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Casting Visuals System - Testing Guide

Overview

This document provides a comprehensive testing checklist for the new casting visuals system implemented in LuminariMUD. The system adds school-specific, class-specific, and metamagic-enhanced visual descriptions to spellcasting.

Quick Test Commands

Use these in-game commands to test the casting visuals:

cast 'magic missile' <target>     # Test EVOCATION school
cast 'cure light wounds' self     # Test CONJURATION school (healing)
cast 'detect magic'               # Test DIVINATION school
cast 'charm person' <target>      # Test ENCHANTMENT school
cast 'shield'                     # Test ABJURATION school
cast 'invisibility' self          # Test ILLUSION school
cast 'ray of enfeeblement' <tar>  # Test NECROMANCY school
cast 'bull strength' self         # Test TRANSMUTATION school

Test Scenarios

1. School-Specific Visuals

Goal: Verify each spell school displays unique themed messages.

School Test Spell Expected Visual Theme
ABJURATION shield, mage armor White protective shimmer, wards
CONJURATION acid arrow, summon monster Purple reality rifts, extraplanar
DIVINATION detect magic, identify Yellow inner light, visions
ENCHANTMENT charm person, sleep Magenta hypnotic, mesmerizing
EVOCATION magic missile, fireball Red crackling energy
ILLUSION invisibility, blur Blue shimmering, reality blur
NECROMANCY chill touch, enervation Dark shadows, deathly
TRANSMUTATION bull strength, enlarge Green matter shifting

Test Steps:

  1. Cast at least one spell from each school
  2. Verify start message matches school theme
  3. Verify completion message matches school theme
  4. Check color codes display correctly

2. Target Type Variations

Goal: Verify messages adapt to different target types.

Target Type Test Expected Variation
SELF cast 'shield' Message refers to self
CHAR cast 'cure light' Message shows target name
OBJ cast 'identify' Message references object
NONE cast 'detect magic' Generic room effect

Test Steps:

  1. Cast a spell targeting yourself
  2. Cast a spell targeting another character
  3. Cast a spell targeting an object
  4. Cast an area/no-target spell

3. Class-Specific Casting Styles

Goal: Verify different classes have distinct casting descriptions.

Class Expected Style
WIZARD "traces precise arcane sigils"
SORCERER "channels raw magical energy instinctively"
CLERIC "raises holy symbol"
DRUID "communes with nature"
BARD "weaves magic through melodic incantation"
PALADIN "invokes righteous power"
WARLOCK "draws upon eldritch energies"
PSIONICIST "focuses mind as psionic energy builds"

Test Steps:

  1. Create/use characters of different casting classes
  2. Cast the same spell from different classes
  3. Verify class-specific style appears in start message
  4. Verify school flavor additions are appended

4. Metamagic Visual Signatures

Goal: Verify metamagic modifiers display unique visual effects.

Metamagic Expected Visual
QUICKEN "With impossible speed"
MAXIMIZE "unnaturally dense energy pulses"
HEIGHTEN "elevated magical intensity radiates"
EMPOWER "crackling excess energy arcs wildly"
SILENT "in eerie silence"
STILL "perfectly motionless"
EXTEND "elongated magical threads weave"

Test Steps:

  1. Cast a quickened spell - verify speed description
  2. Cast an empowered spell - verify energy description
  3. Cast a silent spell - verify silence description
  4. Cast a spell with multiple metamagic - verify combinations

Progress Display:

  • Metamagic shows as [QUICKENED], [EMPOWERED], etc.
  • Multiple metamagics display all labels

5. Dynamic Progress Descriptions

Goal: Verify casting progress shows escalating narrative.

Test with a multi-round spell (3+ rounds casting time)

Expected progression (example for EVOCATION):

  • Stage 0: "Sparks of raw energy gather at your fingertips..."
  • Stage 1: "The energy crackles and grows, barely contained..."
  • Stage 2: "Power surges through you, building to dangerous levels..."
  • Stage 3: "The arcane force strains against your control!"
  • Stage 4: "Destructive power reaches its apex!"

