LE Illussion: Value Sight

[securitywyrm]

I'd like to suggest an illusion spell that makes objects glow based on their ratio of value to weight.

 

Example: A room has three objects in it

Object 1: Potion of healing. .5 weight, 50 value.

Object 2: Silver sword. 7 weight, 100 value

Object 3: Steel sword. 7 weight, 35 value.

 

So the brightness level of each object while casting this spell is value/weight, so the potion would glow 100 units (50/.5), the silver sword would glow 14 units, and the steel sword would glow 5 units. As such the potion would be glowing very bright, the silver sword would be glowing, and the steel sword would barely shed any light.

 

Use of this spell: Quickly scan a room or area for the most valuable objects.

 

Difficulties

1. Doesn't reveal what's in chests. If this is possible, make the chest glow as the most valuable object in it.

2. Some objects have no weight like gold and arrows. Perhaps make the glow ratio (Value / (Weight+0.01)

[nixaguy]

Wow, this sounds like an awesome idea, it would be neat to see if this is possible with the CS

[DocTolly]

Don't know how good your maths is, but even value/(x + 0.01) would display "100" for coins. Maybe just letting it display the infinite symbol if weight is zero?

[securitywyrm]

Don't know how good your maths is, but even value/(x + 0.01) would display "100" for coins. Maybe just letting it display the infinite symbol if weight is zero?

 

Well let's try some alternate math

Original, Glow = Value / weight

Object 1: Potion of healing. .5 weight, 50 value. = 100

Object 2: Silver sword. 7 weight, 100 value = 14

Object 3: Steel sword. 7 weight, 35 value. = 5

 

Alternate, Glow = Value / (weight + 1)

Object 1: Potion of healing. 1.5 weight, 50 value. = 33

Object 2: Silver sword. 8 weight, 100 value = 12.5

Object 3: Steel sword. 8 weight, 35 value. = 4.375

 

This brings that potion to glowing only three times as much as the silver sword, but the silver sword is still glowing three times as much as the steel sword. Gold coins would have a glow of 1, since individual gold coins are rarely worth picking up when you're scanning a room for valuables.

 

As for the containers issue, there's two options

1. Have the container glow equal to total value of items / total weight of items

2. Have the container glow equal to the most valuable item the container.

 

Each has problems. If a chest glows like a spotlight and you go to great lengths to get to it, you'll be mad if all you find is a single potion in there under the first option. Under the second option, a chest might have something valubale inside but it's brought down by some heavy trash.