Help with understanding Strength Spell

[manikus]

I've been going through the spells.txt file trying to get a better understanding of scripts.

When I was looking at the first level magic-user spell, "Strength", I came across a line of script that made no sense to me.

modify script 2 = $RETURN ($RANDOM(Cool *# 10);

It's the use of the term 'cool' in the script that is confusing me.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Below is the full spell for context, the line in question is near the end.

\(BEGIN)
name = Strength
casting sound = DEFAULT
cast msg = /t feels stronger
missile sound = none
coverage sound = none
hit sound = none
linger sound = none
cast art = DEFAULT
missile art = none
target cover art = none
target hit art = none
target linger art = none
class = MU
cast by = MU + Ranger
friendly fire ok = yes
cumulative = no
usable by party = yes
can scribe = yes
auto scribe = no
combat only = no
can be dispelled = yes
lingers = no
linger affects once = no
save versus = spell
save result = none
targeting type = touch
level = 2
casting time = 1
casting time units = turns
Number of targets = 1
duration = 1*level
duration units = hours
target duration =
target range = 1
price = 0
spell effect 1 = $CHAR_STR,0,delta,target,yes
spell effect 2 = $CHAR_STRMOD,0,delta,target,yes
spell effect 3 = $CHAR_DAMAGEBONUS,1,delta,target,yes
spell effect 4 = $CHAR_HITBONUS,1,delta,target,yes
activate script 1 = $RETURN ($GET_CHAR_TYPE($IndexOf($Target())) !\=# 3);
activate script 2 = $IF ($GET_CHAR_TYPE($IndexOf($Target())) \=\=# 3) { $RETURN 0; };$IF ($GET_CHAR_FIGHTERLVL($IndexOf($Target())) ># 0) { $RETURN 1; };$IF ($GET_CHAR_PALADINLVL($IndexOf($Target())) ># 0) { $RETURN 1; };$IF ($GET_CHAR_RANGERLVL($IndexOf($Target())) ># 0) { $RETURN 1; };$RETURN 0;
activate script 3 = $RETURN ($GET_CHAR_TYPE($IndexOf($Target())) \=\=# 3);
activate script 4 = $RETURN ($GET_CHAR_TYPE($IndexOf($Target())) \=\=# 3);
modify script 1 = $IF ($GET_CHAR_FIGHTERLVL($TargetIndex()) ># 0) { $RETURN $RANDOM(Cool; };$IF ($GET_CHAR_PALADINLVL($IndexOf($Target())) ># 0) { $RETURN $RANDOM(Cool; };$IF ($GET_CHAR_RANGERLVL($IndexOf($Target())) ># 0) { $RETURN $RANDOM(Cool; };$IF ($GET_CHAR_CLERICLVL($IndexOf($Target())) ># 0) { $RETURN $RANDOM(6); };$IF ($GET_CHAR_DRUIDLVL($IndexOf($Target())) ># 0) { $RETURN $RANDOM(6); };$IF ($GET_CHAR_THIEFLVL($IndexOf($Target())) ># 0) { $RETURN $RANDOM(6); };$IF ($GET_CHAR_MAGUSERLVL($IndexOf($Target())) ># 0) { $RETURN $RANDOM(4); };
modify script 2 = $RETURN ($RANDOM(Cool *# 10);
begin script =
end script =
\(END)

[SilentThief]

Becuz, the programmers wanted to find out if a given person using the game was cool

Seriously, I have no idea about the "cool" variable. But since the spell code is incomplete, I thought about re-writing the entire magic DB. Problem is, I cannot recall ALL the spells, and all my books are up in michigan. I was there recently trying to take care of business but my luggage was full of stupid necessities and couldn't be replaced by 40+ pounds of 1st- & 2nd Edition books.

I was lucky enough to bring 2 books back for assistance with mod design.

ST

[manikus]

I'm working on finishing the spell database and correcting spells.

