4 items
About this mod
To re-balanced the reasonable magnitude of absorption for Vampiric Drain spell through data calculations. This will allow the spell to be integrated into various character builds.
- Permissions and credits
English is not my native language, and I hope that the following content still makes it as clear as possible for everyone to understand.
【Abstract】
The original Vampiric Drain spell available to players in humanoid type is impractical due to its low effectiveness. This mod aims to re-balance the magnitude of absorption through data calculations to make it more reasonable:
from only 2/3/4/5
to 7/11/14/18 as the Standard version,
and 10/15/20/25 as the Stronger version.
This will allow the spell to be integrated into various character builds.
It's script-free, with only one ESP file.
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【Background】
Vampiric Drain is a concentration spell usable by vampires in their human form. The original spell had a base cost of 6/10/13/17 per second and a base magnitude of absorption of only 2/3/4/5 per second (based on the four stages of vampiric thirst). It does not benefit from the DNovice Destruction perk (MP cost halved effect), nor does it benefit from the built-in cost reduction of Destruction skill level (reducing MP cost by 0.41% per skill point).
【Calculation】
Referring to three kinds of Novice-level elemental destruction spell (Flames, Frostbite, and Sparks), their base damage are 8 pts per second, with an average base MP cost of 16 (14, 16, 19 respectively) pts per second. In the early game, investing just one skill point for the Novice Destruction Perk halves the cost, resulting in a base damage/cost ratio of 8/8 = 1.
The average Destruction skill level for the 10 playable races at level 1 is 17.5, which equates to a 7.175% cost reduction for Destruction spells due to skill level (0.41% cost reduction per skill point multiplied by 17.5).
Therefore, a reasonable damage/cost ratio is calculated as 1 / (1 - 7.175%) = 1.0773. Multiplying the base cost of Vampiric Drain, which was 6/10/13/17, by 1.0773 and making minor adjustments results in 7/11/14/18, which is the reasonable magnitude of absorption for Vampiric Drain.
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【Q&A】
Q1: Why not modify Vampiric Drain to benefit from Destruction skill level or Novice Perk effects?
A1: As stated earlier, the goal is to make this spell potentially usable in various character builds, not limited to those focused on Destruction skill. For example, it can be used in combination with a one-handed weapon or a staff, or by using a shield (or torch) in one hand while using Vampiric Drain with the other. Moreover, since every player installs different mods, to avoid conflicts and overpowered effects, this mod only makes a straightforward adjustment to the absorption value, keeping other settings intact.
Q2: Both Destruction skill level and the Novice Perk reduce the cost of spells, not increase their damage. Why did this mod choose to increase Vampiric Drain's damage (magnitude of absorption) rather than reduce its MP cost?
A2: There are three main reasons. First, to approach the damage/cost ratio of 1.0773, choosing to adjust damage is better than to adjust cost. Second, to make this spell useful in combat builds, low DPS (damage per second) would not be meaningful. Third, Serana's Vampiric Drain has a magnitude of absorption range from 3 to 20, while ordinary vampire NPCs have a range from 2 to 15 (based on their level). Player characters, as Vampire Lord, should have the potential higher than ordinary vampires but not exceeding Serana, who is of the highest bloodline turned by Molag Bal. Therefore, maintaining the cost and adjusting the absorption to 7/11/14/18 is both of theory and practice.
Q3: Setting the magnitude of absorption to 7/11/14/18 is calculated by average Destruction skill level of 17.5 for the 10 playable races at level 1. If my in-game character build focuses on Destruction and reaches a higher Destruction skill level later, won't this value still be low?
A3: Yes. Therefore, this Mod uses 7/11/14/18 as the Standard version, and provides 10/15/20/25 as the Stronger version, which is calculated based on the Destruction skill level of 75. Additionally, even if your character isn't focused on Destruction, due to balancing adjustments in other mods, you might opt for the Stronger version as well after proper evaluation. Players in these situations can consider using the Standard version early in the game and switching to the Stronger version once they reach a certain milestone (e.g., a Destruction skill level of 60 or higher). The only difference between the two versions is the name of the compressed file when downloaded. The esp names inside are the same, and there is no script. They can be safely replaced or uninstalled at any time.
