Difference between revisions of "Staff of Wucad Mu"

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(It's high time somebody updated this. I think I'm parsing all the code correctly.)
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{{flavour|A crystal staff overflowing with magical energies. It occasionally powers the spells of the user, but with the risk of damaging the user's mind. Its power depends on the wielder's Evocations skill.}}
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{{flavour|A crystal staff overflowing with magical energies, which can be channeled by a skilled wielder to allow them to cast spells without exhausting any of their own magical energies — at the risk of damaging the user's mind.}}
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''For the current version of this item, see [[crystal ball of Wucad Mu]].''
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[[File:Staff of wucad mu.png]] '''''the +9 staff of Wucad Mu'''''
 
[[File:Staff of wucad mu.png]] '''''the +9 staff of Wucad Mu'''''
  
 
+9 [[staff]]
 
+9 [[staff]]
  
Channels MP (may refund the MP of spells cast by the wielder)
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[[Channeling|Channels MP]] (may refund the MP of spells cast by the wielder)
  
 
==Mechanics==
 
==Mechanics==
When casting a spell while wielding the staff of Wucad Mu<ref>{{source ref|0.27.1|spl-cast.cc|669}}</ref>, you have a <code>Evocations / 54</code> chance of regaining the MP used in the spell. Each time this happens, you have a <code>1 / (Evocations - MP cost)</code> chance of either being confused for <code>2 + 1d4</code> turns or losing 3-6 [[intelligence]].
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When casting a spell while wielding the staff of Wucad Mu<ref>{{source ref|0.29.1|spl-cast.cc|694}}</ref>, you have a <code>3 * Evocations / 108</code> chance of regaining the MP used in the spell (75% chance at 27 Evocations). This chance stacks with the chance from wielding an [[orb]] of [[energy]] -- see the [[Channeling]] page for more details.
  
[[Djinn]] do not use MP and cannot activate the staff of Wucad Mu.
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Each time this happens, you have a <code>1 / (Evocations - MP cost)</code> chance of either being confused for <code>1 + 1d4</code> turns or losing 1-5 [[intelligence]].
  
 
==Desirability==
 
==Desirability==
The '''staff of Wucad Mu'''<ref>{{source ref|0.27.1|art-data.txt|267}}</ref> is most useful for characters that have invested heavily in both [[Evocations]] and magic. Without high Evocations, you have little chance of refunding your MP and run the risk of incurring deleterious intelligence penalties; without significant training in Spellcasting and magical skills, you have nothing worth spending large amounts of MP on (or indeed much MP to work with).
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The '''staff of Wucad Mu'''<ref>{{source ref|0.29.1|art-data.txt|269}}</ref> is most useful for characters that have invested heavily in both [[Evocations]] and magic. Evocations is required to actually get MP, while magic skill is required so that you can actually make use of mana. Many evocable items tend to be redundant with a good spell repertoire, so it's somewhat difficult to invest in both.
  
Still, the ability to cast your most powerful spells even a few more times can make a difference between victory and running dry mid-fight. The extra Evocations training will also come in handy for any [[wand]]s or other [[evocable items]] you might want to use.
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The staff of Wucad Mu does little to help those who have run out of MP entirely, as it only ''refunds'' a spell's MP cost. Regardless, the ability to cast your most powerful spells even a few more times can and will make a difference between victory and running dry mid-fight. Overall, it is a powerful item balanced by its fair share of drawbacks -  assuming you're casting spells in the first place.  
  
Keep in mind that successfully activating the staff refunds the cost of spells you cost instead of providing the MP for the spells up-front -- the staff of Wucad Mu does little to help those who have run out of MP entirely.
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[[Ziggurat]] raiders have the high-level spells to cast and the XP to spare; they'll find few better items to wield for general use. While confusion is annoying for [[lichform]] players, a source of [[Clarity]] will block it entirely, while Intelligence drain will be cured near instantly.
  
