Effects Duration

Realizer

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Aug 2009

P/W

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

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Southern California

R/Mo

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

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...

Realizer

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Aug 2009

P/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisworld View Post
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

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Realizer View Post
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

Fate Crusher

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2006

Pie-land

Warlords Of The Underworld [WoTU]

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.

MisterB

MisterB

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Oct 2005

Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy

[ban]

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.

Evasion Twenty

Evasion Twenty

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2009

Outside

Balthazars Chosen [BC]

R/P

Wtb Texmod 10k.

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.

Realizer

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Aug 2009

P/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrisworld View Post
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 View Post
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 View Post
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 View Post
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

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Evasion Twenty View Post
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 View Post
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

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2005

Athens, Greece

@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

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Aug 2009

P/W

Quote:
Originally Posted by ne33us View Post
@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.