During Combat...

[Yokunama]

I think that "battlefield awareness" is a BIG part of fighting.  That means noticing the little guy sneaking around your flank without making much noise.  A lot of times, it means noticing him before-hand, and realizing that he's far inferior to you as an opponent, and that eventually he'll be making his move when he thinks you aren't paying attention because that's his only chance.  The majority of your focus might be on the huge guy with the polearm in front of you, but you cannot defeat him with a dagger sticking out of your ribs.  You keep your eyes on that little guy -- you pay attention to him -- your awareness encompasses him and the threat he poses to you.

A great fighter doesn't tune out the rest of the world when he's in a fight.  He takes it all in and assesses every variable.  He's ready for anything, and he's paying attention to anything that might effect the outcome of the fight.  The person that gives their full attention to one opponent dies quickly.

I'm not sure I agree with this change at all.  I was on board for the changes to psionics, but limiting mundane skills doesn't seem very realistic to me from both a real world perspective or game balance.  Right now it will be entirely possible, and probably frequent, to spend more time "becoming aware" of your surroundings than actually fighting your opponents.  I don't think trading a few blows should make you blinded and deaf to everything going on around you.

This is where I was going to go to with my post, but I did not have enough time. "Battlefield awareness" also includes keeping your eyes open for advantages in the area. If you could corner your opponent or move to terrain that would give you the upper hand, you'd have a better chance of winning.

Actually, I think listen and scan should be functional to some degree -- Their ability to detect hidden/invisible things or people. Limiting their abilites to detect or listen to well-hidden figures in the distance while in combat would be nicer than having the two broken.

Not only that, there are some things in the game that you will never see (they never become visible) without listen and scan, but they can attack you. If you or the attacker flee, your scan and listen is broken, thus leaving you vulnerable.

[musashi]

I'm ok with scan and listen breaking, but would prefer it if:

a) Watching something that is hidden allows you to keep an eye on it even after you are no longer scanning. (and you can't watch and scan at the same time anyway, right?)

b) There was no delay for turning scan and listen on and off. I'd also like for scan to be a toggle skill the way listen is.

[Morgenes]

a) Watching something that is hidden allows you to keep an eye on it even after you are no longer scanning. (and you can't watch and scan at the same time anyway, right?)

Try this IC and see, I think you might be surprised.

[brytta.leofa]

Casting should be interrupted.

Best idea so far....

... It's the best idea ever.

...but be possible while seated or prone.

[Yokunama]

a) Watching something that is hidden allows you to keep an eye on it even after you are no longer scanning. (and you can't watch and scan at the same time anyway, right?)

Try this IC and see, I think you might be surprised.

You can't watch in a direction and scan.

[Morgenes]

a) Watching something that is hidden allows you to keep an eye on it even after you are no longer scanning. (and you can't watch and scan at the same time anyway, right?)

Try this IC and see, I think you might be surprised.

You can't watch in a direction and scan.

Technically you can not watch and scan at the same time.  However, you can watch someone you have spotted with scan, and you won't loose them.

[musashi]

Yay!

Even if they leave the room?

[Morgenes]

Yay!

Even if they leave the room?

yes

[Desertman]

Yay!

Even if they leave the room?

yes

Well, this makes my day. Wicked posh.

Now, if you are watching someone, and you attack them, will you stop watching them?

[Sephiroto]

No.

[Morgenes]

Yay!

Even if they leave the room?

yes

Well, this makes my day. Wicked posh.

Now, if you are watching someone, and you attack them, will you stop watching them?

no

[a strange shadow]

Scan/listen after every fight is starting to get super annoying. Imagine the added spam after group combat.

Possible to just dampen the effects while fighting and have them resume as usual afterward?

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

Possible to just dampen the effects while fighting and have them resume as usual afterward?

Good idea.

[musashi]

Morgenes ... you're cool 

[Fnord]

I am happy that the insta-death spells have been re-balanced. It always sucked being a victim to them, and I felt cheesy using them. At least now there's a chance.

[Mood]

Casting should be interrupted.

Best idea so far....

I disagree. It's the best idea ever. It's somewhat silly that their terrifying elemental incantations are not affected by the flurry of combat, but glancing over our shoulder is.

This would nerf magickers beyond belief. Please, please, PLEASE do not do this.

[Yokunama]

Possible to just dampen the effects while fighting and have them resume as usual afterward?

