If it's Thaumcraft 4, there's a specific machine you need to research that allows you to 'enchant' wand foci. In your case, Potency increases damage while increasing cost of casting the foci's projectile or what have you.
The machine you are looking for is known as the Focal Manipulator. It has some unique mechanics to it; it's not purely an enchantment table, as it allows for some unique enchantments based on what kind of focus you're trying to improve. On a personal level, my first enchanted focus was a Focus of Lightning, and my first unique enchantment was Ball Lightning. I don't recommend it. I ended up throwing that focus out, heh. There are no take-backs with enchanting foci, so make sure you really want what you choose!
It's definitely worth a play around. I personally don't rate any of the ball forms. Chain lightning is neat, and the scatter-shot ice is ok as well.
If there is, I'm not aware of it. I did a cursory search for the unique effects back when I unlocked it, but didn't succeed in finding anything relevant or noteworthy. Like RJS, I did try the shotgun/scatter-shot ice focus, and found it to be alright for medium range combat. It's pretty much a typical video game shotgun: horribly unrealistic, but can do a lot of damage if everything hits. Chain Lightning would probably be useful when you're underground or in otherwise hostile territory, but I didn't particularly want it as I'm usually in and around my base and don't want any friendly fire to occur. I suspect Vampiric Bats is probably good, but I've never actually tested the nether bat focus so far, much less its unique enchantment.Thank you!
Is there a guide somewhere that explains the mechanics of all the various upgrades?
I watched a youtube video about this device and it looks like a very expensive process to just experiment with. And the Thaumanomicon mentions there being various things that unlock via pre-reqs etc.
I think Vampiric bats is the only one that requires a prerequesite to unlock.Thank you!
Is there a guide somewhere that explains the mechanics of all the various upgrades?
I watched a youtube video about this device and it looks like a very expensive process to just experiment with. And the Thaumanomicon mentions there being various things that unlock via pre-reqs etc.
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Yup. I have upgraded an Excavation focus with +4 Potency and Silk Touch, then the primal staff added another level of potency. The thing is, the mining speed is impressive, really, but the upgrade is horribly expensive in experience, so if you have TiC in the pack and have the resources to upgrade a cobalt hammer as far as possible (which doesn't cost xp), the focus upgrade may not be worth it.
Staves can store more vis (250+) at the cost of not being able to craft with them. They're worth it if you use wand foci extensively.
The best staff - for use with foci - would be the primal staff with thaumium caps. You can't craft the void-aspected version because there is no sceptre that can hold the required vis, even with the most powerful discount possible. Use the wand recharging pedestal (with non-energized nodes around it) to recharge it.In just the Thaumcraft 4.2 install (no Kami or anything else) what is the best/most powerful wand or staff to work towards?
I assume it is the Primal Staff Core w/ energized void metal caps, but then you can't charge it using the table/vis network
To address this specific question: That's correct. We used to be able to enchant the wand foci on normal enchanting tables in prior versions, but not in the current version.
The only way to get an energized node is to explicitly put a node transducer above it, at which point it will stop providing vis and start producing centivis.
(1) All nodes are non-energized unless you energize them by placing a node stabilizer under them and a node transducer above them. Read the thaumonomicon about this.
You make a sceptre with a rod, three caps and a primal charm. If you replace the rod with a staff core in these recipes, you will get a staff with a nonstandard vis storage capacity.
I don't think this specific thing about the staffs is common knowledge. I don't think I've seen it the thaumonomicon, I found it when I experimented with staff and wand components to see which was the most powerful sceptre and staff I could craft.Aha. Again, so much to learn. I promise I have been reading and watching videos, there are just holes in my knowledge.
