Well, i was thinking while ill was doing the oblivion quest line earlier. Why can't we get sneak damage multipliers on our magic attacks? I think this will open a door to a lot of new class and monster combinations. I mean melee and ranged get a bonus. Why not magic? This would bring a whole new meaning to sneaking.


Your opinions?

It would also be good to give a better chance of an elemental spells possible attribute to be boosted. So if I hit someone with a fireball and its a sneak attack it should have a better chance of leaving a lasting burn, or freezing someone if its an ice attack.

Spells arent really silent I dont see how that would ever work... no please.

It would depend on the spells in question. In previous TES games, many of the spells gave off light which would make you easier to detect. However, it would be very interesting to see offensive spells more geared to a stealth-based magical character.

I would LOVE to see a stealth system also involving magic, as one of my favorite TES characters is a class similar to Nightblade, and employs stealth and magic together as a means to an end.

EDIT: To clarify, the types of spells in question would be silent and not give off a light source. Perhaps some direct-contact spells, too, for those with stealth-based characters who want a challenge beyond just ranged spells.

Touch spells could be a good for stealth. If you can get close enough to touch someone without them knowing i think you should get a bonus.

This idea just wouldn't make sense and would be completely unbalanced. You get yourself a nice 120 damage in 30ft spell, cast it from the shadows for a hefty 4x amplifier, and clear out an entire room before your enemies can even say (insert generic Oblivion/Morrowind taunt here).

yep bonus damage and effects as well

all in all magic should be pretty deadly (the damage spells) and no more 5 second spells plz, like buff strength 20 for 15 seconds I mean really that is lame.

But the whole point in sneak is not knowing what is coming at you. If i cast a fireball and its hurling at you.... you dont have 1 second to embrace for impact. Or if you guys really believe its crazy and stupid maybe only touch spells get bonuses?

There should be spells that don't create much light when they are cast. For example a shadowy dagger that flies through the air and stabs the enemy.

Touch spells are more efficent (damage/cost) than ranged spells.. it would be even more overpowered that way.

If they put this in they would have to lower the overall damage of touch spells in the likelyhood that you were going to use this to one shot every enemy in game... makeing the non stealth type caster suffer. Magic is already powerful enough with all the things you can do with it... magic sneak attacks would just be overpowered.

isn't the point of a spell to damage and enemy regardless the armor they are wearing?
i mean that's where magic and weapons have there deference.
so why add more to something that is already devastating?

i would rather see spells that simply do not draw attention to a character they are sneaking, instead of a damage bonus

Uh... wether I get hit by a fireball without expecting it or while I am expecting it isn't really gonna change the fact I'm on fire?

Maybe...just maybe...magic doesn't get sneak bonuses because of how insanely powerful spells can be to begin with so they don't need the boost melee/ranged weapons get?

No boost for magic.

Only if concealment through magical means is in use at that moment in time.

I'd say the same applies for Melee as well, but I think it's only fair that Magic receives a damage multiplier. Perhaps a lesser version of the Marksman one though.
^_^

I have to disagree.

No thank you.


Just doesn't seem to fit the whole magic thing.

I think the whole deal behind sneak crits is that the enemy doesn't have time to move a little and cause your aim to be off so you can hit precisely where you're aiming so you do more dmg because you hit directly into the heart or whatever and you could aim for slits in armor or critical spots if they don't know you're there whereas if they do they're jumping around and blocking and dodging so you can't really aim for a critical spot, you hav e to aim more for an area. With magic i don't think it'd make a difference a flaming fireball is a flaming fireball, can't really aim for a critical spot with it, only thing sneaking should allow is a first shot when he's not moving so it's almost garuanteed to hit unless he moves at the last moment for bends over to pick up a coin . now if they up the magic and have some spells like a spike of magic energy that stabs into the area you're aiming at then a crit could apply to that i guess but if they have that there's not really a point in being an archer or having a spear or something. So if they stick with the standard, boring fire, ice, lightning magic then no, there shouldn't be crits, but if they make something that crits could actually apply to then sure. I just don't see sneaking having an effect on lightning, a fireball, or an iceball besides being able to hit a little easier.

I think of a mage as a http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GlassCannon. They are supposed to fry their enemies with magical death. Adding in the ability to sneak up on characters and get a multiplier to damage that is already high enough to make wearing only robes inviting would remove the weakness of mages. Add in the ability to become invisible quiet easily, and there is no stopping a stealthy mage. It is just unbalanced.

I voted "not thought it through" because I have never played as a mage (I know, something I mean to fix when I get my copy back) and I don't see how, for example, a fireball can remain undetected. But like I say, I'm hardly an expert on the subject...

Those who answered yes should delete and revote "havent quite thought it through"... its obvious nuff said.

Only if enemies get the same critical hit when they lob spells your way when you didn't see it coming. I'll suspect that we'll be dying a lot

No.
It doesn't make sense.

I don't support the idea of damage buff, but I think some kind of sneak bonus should be given in any way.
I suggest "weakness to XX" nerf on the sneak-attacked target.

no. unlike a physical attack which can be absorbed by changing your stance and tightening up your muscles, magic attacks are purely elemental and should not be effected by anything that the npc can do outside of resist magic spells etc. magic is already way overpowered and frankly just not fun to play cause there is absolutely no downside to making a mage character. you can still cast in plate armor with a sword and shield equipped (which is utterly freaking [censored]) just by waving your hand. you dont need to up you sneak skill cause you get chameleon and invisie spells fairly early on and you dont even have to bother with lockpick cause thats included in the alteration skillset. healing and cure disease potions become completely irrelevant once you get journeyman in restoration magic. seriously .........you want magic to be even easier than it is.