How do you apply temporary "permanent" visual effects to units/tiles?

from Elemental Forums

  When I first started playing, I knew something was missing in the magic system, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Finally, it hit me: There are no ongoing spell effects. All the visuals are fire-and-forget. I bashed my head against this one for a while this weekend - but I couldn't find an example of where they've done anything similar in the xml. Has anyone else seen this or just know how to make it happen? (Or worse, if it can't happen?)

  To clarify: The goal is to provide an ongoing "enchantment" visual when I've placed a spell on a target unit, city, tile, etc. This is different from the SpellDefEffect (the effect that occurs during casting). This would create, for example, a pillar of light at the center of a Reveal spell or create a glowing ring around a unit that had been "protected from spells."

  You can apply permanent visual effects fairly easily. Just set the effect to occur indefinitely (in its definition, not the spell's). But if you do this for an enchantment or turn-limited spell, it doesn't go away when the spell ends - the tile it occured on just glows, pulses or whatnot forever.

Thanks in advance!

Gnilbert

2,547 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I, too, have been wanting something like this.  I don't *think* it's in there at the moment, but I also think that there's a way to assign effects to equipment (I think?) which would be a way to kinda work that.  So, you could have strategic spells that either create a "spell" unit with the effect item in it's inventory, or else just add the effect item to the target unit.  Of course, if you can't assign effects to equipment (I haven't seen it in game, I'm pretty sure I've seen someone mention it) then that whole workaround is kinda a moot point.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Have you tried playing with the stuff from the tactical tile blockers? They look like this

    <GameModifier InternalName="RockSlideCreateWorldPropModifier">
      <ModType>Map</ModType>
      <Attribute>CreateWorldProp</Attribute>
      <StrVal>RockSlide</StrVal>
      <Duration>3</Duration>
    </GameModifier>

Since it's a regular tile you can then affix effects to it. Of course doing it like this won't remove the effect if the spell gets moved/dispelled.

Also, in beta there was a spell called Beautify Land which you can find in the core files. Might be worth checking out.

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