Better Combat Effects

Build FG Extension Luacheckrc Markdownlint

Current Version: v4.37\
Updated: 03/23/25

Better Combat Effects is an extension that allows for fine tuning of when effects are enabled, disabled, removed, and added.\
Comments and Bug Reports

Better Combat Effects supports Effect Builder, a GUI for building effects\
Effect Builder\
Effect Builder Plugin 5E\
Effect Builder Plugin 35E/PFRPG

Modifier Tags

• DEPRECATED = Will be removed in the future.
• (D) = Dice and numbers supported for value attribute
• (N) = Only numbers supported for value attribute
• (-) = Neither number nor dice supported for value attribute
• (T) = Effects can be targeted to only apply to modifiers against certain opponents
• [range] = melee, ranged
• [damage type] = acid, cold, fire, force, lightning, necrotic, poison, psychic, radiant, thunder, adamantine, bludgeoning, cold-forged iron, magic, piercing, silver, slashing
• [stat] = strength, constitution, dexterity, intelligence, wisdom, charisma
• [ability] = STR, CON, DEX, INT, WIS, CHA, (FORTITUDE, REFLEX, WILL) - 3.5E
• [skill] = any skill name
• [effect] = Any effect label in the custom effect list. Effect label is defined as anything before the first ; i.e. My Custom; ATKDS; “My Custom” would be the effect label
• [condition] = Any condition as noted above except exhaustion. Note [condition] must be all lower case
• [SDC] = (5E only) [SDC] will be replaced by the 8 + Actors spellcasting ability modifier + [PRF]. Alternatively [SDC] can be explicitly defined such as 8,[INT],[PRF] or if [SDC] is to be calcualated by a particular stat, such as STR or INT, [SDC] can be written as [SDCSTR] or [SDCINT]
• (R) will remove the save effect on a successful save
• (RA) will remove the save effect on any save
• (D) will disable the save effect on a successful save
• (H) will deal half damage on a successful ongoing save
• (M) will indicate this is magical so any creature will magic resistance will gain proper advantage on the save
• (F) will invert the roll. SAVEDMG, (R), (RA), (D), (H) will be performed on a failed save rather than successful one
• ** *** = Multiple entries of this descriptor type allowed

Change State

A change state cycler has been added to the combat tracker, custom effects list, and Effect Dialog.

Additionally, DUSE has been added to the APPLY cycler

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Inline

Inline effects using the Change State cycler are written (S: ) where is the shorthand notation. For Example:

[EFF: SomeEfffect; ATK: 1; (C) (D:10 MIN) (T:SELF) (A:ROLL) (S:AS)]

Examples

Migrate Deprecated Effects

Deprecated change state tags can be auto migrated for a campaign with the Effects Migrator. A popup box will appear when the table is started such as below.
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It is highly recommended the campaign is backed up before performing migration.

Preview will produce a story entry of the migration changes without writing those changes to the database. Review these changes prior to migration. Some changes may be suggested to effects that do not change state and those changes are likely cleanup of extra whitespace or ;

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If the suggested changes are acceptable, use Migrate to migrate effects to the new change state cycyler. This will also create a story entry detailing the changes made to the database. You may want to delete these story entries after the migration, especially if you are creating a module for distribution.

You can also bring up the migrate effects popup with the slash command: /migrate_effects

Options

Add Effect on Damage Modifiers

Effects can be automatically added to the source or the target on the damage by either the source of the damage or the target of the damage. For this to work we need two different effects. Example:

• Shadow; SDMGADDT: Strength Drain

The Shadow has strength drain so we put the above effect on the shadow. When the shadow deals damage, it will apply the effect “Strength Drain” to the target of the damage. The effect “Strength Drain” needs to be an effect listed in our custom effects list or conditions table. The effect looks like this:

• Strength Drain; STR: -1d4; STACK; RESTL