ABI base.xls

These are the 2DAs that integrate all talents and spells into the game. They set their names, icons, prerequesites, and various standard details of how they function (animations, cooldown period, etc.).

When making abilities the best way to proceed is to copy the nearest analogous ability and then modify the specific columns you need to.

During Dragon Age's development this file was automatically updated from an internal database. End user builders can update it manually.

ABI_Base worksheet

Column	Type	Description
ID	int	A number that uniquely identifies the entry (unless creating an M2DA override). ID numbers are listed from smallest to highest within a given file but do not need to be consecutive.
label	string	Purely for readability, not accessed anywhere.
namestrref	int	String Ref ID of the name of the ability.
descstrref	int	String Ref ID of the description of the ability.
tooltipstrref	int	String Ref ID of the buff/deff format on mouse over. (Caution: Abilities with ID over 500000 is considered as debuff and will not take the format of normal buffs.)
strid_effect	int	String Ref ID of the buff/debuff description on mouse over.
icon	string	Name of the icon file, without extension.
abilitytype	int	See 2DA_Constants_H for what the numbers are. 1 - talent, 2 - spell, 3 - skill, 4 - item
abilitymode	int
conditions	int	Flags that determine what conditions must be met before this ability can be used. 1 - 1h weapon, 2 - shield, 4 - ranged weapon, 8 - behind target, 16 - mode active, 32 - is humanoid, 64 - dual wielding, 128 - 2h weapon, 256 - dog, 512 - mana user
condition_mode	int	Seems to be the ID of a modal ability that must be active before this ability can be used.
condition_group	int	This links abilities. Use the lowest integer of the group. Whenever one of these abilities is used it will turn off the other linked abilities. So it makes it so that multiple modal abilities can't be activated at once.
cost	float	How much Mana/Stamina an ability will cost.
costupkeep	float	How much from the max Mana/Stamina an ability takes away until it is deactivated (modal abilities only)
prereqability	int	The ID of a prereq ability.
prereqlevel	int	Minimum character level to pick it up.
prereqattribute	int	Which attribute is a prereq for the ability. See properties.xls for what this number maps to.
prereqattvalue	int	The value the specified attribute has to be greater than.
guitype	int	This is the category that the ability is grouped into. Things like, "Creation" and "Primal". See guitypes.xls.
targettype	int	A bit operator which indicates which classes of targets the ability will affect. Check out the "_Control" tab of ABI_base.xls. Search for "Friendly Creature" and you'll get to the right values.
autotarget	int	If set to TRUE then it will automatically target a selected hostile or friendly creature.
range	int	Range 1 means melee, 2 close spell range, 3 long spell range. 4+ should be used only with care.
speed	int	This is the speed the ability is used at. 0 is instant, 1 is quick, 2 is slow, 3+ is too slow to be fun.
usetype	int	Whether the ability is a passive, toggle, or instant use. 2 is toggle, 3 is passive, 4 is instant use.
spellscript	string	This is the script that is run when the ability is used. Includes the file extension ".ncs".
cooldown	float	The ability cooldown in seconds.
conjurevfx	int	This is the VFX that is played during the conjure stage of the ability. This is defined in VFX_base.xls. Best practices is to make one entry for each spell so that way the FX artists can make a unique VFX tweak to an ability easily.
blendtree	string	Set by animators for abilities that change the default animations of a PC or party member. E.g. when you use "Shield Wall" your idle becomes a defensive crouch using your shield prominently.
conjureanim	int	Which animation to play during the conjure sequence. A list of values is located at ANIM_base.xls.
castanim	int	Which animation to play during the casting sequence. A list of values is located at ANIM_base.xls.
projectile	int	This is the model name for projectiles. See PRJ_base.xls for the integers. 1 is a common one for arrow.
autocancel	int	Obsolete
autodraw	int	Whether using this ability will automatically draw your weapon.
threat_use	float	Obsolete
threat_impact	float	This is the amount of threat generated by each impact. May be obsolete.
aoe_type	int	1 is a circle, 2 is a cone.
aoe_idx	int	Defined areas of effect. Located at VFX_base.xls.
aoe_param1	float	Either the radius of the circle or degree arc of the cone.
aoe_param2	float	Obsolete
vfx_impact0	int	The VFX that is used at each impact. VFX_base.xls. See Ability_GetImpactLocationVfxId
vfx_impact1	int	This isn't used by the engine, but can be used as a constant in the scripts if you like. Many ITEMS use this to hold their VFX id to be used in scripting. See Ability_GetImpactObjectVfxId
flags	int	[Undocumented]
showintactics	int	Set to 1 for abilities that PC or party members will want to use in the tactics system.
showinchargen	int	[Undocumented]
passive_id	int	Refers to the ID in passive_abilities page of ABI_base.xls
crust_id	int	Obsolete
resistance	int	[Undocumented]
damageinfo	int	[Undocumented]
condition_appgroup	int	[Undocumented]
ProcessWithEvent	int	If specified this ability does not use any of the normal ability functionality but instead fires and processes and event - meaning it even works when the game is paused. Use with care.
fatigue	float	[Undocumented]

