Confusing game mechanics. Any dev that can explain this?

[Mortac]

I'm completely confused when it comes to which stats do what, and the in-game Compendium (although the game calls it "compedium"... spelling mistake there just fyi) doesn't help.

The compendium says Clerics and Wizards benefit from Spell Power. It also states that ALL weapons deal a base amount of Physical damage, and that individual ability damage is based upon the Physical damage dealt by your weapon.

Meanwhile, Smite and Fireball state that they deal Holy and Fire damage respectively.

This is incredibly confusing. What does this mean exactly?

Let's use a Cleric with Smite and a 2H Hammer as an example:
- The weapon will have two base stats: a Damage stat and a Spell Power stat.
- Smite states that it deals Holy damage.
- The Compendium states that all weapons deal Physical damage.
- The Compendium also states that Clerics need Spellpower.

So how is the damage calculated?

And does the game calculate damage differently for base attacks versus all other abilities?

Furthermore, the Compendium states that Armor Penetration provides a chance for Physical damage to bypass a target's Armor, while Magic Penetration does the same for a target's Resistance. But I read a post by a user that said he performed some tests. His conclusion was that Smite needs Armor Penetration, while abilities need Magic Penetration. I don't know if he is correct or not, but if this is the case, how is a player supposed to figure this out? I also assume there is something to it, considering that Cleric and Wizard items roll with Armor Penetration and vice versa.

[imgoodryan]

"Here, let me start off by being a condescending AH before I ask you for help, devs!"

Why so salty about a simple spelling error?

Seriously though, you can figure it out since you're so smart! This has been covered thoroughly on multiple occasions on discord.

[Mortac]

I'm not trying to be salty. It was merely a hint for them to correct it. It was not meant as an insult or any such thing. The game is in early access and I was only trying to be helpful. Noticing a missing letter has nothing to do with "being smart."

So they have a Discord, and the info is available on Discord, you say. Why do players need to go and dig for information in a Discord channel when they have an ingame compendium that could explain it though?

But I'll go check there then, thanks.

[DustMan]

Originally posted by Mortac:

Let's use a Cleric with Smite and a 2H Hammer as an example:
- The weapon will have two base stats: a Damage stat and a Spell Power stat.
- Smite states that it deals Holy damage.
- The Compendium states that all weapons deal Physical damage.
- The Compendium also states that Clerics need Spellpower.

So how is the damage calculated?

The skill Smite itself is a spell and thus only scales with Holy/Spell power.

Melee/Physical damage would only come into play if you use the (basically useless) "Melee Attack" skill or any skill with actual physical damage in the description.

[Mortac]

Originally posted by DustMan:

The skill Smite itself is a spell and thus only scales with Holy/Spell power.

Melee/Physical damage would only come into play if you use the (basically useless) "Melee Attack" skill or any skill with actual physical damage in the description.

So, in that case, the person who told me that Smite scaled with Armor Pen (after actually testing it) must've been wrong then, unless there's a bug in play.

This would also mean, then, that having spellpower items rolling with Armor Pen must be changed. What would the point be of having a 2H Hammer or an Orb roll with Armor Pen? Those stats would just be wasted.

Anyway, thank you for answering.

[matke587]

Been gearing my Cleric heavily into spell power / penetration. Also use the magic shield a lot with self healing. Are the self heal and magic shield also effected by spell power?

[Mistocles]

Originally posted by imgoodryan:

"Here, let me start off by being a condescending AH before I ask you for help, devs!"

Why so salty about a simple spelling error?

Seriously though, you can figure it out since you're so smart! This has been covered thoroughly on multiple occasions on discord.

They may just want to play a game with an intuitive UI and clear directions on a central aspect of the game... not have to join a discord to understand how the core mechanics work.

[Tulkus]

Im in the same boat as OP. There needs to be a clear stating of stats. Im a Cleric in melee and using Smite that is a melee and ranged attack. No where does Smite say it is a spell.

[DragynDance]

A bit late to the party, but the way to know is to check the tooltips of the abilities themselves, the compendium is useless. Smite deals purely holy damage, so it only scales with spellpower and spell penetration and is effectively a replacement for the basic attack for cleric. Justice strike, however, does half physical and half holy damage, with the physical component scaling with attack power and the holy component scaling with spellpower. However, you gain far more bang for your buck from spellpower then melee power, simply because in addition to scaling up all of your magic attacks (which like 90% of your damage is magic), while using a shield 25% of your spellpower is converted into free melee power.