Problem - Buffs in DPS?

[Inkie]

I think the issue sets up like this:

I currently have my Mage cast Magmatic Veil (1200 defensive proc) and Surge of Shadow (2800 spell DS, 3700 DS) on the MA as part of the DPS section. It appears to cast and then when the charges are consumed doesn't recognize the need to recast. I have tried to cast it as a regular buff but it appears Surge of Shadow isn't being recognized as worn off.

Here's the Buffs & DPS Section of my .ini

BuffsOn=1
Buffs1=Elemental Form: Water|DUAL|Elemental Form: Water VI|ME
Buffs2=Praetorian Guardian|ME
Buffs3=Shield of the Pellarus|ME
Buffs4=Shield of Consequence|ME
Buffs5=Shieldstone Bodyguard|ME
Buffs6=Circle of Flameweaving|MA
Buffs7=Chaotic Benefaction|ME
Buffs8=Orc Warrior's Cape|ME
Buffs9=Grant Icebound Paradox|SUMMON|Summoned: Icebound Sliver|1
Buffs10=Wand of Dark Modulation|SUMMON|Wand of Pelagic Modulation|1
Buffs11=Mass Dark Transvergence|SUMMON|Wand of Pelagic Transvergence|1
Buffs12=Summon Modulation Shard|SUMMON|Summoned: Large Modulation Shard|1
Buffs13=Summon Mutinous Servant|SUMMON|Summoned: Exigent Servant XXI|1
Buffs14=Summon Mutinous Minion|SUMMON|Summoned: Exigent Minion XXI|1
Buffs15=Magmatic Veil|MA
Buffs16=Surge of Shadow|MA
Buffs17=Large Modulation Shard|MANA|40|60
Buffs18=Wand of Pelagic Modulation|MANA|60|60
Buffs19=Wand of Pelagic Transvergence|MANA|75|60
Buffs20=Gather Magnitude|MANA|80

DPSOn=2
DPSSkip=30
DPSInterval=0
DPS1=Magmatic Veil|95|MA
DPS2=Surge of Shadow|90|MA
DPS3=Eradicate Magic|85|MOB|ONCE
DPS4=Malosinete|80|MOB|ONCE
DPS5=Banestrike|75|MOB|WEAVE
DPS6=Remorseless Servant|70
DPS7=Force of Elements|65|MOB|WEAVE
DPS8=Summoned: Icebound Sliver|60|MOB|WEAVE
DPS9=Ether-Fused Shard|60|MOB|WEAVE
DPS10=Fickle Conflagration|55
DPS11=Bolt of Molten Shieldstone|50
DPS12=Spear of Molten Shieldstone|45
DPS13=Spear of Blistersteel|40

Any thoughts?

 

[Meistro]

With them in your DPS, it SHOULD recast them as it cycles thru the second time. I use those "buffs" in my DPS area on my mage too..

 

[TreeHuginDruid]

Will keep this ticket open a few more days, to allow original poster to respond with any feedback. But if the 2 proc buffs set to land on MA/tanbk during battle within DPS section fail to recast as they wear off during the current battle... they will most definately recast upon the next pull/battle cycle.

If no response/feedback refceived.. ticket will be closed by end of weekend.

 

[Inkie]

I'll double check that the buff if re-applied following the fight it wears off in this week

Your response leads me to believe the DPS section doesn't work as I would have expected. It would seem that the system recognized the spell as a "buff" and doesn't cast it each fight if it's already on the MA, I expected that by putting the spell in the DPS section (and using DPSon=2) it would cast it every fight regardless of it's presence on the MA...

 

[TreeHuginDruid]

I'll double check that the buff if re-applied following the fight it wears off in this week

Your response leads me to believe the DPS section doesn't work as I would have expected. It would seem that the system recognized the spell as a "buff" and doesn't cast it each fight if it's already on the MA, I expected that by putting the spell in the DPS section (and using DPSon=2) it would cast it every fight regardless of it's presence on the MA...

As per the instructions manual we have painstakingly put together....:

DPSOn =0/1/2- Off/On cast normal by mob % health/On cast in absolute descending order of mob health % tag. This will cast every spell with a health tag. Prevents skipping spells that may occur when mobs die to fast.

That means if DPSOn=2 ... it will recast the DPS spell in absolute descending order of the intended targets health tag... if the target is a mob... it saves you from casting spells and wasting mana / endurance on melee classes .. when a mob dies too fast...

However... if the intended target is MA (by using the MA filter to specify in tended target other than a mob).. then the MA needs to be at the EXACT ABSOLUTE health% defined in the DPS line for that DPS spell to be re-cast.

So.. if you have DpsOn=2... set veil to cast on MA at ABSOLUTE health% of 95... it lands once the MA reaches 95% health.. and 90% for the surge... but now the MA turns to engage 2nd or 3rd mob in camp/agro list... is he still at 95 or 90% health.. or lower?? (or being healed so well he never reaches 90% health again.... because the healers got their groove on but may have been a little sluggish at the start of combat on first mob)?

These are factors to consider when using absolute health % to determine if/when a dps spell/skill will trigger..... Might want to consider switching to DpsOn=1 and test.

Thanks for the prompt feedback though.... awaiting results so i can update/close ticket.

 

[Inkie]

I had some time to dig into the code and see if I can understand how it's working and I believe this is what was at least part of the confusion: (about line 1195)

| - Attack Buff Timers are seperate. DPS timers are cleared after every fight.
                        /if (${Select[${DPSTargetID},${Me.ID},${Spawn[=${MainAssist}].ID}]}) {
                            /varcalc ABTimer${i} (${Spell[${DPS[${i}]}].Duration.TotalSeconds}*${DurationMod})*10
                            /if (${DebugCombat}) /echo DEBUGCOMBAT CombatCast Spell: ${DPS[${i}]} Timer: ABTimer${i} {ABTimer${i}}
                            /goto :skipcast

I'm new at MQ2 syntax but not entirely new at coding. The above tells me that when a spell in the dps section is cast on "ME" or the "MA", a timer for the "Attack Buff" is created (ABTimer), this timer is not reset during the "CombatReset" sub (about line 1289).

I expected that it would recast the buff each fight as it was in the dps section and not the "buff" section, lesson learned, posting here so others can understand.

I did more research on the spell & etc.
The system looks for a "worn off" message to re-apply buffs, and based on the data I find at lucy/alla (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/spell.html?spell=36070) the 3700 point DS doesn't have a worn off message...

because the spell appears to not have a wear off message, and is an attack buff, it will burn through the counters (it's a limited # of charges) before the duration is up and won't re-apply until the Attack Buff timer clears...

Please consider the issue resolved, I'll do some testing to identify a combination that works well to keep the DS on the MA and post what I find.