Damage over time

In computer games and wargames, damage over time (DoT) is a type of effect that causes damage in regular increments (or at a steady rate) for a limited amount of time. This damage can be equal at all increments, or it may build up or diminish in power while the effect remains. A "channeled" spell is a sub-type of a DOT that requires the caster to maintain the spell cast to the exclusion of other actions.

DoT effects are most commonly found in computer role-playing games, but also frequently appear in other video games. By far the most common example of damage over time is the status effect "poison", which appears in nearly every CRPG that features status effects; it usually damages a target for every turn the afflicted character takes, and if it remains after battle, for every step taken on the map.

In many games (especially massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs)), DoTs are known to ignore armor rating on a character, meaning the damage the spell is supposed to inflict is not reduced by a character's defensive attributes.

A common tactic in such games is to have the spellcaster stack several different DoTs on a character causing his or her life to drain rapidly. One such example is the Warlock in "World of Warcraft". Using the spell Fear, the Warlock can cause his foe to run around in terror uncontrollably. As the victim is under the effects of Fear, the Warlock can cast several DoT spells to force the player to lose health.

In the example of the Warlock, in the MMORPG World of Warcraft, here are "some" DoT curses available to use:

*Corruption - Inflicts a disease on a target that causes X damage over Y seconds. Corruption will stack with Shadow Word: Pain.
*Curse of Weakness - Damage caused by the target is reduced by X for Y seconds. This is useful in shorter battles.
*Curse of Recklessness - Increases the damage done by the target by X, but greatly reduces its armor by Y for Z seconds. This is a good group based spell that is especially good to cast on monsters that are trying to run away.
*Curse of the Elements - Curses the target, reducing Fire and Frost resistances by X for Y min. This ability is good to use when playing with other casters who use those types of spells. In addition to reducing your target's Fire and Frost resistance, this spell will also increase the Fire and Frost damage you inflict upon them by Z%. Has a duration of 2 minutes when used on PvP targets.
*Curse of Tongues - Forces the target to speak in Demonic, increasing the casting time of all spells by X%. Only one Curse per Warlock can be active on any one target. Lasts Y sec. Curse of Tongues has a 12 second duration when used on PvP targets..
*Curse of Agony - Curses the target with agony causing X Shadow damage over Y seconds. Causes large damage over time. The damage from this spell will continue even if the caster dies or leaves the area.
*Curse of Shadow - Curses target, reducing Shadow and Arcane Resistance by X for Y min. Curse of Shadows also increases the Shadow and Arcane damage that the target receives by Z%. Has a duration of 2 minutes when used on PvP targets.
*Curse of Doom - Curses the target with impending doom, causing X shadow damage after Y min. If the target dies from this damage, there is a chance that a Doomguard will be summoned. Cannot be cast on players

When using a fear spell (or ability that has a fear effect) a DoT can "break" the effect. Most crowd control abilities "break" when the target takes damage.

References

* [http://www.rpgstars.com/articles/guildwars-damage.php#DOT Guild wars DOT information]
* [http://www.wow-europe.com/en/info/basics/combat.html Wow combat information]
* [http://www.wowwiki.com/DoT]