ability_data worksheet

Column	Type	Description
ID	int	A number that uniquely identifies the entry (unless creating an M2DA override). ID numbers are listed from smallest to highest within a given file but do not need to be consecutive.
Label	comment	[Undocumented]
bHostileint	int	[Undocumented]
effectImpact	int	[Undocumented]
effectResisted	int	[Undocumented]
effectDuration	float	positive: temporary. 0.0 instant. negative permanent
dmg_function	int	[Undocumented]
dmg_param0	float	[Undocumented]
dmg_param1	int	[Undocumented]
dmg_type	int	const int DAMAGE_TYPE_INVALID - 0; const int DAMAGE_TYPE_PHYSICAL - 1; const int DAMAGE_TYPE_FIRE - 2; const int DAMAGE_TYPE_COLD - 3; const int DAMAGE_TYPE_ELECTRICITY - 4; const int DAMAGE_TYPE_POISON - 5; const int DAMAGE_TYPE_LETHAL - 6; const int DAMAGE_TYPE_TBD - 7;
dmg_flags	int	const int DAMAGE_EFFECT_FLAG_NONE - 0x00000000 ; const int DAMAGE_EFFECT_FLAG_CRITICAL - 0x00000001; //critical hit const int DAMAGE_EFFECT_FLAG_DEATHBLOW - 0x00000002; //death blow const int DAMAGE_EFFECT_FLAG_UPDATE_GORE - 0x00000004; //update gore on attacker const int DAMAGE_EFFECT_FLAG_LEECH_50 - 0x00000008; //leech 50% health back to attacker const int DAMAGE_EFFECT_FLAG_LEECH_75 - 0x00000010; //leech 75% health back to attacker const int DAMAGE_EFFECT_FLAG_LEECH_100 - 0x00000020; //leech 100% health back to attacker const int DAMAGE_EFFECT_FLAG_LEECH_MANA - 0x00000040; // mana is leeched instead of health

ability_effects worksheet

Column	Type	Description
ID	int	A number that uniquely identifies the entry (unless creating an M2DA override). ID numbers are listed from smallest to highest within a given file but do not need to be consecutive.
Label	string	[Undocumented]
effect	int	[Undocumented]
effect_label	comment	[Undocumented]
effect_int1	int	[Undocumented]
effect_int2	int	[Undocumented]
effect_int3	int	[Undocumented]
effect_float0	float	[Undocumented]
effect_float1	float	[Undocumented]
effect_object0	int	0 - don't set, 1 - set to OBJECT_SELF, 2 - set to caster
scaled_field	int	0 - none, 1 - float0, 2 - float1
vfx	int	[Undocumented]
resistance	int	const int PROPERTY_ATTRIBUTE_RESISTANCE_MENTAL - 32; const int PROPERTY_ATTRIBUTE_RESISTANCE_AVOIDANCE - 31; const int PROPERTY_ATTRIBUTE_RESISTANCE_PHYSICAL - 33;

passive_abilities worksheet

Column	Type	Description
ID	int	A number that uniquely identifies the entry (unless creating an M2DA override). ID numbers are listed from smallest to highest within a given file but do not need to be consecutive.
Label	comment
Prop1	int	link to properties.xls
Modifier1	float	Modifier this applies onto the property
Prop2	int
Modifier2	float
Prop3	int
Modifier3	float
Comment	comment	Summary of the ability in human-readable form