Spell Modding Tutorial
Page Index
This tutorial contains a great deal of information, and is, therefore, spread over several pages. Please use the index below to navigate the tutorial. The current page will be in large red letters in the index.
2.0 Templates and Examples
2.5.1 Example Spell - Haste
Though covered in-depth earlier in this tutorial, each example spell will have some comment line reminders for the various tags and values.
[SPELL]
<SPHERE>:DEFENSE
##Associates your new spell with a magic skill.
##Values: ATTACK : DEFENSE : CHARM
<NAME>:Haste
##Pick a name for your new spell.
##Values: any alpha-numeric string.
<TARGET_ALIGNMENT>:ALL
##Determines who or what is affected by the spell.
##Values: EVIL : ALL
<TARGET>:USER
##Sets the target value for your spell.
##Values: PROJECTILE : CHARACTER : AREA : USERAREA : USER : USERANDPETS : ITEM
<CAST_TIME>:3
##Sets the spell’s casting time in seconds.
<MANA>:30
##Sets the amount of mana used per casting of the spell.
<ICON>:ICONS/spellhaste.png:ICONS/spellhastea.png
##Sets the paths to the icon artwork for your spell.
##See pages:
##El Heffe’s The Icon Ramble
##Tiptoe’ Icon Tutorial
##For more information on icons.
<DESCRIPTION>:Speeds up caster by 1/3\nspeed for 15 seconds\n+1 second
of duration per Defense Skill level
##The lines that describe the spell when moused-over in the game.
##The "\n" string is used to indicate hard line breaks.
[EFFECT]
##Opens the EFFECT stanza.
##Values: EFFECT : PAYLOADEFFECT
<NAME>:HASTEATTACK
##Name of the effect.
<EXCLUSIVE>:1
##Effects with this tag do not stack.
<ACTIVATION>:USAGE
##Determines how the effect is activated.
##All spells are activated by USAGE, no exceptions.
<TYPE>:PERCENTATTACKSPEED
##This determines exactly what the spell does,
##Values: See the Effect Archive
<DURATION>:15
##Sets the length of time the effect remains active.
##Values: INSTANT (all at once) : Any positive number in seconds.
<VALUE>:33
##Sets the bonus or penalty percentage.
<DURATION_BONUS>:1
##Adds bonus to duration in seconds based on Defense skill level.
[/EFFECT]
##Closes the EFFECT stanza.
[EFFECT]
##Opens the EFFECT stanza.
##Values: EFFECT : PAYLOADEFFECT
<NAME>:HASTE
##Name of the effect.
<EXCLUSIVE>:1
##Effects with this tag do not stack.
<MESSAGE>:Haste!
<ACTIVATION>:USAGE
##Determines how the effect is activated.
##All spells are activated by USAGE, no exceptions.
<TYPE>:PERCENTSPEED
##This determines exactly what the spell does,
##Values: See the Effect Archive
<DURATION>:15
##Sets the length of time the effect remains active.
##Values: INSTANT (all at once) : Any positive number in seconds.
<VALUE>:33
##Sets the bonus or penalty percentage.
<DURATION_BONUS>:1
##Adds bonus to duration in seconds based on Defense skill level.
[/EFFECT]
##Closes the EFFECT stanza.
# sfx:type:duration:looping:speed:turnrate:path to effect:exclusive:respect bonuses #
##Comment line that offers clues on what the various values mean for the SFX tag lines.
#<SFX>:STATIONARYTARGET:-1:0:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/HASTE/haste.ams:0:1
##Sets the details of this spell’s "Special Effect".
<SFX>:FOLLOWTARGET:15:1:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/RINGS/bluering.ams:1:1
##Sets the details of this spell’s "Special Effect".
<SFX>:FOLLOWTARGET:.5:1:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/FIREPUFF/purplepuff.mdl:0:0
##Sets the details of this spell’s "Special Effect".
<SFX_DURATION_BONUS>:1
##Sets Special Effect duration bonus.
<SOUND>:SUCCESS:SOUNDS/SPELLS/charm.wav
##Path to sound resource.
