Why don't spells work with the life on hit spell gem?

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Mr_Cee wrote:

Cause its a red gem ;) and it strictly says: "

Unavailable

"Hit By Your Attacks"

Attacks are meaned to happen with a weapon (melee or ranged), not with spells. Thats also the reason why it dont work with Ethereal Knifes, which is a physical spell.

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RegulusX wrote:

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Mr_Cee wrote:

Cause its a red gem ;) and it strictly says: "

Unavailable

"Hit By Your Attacks"

Attacks are meaned to happen with a weapon (melee or ranged), not with spells. Thats also the reason why it dont work with Ethereal Knifes, which is a physical spell.

That is, by far, the most pedantic distinction I've ever seen in any game. I could use the words "attack" and "spell" interchangeably in most other games. Why must this game consistently subvert industry standards and well established mechanics in the genre?

Also, I said conceptually, not mechanically or literally. That gem should work with spells and the fact that it doesn't - and that everyone in-game was convinced that it should - shows how messed up this mechanic is.

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RegulusX wrote:

Also, I said conceptually, not mechanically or literally. That gem should work with spells and the fact that it doesn't - and that everyone in-game was convinced that it should - shows how messed up this mechanic is.

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_Lokken wrote:

Yeah no

Attack does not inherently mean physical or magical. That definitely needs clarification.

No matter how you're killing monsters, you're attacking them.

Attack isn't some category of 'offensive abilities'. It is how you interact with the monsters period.

Physical attacks, magical attacks, aoe attacks, etc. If a gem says your attacks add life, then whenever you interact with a monster (i.e. you attack it) then you should get life back.

100% needs clarification and/or re-wording.

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Aplier wrote:

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RegulusX wrote:

Also, I said conceptually, not mechanically or literally. That gem should work with spells and the fact that it doesn't - and that everyone in-game was convinced that it should - shows how messed up this mechanic is.

Conceptually, maybe, but mechanically: imagine this situation. Freezing pulse+lesser multiple projectiles+great multiple projectiles+life on hit. This means your freezing pulse now has 7 projectiles that can all hit the same target. You're now gaining 7 times the normal amount of LoH per target hit, without having to change your build or even deal any real damage. Spells are much more accessible to classes than attacks are, and allowing would give all classes an easy, cheap burst heal that requires little sacrifice.

Conceptually, some things that make sense won't be possible, and some things that don't make sense will be possible, and this is true for all games. For the people who build around using spells, the life leech gem works for spells and scales off damage dealt.