Overview
This guide explains a way to enable a skilled enough character of any race, wearing any gear, to boost their Magicka to the point where they can cast essentially any amount of spells, of any magnitude, that they wish. This is done using a series of Fortification buffs provided by Restoration.
Introduction
This guide was born out of my Max-Difficulty Character Build guide, and a discussion post here. It is hopefully a short explanation on how to grant any sufficiently skilled character a ridiculous amount of Magicka, allowing them to cast basically anything for a short period of time. That particular guide is found here.
[link]Total Magicka = twice a character’s Intelligence, so 100 Intelligence = 200 Magicka. Magicka Regeneration in Oblivion, with standard toolset settings, is calculated as: {1% of total magicka} x {[2% of Willpower] +0.75} Magicka Per Second. So a Character with a 200 Magicka and 100 Willpower will regenerate: {1% of 200 = 2} x {2% of 100 = 2, plus 0.75} = 2 x 2.75 = 5.5 Magicka per second, or 2.75% of their total magicka per second.
Custom spells are only allowed to have one of each category of effect on each spell. So for e.g. it is not possible to create a custom spell that fortifies both Intelligence AND Willpower. However! It is possible to create custom spells that both Fortify Attribute 100points and Fortify Magicka 100 points at the same time. Each spell effect is restricted to 100pts for 120 seconds maximum.
In addition: Custom spells with effects from multiple schools take into account each school’s skill value for the purposes of magicka calculation. However: the spell itself is treated as being of the school which effect’s cost the most magicka. For e.g a Custom spell can have both Fortify Attribute 100pts [Restoration] and Fire Shield 3% [Alteration] for the same duration. Both school’s Skill values are taken into account for Magicka calculation, however the spell itself will be treated as a Restoration spell.
This particular process requires the Character to have the following:
- 100 Base Intelligence [and therefore 200 Magicka],
- 100 Base Willpower
- 100 Base Restoration Skill
Base = NOT fortified.
The principle is basically: Cast a bunch of short-term pre buffs that enhance Magicka and Willpower, then use the boosts from these to cast a series of long-term buffs. The short term buffs are designed to expire mid-way through the longterm buff procedure, but last long enough to make sure that they can all be casted.
A ‘Timer’ effect is attached to the first Long-term buff, which will indicate when the series of long-term buffs is about to expire. I used ‘Fire Shield’ as a Timer, because it’s not an effect that one would typically buff themselves with, nor could it be received as poison/enchantment damage. Casting the Long-Term buffs after the ‘Timer’ runs out, should result in the character having enough Magicka/Willpower to not require casting Prep buffs again.
The goal is: Near-Infinite Magicka Regeneration for as long as possible. Combined, all the long term buffs should provide enough of a boost to Magicka, such that basically any long series of High-level [as in 500+ Magicka per spell] spells can be cast without running out of magicka. At the same time, the buff procedure can’t drag on for too long, because if it does, there’ll be no time to cast anything. So: There needs to be a limited number of buffs, and to save time, they need to be cast straight after each other without stopping.
To achieve this, a combination of Fortify Attribute+ Fortify Magicka Spells are cast in a specific order, aiming to keep as close to the Optimum Magicka Regeneration point as possible {Magicka = 75 + (2xWillpower)}.
‘A Spell Label’, Spell Type. ‘A Spell Label’ places them at the top of the Spell list, making them easy to find.
WillMagic > Fort Willpower 100points, Fort Magicka 100pts.
IntMagic > Fort Intelligence 100points, Fort Magicka 100pts.
BuffPrep > A 28 Second Duration Custom spell.
Master > A 120 Second Duration Custom spell.
Timer > Fire Shield 3% for 120 Seconds.
Method
First up, you’ll need to make the Prep Spells.
Some Calculations:
100 Attribute for 28 sec = 122 magicka. 28 seconds should be ample time to cast 13 spells.
100 Magicka for 28 sec = 31 magicka.
Total 100/100 spell = 153 Magicka/Prep Spell.
A spell takes about 2 seconds to cast, and there’s about a 1.25 second period for Magicka to regenerate between each cast. The result is that: With high enough Magicka and Willpower, Magicka will regenerate PAST the value that it took to cast the spell to begin with. In addition: Any spell that fortifies magicka adds to the Magicka pool available for spellcasting [until the spell wears off].
Head to a Spellmaking Altar and make the following spells:
- A BuffPrep 1: Fortify Intelligence 100pts for 28 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 28 seconds.
- A BuffPrep 2: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 28 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 28 seconds.
- A BuffPrep 3: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 28 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 28 seconds.
- A BuffPrep 4: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 28 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 28 seconds.
- A BuffPrep 5: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 28 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 28 seconds.
- A BuffPrep 6: Fortify Intelligence 100pts for 28 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 28 seconds.
- A BuffPrep 7: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 28 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 28 seconds.
- A BuffPrep 8: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 28 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 28 seconds.
