Dragonbane Combat Assistant
What This Module Does
Dragonbane Combat Assistant enhances both melee/ranged combat AND spellcasting with comprehensive validation and automation in eight powerful ways:
✨ Universal Spell Support for Automated Animations (NEW in v2.0)
- All spells trigger animations - Extends Automated Animations beyond just damage spells to include buffs, debuffs, utility spells, and Magic Tricks
- Manual control options - User-controlled buttons to enable or disable AA support as needed, disabled by default
- Zero impact on existing spells - Damage spells continue working exactly as before
🎯 Spell Validation (NEW in v2.0)
- Target selection enforcement - Range and touch spells require exactly one target, personal spells auto-target the caster
- Smart spell range checking - Validates spell ranges before casting
- Template spell handling - Template spells (cones, spheres) auto-target caster for visual effects while deferring area targeting
- Spell exclusion setting - Simple comma-separated list to exclude specific spells from validation while keeping animations
- Ranged spells without a definded target - Spells like Animal Whisperer, Gnome, etc can simply target the caster
🎭 Automatic Status Effect Application (NEW in v2.0)
- Smart effect targeting - Successful spells apply appropriate status effects to the correct target (self-buffs to caster, debuffs to target)
- Dragonbane Status Effects integration - Uses DSE module icons when available, with intelligent fallbacks
- Template spell intelligence - Template spells skip auto-effects (awaiting proper area targeting in future versions)
- Effect ownership tracking - Applied effects properly track the caster as origin for clean management
🎯 Attack Validation (Enhanced)
- Enforces target selection - No more accidental attacks into empty space
- Smart weapon range validation - Prevents impossible attacks before they happen
- Contextual thrown weapon support - Thrown weapons work in melee (up to 2m/4m) AND at range (up to 2x weapon range)
- Smart distance calculation - Handles multi-grid tokens and diagonal movement correctly
- Melee range enforcement - Standard melee weapons require adjacency, long weapons can reach 1 square away
- Ranged range enforcement - Ranged weapons can target up x2 their base range
- Quick bypass controls - Temporarily disable validation rules with keyboard shortcut
- Complete override - Disable all validation rules at once (Alt+V)
- Per-user control - Each player manages their own override state independently
- Foundry integration - Fully customizable through Configure Controls menu
📖 Automatic Rule Display
- Shows combat rules when you need them - Only on successful special attacks
- Covers all special actions - Parry, Topple, Disarm, and Find Weak Spot
- Weapon durability when parrying - Shows weapon durability in chat for easy comparison
- Weapon feature bonuses - Displays topple weapon bonuses (+1 Boon) automatically
- Mark Weapon Broken button - Appears on parry rules for easy weapon damage tracking, updates character sheet directly from chat
- AOE Rule Reminder (NEW in v2.0.4) - Reminds players that AOE spells can be dodged but not parried and that targets can be exempted from AOE effects by taking a bane
🛡️ Monster Action Prevention
- Pre-roll confirmation dialogs - Intercepts Parry and Disarm attempts against monsters before the roll happens
- Educational approach - Informs players about rules with clear dialog messages before they attempt invalid actions
- Prevents invalid advancement - Blocks the roll entirely when user cancels, avoiding skill advancement on impossible actions
- Smart bypass for edge cases - Allows exceptions when user clicks "Proceed" for rare situations where rules permit
⚖️ Encumbrance Monitoring
- Event-driven monitoring - Instantly detects when characters become over-encumbered
- Automatic status effects - Applies configurable status effects when carrying too many items
- Smart status effect creation - Automatically creates custom status effects if they don't exist in the game
- Enhanced compatibility - Works seamlessly with the Dragonbane Status Effects module (uses existing "Over-Encumbered" effect if available)
- Folder-based filtering - Monitor specific actor folders (default: "Party") or all characters
- Smart notifications - UI notifications with optional chat reminders about STR roll requirements
⚔️ Unforgiving Grudge Tracking
- Automatic damage detection - Monitors when characters with "Unforgiving" kin ability take damage
- Interactive grudge management - Creates and maintains personalized grudge journals for each character
- Smart damage correlation - Links attack rolls to damage application for accurate tracking
- One-click grudge addition - "Add to Grudge List" button appears in chat for qualifying damage events
- Detailed grudge entries - Records attacker name, damage amount, location, date, and critical hit status
- Journal organization - Automatically creates organized folders and formatted grudge tables
- Easy grudge management - Delete buttons in journals allow removal of settled grudges
- Critical hit indicators - Special marking (💥) for grudges caused by critical damage
- NOTE - The GM will need to create the folder and Journal before Dwarf players can record grudges. Simply click the Setup Grudge Folders for All PCs button in settings once your Dwarf characters have been assigned to players, after that players will be able to record grudges.
