New Opcode: Ability Drain

Raduziel

Hi.

Right now, abilities drain is handled using the same Opcode that increases the attributes.

The problem: by PnP, there should exist several ways to prevent ability score draining from, let's say a shadow. And many creatures should be immune to it. None of those can be properly translated to IE because blocking the ability drain also blocks the ability buff. So the same effect that protects against the shadow attack also blocks Champion's Strength.

The solution:

Opcode X

P1: Ability (0 - All, 1 - Str, 2 - Dex, 3 - Con, 4 - Int, 5 - Wis, 6 - Cha)

P2: Value (this Opcode accepts positives values only)

Special: (0 - Only Drain, 1 - Drain to Caster).

---

Now a shadow attack can be blocked through Opcode 101 using parameter X.

Undead may have their scores preserved through Opcode 324.

Everyone is happier.

Raduziel

I'll call @CamDawg @kjeron @Bubb @argent77 @subtledoctor as I would like their opinion about this.

OlvynChuru

One thing you could do is use the disease opcode, which also lets you lower a creature's attributes.

Raduziel

OlvynChuru wrote: »

One thing you could do is use the disease opcode, which also lets you lower a creature's attributes.

This just shifts the problem from one place to another: a Paladin is immune to Disease, but shouldn't be immune to ability score drain.

kjeron

Put all drain effects into EFF files, set parent type(0x90) to spell(1), assigning a common parent resref(0x94) "ABDRAIN".
Use opcode 206/318 to provide immunity to that resref "ABDRAIN".

Raduziel

kjeron wrote: »

Put all drain effects into EFF files, set parent type(0x90) to spell(1), assigning a common parent resref(0x94) "ABDRAIN".
Use opcode 206/318 to provide immunity to that resref "ABDRAIN".

That is a solution, but demands a modded game.

I'm talking about using this new feature as vanilla in things like Negative Plan Protection or Enrage etc.

And also I think that the plain Opcode would make life easier for modders. Checking IESDP I saw several opcodes labeled as "Unused" (like #322, #364 and everything between #347 and #359) that's why I had this idea.

Is there something I'm not considering?

Thanks!

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kjeron

subtledoctor wrote: »

Also: why in my head did I think opcode 101 had a field that was something like "match parameter2" for more fine-grained immunity? I just looked at it and it's not there... so what am I thinking of?

Opcode 337 - Remove: Limited Effects (by Opcode)

Raduziel

@subtledoctor It could make some creatures and spells act like they should.

And I also believe that it would open new horizons for modding spells and kits in a simpler and less invasive way (modding compatibility, I mean).

I don't know a better place to leave suggestions for Beamdog, unfortunately.

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Raduziel

@subtledoctor Thanks, I'll request there too.

Edit: Feature 40172 created.

https://support.baldursgate.com/issues/40172

swit

Raduziel wrote: »

kjeron wrote: »

Put all drain effects into EFF files, set parent type(0x90) to spell(1), assigning a common parent resref(0x94) "ABDRAIN".
Use opcode 206/318 to provide immunity to that resref "ABDRAIN".

That is a solution, but demands a modded game.

I'm talking about using this new feature as vanilla in things like Negative Plan Protection or Enrage etc.

And also I think that the plain Opcode would make life easier for modders. Checking IESDP I saw several opcodes labeled as "Unused" (like #322, #364 and everything between #347 and #359) that's why I had this idea.

Is there something I'm not considering?

Thanks!

I agree that it would be nice to have such feature being part of the vanilla game system, if that's what PnP says, but the requested dedicated opcode for it seems redundant. Solution posted by kjeron does the same thing and is relatively easy to implement - pretty much the same amount of work as writing weidu code that automatically replaces one opcode depending on parameter value with another, which would be needed anyway to mod-in your suggestion (I can't think about a single feature request like this fulfilled by Beamdog, so it's either done by mod or won't be there at all).

Raduziel

@swit

Stop crushing my dreams. What did I do to you?

Kidding.

I don't have any hope that Beamdog will implement this (or any of this TBH), my bet is on Bubb's new alien tech.