Aside from sharing buying pdf versions (which is what I've done), there are some resources online. I'm sure you've checked out the WotCo site and all of the 2e stuff they have available for download. They are of course missing the big 3 - Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide and Monstrous Manual/Monstrous Compendium. But, I can however, help you with the last one. This sites been up for ages and is a great resource b/c it loads fast and you can search it in your browser - it's an online version of the 2e Monstrous Manual. Everything I've ever checked in it has been correct to 2e.
http://www.seads.org/TSR/monbk.htm

Hmm, let me try something... Well! I'll be damned! They have more books online.
2e Player's Handbook (you know, with spell info)
http://www.seads.org/TSR/phbbk.htm
2e Arms and Equipment Guide
http://www.seads.org/TSR/ArmsBk.htm
2e Tome of Magic (with lots of spell info)
http://www.seads.org/TSR/tomebk.htm

If you go to the root - www.seads.org - there's a bunch of stuff, including pdf files to download.

[SilentThief]

What spells are you doing? the FRUA spell list exactly? spells from the PHB? are you including the usable spells from the Tome of magic? Wizards Handbook?

I ask only out of curiousity, but I know unless we get the ability to alter some of the unalterable settings in spells, then the Tome of magic has some spells that we couldn't do. For example, there is a whole set of spells referred to as metamagic, which allow you to alter the target area shape, color, sound, range and other normally "fixed" rules on spells you cast afterwards. Personally, I like the option of having a magic item that increases range on spells. As for something like bonuses to damage, that is easy enuff to code in (something like add to the damage a personal bonus, if there is no item that boosts that or the specialists damage bonus for spells of their own schools then the personal damage bonus is zero).

I think that the priests cooperative magic might be harder to do, as well; unless you could set up a way of adding in bonuses with multiple castings that would not make it so the same priest re-casting gets the bonus.

Anyhow, I'll have to look into the links you posted. I'll check them out later tonite.

ST

[manikus]

My goal as part of the DC team is to make every spell available in FRUA available in DC.

Obviously, there are no druid above third level in FRUA, since they were only used for the Ranger, and what was provided were only a very small number, not comparable to priests or wizards. I'm adding a lot druid spells so that there are several to choose from at each level.

Once I've gotten all of those done. I plan on adding spells from 1e PHB and Uneartehed Arcana as appropriate. That is it. But, I'm only talking about the official, ships with DC spells.

That leaves the rest of the AD&D universe for you and the rest to choose from, lest you think I'm hogging all of the fun.

I also will be doing my own spells for my own designs. I have a worldhack that uses 1e rules but not the races or classes, nor the monsters or spells. So, some day in the future, you should see designs with a completely different spell set.

[SilentThief]

Originally Posted by manikus My goal as part of the DC team is to make every spell available in FRUA available in DC. Once I've gotten all of those done. I plan on adding spells from 1e PHB and Uneartehed Arcana as appropriate. That is it. But, I'm only talking about the official, ships with DC spells.

I understand. In fact, being that the 1st and 2nd are similar enuff, if you build the 1st edition ruleset as DC default it would work for pretty much everyone. I mean, there might be one or two out in the crowd who wants to play an enhanced FRUA in the 3rd edition; but thats not me.

Originally Posted by manikus Obviously, there are no druid above third level in FRUA, since they were only used for the Ranger, and what was provided were only a very small number, not comparable to priests or wizards. I'm adding a lot druid spells so that there are several to choose from at each level.

I completely understand this as well, since we are offering up the druid as a playable class, might as well get a good selection of spells for it, eh?

Originally Posted by manikus I also will be doing my own spells for my own designs. I have a worldhack that uses 1e rules but not the races or classes, nor the monsters or spells. So, some day in the future, you should see designs with a completely different spell set.

I figured to do some mods with my own selection of spells/items/monsters so as to mix it up

ST
ps, I came across the "penultimate collection of spells" and where they were listed, ranging from the normal books to dragon magazine and others. Mebbe someday

[manikus]

I'm going to be happy with my goals above. Heck, I'd be ecstatic if I could just class all of the spells available in FRUA.