Component "Spell Deflection blocks AoE spells" is not described in documentation

[luc-j-bourhis]

1. Since the documentation says that
   «This spell absorbs spells cast from scrolls and innate spell-like abilities, but will not protect against area effect spells that are not centered directly upon the wizard (such as Fireball), or stationary area effect spells (such as Cloudkill and Stinking Cloud).»
   it feels like one should not install this component. It works as intended from a quick test in BG2EE, protecting Imoen with Greater Spell Deflection and then having my char send a fireball nearby Imoen: I got the message "Spell Ineffective" in the log.

2. Looking in the code, there is a comment saying that this component «remov[es] 'bypassing MR' exploit». What is that one about then?

3. The documentation should warn that it makes SCS significantly tougher early on in BG2, as some mages protected by Spell Deflections become pretty much immune to any damage while the party does not have the tools to peel that protection away yet. Unless I am missing something…

[lambda-dom]

This is a tough one, as I never use the component or even looked at the code to fix it (the code is subtledoctor's if I am not mistaken). To make matters worse, the docs have been a bit neglected...

[luc-j-bourhis]

The code is old indeed, there since 2015 at least! As far as I understand, the idea comes from Spell Mantle spells in NWM, which do block AOE. It is actually a double-edge sword since each time Spell Deflection blocks a spell, it gets itself closer to disappear. So it gives more possibilities to the opponent to bring that defense down. But on the other hand, it gives more time to the protected creature to rain death. As I mentioned, it heavily tips toward the latter in early BG2, especially with SCS. Speaking of which, if one installs its NWM component, the spell deflections come with AOE protection. So it feels like SCS wants SR to install that component!

[subtledoctor]

Not sure what the issue is?

a) The “documentation” (i.e. spell descriptions of SR spells) describes how Deflection spells work; NWN deflection is a supplemental optional component (not by me btw) which further alters them… but as a supplemental optional component it doesn’t make sense to describe that optional version of spells in the base documentation.

b) Several other mods, including SCS, IWDification, Faiths & Powers, etc., will detect NWN-style-Deflection and apply the effect to their own added AoE spells. This is a good thing. Mods working together!

c) As far as balance… it is a game rule change and it will change the game. If someone does not like that, they should not install the supplemental optional component.

What is the issue?

[luc-j-bourhis]

(a) If you think the spell documentation should only cover the core of spell rev to the exclusion of any option, fair enough. But then, "Spell Deflection blocks AoE spells" should at least be explained in the readme opened during installation. The option "Mirror Image Fix" has one phrase describing it for example.

(b) agreed

(c) I was unclear: my point was not about balance per se but about letting the player know about the consequences of what he installed. But, again, fair enough, someone installing "Spell Deflection blocks AoE spells" is likely to correctly interpret the spell documentation in the light of that change. Especially with a phrase or two in the readme!