PSM: Phase 3 is now live on all instances. Please refer to the initial post at http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/GemStone%20IV%20Announcements/Important%20Announcements/view/3889 for more information.

Congrats on the long haul there, Naijin.

Doug

Is there any chance that all these active spell windows (buff, unbuff, etc) can be consolidated back into one active spell window in stormfront, if we don't want to use all the new ones? I already have a complicated screen set up and don't care to add more screens to it. Many other folks I've talked to feel the same.

Also, there seems to a problem that bard songs now fill the whole 4 hour time band on the active spells window vs the 10 minutes they were and should show.

Thanks,
Regwen

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A silver glow surrounds Regwen briefly.

Lheren says, "The Lord of Night has heard you, it seems."

I love MUG. And flurry/slashing strikes. Gives me Barb Rend vibes.

On a different note, is it just me or is Armor Spike Mastery not working? I've got the 2 ranks and prerequisites (to include spiked armor). I've been hit at least 100 times yet I'm seeing zero reactive spikes.

Was there a change made to CMAN MUG from release? Previously you would stay hidden, but it now one seems to be revealed on use?

> Was there a change made to CMAN MUG from release? Previously you would stay hidden, but it now one seems to be revealed on use?

That was a bug.

With the PSM: Phase 3 changes to making more things dependent on using Stamina and making it so that discipline bonus applies directly to defense it looks like elves are getting borked in combat. Is this the case? I know I'm not great at mechanics but on the surface at least it looks that way. Could you clarify that for me please? Thanks.

>> -I about passed a brick through my bowels when I saw my rogue no longer had CMAN VANISH before I saw a minute later it was given to him as a feat. Kinda annoying I have to retrain my self to type FEAT VANISH after all these years, but least I still have it.

Thanks for calling this out Starchitin - I wasn't even aware of the FEAT command yet!

-- Robert

>> A mongrel kobold points at you and yells, "Mine! Chasin!"

I've noticed creatures now act MUCH faster after being Feinted.

Did the implementation of "Staggered" change how RT affects creatures? Like do they now act instantly as soon as "Staggered" RT wears off? Whereas before they would act on their next turn, which was often several seconds after the RT wore off?

Whatever it is, the change is hugely noticeable and detrimental for me.




Also it seems Shield Bash can no longer knock things down reliably, now that the previous knockdown effect has been replaced with an unbalance critical.

Here's an example of 6 consecutive failures to achieve a knockdown, with endrolls ranging from 162-226. These endrolls would all be knockdowns every time before the changes.

You lunge forward at a greater krynch with your white vultite greatshield and attempt a shield bash!
[SMR result: 191 (Open d100: 57, Bonus: 31)]
Your size contributes considerably to the attack!
You lash out with an awesome shield bash!
... 5 points of damage!
Blow to back connects lightly.
... 3 points of damage!
Strike to back throws the greater krynch off balance momentarily.
Your attack exposes a vulnerability in a greater krynch's defenses!
Roundtime: 3 sec.

You lunge forward at a greater krynch with your white vultite greatshield and attempt a shield bash!
[SMR result: 212 (Open d100: 77, Bonus: 31)]
Your size contributes considerably to the attack!
You lash out with an awesome shield bash!
... 15 points of damage!
Nice blow to neck!
... 5 points of damage!
Throat strike causes the greater krynch to cough.
Your attack exposes a vulnerability in a greater krynch's defenses!
Roundtime: 3 sec.

You lunge forward at a greater krynch with your white vultite greatshield and attempt a shield bash!
[SMR result: 177 (Open d100: 42, Bonus: 31)]
Your size contributes considerably to the attack!
You lash out with a hard shield bash!
... 5 points of damage!
Stubs left hand finger.
... 15 points of damage!
Shot to hand spins the greater krynch in circles.
Your attack exposes a vulnerability in a greater krynch's defenses!
Roundtime: 3 sec.

You lunge forward at a greater krynch with your white vultite greatshield and attempt a shield bash!
[SMR result: 162 (Open d100: 27, Bonus: 31)]
Your size contributes considerably to the attack!
You lash out with a terrific shield bash!
... 5 points of damage!
Strike hits close to the right eye.
... 3 points of damage!
The greater krynch's right eye swells suddenly, causing great pain.
Your attack exposes a vulnerability in a greater krynch's defenses!
Roundtime: 3 sec.

You lunge forward at a greater krynch with your white vultite greatshield and attempt a shield bash!
[SMR result: 165 (Open d100: 30, Bonus: 31)]
Your size contributes considerably to the attack!
You lash out with a terrific shield bash!
... 5 points of damage!
Blow connects with abdomen.
... 3 points of damage!
Stomach strike knocks the greater krynch backwards several feet.
Your attack exposes a vulnerability in a greater krynch's defenses!
Roundtime: 3 sec.

