Re: AG: pre newbie question

From: lepag001@maroon.tc.umn.edu (Garrett R Le-Page)

Date: Tue, 07 Nov 1995 00:00:00 +0000

John Bach (johnb@wotangate.sc.ti.com) wrote:
: Actually, I've not even officially a newbie yet.

: I was wondering how you specify how often, what range, which hand, etc. for
: combat magic?  I understand how this works for weapons, but lets say you use
: your left hand to cast spells.  Doesn't it assume your left hand is just
: trained in FISTS if there is no weapon?  Also, how do you differentiate
: between different types of combat magic (cm-blast, cm-vertigo, cm-daze, ...).

Combat magic can only be cast outside of short range.  So, an elf should
not choose a short range weapon;)  Also, you can cast CM if one of your
hands is fist/spiked gauntlet/buckler.  So, if you are wielding a long
spear in your right hand with a buckler in your left hand, then you can
still cast CM.  If you do not specify a weapon, then you will end up with
fist in that hand.

Determining how often you cast a spell and with what frequency is
determined by your (#/#) settings after the spell and the circumstances.
For instance, if you specify (9/9) for blast, daze, vertigo, then you
will cast daze first, vertigo second and blast last.  This is determined
by the sequence in which these spells are listed on your character sheet
(the same for everyone).  Now, if you character charges into medium range
as an action and is casting daze(9/9), you will probably charge into
medium range (and perhaps even attack) before casting your first daze.
If this same character is simply closing to medium range as an action or
staying at long range, then they will cast daze right away.  To further
complicate matters, if you daze or vertigo an opponent, then you will
stop trying to daze/vertigo them until they are no longer dazed or they
stand up.  This way, having daze, vertigo and blast at (9/9) will have
you try to daze, then try to knock down and then blast away.  On the
other hand, blast(9/9), daze(9/8), vertigo(9/8) would have you cast out
blasts, then daze until dazed and then vertigo.  On the topic of
frequency, using a skill at (9/9) generally has you use that skill to the
exclusion of all else.  To intersperse this skill with other actions
(9/7) to (9/5) would be the choice.  Spells require a lot of energy early
on, so try to have as good a stam as possible and do not cast yourself
into exhaustion.

: Also, lets say you have kick or trip skills.  Is there anyway to control when
: your character performs these actions, or do you just include them in the line
: at the bottom of the form (I think its called special actions)?

You include all non-automatic skills under the "try to use these skills"
line.  When your character will preform these actions really is
controlled by your range choices in combat and the frequency with which
you are trying to use them.  For instance, trip(9/9) will do nothing if
you or your opponent never close to short range.  If you do close to
short range and your opponent stays there long enough for you to trip
them, then you would keep attampting to trip them until they were on the
ground or you had run out of attempts.

Garrett

References

AG: Antar Message
"T. Woods" <twoods@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu>
Sun, 05 Nov 1995 00:00:00 +0000
AG: pre newbie question
johnb@wotangate.sc.ti.com (John Bach)
Tue, 07 Nov 1995 00:00:00 +0000