"The primary defense for the defender is calculated using:
- Stats
1) Primary: Dexterity
2) Secondary: Agility and Intuition.
- Skills (Note: All skills are weighted equally by the SMR.)
1) Dodge
2) Combat Maneuvers
- The bonus ranks granted by Patron's Blessing (1611) are taken into account.
3) Perception
4) Physical Fitness
- Spells that give a bonus to dodge ranks are taken into account.
5) Shield Use is used in some cases, depending on the maneuver.

- Defender spell effects
1) Heroism (215)
2) Prayer (313)
3) Haste (535)
4) Phase (704)
4) - Phase (704) can now be cast as a self-defensive buff. Sorcerous Lore, Demonology ranks increase this bonus.
5) Cloak of Shadows (712)
6) Melgorehn's Aura (913)
7) Empathic Focus (1109)
8) Patron's Blessing (1611)=Konacon"

Does this mean that all the benefit to SMR.2 from 618 is in the form of dodge ranks?

GBB

Since the benefit of dodge from 618 caps at 100 ranks, not as good as it could be.

Since bards can also add in tonis to dodge with tonis/elemental air, feel free to sing a different tune.

ranger folder

Since the comment was about where it caps out for rangers... you might want to consider bards, at 100+ not when they learn it. Bards at cap/post are running tonis 'already'. I will also note, bards can also ask for ranger mobility and run along for 4 hours. Does not work in reverse for rangers however, does it.

Yes, Ranger folder, your song is not working here.

It's pretty good.

This is me reverting to gs3 memories while thinking of gs4 stuff. I always thought 618 had a bonus to MA attacks AND gave phantom dodge ranks. Never thought the dodge ranks were the bonus themselves.

insert appropriate AAAHHHs and OOHHs as needed for me please.

GBB

You're remembering correctly. In the old SMR dodge ranks didn't play a role. It just gave a bonus to maneuver defense. Since dodge ranks play a role in the new SMR2, it just counts the dodge ranks.

Keith/Brinret/Shiun

Keith is correct

Wyrom, APM

http://forums.play.net/forums/GemStone%20IV/Help%20for%20Players/Policy%20Discussions/view/246

Konacon or any GM that would care to answer some wrap up questions I have. (Or if a GM has already answered these somewhere else on the boards that I can't find)

1.Do you feel that the previous bonus to SMR/MA attacks provided by 171 ranger ranks is similar to the 100 Dodge ranks from 100 Ranger spell ranks rangers can now get?

2.Do you feel this moves the meter on whether overtraining in ranger circle one way or another? Is that part of the plan?

3.Was 618 changed in any other way?

GBB

A few Test attempts, I do not know Whirlin's skills, but he has told me he is well trained for boil earth.

Level 100 ranger
202 combat man
202 dodge,
202 physical fitness
171 ranger ranks spells (capped at 100 to dodge bonus)
200 armor wearing aug chain
blurs
heroism
cloak of shadows
Dark elf
no encumbrance
no injuries
not stunned, not prone
same level caster


Whirlin gestures at you.
The ground beneath your feet begins to boil violently!
[SMR result: 45 (Open d100: 78)]
Fiery debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
[SMR result: 58 (Open d100: 82)]
Craggy debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
>whisper ooc group def or off stance
(OOC) You whisper, "Def or off stance." to your group.
[SMR result: 4 (Open d100: 27)]
Fiery debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
Crystalline patterns grow and shift along the misty limbs of the vaporous spirit.
[SMR result: 42 (Open d100: 65)]
Craggy debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
Rolfard grins at you.
[SMR result: 67 (Open d100: 91)]
Craggy debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
Whirlin put some light leather in the fiery red Whirlin disk.
Rolfard gestures while calling upon the lesser spirits for aid...
[SMR result: -8 (Open d100: 15)]
Fiery debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
The ground beneath you suddenly calms.
A grizzled dusky curhound barks loudly!

You quietly say, "Well, that is acceptable."

(OOC) You whisper, "Thats in def stance." to your group.


(OOC) You whisper, "Ok, off stance now..." to your group.


It is my understanding stance plays no part.

You are now in an offensive stance.

Whirlin gestures at you.
The ground beneath your feet begins to boil violently!
[SMR result: 84 (Open d100: 87)]
Fiery debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
Arshwikk checks his equipment, adjusting and rearranging his gear.
[SMR result: 95 (Open d100: 88)]
Craggy debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
Rolfard grins at Whirlin.
[SMR result: 47 (Open d100: 40)]
Fiery debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
Myasarie chuckles.
[SMR result: 29 (Open d100: 22)]
Craggy debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
[SMR result: 73 (Open d100: 66)]
Fiery debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
[SMR result: 52 (Open d100: 42, Bonus: 3)]
Fiery debris explodes from the ground beneath you!
You dodge out of the way!
The ground beneath you suddenly calms.

You quietly say, "Acceptable."

>>It is my understanding stance plays no part.

I'm going to say it clearly plays a part in the CvC sense.

>>Was the bonus edited out? I see it was only displayed for one round of the spell:

It wasn't. You can quickly confirm by seeing that the 'Hidden Delta' for the series in offensive was 7, and stayed 7 throughout. Why the 3 bonus, dunno, but it is consistent with the delta and end result.

I was right there with you - if Whirlin is anything more than 1x Wiz - yikes. If, however, he's 'EL:F' and 'pre-enchant' 60s or 70s ranks in Wiz, hmm. . .

Oddly, it looks like either Whirlin only has 22-ish ranks EL:E, or I don't know what I'm doing with this EL:E bonus thingie. . . of course - maffs. What else need be said.

Doug