Nonsensical Stacking?

[mechanicalpear]

I've seen this a lot in many different abilities. You can gain a stack of something (up to one stack a second), the ability lasts 3 seconds, and you can have a max of five stacks. How is this possible? Say, you gain a stack every second, by the time you gain your 4th stack, the first one has worn off, correct? You can never have more than 3 stacks. THEN, if you spend more points, you can have the max stacks go to 10, then 15 times.

Example used is Ephemeral Evolution from the Primal Avatar ED.

The only thing I can think of is that if you gain a stack, it resets the 3 second countdown? Is this how it works?

[dunklezhan]

I've seen this a lot in many different abilities. You can gain a stack of something (up to one stack a second), the ability lasts 3 seconds, and you can have a max of five stacks. How is this possible? Say, you gain a stack every second, by the time you gain your 4th stack, the first one has worn off, correct? You can never have more than 3 stacks. THEN, if you spend more points, you can have the max stacks go to 10, then 15 times.

Example used is Ephemeral Evolution from the Primal Avatar ED.

The only thing I can think of is that if you gain a stack, it resets the 3 second countdown? Is this how it works?

Generally speaking, yes. Each stack renews the timer, and when the timer runs out, the stack decreases by one, rather than just ending. Exceptions to that include the Niac and Eledars DoT spells.

[unbongwah]

Each stack renews the timer, and when the timer runs out, the stack decreases by one, rather than just ending. Exceptions to that include the Niac and Eledars DoT spells.

Also Fatal Harrier: if the timer runs out, you lose all stacks, which is what makes it a PITA to keep up.