How do I increase the chances of successfully casting spells?

[Spiral]

Does anyone know how to increase the chances of successfully casting spells? I'm a low-level character (currently level 3 as of the time of this post). Is it skill based (if I have a high Alteration skill, will I have a better chance of casting spells in the Alteration skill tree?) or is it attribute-based (will increasing my Willpower help?). Does anyone know what may help?

DO NOT POINT ME TOWARDS MODS!

Edit: I am fully aware I can reload a quicksave to try casting again, but even then, I find myself loading that save at least 3 times before getting a spell to work. And plus, this method is not very effective in combat.

[AC Denton]

https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Magic

In addition to cost, a spell has a chance of being cast successfully, just like a weapon has a chance of successfully striking an opponent. The chance of success is modified by your skill in that spell's magic school, Willpower, current Fatigue, and Luck.

You'll see this indicated on your spell list as a number/number, the first being the magicka requirement for casting & the second being your chance of success.

[psychotron666]

It's both.

Skill level is obviously most important. As that goes up, your chances to cast go up. But the attribute also affects this, as well as fatigue (try to never be in combat with no stamina).

Like when I enchant stuff, I make fortify intelligence potions and increase it to 2000, guaranteeing my success in enchanting even with a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ enchanting skill. The governing attribute affects it quite a bit.

[piccolo255]

Publicado originalmente por psychotron666:

The governing attribute affects it quite a bit.

It's not really about the governing attribute. For example, Illusion's governing attribute is Personality, but it's not affected by Personality in any way whatsoever -- casting chance is still influenced by Willpower. Light Armor gets no bonuses from Agility. Security gets no bonus from Intelligence... but does from Agility and Luck. Short Blade gets nothing from Speed, but is improved by Strength (+ damage), Agility (+ hit chance), and Luck (ditto). The list goes on :/

It's better to think of attribute bonuses and skill bonuses as separate concepts. Intelligence improves enchanting, but not because it's the governing attribute for the Enchant skill -- that's just a coincidence.

[Valden21]

Well, there are multiple factors, but the biggest factor involved is skill level. Yes, you can increase your skill level, and there's two ways to go about it. The first is basically that you just keep at it, but under the required conditions. So in order to stand a chance of being able to cast one of the Destruction spells, you need to be in combat at the time.

The other is by use of the NPC trainers, who require gold in order to use them. Every skill in the game has them, and they're scattered throughout Vvardenfell district. The magic-based trainers can usually be found in the Mages Guild branches, House Telvanni bases, Imperial Cult chapels, and Tribunal temples.

[Kruenpiper]

Fatigue. Fatigue. Fatigue. Low Fatigue tanks your chance of a successful spell attempt.

[Teralitha]

Get an alchemy kit and make restore fatigue and healing potions. Use them.

[psychotron666]

Publicado originalmente por piccolo255:

Publicado originalmente por psychotron666:

The governing attribute affects it quite a bit.

It's not really about the governing attribute. For example, Illusion's governing attribute is Personality, but it's not affected by Personality in any way whatsoever -- casting chance is still influenced by Willpower. Light Armor gets no bonuses from Agility. Security gets no bonus from Intelligence... but does from Agility and Luck. Short Blade gets nothing from Speed, but is improved by Strength (+ damage), Agility (+ hit chance), and Luck (ditto). The list goes on :/

It's better to think of attribute bonuses and skill bonuses as separate concepts. Intelligence improves enchanting, but not because it's the governing attribute for the Enchant skill -- that's just a coincidence.

Wow, 15 years of playing morrowind and I learn something new. I only ever tested willpower and intelligence buffed way up for purposes of spellcasting and enchanting, it just so happened that a buffed intelligence affects enchanting and a buffed willpower effects spellcasting.
So I assumed it was them being the governing attribute, I never actually tested illusion or conjuration spells with fortified willpower or fortified intelligence/personality to see how they affected them, I just assumed that since my destruction and restoration spells were upped with an upped willpower it was because of governing attribute and not just the nature of willpower.

Both just coincidence I guess.

[piccolo255]

Publicado originalmente por psychotron666:

Wow, 15 years of playing morrowind and I learn something new.

Indeed :) As a returning player reading up about game mechanics on UESP, I found out about it just recently myself.

So it turned out all that time I previously spent raising Speed trying to improve my Short Blade, or raising Endurance trying to improve my Medium Armor armor rating, was almost completely wasted. Obviously, I was a bit annoyed :)

[Elorian]

buy a spell, purchase a spell remake (at 1 magicka point if possible), then go some isolated place and practice casting your new spell. of course you will need to restore magicka or rest a lot. This not only improves your percentage chance of casting that (and related) spell but also gives you better attribute advances upon levelling up.