JS-SPELL

The Spell object represents spells.

Properties:

level               The level of the spell.
shortDesc           The name of this spell.

Methods:

buff( args )        This is shorthand for:
                    if ( subject.addAuraCat( caster, <args> ) ) msg( 'buff' );
debuff( args )      Works identically to buff() except that mobiles not
                    fighting will engage the caster.
damage()            See JS-SPELL-DAMAGE.
dice( x, y, z )     This functions similarly to Mud.dice() except that
                    this method automatically accounts for the
                    Area (and Area Mastery), Empower, and Maximize runes.
duration( x )       This returns x * 2 if the Lasting rune is applied
                    otherwise it returns x.
isActive()          Returns true if this spell hasn't been deleted.
isFirst()           If the spell is an aura or group spell, this returns
                    true if we are visiting the first target.
hasShaping()        Returns true if the spell has the specified shaping
                    runes.  See JS-CARDINALITY and
                    SHAPING-RUNES.
makesSave( v,t,m )  Has the target v make a saving throw roll and
                    returns true if v successfully saved against the
                    type "t" (see SAVING-THROWS) with the optional
                    modifier "m" (if no modifier is provided, a modifier
                    of 0 is used).  This method is similar to
                    Char.makesSave() except that this method also takes
                    into account shaping runes and spell modifiers.
msg( t, s, a )      This method is used to display built-in proficiency
                    messages (messages created using msgedit) from
                    inside a spell.  t is the type of message to
                    display, and is usually buff as area,
                    zone, death, and so on messages are usually
                    displayed automatically.  s and a represent
                    the "self" and "actor" of the message and optional.
                    If they are not specified, they default to the
                    caster and the subject, respectively.
pel( cap )          Returns the proficiency experience level (PEL) for
                    for this spell up to the specified cap.  If this
                    spell has the Heighten rune applied to it, the cap
                    will be increased by 20%.  See PEL.
retaliate( subj )   This will cause the subject of the spell to retaliate
                    against the caster.  If no subj is provided, this
                    method will default to the spell's subject.
toString()          Returns the name of the clan.
valueOf()           Returns the name of the clan.

Inside spells, the self variable refers to the spell itself, not the caster. A caster variable is present which refers to the caster. If the spell has a subject, that is stored in the subject variable. actor is not used.