ASSIST puts you in line to speak to a Host. Hosts are player volunteers who can answer questions about the way the game works and can refer you to a GameMaster if their help is needed. If you decide you no longer need help after you've typed ASSIST or pressed the CALL GM BUTTON, type ASSIST CANCEL. If you need to log off while waiting for a response (the line can often be very long), you will be placed back in line when you return. If you can't stay on line long enough to make it to the front of the line, use FEEDBACK instead.

Combat begins with the ATTACK command (you may also use KILL). You need a weapon in your right hand, unless you mean to fight bare-fisted. Use the INVENTORY or GLANCE command to see what's in your hands.

Some examples:

>ATTACK ORC

>KILL SECOND GOBLIN

Here's what an attack looks like:

You swing a golden mithril broadsword at a cave troll!
AS: +122 vs DS: +37 with AvD: +32 + d100 roll: +10 = +127
... and hit for 10 points of damage!
Quick slash to the cave troll's upper right arm!
Just a nick.
Round time: 5 sec.

(type HELP COMBAT 2 for more)

>help combat 2

HELP COMBAT PAGE 2

Now, here's what all those numbers mean:

Attack Strength (AS)

Your character, as well as the creatures you are fighting, has an Attack Strength in combat when using a weapon or aimed spell. This AS includes bonuses for stats, superior weapons, skill in that weapon type or aimed spell skill, and various magic spells or effects.

Defensive Strength (DS)

The defensive strength is subtracted from a combat roll due to the defender's advantages, including bonuses for Reflexes, shield, and any magical item or protection. Armor does not affect your DS unless it is magical.

Your AS and DS are also affected by adverse conditions. If the area is dark or filled with fog, it may be hard to hit anything. Injuries can hinder you. If you are seated or prone, you will be far easier to hit.

(type HELP COMBAT 3 for more)

>help combat 3

HELP COMBAT PAGE 3

Attack vs Defense (AvD) and Damage Factors (DF)

Each form of attack, whether a weapon or an aimed spell, varies in its effectiveness against various forms of armor. This takes the form of two modifiers to the attack, the Attack vs Defense (AvD) and Damage Factor (DF).

The AvD affects your chances to hit the target. It is a bonus or a penalty. For example, a dagger would have a large penalty to hit against plate armor, as it is difficult to penetrate.

The Damage Factor (DF) affects the amount of damage you do to your target if your attack hits. DF does not affect your chances to hit in the first place. You will not see the DF in the combat equations, as it is not displayed. In general, larger weapons have higher (better) DF's.

(type HELP COMBAT 4 for more)

>help combat 4

HELP COMBAT PAGE 4

Attack Resolution

There are several steps to an attack with a weapon or aimed spell. The first is to determine whether the attack hits the target. To hit, your attack strength (AS) is compared to the target's defense strength (DS), then modified by the attack vs defense (AvD) factor. Finally, a 100-sided die (d100) is added. If the result exceeds 100, you hit. The formula looks like this: AS - DS + AvD + 1d100 = result.

Next, the system calculates how many health points of damage you did to the target. This is determined by both the result, which you see, and the damage factor, which is not displayed.

Once you have hit, the system determines just what part of your foe's body you hit. This is generally determined randomly, and some body parts, such as the arms, are far more likely to be hit than are others, such as an eye.

(type HELP COMBAT 5 for more)

>help combat 5

HELP COMBAT PAGE 5

Critical hit resolution is next. If you do sufficient health point damage, you achieve a critical result. The more health point damage your strike does, the more severe will be the resulting crit. The critical results are also modified by the location of the hit and the style of weapon. For example, a light strike to the left hand with a scimitar might only produce a slash, which may or may not bleed. A very heavy strike to the head with a morningstar may end the fight instantly.

Note that the ambush skill has two additional effects. If you attack from hiding, ambush skill can either increase the rank of any critical hit you inflict on a foe, help you aim a shot at a particular body part, or both. If you attack a foe from melee, ambush skill and combat maneuvering skill combine to determine your chances of hitting a particular body part. For any aimed shot, the command is AMBUSH <Target> <Body Part>, e.g. AMB TROLL RIGHT EYE. Aimed shots are very difficult to achieve at low levels.

(type HELP COMBAT 6 for more)

>help combat 6

HELP COMBAT PAGE 6

You may adjust how much of your combat skill is devoted to attack and how much is used to defend you. You do this by converting some portion of your Attack Strength to Defense Strength. The mechanism to do so is the Stance command.

