Having to target "personal" spells?!?

[AandA]

I'd post this in Rants but I can't follow the referenced link to join the players list (I think that's what it implies I have to do to get access).

So I'll keep it tamer and ask:

Why the HELL does the engine SOMETIMES want me to target myself with personal spells?!?!?!?!?!?!?

And more importantly, how do I make it never EVER have me do that? There are some life and death situations where the delay between me thinking the spell with be cast automatically and my realizing that it did NOT do so and finding myself in the midst of the mess that's usually about to kill me leads me to not only curse but, too often, die.

Thanks for any help here.

[Sunscream]

It will do that if your inventory window is open (because you may want to target a scroll for scribing)

[Landrin_Mard]

I mostly use the context menus via the number pad, if your spellcasting class was your PCs first class then:

09198 (on the number pad, with numlock on)

should cast the first prepared (or known?) 1st level spell.

0 activates the context menu (with you as the target) and then the numbers correspond to the various positions of the menu. The first 9 is "Cast a Spell", the 1 goes into the spellcasting of the first class your PC has, the second 9 is the 1st level spells, and 8 is the first spell (prepared or known) of those.

If you get good at the numpad, you should be able to queue up spells quite fast, assuming you want to cast them on yourself. Though watch out for lag, sometimes keystrokes don't get through and you end up someplace you didn't intend. Also, if you prepare spells, then their order will change when you change what you prepare.

This is also useful for stuff other than spells, for instance:

046

for non-elves should activate search mode and

044

will activate stealth mode

048

the crafting dialog

If you have activated combat feats, they can be accessed too.

[Anomandari]

Like: dial 09198-x-MIRACLE...

[thetamlyone]

I have an item (seal of fire) that does this sometimes and sometimes not....usually seems to do it when I'm in the midst of a nasty crowd of beasties, and it's going to be hard to target myself. Any idea why that would be? The spell thing makes sense, but would it apply to items?

[Eklektikos]

...when I'm in the midst of a nasty crowd of beasties, and it's going to be hard to target myself...

You know you can target your PC's portrait if you want to cast a spell or use an item on yourself, right?

[Chemical-Burn]

Just as it was said previous,

It will do that if your inventory window is open (because you may want to target a scroll for scribing)

Spells for example, Shield, will ask for a target if your inventory is open but when its closed it will cast upon you without a selection. So don't get surrounded by enemies with your backpack open(inventory) and you might have a better expectation from your actions.

[AandA]

It seemed much more sporadic than always when my inventory was open but I'll check that out. Thanks!

And I use the mouse and radial menu for casting spells a lot (I use a laptop exclusively so it's not real practical to use the embedded numeric keypad with the function key). Most of my "life or death spells" are assigned hotkeys though so that's usually when I noticed the need to target myself. I would expect it would ask me to target myself using the radial menu too.

And yes, I know about targeting the picture. (Caveat to those new to trying it - it doesn't work when you have to level.)

[silverfields2]

You know, I thought it depended on which server I was on. I'll have to pay more attention to when I have my inventory open.

[Gorgon]

You know you can target your PC's portrait if you want to cast a spell or use an item on yourself, right?

Also very handy if a party member who has silly hide skill (and the bad guys have even sillier spot) hits bleeding, and you need to heal him. Sucks to die with a crowd tripping over your body while trying to find you.