Assigning schools and secondary types to item abilities

[aVENGER_(RR)]

The recent discovery of the fields which regulate spells schools and secondary types in an item's extended header, we might be able to finally fix a couple of longstanding issues. In some way, this is more of a standardization since the Bioware developers used these flags sporadically, though a pattern can be observed in several cases. Here are some suggestions for things that can reasonably be considered as bugfixes:

 

// Standardize the school and secondary type of items which cast illusionary spells

COPY_EXISTING ~ring28.itm~ ~override~								// Ring of Air Control
		  ~sw1h26.itm~ ~override~								// Ilbratha +1
 READ_LONG  0x64 "abil_off"
 READ_SHORT 0x68 "abil_num"
 FOR (index = 0; index < "%abil_num%"; index = index + 1) BEGIN	 // parse each ability
READ_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "abil_type"		// determine ability type
PATCH_IF  ("%abil_type%" = 3) BEGIN							  // only patch the magical ability header
  READ_ASCII ("%abil_off%" + 0x04 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "icon"   // use icon (BAM name)
  PATCH_IF (("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI212B~) OR ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI405B~)) BEGIN // Mirror Image or Improved Invisibility
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "5"	// school: Illusionist
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "3"	// secondary type: Illusionary Protections
  END
END
 END
BUT_ONLY_IF_IT_CHANGES


// Standardize the school and secondary type of items which cast abjuration spells

COPY_EXISTING ~staf11.itm~ ~override~								// Staff of the Magi
		  ~wand18.itm~ ~override~								// Wand of Spell Striking
 READ_LONG  0x64 "abil_off"
 READ_SHORT 0x68 "abil_num"
 FOR (index = 0; index < "%abil_num%"; index = index + 1) BEGIN	 // parse each ability
READ_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "abil_type"		// determine ability type
PATCH_IF  ("%abil_type%" = 3) BEGIN							  // only patch the magical ability header
  READ_ASCII ("%abil_off%" + 0x04 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "icon"   // use icon (BAM name)
  PATCH_IF ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI902B~) BEGIN		 // Spell Trap
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "1"	// school: Abjurer
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "1"	// secondary type: Spell Protections
  END
  PATCH_IF (("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI513B~) OR ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI608B~)) BEGIN // Breach or Pierce Magic
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "1"	// school: Abjurer
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "4"	// secondary type: Magic Attack
  END
END
 END
BUT_ONLY_IF_IT_CHANGES


// Assign the proper school and secondary type to the special ability of the Shield amulet

COPY_EXISTING ~amul15.itm~ ~override~							 // Shield Amulet
 READ_LONG  0x64 "abil_off"
 READ_SHORT 0x68 "abil_num"
 FOR (index = 0; index < "%abil_num%"; index = index + 1) BEGIN  // parse each ability
READ_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "abil_type"	 // determine ability type
PATCH_IF  ("%abil_type%" = 3) BEGIN						   // only patch the magical ability header
  WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "6"   // school: Invoker
  WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "7"   // secondary type: Combat Protections
END
 END
BUT_ONLY_IF_IT_CHANGES

 

 

OTOH, this batch is more likely a candidate for a tweak mod. Heh, I might even include it in some future version of aTweaks.

 

// Standardize the school and secondary type of items which cast offensive spells

COPY_EXISTING ~staf13.itm~ ~override~								// Staff of Thunder and Lightning
		  ~wand03.itm~ ~override~								// Wand of Magic Missiles
		  ~wand05.itm~ ~override~								// Wand of Fire
		  ~wand06.itm~ ~override~								// Wand of Frost
		  ~wand07.itm~ ~override~								// Wand of Lightning
		  ~wand11.itm~ ~override~								// Wand of the Heavens
		  ~wand13.itm~ ~override~								// Wand of Cloudkill
 READ_LONG  0x64 "abil_off"
 READ_SHORT 0x68 "abil_num"
 FOR (index = 0; index < "%abil_num%"; index = index + 1) BEGIN	 // parse each ability
READ_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "abil_type"		// determine ability type
PATCH_IF  ("%abil_type%" = 3) BEGIN							  // only patch the magical ability header
  READ_ASCII ("%abil_off%" + 0x04 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "icon"   // use icon (BAM name)
  PATCH_IF NOT (("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI103B~) OR ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI104B~)) BEGIN // not Burning Hands or Charm
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "6"	// school: Invoker
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "10"   // secondary type: Offensive Damage
  END
  PATCH_IF ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI103B~) BEGIN		 // Burning Hands
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "8"	// school: Transmuter
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "10"   // secondary type: Offensive Damage
  END
  PATCH_IF ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~IWAND13~) BEGIN		  // Wand of Cloudkill
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "6"	// school: Invoker
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "9"	// secondary type: Battleground
  END
END
 END
BUT_ONLY_IF_IT_CHANGES

// Standardize the school and secondary type of items which cast alteration spells

COPY_EXISTING ~brac16.itm~ ~override~								// Bracers of Blinding Strike
		  ~boot12.itm~ ~override~								// Gargoyle Boots
		  ~ring29.itm~ ~override~								// Ring of Earth Control
		  ~ring39.itm~ ~override~								// Ring of Gaxx
		  ~staf16.itm~ ~override~								// Staff of Earth +2
		  ~sw1h27.itm~ ~override~								// Arbane's Sword +2
		  ~sw1h36.itm~ ~override~								// Namarra +2
 READ_LONG  0x64 "abil_off"
 READ_SHORT 0x68 "abil_num"
 FOR (index = 0; index < "%abil_num%"; index = index + 1) BEGIN	 // parse each ability
READ_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "abil_type"		// determine ability type
PATCH_IF  ("%abil_type%" = 3) BEGIN							  // only patch the magical ability header
  READ_ASCII ("%abil_off%" + 0x04 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "icon"   // use icon (BAM name)
  PATCH_IF (("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI305B~) OR ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI613B~) OR ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI625B~)) BEGIN // Haste, Improved Haste or Stone to Flesh
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "8"	// school: Transmuter
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "13"   // secondary type: Non-Combat
  END
  PATCH_IF ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI408B~) BEGIN		 // Stoneskin
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "8"	// school: Transmuter
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "7"	// secondary type: Combat Protections
  END
  PATCH_IF ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPPR211B~) BEGIN		 // Silence 15' Radius
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "8"	// school: Transmuter
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "11"   // secondary type: Disabling
  END
END
 END
BUT_ONLY_IF_IT_CHANGES


