Mind vs. Intelligence

[Flying Mullet]

Does anyone know what the difference is between the Mind and Intelligence stats? Or what they affect and how it affects a magic user?

[Garland]

Mind is related to the power of white magic (curing esp.) and magic defense. If you've ever resisted a spell, it's because of mind. It also determines the potency of a cure spell. However, cure spells have upper and lower caps on their effectiveness. Cure 2, for example, will never exceed 90 points, except when boosted with a Divine Seal (or, so I just heard, on a certain day of the week when light spells are boosted). Under normal conditions, once a spell hits a certain effectiveness, boosting mind further is futile.

Intelligence is related to black magic damage. The higher one's intelligence, the more a spell will hurt the target. It also effects whether a spell is resisted. A low int mage casting fire on an enemy might find his spell dealing 0 damage or being resisted entirely. If you want your enfeebles to "stick", as they say, int is the stat you need to raise. EDIT: A white mage wil find high intelligence useful as well, because the Holy spells and enfeebles are affected by this stat.

That said, even more important is simply raising the stat for the particular school of magic. Raising your "Healing" ability is more directly beneficial than raising mind the same number of points, in terms of healing capability.

[Flying Mullet]

Awesome. I feel so knowledgable now. Thanks. :)

[Lionx]

Garland hit it right on the nail. ^^b

But there are also other factors than just INT that determines the power of a spell. Like what day it is, is it during a Magic Burst? What weather? Double stone weather in Altepa makes StoneII on Beetles hurt alot more than you think and they are STRONG against Stone magic. What enfeeble were on it(Shock, Rasp etc counts even though they are of the elemental attribute). And also if its an IT Evasion and Def high mob, or just IT, or Easy Prey.

[Taru-Waru]

MND (along with applicable Magic Skills, in all cases) will also affect how powerful your Divine nukes (eg, Banish) are, and how well White Magic enfeebles "stick". MND will also help your buffs (like Protect/Shell/Invis/Sneak/etc) to last longer.

[Lionx]

MND will also help your buffs (like Protect/Shell/Invis/Sneak/etc) to last longer.

This is debatable. Try casting ProtectII or Shell on a lvl 1 character, it tends to run out alot faster than ProtectI or anything like that. And even Protect I seems to run out fast on a lvl 1 character. That leaves me to believe that MND doesnt really affect Enhancing Magic and Enhancing skill isnt determinent on it either. Its probably to potentcy of the spell not the duration. Level seems to be more determinent on the staying power.

[Taru-Waru]

This is debatable. Try casting ProtectII or Shell on a lvl 1 character, it tends to run out alot faster than ProtectI or anything like that. And even Protect I seems to run out fast on a lvl 1 character. That leaves me to believe that MND doesnt really affect Enhancing Magic and Enhancing skill isnt determinent on it either. Its probably to potentcy of the spell not the duration. Level seems to be more determinent on the staying power.

At the same time, in parties of varied levels, the Protectra/Shellra that I've cast on the entire party at the same time all ends at the same time on everyone. If levels caused a discrepancy in duration, wouldn'taru the various party members' buffs end at different times?

[Lionx]

Well that may be true but also i have noticed that when i cast ProtectII on a lvl 21 person i was helping lvl his last few exp marks and then casted it on myself, his wore off faster. Hence the lvl of your character that is likely nearer to the protect learning stage might also effect it. I was lvl 40, and he was lvl 21, his wore off way faster. The spell was learned at lvl 27 i believe, so while it may wear off all the same time when your in a party, that is i believe only when everyone is around your lvl that you can use that spell. Hence why all protects and shell drop off around the same time when you learn the spell, and when you cast it on someone 15 lvls or so lower, it wears off faster.

[Taru-Waru]

Hmm... Thataru seems a little silly-willy to me, though... Why bother leveling up your skill if you know it's not going to be effective based on what you do, instead of the status of the other-wother person? I'm notaru saying that you're wrong, but I'm justaru saying that it seems a little strangey-wange to me, overall.

[Lionx]

Yea it does seem pretty wierd, but Enhancing does Affect how long Regen lasts, Refresh too, and things like the Bar spells and their efficientcy of resisting things. So thats plenty a reason for me.

Another thought might be the potentcy of Shell/Protect, try buffing yourself with ProtectI and then check you Defense. Come back a few lvls later and try it again. See if it has gone up with your Enhancing lvls. Its hard to check Shell because there isnt any marker, but you can test that by getting some monster to cast Aeroga on you with and without shell to see. Remember Shell is a GENERAL and Generic type of magic elemental defense. You can also try putting shell on and let a gobbie throw a bomb, and try a bomb throw without shell to see.

EDIT: I also wonder if the MND of the person your casting on matters..but i aint sure ^^;

[Taru-Waru]

Well, I know that MND also affects how resistantaru you are to status effects, and that the more MND you have, the less likely-wikely you are to not have it stick, and/or shorten the duration.