Test Steps:

  1. Cast a spell with 3+ round casting time
  2. Observe progress messages each round
  3. Verify messages escalate in intensity
  4. Verify observer messages appear to others in room
  5. Verify progress dots show remaining time

6. Environmental Reactions

Goal: Verify ambient effects trigger for powerful spells.

Spell Circle Intensity Chance
1-3 Subtle 15% per tick
4-6 Moderate 25% per tick
7-9 Dramatic 40% per tick

Test Steps:

  1. Cast low-circle spells - may see subtle effects
  2. Cast mid-circle spells - moderate effects more common
  3. Cast high-circle spells - dramatic effects frequent
  4. Verify environmental messages go to room (not caster)
  5. Verify school-themed environmental effects appear

Toggle Test:

  • Comment out CASTING_ENV_EFFECTS_ENABLED in mud_options.h
  • Recompile and verify no environmental effects appear
  • Re-enable and verify effects return

7. Observer Message Tests

Goal: Verify observers see appropriate messages based on Spellcraft.

Test Setup: Need two characters in same room.

Observer Spellcraft Expected
High (success) Sees actual spell name
Low (failure) Sees obfuscated syllables

Test Steps:

  1. Have observer with high Spellcraft watch casting
  2. Verify observer sees spell name in message
  3. Have observer with low Spellcraft watch casting
  4. Verify observer sees gibberish syllables

8. Interruption Scenarios

Goal: Verify casting visuals handle interruptions gracefully.

Test Steps:

  1. Start casting a multi-round spell
  2. Interrupt with movement - verify abort message
  3. Start casting again
  4. Interrupt with damage - verify abort message
  5. Verify no lingering visual state

9. NPC Casting

Goal: Verify NPCs cast with appropriate visuals.

Test Steps:

  1. Trigger NPC spellcasting (combat or script)
  2. Verify NPC uses school-based messages (no class style)
  3. Verify progress/observer messages work for NPC casters

Performance Verification

Memory Safety

Verified by code review:

  • All static buffers use MAX_STRING_LENGTH (49152 bytes)
  • All string operations use safe functions (snprintf, strlcat)
  • All array accesses have bounds checking
  • No dynamic memory allocation in message generation

Performance Checklist

  1. No noticeable lag during casting
  2. Server CPU usage remains normal during heavy casting
  3. Memory usage stable over extended play session
  4. No crashes or hangs during casting

Known Limitations

  1. Static Buffers: Functions returning char* use static buffers. Not thread-safe, but MUD is single-threaded so this is acceptable.

  2. Environmental Effects: Can be disabled via CASTING_ENV_EFFECTS_ENABLED if deemed too spammy.

  3. Class Style Coverage: Not all classes have defined casting styles. Those without styles fall back to school-only messages.

  4. Prestige Classes: Most prestige classes don't have unique styles and use base class behavior.

Configuration Options

mud_options.h

/* Enable/disable environmental effects during casting */
#define CASTING_ENV_EFFECTS_ENABLED

Tuning Probabilities

In casting_visuals.h:

#define ENV_CHANCE_SUBTLE       15  /* Low spells: 15% per tick */
#define ENV_CHANCE_MODERATE     25  /* Mid spells: 25% per tick */
#define ENV_CHANCE_DRAMATIC     40  /* High spells: 40% per tick */

Bug Report Template

If issues are found, document with:

**Bug Description**: [What went wrong]
**Steps to Reproduce**:
1. [Step 1]
2. [Step 2]
**Expected Behavior**: [What should happen]
**Actual Behavior**: [What actually happened]
**Character Info**: [Class, level, spell cast]
**Server Log**: [Any relevant log messages]

Sign-Off

Tester Date Status

Testing Guide created: 2025-11-26 For: LuminariMUD Casting Visuals System