Top > BL Characters > Estimating TP and MP Costs

Estimating TP and MP Cost

The Quick

1. Make sure you assign levels to your abilities.
2. Download the Derived Stats (Alpha) Excel Spreadsheet file.
3. Plug in your character's stats.
4. Change the level to match the end level of the skill you are testing.
5. Note your character's estimated maximum TP and MP.
6. Guesstimate how many times you would be able to use the ability / cast the spell in a row before you completely drain your TP/MP.
7. Divide your estimated TP/MP by this number to get your cost.
8. Double-check your cost to make sure it isn't something unreasonable.
9. Repeat for all other skills.

The Details

This is a rough method for figuring out how much TP and/or MP your skills should cost. You are free to have a bit more liberties, as these are my suggestions, and nothing's really going to be set in stone until after playtesting actually takes place.

I hope you have at least Microsoft Excel 97, or at least a program that can both view and edit XLS spreadsheets. XLS format is the common 97-2003 format.

Step 0a: Assign Levels To Your Abilities

It is important that you assign levels to your abilities already. Please check the Estimating Skill Levels tutorial.

Step 0b: Download the Derived Stats (Alpha) Excel Spreadsheet file.

You can find the file here at KaorinWiki. Open the file up (screenshot). It should be a protected sheet that only allows you to edit the colored cells. That way you're less likely to accidentally screw something up.

Step 1: Plug In Your Stats

Ranks: Values that can be used are None, E, D, C, B, A, and EX.

• None: Rating of 0. Worse than E. Has no growth potential, as well.
• E: Rating of 1. Horrible quality attribute.
• D: Rating of 2. Bad quality attribute.
• C: Rating of 3. Average attribute.
• B: Rating of 4. Good quality attribute.
• A: Rating of 5. Superb quality attribute.
• EX: Rating of 6+. Demi-god quality attribute. Note that the EX rating shows the lowest possible EX rating; other EX ratings may actually be higher and still fit under the "EX" category.

Modifiers: Add in a "+" or "-" if applicable, otherwise leave the cell empty. "++" and "--" DO NOT WORK and will give you an error. Also a high probability of throwing out "++" and "--" for stats only.

Step 2: Change the Level to the Skill's End Level

Change the level below your name (for appearance's sake, put your own name at the top instead of "Royal Knight"). The number you should change it to one of your skills' end levels. The end level is level in which you automagically learn your ability.

Example: Royal Knight will automagically learn Terra Pulse when he reaches level 30, if he hasn't already learned it randomly already (reference). So, I would plug in "30" for my character's level on the spreadsheet.

Step 3: Note Your Estimated Max TP and MP

Based on your stats, you can expect your maximum TP and MP values to be roughly in this area.

Step 4: Guesstimate Your Skill's Limit

In your mind's eye, take a guess how many times you would be able to cast the spell in a row before you completely drain your TP and/or MP. Keep this number in mind.

In the case of ManaTechs, you will have to do this twice, one time assuming you have unlimited TP, and the other time assuming you have unlimited MP.

Ignore other limiters like fatigue, HP drain, or whatnot. If the skill has you gaining TP/MP, ignore any recovery and pretend that it missed/failed/was avoided/etc.

Step 5: Divide Your Estimated TP/MP by this Number

Divide your estimated max TP/MP value by the number(s) you got in the last step. This should be your cost. Feel free to make minor adjustments to the number to make it look more elegant. (ie. 37 TP -> 35 TP, or 44 MP -> 45 MP)

Step 6: Double-Check Your Cost

This is your sanity check. Does the cost even make sense? Does your "Double Slash" attack take up 8000 TP? If it does, go back to Step 4.

Step 7: Repeat For All Other Skills

Go back to Step 2, readjusting your level for each skill that you have.

Again, I hope this helps. Next article up for writing: balancing stats.

View the BLSoft Forum's version