Problems with absorb magicka.....

[warlord714]

Hello everyone!!

I've run into a little problem that I hope someone can help me with. I cannot get 'absorb magicka' to work. Whether I try a custom enchanted sword, or the Mace of Molag Bal, or a custom spell, it doesn't do anything. When I cast/strike, you can see the red laser-looking line that indicates absorption, but then the target it enveloped in the light blue 'spiral light' rather than turning blue as with other types of absorption. When I check my magicka reserve, I notice that it hasn't changed. Like I said, I get the same result with the Mace of Molag Bal or with a spell. Although I seriously doubted it, I considered that maybe my resist/reflect apparel was interfering. So I removed everything only to find the same result. Has anyone else ran into this? I don't really need to steal magicka from someone else as I have apparel and potions that fortify magicka quite well, but it really bugs me when something like this just flat out doesn't work.

[Dark Spark]

If you cast/strike such a spell, remember that you have to stay within close proximity. If you pull too far away (or try doing something silly like using this spell with a bow), the connection is severed prematurely.

Absorb spells do not make the target turn blue. The red lightning stream/smoke is the visual cue of the effect. The blue spiral thing is probably the victim using a Restore Health or Restore Magicka Potion as a reaction to your attack.

What add-ons do you have with Oblivion, if any?

[Jeff]

Has it worked before, and then quit working?f ...or has it never worked for you?

It will never take you above what you can have normally. If you are full, then you will still get the Red Line indicating that it is working, but it will not give you more that what you can have. It will only restore what you have used.

- - - - - - - - - -

They do have to have Magicka for you to Absorb. This means that you will not actually Absorb Magicka on Creatures with no Magicka. What type of Enemy are you using it on? Have you tried it on NPC's?

If it is an NPC, they may be out of Magicka, especially Spellcasters that have already cast a few spells at you, as you close to stab them.

Again, you will get the Red line indicating that it is working, but since they do not have, or are out of Magicka, then you will not get any Magicka Restored.

- - - - - - - - -

Some Monsters have a natural Resist Magic/Absorb Spell Ability. Especially the Spectral Undead. It is sort of a bug/glitch, as I have still seen the Red Line, even when it says that the Absorb Magicka Effect was Resisted.

- - - - - - - - - -

...so there are some instances where Absorb Magicka may not work. However, if it never works for you, then you have some type of Bug/Glitch.

It may in fact be working, but sometimes it is hard to determine, as you are normally restoring Magicka via Wisdom Magicka Regeneration. The times that I notice it working is when I play a Character with the Atronach Birthsign (since they do not regenerate magicka).

[warlord714]

If you cast/strike such a spell, remember that you have to stay within close proximity. If you pull too far away (or try doing something silly like using this spell with a bow), the connection is severed prematurely.

Absorb spells do not make the target turn blue. The red lightning stream/smoke is the visual cue of the effect. The blue spiral thing is probably the victim using a Restore Health or Restore Magicka Potion as a reaction to your attack.

What add-ons do you have with Oblivion, if any?

Yeah, I knew about the range limitation so I practically ran straight into each person that I struck with the sword. I was waiting for the person to turn blue because I have a sword that does Absorb Agility, Absorb Blade, and Absorb Block, and it causes enemies to turn light blue for the spell's duration. As to your question at the end, the only add-ons I have are SI and KotN, which I actually haven't done anything with yet.

[Dark Spark]

Fine, then. I was wondering how up-to-date your game version was. If you have the Game of the Year Edition, you're fully updated with the latest (well, I'd say "last") patch for the game. Which means this is not a case of the good ol' RefID bug showing up.

[warlord714]

Has it worked before, and then quit working?f ...or has it never worked for you?

It will never take you above what you can have normally. If you are full, then you will still get the Red Line indicating that it is working, but it will not give you more that what you can have. It will only restore what you have used.

- - - - - - - - - -

They do have to have Magicka for you to Absorb. This means that you will not actually Absorb Magicka on Creatures with no Magicka. What type of Enemy are you using it on? Have you tried it on NPC's?

If it is an NPC, they may be out of Magicka, especially Spellcasters that have already cast a few spells at you, as you close to stab them.

Again, you will get the Red line indicating that it is working, but since they do not have, or are out of Magicka, then you will not get any Magicka Restored.

- - - - - - - - -

Some Monsters have a natural Resist Magic/Absorb Spell Ability. Especially the Spectral Undead. It is sort of a bug/glitch, as I have still seen the Red Line, even when it says that the Absorb Magicka Effect was Resisted.

- - - - - - - - - -

...so there are some instances where Absorb Magicka may not work. However, if it never works for you, then you have some type of Bug/Glitch.

It may in fact be working, but sometimes it is hard to determine, as you are normally restoring Magicka via Wisdom Magicka Regeneration. The times that I notice it working is when I play a Character with the Atronach Birthsign (since they do not regenerate magicka).

Oh, I see. I thought that it fortified your magicka by stealing it from an enemy. Yeah, what you're saying makes sense because my magicka, which caps at about 190 or so without potions or enchanted apparel, was full while I was trying to use the sword. I honestly had never tried to use a weapon or spell with Absorb Magicka before yesterday, so I really don't know if it's ever worked or not. I knew that certain enemies have natural resistances to magic, but I had applied a Weakness to Magic 100% to the sword as well, so I thought that would tear down any defenses an enemy might have (as long as they don't have 100% resistance, of course). As per my custom, I enchanted the sword at the altar in the Archmage's quarters, and then I was testing its effectiveness on the Imperial Battlemages that patrol outside. When it didn't seem to be working, I summoned a clannfear and then a daedroth, only to find the same result.

Thank you for your advice friend and for clearing that up for me. Man, I love this forum!!