Just a little question with an even smaller answer

[masterofpuppetz]

Here goes : If I put a drain health effect on an arrow, will the effect stack with each arrow fired at a creature?

[Vagrant0]

Here goes : If I put a drain health effect on an arrow, will the effect stack with each arrow fired at a creature?

No, nothing stacks unless it is caused by seperate spells/enchantments. Actually drain "whatever" spells are one of the more useless (atlkeast in battle) effects in the game. It doesn't actually lower anything really, it just decreases the current ammount for as long as the duration, then restores it once the duration is passed. Drain health 50 would just lower that NPCs health by 50 for the duration of the spell, then just give it right back when done.

 

Usually, you'll just want a damage "whatever" or absorb "whatever" instead of a drain. In all cases though, it won't stack when it is applied again, it will just refresh the duration. You would need multiple enchantments/spells with the same effects for them to stack. IE the effects are based on the base enchantment, not each instance of item which uses it. Two arrows of different types, with the same enchantment, won't stack, but two arrows of two different types, with two different enchantments will.

[Iapetus]

Y'AI NG'NGAH

YOGH-SOTHOTH

H'EE-L'GEB

F'AI THRODOG

UAAAH

 

The only possible use I could see for a drain anything is a poison. While it lacks the long-term potency of Damage [Whatever], it can be used if you are certain that an extra [number] points of damage is all you need to kill [Creature] in one hit.

 

Essentially, it's an assassin's cheap alternative to Damage [Whatever] poison.

 

OGTHROD AI'F

GEB'L-EE'H

YOG-SOTHOTH

'NGAH'NG AI'Y

ZHRO

[MichikoUnknownFox]

That, or if you like making things hard on yourself, give NPCs a spell or weapon that drains your stats. See how you like it when you only have 10 strength when punching them. It seems to be more useful to NPCs and stuff because the player is generally more reliant on personal skills and stats while NPCs can have messed up stats and just rely on their numbers and possibly their equipment to kick your ass.

 

So if you have 3 guys attacking you with knives each draining a different stat (strength, health, blade) you're in for a tough battle. :D

[LoginToDownload]

...Of course, ability damage is still more effective for that.

[Vagrant0]

At any rate, I'd still rather have the effect, than be without it. In certain places, you may just need a drain effect to cause a minor penalty on things like enchanted equipment, that doesn't evetually leave you at 0. Drain stamina 80+ can also be quite effective, even on short duration spells.

[WoogieMonster]

Maybe I am missing the point or even the spirit of the conversation, but why would you waste time and effort to simply 'hurt' an enemy who as soon as you do is going to come at you like a rampaging bull on steroids, regardless of what you drain.

 

I agree with Vagrant0, it is a worthless effect. If it is not designed to kill, it is not in my arsenal.

[Abramul]

Maybe I am missing the point or even the spirit of the conversation, but why would you waste time and effort to simply 'hurt' an enemy who as soon as you do is going to come at you like a rampaging bull on steroids, regardless of what you drain.

 

I agree with Vagrant0, it is a worthless effect. If it is not designed to kill, it is not in my arsenal.

A 100 point Drain Heath spell should instantly kill a boar (if you're not wearing armor), and should kill a black bear that's been damaged for at least a third of it's health. Such a spell, going by the auto-calc in the CS, would cost 32 for touch, and 49 for target, both of which are Apprentice level. In comparison, a 100 point Damage Health (touch) spell would be a 435 point Master spell.

 

So, Drain Health spells are a cheap way to insta-kill weak opponents, or to finish stronger ones off.

 

For what that costs in game: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Oblivion:Spell_Making#Spell_Cost