Posted by The Arcane(VIP) on June 6, 2000 at 08:32:04:
In Reply to: Additional mana raises your chances to get stronger elemental. But you always have a chance of getting weak one even with 1000 mana put in.n/t posted by Amardaine on June 6, 2000 at 00:15:46:
When you conjure an elemental (or angel, archon, demon, or devil actually) there's two possible outcomes: the mana input can be channelled into the power of the servitor, or into extending its duration on the Prime Material plane. This is an absolute division (random aside: I think it'd be much more interesting to have a gradient bridging the two extremes, instead of just either one or the other). You'll either get a mob equal to your level (perfect match) that lasts longer than the default, or one that's higher than your level (and a higher "tier," in the case of outer-planar servitors) but lasts the default.
A "duration" conjure is a bad thing, and it's what conjurer-players loathe. Also, you have to beware duration conjures if you keep them, because if it's aggressive to you (i.e. kept at bay by your circle), your bind WILL wear off while it's still around, and it'll promptly attack you. Fortunately, it's just a wussy perfect match mob. :P
Few things made me groan like typing "c 'conjure archon' 1200" and seeing a bloody luminous that'd probably sit around for 150 hours, though I of course promptly dismissed them.
So, in conclusion, putting more mana in does not increase your chances of getting a powerful mob, or decrease your chances of getting a perfect match mob. That determination is purely random (influenced by a few factors, the major ones of which I believe I've figured out, but eh, I've been spoonfeeding enough already), and once it is made, THEN the amount of mana you put in will determine EITHER how many levels above you the servitor is, OR how long it will stay, depending.
This is all based on my personal observations, and conjecture to some extent. But I'd say I have the most firsthand knowledge of conjurers, short of people who have access to the code.