Spell Descriptions and Stacking

[Ragna the Bloodedge]

I've noticed some spells with incorrect spell descriptions. I have been resisting posting about them since I wasn't sure how much leeway there was in changing the spell descriptions. But as I noticed more and more spells with this issue, I finally decided to make a post asking about it.

I was under the impression that in editing spell descriptions you were forced to copy an old spell description of an existing spell, and could edit the numeral values that were listed (or rather they were copied from the spell data)? Or is this not the case, and you have pretty much full control of the spell description? If the latter were the case, how would you feel if I started to make various posts pointing out various incorrect spell descriptions that needed correction (and maybe some more buff stacking issue posts)? I just wanted to make sure this was "okay" before I created a ton of extra work for fixing non-critical issues.

Of course, I'm sure there are various players that are reading this too that have maybe spotted a few errors here and there and could point us in the direction of some spells that needed attention too (if time permitted).

-Ragna the Bloodedge

[Tyler]

There are 2 files for spells - one is the ever so often downloaded spell_us.txt , another containing the actual descriptions. Since we don't offer a custom version of that one (yet), it's the nature of the beast that some of the custom ones are totally out of line or misleading.

I always wanted to work on getting them updated and will eventually do it, but no ETA for that.

If you on the other hand want to go ahead and start collecting wrong descriptions and even better yet, provide a correct one - by all means go for it!

You can use this thread.

[Ragna the Bloodedge]

Alright, lets get started then.

I'll most likely start to offer two type of suggestion fixes for spell descriptions. "Band-aid suggestions" will suggest a DID (Description ID) that could be used for the spell that already exists in the dbstr_us.txt file. The Custom Suggestion will suggest a completely new spell description if we want to go that route. Of course these are just suggestions - different DIDs could be used or even a completely different spell description could be used.

First the Wizard Level 70 spells, Maelstrom of Power series:
Maelstrom of Power I
Maelstrom of Power II
Maelstrom of Power III

Current (DID #732): "Summons a giant comet of ice from the sky, causing between #1 and @1 damage to your target."
(Note: All three spells of the series have the ice comet graphic.)
Problem: The Maelstrom of Power series functions as DoT spells, but have a direct damage spell like spell description.

Band-aid Suggestion #1 (DID #1952): "Strikes your target with the power of thunder, causing #2 damage every 6 seconds for up to %z."
Key issue is that the spell graphic for the maelstrom series is an ice comet, which doesn't exactly scream "power of thunder", but solves the DoT message problem.

Band-aid Suggestion #2 (DID #1405): "Surrounds your target in an elemental maelstrom, causing #1 damage initially, and between #2 and @2 damage every 6 seconds for %z."
Has the word maelstrom in it as does the spell name, but this spell description is worded for a DoT with a frontal DD, which the maelstrom series doesn't have, so this would appear as 0.

Custom Suggestion: "Summons a giant maelstrom of power from the sky to engulf the target, causing #2 damage every 6 seconds for up to %z."
Matches the current spell graphic and name, and fixes the dot spell description.

-Ragna the Bloodedge

[Tyler]

Fixed to 1952. This is also an invitation to everyone else to come up with suggestion to come up with a better spell description for our custom spells.