on castin'.

» Mon May 14, 2012 6:39 am

The worst are the enemies that seem to keep drinking health potions :c

» Mon May 14, 2012 9:20 am

One point though. You can drain all their mana away and then they take a long time before they can cast anything. I tried this on a number of casters with the staff of magnus. Some casters don't even have daggers so they just chase you can pathetically attempt to punch you to death.

But when they always put up a Ward, you can't connect with your spells.

They do things based on what you do. When I'm just about to cast, they put a Ward up. If they had a spell to turn arrows around and shoot you through the eye, I'm sure they wouldn't hesitate to use that one just as you ready one.

» Mon May 14, 2012 5:10 am

I appreciate the response. I normally attack with dual-cast spells. All it does is break their Ward, but they put another right back up and continue at it. It would make more sense if, when doing more damage than the Ward can repel, the target takes the excess damage, but they don't.

Getting in close may work, but if I'm a caster as well, would it make sense to run up to my enemy? What if there's no way to get over to my enemy? I hope these questions aren't rhetorical.

Not at all. And know what you mean.
The only enemy I will get close to like that is another Mage... granted they have been within my level and capability, and have had times where I have to keep drinking health potions... but most times, when I have 'pursued' them so to speak, they pull out the dagger and can more easily blast them or do the same with my Elven Sword (with Burning).
I admit that when a Melee enemy rushes in and I cannot get his health down or mine up to compensate his attacks, I've switch into higher armor, shield and sword to defend and attack.

» Mon May 14, 2012 1:53 am

A comforting thought, but they only ever have 1 magicka potion on them, if any. Usually none.

Is this after a long magic duel with one or after you backstabbed them without anyone noticing?

I have seen plenty of mages run out of magicka. I have also seen them use enchantment charges (in contrast to what someone said above). I tanked a dragon priest (who has fireball staff) until he ran out of charges, and I have also spawned him, waited elsewhere, and come back to backstab him for insta-kill. One of those times it was no charges, the other was full charges. If you can't knock an enemy's magicka bar down with sparks then I suggest you use a more powerful spell.

» Mon May 14, 2012 8:18 am

I don't know what you guys are talking about; I have depleted my enemies mana pools frequently, and quickly by casting lightning spells on them.

» Sun May 13, 2012 10:20 pm

Is this after a long magic duel with one or after you backstabbed them without anyone noticing?

If you can't knock an enemy's magicka bar down with sparks then I suggest you use a more powerful spell.

This is after either a short or long fight with a caster. I promise you, they aren't drinking 47 magicka potions per fight.

The point is that their Wards disperse all damage no matter what the strength of the Ward. And they never run out of magicka so you have no way of preventing this. It's a broken mechanic.

Didn't Bethesda say they were going to patch the game like, the day after release? What ever happened to that?

» Mon May 14, 2012 4:57 am

Yeah, this is an aspect that I hate in Skryim as well as in every video game ever made, ever. The enemies who supposedly draw from the same universe you do are not following the same rules that you do. I find it much more fun to fight enemies on a level playing field that I can relate to.

Granted, they might actually be using magicka potions that we cannot see. However, if they do then we should really be able to see it and know they are playing by the same rules we are.

» Mon May 14, 2012 6:24 am

I've seen NPC mages to run out of mana for a brief 3-10 seconds. Then they are full again. If they are low on mana they stop casting and idle, not run away like PC.

Maybe NPCs are all under attronarch sign? As if they gain magic from incoming spells and have a greater reservoir compared to PC mages.

» Mon May 14, 2012 7:00 am

Get magic resist, enchant to get on your armor, bretons start with 25%, their is a quest that gives a permanent 15%, and a stone that gives you 25%. Mages are a lot easier after these.