Enchantment length - Guild Wars Forums

superen8 · Dec 02, 2007, 07:01 PM // 19:01

Hi guys!
I have a question.. How does the game mechanic round enchantment lenght?
i mean.. i was looking at Shielding hands, which last 8 seconds, with a +20% mod how long would it last? (8+1.6) = 9 or =10??

Sorry if there are any grammatical errors but i don't really speak english

tijo · Dec 02, 2007, 07:06 PM // 19:06

It really depends how numbers are rounded in the game. If they use the IEEE 754 norm (how numbers are usually represented in computers) then i'd say 10 seconds (.5 and lower rounded to the lower number .51 and higher rounded to the upper number if i remember correctly). In game testing would be the best way to find out.

Nyktos · Dec 02, 2007, 07:53 PM // 19:53

It doesn't round.

HawkofStorms · Dec 02, 2007, 08:20 PM // 20:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyktos

It doesn't round.

Bingo. The enchantment will last 9.6 seconds.
The only thing that rounds in this game is damage numbers (since you can't be hurt for half a point of health).

MisterB · Dec 02, 2007, 09:10 PM // 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nyktos

It doesn't round.

I believe it does round, and here is why. I have always used [skill=text]Balthazar's Aura[/skill] for this test, since it produces an effect every second, and skills that have an effect per second do so at the end of every second in-game. Go to the Isle of The Nameless with [skill=text]Balthazar's Aura[/skill] and a 20% weapon, stand next to a barrel, and cast. There will be 10 pulses, therefore the enchantment is rounded from 9.6 seconds to 10. A more accurate test would probably be to capture the video with FRAPS or Gamecam and count the frames, but I have not bothered to do so, since Balthazar's Aura makes such a nice pulse counter.

Nyktos · Dec 02, 2007, 09:31 PM // 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkofStorms

The only thing that rounds in this game is damage numbers (since you can't be hurt for half a point of health).

Also energy (from things like Attunements) and Healing (from Infuse/Imbue).

freaky naughty · Dec 02, 2007, 09:50 PM // 21:50

Nyktos was right, it doesn't round. Look at spells that have a cast of 1/4th of a second they should round down to no time at all or the 1/2 second casts which don't round up to 1.

HawkofStorms · Dec 02, 2007, 09:59 PM // 21:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterB

I believe it does round, and here is why. I have always used [skill=text]Balthazar's Aura[/skill] for this test, since it produces an effect every second, and skills that have an effect per second do so at the end of every second in-game. Go to the Isle of The Nameless with [skill=text]Balthazar's Aura[/skill] and a 20% weapon, stand next to a barrel, and cast. There will be 10 pulses, therefore the enchantment is rounded from 9.6 seconds to 10. A more accurate test would probably be to capture the video with FRAPS or Gamecam and count the frames, but I have not bothered to do so, since Balthazar's Aura makes such a nice pulse counter.

No, it lasts 9.6 seconds. There is a pulse at zero seconds (as soon as you put it on).
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 = 10 pulses

MisterB · Dec 02, 2007, 10:42 PM // 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkofStorms

No, it lasts 9.6 seconds. There is a pulse at zero seconds (as soon as you put it on).
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 = 10 pulses

That is just not true. Please at least test before posting. If that were true, if there were a pulse at zero, then the 8 second normal cast would pulse 9 times(0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). This does not happen; there are 8 pulses. Furthermore, there is a clearly observable 1 second delay after you cast Balthazar's Aura before the first pulse. Like I said, the effects take place at the end of every second, starting with one second after you complete the cast. The easily observed effects of Balthazar's Aura are why I always choose this skill for this particular test.

azizul1975 · Dec 03, 2007, 09:09 AM // 09:09

well, i think be it 9 or 10 seconds, you wouldn't realize the difference. honestly.

TheLordOfBlah · Dec 03, 2007, 09:52 AM // 09:52

I believe misterb is correct

Pyro maniac · Dec 03, 2007, 10:57 AM // 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterB

That is just not true. Please at least test before posting. If that were true, if there were a pulse at zero, then the 8 second normal cast would pulse 9 times(0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8). This does not happen; there are 8 pulses. Furthermore, there is a clearly observable 1 second delay after you cast Balthazar's Aura before the first pulse. Like I said, the effects take place at the end of every second, starting with one second after you complete the cast. The easily observed effects of Balthazar's Aura are why I always choose this skill for this particular test.

itsn't it:
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,9.6?

just like with spotless soul/mind.

Fury Incarnate · Dec 03, 2007, 12:26 PM // 12:26

The game rounds enchantment lengths by IEEE 754, just as it rounds energy costs and such.

