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personal - gemstone IV introduction

I first played Gemstone in 1996. In those days the game was accessed via AOL, cost an arm and a leg to play, and was called Gemstone III. It's now Gemstone IV.

It is less of an addiction and more of a love affair. I just love the game.

So what is gemstone IV?

" GemStone IV is the current title of a text-based (MUD) real-time online role-playing game produced by Simutronics. Players interact in the fantasy world named Elanthia. Originally called GemStone, the game launched in 1987 on GEnie. GemStone is one of the first MMORPGs and one of the longest running online games. Simutronics has been successful in maintaining high levels of role-play in the game compared to other games in the genre.. " Wikepedia

The purpose of these pages is to record the trials and tribulations of my newest character, Bremerial. I am not a mechanics guru. I play the game but don't delve 'too deeply' into game mechanics as it makes my head hurt. If the game works, that's good enough for me. Additionally I will not be recording every minutia of her life. Instead I will concentrate on her guild activities and the adventures associated with those activities...the friends made, the tasks undertaken and the creatures defeated in an attempt to become master of all the warrior guild skills.

About Bremerial

Bremerial is a dwarven warrior.

She is a proud citizen of Wehnimer's Landing. She has no romantic affiliations and has no intention of forming any such attachments. She is relatively good natured for a dwarf,  fairly dedicated to specific tasks without being influenced by tempting periphery and has a strong sense of justice.

She loves to hunt, preferring to hunt alone; but is not reckless in so doing, despite the encouragement of some of her fellows.  She is dedicated to improving her hunting skills and sees success within the warrior guild as the best method of honing her skills. She received her invitation to the Warrior guild approximately six months before Feastday, day 21 of the month Jastatos in the year 5106.

Brief Description

You see Bremerial the Fighter.
She appears to be a Dwarf.
She is shorter than average and appears to be youthful. She has deep-set dark eyes and tanned skin. She has chin length, wiry red hair drawn back from her face and bound in place by a patterned ebon linen headband set with a realistic eyeball-carved amethyst.
She is wearing a front-laced sage green bodice, some brocaded dark chestnut leggings, a deep ebony cloak, a sigil-etched wide silver armband, a crystal amulet, a platinum-strung silver vial studded with emeralds, a furry brown goat pin, a braided black spidersilk harness slung over her shoulder, a black leather invar-scaled pack, a black-worked white linen pouch, some invar-reinforced sturdy dwarven hiking boots, and a sloppy gak wool pouch

For battle she wears some black plate armor, and carries a razor sharp mithril claidhmore and a dual edged battle axe.

Bremerial extends her  thanks to Kadesha who provided her with many wonderful items of  my original clothing. "Still wearing the boots!"

When Bremerial first began her training, she had fixed goals. However things alter, sometimes due to experience and sometimes just due to changes in attitude or approach .. or dare she say it .. game mechanics. As an example, Bremerial began as a one handed edged (OHE) weapon and shield user, changing 50 trains later to became a two handed weapon (THW)  user. Who'd have thunk it! Nothing is written in stone. Training paths are flexible. And that's the beauty of the game.

NAVIGATING THIS PAGE

Links below have been provided to various sections of this page, due to its length.

• Current Training Path - Two Hand Weapons
• Original Training Path - Sword and Shield
• Pattern of Hunting
• Memorable Moments
• Memorable Quotes

It was the half-elf blademaster Ranil Grinala who was instrumental in Bremerial's change from OHE user to THW user. She simply watched him hunt. That was enough to convince her to take another path.



Current Stats

Bremerial (at level 76), your current skill ranks are:
Skill Name                           | Ranks
Armor Use...........................| 140
Combat Maneuvers...............| 153
Two-Handed Weapons..........| 156
Brawling.............................| 156
Ambush..............................| 30
Multi Opponent Combat.........| 55
Physical Fitness...................| 228
Dodging.............................| 111
Arcane Symbols...................| 30
Magic Item Use...................| 34
Perception..........................| 75
Climbing.............................| 60
Swimming...........................| 40
Survival.............................| 20
First Aid.............................| 50

Method of attack:

• Bremerial is a dedicated THW user. However she also uses brawl as her secondary method of attack when hunting undead. She does not use a brawl weapon as this would only be effective with a shield or two weapon training. She does train in magic item use but this is for defensive purposes, not attack.

