Effects Duration - Guild Wars Forums

Realizer · Aug 13, 2009, 11:40 PM // 23:40

Hello, I looked in the rules/FAQ and I found no objection to this question/request (correct me if am am wrong, if yes ya got my apologies).

I would like to know if there is a mod (or something like that) that would allow the players to know the exact duration for the effects they are still under.
As a example and justification I have a paragon, i like her because i can mix aggressiveness(adrenal spear attacks) with a solid situational defensive boost (There is nothing to fear! ; Save Yourselves! ; situational because it is a timed spell

), on the defensive part i got absolutely no problem, on the offensive i can't maintain Aggressive Refrain very well ( i can't cope very well with the descending bar as a timer).

If such mod does not exist, can someone point me to some tutorials/instructions/guides on how to make Guild Wars mods? For I am inclined to make it.

Nothing too big that spoils the graphics but something like this hastily done edit in MSPaint in the attachments (top left corner, taken from Google image search).

Masseur · Aug 14, 2009, 12:27 AM // 00:27

There really are no mods to customize Guild Wars, to add features that aren't there.

Bob Slydell · Aug 14, 2009, 12:38 AM // 00:38

Not sure. I think that falls in the category of having to rewrite some code and mechanics in GW...

Realizer · Aug 14, 2009, 01:02 AM // 01:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisworld

Not sure. I think that falls in the category of having to rewrite some code and mechanics in GW...

Hum I see, well i better ask ANet about this before i try to do anything at all.

EDIT: Well Email dispatched, now we play the waiting game.

Bob Slydell · Aug 14, 2009, 01:50 AM // 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Realizer

Hum I see, well i better ask ANet about this before i try to do anything at all.

EDIT: Well Email dispatched, now we play the waiting game.

Well I forgot to mention that not only is it impossible but if it WAS achieved somehow where you modified the game coding, your account would be delivered a perma-ban so fast anet would be tripping over their own feet just to get it to you...

Fate Crusher · Aug 14, 2009, 01:53 AM // 01:53

I don't think the e-mail will accomplish much. Anet will not re-write a piece of coding just to satisfy a certain player's playing style. They have already made the interface completely interchangeable (but not changing any mechanics) to suit players and using a decreasing bar for durations is something we have to live with.

There was even a time that there was no decreasing bar at the bottom of a hex or enchantment and you would only be able to judge from when the skill starts to blink out.

This is probably the only useful tip needed in order to maintain things. With a bit of spacial awareness, you will notice that the skill is starting to blink out, this is when you should worry about maintaining that enchantment. For example, whilst using a Deadly Paradox -> Glyph -> Shadowform, you can wait until you become aware that the skill is blinking out and you should repeat the combination.

But for Aggressive Refrain, look into easily spammable shouts that end quickly but still provide ample support, such as Watch Yourself and The Power Is Yours (both 4 adrenaline but don't go for the latter, it's a waste of an elite). For PvE, i can also recommend Dodge This, which will give you a damage boost and unblockable (for 1 shot, so combine it with mighty throw) after 4 adrenaline.

MisterB · Aug 14, 2009, 02:02 AM // 02:02

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...sive+ref rain

Do this to maintain Aggressive Refrain using only TNtF.

Modifying the game is against the rules for GW, and can result in a permanent account ban. Displaying a numerical countdown timer for skills or effects could improve precision, but it would probably look ugly to some and add clutter. There is most probably a numerical counter that is simply converted into the diminishing bar that we see in the user interface, but it's not possible to display without hacking if at all.

Evasion Twenty · Aug 14, 2009, 02:21 AM // 02:21

Wtb Texmod 10k.

Chthon · Aug 14, 2009, 02:29 AM // 02:29

This is not possible without breaking the EULA. It's also very technically difficult, as it would require a hack to the exe. I *guess* OllyDbg would be the tool of choice, but that's really beyond my area of expertise.

