Stendhal/StatusEffects

This is a list of status ailments and enhancements commonly found in traditional RPGs. Here can be found descriptions and some ways to possibly implement some of them into Stendhal.

Description

Status can temporarily effect a character's ability to do certain functions or alter stats such as HP, mana, defense, attack, etc. Status is usually inflicted through item usage, spells or physical attacks. Occasionally characters receive a status through game progression, such as speaking with an NPC or an event is triggered. Effects are generally nullified by the use of items or magic spells. Some effects, such as "sleep", are often alternatively cured by the character receiving a physical attack. Resistances to negative statuses can be acquired through positive status effects and equipping imbued items.

Distinction from Elemental

Status is distinct from elemental enhancements, though elemental resistance can be considered a status. Elemental attacks are used to compound the strength of a physical or magic attacks against enemies with a weak resistance to said element. If the target has a strong resistance to the element then the strength of the attack is reduced to below the normal range.

Status Ailments

A status ailment is a negative effect on the character. Effects can reduce/impede the characters ability to do an action or cause a temporary reduction in stats.

List of common ailments

Common Names	Common Function	Suggested for Stendhal
blind / dark / darkness	player's attack accuracy is reduced	same
burn / burning
confuse / confusion / confused	player loses control over certain function of character	walking is limited to using directional arrows inverted (as poison is currently)
death / instant death / KO	character is instantly KO'd	not recommended
dizzy	physical attack evasion is reduced	same
doom	character is KO'd after a predetermined period of time if ailment isn't removed	not recommended
fear / toad / frog / imp	attack and defense are weakened	none
freeze / freezing / frozen
oil	character is more susceptible to fire-based attacks	same
poison	character loses HP over time	same
silence / mute / muddle	character is unable to cast magic spells	same
sleep	character is unable to act for a predetermined amount of time or until awoken	same
slow	character's attack is delayed	same or slowed walking
zombie	healing items have the opposite effect	slowed walking

Status Enhancements

Status enhancements give the character a certain "buffer" and can increase specific abilities or stats.

List of common enhancements

Effect Name	Common Function	Suggested for Stendhal
focus / concentrate	increases power or accuracy of next physical or magical attack	same
haste	decreases wait time between attacks	same or quickened walking
protect	increases defense	same
reflect	reflects magic back onto the caster	same
shell	increases magic defense	same

Mixed Effects

Mixed status effect generally give the character some kind of enhancement but at the loss of another function.

List of effects

Effect Name	Common Function	Suggested for Stendhal
berserk	physical attack strength is greatly increased but control over character is lost	not recommended

Implementation

Player Resistance & Status

• Player has a keyed slot (status_resistance(s)) where status can be added/removed.
  • "key" is status name and "value" is the resistance value (0-100 or 0.0-1.0).

• Creature has keyed status slot (status_attack) for attacks.
  • "key" is status name and "value" is probability of status being applied to player.

• Player's resistance value is applied to creature's status probability during attack.

• Player has a second keyed slot (status) that carries the current statuses of the player.
  • "key" is status name and "value" is duration of status.
  • Each turn the key is checked and resulting action applied.

• Slots should be saved to the database so status and resistance are not lost at logout.

Creature Resistance & Status

• The same can be applied reversed. Players can have "attack" slots and creatures "resistance".
  • Allows players to inflict status effects on creatures.

Classes

Display Indicators

With multiple status effects it would be a good idea to rework how statuses are indicated to the player. Too many icons overlaying the character sprite could be problematic. It might be a good idea to only show icons in the area of the client dedicated to stats. Or icons could be shown in a corner of the client display area.