A question about damage calculation - Guild Wars Forums

js3521 · Dec 01, 2010, 06:48 PM // 18:48

Hello all! I'm new to Guild Wars and have a very simple question.

I'm playing an Elementalist, and the starting weapon is the "Starter Elemental Rod" which has 3-5 fire damage and grants +20% damage. I'm confused as to what the +20% damage applies to.

Is it only applied to damage dealt by the rod, or is it also applied to spell damage?

Also, does adding attribute points to Fire Magic increase fire damage dealt with weapons?

Iuris · Dec 01, 2010, 07:05 PM // 19:05

Only to the damage when you attack with the rod. Spell damage is never affected by +damage mods. You'll want the mods that halve the casting time / recharge and extend enchantments.

As for attributes: in short, no. While we could go into details about critical chances, weapon damage and so on, for practical purposes, you need to have the attribute at least as high as the requirement on the weapon for it to do maximum damage or gibe the bonus that's conditioned.

Note that casters do their damage with spells, and you'll hardly ever need to use your wand/staff to attack - except when you have nothing better to do...

js3521 · Dec 01, 2010, 07:08 PM // 19:08

Thanks for the help!

Prince Rogrs Nelson · Dec 01, 2010, 07:52 PM // 19:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iuris

Only to the damage when you attack with the rod. Spell damage is never affected by +damage mods.

Huh. I never actually bothered to test, but I always kind of assumed that, for instance, a strength and honor inscription WOULD affect damage from spells, just as a poisonous bowstring would affect the duration of poison you inflict through a means other than your bow. Guess I should visit the isle of the nameless after work tonight...

Elmindreda Farshaw · Dec 01, 2010, 08:40 PM // 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince Rogrs Nelson

Huh. I never actually bothered to test, but I always kind of assumed that, for instance, a strength and honor inscription WOULD affect damage from spells, just as a poisonous bowstring would affect the duration of poison you inflict through a means other than your bow. Guess I should visit the isle of the nameless after work tonight...

this is just not true. the damage mods only affect the damage the weapon itself does. A 15^50 does nothing for your spells.

**Marty Silverblade** · Dec 01, 2010, 08:47 PM // 20:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince Rogrs Nelson

Huh. I never actually bothered to test, but I always kind of assumed that, for instance, a strength and honor inscription WOULD affect damage from spells, just as a poisonous bowstring would affect the duration of poison you inflict through a means other than your bow. Guess I should visit the isle of the nameless after work tonight...

All +damage% modifiers (the inscription/inherent and customisation bonus) only apply to raw weapon damage. If you're not hitting with your weapon it doesn't count for anything. The Poisonous mod would trigger on poison application rather than on hit, so there's a difference.

Prince Rogrs Nelson · Dec 01, 2010, 09:41 PM // 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Silverblade

All +damage% modifiers (the inscription/inherent and customisation bonus) only apply to raw weapon damage. If you're not hitting with your weapon it doesn't count for anything. The Poisonous mod would trigger on poison application rather than on hit, so there's a difference.

It hardly matters for me, of course. As someone who's primarily been a mesmer since he began playing, the idea of adding damage to a spell is less important to me than that of improving my overall casting performance.

It was just an assumption I made which resulted in absolutely no harm to anyone, anywhere, whatsoever. I'm so sorry I seem to have offended some folks here by making it. Sheesh.

**Marty Silverblade** · Dec 01, 2010, 10:22 PM // 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince Rogrs Nelson

It was just an assumption I made which resulted in absolutely no harm to anyone, anywhere, whatsoever. I'm so sorry I seem to have offended some folks here by making it. Sheesh.

Relax. Seriously, no one's been offended, unless you have an issue with people filling in gaps in your knowledge.

Iuris · Dec 02, 2010, 07:23 AM // 07:23

BTW, people, you can test these things. Spell damage, unlike weapon damage, is fixed, so you can always go to the master of damage, switch weapons around and see whether things change.

Dec 01, 2010, 06:48 PM // 18:48	#1
js3521 Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Dec 2010 Profession: E/Mo	A question about damage calculation Hello all! I'm new to Guild Wars and have a very simple question. I'm playing an Elementalist, and the starting weapon is the "Starter Elemental Rod" which has 3-5 fire damage and grants +20% damage. I'm confused as to what the +20% damage applies to. Is it only applied to damage dealt by the rod, or is it also applied to spell damage? Also, does adding attribute points to Fire Magic increase fire damage dealt with weapons?

Dec 01, 2010, 07:05 PM // 19:05	#2
Iuris Forge Runner Join Date: Nov 2006 Guild: Crazy ducks from the Forest Profession: W/	Only to the damage when you attack with the rod. Spell damage is never affected by +damage mods. You'll want the mods that halve the casting time / recharge and extend enchantments. As for attributes: in short, no. While we could go into details about critical chances, weapon damage and so on, for practical purposes, you need to have the attribute at least as high as the requirement on the weapon for it to do maximum damage or gibe the bonus that's conditioned. Note that casters do their damage with spells, and you'll hardly ever need to use your wand/staff to attack - except when you have nothing better to do... Last edited by Iuris; Dec 01, 2010 at 07:08 PM // 19:08..

Dec 01, 2010, 07:08 PM // 19:08	#3
js3521 Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Dec 2010 Profession: E/Mo	Thanks for the help!

Dec 02, 2010, 07:23 AM // 07:23	#9
Iuris Forge Runner Join Date: Nov 2006 Guild: Crazy ducks from the Forest Profession: W/	BTW, people, you can test these things. Spell damage, unlike weapon damage, is fixed, so you can always go to the master of damage, switch weapons around and see whether things change.