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CAST

Syntax:

  cast [<effort>] <spell name> [<parameters>]

Spell casters use this to cast a spell at someone or something.

Note that the name of the spell must be enclosed by apostrophes ('). Also, the spell name doesn't need to be typed fully — abbreviations are also accepted; e.g., cast 'ench' sword (enchant) or cast 'b o b' (breath of briskness).

Each spell takes a given amount of time to cast.

When already in combat, your opponent is automatically set to target if you cast offensive spells with no argument. For example:

  > cast 'lightning bolt' cavebear
  The lightning bolt hits the cavebear with full impact.
  the cavebear:Fine> cast quick 'lightning bolt'
  The lightning bolt hits the cavebear with full impact.
  the cavebear:Hurt>

Casting a spell uses up your mana. The actual quantity used has a random component, which decreases if you learn the spell very well.

Attempting a spell you don't know well, or that costs almost all your mana, is likely to result in a backfire. When you start casting, you will be warned if the risk of backfire is higher than normal: you will receive the message You muster all of your concentration... instead of You start to concentrate...

The effects of a spell improve the higher you practice it.

This is true even of spells like enchant, sanctuary and heal, which used to have a fixed effect. Putting only a few practices on a spell means casting it at a lower effective level, with lesser effects and higher mana cost. Hard to learn, high-level spells may require many practice sessions before you can even attempt to use them.

Casting also takes an optional <effort> parameter, just before the name of the spell. You can cast a spell more slowly but with greater effects, or quickly but with a higher chance of backfire. The possible efforts are:

Effort	Effect
`quick`	- casting time, + mana used, - spell power, + backfire
`fast`
`normal`	minimize mana usage; average casting time, power, backfire
`careful`
`thorough`	+ casting time, + mana used, + spell power, - backfire

By default, casting without an <effort> parameter is equivalent to cast normal. You can however change spellcasting to choose a new default.