Understanding what my MUSHclient tells me when I type "skill"

[SchroedingersCat]

*cough* I just don't get it. The information I get when I type "skill" in game, might as well be in chinese. Assuming it would look like what is posted on Mansa's Beginners Guide to Armageddon as copied below, what do the three coloumns mean?

I understand that both "contact" and "barrier" seem to be psionic powers. "barrier" seems to be on the level (master), what is the level of "contact"? And what does (journeyman) refer to? To both of the skills on the left? Only to "contact"? O.O

Looking at the combat skills, first line of information below "Combat skills":
shield use   (apprentice) two handed   (apprentice)

• How skilled is the avatar in shield use?
• Is she an apprentice in two handed wielding?
• What is the last (apprentice) supposed to mean?

Checking the second line of information below "Combat skills":

• I see she can "dual wield". Like an apprentice? Why is the "(apprentice)" one coloumn further to the right, just below "(apprentice) two handed?

*blinks* Is my mind so twisted, or is that table a confusing beast?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Psionic powers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
contact                       (master) barrier                   (journeyman)

Combat skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
shield use                (apprentice) two handed                (apprentice)
dual wield                (apprentice)

Weapon skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
piercing weapons              (novice) slashing weapons              (novice)
chopping weapons              (master) bludgeoning weapons           (novice)

Stealth skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
sneak                         (novice) hide                          (novice)

[SchroedingersCat]

Looking at my recent post, I seem to have been hit by inspiration.

It is not three coloumns, but only two, right? The skill info below says that:

PSI powers:
1. Contact (level: master)
2. barrier (level: journeyman)

Combat skills:
1. shield use (level: apprentice)
2. two handed (level: apprentice)
3. dual wield (level: apprentice)

... so, yes - please feel free to laugh, or smack this post around. Cheers, sorry, thanks, hello, until another!

[The Lonely Hunter]

You got it, it just took a second look!

If you find that you have other questions, don't hesitate to ask. We have a great system of help files but sometimes things still aren't so clear. When I was new I read everything I could, I actually went down the list in the help files and I feel that it helped to give me a better perspective on the game world. There is also a helper chat tool that can be found on the main page.

Welcome to Armageddon and I hope that you have years of enjoyment here.

[RogueGunslinger]

Ugh. Now that you pointed this out I can't un-see the three columns. Definitely could be some better spacing.

[Lizzie]

It's actually four columns. Using a monotype font, in 10 size, will correct the spacing (such as Times New Roman of whatever it's called).

Left column: Skill.
Second column: Skill rank
Third column: Another skill
Fourth column: Skill rank for that other skill.

Code Select Expand

Psionic powers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
contact                       (master) barrier                   (journeyman)

Combat skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
shield use                (apprentice) two handed                (apprentice)
dual wield                (apprentice)

Weapon skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
piercing weapons              (novice) slashing weapons              (novice)
chopping weapons              (master) bludgeoning weapons           (novice)

Stealth skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
sneak                         (novice) hide                          (novice)

It lines up perfectly on the GDB only if you use the [ thing followed by the word code, followed by the ] thing. And then at the end of the table, use the [ thing followed by / followed by the word code followed by ].

(If you try to display the things, it'll just put stuff in code and you won't see the syntax, heh).

[Barsook]

I still think the way it's done is confusing to read.

[The7DeadlyVenomz]

I don't have a problem reading it, since I have been acquainted with this game for a very long time. However, for concise and easily readable information,  I'd like to see it look more like this:


Psionic powers                         
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
master - contact                       journeyman - barrier

Combat skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
apprentice - shield use                apprentice - two handed
apprentice - dual wield

Weapon skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
novice - piercing weapons              novice - slashing weapons
master - chopping weapons              apprentice - bludgeoning weapons

Stealth skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
novice - sneak       

I'd also suggest a verbose system, where all of these things are said in a less technical manner.


Psionically, you are a master of contact, and a journeyman of barrier.

Combatively, you are an apprentice of shield use, two handed, and dual wield.

With weapons, you are a novice of piercing weapons, slashing weapons and
bludgeoning weapons. You are a master of chopping weapons.

When it comes to stealth, you are a novice of sneak, and hide.

[Barsook]

Verbose looks nice...

Maybe we need some command that can switch between the modes of layout?

[Lizzie]

When it comes to OOC information (such as the ranks of skills) I wouldn't want verbose, though I would have no objection if other people want to toggle it on that way.

On 7DV's renovated layout though, I'd want to see the skill listed first, followed by rank. Reason: Reading down in columns, the first thing I see is that I'm master journeyman novice advanced journeyman journeyman novice novice. In other words, it tells me - nothing at all. I want to see the skills I possess, first. I can look further to see how good I am, in the next column.

I do like that he has the skill + rank bunched closer together, so it doesn't look like the rank + skill are a separate column in the middle anymore.

[mansa]

Perhaps we should add a | character for the columns?

We could make it possible, if the longest name of a skill/spell was 24 characters in length, as "apprentice" is the longest word to describe the level your skill is at.


<------------------------- 80 characters in length ---------------------------->

Currently, skills is:

<----------------------- 77 characters in length --------------------------->
<----------- 38 characters ----------> <----------- 38 characters ---------->
<----- 25 characters ---> <apprentice> <----- 25 characters ---> <apprentice>

Add in the | character:
<----------------------- 77 characters in length --------------------------->
<---------- 37 characters ----------> | <---------- 37 characters ---------->
<---- 24 characters ---> <apprentice> | <---- 24 characters ---> <apprentice>



Example of change with addition of | character:
Psionic powers
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
contact                      (master) | barrier                  (journeyman)

Combat skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
shield use               (apprentice) | two handed               (apprentice)
dual wield               (apprentice) |

Weapon skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
piercing weapons             (novice) | slashing weapons             (novice)
chopping weapons             (master) | bludgeoning weapons          (novice)

Stealth skills
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
sneak                        (novice) | hide                         (novice)

[Barsook]

Yes, if that is the only solution that we have.

[Gunnerblaster]

Also, best way to learn about what each skill does is to type 'help <skill name>' while in-game!