Realizer · Aug 14, 2009, 03:12 AM // 03:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisworld

Well I forgot to mention that not only is it impossible but if it WAS achieved somehow where you modified the game coding, your account would be delivered a perma-ban so fast anet would be tripping over their own feet just to get it to you...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chthon

This is not possible without breaking the EULA. It's also very technically difficult, as it would require a hack to the exe. I *guess* OllyDbg would be the tool of choice, but that's really beyond my area of expertise.

Hum regarding that I got a reply from the staff they said they were going to dispatch my question to a senior staff member. So I think I might be on Thin Ice here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fate Crusher

I don't think the e-mail will accomplish much. Anet will not re-write a piece of coding just to satisfy a certain player's playing style. They have already made the interface completely interchangeable (but not changing any mechanics) to suit players and using a decreasing bar for durations is something we have to live with.

There was even a time that there was no decreasing bar at the bottom of a hex or enchantment and you would only be able to judge from when the skill starts to blink out.

This is probably the only useful tip needed in order to maintain things. With a bit of spacial awareness, you will notice that the skill is starting to blink out, this is when you should worry about maintaining that enchantment. For example, whilst using a Deadly Paradox -> Glyph -> Shadowform, you can wait until you become aware that the skill is blinking out and you should repeat the combination.

But for Aggressive Refrain, look into easily spammable shouts that end quickly but still provide ample support, such as Watch Yourself and The Power Is Yours (both 4 adrenaline but don't go for the latter, it's a waste of an elite). For PvE, i can also recommend Dodge This, which will give you a damage boost and unblockable (for 1 shot, so combine it with mighty throw) after 4 adrenaline.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterB

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...sive+ref rain

Do this to maintain Aggressive Refrain using only TNtF.

Modifying the game is against the rules for GW, and can result in a permanent account ban. Displaying a numerical countdown timer for skills or effects could improve precision, but it would probably look ugly to some and add clutter. There is most probably a numerical counter that is simply converted into the diminishing bar that we see in the user interface, but it's not possible to display without hacking if at all.

Thank you for your tips, they helped me (and hopefully other with the same limitation as I).

Regarding the reply from the staff I think the answer will be a "No, you can't. It will violate the EULA and TOS. But thank you for asking before doing something negative." possibly my in-game account may be monitored. But it's cool. Also if you would like to check the reply yourselves i took a Screenshot its the attachment (yes my real name is Guilherme, a Portuguese name

).

And to all, without exception a really big thanks, and I will continue to update as the replies comes in.

Bob Slydell · Aug 14, 2009, 04:50 AM // 04:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evasion Twenty

Wtb Texmod 10k.

Yeah but.. Ah forget it. Dosen't work that in detail. Texmod is a texture saver and replacer, how are you going to add detailed seconds into a bar made of a stretchable JPEG texture? (the timer bar) Lawl..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Realizer

Hum regarding that I got a reply from the staff they said they were going to dispatch my question to a senior staff member. So I think I might be on Thin Ice here.

Quote:

dispatch my question to a senior staff member

Again, sorry but... Generic response is generic. You can ask them ANYTHING you want in the entire world, whatever you wish. And they will send you that same automated generic response if they can't answer it with human typed words.

ne33us · Aug 14, 2009, 07:51 AM // 07:51

@Realizer
The numeric representation of the duration of an effect could be usefull.

Ask the devs and if they find the time they will/could do it.

The coding and the mechanics to do it is already there.
The developers just prefered to implement the "flashing icon" code to alert the player for the ending of the duration of an effect, instead of something else.
They could have added an option to enable/disable the numeric representation of the duration of an effect so everyone would be pleased but... they didn't.

Also for some effects they have already coded a different approach.
For example to measure the duration of the effect of Summoning Stones (and for some other effects), they addded that tiny bar under the effects icon.
And it was coded for an effect that it is less than important for the player.

Anyway, GW interface is SO much better than the rest of MMOs out there that things like that are negligible (but desirable

).

Realizer · Aug 15, 2009, 12:24 AM // 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by ne33us

@Realizer
The numeric representation of the duration of an effect could be usefull.

Ask the devs and if they find the time they will/could do it.

The coding and the mechanics to do it is already there.
The developers just prefered to implement the "flashing icon" code to alert the player for the ending of the duration of an effect, instead of something else.
They could have added an option to enable/disable the numeric representation of the duration of an effect so everyone would be pleased but... they didn't.

