Spell_Filter

Spell Filtering

Using DSAs it is possible to intercept and modify all spells that are cast.

Step 1: Specify a location in the dungeon that will receive a message whenever a spell is cast. This is done using CSBuild's Edit/Global menu selection. On the Edit Global Information dialog there is an "Important Locations" drop-down box and associated edit boxes that specify a level, x, and y locations in the dungeon. In the drop-down box select "Spell Filter Location" and in the edit boxes provide the location to receive the message.

Step 2: Put a DSA at the location specified in Step 1. Whenever a spell is cast, a 'Set 0' message will be sent to that location. You could put a door or pit there if you so choose but it seems likely you will want to do something more complicated than opening a pit. A DSA is probably the best thing to put there.

Step 3: Design a DSA that will do what you want done. Some examples:

Deny the use of the ZO spell until a particular scroll is found.
Deny the use of Fireballs on level 9 ( The water level ).
Don't let Halk use the ZO spell.
If the Character Stamina is too low modify the spell at random. ( Too tired to get it right. )
Require twice as much mana to cast Fireballs on level 4.
Deny use of ZO spell unless character has an Apple in his left hand.
Change the direction of Fireballs so that they are sent opposite to the direction the party is facing.
Et cetera

The DSA has access to all of the parameters that the runtime engine uses to create the spell effects. The parameters can be obtained by using the &PARAM@ command to put the parameters into the Temporary Variable array. The parameters can be modified and then sent back to the spell-casting code using the &PARAM! command. This is the mechanism for modifying (Filtering) the spell's effect. Here are the parameters:

0 - Action
1 - Incantation
2 - Character Index
3 - Disable time
4 - Missile Type
5 - Party Location in Dungeon
6 - Party facing direction
7 - Skill Required
8 - Spell Byte 5
9 - Spell Class
10 - Unused 1
11 - Unused 2
12 - Unused 3
13 - Unused 4

Action: This is the action to be taken when the DSA exits. It is initially set to zero. The possible actions are

0 - Proceed to cast the spell as usual using the Spell Parameters. If you do not modify the spell's parameters then this will cause the spell to be cast just as though there were no filtering in effect. If you have modified the parameters then the spell will be cast using those modified parameters.
1 - Cancel the spell. Print no message. The spell just quietly fizzles.
2 through 100 - Cancel the spell and print a message. See the list of possible built-in messages later in this discussion.

Incantation: The incantation is specified by a 4-digit decimal number. The four digits are the four runes that are selected in the casting. If fewer than four are used then the unused ones are zero. A ZO-Spell might be 1600 or 2600 or 3600 or 4600 or 5600 or 6600 depending on the 'power'. A fireball could be 1440 or 2440 or 3440 or 4440 or 5440 or 6440 depending on the 'power'. That should be enough examples to get the idea across. A spell of 1700 would be nonsense because there is no seventh rune.

Character Index: The index ( 0, 1, 2, or 3) of the character casting the spell. From left to right in the portrait area.

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