// Standardize the school and secondary type of items which cast divination spells

COPY_EXISTING ~sw1h32.itm~ ~override~								// Dragonslayer
		  ~sw1h34.itm~ ~override~								// Albruin +1
 READ_LONG  0x64 "abil_off"
 READ_SHORT 0x68 "abil_num"
 FOR (index = 0; index < "%abil_num%"; index = index + 1) BEGIN	 // parse each ability
READ_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "abil_type"		// determine ability type
PATCH_IF  ("%abil_type%" = 3) BEGIN							  // only patch the magical ability header
  READ_ASCII ("%abil_off%" + 0x04 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "icon"   // use icon (BAM name)
  PATCH_IF ("%icon%" STRING_EQUAL_CASE ~SPWI203B~) BEGIN		 // Detect Invisibility
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x17 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "3"	// school: Diviner
	WRITE_BYTE ("%abil_off%" + 0x19 + ("%index%" * 0x38)) "5"	// secondary type: Divination Attack
  END
END
 END
BUT_ONLY_IF_IT_CHANGES

 

For reference, this code assigns schools and secondary types only to items which clearly state that they duplicate the respective spell in their description. Items which may confer similar effects through other means (i.e. the Jansen Spectroscopes Detect Invisibility ability) were deliberately left untouched. Similarly, items which cast the actual spells, rather than mimic their effects were not altered.

[devSin]

You may want to test that reverting the wand of spellstriking works (make sure it behaves correctly with spell shield). Otherwise, I'd include all of that.

 

Note that these should allow us to completely drop the staff of magi spelltrap and similar changes (the old "un-breachable protections" issues, since we can now set the type correctly for all the effects) where we switch to casting a spell just to get the school/type. That probably means just that and the Staff of Power, and the Wand of Spellstriking if it works; I don't remember any others right now.

[aVENGER_(RR)]

You may want to test that reverting the wand of spellstriking works (make sure it behaves correctly with spell shield). Otherwise, I'd include all of that.

 

Sure thing. For reference, here's a comparison between several item abilities as they appear in the unmodded game and after applying the abovementioned code:

 

 

Ilbratha +1

Before: Mirror Image cast by the sword cannot be removed by Detect Illusions, Oracle and True Sight

After: Mirror Image cast by the sword is properly removed by Detect Illusions, Oracle and True Sight

 

 

Staff of the Magi

Before: Spell Trap cast by the Staff of the Magi cannot be removed by Spell Strike

After: Spell Trap cast by the Staff of the Magi is properly removed by Spell Strike

 

 

Wand of Spell Striking

Before: Both abilities of the wand bypass Spell Shield

After: Both abilities of the wand are stopped by Spell Shield

 

 

Wand of Fire

Before: Both abilities of the wand bypass Spell Immunity: Evocation and/or the Cloak of Mirroring

After: Both abilities of the wand are stopped by Spell Immunity: Evocation and/or by the Cloak of Mirroring

 

 

Wand of Frost

Before: The wand's ability is stopped by Spell Immunity: Evocation but it bypasses the Cloak of Mirroring

After: The wand's ability is stopped by Spell Immunity: Evocation and/or by the Cloak of Mirroring

 

Staff of Power

 

I thought about that, but I'd rather retain the current Staff of Power fix than rebuild the Globe of Invulnerability within the item simply due to the sheer complexity of the spell in question.

[devSin]

Oh, yeah, we add a bunch of crap to Globe, you're right. Good call.

[Guest Marcellus Caesar]

I'm actually following this thread closely... any estimate on when this bugfix can be implemented, and if the fixes for the wands can also apply to Tutu?

 

I have little WeiDU knowledge, so I'd apply these changes myself otherwise seeing as this seems like a pretty big fix for a number of items.

[aVENGER_(RR)]

I'm actually following this thread closely... any estimate on when this bugfix can be implemented,

 

The abovementioned material (or at least a part of it) is going to be implemented in the next version of the fixpack. We are working on that right now, but there's no official release date. By my rough estimate, it will take us at least a few more months.

 

and if the fixes for the wands can also apply to Tutu?

 

The BG2 Fixpack is not applicable on Tutu. Its author would have to implement the fixes manually in the next version of that mod. However, after the item school/secondary type fixes are finalized (several parts are still under review) I could release them in a form which would work on Tutu as well.

[Guest Marcellus Caesar]

I'm actually following this thread closely... any estimate on when this bugfix can be implemented,

 

The abovementioned material (or at least a part of it) is going to be implemented in the next version of the fixpack. We are working on that right now, but there's no official release date. By my rough estimate, it will take us at least a few more months.

 

and if the fixes for the wands can also apply to Tutu?

 

The BG2 Fixpack is not applicable on Tutu. Its author would have to implement the fixes manually in the next version of that mod. However, after the item school/secondary type fixes are finalized (several parts are still under review) I could release them in a form which would work on Tutu as well.

Great! Thank you for your and everyone else's work in continuing to patch one hell of a good game! I'll be waiting for the next edition of the fixpack with bated breath!