You lunge forward at a greater krynch with your white vultite greatshield and attempt a shield bash!
[SMR result: 226 (Open d100: 91, Bonus: 31)]
Your size contributes considerably to the attack!
You lash out with an awesome shield bash!
... 5 points of damage!
Strike glances off the chest.
... 5 points of damage!
Chest hit causes the greater krynch to spin around like a halfling after a fresh tart.
Your attack exposes a vulnerability in a greater krynch's defenses!
Roundtime: 3 sec.





Disappointed to say that so far, I feel very misled by all the assurances that we could "keep hunting the same way as before".

Hopefully the RT thing is unintentional and can be fixed.

As for Shield Bash, I get you wanted to tone down the death crits, which is fine. But was it necessary to nerf the knock down ability as well? Why not just keep the original implementation, but with a weaker impact critical? Shield Bash was key for setting up headshots on too-tall creatures, but now it's no longer useful in that role. I'm really hoping this can be looked at as well.

<As for Shield Bash, I get you wanted to tone down the death crits, which is fine. But was it necessary to nerf the knock down ability as well? Why not just keep the original implementation, but with a weaker impact critical? Shield Bash was key for setting up headshots on too-tall creatures, but now it's no longer useful in that role. I'm really hoping this can be looked at as well.>

+1

What I'm currently hunting is short enough I can just go for the head, so I went to my log of my last hunt and checked (esp cause I'd been wondering why certain critters didn't have their DS reduced as much as they should have). Turns out, most of the Shield Bashes I performed (with a tower shield and SMR results as high as 209) didn't knock the critter down.

Sure I can just use Charge, but that's an extra second of RT and 4 extra stamina to do the same thing and I really don't need the Weakened Armament effect or the ability to use it while disengaged/pressed....

Starchitin, the OG

A severed gnomish hand crawls in on its fingertips and makes a rude gesture before quickly decaying and rotting into dust. A gust of wind quickly scatters the dust.

>armor ASG changed

The 2021-04-23 PSM3 update shows that the devs removed the A(s)G change chance, now that all the proficiencies are available, and you don't have to choose.

https://gswiki.play.net/Player_System_Manager_-_Phase_3#2021-04-23

~Cylnthia Kythnis Ardenai
~Inquisitor of Kuon
~Rose Guardian, House Sylvanfair

Maybe it's the OCD in me, but I would much rather see the different listings in 'Feat' and 'Weapon' broken down by LEVEL at which they become available, than by alphabetical order.

---

Seeing:

Skill	Mnemonic	Ranks	Category	Subcategory
Absorb Magic	absorbmagic	0/1
Dispel Magic	dispelmagic	0/1
Dragonscale Skin	dragonscaleskin	1/1
Kroderine Soul	kroderinesoul	0/1
Martial Arts Mastery	martialarts	1/1
Martial Mastery	martialmastery	1/1
Mental Acuity	mentalacuity	0/1
Mystic Strike	mysticstrike	5/5
Perfect Self	perfectself	1/1

does a lot less to inform me of "what you have, what you can get, and why OR WHY NOT" than would

Skill	Mnemonic	Ranks	Category	Subcategory
Martial Mastery	martialmastery	1/1	Square	weapon skills
Kroderine Soul	kroderinesoul	0/1	Square	pre-req
Absorb Magic	absorbmagic	0/1	Kroderine Soul
Dispel Magic	dispelmagic	0/1	Kroderine Soul
Mystic Strike	mysticstrike	5/5	Monk	25
Dragonscale Skin	dragonscaleskin	1/1	Monk	30 [either/or]
Mental Acuity	mentalacuity	0/1	Monk	30 [either/or]
Martial Arts Mastery	martialarts	1/1	Monk	40
Perfect Self	perfectself	1/1	Monk	50

Progressing from least-specific (square--of any level--with as many weapon ranks as you care to deal with) to more specific (square opting into KS, and then "things that require KS") to more specific ("Monk") to most specific ("Monk with enough levels").

With that said... YES, allow me sort alphabetically should I choose to do so.

Also, SHOW ME if I am not permitted to choose something (like Mental Acuity), and why (because I have already chosen Dragonscale Skin). OR, show those as a total number of ranks, like the Lore ranks are done. (So that by taking this one of these, I have used up "all of my available" for those and so Mental Acuity has NONE available.)