While a normal [[magical staff]] both increases your [[spellpower]] and generally makes a better bludgeoning tool than even a +9 mundane [[staff]], the staff of Wucad Mu can still be used to finish off weakened, lightly armoured opponents.
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[[Djinn]] do not use MP and cannot activate the staff of Wucad Mu, other than using it to bludgeon enemies as a plain +9 [[staff]]. By no means a main weapon, a non-Djinn could use this to finish off weakened enemies.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
*In [[0.28]], sources of channeling will be stackable, and the staff of Wucad Mu will count as two such sources.
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*In [[0.30]], this item was replaced by the [[crystal ball of Wucad Mu]]. Also, channeling mechanics were changed between versions.
*Prior to [[0.27]], the staff of Wucad Mu could be evoked to restore MP, but had a chance of backfiring when used in this manner.
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*In [[0.28]], sources of channeling were made stackable. Wucad Mu refunds MP 1.5x as much (now counting as 3 sources, but each source was halved).
*Prior to [[0.26]], the staff of Wucad Mu provided channeling like the now-defunct [[staff of energy]].
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*In [[0.27]], the staff was buffed: it refunds MP more often (1.5x) and refunds MP even when it backfires.
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*Prior to [[0.26]], the staff of Wucad Mu could be evoked to restore MP, but had a chance of backfiring when used in this manner.
 
*Prior to [[0.20]], the staff's negative effects were based on [[Divinations]] [[miscast effect]]s.
 
*Prior to [[0.20]], the staff's negative effects were based on [[Divinations]] [[miscast effect]]s.
 
*Prior to [[0.12]], the enchantments on this weapon depended on intelligence and were capable of reaching up to +22/+13.
 
*Prior to [[0.12]], the enchantments on this weapon depended on intelligence and were capable of reaching up to +22/+13.
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[[Category:Unrands]]
 
[[Category:Unrands]]
 
[[Category:Staves]]
 
[[Category:Staves]]
[[Category:Crystal Ball Articles]]
 

Latest revision as of 12:43, 10 May 2023

Obsolete: This article refers to an aspect of the game which has been removed. It is retained for historical reference only.
A crystal staff overflowing with magical energies, which can be channeled by a skilled wielder to allow them to cast spells without exhausting any of their own magical energies — at the risk of damaging the user's mind.

For the current version of this item, see crystal ball of Wucad Mu.

Staff of wucad mu.png the +9 staff of Wucad Mu

+9 staff

Channels MP (may refund the MP of spells cast by the wielder)

Mechanics

When casting a spell while wielding the staff of Wucad Mu[1], you have a 3 * Evocations / 108 chance of regaining the MP used in the spell (75% chance at 27 Evocations). This chance stacks with the chance from wielding an orb of energy -- see the Channeling page for more details.

Each time this happens, you have a 1 / (Evocations - MP cost) chance of either being confused for 1 + 1d4 turns or losing 1-5 intelligence.

Desirability

The staff of Wucad Mu[2] is most useful for characters that have invested heavily in both Evocations and magic. Evocations is required to actually get MP, while magic skill is required so that you can actually make use of mana. Many evocable items tend to be redundant with a good spell repertoire, so it's somewhat difficult to invest in both.

The staff of Wucad Mu does little to help those who have run out of MP entirely, as it only refunds a spell's MP cost. Regardless, the ability to cast your most powerful spells even a few more times can and will make a difference between victory and running dry mid-fight. Overall, it is a powerful item balanced by its fair share of drawbacks - assuming you're casting spells in the first place.

Ziggurat raiders have the high-level spells to cast and the XP to spare; they'll find few better items to wield for general use. While confusion is annoying for lichform players, a source of Clarity will block it entirely, while Intelligence drain will be cured near instantly.

Djinn do not use MP and cannot activate the staff of Wucad Mu, other than using it to bludgeon enemies as a plain +9 staff. By no means a main weapon, a non-Djinn could use this to finish off weakened enemies.

History

  • In 0.30, this item was replaced by the crystal ball of Wucad Mu. Also, channeling mechanics were changed between versions.
  • In 0.28, sources of channeling were made stackable. Wucad Mu refunds MP 1.5x as much (now counting as 3 sources, but each source was halved).
  • In 0.27, the staff was buffed: it refunds MP more often (1.5x) and refunds MP even when it backfires.
  • Prior to 0.26, the staff of Wucad Mu could be evoked to restore MP, but had a chance of backfiring when used in this manner.
  • Prior to 0.20, the staff's negative effects were based on Divinations miscast effects.
  • Prior to 0.12, the enchantments on this weapon depended on intelligence and were capable of reaching up to +22/+13.
  • Prior to 0.11, this item appeared as an ephemeral quarterstaff when unidentified.
  • Prior to 0.8, this staff would occasionally cause miscast effects simply by attacking with it.

References