[VERIFIED] NPCs attack eachother with spells

[Xuri]

NPCs seem to hurt eachother with spells such as chain lightning (and I assume, other area spells?), and thus start to fight with eachother instead of the player/NPCs they should be fighting.

To reproduce, just add a few lichlords, then place a fighter( m_fighter/f_fighter) or some other NPC that will last long enough for a chain lightning spell to be cast.

[Maarc]

I'd say it's more an unintended consequence, than an out and out bug.

But seriously, how would you like to be hit by friendly fire? I wouldn't take it so well

[Xuri]

Sometimes you have to make hard decisions which the NPCs might not necessarily like, for the good of the players. If all the lichlords went around killing eachother all the time, there'd be nothing for the players to do. Except watch. And take bets, etc. Hm. And sell popcorn.

[giwo]

Isn't that how chain lightning works?

If I remember properly, casting chain lightning or meteor storm in an area with other players could get you in big trouble in the good ol'e days.

[Xuri]

Well, after a while I think you only hurt "unfriendlies". A lich did definitely not get ganged up on by 4 other liches because it cast chain lightning against players though =)

[Xuri]

*bump*

[giwo]

I would appreciate some confirmation on how OSI handles this. There are several possible cases, in my mind.

1) Monsters cast AOE spells, these spells hurt everything in an area, whether they be friendly, unfriendly, or even themselves, causing other monsters to attack them as well.

2) Monsters cast AOE spells, these spells hurt everything in an area, whether they be friendly, unfriendly, or even themselves, but do not cause other monsters to attack them.

3) Monsters cast AOE spells, these spells only damage players and their pets in the area cast upon.

4) Monsters no longer cast AOE spells, removing the issue alltogether.

[Xuri]

Good question, I'm not certain. I don't think I've ever seen two monsters on OSI fighting eachother except after having been provoked (using the skill) though, so I think 1) is out of the question. And with that, I think 2) is out as well. Wouldn't make sense to allow them to hurt eachother with field spells but not allow them to get angry over it ;D

It's either 3 or 4. I would be fine with either, though I guess 3 poses more of a challenge for the players

[Xuri]

Verified that this still happens in 0.98-4.0. Spawned a bunch of liches inside a closed off area, then spawned a fighter NPC in the middle. One of the liches appeared to cast an AoE spell that damaged the other liches, and they promptly ganged up on him.

I guess we need to decide whether or not this is a bug or a feature, before we can proceed with either fixing it or closing this task for good