Sheer fear
Sheer fear is a mechanical event that may occur when a character encounters a higher level undead creature. This debuff inflicts offensive and defensive penalties, staggered roundtime, and dropping to kneeling. The severity of the induced fear is primarily dependent on the level difference between the character and the undead creature in question. The attack strength (AS), defensive strength (DS), casting strength (CS), target defense (TD), and standard maneuver roll (SMRv2) penalties are applied via the horrify effect. The AS/DS penalties are (creature level / 2.85), the CS/TD penalties are (creature level / 4.75), and the SMR penalty is (creature level / 4). Against a level 100 creature, this results in -35 AS/DS, -21 CS/TD, and a 25 SMR penalty.
Types
Both types of fear will apply staggered and horrify effects to the character.
- Lesser sheer fear: Characters between ten and fifteen levels lower than a particular creature will experience a lesser sheer fear.
- Greater sheer fear: Characters more than fifteen levels below a creature will experience greater sheer fear, which causes one to drop to one's knees, go into offensive stance, and suffer a longer staggered effect. Major fear will result in a cycle of warding attempts every 12 seconds to fight off the fear; failure to do so will refresh the horrified effect, force you back to your knees, and apply another set of staggered roundtime.
Formula
The following is the formula used to ward major fear additional cycles.
>You struggle against your fear! FS: 180 - FD: 75 + FvP: 28 + d100(L): 72 = 205 Warding failed! You are racked by convulsive shivers!
- Fear Strength (FS) of Attacker: attacker level * 3
- Fear Defense (FD) of Defender: defender level * 3
- FvP: Various things such as stats and adding to defense can add to this.
Initial Sheer Fear Bonuses
The following spells, abilities, and items help prevent sheer fear from taking hold.
| Spell/Item | Specifics |
|---|---|
| Bravery (211) | +3 effective levels |
| Heroism (215) | +3 effective levels |
| Dauntless (1606) | +3 effective levels |
| Symbol of Courage | +3 effective levels |
| Lichbane talisman, minor | +10 effective levels |
| Lichbane talisman, lesser | +20 effective levels |
| Lichbane talisman, greater | Provides immunity to fear-based attacks. |
| Sanctified armor | +1 effective level per tier |
| Sanctified shield | +1 effective level per tier |
| Sanctified runestaff | +1/2 effective level per tier, does not stack with shield |
| Voln armor (Unlocked) | +3 at Tier 2 & 3; +6 at Tier 4. |
| Ghezyte chelioboros jewelry | +1 effective level per tier |
Major Fear Warding Bonuses
The following table displays additional bonuses (FvP) to help with warding additional cycles of major fear from taking effect.
| Spell/Item/Other | Specifics |
|---|---|
| Discipline | +([Discipline Base - 40] / 5) |
| Bravery (211) | +5 |
| Heroism (215) | +10 |
| Dauntless (1606) | +10 |
| Self Control (613) | +5 |
| Kai's Triumph Song (1007) | +3 |
| Song of Valor (1010) | +5 |
| Yertie's Yowlp | +2 |
| Order of Voln | +1/3 per rank being a member |
| Symbol of Courage | +1/3 per rank in Voln |
| Creature disabled | +10 |
| Creature dead | +25 |
Messaging
- Lesser sheer fear (first person)
>Overcome by the waves of evil emanating from the necrotic snake, your arms fall slack at your side and you find yourself unable to move. >You regain control of your senses!
Note: Level 34 character versus necrotic snake. Effect of fear lasted six seconds.
- Greater sheer fear (first person)
>You drop to your knees in utter despair! Overcome by the foul stench of pure evil emanating from the Citadel herald, your arms fall slack at your sides and feel your limbs slipping away as an utter and complete fear seizes a suffocating control of your mind and body! >You moan pitifully as you hold your head in your hands, unable to do anything but whimper with fear! >Selema gestures at you. You are no longer stunned. >You struggle against your fear! FS: 180 - FD: 75 + FvP: 28 + d100(L): 70 = 203 Warding failed! You gibber in fear! >Selema gestures at you. You are no longer stunned. >frown You don't seem to be able to move to do that. >You struggle against your fear! FS: 180 - FD: 75 + FvP: 28 + d100(L): 72 = 205 Warding failed! You are racked by convulsive shivers! >You struggle against your fear! FS: 180 - FD: 75 + FvP: 28 + d100(L): 36 = 169 Warding failed! You gibber in fear! >You struggle against your fear! FS: 180 - FD: 75 + FvP: 28 + d100(L): 33 = 166 Warding failed! Your eyes grow wider as the crushing terror increases, every bad dream and fear materializing vividly in your mind's eye! >You struggle against your fear! FS: 180 - FD: 75 + FvP: 28 + d100(L): -13 = 120 Warding failed! The crushing fear continues, and you remain huddled in a spastic, jittering heap! >You struggle against your fear! FS: 180 - FD: 75 + FvP: 28 + d100(L): 84 = 217 Warding failed! You moan pitifully as you hold your head in your hands, unable to do anything but whimper with fear! >You struggle against your fear! FS: 180 - FD: 75 + FvP: 28 + d100(L): 18 = 151 Warding failed! You moan pitifully as you hold your head in your hands, unable to do anything but whimper with fear! >You struggle against your fear! FS: 180 - FD: 75 + FvP: 28 + d100(L): -64 = 69 Warded off! You slowly regain control of your senses, wiping the tears from your eyes and the drool from your mouth.
Note: Level 25 character versus Putrefied Citadel herald. Effect of sheer fear lasted approximately two minutes.