Ok first off 5 casts of CRS is not instantaneous, it's not even really that quick. It takes a few seconds to prepare the spell enough to cast since no spell can be true "snap"cast. Also it takes a few seconds before the spell even attacks. Having someone with evasion of 260 just stand there and let someone with 80 TM cast at them is not a realistic scenario for even a PvP fight because that isn't going to happen unless there are other factors, which would make that person an easy target anyways (immobolization from halt or hypno, mind blasting, webbing, etc).

Secondly there is more then one defense against TM spells. CRS has a balance hit, evasion is the most balance sensitive defense in the game. Pull out a shield with the skill to defend against that cast and you're almost immune because shields are mostly balance neutral. Then only if the TM is almost equal to the shield skill will they be hit (assuming compareable stats and a shield with defense ratings that match any boosting factors in CRS).

Third, there are several abilties/spells that can enhance balance and cancel out the balance negative effects of CRS. So members of the proper guilds can counter this effect and not be as effected by the balance negatives of CRS.

Lastly, there is a completely full proof action that players can take to avoid the effects of CRS completely. If someone casts CRS at you, LEAVE THE AREA. The spell can't chase you and the spike vanishes very quickly if it has no target.

That's not even taking into account the mana requirements of casting CRS 5 times in a row to inflict that big of a balance hit to begin with. Odds are if the moon mage can cast it that quickly, that many times, they can try to do other things to guarntee the first one hits, such as mind blasting, etc. Because odds are they'll have a few hundred in power perc unless it's a good mana day.

You want skill checks, ok then how about a skill check for leaving the room when CRS is targeted at you? Because there currently is no such check and it's a 100% guarnteed way to avoid the spell completely because of it's pulse nature. Anyone who's paying attention and not commited to an action already can use it.

And who said the skill checked had to be evasion? Shields are balance neutral and anyone using a shield will not be effected by this aspect of CRS regardless of skill. If they've the skill to block CRS with shield they'll block it, wether it's 1 or 20 CRS attacks.

>>I think I should explain something about this post. It was not made with the intent to debate it with moon mages who dont understand balances. It was directed at GMs in order to inform them of an inconsistancy in case they did not know of it. If you feel a need to debate how its ok that a spell is unbalanced then do so with someone who cares to listen to what you have to say.

Rather then a GM respond how bout an informed player respond to an ill-informed/uninformed tester.

First of all Crystal Spike when snapping acts almost like a hybrid so its less target dependant but also teaches less, also that you have to remember crystal spike has a chance of unbalancing a target, which is why consecutive attacks are extremely fatal because the more off balance you get the more accurate it is, also its impossible to dodge the unbalancing affect. This can also be tested with Gar Zeng as it does the same affect.

Second Tezirah's Veil is Spell vs Agility, not will vs will if thats what you were thinking I've done extensive testing on it, and its will vs will. Also it doesn't have a dodge or avoid message much like arch light, so aslong as it hits it'll act as if you hit, but if they resist it it'll fail and give the message that you failled because mana resistance when really that you overcame the spell checks, this also however is the reason for the inconsistancies in the mana point per mana point as someone with higher agility will have a broader range of mana needed to raise it to the next level.


If you have any other questions on what I posted or want me to explain things better just ask and I'll try and check the boards and clarify anything I've missed. BTW TV is horrific and if anything should be uptweaked as it usually takes strongly or greatly blurring its vision to notice an affect and that takes an extremely long time, malediction is more mana effective, stronger, and last a longer time in general

<< That to me seems a little out of whack >>

I find it out of wack that the mage sat around to get hit by the 5 spikes.

I will post some new results with more balanced skills on the side of the offensive caster.

it should also be irrelivant if one side has unbalanced stats/skills with themselfs if the otherside outright wins hands down in all contested aspects. Wich is the case.

SvA spells have a balance component. If the targets balance does not affect the spell at all then its likely not using the SvA structure in its entirety from the tests we did balance did not seem to have any impact whatsoever.

This spell was released before the contested anouncement thats not say it isnt contested but that its reacting abnormally for a contested spell. The only type of contest that makes sense with the description of the spell (when cast) is SvA. It just doesnt seem to be a normal one if one at all. In its current form the Mana seems to be what dictates the given efect on a target regardless of the caster or targets balance. I feel the spell could likely have some improved strength per mana put into if it abided by normal (SvA?) contested rules.