[Treats]

Just so you guys know, doing the research on this stuff is absolutely fucking daunting.

It takes much more time than some of you that post your paragraphs of how you remember it.

Anyway here is what I have found:

Recourses were not added until this patch here where they revamped spell stacking etc:

http://www.tski.co.jp/baldio/patch/20020904.html

Shadowknight and Necromancer Drain type spells can now be clicked off by the recipient of the beneficial portion of the spell. For example; Shadowknights and their group members can now click off the effects of spells such as Torrent of Hate. While the target of spells such as Shadowbond can click it off if they so choose.

These types of spells were dispellable for some time, how long I do not know:

http://www.tski.co.jp/baldio/patch/20020605a.html

The Shadowbond series of spells can no longer be dispelled by the Necromancer.

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Now from the beginning it is difficult to figure out how these types of spells actually worked.

There are no Recourses listed in either the Kunark or Velious spdat.

Going off of this it seems the spells used the same icons whether being positive or negative.

Example:

Necro casts Pact of Shadow on Cleric
Cleric receives Pact of Shadow icon on Buff bar (positive)
Necro receives Pact of Shadow icon on Buff bar (negative)

Shadow Vortex showing an icon in 1999:

https://groups.google.com/forum/?fro...st/F3F5QTqIO08

Greetings. I recently hit level 20 and purchased this spell, but I've not
had much luck determining what it does. One thing that is apparent is that
its not a damaging spell. I was testing it out in E.Commons, and cast it on
a moss snake. The thing attacked me, and I watched its health (all 10
points of it), and its obvious this isn't a damaging spell. Also, a spell
icon appeared in the upper corner like a buff spell or something. Being its
a 20th level spell, I would expect it to do *something*.
Also, when I tried to cast it on myself it said "you can't drain
yourself!". Ok...if it doesn't drain heath, what *does* it drain?

I heard this too. Only curiousity...if its like just another offensive
spell, why does it leave a "buff" icon on your screen, which lasts about 2
minutes? Is this showing how long the spell effect is taking place? If so,
why is it still there after I kill the mob?

What is weird about this though is that Shadow Vortex was changed to a drain when Plane of Sky was released, 6 months after this post. Siphon Strength was also changed to stack with other buffs and debuffs. I could not find any information of a buff icon with Siphon Strength, only some people stating that it was permanent once it was cast:

https://groups.google.com/forum/?fro...st/JnDyJE1SdRs

*Spell Changes*

- Shadow Vortex is now a "drain" spell.
- Siphon Strength will now stack with strength buffs and debuffs

Another comment here about Shadowbound overwriting SLN/SLK (on the recipient of course, not the Necro) so it was not a recourse. I assume it was overwriting because of the regen component on these two spells:

https://groups.google.com/forum/?fro...st/qiz4uHww0dE

Shadowbond. Awesome heal. 660ish in 4 ticks. Too bad Verant cant code
jack shit and it overwrites SLN/SLK.

Conclusions

Two theories basically on how this worked.

FIRST

Any type of "DRAIN" would only give the buff icon to the player receiving the positive effects of the spell. There would be no way for this to be dispelled. This would explain why Shadow Vortex was giving an icon (was not a drain at the time of that post). However it does not explain why for some time the Shadowbond line of spells were dispellable. It could have been when they were testing the new spell system, I have no idea.

SECOND

Any type of spell with positive and negative effects for two different players would show icons for both. The spell icon on both players buff bars would be the same. Shadowbond would show "Shadowbond" on the player casted upon and "Shadowbond" on the Necromancer as well. There are no dispel lines in the spdat showing whether it could be or not. If it did work this way and showed a buff icon for the negative effects, I would assume it would have been dispelable if it was in the top slot because the spell has no Poison or Disease counters.

EDIT--

Another possible scenario:

Buff Icon is only shown for positive effects of the spell (This way they can be clicked off)

Necro casts Shadowbond
Cleric receives buff icon for positive effect
Necro receives no buff but still receives negative effects of spell

Necro casts Shadow Vortex
Necro receives buff icon for positive effect (AC)