Instantaneous Spells That Need Durations

[Zasheir]

There are a few spells in FK that really should have durations, but instead they have Instantaneous durations. The biggest effect this has is that it keeps you from extending them.

The two that come to mind for me are Animate Object and Light. Anyone seen others that do this?

The spells that I named off are both spells that affect objects instead of people. Is this maybe a coding issue as opposed to a deliberate design choice?

[Brar]

Light is not instantaneous... perhaps it perhaps need to be tweak, it should last for 10min/lvl normally (and that may be bugged or not, that I don't know) and thus should depends on your spell level.

Animate Object last 1 round per level, so again, what is your spell level? 1 round/lvl is really quick to pass.
It is an in fight spell, not a rp one normally...

[Keltorn]

Light...

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You get a short bluejay feather from a sapphire spellpouch embroidered with diamond stars.
Extend spell mode set to on.
Unable to apply 'extend spell' to spells with a duration of 'instantaneous'.
You begin to chant.
Light begins to radiate from a short bluejay feather.

And Animate Object...

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Extend spell mode set to on.
Unable to apply 'extend spell' to spells with a duration of 'instantaneous'.
You cannot cast that... yet.

Both are coded as instantaneous for some reason, and Animate Object... I have no idea what's keeping me from casting it. Is that spell disabled or something? There's nothing in the helpfile about it, but Blade Barrier's out and has no message in its helpfile, either.

Also, I've never tried Animate Object for combat purposes. I've found it makes for a much better RP tool.

[Eltsac]

Animate object has been disabled for now

Hope it will be back soon

El

[Zorinar]

The light spell benefits low level characters the most since ruby dust is no longer to be found in the game for sale. Ruby dust is used for continual light. However, the light spell is pretty short in duration, thus not really aiding the low level characters that really need the spell. I think in this case, light should be lengthened, simply because it can be a wonderful too for low level characters to explore the sewers with or whatnot. Torches are available, yes, but the light spell could still use some tweaking in my opinion.

[Brar]

As a player of a low level wizard, I don't see the problem with light, 2 casting of it allowed me to explore the entire WD sewers, and I got one skill level inscreased since it cames in the game, so I'm not far in skill level.

It's quite nice really, don't forget it is a level 0 spell, it's not supposed to give light that lasts forever.
And well, if you want the duration to increase you practice it and increase your skill level and it's lasting longer

[Zasheir]

As a player of a low level wizard, I don't see the problem with light, 2 casting of it allowed me to explore the entire WD sewers, and I got one skill level inscreased since it cames in the game, so I'm not far in skill level.

It's quite nice really, don't forget it is a level 0 spell, it's not supposed to give light that lasts forever.
And well, if you want the duration to increase you practice it and increase your skill level and it's lasting longer

It's great that you can simply cast it another time for yourself, but that's just it. You're being selfish! I like helping people, and the people that can cast this themselves are the ones that don't need my help. And if I'm going to give someone a light source, why not make it one that'll last?

I feel like the reason for wanting to extend a spell really shouldn't matter. It's a spell that's clearly acting on a duration. Why is the feat I paid for not working with it?

[Selveem]

I agree with Zashier there.

If it should apply, it should apply. Lessening of a feat's value does not give it proper value.

[Brar]

I'm sorry , I did not understand your point about the extend feat.
Only that you wanted to extend it's normal duration.

Of course Extend shoudl double it's duration that's more than probably a bug not even a suggestion

And I'm sorry for Animate Object, but it's a combat spell and not an utility spell...

This is how the 3rd edition Animate Object spell is, now I have no problem staying with the RP version one, but then we make the animated objects very very very fragile (I woudl say give them 1hp) and not for combat purpose because their unusual duration would not be correct for balance.

[Zasheir]

And I'm sorry for Animate Object, but it's a combat spell and not an utility spell...

This is how the 3rd edition Animate Object spell is...

As far as I know, there has never been a D&D spell called Animate Object. There's definitely not one in 3.5. You might be thinking of Animate Objects, though. The names are similar, but there is a very important difference. The D&D version animates one object per caster level.

...now I have no problem staying with the RP version one, but then we make the animated objects very very very fragile (I woudl say give them 1hp) and not for combat purpose because their unusual duration would not be correct for balance.

"Unusual duration?" You mean if it were to be extended (with the Extend Spell feat) to two rounds per caster level? If I've misunderstood, then forgive me, but if so, that would make it a 7th level spell. It might just be me, but I think that's a bit weak when compared to other seventh level cleric spells (bards can cast it, too, but they can't extend it until they hit epic levels). Of course, that's not such a big surprise since metamagic feats usually aren't worth the higher spell level, but compare it to sixth level cleric spells. Still pretty sadly underpowered, in my opinion, but that's just me.

Anyway, I feel like the same point I made before still applies.

I feel like the reason for wanting to extend a spell really shouldn't matter. It's a spell that's clearly acting on a duration. Why is the feat I paid for not working with it?

If this is a bug, then I don't think it's happening on an individual basis. I'll bet it happens to all spells that affect items, like Continual Light or Magic Weapon, which have durations of permanent and 1 min./level respectively.

And before anyone suggests that instantaneous and permanent are the same thing, I'll go ahead and point out that they're not. Ask anyone that can cast a very popular abjuration spell.

[Brar]

What I mean in unusual duration, is that if we keep the RP version, as well as makes it last longer to actual do RP with them.

Which is not really possible if they last 1 rd/lvl... which wil max out at 25rd which is what? 3 minutes RL time?

[Mask]

You're right, it is a bug that light has an 'instantaneous' duration - it is because I copied it from the 'continual light' spell which had the flag, but wasn't affected by it. It should be fixed in the next update. Animate object was horrendously broken and I haven't yet prioritised fixing it up - sorry about that, I've removed it's instantaneous flag in any case!

[Zasheir]

What I mean in unusual duration, is that if we keep the RP version, as well as makes it last longer to actual do RP with them.

Which is not really possible if they last 1 rd/lvl... which wil max out at 25rd which is what? 3 minutes RL time?

How about making an overall weaker version for that? Maybe more like 3rd level and with a much better duration? Before the spell got flipped off, all I could really get done with it was a couple of smotes, after which the thing would go rogue. A longer-lasting and completely noncombat one would be great.

You're right, it is a bug that light has an 'instantaneous' duration - it is because I copied it from the 'continual light' spell which had the flag, but wasn't affected by it. It should be fixed in the next update. Animate object was horrendously broken and I haven't yet prioritised fixing it up - sorry about that, I've removed it's instantaneous flag in any case!

This is why I love you. Thank you!

Would it help if I go and put a little red-text blurb in the helpfiles for the two aforementioned disabled spells (Animate Object and Blade Barrier)? It sucks to research and train a spell only to find out that it's out of commisison.