the non numeric precedent was set by template max where i think the likelihood is that users will have n a text entries when more but the use of expensive iferror will limit max to instances expensive limit yet it is also likely to be used few times in an article however i was thinking maxnum for a pure quick numerical maximum i have not seen much improvement from lua speed and of course the extra invoke accessor templates will irritate people meanwhile we have millions of templates such as infoboxes so i think we just need more basic template parser functions such as length string numeric data and yes set val to set parameter values mid stream like a real language rather than calling another template to pass val as for the expansion depth experienced programmers are more likely to exceed the limit due to typical if else if else if else logic and bottom line the limit expansion is just way too low for modern computers which use perhaps if else nesting easily where perhaps a limit of would solve most problems now my hope for lua is to create smart advisor wizard templates which cross check parameters and make complex decisions to help improve article text