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compared to spells I can buy. I do have my Morrowind modded but almost all are of cosmetical nature and I actually have shut down all mods which touch magic even slightly. I haven't played it some time but I cannot remember that custom spells cost so much more compared to normal spells I can simply buy from another spellcaster.
Chance of success is generally down to 25% only compared to the normal spell as well albeit that heavily depends on Willpower and Skill I found out.

I cannot find anything worthwhile as to how the magicka costs are calcutlated with Spellmaking.
Do I experience a bug? Or is this normal?

It's been quite a while since I played, but I don't remember there being a serious discrepancy between custom and bought spells except that custom can be a lot more powerful, so powerful they make the game too easy really.

However that is when using just one effect, once you start using more than one effect the cost escalates very quickly, three powerful offensive effects are just too exorbitant if I recall correctly . Morrowind is a lot different to Oblivion in this respect, where almost the reverse is true. So when comparing a multi effect custom spell with a multi effect purchased spell then there will be a significant difference.

Firebite bought: 6 Magicka cost
Firebite self made: 11 Magicka cost

Dispel Magic on self: 25 magicka cost if bought. 32% Chance of success.
Dispel Magic on self: 50 magika cost if made. 4% Chance of success.

Open on Touch bought: 15 Magicka cost
Open on Touch self made: 30 Magicka cost

Cure Common Disease on self bought: 15 Magicka cost
Cure Common Disease on self spellmade: 36 Magicka cost

I am not comparing Spells with several effects just spells with single effects. I wish I could find something of a formula how magicka costs are calculated on spellmaking but only find sources for Oblivion for that not Morrowind.

Are your mercantile, personality and disposition with the npc all maxed out?

I am speaking about the magicka cost of the spells my friend.

If someone would be so kind and just check himself how much selfmade spells cost magicka wise in comparison to spells you can buy I would be grateful.

Just use my previous post for comparisons. Maybe Bethesda did this on purpose to make bought spells more attractive.

Ah, I guess the title and the first couple of sentences can be read both ways. I thought you wanted both the cost and the cost

Just dug the game out and indeed there is a discrepancy when creating identical spells, I guess I never bothered reproducing spells that already exist.

For example a copy of firebite cost my character 11 mana as opposed to 6 mana for the bought spell; but why create a spell that does 15-30 damage when you can produce one that does 30 for, in my case, just 4 more mana, especially considering Morrowind's weakness when it comes to random numbers; never trust them!

As for chance of success, the chance shown when creating the spell is not the same as when the spell is created, there is anywhere up 20% difference. When creating spells I used to aim for approximately 85% chance when creating, knowing that when the spell was finished the chance would be 100% or very close.

I think the bought spells are deliberately made to be lower cost to give noob mages a chance at the start. Once your mage gets going, which should be by 5th level, created spells completely blow bought spells away. Spoiler, highlight to read

Spoiler

You can't buy spells that do dmage in 100 foot radius on touching a locked door, or a book you've dropped on the floor for example!

End of spoiler

Thanks Galren for confirming that this behaviour is normal and my Morrowind installation runs fine. Was already afraid I screwed something up.

You are of course right that selfmade spells blow bought spells out of the water power wise. I was just a bit irritated by the discrepancy but your guess might be right or mine or both, that the bought spells are more magicka efficient to stay interessting even later for weaker oppponents and/or because new mages would have great troubles casting even standard spells if they worked normally.

Furthermore you absolutely need at least one type of bought spell to be able to make a custom spell because you can only add or modify spell types you know already.