【Abstract】
The original Vampiric Drain spell available to players in humanoid type is impractical due to its low effectiveness. This mod aims to re-balance the magnitude of absorption through data calculations to make it more reasonable:
from only 2/3/4/5
to 7/11/14/18 as the Standard version,
and 10/15/20/25 as the Stronger version.
This will allow the spell to be integrated into various character builds.
It's script-free, with only one ESP file.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
【Background】
Vampiric Drain is a concentration spell usable by vampires in their human form. The original spell had a base cost of 6/10/13/17 per second and a base magnitude of absorption of only 2/3/4/5 per second (based on the four stages of vampiric thirst). It does not benefit from the DNovice Destruction perk (MP cost halved effect), nor does it benefit from the built-in cost reduction of Destruction skill level (reducing MP cost by 0.41% per skill point).
【Calculation】
Referring to three kinds of Novice-level elemental destruction spell (Flames, Frostbite, and Sparks), their base damage are 8 pts per second, with an average base MP cost of 16 (14, 16, 19 respectively) pts per second. In the early game, investing just one skill point for the Novice Destruction Perk halves the cost, resulting in a base damage/cost ratio of 8/8 = 1.
The average Destruction skill level for the 10 playable races at level 1 is 17.5, which equates to a 7.175% cost reduction for Destruction spells due to skill level (0.41% cost reduction per skill point multiplied by 17.5).
Therefore, a reasonable damage/cost ratio is calculated as 1 / (1 - 7.175%) = 1.0773. Multiplying the base cost of Vampiric Drain, which was 6/10/13/17, by 1.0773 and making minor adjustments results in 7/11/14/18, which is the reasonable magnitude of absorption for Vampiric Drain.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
【Q&A】
Q1: Why not modify Vampiric Drain to benefit from Destruction skill level or Novice Perk effects?
A1: As stated earlier, the goal is to make this spell potentially usable in various character builds, not limited to those focused on Destruction skill. For example, it can be used in combination with a one-handed weapon or a staff, or by using a shield (or torch) in one hand while using Vampiric Drain with the other. Moreover, since every player installs different mods, to avoid conflicts and overpowered effects, this mod only makes a straightforward adjustment to the absorption value, keeping other settings intact.
Q2: Both Destruction skill level and the Novice Perk reduce the cost of spells, not increase their damage. Why did this mod choose to increase Vampiric Drain's damage (magnitude of absorption) rather than reduce its MP cost?
A2: There are three main reasons. First, to approach the damage/cost ratio of 1.0773, choosing to adjust damage is better than to adjust cost. Second, to make this spell useful in combat builds, low DPS (damage per second) would not be meaningful. Third, Serana's Vampiric Drain has a magnitude of absorption range from 3 to 20, while ordinary vampire NPCs have a range from 2 to 15 (based on their level). Player characters, as Vampire Lord, should have the potential higher than ordinary vampires but not exceeding Serana, who is of the highest bloodline turned by Molag Bal. Therefore, maintaining the cost and adjusting the absorption to 7/11/14/18 is both of theory and practice.
Q3: Setting the magnitude of absorption to 7/11/14/18 is calculated by average Destruction skill level of 17.5 for the 10 playable races at level 1. If my in-game character build focuses on Destruction and reaches a higher Destruction skill level later, won't this value still be low?
A3: Yes. Therefore, this Mod uses 7/11/14/18 as the Standard version, and provides 10/15/20/25 as the Stronger version, which is calculated based on the Destruction skill level of 75. Additionally, even if your character isn't focused on Destruction, due to balancing adjustments in other mods, you might opt for the Stronger version as well after proper evaluation. Players in these situations can consider using the Standard version early in the game and switching to the Stronger version once they reach a certain milestone (e.g., a Destruction skill level of 60 or higher). The only difference between the two versions is the name of the compressed file when downloaded. The esp names inside are the same, and there is no script. They can be safely replaced or uninstalled at any time.