Game Mechanics: Z axis

martigan1983 · #1 07-09-2010, 09:11 AM

aoe spells got range for x and y axis but not for z axis
everyone in the range of x and y axis even 2 floors away will be hit by aoe

that's quite ennoying when mobs aoe they can kill other group or peeps not in view

mmiles8 · #2 07-09-2010, 10:00 AM

Did some additional testing with aoe spells and the z axis. When determining range to target for targetted AOE spells, it's taking the vector of x y and z instead of only x and y, resulting in out of range messages while levitating or crossing steep hills, to the extent that you can be considered out of range when mobs are in range to melee you.

Demonstrated by parking a low level goblin at the foot of a steep hill, running up the hill with levitate, and running back to the goblin.

While in air, documented /loc. Out of range.

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Clicked off Levitate, documented /loc from the ground at same (x,y). Spell cast.

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Code:

[Fri Jul 09 10:25:56 2010] an isle goblin warrior was hit by non-melee for 10 points of damage.
[Fri Jul 09 10:25:56 2010] An isle goblin warrior is entwined by roots.
[Fri Jul 09 10:26:07 2010] Your target is out of range, get closer!
[Fri Jul 09 10:26:09 2010] Your Location is -673.15, -8503.37, 100.78
[Fri Jul 09 10:26:10 2010] Taking a screenshot...
[Fri Jul 09 10:26:13 2010] You can no longer levitate.
[Fri Jul 09 10:26:14 2010] You were hit by non-melee for 36 damage.
[Fri Jul 09 10:26:14 2010] YOU were injured by falling.
[Fri Jul 09 10:26:16 2010] Your Location is -673.15, -8503.37, 22.50
[Fri Jul 09 10:26:18 2010] You begin casting Invoke Lightning.
[Fri Jul 09 10:26:20 2010] an isle goblin warrior was hit by non-melee for 26 points of damage.
[Fri Jul 09 10:26:20 2010] An isle goblin warrior has been struck by lightning.

doacleric · #3 07-09-2010, 08:33 PM

I understand what you are talking about, but as far as I remember, this is the way it was back on live. Can anyone confirm/deny?

Simplistik · #4 07-09-2010, 08:38 PM

I'm pretty sure you could cast on a mob regardless of Z axis , provided you were in the spells casting range.

mmiles8 · #5 07-09-2010, 09:28 PM

Yar, I specifically remember quadding wyverns in CS and nuking them as they ran down the hilll toward the sand.

Targetted AOE spells are currently the only spells vectoring the Z axis when measuring distance, and I never had to adjust my height when quadding on live.

I have a suspicion that this, and the aoes going through floors, other such Z axis issues and especially the issue with the mobs warping inside of players players that has eluded debugging may be a symptom of a common underlying problem. This was my main interest in testing and documenting more data.

guineapig · #6 07-12-2010, 03:38 PM

My guess is that the Z-axis limit for AoE spells was put in specifically to try and limit the chaos that such spells can cause in dungeons. I can't confirm this but it would make sense.

Perhaps AoE spells should have slightly different rules in indoor zones versus outdoor zones? This would help the kiters without wreaking havoc in dungeons.

On a side note, has anyone tested this with point blank AoE? I'm always a little nervous using PBAoE stuns in certain parts of Guk and SolB due to there mobs being above or below me and not knowing what the Z-axis range of the spell is.... if any.

mmiles8 · #7 07-12-2010, 04:01 PM

The effect radius and spell range are two separate values. Currently, effect radius on aoe spells have no z limit, and distance to target is vectoring Z on target based aoe.

But

Quote:

I'm always a little nervous using PBAoE stuns in certain parts of Guk and SolB due to there mobs being above or below me ...

That was what the OP was referring to.

Quote:

everyone in the range of x and y axis even 2 floors away will be hit by aoe