🎲 Year Zero Engine Combat Integration
- Single action tracking - Seamless integration with YZE Combat module for action management
- Automatic detection - Monitors chat for combat actions using intelligent pattern matching
- Token-specific tracking - Each combatant tracked independently with action numbering
- Smart exclusions - Ignores damage rolls, healing, reaction spells, and other non-action activities
- Override control - Alt+V shortcut for manual control when automatic detection needs adjustment
Installation
- In Foundry VTT, go to Add-on Modules and click Install Module
- Use this manifest URL:
https://github.com/kergalli/dragonbane-action-rules/releases/latest/download/module.json - Enable the module in your world's Manage Modules screen
Configuration
Access settings through Configure Settings → Module Settings → Dragonbane Combat Assistant:
Universal Spell Support (NEW)
- Enable Universal Spell Automated Animations - Makes all spells compatible with Automated Animations module
- Manual AA Enhancement Control - User-controlled buttons to enable/disable AA support for all spells
- Spell Exclusions - Comma-separated list of spell names to exclude from validation (they still get animations)
- Enable Automatic Status Effects - Apply appropriate status effects when spells succeed
Spell Validation (NEW)
- Enable Spell Target Validation - Requires target selection for range/touch spells, auto-targets caster for personal spells
- Enable Spell Range Validation - Validates spell casting distances before allowing the roll
Attack Validation
- Enable Target Selection Enforcement - Requires target selection for all attacks
- Enable Range Checking - Validates weapon ranges before allowing attacks
Rules Display
- Display Delay - How long rules stay visible (0-10 seconds)
- Show Weapon Durability on Parry - Displays weapon durability for parrying weapons
Optional Rule Reminders
- Enable Shove Reminders - Shows shove opportunities when conditions are met
- Enable Parry Movement Reminders - Shows movement options on successful parries
- Enable Dodge Movement Reminders - Shows movement options on successful EVADE rolls
- Monster Action Prevention - Interrupts disarm and parry attacks against monsters with confirmation dialog
Encumbrance Monitoring
- Enable Encumbrance Monitoring - Automatically detects over-encumbered characters
- Target Actor Folders - Which folders to monitor (default: "Party")
- Status Effect Settings - Customize name, icon, and behavior of encumbrance status effects
- Enable Chat Notifications - Optional chat reminders about STR roll requirements
Unforgiving Tracker
- Enable Unforgiving Tracker - Automatically tracks damage dealt to characters with the Unforgiving kin ability. Creates journal for grudge lists.
YZE Integration
- Enable YZE Integration - Automatic action tracking with Year Zero Engine Combat module
- YZE Action Exclusions - Configure rolls to exclude from action tracking (see tips below), you can also exclude almost anything by UUID
- YZE Action Inclusions - Abilities - Specify heroic and kin abilities that should count as actions (comma-separated). Examples: Battle Cry, Berserker, Companion, Master Carpenter, Musician, Body Slam, Hunting Instincts, Raise Spirits
Example YZE Action Exclusions (if using Token Action HUD Dragonbane):
English: Death Roll, Light Test, Lantern, Oil Lamp, Tallow Candle, Torch, Severe Injury Test
Swedish: Dödsslag, Fackla, Ljustest, Lykta, Oljelampa, Svår Skada, Talgljus
Example YZE Action Inclusions - Abilities:
English: Battle Cry, Berserker, Companion, Master Carpenter, Musician, Body Slam, Hunting Instincts, Raise Spirits
Swedish: Bärsärk, Följeslagare, Jaktsinne, Mästersnickare, Stridsrop, Tackling, Tonkonst, Uppmuntra
Advanced
- Debug Mode - Enable detailed console logging for troubleshooting
Keyboard Shortcuts
Temporarily disable all validation rules with keyboard shortcut:
| Shortcut | Function | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alt + V | Override All | Temporarily disable/enable all validation rules and action tracking |
Fully customizable through Configure Controls in Foundry.