There are five possible stances you may adopt in combat. They range from Offensive, or all-out attack, to Defensive, which devotes all of your attack skill to defense. To see all of the stances, type STANCE HELP while in the game.

To adopt a defensive stance, you must generally have a weapon in your hand, as you cannot parry incoming attacks barehanded. The exception to this is the Brawling skill which will allow you to defend yourself with an empty right hand. Note that some attacks may never be parried. An arrow shot from hiding or a wizard's lightning bolt are examples of this.

For example:

INVENTORY

ATTACK KOBOLD

PUT MY BROADSWORD IN MY BACKPACK

For more information, type HELP COMMANDS 2

>help commands 2

Commands can usually be abbreviated, and can leave out articles and other connecting words:

ATT KOBOLD in place of ATTACK KOBOLD

PUT BRO ON BEN in place of PUT MY BROADSWORD ON STONE BENCH

For more information, type HELP COMMANDS 3

>help commands 3

Using adjectives to describe objects will save you trouble.

GET DRA DAG will get the drake dagger.

GET DAG might get either dagger.

If you want to put your trusty broadsword away:

PUT MY BRO IN MY BACK will put your broadsword in your backpack.

PUT BRO IN BACK could put your sword into a backpack on the ground.

For some examples of commands, type HELP COMMANDS 4

>help commands 4

Examples of some of the hundreds of GemStone commands:

INVENTORY: Displays what you have.

INFO: Shows the status of your character.

HEALTH: Shows the health of your character.

EXPERIENCE: Shows experience information on your character.

LOOK: LOOK alone shows you the current room.

LOOK AT...: Allows you to look at objects, creatures and other characters

WEALTH: Shows silvers carried and debts.

QUIT: Logs off GemStone III. Your character is saved as you left it.

STATUS: Displays all characters presently online.

SET: Allows you to customize information you receive.

Some commands for manipulating objects:

GET THE RAPIER

DROP THE GREEN GEM

KNOCK ON DOOR

OPEN CHEST

EXAMINE THE CHEST

LOOK BEHIND THE BED

UNLOCK THE WOODEN DOOR WITH THE RED KEY

ATTACK ORC

PUT THE SWORD IN MY SHEATH

Death can come from magical spells, weapons, the claws and fangs of creatures, poisons, disease, and from a variety of other sources.

If you die, don't panic. This isn't as serious as it is in the real world. In GemStone, you will have ten minutes or so during which a friendly cleric can resurrect you, bringing you back to life. If no cleric does so, or if you type DEPART, your body will decay.

DFREDUX is the innate ability of a character to gain resistance to damage caused by melee attacks through training in certain physical related skills. DFREDUX applies only to characters.

DFREDUX is composed of primary skills and weapons skills. Both sets of skills are calculated to determine overall reduction in the amount of damage that is inflicted upon the targetted character. Knowledge of spells will reduce additional resistance modifier to reflect a lack of total dedication to the physical training regimen.

Primary skills: 2 Weapons Combat, Armor Use, Shield Use, CM, Multi-Opps, Climbing, Swimming, Ambush, Physical Training. (e.g., the rank of each skill is summed to determine overall primary value)

Weapon skills: One Handed Edged, One Handed Blunt, 2-Hand Weapon, Polearms, Brawling. (e.g., the rank of each skill is summed to determine overall weapons value)

Spell penalty: the highest rank of known spell for each spell list known incurs a penalty equal to n*(n+1); where n is the highest rank spell known in each particular spell list. (i.e., a character has 27 ranks of Minor Elemental spells and 10 ranks of bard base spells: the spell penalty is 27*(27+1) + 10*(10+1) = 756 + 110 = 866)

dfredux = [primary skills + weapon skills - spell penalty - special_1]

Note: Primary skills count for more than Weapon skills. Special_1 is an age based mod.

Experience is a measure of what you have learned from adventuring. Certain activities, such as killing creatures, healing, resurrecting, opening chests, and many others, give experience points. If you type EXPERIENCE, you'll see how much experience you have. When you gain enough experience, you'll be able to advance a level by going to the Inn in town and typing CHECK IN at the front desk.

But before you can use your experience, it must be absorbed. Every time you learn something, it fills up your head and is only absorbed slowly.

Feedback sends email to a GM who will read it and respond to your concerns. We try to respond in a day or two whenever possible, although on occasion the number of letters can delay this. Feedback can be used in place of an ASSIST, to appeal a decision made by a GameMaster, or simply to share your feelings with us.

You will find an option for Feedback on the main GemStone screen which you pass through in order to play.

