Let's talk about next damage prevention (again)

[thefiremind]

For those who didn't see the previous topic, it's here:
viewtopic.php?f=63&t=7415
Basically I was asking if there was a way to understand how the built-in function "PreventNextDamage" works. I finally concluded that the function is a leftover from DotP2010 and cannot be used in more recent games because we miss a pointer to the ability itself (in DotP2010 it was Effect() which actually called rawget(_G, lua_effect_index) but this seems to return nil now).

On a side note, always preventing a certain amount of damage for a given duration works, by using this syntax:

Code: Select all

    Object():GetFilter():Clear()
    Object():PreventDamage( amount_to_prevent, 0 )

in fact I successfully used this in my Clerics deck.

Returning to the prevention of the next X damage, I made a better implementation for Ordruun Commando, without using ObjectDC (which allows this code to be reused for abilities that prevent the next X damage on other creatures):

Code: Select all

  <ACTIVATED_ABILITY firebreathing="1" immunity="1">
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="en-US"><![CDATA[{W}: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to Ordruun Commando this turn.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="it-IT"><![CDATA[{W}: Previeni il prossimo punto danno che verrebbe inflitto al Commando Ordruun in questo turno.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="de-DE"><![CDATA[{W}: Verhindere den nächsten Schadenspunkt, der dem Ordruun-Kommando in diesem Zug zugefügt würde.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="fr-FR"><![CDATA[{W} : Prévenez, ce tour-ci, la prochaine 1 blessure qui devrait être infligée au Commando ordruun.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="es-ES"><![CDATA[{W}: Prevén el siguiente punto de daño que se le fuera a hacer al Comando ordrúun este turno.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="jp-JA"><![CDATA[{W}：このターン、次にオルドルーンの猛士に与えられるダメージを１点軽減する。]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ko-KR"><![CDATA[{W}: Prevent the next 1 damage that would be dealt to Ordruun Commando this turn.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="ru-RU"><![CDATA[{W}: Предотвратите следующее 1 повреждение, которое будет нанесено Ордруунскому коммандо в этот ход.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <LOCALISED_TEXT LanguageCode="pt-BR"><![CDATA[{W}: Previne o próximo 1 ponto de dano que seria causado a Comando de Ordruun neste turno.]]></LOCALISED_TEXT>
    <COST type="Mana" cost="{W}" />
    <RESOLUTION_TIME_ACTION>
    if EffectSource() ~= nil then
       local delayDC = EffectDC():Make_Chest(1)
       delayDC:Set_CardPtr( 0, EffectSource() )
       MTG():CreateDelayedTrigger(1, delayDC)
    end
    </RESOLUTION_TIME_ACTION>
    <AI_AVAILABILITY step="in_response_dangerous" />
    <AI_AVAILABILITY step="declare_blockers" blocking_or_blocked="1" />
  </ACTIVATED_ABILITY>
  <TRIGGERED_ABILITY internal="1" pre_trigger="1" resource_id="1">
    <CLEANUP fire_once="1" simple_cleanup="EndOfTurn" />
    <TRIGGER value="CREATURE_TOOK_DAMAGE">
    if Damage():GetSource() ~= nil and Damage():GetAmount() &gt; 0 then
       return TriggerObject() == EffectDC():Get_CardPtr(0)
    end
    return false
    </TRIGGER>
    <RESOLUTION_TIME_ACTION>
    local damage_amount = Damage():GetAmount()
    if Damage():IsUnpreventable() == 0 and damage_amount &gt; 0 then
       Damage():SetAmount(damage_amount - 1)
    end
    </RESOLUTION_TIME_ACTION>
  </TRIGGERED_ABILITY>

But the problem is always the same: the AI can't understand it, so Chandra will throw burn spells at it even if I can prevent them completely. Any ideas?

[BETenner]

Just a guess:
Can you set the card's score to 0 if you prevented the next X damage?
Can this prevent the AI targeting it?

[thefiremind]

Just a guess:
Can you set the card's score to 0 if you prevented the next X damage?
Can this prevent the AI targeting it?

It wouldn't be correct all the times because maybe the AI really has enough damage to kill the creature despite my attempts to prevent damage.

[BETenner]

Then the only hope will be DotP2014..(which is coming soon)