NPC Magic/Stam

[worldofscotty]

Do NPCs actually have Magicka & Stamina

 

Not sure about the Stamina but I've tested the Magicka quite thoroughly by hiding behind a rock and popping in and out making them shoot and they just keep on going.

 

With this in mind what is the point of the drain Magicka on Shock spells and Drain Stamina on frost spells?

[fms1]

I think the stats are there, as to if they actually govern anything idk, you can test if you like with console commands. The getAV command in particular, there's a list of console commands on UESP Wiki that would be useful.

[thompsonar]

I've always wondered this as well. There have been a few times when it seems like a mage will run out of magicka and pull out a knife and charge on me, but for the most part they just seem to let the magic fly constantly. I've also tried the hiding and drawing their fire to drain their magicka (even shot them with lighting bolts and arrows with magicka poison) and yet they seem to still have plenty.

 

Perhaps difficulty level plays into this? I play on expert, perhaps npcs get a big magicka boost with increase in difficulty? If they had like 1500-2000 magicka that would explain it.

[RedRavyn]

I generally play on Adept, although I'll occasionally crank up the difficulty a bit. I've reported, elsewhere, about mages that seem to have an unlimited supply of magicka, but I think this is a glitch in the game, and not something actually built into any given NPC. Because of how rapidly magicka regenerates, I really don't bother with Damage Magicka poisons, although Damage Magicka Regen poisons to seem to work. So do shock-based spells. You just have to survive the onslaught long enough to deplete an enemy mage of Magicka and then they whip out a dagger and claim they're going to kill you with it.

 

I think something you might be running into is that most players probably opt for balanced characters, with roughly equal magic and melee capabilities. I know I do. A lot of the mage opponents you meet are probably designed as nearly "pure mages", so they likely have very high Magicka at the expense of Health and Stamina. That can make them seem like they have an infinite reservoir of magical energy, when, in fact, they just aren't using it up as rapidly as they can regenerate it.

 

I suspect Stamina works in a similar way, but because stamina regenerates at an insane rate in this game, it generally only affects the player adversely. I would run out of stamina all the time while swinging a greatsword. I could only slow down my opponents who used two-handed weapons by using a frost-based spell (which drains stamina), or using Damage Stamina Regen poisons. Again, the warrior-type opponents probably sacrifice Magicka for Health and Stamina. At least that's how I'd design them.

[Kmikaz3]

Mage do have a magicka pool. In fact, once their magicka run out they'll eithe standing here until there magicka goes back up, use a less magicka cost spell or they just come to you or white melee you. Tested with some modded spell (eg drain magicka for 1 min)

I think the point of draing their mana is to prevent them to use a powerful spell against you.

 

Not so sure about stamina though.

[worldofscotty]

Not to be confused with the enchantment on a staff though. I have made that mistake before. I know the enchantments like fireball staff do run out.