Special Cases & Tips
Spell Exclusions: Add spell names to the exclusion list (comma-separated) to skip validation while keeping animations. Example: Protector, Heal Wound, Fireball
Manual AA Control: If automatic spell enhancement causes issues, use the "Disable AA Support" button in settings, then re-enable when ready.
Template Spells: Template spells (Engulfing Forest, Frost, Gust of Wind) currently auto-target the caster for visual effects. Proper area targeting will be added in a future version.
Parrying Ranged Attacks with a Weapon or Shield: Target yourself when parrying a ranged attack with a weapon or shield. The range validation will understand you're defending at your position.
Marking Weapons Broken: The "Mark Weapon Broken" button only appears on parry rules when:
- A valid weapon was detected for the parry
- The weapon is not already broken
- You have permission to modify the weapon
Shove Conditions: Shove reminders only appear when:
- Using a melee weapon or thrown weapon in melee range
- Attack deals damage (excludes Topple/Disarm)
- Attacker is not a monster
- Target is not a monster
- Attacker's STR damage bonus ≥ target's STR damage bonus
Monster Action Prevention: Prevention dialogs only appear for Parry and Disarm attempts against monsters. All other actions proceed normally.
Token Action HUD + YZE Integration: If using the Token Action HUD Dragonbane module, consider adding YZE Action Exclusions, YZE Action Inclusions - Abilities, and Excluded Spells for better action tracking accuracy.
Known Issues
Template Spell Area Targeting: Template spells currently auto-target the caster for visual effects rather than placing templates for area targeting. This is intentional for v2.0 - proper template placement will be added in v2.1.
System Requirements & Dependencies
Required
| Requirement | Version | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foundry VTT | v12-v13 | Verified on both versions |
| Dragonbane System | v2.6.0+ | Required for dynamic range calculation and full functionality |
| socketlib | Latest | Required for automatic status effect application and cross-client communication |
Recommended
| Module | Purpose | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Dragonbane Status Effects | Enhanced status icons | Provides thematic status effect icons and visual enhancements when automatically applying spell effects |
| Automated Animations | Spell animations | Enables visual animations for all spells; without this module, Universal Spell AA Support has no effect |
Optional Integrations
| Module | Purpose | Integration Details |
|---|---|---|
| Year Zero Engine Combat | Action tracking | Automatic single/multiple action tracking during combat; seamlessly integrates with YZE's action system |
| Token Action HUD Dragonbane | Quick actions | Enhanced compatibility with Token Action HUD for streamlined gameplay |
| Argon - Combat HUD (DRAGONBANE) | Combat interface | Compatible with Argon's enhanced combat interface |
Installation Notes
- socketlib is mandatory - the module will not function properly without it
- Install Dragonbane Status Effects before enabling automatic status effects for optimal visual experience
- Automated Animations should be installed and configured if you plan to use Universal Spell AA Support
- All optional integrations work independently - install only what you need
Localization
- Full support for English and Swedish
- Language-agnostic operation using official Dragonbane translation keys
Community Contributors
- dgladkov - Encumbrance fixes and distance calculations to large and huge tokens
- xdy - Swedish language improvements and localization fixes
Support & Issues
- Issues: Report bugs at GitHub Issues
- Documentation: Full documentation in README.md
- Changelog: Version history in CHANGELOG.md
License
This module is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details.
Disclaimer
This is an unofficial, fan-created module. Not affiliated with Free League Publishing. Dragonbane™ is a trademark of Free League Publishing.