A bit of background, I'm power leveling some new characters and am hoping to use the Necromancer's Remote Sphere of Blight ( 1: Aura Effect: Blight Effect II (PCIObNecS22L109EchoDmgPulseRk2)) + Death's Effigy to do it instead of the more conventional damage shields. Using the sphere would give me an effective AE damage of 30k DPS instead of the ~1k or whatever I'll get from a damage shield. When it works the damage from sphere isn't attributed to my necro and is instead attributed to my noob druid that pinged a mob for a few damage with Tremor. This works, but I'm finding it impossible to time when I should cast the Sphere so it ticks long enough after casting to get Death's Effigy off. So far I'm like 50% successful, but all too often it'll damage the mobs before death's effigy can cast. The only thing I've tried is DoTing my necro and then timing it from when the DoT processes, but that hasn't been deterministic so far. So we all know that ticks occur every six seconds. When a tick occurs buffs, DoTs, HoTs and some misc scripts are run. Some items like the Sphere pulse every three seconds. It appears that every character gets their own tick counters rather than there being a server-side tick that is used universally, which is why you won't see DoTs / HoTs always synchronized to six second ticks, but instead process at different times. I have a few questions that might help me understand ticks. 1. How do I know when a mob / server tick will occur? 2. How do pulsing spells relate to ticks? 3. How can I know when a Remote Sphere of Blight will tick after casting?
You've got some things wrong here: 1) There is only 1 tick, the server tick. Players do not have their own tick. The reason you don't always see perfect 6 second ticks is due to server lag and/or synchronization problems between your computer and the server. 2) Spheres are not DoTs and thus aren't bound by the server tick. They are essentially "nukes" that happen every 3 seconds. They only *look* like a DoT.
Thank you for the clarification. Do you know what those 3 second "nukes" are synchronized to and how to predict when they will trigger?
The only way i know to time the server tic is to watch your toons regen. It happens on the server tic
I did some quick testing on this, and I think I doubt this generally accepted truth. I DoT'd myself and 7 different mobs and logged the timestamps of their damage input. Log is at the bottom of this post. I looked at the timestamps each damage message came in, got the delta in seconds between the first damage I tracked (when they all had splurt on them) and looked at that delta modulated by the tick size (6). The table on the left is the seconds since the start for each tick of splurt. The table on the right is the same numbers % 6. The chart shows a fairly flat signal for each mob, in that there is minimal variance between each tick count to the level that would rule out lag / synchronization issues that would cause them to not all be received in a large block. They are also distributed fairly evenly across each six second tick, which indicates they aren't synchronized. My guess how ticks work matches what's in p1999: https://wiki.project1999.com/Ticks_(Explained) Here's the raw segment of the log I looked at, filtered by splurt: [Sat Sep 07 11:53:48 2019] You have taken 396 damage from Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:53:48 2019] A brown bear has taken 337 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:53:49 2019] A hill giant has taken 712 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:53:49 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 650 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:53:50 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 307 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:53:51 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 576 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:53:51 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 337 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:53:51 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 427 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:53:54 2019] You have taken 411 damage from Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:53:54 2019] A brown bear has taken 570 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:53:55 2019] A hill giant has taken 396 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:53:55 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 712 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:53:56 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 431 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:53:57 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 367 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:53:57 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 352 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:53:57 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 498 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:00 2019] You have taken 426 damage from Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:00 2019] A brown bear has taken 641 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:01 2019] A hill giant has taken 850 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:01 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 396 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:02 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 337 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:03 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 382 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:03 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 641 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:03 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 578 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:06 2019] You have taken 441 damage from Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:06 2019] A brown bear has taken 382 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:07 2019] A hill giant has taken 934 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:07 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 411 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:08 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 352 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:09 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 396 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:09 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 712 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:10 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 650 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:13 2019] A brown bear has taken 793 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:13 2019] You have taken 1064 damage from Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:13 2019] A hill giant has taken 441 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:13 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 938 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:14 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 641 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:15 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 411 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:15 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 779 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:16 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 725 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:19 2019] A brown bear has taken 411 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:19 2019] You have taken 1161 damage from Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:19 2019] A hill giant has taken 456 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:19 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 1014 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:20 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 382 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:21 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 426 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:22 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 411 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:22 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 396 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:25 2019] A brown bear has taken 426 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:25 2019] You have taken 1227 damage from Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:25 2019] A hill giant has taken 1135 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:26 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 1084 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:26 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 396 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:27 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 441 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:28 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 426 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:28 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 411 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:31 2019] A brown bear has taken 441 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:31 2019] You have taken 1304 damage from Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:31 2019] A hill giant has taken 486 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:32 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 471 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:32 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 865 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:34 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 1064 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:34 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 992 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:34 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 921 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:37 2019] A brown bear has taken 1082 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:37 2019] You have taken 515 damage from Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:37 2019] A hill giant has taken 501 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:38 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 1206 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:38 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 921 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:40 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 1154 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:40 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 1064 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:40 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 1011 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:43 2019] A brown bear has taken 471 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:43 2019] You have taken 530 damage from Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:43 2019] A hill giant has taken 515 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:44 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 501 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:44 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 441 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:46 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 1230 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:46 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 471 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:46 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 456 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:49 2019] A brown bear has taken 1234 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:49 2019] You have taken 545 damage from Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:49 2019] A hill giant has taken 1415 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:50 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 1344 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:50 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 1082 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:52 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 1305 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:52 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 1206 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:52 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 471 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:55 2019] A brown bear has taken 1277 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:55 2019] You have taken 1558 damage from Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:55 2019] A hill giant has taken 545 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:56 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 1448 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:56 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 471 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:58 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 515 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:54:58 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 1277 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:54:58 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 1206 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:55:01 2019] A brown bear has taken 1344 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:55:01 2019] You have taken 575 damage from Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:55:01 2019] A hill giant has taken 1558 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:55:02 2019] A Steppes leopard has taken 1519 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:55:02 2019] A Darkfell archer has taken 1206 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:55:04 2019] A guardian of the grove has taken 530 damage from your Splurt. [Sat Sep 07 11:55:04 2019] A Darkfell gnoll has taken 1369 damage from your Splurt. (Lucky Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:55:04 2019] A Darkfell shaman has taken 1277 damage from your Splurt. (Critical) [Sat Sep 07 11:55:07 2019] A brown bear has taken 1415 damage from your Splurt. (Critical)
I just did some trials of beginning my cast at different time periods after my toon's regen tick and then counted the seconds before the damage occurred. I tried 0, 1, 2 and 3 seconds. There's a bit of slop here due to human error, but it's more precise than a second which is where logs are at anyway. I looked at the logs from these runs and tracked the delta T between starting the cast and when the damage occurred and it fit the above table in that it was an even bimodal distribution about 3s and 6s after cast start time (cast time takes ~3s). It appears that the sphere either ticks immediately on dropping or ticks after 3 seconds. This follows what I've been seeing from using it and makes it unsuitable for what I'm trying to do. Which is OK because I can just cast it away from the mobs and then drag them into the pestilence and plague.