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Of_Enchanting

BladeDVD · Dec 03, 2007, 12:43 PM // 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fury Incarnate

The game rounds enchantment lengths by IEEE 754, just as it rounds energy costs and such.

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Of_Enchanting

I'm not disagreeing with you, but the talk page for your link mentions that the table is inaccurate (though they seem to be talking about changes to skills rather than the figuring of the numbers).

Also I read that recharge times use the round to even rule. I'm not sure whether this also applies to calculations in lengthening enchantments though.

Pyro maniac · Dec 03, 2007, 12:58 PM // 12:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fury Incarnate

The game rounds enchantment lengths by IEEE 754, just as it rounds energy costs and such.

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Of_Enchanting

enchanting mod did affect ancestors rage

MisterB · Dec 03, 2007, 01:15 PM // 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fury Incarnate

The game rounds enchantment lengths by IEEE 754, just as it rounds energy costs and such.

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Of_Enchanting

This is true. Thanks for posting the link to that table. I just ran a test as well, using GameCam to cap Balthazar's Aura. It lasted exactly 10.0 seconds(300 frames of video @ 30fps) with a 20% mod.

Quaker · Dec 03, 2007, 02:02 PM // 14:02

It would be interesting if someone could test to see if it rounds or not (or if ANet would answer the question :/ ). It would also be interesting to see if there is a difference between the displayed damage/enchant length (w/e) and the actual numbers used in the game.

For example, this would explain why sometimes you will see a character or spirit with 0 (zero) health and yet they are still alive - they may actually have something between 0 and 0.5 health but the display is rounded down to 0.

Antheus · Dec 03, 2007, 02:35 PM // 14:35

Quote:

For example, this would explain why sometimes you will see a character or spirit with 0 (zero) health and yet they are still alive - they may actually have something between 0 and 0.5 health but the display is rounded down to 0.

One reason is lag - timers are client-side, but need expiration confirmation. If you have an enchant or degen on you, and you lag for a few seconds, bars will go down, but won't expire, until server confirms they did.

When it comes to health, it's perfectly possible to run around with 1 health. It happens with certain combinations of skills. In many such cases, small heal will actually kill you, since it will heal, but your health will still be negative.

Dec 02, 2007, 07:01 PM // 19:01	#1
superen8 Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Apr 2006	Enchantment length Hi guys! I have a question.. How does the game mechanic round enchantment lenght? i mean.. i was looking at Shielding hands, which last 8 seconds, with a +20% mod how long would it last? (8+1.6) = 9 or =10?? Sorry if there are any grammatical errors but i don't really speak english

Dec 02, 2007, 07:06 PM // 19:06	#2
tijo Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Montreal Guild: [CDDR] Profession: R/	It really depends how numbers are rounded in the game. If they use the IEEE 754 norm (how numbers are usually represented in computers) then i'd say 10 seconds (.5 and lower rounded to the lower number .51 and higher rounded to the upper number if i remember correctly). In game testing would be the best way to find out.

Dec 02, 2007, 07:53 PM // 19:53	#3
Nyktos Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jun 2007 Guild: The Nyktos Guild [win]	It doesn't round.

Dec 02, 2007, 09:50 PM // 21:50	#7
freaky naughty Krytan Explorer Join Date: Sep 2007 Profession: Mo/N	Nyktos was right, it doesn't round. Look at spells that have a cast of 1/4th of a second they should round down to no time at all or the 1/2 second casts which don't round up to 1.

Dec 03, 2007, 09:09 AM // 09:09	#10
azizul1975 Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: GMT+8 Guild: The Elite Guard of Tyria (TEGO) Profession: Mo/	well, i think be it 9 or 10 seconds, you wouldn't realize the difference. honestly.

Dec 03, 2007, 09:52 AM // 09:52	#11
TheLordOfBlah Jungle Guide Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: California Guild: None Profession: Mo/N	I believe misterb is correct

Dec 03, 2007, 12:26 PM // 12:26	#13
Fury Incarnate Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Connecticut, USA Profession: R/	The game rounds enchantment lengths by IEEE 754, just as it rounds energy costs and such. http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Of_Enchanting

Dec 03, 2007, 02:02 PM // 14:02	#17
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	It would be interesting if someone could test to see if it rounds or not (or if ANet would answer the question :/ ). It would also be interesting to see if there is a difference between the displayed damage/enchant length (w/e) and the actual numbers used in the game. For example, this would explain why sometimes you will see a character or spirit with 0 (zero) health and yet they are still alive - they may actually have something between 0 and 0.5 health but the display is rounded down to 0.