SkillInfoMod
Good Morning,
I've started work on the SkillInfoMod. A mod that tries to pretty up the description strings for skills, eventually items and citadel upgrades, basically all the descriptive text. Indepth information is currently being kept updated at the Demigod Community Mod site: http://trac.dgmod.com:8080/wiki/SkillInfoMod. At this point in time, the process is relatively straightforward, it is just going to take time to fix strings to make them suitable information. Here is a screen capture to demonstrate an example of what I've done.


Ability descriptions are coming along fine, if slow. The current issue at hand is how to handle buff descriptions.Specifically if buff descriptions should contain variables or be hardcoded.
Variable string descriptions include variables that allow the string to be updated when the ability is changed. Looking at my example above you can compare it to the actual text which is:
"Torch Bearer channels the energy of the flame around him, increasing the Attack Speed and Movement Speed of he and his allies.\n\n Torch Bearer\'s and Allies\'s Attack Speed increases by [GetRateOfFire]%.\n\n Torch Bearer and Allies\'s Movement Speed increases by [GetMoveMult]%.\n\n Fire Aura only operates in Fire Form."
GetRateOfFire is a variable that I declared in the abilities file for the Torch Bearer. Now, there are two arguments as I can see it.
1. Buffs are so short in duration, so infrequently viewed, and so frequently generated both to refresh and to add new ones that the cost in system performance is big enough that hardcoding is acceptable in this case.
2. Buffs should contain variables so that later changes do not require changing the buff descriptions.
GPG took the route of hard coding all buff descriptions (but using variables on some ability descriptions, just not all). I'm not sure why. Furthermore the syntax used to create variable ability descriptions doesn't seem to work for buff descriptions. I'm currently looking into why not, but if anyone knows off hand that would be great to know. It may be impossible, which makes this choice easier.
So to the more knowledgeable and perhaps professional viewers out there, what do you think, which argument is best in this case, hard coded buff descriptions or variable buff descriptions.
Also, if anyone wants to help out, there is more information at the webpage.