Damage over time

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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. It should be noted that a "DoT" is debuff, meaning that the effect will continue even if the unit causing the DoT stops attacking or even dies. If a unit is dealing damage over time but must continue with a certain action to allow the damage to continue, it is referred to as a "Channeling" action, such as a "channeling spell."

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.

Generally, DoTs deal less overall damage than one hit attacks or spells, but in many games (Especially 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.