GemStone is more than a huge multiplayer computer game. It is an evolving world thanks to you and the GameMasters who run things. GameMasters answer questions, help customers with technical problems that arise in the game, and make sure that things run smoothly. If you need to speak to a GameMaster, see REPORT, ASSIST, and FEEDBACK for ways to contact one. GameMasters also work behind the scenes programming everything from spells to sneezes, creating hideous monsters, beautiful scenery, and everything else you see around you.

HURL the is action verb to invoke thrown weapon combat. Any weapon type can be thrown with variable effectiveness based upon weapon characteristics. If the weapon impacts the target, it may glance off or become lodged upon the target. If the weapon misses the target, then it may fall to the ground nearby and may be picked up after a certain time delay or it may become lost in the surrounding environ. Take care that you don't throw away your most prized possessions.

Your strenth bonus affects the size of the weapon you may be able to effectively throw. Heavy weapons will tend to do more damage than lighter weighted ones. However, lighter weapons are easier to aim when thrown.

USAGE:

HURL <target> - throws held weapon at specified target.

Carrying all the treasure you're likely to find may get tiring.  If that happens, try going to the Moot Hall where one can find a long hall filled with curtained openings. Inside, are lockers which can hold up to 10 items. If you use them, you'll be charged 10 silvers for every item in them each time you go there. In Icemule, try looking in Clovertooth Hall.

OPEN LOCKER

PUT MY WAND IN LOCKER

GET SCROLL IN LOCKER

In GemStone, many players can cast spells if they know them.

PREPARE SWARDING1 prepares the Spirit Warding I spell.

PREPARE 101 prepares the Spirit Warding I spell.

CAST ORC casts a prepared spell at an orc.

CAST casts a prepared spell on yourself.

To use a magic item, you probably need to RUB, WAVE, RAISE, TAP, WEAR, EAT, or DRINK it. If it can be WAVEd, you can aim it at a monster, which is the healthiest thing to do with a wand that casts lightning bolts.

RUB STATUE

WEAR RING

WAVE MY GOLD WAND AT OTHER ORC

From time to time, merchants wander through town and sell Things or provide services, such as altering the appearance of your items or improving them in some way. Merchants usually set up a temporary shop such as a tent. Inside you should look for SIGNs, and NOTICEs telling you what they sell, as well as a LIST you may be able to JOIN to get in line. There may also be a table with items that can be purchased without waiting in line. Use the GET and BUY command for that.

If you want to go somewhere, you'll need to be standing. Typing LOOK will give you an idea of some of the places you can go from where you are. You can go in a compass direction by typing it:

NORTH (N will do.)

SOUTHEAST (SE will do.)

If you see a portal of some sort, try using the GO command.

GO DOOR will take you through the black door.

GO PLANK will cause you to walk across the wooden plank.

GO CORNER will cause you to go over to the dark corner.

MSTRIKE is the ability to engage and strike multiple targets or in cases of highly trained individuals, the ability to strike a target multiple times. The number of targets one can engage is dependent upon the ranks of Multi-Opponent combat skill.

USAGE:

MSTRIKE - attacks as many targets as skill allows.

In addition to the players and monsters that populate Elanthia, you will meet Non Player Characters, or NPCs, from time to time. These are mainly citizens that populate the towns. Some just wander around, some have interesting things to tell you, and some can actually help you, either with information or in more tangible ways. There is a healer in Wehnimers who will patch you up for silver, a gypsy who will tell your fortune, and many others.

ASK BLACKSMITH ABOUT JOB

GIVE FORTUNETELLER 50

Ranged Weapon Help Text -

Bows -

Crossbows -

Aiming -

GET COINS will pick up the coins in front of you.

GIVE STUMP 100 will give Stump 100 of your coins.

To talk, simply type ' or ", followed by what you want to say.

If you type one of the following:

'Greetings, sir!

"Greetings, sir!

SAY Greetings, sir!

... everyone in the room will see:

Eratika says, "Greetings, sir!"

TRIP is the ability to trip a target using two-handed polearms. Effectiveness of the skill is dependent upon player polearm skills and mitigating environmental and target conditions.

USAGE:

In the course of your adventures, you may come across valuable items that you hope to keep. These can include magical weapons and armor, as well as any other useful item. If you buy a valuable item from another player, use the EXCHANGE verb. Using EXCHANGE helps avoid someone swapping items on you, or running off with your silver or item. Any valuable item not from a merchant should be REGISTERed with the town clerk. The clerk works in the Registrar's Office up the stairs in Moot Hall, just east of the Town Square. If an item is not REGISTERed, GameMasters often cannot replace it if it is lost to a system error.

