Test Center: Casting speed and fast casting

[krrios]

On Test Center today I've collected sample data of casting speeds for paladin spells. Spells were cast in succession 20 times, and the time taken to do that was measured. This was repeated for multiple fast-cast and fast-cast-recovery rates.

When examining the sample rates, a simple algorithm emerged:

<pre>Cast Delay = (SpellLevel - FC) / 4 &lt;min 0.5&gt;
Recovery Delay = (7 - FCR) / 4</pre>

Here is a table of spell levels:

<pre>2: Dispel Evil
3: Consecrate Weapon, Enemy of One
4: Holy Light
5: Divine Fury, Cleanse By Fire
7: Noble Sacrifice, Close Wounds, Remove Curse, Sacred Journey</pre>

Each FC/R level acts to decrease the delay by one fourth of a second (0.25). There are some interesting things about this algorithm.


First, the cast delay has a minimum value of half a second (0.5). As a result, casting Dispel Evil for example, is not influenced at all by FC 1+. Consecrate Weapon and Enemy of One will benefit from FC 1, but not FC 2+.

I am not aware if the recovery delay has a minimum value, as to test that I would need an FCR 6 suit. I don't have such a suit. /php-bin/shared/images/icons/wink.gif


Secondly, it is interesting to note that the recovery delay is not at all influenced by the spell level. At 0 FCR, the recovery delay will always be 1.75 seconds ((7 - 0) / 4). Also, for non-target spells, the recovery delay is not applied if you fizzle; you can fizzle dispel evil two times a second, but once you succeed, you must wait another 1.75 seconds before trying to cast again.


Here's a table detailing the casting delays:

<pre> -3 FC -2 FC -1 FC 0 FC 1 FC 2 FC 3 FC 4 FC 5 FC 6 FC
Dispel Evil 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
Consecrate Weapon 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
Enemy of One 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
Holy Light 1.75 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
Divine Fury 2.00 1.75 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
Cleanse By Fire 2.00 1.75 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50
Noble Sacrifice 2.50 2.25 2.00 1.75 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50
Close Wounds 2.50 2.25 2.00 1.75 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50
Remove Curse 2.50 2.25 2.00 1.75 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50
Sacred Journey 2.50 2.25 2.00 1.75 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.50</pre>

One thing we can see from this is that there is no benefit past 5 FC for even the highest level spells.

Also, a table of the recovery delays: Note, this assumes no minimum recovery delay

<pre> 0 FCR 1 FCR 2 FCR 3 FCR 4 FCR 5 FCR 6 FCR 7 FCR
Recovery Delay 1.75 1.50 1.25 1.00 0.75 0.50 0.25 0.00</pre>

 

[GSG9]

Excellent work, krrios...I've noticed that you like to do technical analyses of UO's gameplay...very useful for those of us who wish to get every advantage we can. Keep up the good work!

 

[Kensuro]

The tables and such you've posted here are really very impressive. Keep up the great work krrios!

 

[Javi]

Just out of curiosity - how would anyone get 5 FC? The max intensity, last I knew was 1, and faster casting does not appear on anything except weapons, shields, rings, and bracelets - which means 4 max...did I miss something, an artifact I suppose? Similar to FCR that will max at 6 because only rings and bracelets can have this property and the max intensity for the property is 3 - am I missing an artifact again?

 

[krrios]

FC5 could be achieved with the 'Ornament of the Magician' artifact, which is FC2/FCR3. With that, a weapon, shield, and ring would put the character to FC5.

With artifacts you can get really high FCR. Consider:

Standard ring, FCR3
Ornament of the Magician, FCR3
Inquisitors Resolution, FCR3
Legacy of the Dread Lord, FCR3


Anyway, thanks for the kind words guys. Now on to necromancy. /php-bin/shared/images/icons/wink.gif

 

[Loke of ls]

I`ve notified a moderator, who hopefully will see it fit to put this up in the faq, ore at least lock it at top., good work there Krrios.

 

[uo_gamer]

I still don't see this in the faq. Is it going in?

 

[Silver_Blade]

Well, I don't PvP, but I'd guess what you found out there means - together with your other findings on swing speed with dex - that mages in PvP are unkillable as long as they have mana.

If mages get a spell off (especially a healing one) in 0.5 seconds, a warrior is plain screwed - since the dex score required for a 0.5 second swing delay is just HUGE, if it at all possible - the shortest delay I can see reasonably achievable are 1 second swings, giving a mage plenty of time inbetween swings to heal up (with fc3 he'll get off a *greater heal* spell in 0.5 seconds??) - and there's not yet factored in that a warrior will not hit with *every* swing.

You ought to post your findings on the UHall - that's gonna start some interesting debate....

 

[uo_gamer]

That formula is for paly. The one he has for mage is slightly different and is posted in mage forum. According to his formulas, paly heal and mage greater heal has the same delay (1 sec at fc3).