Training Schedule (information updated 16.05.08 [dd/mm/yy])

• Armour Use: Train 2x per train.  140 ranks is sufficient to allow Bremerial to wear full plate armour comfortably.

• Combat Manoeuvres: Train 2x per train. In very simple terms this training gives Bremerial access to a whole host of skills that will assist her in combat. She has trained fully (75 trains) in (1) parry mastery - 3 ranks; (2) surge of strength - 5 ranks; (3) Specialization I wspec - 5 ranks; (4) weapon bonding - 5 ranks; (5) combat mobility - 2 ranks; and (6) combat toughness - 3 ranks.

Addendum: Bremerial was also contemplating getting ranks in the following: (i) Coupdegrace; (ii) Truehand. However these are very low priority.

• Two Handed Weapons: Train 2x per train forever. This increases her hitting power (attack strength [AS]) as she trains.

• Ambush: Train .5x per train (i.e. Once every two trains.) This assists Bremerial to aim her shots. She does not intend to train in this - at this point - beyond 30 ranks.

• Multi-Opponent Combat: Train 2x per train until 55 ranks and then stop.  This training will allow Bremerial to strike three rapid focussed blows at one opponent or four unfocussed blows at three opponents. (55 ranks) The weight of her claid made her think long and hard about this training. (RT of 14 for x3 focused attacks) However, MOC adds to redux and also helps when dealing with multi opponent attacks. Add to this the changes that took place on 27.05.08 (dd.mm.yy) and this have become a very useful tool for her.

• Physical Training: Train 2x per train until 60th train and then just go hell for leather and max out. Additional training points after 60th train make this viable. This training the primary factor that contributes towards her ability to withstand damage. (Damage Reduction - REDUX)

• Dodging: Train 1.5x per train.  This is invaluable, given the weight of the armor that will be worn. This training will allow Bremerial to detect and evade blows.

• Arcane Symbols: Train .25x per train until 30 ranks. (Once every four trains). This will enable Bremerial to read scrolls which may be useful for self casting spells.

• Magic Item Use: Train .25x per train until 30 ranks. (Once every four trains). Bremerial will be able to use magic items imbedded with spells.

• Perception: Train 1x per train forever. This will increase Bremerial's perception of her surroundings - e.g. foraging, searching for hidden openings, catching thieves etc.

• First Aid: Train 1x per train. Bremerial can eat acantha leaf within 3 seconds and eat blood-stemming herbs within 5 seconds with just 25 ranks. .at 65 she skins 10% of the mastiffs she kills

• Survival: Train 1x per train. Training in this to help skinning skills.

• Brawl: Train 2x per train. Training in this not for brawling weapon use but for Voln Fu

• Climbing: Train .33x per train until 60 ranks and then place the odd spare point in this area.. 60 ranks should equip Bremerial with the skill to climb the toughest of terrains with NO problems. However as climb training adds to redux, this training is never a waste and continues to be relatively inexpensive.

• Swimming: Train .25x per train until 45 ranks. This may be overkill but this will allow Bremerial to swim any water channel with relative ease, even if encumbered. As with climb training, placement of spare points in swimming training is never a waste as it adds to redux.

OPTIONS - and decisions made

• So why not two weapon training?

Bremerial was very much seduced by the notion of two weapon training. The more adventurous side of her could see herself as a plate wearing, two weapon wielding multi-striker with brawling tendencies. However in the final analysis two weapon attacks don't compare favourably with the more brutal and clinical strike from a two handed weapon, especially a claidhmore.

• The big brawl and dodge debate

Bremerial joined voln and trained in brawl. Then she abandoned her brawl training. Then she retrained in that skill.  Quite simply when she started down the voln warrior path as a OHE user, brawl was very useful. Kicking undead saved asking for blesses every 20 minutes. However into her 50th training, she became a THW user and brawl training was sacrificed in it's entirety for more dodge training and an increase in physical strength.

This actually worked very well. And in fact dodge adds slightly more to redux than brawl. Bremerial could not use voln-fu of course with no brawl training but she could evade many attacks, take any damage from blows that snuck through her defences and then provide the killer blow. So why did she go back to brawl training?

