What's the difference between these two spells?

[Tuoweit]

I am upgrading my Arcane Force spell to level 3, and I get the choice between "Black Hole" (200 dmg, 6x Spell Damage multiplier) and "Arcane Maelstrom" (300 dmg, 4x Spell Damage multiplier). Mathematically though they're identical: 200 x (1.5 x 4) is the same as (200 x 1.5) x 4.

[Draktok]

range on them maybe ? or does one have an effect beyond the dmg?

[Nando | Stunforge]

Originally posted by Tuoweit:

I am upgrading my Arcane Force spell to level 3, and I get the choice between "Black Hole" (200 dmg, 6x Spell Damage multiplier) and "Arcane Maelstrom" (300 dmg, 4x Spell Damage multiplier). Mathematically though they're identical: 200 x (1.5 x 4) is the same as (200 x 1.5) x 4.

The question is how much you can/will leverage over spell damage -> you can always go into “Discoveries” and hover over your spells and see their theoretical damage (whether you have them or not)

Edit for the example:

Frame data: +50% Spelldamage currently

Arcane Force: base damage 250, spell damage x4
250+(250+*0.5*4)
250+(250*2)
250+(500)
750 damage

Strong Arcana: base damage 500, Spell Damage x2
500+(500+*0.5*2)
500+(500*1)
500+(500)
1000 damage

--> Low spell damage is therefore helpful for one spell and high damage for another. It's a question of the path you take.

[Tuoweit]

Originally posted by Nando | Stunforge:

Originally posted by Tuoweit:

I am upgrading my Arcane Force spell to level 3, and I get the choice between "Black Hole" (200 dmg, 6x Spell Damage multiplier) and "Arcane Maelstrom" (300 dmg, 4x Spell Damage multiplier). Mathematically though they're identical: 200 x (1.5 x 4) is the same as (200 x 1.5) x 4.

The question is how much you can/will leverage over spell damage -> you can always go into “Discoveries” and hover over your spells and see their theoretical damage (whether you have them or not)

Edit for the example:

Frame data: +50% Spelldamage currently

Arcane Force: base damage 250, spell damage x4
250+(250+*0.5*4)
250+(250*2)
250+(500)
750 damage

Strong Arcana: base damage 500, Spell Damage x2
500+(500+*0.5*2)
500+(500*1)
500+(500)
1000 damage

--> Low spell damage is therefore helpful for one spell and high damage for another. It's a question of the path you take.

Thanks for the reply!
Let's do that math again but with 150% spell damage - but I'll write 500 as 250*2 to make my point more clearly:

Arcane Force: base damage 250, spell damage x4
250+(250*1.5*4)
250+(250*6)
250+(1500)
1750 damage

Strong Arcana: base damage 500, Spell Damage x2
500+(250*2*1.5*2)
500+(250*6)
500+(1500)
2000 damage


And again at 300% spell damage:
Arcane Force: base damage 250, spell damage x4
250+(250*3*4)
250+(250*12)
250+(3000)
3250 damage

Strong Arcana: base damage 500, Spell Damage x2
500+(250*2*3*2)
500+(250*12)
500+(3000)
3500 damage

Notice how the damage difference between the two spells remains the same (250) at all levels of spell damage, which is the difference between the base damage of each spell.

This is because doubling the base damage is mathematically identical to doubling the spell damage factor. We're multiplying everything together and multiplication is transitive.

To change this I think you'd have to find a different variation on the spell other than fiddling with base damage or spell damage multiplier.

[Nando | Stunforge]

Originally posted by Tuoweit:

Originally posted by Nando | Stunforge:

The question is how much you can/will leverage over spell damage -> you can always go into “Discoveries” and hover over your spells and see their theoretical damage (whether you have them or not)

Edit for the example:

Frame data: +50% Spelldamage currently

Arcane Force: base damage 250, spell damage x4
250+(250+*0.5*4)
250+(250*2)
250+(500)
750 damage

Strong Arcana: base damage 500, Spell Damage x2
500+(500+*0.5*2)
500+(500*1)
500+(500)
1000 damage

--> Low spell damage is therefore helpful for one spell and high damage for another. It's a question of the path you take.

Thanks for the reply!
Let's do that math again but with 150% spell damage - but I'll write 500 as 250*2 to make my point more clearly:

Arcane Force: base damage 250, spell damage x4
250+(250*1.5*4)
250+(250*6)
250+(1500)
1750 damage

Strong Arcana: base damage 500, Spell Damage x2
500+(250*2*1.5*2)
500+(250*6)
500+(1500)
2000 damage


And again at 300% spell damage:
Arcane Force: base damage 250, spell damage x4
250+(250*3*4)
250+(250*12)
250+(3000)
3250 damage

Strong Arcana: base damage 500, Spell Damage x2
500+(250*2*3*2)
500+(250*12)
500+(3000)
3500 damage

Notice how the damage difference between the two spells remains the same (250) at all levels of spell damage, which is the difference between the base damage of each spell.

This is because doubling the base damage is mathematically identical to doubling the spell damage factor. We're multiplying everything together and multiplication is transitive.

To change this I think you'd have to find a different variation on the spell other than fiddling with base damage or spell damage multiplier.

Absolutely right, thanks for checking: Its a pure early game / knowing about the further strategy difference. But I also think that we should make it more interesting - noted hehe