Being Worked On Enhancing Mage Summons (level 8 spells)

[Dan]

Spell level 8 magery summons serve little purpose in a modern UO setting.

Summon types:

• Air Elemental
• Water Elemental
• Fire Elemental
• Earth Elemental
• Daemon

I'm also looking for other ideas on how we could balance these in a meaningful way. Please provide feedback below if you have any suggestions.

 

[Wolfbayne]

Overhaul the spell casting AI should be pretty high up on the list then as well. Make sure summons use spells that actually make sense.

 

[Dan]

Overhaul the spell casting AI should be pretty high up on the list then as well. Make sure summons use spells that actually make sense.

I'll need some examples of spells they use that don't make sense so I can take a look.

 

[Dan]

Current Proposed Changes
Looking for feedback on the below changes to enhance the viability of Mage summons, especially in PvM. This will be a gradual update that evolves. Help us reach the best possible outcome!

Global Changes

• Reduced frequency in which monsters will try to dispel by 75%.
  • OnThink 25% of the time they will still look for dispel targets.
• All level 8 mage summons now only take 2 control slots.

Changes By Summon Type

• Air Elemental
  • Hits increased from 150 to 250.
  • Has been given the special ability Lightning Force.
• Daemon
  • Hits increased from 150 to 250.
  • Control slots reduced from 4 to 2.
  • Has been given the special ability Steal Life.
• Earth Elemental
  • Hits increased from 180 to 350.
  • Has been given the special ability Heal.
• Fire Elemental
  • Hits increased from 150 to 250.
  • Control slots reduced from 4 to 2.
  • Has been given the special ability Inferno.
• Water Elemental
  • Hits increased from 165 to 250.
  • Control slots reduced from 3 to 2.
  • Has been given the special ability Mana Drain.

Changes made in the code: https://github.com/TrueUO/TrueUO/pull/1359

 

[Dan]

How MageryAI currently works. (simplest terms)

Every second a monster is thinking. When it casts a spell it goes through these steps:

Currently before the proposed changes:

1. Am I poisoned? If so try to cure. Return to the beginning.
2. Check to see if there is a summons to Dispel. If yes, try to Dispel. Return to the beginning.
3. Cast a combat spell. Return to the beginning.

After the proposed changes:

1. Am I poisoned? If so try to cure. Return to the beginning.
2. Do a 25% chance check to cast the Dispel spell.
   1. If successful, check to see if there is a summons to Dispel. If yes, try to Dispel. Return to the beginning.
   2. Otherwise, continue and do not return to the beginning yet.
3. Cast a combat spell. Return to the beginning.