EXCHANGE BROADSWORD WITH STUMP FOR 1000 SILVER

Most wands are magical items that cast a spell when waved.  They require Magic Item Use skill to wave and Spell Aiming skill if they cast elemental spells in combat.

WAVE GOLD WAND AT ORC

WAVE MY WAND

WAVE WHITE WAND AT BANTHIS

You will only be able to use a weapon effectively if you are trained in the right skill. For instance, to use a broadsword, a falchion, an axe, or a dagger, you will need the Edged Weapons skill.

You haven't had enough time to find another hiding spot yet!

Eratika looks around for a moment before sighing disappointedly.

>hide
You fail to slip into hiding.
Roundtime: 10 sec.

You notice Eratika botch an attempt to conceal herself.

>hide
You fail to slip into hiding.
Roundtime: 10 sec.

A rolton notices you botch an attempt to conceal yourself.

N/A

>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so. (Although others STILL may have seen you; you just don't know it.)

You notice Eratika slip into a hiding place.

You stick your head down in the warm mud, secure in the fact that no one can see you.

Eratika hisses at a rolton.

You wring your hands.

You give a spider monkey a hug.

You hug Trakkar.

Please note:  If you are missing both arms, the following message will appear:

>hug Kassy

Eratika hugs you.

NOTE: This command will throw your handheld weapon at specified target.

While there are no specific throwing weapons, hurlers have experimented with the various available weapons. It appears that the only two races that can hurl two-handed weapons, for example, are dwarves and giantkin (all other races will suffer back and chest injuries). You can also throw two weapons at a time, by training in the two-weapon combat skill (which is responsible for the AS of the thrown weapon in your left hand).

With a quick flick of your wrist, you deftly send a drake dagger into flight.
You throw a drake dagger at a giant rat!
AS: +107 vs DS: -10 with AvD: +25 + d100 roll: +100 = +242
... and hit for 58 points of damage!
Deft strike to the back cracks vertebrae!
The giant rat collapses to the ground, emits a final squeal, and dies.
Glancing blow. Momentum carries a drake dagger past its target to land nearby.
Roundtime: 5 sec.

>get dagger

The dagger is out of your reach.

>hurl rat

You gotta be kidding! You can barely lift a rusty broadsword, much less throw it!
You throw a rusty broadsword at a giant rat!
AS: +127 vs DS: -10 with AvD: +36 + d100 roll: +74 = +247
... and hit for 97 points of damage!
Off-balanced slash!
Enough force to sever the giant rat's right hand!
Amazing!
The giant rat shrieks as it slumps to the ground and licks at its wounded right claw.
The giant rat twitches and dies.
A rusty broadsword is lodged in a giant rat.
Roundtime: 26 sec.

NOTE: When you hurl a weapon at a critter from a hidden position, that is not called ambushing, but rather, "sniping." (Note that using a ranged weapon -- such as a crossbow -- is also called "sniping.")

>hide

Roundtime: 3 sec.

>hurl rat
With a quick flick of your wrist, you deftly send a drake dagger into flight.
You throw a drake dagger at a giant rat!
AS: +107 vs DS: -10 with AvD: +25 + d100 roll: +43 = +185
... and hit for 37 points of damage!
Slash to the giant rat's lower back!
The giant rat collapses to the ground, emits a final squeal, and dies.
Glancing blow. Momentum carries a drake dagger past its target to land nearby.
Roundtime: 5 sec.

Phoroneus throws a rusty broadsword at a giant rat!
AS: +127 vs DS: -10 with AvD: +36 + d100 roll: +74 = +247
... and hits for 97 points of damage!
Off-balanced slash!
Enough force to sever the giant rat's right hand!
Amazing!
The giant rat shrieks as it slumps to the ground and licks at its wounded right claw.
The giant rat twitches and dies.
A rusty broadsword is lodged in a giant rat.

A drake dagger flies out of the shadows toward a giant rat!
AS: +107 vs DS: -10 with AvD: +25 + d100 roll: +43 = +185
... and hits for 37 points of damage!
Slash to the giant rat's lower back!
The giant rat collapses to the ground, emits a final squeal, and dies.
Glancing blow. Momentum carries a drake dagger past

NOTE: This command will allow you to attack the specified targeted body location. Locations include right/left leg, right/left arm, right/left hand, right/left eye, back, abdomen, chest, head and neck.

Usually aimed hurling is done from a hidden position. Throwing weapons while hidden is called "sniping."