Alteration Experts-- I have a question : V

» Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:20 am

I'm just wondering how long the duration is for an armor buff (dual casted) with the 1/1 Stability perk.

Assume Alteration is at (or close to) 100.

Thanks!!

» Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:02 pm

Prett sure dual cast doubles the duration, and stability is 50% on the base (which includes doublecast)

So you get 60 base
120 dual cast
180 dual cast + stability

» Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:16 pm

Prett sure dual cast doubles the duration, and stability is 50% on the base (which includes doublecast)

So you get 60 base
120 dual cast
180 dual cast + stability

Any idea how much stability lengthens the duration?

» Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:09 am

50% (like i says)

» Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:54 am

50% (like i says) :smile:

DERP I read that wrong. Sorry--- and thanks.

» Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:53 am

Stability on it's own gives you a duration of 90 seconds
Dual-Cast on it's own SLIGHTLY over 120 seconds (It's like 132 or so. Dual cast is something like +115% effect/duration and +120-130% cost.)
Dual-Cast w/ Stability is just over 3 minutes (180 seconds) I think it's like 198 seconds.

» Sat Jun 09, 2012 4:22 pm

_{Right now I have 99 Alteration with all the perks mentioned. I haven't timed how long it lasts but RoninOni apparently has so I'd take his word for it. But it sure doesn't seem that long. I find myself having to continually recast Ebony Flesh or I end up getting cut down like a daisy. Also, at 99 alteration, dual casting Ebony Flesh drains all but around 10% of my Magica (with about 350 magica). With the Arch-Mage robes it isn't so bad but without them, it can get pretty hairy in terms of protection.}

_{And pretty soon I'll be able to buy the Dragonflesh from Tolfdir. There's no way I'll be able to dual cast that one.}

» Sat Jun 09, 2012 4:09 am

Just an fyi- the alteration skill is not affecting duration times- it only affects costs.

» Sat Jun 09, 2012 10:30 am

_{And pretty soon I'll be able to buy the Dragonflesh from Tolfdir. There's no way I'll be able to dual cast that one.}

All Master level spells take both hands, without gaining the benefit of the "Dual Casting" perk. So you can't "Dual Cast" Dragonhide for double duration. Just take a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FE7HABvkCU

» Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:02 pm

^It does however, cap your physical damage resistance... so is def worth taking the Master Half cost perk.

Also, while Dual-Cast effectively becomes useless if all you use is Dragonhide... it would still work with Ebony Flesh providing a much longer lasting, though less effective, physical damage mitigation.... not to mention dual-casting can help you until you do get dragon hide... which is many many many levels

@Bacillus: Are you a puremage or a spellsword? I can't see a pure mage ever having much issue since your magicka pool should be massive. Spellswords are more apt to have some problem... but then, with some decent regen gear not really since their magicka recharges quickly enough while they fight with sword.

Also, you can actually view armor durations in "Active Effects" as well.... that's where I got the 132 seconds from... a semi-hazy memory of when I checked the duration on my Armor right after dual-casting.... that and I remember reading somewhere (and then confirming myself) that dual-casting increases effectiveness by more than 2x, but that the magicka cost increase was even higher than the effect increase. TOTALLY worth it for the armors though (and with destro it's worth it for impact)