Smarter Barrier

Full Description

Smarter Barrier improves how AI-controlled companion mages use Barrier.

When two mages are in the party, Dragon Age: Inquisition often has both cast Barrier at nearly the same moment and on the same group. This wastes one cast and leaves both mages waiting through their cooldowns.

Smarter Barrier gives companion mages a simple coordination system. After one mage casts Barrier, that mage temporarily yields the next opportunity to another available mage.

The mod also directs companion Barrier targeting toward Cassandra or Blackwall. Barrier remains an area-of-effect spell, so nearby party members can still receive protection, but the AI selects one of the party’s dedicated tanks as the center.

Features

• []Prevents multiple companion mages from deliberately casting Barrier simultaneously.[/]

  []Rotates Barrier responsibility between available companion mages.[/]

  []Uses the rotation order Solas, Dorian, then Vivienne.[/]

  []Temporarily marks the most recent caster for 24 seconds.[/]

  []Prioritizes Cassandra or Blackwall as the center of companion Barrier casts.[/]

  []Retains BioWare’s existing health, enemy-proximity, Barrier-level, and tactical checks.[/]

  []Works with one, two, or three companion mages.[/]

  []Resets its temporary coordination marker when combat ends.[/]

  What It Does Not Change

  Smarter Barrier does not change:

  • []Barrier strength[/]

    []Barrier duration[/]

    []Barrier radius[/]

    []Mana cost[/]

    []Actual ability cooldown[/]

    []Ability upgrades[/]

    []Visual effects[/]

    []Player-controlled casting[/]

    []Companion attributes or passives[/]

    []Other mage abilities[/]

    []General companion AI[/]

  Manual Barrier casting remains completely available.

  Recommended Tactics

  Set Barrier to either:

  • []Enabled[/]

    []Preferred[/]

  Do not set Barrier to Never Use.

  No changes to the companion Behavior menu are required.

  Installation

  • []Import Smarter Barrier V1.fbmod into Frosty Mod Manager.[/]

    []Add it to the applied mod list.[/]

    []Apply the mod.[/]

    []Fully restart Dragon Age: Inquisition.[/]

    []Load your existing save.[/]

  A new character or new game is not required.

  Compatibility

  This mod only edits Barrier’s AI evaluation and cast timeline, plus one private coordination timeline.

  It may conflict with mods that directly modify:

  • []Barrier AI targeting or evaluation[/]

    []Barrier’s cast timeline[/]

    []Companion Barrier automation[/]