What to do about Dominate Suggestable Monster

thearioch intended solution:

Per discussion here, Suggestion mechanics moved to Dominate Monster. This makes sense to me, especially as I was modding the Meleny household and wanted to use Suggestion as per RAW. So, assuming it's possible (I'm still new, any advice would be appreciated), I plan on making suggestion work as follows:

1) New mechanics, old name -- same classes will get spell at same levels (hopefully including cleric Tricker Domain and Wizard Enchantment School).

2) There *may* be a default effect (if I can implement one), but my intended use is that modders add a san_spell_cast to to protos.tab and the target's *.py file, and add Suggestion dialog to the *.dlg file.

4) DnD 3.5 RAW and ToEE give targets a Saving Throw. Unlike PnP, however, there will be relatively few characters on whom Suggestion is usable, and players can always save/reload, so there will be no Saving Throw for this spell. Also, Atari ToEE version of spell more properly simulated 9th Level Dominate Monster spell, so a Saving Throw when cast as a 3rd level spell was not inappropriate. Also, *.DLG authors can effectively set any number of other conditions before Suggestion is selectable by PCs.

5) ToEE and RAW spell has a duration; while less important to my version of the spell, if reasonable, modders can add timed events. If san_spell_cast sets a flag, *.dkg tests the flag, and timed event clears the flag, the spell should appear to have a duration.

--thearioch

 

Thank you sir, the spell *.txt files do appear to have[in most cases] the last line as:

ai_type: <type>

I've seen types of ai_action_offensive, ai_action_defensive, and several levels of healing. Some inoffensive-appearing spells omit the ai_type line. I'll experiment and pick what works best -- if I can't find something obvious, I'll start a new thread in the documentation forum with what I find.

Also, I noticed

1) Co8 appears to have kept the name Suggestion for the Dominate Monster implementation. Did I miss something, or is this required for use of the ToEE engine? If not required, can we make a new entry for Dominate Monster so I can change 466-Suggestion back to "normal"? I'd rather not have to name Suggestion "Lesser Suggestion" or "True Suggestion" or "Suggestion Mk II" or something.

2) Atari provided 552-Glibness (Bard 3) which Co8 does not appear to have adjusted (at least the *.txt file). I could try to implement this in a similar vein. Note: Suggestion is cast on target, Glibness is cast on Bard. Basically, Suggestion would have to be cast once per desired dialog line, Glibness would allow the Bard to manipulate several lines with just one spell.

3) Obviously, Helm of Telepathy could go back to using Suggestion -- sorry HK

4) I wonder if calm Emotions could be used to cancel combat status (at least for a duration).

5) Again, I'm new to ToEE modding, so this project could take several weeks (and I typically underestimate project lengths).

--thearioch

 

Roger, Roger, Gaear. I just wanted to make sure someone hadn't tried it already and failed. And if you mean spells might go off of filenames, I'll try that first. It may look weird having two Suggestion spells with different names, but I could probably force myself to live with it as long as the spells have the right in-game names. At least for a first release.

--thearioch

 

As you all know, there is no 3rd level Trickery spell - Suggestion. However, the RAW spell is actually Nondetection. Perhaps if there is an extended delay for the development of the Suggestion fix, or if it is unsuitable for this domain, a new replacement might be considered.

I would suggest Scare, especially if Shiningted can get them to drop their weapons, to serve as at least an interim replacement.