Difference between revisions of "Crystal ball of Wucad Mu"

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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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{{flavour|A perfect sphere of crystal, overflowing with magical energies.}}
''For the old version of this item, see [[staff of Wucad Mu]].''
 
  
 
[[File:Crystal ball of wucad mu.png]] '''''the crystal ball of Wucad Mu'''''
 
[[File:Crystal ball of wucad mu.png]] '''''the crystal ball of Wucad Mu'''''
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[[Orb]]
 
[[Orb]]
  
[[Channel]]++
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[[Channel]] ([[Energy]] x2)
  
 
==Mechanics==
 
==Mechanics==
An [[orb]] of [[energy]] with double the refund rate, but double the spell failure. When successfully casting a spell, you have a 40% chance to have your MP refunded. When you [[miscast]] a spell, you will always have MP refunded.
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The crystal ball of Wucad Mu functions as an [[orb]] of [[energy]] with double the refund rate.
  
Increases your raw [[spell failure]] rate by +20%. For reference, the first level of [[wizardry]] reduces it by 25%. Raw spell failure is then modified by a stepdown, so the actual failure increase will often be less than 20%.
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When successfully casting a spell, you have a 40% chance to have the full MP refunded. When you [[miscast]] a spell, you will always have MP refunded. However, it increases your ''raw'' [[spell failure]] chance by +10%. (For reference, the first stack of [[wizardry]] reduces raw spell failure by x75%.)
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Note that this does not mean that your spell failure actually increases by +10%, as its modified by a function. See the [[Spell Success#Final Step|Spell Success]] page for details.
  
 
==Desirability==
 
==Desirability==
The '''crystal ball of Wucad Mu'''<ref>{{source ref|0.30.0|art-data.txt|268}}</ref> is useful for magical characters. It gives a significant amount of MP reduction, at the cost of negative wizardry. Since this orb refunds MP on cast, it's best thought as "making you waste a few turns here or there" rather than "making you fail more often".
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The '''crystal ball of Wucad Mu'''<ref>{{source ref|0.32.0|art-data.txt|268}}</ref> is useful for magical characters. It restores a significant portion of your MP, at the cost of negative wizardry. Since this orb always refunds MP on miscast, it's best thought as "making you waste a few turns here or there" rather than "making you fail more often".
  
However, it takes up the shield slot. It also does nothing to help those who've run out of MP entirely. 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.
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However, it takes up the shield slot, reducing your defense. In addition, the mana reduction is not guaranteed, meaning you can run out of MP without the orb activating once. Regardless, being able to cast spells a few more times can make the difference between victory and running dry mid-fight. Overall, it is a powerful item balanced by its fair share of drawbacks.
  
[[Djinn]] do not use MP and do not benefit from this item.
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Characters who do not plan to cast spells at all have no use for this orb, nor do [[Djinn]], who do not use MP and thus have no use for channeling.
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
*In [[0.30]], this item will replace the [[staff of Wucad Mu]]. It features new [[channeling]] mechanics compared to its staff version.
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*This item was introduced in [[0.30]], replacing the [[staff of Wucad Mu]]. [[Channeling]] mechanics were also changed in this version.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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[[Category:Unrands]]
 
[[Category:Unrands]]
 
[[Category:Orbs]]
 
[[Category:Orbs]]
[[Category:Crystal Ball Articles]]
 

Latest revision as of 02:30, 24 October 2024

Version 0.32: This article is up to date for the latest stable release of Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup.
A perfect sphere of crystal, overflowing with magical energies.

Crystal ball of wucad mu.png the crystal ball of Wucad Mu

Orb

Channel (Energy x2)

Mechanics

The crystal ball of Wucad Mu functions as an orb of energy with double the refund rate.

When successfully casting a spell, you have a 40% chance to have the full MP refunded. When you miscast a spell, you will always have MP refunded. However, it increases your raw spell failure chance by +10%. (For reference, the first stack of wizardry reduces raw spell failure by x75%.)

Note that this does not mean that your spell failure actually increases by +10%, as its modified by a function. See the Spell Success page for details.

Desirability

The crystal ball of Wucad Mu[1] is useful for magical characters. It restores a significant portion of your MP, at the cost of negative wizardry. Since this orb always refunds MP on miscast, it's best thought as "making you waste a few turns here or there" rather than "making you fail more often".

However, it takes up the shield slot, reducing your defense. In addition, the mana reduction is not guaranteed, meaning you can run out of MP without the orb activating once. Regardless, being able to cast spells a few more times can make the difference between victory and running dry mid-fight. Overall, it is a powerful item balanced by its fair share of drawbacks.

Characters who do not plan to cast spells at all have no use for this orb, nor do Djinn, who do not use MP and thus have no use for channeling.

History

References