Game Mechanics: deathtouch not instant

[nilbog]

There was a problem with spells which should be on guaranteed timers. So, I built a new spelltype which bypasses timer randomizations.

This can also apply to other detrimental 'boss' type abilities which should be on a reliable timer (e.g. dragon fears).

Unfortunately, we will need to update existing npcs to use the new spelltype.


#1. All death touches should be 45 seconds correct? Currently there seems to be a mix of some which are 30, others which are 45.

#2. Are there any 'boss' type abilities which should not be on reliable timers?

#3. Should there be any 'beneficial' type spells which are on guaranteed timers?


If anyone wants to assist with compiling a list of which abilities should be guaranteed, it will help ensure none are missed.

[Jimjam]

Originally Posted by nilbog [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

There was a problem with spells which should be on guaranteed timers. So, I built a new spelltype which bypasses timer randomizations.

This can also apply to other detrimental 'boss' type abilities which should be on a reliable timer (e.g. dragon fears).

Unfortunately, we will need to update existing npcs to use the new spelltype.


#1. All death touches should be 45 seconds correct? Currently there seems to be a mix of some which are 30, others which are 45.

#2. Are there any 'boss' type abilities which should not be on reliable timers?

#3. Should there be any 'beneficial' type spells which are on guaranteed timers?


If anyone wants to assist with compiling a list of which abilities should be guaranteed, it will help ensure none are missed.

Tangential to death / cazic touches, harm touches have an issue where if the NPC is casting a different spell at the time it wants to cast harm touch it will blow the harm touch timer without actually casting (presumably because it is in the middle of casting a different spell). I suspect users of death/cazic touch experience similar issues where the timed DT can be bypassed by having the npc cast a different spell at the time it is supposed to go off.

Is this something which you're aware of?

[kiradess]

Originally Posted by Jimjam [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Tangential to death / cazic touches, harm touches have an issue where if the NPC is casting a different spell at the time it wants to cast harm touch it will blow the harm touch timer without actually casting (presumably because it is in the middle of casting a different spell). I suspect users of death/cazic touch experience similar issues where the timed DT can be bypassed by having the npc cast a different spell at the time it is supposed to go off.

Is this something which you're aware of?

Don't want to derail this thread but can absolutely confirm this. When doing darkforge armor in CT a while back I'd keep a repop timer on the crusaders and run up and hit them when they're summoning a pet. You'd see the HT spell effect go off but not get hit with it. IDK if they have themselves targeted or what but this is a real thing.

[chillybob]

^^^ what jimjam and kira saying is true. You can bug out mobs with HT and seemingly DT if you engage them mid-spell cast without interrupting their cast. That's the big thing, if you interrupt their cast they will resume the HT (I imagine DT as well but none of those mobs are interruptible?). Often when farming on ranger in Stonebrunt I'd kite Jelqar and heretics until they started a cast and then stood in the hitbox to avoid eating a free HT.

[Rygar]

Originally Posted by nilbog [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

There was a problem with spells which should be on guaranteed timers. So, I built a new spelltype which bypasses timer randomizations.

This can also apply to other detrimental 'boss' type abilities which should be on a reliable timer (e.g. dragon fears).

Unfortunately, we will need to update existing npcs to use the new spelltype.


#1. All death touches should be 45 seconds correct? Currently there seems to be a mix of some which are 30, others which are 45.

#2. Are there any 'boss' type abilities which should not be on reliable timers?

#3. Should there be any 'beneficial' type spells which are on guaranteed timers?


If anyone wants to assist with compiling a list of which abilities should be guaranteed, it will help ensure none are missed.

Whenever I found classic log files with multi DTs I would check and it was 45sec. I can't say I audited every single mob (especially Sleeper) but I hadn't ever found a special "faster DT"

[nilbog]

Originally Posted by Jimjam [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Tangential to death / cazic touches, harm touches have an issue where if the NPC is casting a different spell at the time it wants to cast harm touch it will blow the harm touch timer without actually casting (presumably because it is in the middle of casting a different spell). I suspect users of death/cazic touch experience similar issues where the timed DT can be bypassed by having the npc cast a different spell at the time it is supposed to go off.

Is this something which you're aware of?

This is a different issue, but I think I see the problem with it. Needs its own bug thread!

[nilbog]

Originally Posted by Jimjam [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Tangential to death / cazic touches, harm touches have an issue where if the NPC is casting a different spell at the time it wants to cast harm touch it will blow the harm touch timer without actually casting (presumably because it is in the middle of casting a different spell). I suspect users of death/cazic touch experience similar issues where the timed DT can be bypassed by having the npc cast a different spell at the time it is supposed to go off.

Is this something which you're aware of?

Fixed, pending update


Back to 'guaranteed' spells, I've implemented all the death touch cases, and will be working through other 'boss' spells.