It'd be far more better to have the effects of scan and listen lowered to some degree and restored to normal after your character is out of combat. I don't believe that anyone focuses on one person that much to tune out every possible other danger that could present themselves at any given time (traps, other sneaky/invisible agressors in the area, and etc.).

[Riev]

Casting should be interrupted.

Best idea so far....

I disagree. It's the best idea ever. It's somewhat silly that their terrifying elemental incantations are not affected by the flurry of combat, but glancing over our shoulder is.

This would nerf magickers beyond belief. Please, please, PLEASE do not do this.

QFT. There is a big difference between casting a spell and actively fighting someone off. Its bad enough that magickers are probably worse at combat that a 7yr old Noble's Aide, but if we can't cast while fighting, every single magicker will cease to exist. We -usually- have to be unarmed, which means no weapons or shields to defend ourselves. Don't do this, I beg any and all in power.

[jhunter]

Casting should be interrupted.

Best idea so far....

I disagree. It's the best idea ever. It's somewhat silly that their terrifying elemental incantations are not affected by the flurry of combat, but glancing over our shoulder is.

This would nerf magickers beyond belief. Please, please, PLEASE do not do this.

QFT. There is a big difference between casting a spell and actively fighting someone off. Its bad enough that magickers are probably worse at combat that a 7yr old Noble's Aide, but if we can't cast while fighting, every single magicker will cease to exist. We -usually- have to be unarmed, which means no weapons or shields to defend ourselves. Don't do this, I beg any and all in power.

Agreed. This would cripple all magickers in encounters vs. -anything- that attacks them. That is an absolutely terrible idea. It's about as good of an idea as having anyone who attacks a magicker just simply fall over dead.

[musashi]

Casting should be interrupted.

Best idea so far....

I disagree. It's the best idea ever. It's somewhat silly that their terrifying elemental incantations are not affected by the flurry of combat, but glancing over our shoulder is.

This would nerf magickers beyond belief. Please, please, PLEASE do not do this.

QFT. There is a big difference between casting a spell and actively fighting someone off. Its bad enough that magickers are probably worse at combat that a 7yr old Noble's Aide, but if we can't cast while fighting, every single magicker will cease to exist. We -usually- have to be unarmed, which means no weapons or shields to defend ourselves. Don't do this, I beg any and all in power.

Agreed. This would cripple all magickers in encounters vs. -anything- that attacks them. That is an absolutely terrible idea. It's about as good of an idea as having anyone who attacks a magicker just simply fall over dead.

+1 magickers suck at melee combat enough as it is. If people don't like the fact that magick users tend to go invisible and hit you with a spell then run now ... imagine what it would be like if that was the only recourse you left for them to do.

[manonfire]

How about a compromise.

I'll agree with this idea if one has to close a distance before attacking at melee.

No more of this HAI I'M COMPLETELY ACROSS THE ROOM BUT I CAN TYPE KILL AND BAMF TO MELEE.

[NoteworthyFellow]

Casting should be interrupted.

Best idea so far....

I disagree. It's the best idea ever. It's somewhat silly that their terrifying elemental incantations are not affected by the flurry of combat, but glancing over our shoulder is.

This would nerf magickers beyond belief. Please, please, PLEASE do not do this.

Yes.  This is very, very, very bad.  People get annoyed that all magickers do is run around invisible and cast insta-death spells, right?  How would this help at all?

No, no, and triple no on this idea.  I'd try to be constructive, but I'm not sure I can be with this one.  I could live with it if manonfire's idea is implemented as well, but think of the implications that would have for raiders and the like.

Plus, I'm pretty sure casting can be interrupted by damage already, it's just not a 100% chance.

[Lakota]

Everyone spoke for me. No to melee cancelling out a cast. Thank you.

[Nusku]

I have this idea rattling around in my head that it might be interesting in Arm 2 if there was a skill available to casters that represented "casting under less than ideal conditions." Casting while seated, in combat, and so one would be influenced by, basically, how good you are at getting the job done when you have to improvise a little.

[fourTwenty]

I have this idea rattling around in my head that it might be interesting in Arm 2 if there was a skill available to casters that represented "casting under less than ideal conditions." Casting while seated, in combat, and so one would be influenced by, basically, how good you are at getting the job done when you have to improvise a little.

This is kinda cool. Though there should be some mundane way of screwing up a casting. To represent the reality that I cant actually shove a spear through your head in one shot.