Spells: Dot Stacking - not a bug

[Uthgaard]

Those aren't our patch notes... Those are the patch notes from eqlive in 2002...

[parlay1]

I think the point remains. More communication will give you less headaches. Just a suggestion, in no way am I intending to give any grief.

[mwatt]

Originally Posted by moklianne [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

About dot stacking from different casters of the same class (as much as I hate to post it):

from here:
http://everquest.allakhazam.com/hist...es-2002-2.html

Damage Over Time (DoT) spells are spells that linger on the target
doing damage. Until today two different characters could not have the
same DoT spell on the same target. As long as one copy of the spell was
active any new version of the spell would not take hold. After today
the same DoT spell cast by different casters can affect the same target
at the same time. Also, if you cast a DoT spell on a target and you
already have that spell active on it, the spell will refresh. (Note: It
will not be possible to stack Lifeburn).

This does not allow for inferior spells to stack along with superior
spells. (Example: Two Necromancers can both land Boil Blood on the same
target. However, Heat Blood, being an inferior spell, will still not
stack.)

Several DoT spells that have debuff components such as Tuyen's Chant of
Frost and Breath of Ro will not stack due to the balance issues of
having several hundred points of Resistance debuffs on a single NPC.

I can see why the above quote from the 2002 patch notes, about "being an inferior spell, will still not stack" could easily be interpreted how it is being interpreted. But I believe that the CONTEXT of what is being discussed is two different players landing dots. I believe what this poorly written patch note is talking about is only intended to mean that for two different players, an inferior spell will still not stack.

I have found at least one reference from 2002 in a forum that clearly states that all druid "bug" dots stack. Here is an exceprt from that quote "And the best part about this is that it's one of the druid bug dots (which all stack by the way) and it takes just about immunity from magic to resist a bug dot.". See bushsetter's post at: http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=3571

If you look at the same series of patch notes that was quoted here, from 1999 through 2003, you will see no mention of changing things so that Druid spells of the same line will now stack. From this one can infer that which I believe to be true: For a single druid player inferior and superior dots in the same line will stack and always did. I have not such found a quote for Necros, but it is the same I believe. I did see a reference to a Necro dot stacking chart from 2003 but you have/had to be a paid member of Zam to actually look at the chart.

In addition to the 2003 quote about Druid dots, I have found several references from more recent years that state all dots in the same line will stack, for both Necros and Druids.

[Uthgaard]

http://web.archive.org/web/200008221...ds.com/dot.htm

[mwatt]

Well that is a bit of a zinger Uth. You fight dirty [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.].

Still... there appears to be conflicting information. Naturally, it's your show of course. I'm sure you will do the right thing for making this the classic experience based upon the best evidence you can find. I'm equally sure that if new compelling evidence came to light, you'd do the right thing then too.

I appreciate your forebearance and willingness to listen. We are lucky to have you and the entire crew working on this. Super lucky.

Rock on. This server is the best thing going for gaming in the entire world right now.

[Badmartigan]

Originally Posted by Haynar [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Unless you are the 2nd necro in a group, or on a raid.

Aye, I was speaking from a soloing perspective however..

[cbwatt1]

Hello All,

So to be clear, according to the post last referenced by Uthgaard on another forum, a (single) Druid should be able to stack certain dots within the same series at level 53 and above?

I took a Druid to 60 on Mithaniel Marr way back when and specifically remember stacking WD, DD and my epic DOT. I do not remember anything specific to pre level 53 and DOT stacking because I don't recall having a need or desire to do it. There were so many "enhancements" many of which were DOT related at that time I can't recall ever trying to stack in lower levels.

I could never stack the same DOT with another druid which was a coordination thing but could always stack with myself at least at higher levels.

It is what it is at this point. As my brother pointed out, it is their show and I for one an very grateful for all the hard work put in to support this effort and for the ability to re experience the original game. I was just hoping to experience it without the perception of nerf. Uthgaard is probably correct but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

[mwatt]

Just to completely cap this from the point of my own input on the subject (it's already capped in reality per the devs) I was still struggling with memories of stacking these at some point and also some information I found from later years that claims they do stack.

So I hunted around some more and found even more evidence that Uth is dead nuts right. A link from July 2001 EQ Casters Realm also indisputably says that Druid dots from the same line (i.e. swarm, crud, etc.) do not stack. Link here: http://web.archive.org/web/200109111...ons.asp?Id=909

Bottom line, in Classic EQ they did not stack, so they aren't gonna stack here. Kudos to Uth for knowing this, implementing it, and standing up politely in the face of being questioned while still sticking to his guns.

[Henri]

I'm just pissed because I never took advantage of it. I didn't even try it because why should they stack?

[Harrison]

The descriptions say that those dots don't stack.

It was well known on live that creeping crud and stinging swarm were the exception. For some reason, they always did. I even remember it myself. I remember the day I found out they did stack, and wondered why it was possible.