- A BuffPrep 9: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 28 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 28 seconds.
So: Cast the 9 Prep spells in the order they appear in the spellbook.
- A BuffPrep 1, IntMagic: Fortify Intelligence 100pts for 28 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 28 seconds.
500 total Magicka/100 Willpower, 200 initial magicka + 300 Magicka from Fortify Effects – [153- {5×2.75×1.25sec regen = ~17 magicka regenerated] = 500 – [153-17] = 364 magicka remaining at the time of the next spell being cast. - A BuffPrep 2, WillMagic > 600/200, 464 – [153-35] = 346 remaining.
- A BuffPrep3, WillMagic > 700/300, 446-[153-59] = 352 remaining.
- A BuffPrep4, WillMagic > 800/400, 452-[153-87] = 386 remaining.
- A BuffPrep5, WillMagic > 900/500, 486 – [153-121] = 454 remaining.
- A BuffPrep6, IntMagic > 1200/500, 754 – [161-153], Regen overtakes spell cost = 762 remaining.
- A BuffPrep7, WillMagic > 1300/600, 862 + [207-153] = 916 remaining.
- A BuffPrep8, WillMagic > 1400/700, 1016 + [258-153] = 1121 remaining.
- A BuffPrep9, WillMagic > 1500/800, 1221 + [314-153] = 1382 remaining.
After the Prep procedure, you’ll need to make some Master Magicka buffs. This was impossible to do previously, as the character didn’t have enough magicka to cast them, and thus the option would not have been available at a Spellmaking Altar.
Some more Calculations:
100 Attribute for 120 sec = 522 Magicka.
100 Magicka for 120 sec = 131 Magicka.
Timer: Fire Shield 3% for 120 sec = 46 Magicka Base Cost. Depending on Alteration skill level, this spell effect could cost anywhere between 9-62 Magicka, though the spell it is attached to will still be treated as a Restoration spell, making Alteration skill level next to irrelevant. This effect is used as a Timer to indicate when the first master buff is about to expire.
Total 100/100 = 653 magicka [715 with Timer effect at Alteration 5].
Whilst the Prep buffs are active: Head to a Spellmaking altar again, and make the following spells:
- A Master A: Fortify Intelligence 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds, Fire Shield 3% for 120 Seconds.
- A Master B: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master C: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master D: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master E: Fortify Intelligence 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master F: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master G: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master H: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master I: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master J: Fortify Intelligence 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master K: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master L: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
- A Master M: Fortify Willpower 100pts for 120 Seconds, Fortify Magicka 100pts for 120 seconds.
13 total this time, and after the 4th is cast, prep spells begin to run out, Master spells replace prep spells, and Magicka/Willpower stay the same.
- A Master A, IntMagicTimer > 1800/800, 1682 – [715-386] = 1507 remaining.
- A Master B, WillMagic > 1900/900, 1607 – [653-445] = 1399 remaining.
- A Master C, WillMagic > 2000/1000, 1499 – [653-518] = 1364 remaining.
- A Master D, WillMagic > 2100/1100, 1464 – [653-597] = 1408 remaining.
Prep spells run out here, Master spells mimic prep spells. - A Master E, IntMagic > 2100/1100, 1408 – 56 = 1352 remaining.
- A Master F, WillMagic > 2100/1100, 1352 – 56 = 1296 remaining.
- A Master G, WillMagic > 2100/1100, 1296 – 56 = 1240 remaining.
- A Master H, WillMagic > 2100/1100, 1240 – 56 = 1184 remaining.
- A Master I, WillMagic> 2100/1100, 1184 – 56 = 1128 remaining.
- A Master J, IntMagic > 2100/1100, 1128 – 56 = 1072 remaining.
- A Master K, WillMagic > 2100/1100, 1072 – 56 = 1016 remaining.
- A Master L, WillMagic > 2100/1100, 1016 – 56 = 960 remaining.
- A Master M, WillMagic > 2100/1100, 960 – 56 = 904 remaining.
In a nutshell:
Cast BuffPrep’s 1-9, then cast Master’s A-M.
To keep up the high Magicka: ‘Just’ as the Timer Effect [Fire Shield] is wearing off, cast all the Master Buffs again from A-M [shouldn’t need prep this time!].
Result
By the end of this procedure, the Character will end up with:
2100 Magicka, 1100 Willpower and regenerates {21}x{22.75} = 477 Magicka/Second (0-100% Magicka in 4.39 seconds), for ~93 seconds.
This leaves the Character to cast spells such as:
- Fortify Speed and Athletics 100 Points for 120 Seconds [Cost: 522×2 = 1044 Magicka], then almost immediately after cast:
- Resist Magic 100% for 120 Seconds [spell cost: 0.2 x 363.07 x 120 = ~1742 Magicka]…
…Leaving the character free to, say, charge headlong very fast into a pack of Liches without giving a sh*t.
Have fun!