[iwdee] THAC0 of Tenser's Transformation

[CamDawg]

On IWDEE, the description of Tenser's Transformation (spwi616) reads:

Quote

Wizards need not always be wizards—Tenser's Transformation changes the caster into a heroic warrior, doubling the caster's Hit Points and giving <PRO_HIMHER> a +4 bonus to Armor Class, a +2 bonus to damage, and one extra attack per round. All damage the caster sustains takes away from the bonus Hit Points first, and <PRO_HISHER> attacks have the same chance to hit as a Fighter of the same level. While transformed, the wizard cannot cast spells.

The spell scales all the way down to -11 THAC0 whereas actual fighter THAC0 is capped at 0, a bug carried over from oIWD. In addition, the THAC0 is also two better than expected, but this is in-line with BG2's Tenser's--BG2 has one THAC0 effect to set the base THAC0 to match a fighter, and then a second THAC0 effect that adds a +2 bonus on top. I believe the "+2 to damage" in the description is meant to be a "+2 to-hit and damage" and they've simply expressed the fighter THAC0 and +2 bonus as a unitary effect.

If we think the +2 THAC0 bonus is intended, we cap the THAC0 at -2 and update the description. If we don't, then we remove the +2 bonus, cap it at 0, and leave the description unchanged.

[DavidW]

Looks intended to me. Hard to accidentally add a +2 THAC0 effect.

[Angel]

I checked the P&P version.  There is a case to be made for either; the P&P version does mention a +2 to hit and damage, but only if the wizard is using a staff as their weapon.  When using a dagger, the wizard gets only the +2 to damage, but gets two attacks per round instead of one.  The spell description does not say what happens if any other weapon is used.

[CamDawg]

In other news, IWDEE Holy Power (sppr412) also has "<PRO_HISHER> THAC0 becomes that of a Fighter of the same level" but caps THAC0 at 1. This is likely an import bug from BG2EE--the level >20 headers just got copied from level 20 and , while the HP got adjusted, THAC0 never received its last bump to 0.

edit: The innate Tempus Holy Power (ohtmps1) has the same issue.

Edited December 25, 2023 by CamDawg