Aiming Orb of Destruction

[MainiacJoe]

So for the very first time I've memorized Orb of Destruction and I'm looking forward to blowing stuff up with it. I've read though that it doesn't always go straight, so I went to an upper dungeon to practice on doors. Well I wasn't prepared for what happened: in some cases it is taking 10 orbs to blow up the door! At edge of LOS, it seems hopeless, no matter whether I'm in line with the door or one or two squares to the side. Closer range of 3-4 isn't that much better. I've even stood two squares away from a door, line on, and hit the wall five times before blowing up the door! For you WWII buffs, I feel like Dan Daspit in Tinosa.

Now two hapless curious ogres were engaged at edge of LOS and smithereened nicely with no misses. I'm hoping that moving monsters get hit more often than stationary targets, because the opportunity cost in MP and auts of firing 4-5 orbs to get one hit seems awfully steep. What am I doing wrong?

[stoneychips]

I can't remember ever purposefully using them on doors, but generally: They really do get distracted by walls. Doors kind of tend to have walls around, so... Not surprising.

The rule of thumb for me (when I do rarely play conjurers) is send them into open space, as separated from walls as possible. If your back is to the wall and or there's mostly open space right around your target, no walls right beside the route, then odds are better.

They also turn out slightly weak if you hit something point-blank range; they need a few moments to charge or something to full strength. So if your ogres are standing in an open field a few spaces away (or further as you mention), that is about ideal in my understanding.

I don't really specialize in conjurations much yet, but more or less so sayeth the Wiki and that's usually worked for me in the past.

[Lasty]

Orbs of destruction don't actively track terrain features you launch them at, but they do actively track monsters you launch them at. For practice, try launching them at orcs in the mines.

[MainiacJoe]

Thanks, Lasty. I've been using it in Elf by retreating to the far end of a little chamber, and launching when the following enemy enters the chamber from the other side. Very effective and I've only missed once. Your note explains perfectly why my "practice session" wasn't giving accurate results.

[MainiacJoe]

Incidentally, spellpower doesn't seem to have any effect on Orbs. They do the same damage as a function of range regardless of one's Conjurations, correct?

[Siegurt]

No more spellpower does increase damage, they just do less than full damage at super close range, the orb message doesn't change with more spellpower though (explodes weakly) that is strictly related to range.

[elmdor]

According to learndb, spellpower does affect OODs:

The maximum angle perturbation decreases with spell power. 50: +/-46.3 deg 75: +/-31.8 deg 100: +/-24.1 deg 150: +/-16.2 deg 200: +/-12.2 deg (if the caster is wearing amulet of inaccuracy, halve spell power first)

In other words, the greater the power, the more likely your orb is to move in a straight line. Is this still accurate?

[duvessa]

It's true.

[edgefigaro]

Inaccuracy affects OOD? Can I get Placid Magic 3 and Inaccuracy and spam OODS that travel all over the place?

Challenge: Lowest spellpower OODs.

[elmdor]

I guess so although it would still cost 7 MP every time. Maybe try it in wizmode first and see if it is worth the effort of trying to achieve in a regular game. Which I strongly doubt.

[edgefigaro]

Wizmode is a good plan.