<SOUND>:FAIL:SOUNDS/SPELLS/fail.wav
##Path to sound resource.
<SOUND>:CHANT:SOUNDS/SPELLS/cast3.wav
##Path to sound resource.
<CAST_PARTICLE>:PURPLEFIRESPARK:0:0:0
##Sets details for the spell’s particle effect, if any.
<CAST_PARTICLE>:TINYFASTGLEAM:0:0:0
##Sets details for the spell’s particle effect, if any.
<REQUIRES>:MAGIC:21
##Sets the minimum value for the Magic Attribute a character must have to use the spell.
[/SPELL]
<SPHERE>:DEFENSE
##Associates your new spell with a magic skill.
##Values: ATTACK : DEFENSE : CHARM
<NAME>:Haste
##Pick a name for your new spell.
##Values: any alpha-numeric string.
<TARGET_ALIGNMENT>:ALL
##Determines who or what is affected by the spell.
##Values: EVIL : ALL
<TARGET>:USER
##Sets the target value for your spell.
##Values: PROJECTILE : CHARACTER : AREA : USERAREA : USER : USERANDPETS : ITEM
<CAST_TIME>:3
##Sets the spell’s casting time in seconds.
<MANA>:30
##Sets the amount of mana used per casting of the spell.
<ICON>:ICONS/spellhaste.png:ICONS/spellhastea.png
##Sets the paths to the icon artwork for your spell.
##See pages:
##El Heffe’s The Icon Ramble
##Tiptoe’ Icon Tutorial
##For more information on icons.
<DESCRIPTION>:Speeds up caster by 1/3\nspeed for 15 seconds\n+1 second
of duration per Defense Skill level
##The lines that describe the spell when moused-over in the game.
##The "\n" string is used to indicate hard line breaks.
[EFFECT]
##Opens the EFFECT stanza.
##Values: EFFECT : PAYLOADEFFECT
<NAME>:HASTEATTACK
##Name of the effect.
<EXCLUSIVE>:1
##Effects with this tag do not stack.
<ACTIVATION>:USAGE
##Determines how the effect is activated.
##All spells are activated by USAGE, no exceptions.
<TYPE>:PERCENTATTACKSPEED
##This determines exactly what the spell does,
##Values: See the Effect Archive
<DURATION>:15
##Sets the length of time the effect remains active.
##Values: INSTANT (all at once) : Any positive number in seconds.
<VALUE>:33
##Sets the bonus or penalty percentage.
<DURATION_BONUS>:1
##Adds bonus to duration in seconds based on Defense skill level.
[/EFFECT]
##Closes the EFFECT stanza.
[EFFECT]
##Opens the EFFECT stanza.
##Values: EFFECT : PAYLOADEFFECT
<NAME>:HASTE
##Name of the effect.
<EXCLUSIVE>:1
##Effects with this tag do not stack.
<MESSAGE>:Haste!
<ACTIVATION>:USAGE
##Determines how the effect is activated.
##All spells are activated by USAGE, no exceptions.
<TYPE>:PERCENTSPEED
##This determines exactly what the spell does,
##Values: See the Effect Archive
<DURATION>:15
##Sets the length of time the effect remains active.
##Values: INSTANT (all at once) : Any positive number in seconds.
<VALUE>:33
##Sets the bonus or penalty percentage.
<DURATION_BONUS>:1
##Adds bonus to duration in seconds based on Defense skill level.
[/EFFECT]
##Closes the EFFECT stanza.
# sfx:type:duration:looping:speed:turnrate:path to effect:exclusive:respect bonuses #
##Comment line that offers clues on what the various values mean for the SFX tag lines.
#<SFX>:STATIONARYTARGET:-1:0:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/HASTE/haste.ams:0:1
##Sets the details of this spell’s "Special Effect".
<SFX>:FOLLOWTARGET:15:1:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/RINGS/bluering.ams:1:1
##Sets the details of this spell’s "Special Effect".