Before such revolutionary changes were implemented, the WIKI documents should have been updated with better specific information on how the new CM paradigm impacts sorcerers and other pures. There was much published regarding the offensive and proactive mechanical benefits of various ranks of the new skills, but only vague hints regarding the likely defensive benefits of passive ranks in the general skills available to sorcerers. Since CM training points can not be increased with Ascension or any other buffs, sorcerers must be able to make informed decisions regarding the relative value of a 5th rank in a skill compared to having fewer cheaper ranks in more skills.

There is nothing currently in WIKI that updates this specific information. Please provide detailed mechanical defensive benefit information in learning each rank in the very limited CM skills available to sorcerers.

Also, I see nothing in the document commenting on how these many changes will now impact and affect Ithzir armor. Ithzir armor is very expensive to upgrade to full mechanical benefits. At the time it was created, it was clearly intended to remove nearly all negative combat statuses. With this new paradigm, it is expected that Ithzir armor will receive a much needed updated to refresh and align with all of the new maneuvers and penalties. When can we expect that effort to be completed as part of this release? I honestly don't know now if it's worth continuing my Duskruin efforts to finish this very expensive armor, and if its worth still playing a game that I am no longer familiar with after 20+ years.

Tarakan

"Please provide detailed mechanical defensive benefit information in learning each rank in the very limited CM skills available to sorcerers." -- Tarakan

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I believe each rank gives a flat +4 SMR defense (with guild mastery providing a final +5). I THINK.

>>I've noticed creatures now act MUCH faster after being Feinted.

>>Did the implementation of "Staggered" change how RT affects creatures? Like do they now act instantly as soon as "Staggered" RT wears off? Whereas before they would act on their next turn, which was often several seconds after the RT wore off?

>>Whatever it is, the change is hugely noticeable and detrimental for me.

...

>>Any chance of a clarification on whether this significant change was intentional, and if so, why?

>>Thanks.

The lack of reply suggests the change was accidental.

Hopefully you can get it fixed quickly, as it is significantly disrupting my existing hunting style on my two most played characters.

Appreciate the heads up.

The first.

Ever since PSM3 (and it may be unrelated, but this is where I saw it appear) there's been issues processing commands that are specific. It started with tap (which may now be fixed, trying again) but here's the latest I ran into:

R>shield bash orc
You lunge forward at a spotted lynx with your mithril mantlet and attempt a shield bash!
[SMR result: 203 (Open d100: 124, Bonus: 6)]
Your size contributes considerably to the attack!
You lash out with an awesome shield bash!
... 20 points of damage!
Good blow to the abdomen!
The spotted lynx is stunned!
... 25 points of damage!
Waves of nausea spread from stomach, incapacitating the spotted lynx.
It is knocked to the ground!
Your attack exposes a vulnerability in a spotted lynx's defenses!
Roundtime: 3 sec.


The orc had left the room half a second before, but I shouldn't be shield bashing if the orc isn't there...


- Andreas

>Since forever: Feint (endroll > 147) --> Ambush Head --> creature EBP or other failure --> ~90%+ you still get to act again before the creature

>Since PSM3: Feint (endroll > 147) --> Ambush Head --> creature EBP or other failure --> 100% the creature acts while you have 1s of RT remaining

...

>I thought PSM was supposed to include switching from stacking to refreshing RT so this is the sort of thing I'd expect to have happened. Critters had different timer rules to characters, so its not >something I'd have been sure about before testing but I think this result is consistent with what was announced.

They announced a change from stacking to refreshing. They did not announce a change to the underlying creature RT timer mechanics.

The above changes have nothing to do with stacking or refreshing, and were not mentioned anywhere in the doc.

Combine that with the fact that shield bash no longer has a knockdown effect (other than very occasional knockdowns from the unbalance critical) and the whole "You can keep hunting the way you did before" line starts to feel deeply misleading.

>Lol I love PSM 3, but yeah my character lost charge rank 5, and lost rank 5 weapon bond in the change. That being said, in my experience shield bash knocks down quite frequently, almost guaranteed on high >end rolls.

For what I was hunting, shield bash went from usually a knockdown, to almost never. I even posted 6 consecutive failures on 160+ endrolls earlier in this thread (including two 200+), which would have been 6 knockdowns before. My first guess to explain the disparate outcomes is probably something related to natural creature crit padding; maybe against creatures with padding the outcome distribution falls too low on the crit table to achieve reliable knockdowns. In any event, this change from a knockdown ability to an unbalance critical was both detrimental and pointless, and was something I criticized in advance when they first released the change proposal.

I don't care for most of the PSM3, but gutting shield bash and feint for no reason at all really bothers me.