Effect Scaling Modes

The Problem: One Number Doesn’t Fit All

A DOT dealing 5 damage per second looks fine against a regular enemy. But what about a boss with 10,000 HP? That number is meaningless. Conversely, calculating as a % of max HP would be far too damaging against weak enemies.

The solution: 5 distinct damage scaling modes for each effect, all configurable via JSON.

Scaling Mode Reference Table

// ActiveEffect.cs
private float CalculateEffectDamage(Enemy enemy)
{
    switch (ScalingType)
    {
        case EffectScalingType.Flat:
            return Power;
        case EffectScalingType.PercentageTowerDamage:
            return SourceDamage * Power;
        case EffectScalingType.PercentageEnemyMaxHealth:
            return enemy.MaxHealth * Power;
        case EffectScalingType.PercentageEnemyCurrentHealth:
            return enemy.CurrentHealth * Power;
        case EffectScalingType.PercentageEnemyMissingHealth:
            return (enemy.MaxHealth - enemy.CurrentHealth) * Power;
        default:
            return Power;
    }
}

Practical Applications

• Fire Tower uses PercentageEnemyMaxHealth → most effective against bosses, weak against small minions — creating clear tower role specialization
• Poison Tower uses Flat → stable and easy to balance during the alpha phase
• This design allows a Game Designer to completely change the feel of a tower’s gameplay by modifying a single JSON value, with no code changes required