How to use portal ?

[MaximB]

Hello !

I bought the very expensive portal spell but I don't know how to use it.
How do I set an anchor point ? and how does this spell works ?

Thanks
Maxim.

[kenoxite]

Select a spell level and cast it. An invisible mark (an anchor) will be placed where you're standing at if you don't have a portal already assigned to that spell level. If you cast Portal at the same level again a popup will ask you either to simply open the portal (and automatically travel there) or set a new anchor where you're standing at (and automatically delete the old one).

Each spell level in Portal spawns an unique, different portal, so you can have up to 6 different portals (as there's 6 spell levels).

Also, you can't use the portal spell while in dungeons IIRC. So you can't portal yourself outside nor can create marks there to teleport inside.

[MaximB]

For some reason I cannot assign the spell to a hotkey, it says I need to create an anchor first - how can I cast a spell without a hotkey ?

Also, if I can't use this spell in dungeons it's a big bummer as this is the place I actually need them.
Most other places already have portals/quick travel.

[kenoxite]

I remember using that spell from the Spells window only, so you probably can't hotkey it. Just set an anchor and then hotkey the spell. Maybe that'll work.

And, if you were able to use this spell inside dungeons you could break the game itself, as there's a lot of points where you're supposed to be trapped without being able to turn back, etc.

Portal is useful to mark places you use to go back often which aren't particularly close to a quick travel stone, like the entrance to the secret society or the bow trainer, or any trader. I remember some people using it to make "camp farming" easier by setting a mark a few meters away from your actual camp spot, so when the mobs wake you up you can just teleport there and blast them from a distance. Or use it as a sort of "escape pod" if you ever are about to die in a battle.

It's actually a quite powerful and useful spell, but it's also less useful that late in the game.

[MaximB]

The question is HOW do I set an anchor ?

[kenoxite]

As I said:

Select a spell level and cast it.

Really, there's nothing more to it than that.

But OK, here's a step by step (and final) guide:

1. Select level 1 of Portal and press the Cast Spell (or whatever) button in that window
2. Congrats, you have _created an anchor_ in the place you're now
3. Move away from that position.
4. Using the Spell window cast Portal at level 1
5. Press the "Open portal" button
6. Make sure all your molecules are in place.

[xolotl]

For some reason I cannot assign the spell to a hotkey, it says I need to create an anchor first - how can I cast a spell without a hotkey ?

You cast Portal just by opening up the Magic menu, choosing Portal, choosing the level to cast, and then hit the "cast" button. I've never actually had Portal assigned to a hotkey and I'm not sure that doing so is even possible.

Also, if I can't use this spell in dungeons it's a big bummer as this is the place I actually need them.

There are a few "dungeon" type levels which do allow the Portal spell, though it is mostly for use aboveground.

[MaximB]

As I said:

Select a spell level and cast it.

Really, there's nothing more to it than that.

But OK, here's a step by step (and final) guide:

1. Select level 1 of Portal and press the Cast Spell (or whatever) button in that window
2. Congrats, you have _created an anchor_ in the place you're now
3. Move away from that position.
4. Using the Spell window cast Portal at level 1
5. Press the "Open portal" button
6. Make sure all your molecules are in place.

Thanks, my problem was that I always used "quick spells" only and never actually used the "normal" way, so I didn't even noticed the button
It worked.

[Kreador Freeaxe]

Portal can be especially useful late in the game to save a lot of walking around. You can set up portals by your favorite dealers and one wherever you last were and just port around saving shoe-leather and money (from the boat trips back and forth).

[SpottedShroom]

And, if you were able to use this spell inside dungeons you could break the game itself, as there's a lot of points where you're supposed to be trapped without being able to turn back, etc.

...which you totally could in Book I, to sometimes strange effect. It's not hard to get the Destroyer ending if you can just keep Portal-ing back to the HP/mana renewing well whenever you get low.

And in Book II, not all interior maps are Portal-restricted. The one that springs to mind is the first level of the wizard tower, where people have occasionally created unsolvable configurations of the levers and portcullises puzzle by using Portal.

[kenoxite]

Thanks, my problem was that I always used "quick spells" only and never actually used the "normal" way, so I didn't even noticed the button

Glad you sorted it out.
I guess the mix of the kind of awkward way Portal works plus the fact that the Cast Spell button could look more like a button wasn't helping.

...which you totally could in Book I, to sometimes strange effect. It's not hard to get the Destroyer ending if you can just keep Portal-ing back to the HP/mana renewing well whenever you get low.

Dang, if only I had thought about that back then. But, nevermind, mages are powerful creatures, abusing portal or not. Which is fine to me, mind you. They're supposed to be telluric powerhouses by mid/endgame.

[MaximB]

Which reminds me that there should be more quick-spell options in Book3.
In late game you have much more then 10 spells (at least in my case).

[kenoxite]

Which reminds me that there should be more quick-spell options in Book3.
In late game you have much more then 10 spells (at least in my case).

It'd be handy, but I'm not totally convinced. Ten hotkey slots should be enough for all the combat spells, and you already have the spell list window to cast the rest.

It's a turn based game after all, so there's no need to hotkey everything.

[xolotl]

It'd be handy, but I'm not totally convinced. Ten hotkey slots should be enough for all the combat spells, and you already have the spell list window to cast the rest.

Sure, ten is typically enough for offense, but whenever I play a mage of any sort, I always end up wishing that I had another "row" of spell hotkeys to use (personally I'd like it if there were two "rows" of ready slots that you could switch between with a hotkey, so you're still only using the 1 though 0 keys to cast). I'd likely divide mine up between offensive and defensive spells.

Even on my last runthrough (a Bludgeoning specialist with Divination backup (and a small amount of Elemental)) started running out of available slots once I started in on stuff like Lock Melt and Trapkill, etc.

It's a turn based game after all, so there's no need to hotkey everything.

Just because it's not realtime doesn't mean that UI improvements are a bad thing. I generally like having to deal with a mouse as little as possible, so any hotkeys in any app/game are a Good Thing in my book. I'd love to be able to play an Eschalon game without using the mouse at all (the only extra feature you'd really need to be able to support it is some kind of targetting system for ranged attacks/spells).

[kenoxite]

Sure, ten is typically enough for offense, but whenever I play a mage of any sort, I always end up wishing that I had another "row" of spell hotkeys to use (personally I'd like it if there were two "rows" of ready slots that you could switch between with a hotkey, so you're still only using the 1 though 0 keys to cast). I'd likely divide mine up between offensive and defensive spells.

I guess a key modifier to switch between hotkey rows would work there. Say, SHIFT or CONTROL (or APPLE, if macs still have those). So you could press 1 or SHIFT+1 to access different spells, or simply pressing SHIFT would show the alternate spell list.

That'd be nice to have, but as I said, I also think the actual ten are good enough. But, well, I'm more mouse oriented than you for the looks of it.