<SFX>:FOLLOWTARGET:.5:1:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/FIREPUFF/purplepuff.mdl:0:0
##Sets the details of this spell’s "Special Effect".
<SFX_DURATION_BONUS>:1
##Sets Special Effect duration bonus.
<SOUND>:SUCCESS:SOUNDS/SPELLS/charm.wav
##Path to sound resource.
<SOUND>:FAIL:SOUNDS/SPELLS/fail.wav
##Path to sound resource.
<SOUND>:CHANT:SOUNDS/SPELLS/cast3.wav
##Path to sound resource.
<CAST_PARTICLE>:PURPLEFIRESPARK:0:0:0
##Sets details for the spell’s particle effect, if any.
<CAST_PARTICLE>:TINYFASTGLEAM:0:0:0
##Sets details for the spell’s particle effect, if any.
<REQUIRES>:MAGIC:21
##Sets the minimum value for the Magic Attribute a character must have to use the spell.
[/SPELL]
2.5.2 Defense Buff Spell Template
Here you'll find a Cut-and-Paste template and tag descriptions that you can use to make your own spells that affect the caster. the important thing to remember here is that defense spells target you with "good stuff" instead of targeting the bad guys with "bad stuff."
This template is based on the Haste spell. Cut and paste it into your spells.dat then fill in the blanks.
Important: Make sure you replace any text that is high-lighted and enclosed in *asterisks* with proper values!
Comments after the pound sign "#" are informational only, and will be ignored by the game.
[SPELL]
<SPHERE>:DEFENSE
<NAME>:*
<TARGET_ALIGNMENT>:GOOD
<TARGET>:USER
<CAST_TIME>:*
<MANA>:*
<ICON>:*
# Enter a description once a buff effect has been chosen.
<DESCRIPTION>:*Your description*
# Choose a buff effect from the various <TYPE> values.
# Check the Effect Archive or your local spells.dat file.
[EFFECT]
*Your effect tags*
[/EFFECT]
#sfx:type:duration:looping:speed:turnrate:path to effect:exclusive:respect bonuses
<SFX>:STATIONARYTARGET:.5:1:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/FIREPUFF/bluepuff.mdl:0:0
<SFX>:STATIONARYTARGET:-1:0:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/LIGHTNING/lightning.ams:0:0
<SOUND>:SUCCESS:SOUNDS/SPELLS/lightning.wav
<SOUND>:FAIL:SOUNDS/SPELLS/fail.wav
<SOUND>:CHANT:SOUNDS/SPELLS/cast2.wav
<CAST_PARTICLE>:ELECTRIC:0:0:0
<CAST_PARTICLE>:PURPLEFIRESPARK:0:0:0
<REQUIRES>:MAGIC:*
[/SPELL]
<SPHERE>:DEFENSE
<NAME>:*
<TARGET_ALIGNMENT>:GOOD
<TARGET>:USER
<CAST_TIME>:*
<MANA>:*
<ICON>:*
# Enter a description once a buff effect has been chosen.
<DESCRIPTION>:*Your description*
# Choose a buff effect from the various <TYPE> values.
# Check the Effect Archive or your local spells.dat file.
[EFFECT]
*Your effect tags*
[/EFFECT]
#sfx:type:duration:looping:speed:turnrate:path to effect:exclusive:respect bonuses
<SFX>:STATIONARYTARGET:.5:1:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/FIREPUFF/bluepuff.mdl:0:0
<SFX>:STATIONARYTARGET:-1:0:0:0:SPELLS/EFFECTS/LIGHTNING/lightning.ams:0:0
<SOUND>:SUCCESS:SOUNDS/SPELLS/lightning.wav
<SOUND>:FAIL:SOUNDS/SPELLS/fail.wav
<SOUND>:CHANT:SOUNDS/SPELLS/cast2.wav
<CAST_PARTICLE>:ELECTRIC:0:0:0
<CAST_PARTICLE>:PURPLEFIRESPARK:0:0:0
<REQUIRES>:MAGIC:*
[/SPELL]
Template Page Index
2.5 Defense Buff Spell