Also for some effects they have already coded a different approach.
For example to measure the duration of the effect of Summoning Stones (and for some other effects), they addded that tiny bar under the effects icon.
And it was coded for an effect that it is less than important for the player.

Anyway, GW interface is SO much better than the rest of MMOs out there that things like that are negligible (but desirable

).

I gotta agree on that point, played Knights Online, WoW (made it out with my soul intact XD), Mu Online and Ragnarok Online. And i must say GW interface is one of the simplest but most functional that i have seen, but i miss the improvement feature that WoW provided, if we know how to code it right that is.

Aug 14, 2009, 07:51 AM // 07:51	#12
ne33us Academy Page Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Athens, Greece	the devs can do it easily @Realizer The numeric representation of the duration of an effect could be usefull. Ask the devs and if they find the time they will/could do it. The coding and the mechanics to do it is already there. The developers just prefered to implement the "flashing icon" code to alert the player for the ending of the duration of an effect, instead of something else. They could have added an option to enable/disable the numeric representation of the duration of an effect so everyone would be pleased but... they didn't. Also for some effects they have already coded a different approach. For example to measure the duration of the effect of Summoning Stones (and for some other effects), they addded that tiny bar under the effects icon. And it was coded for an effect that it is less than important for the player. Anyway, GW interface is SO much better than the rest of MMOs out there that things like that are negligible (but desirable ).

Aug 14, 2009, 12:27 AM // 00:27	#2
Masseur Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Southern California Profession: R/Mo	There really are no mods to customize Guild Wars, to add features that aren't there.

Aug 14, 2009, 12:38 AM // 00:38	#3
Bob Slydell Forge Runner Join Date: Jan 2007	Not sure. I think that falls in the category of having to rewrite some code and mechanics in GW...

Aug 14, 2009, 01:53 AM // 01:53	#6
Fate Crusher Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pie-land Guild: Warlords Of The Underworld [WoTU] Profession: Mo/	I don't think the e-mail will accomplish much. Anet will not re-write a piece of coding just to satisfy a certain player's playing style. They have already made the interface completely interchangeable (but not changing any mechanics) to suit players and using a decreasing bar for durations is something we have to live with. There was even a time that there was no decreasing bar at the bottom of a hex or enchantment and you would only be able to judge from when the skill starts to blink out. This is probably the only useful tip needed in order to maintain things. With a bit of spacial awareness, you will notice that the skill is starting to blink out, this is when you should worry about maintaining that enchantment. For example, whilst using a Deadly Paradox -> Glyph -> Shadowform, you can wait until you become aware that the skill is blinking out and you should repeat the combination. But for Aggressive Refrain, look into easily spammable shouts that end quickly but still provide ample support, such as Watch Yourself and The Power Is Yours (both 4 adrenaline but don't go for the latter, it's a waste of an elite). For PvE, i can also recommend Dodge This, which will give you a damage boost and unblockable (for 1 shot, so combine it with mighty throw) after 4 adrenaline.

Aug 14, 2009, 02:02 AM // 02:02	#7
MisterB Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy Guild: [ban] Profession: W/	http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...sive+ref rain Do this to maintain Aggressive Refrain using only TNtF. Modifying the game is against the rules for GW, and can result in a permanent account ban. Displaying a numerical countdown timer for skills or effects could improve precision, but it would probably look ugly to some and add clutter. There is most probably a numerical counter that is simply converted into the diminishing bar that we see in the user interface, but it's not possible to display without hacking if at all.

Aug 14, 2009, 02:21 AM // 02:21	#8
Evasion Twenty Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Outside Guild: Balthazars Chosen [BC] Profession: R/P	Wtb Texmod 10k.

Aug 14, 2009, 02:29 AM // 02:29	#9
Chthon Grotto Attendant Join Date: Apr 2007	This is not possible without breaking the EULA. It's also very technically difficult, as it would require a hack to the exe. I guess OllyDbg would be the tool of choice, but that's really beyond my area of expertise.