Quite simply because she maxed on her physical training. Physical training added considerably to her redux which, in short, meant that she could survive some of the hits she was taking with greater ease. Therefore she decided that if she could survive the blows, there was less need to worry about them. So dodge training could be reduced from 2x per train to 1.5x per train, which freed up training points for brawl again.. She considered that the difference between to contributions made by dodge and those made by brawl to redux would not be too detrimental to her redux. (In addition, dodge training was becoming VERY expensive as she got older - 40 training points for 1 more rank...yikes) Reducing dodge allowed her to retrain in brawl, which gave her a second method of attack - namely voln fu. (She will not be swinging a brawling weapon.) 

• Weapon bonding

Weapon bonding wasn't the first thing Bremerial opted for with regard to Combat manoeuvre (CMAN) training. In fact she opted to go for weapon bonding last. As a voln brawler, she didn't really need it yet. There were plenty of undead to keep her kicking away for a good while. However when she needed to concentrate on the living she attained enough Cman training points to go for weapon bonding.

• Starting Stats and Projected Stats:

• Spelling Up for Training

Bremerial can hunt without spells thanks to REDUX. However she is not stupid enough to turn them down if offered.

Wizards are currently selling spells for 10-15K and free spells are to be had in the Park in the Landing.

Bremerial's  pattern of hunting

Areas hunted from 1st to 78th training

• Train 01 - 05: Rats in catacomb; Mummies in Graveyard
• Train 06 - 09: Thrax and Manticore on Old Mine Road; Death Dirge in Graveyard
• Train 10 - 18: Tombwight and Wraith in Graveyard
• Train 19 - 20: Arch Wight in Graveyard
• Train 21 - 24: Zombies in Potters Field; Tree Spirits
• Train 25 - 29: Moaning Spirits in Secluded Valley
• Train 30 - 38: Storm Giants in Glatoph, Pookas, Miners in Shadow Valley; Stone Gargoyles in Darkstone Outer Ward
• Train 39 - 41: Storm Giants (as above - mainly to bond with weapon and for guild warcrying purposes), Skeletal Lords, Phantasm in Castle Varunar
• Train 42 - 47 : Kiramon Worker, Kiramon Defender, Sentinel, banshee in Darkstone
• Train 48 - 54 : Sentinel in Darkstone, Stone Trolls and Stone Giants in Stone Valley
• Train 55 - 67 : Troll Kings, Harbingers in Darkstone, Stone Mastiffs, Illoke Mystics & Shaman in Stronghold
• Train 68 - 69: Illoke Mystics & Shaman in Stronghold; Raving Lunatics & Naisircs in Rift
• Train 70 - 75: Krag Yeti; Krag Dwellers on Upper Krag Slopes; Minotaur Warrior; Minotaur Magus on Hidden Plateau;  Raving Lunatics & Naisircs in Rift
• Train 76 - 78: Minotaur Warrior; Minotaur Magus on Hidden Plateau;  Raving Lunatics & Naisircs in Rift; Greater Krynch & Earth Elementals in Thanatoph Bowels

First Death and Raise

Rather embarrassingly Bremerial bled to death, age 10, having come back from a successful hunt in the Graveyard. She sat at Voln resting and forgot to get her chest wound tended.
The brilliant luminescence fades from around you.
It seems you have died, my friend. Although you cannot do anything, you are keenly aware of what is going on around you...
You mentally give a sigh of relief as you remember that the Goddess Lorminstra owes you a favor.
...departing in 16 mins...

Guenhafyr raises a hand while murmuring a soft orison...
Guenhafyr gestures at you.
Guenhafyr suddenly looks very drained.

You feel a sudden jolt of nothing short of the raw power of divine intervention. For some reason, you cannot bring yourself to move quite yet, but feel relieved nonetheless.
You feel the touch of the hand leave your soul.

First Notable Act of Kindness

The dark elven archwizard High Lady Sairai provided Bremerial with x3 brig on 24th April 2006. The first truely altruistic act encountered in the lands. My thanks Sairai. I hope those with the power to so too, recognise your generosity as I and so many others do.

[Sairai (subdued)]: "Free gifts to those who aren't yet a lord or lady: 1x:brig, fulls, magenta wood runestaff; 3x: thick ivy-wrapped staff. Ttm if in need or want of such."]

First mass spells

Ihston is the leader of your group.
Bromeus is also a member of your group.
Dungath is also a member of your group.
Amberain is also a member of your group.
Lodyn is also a member of your group.
Bafere is also a member of your group.
Liaro is also a member of your group.
Matreem is also a member of your group.
Manferd is also a member of your group.
Sidway is also a member of your group.
Apen is also a member of your group.
Kiarhu is also a member of your group.
Kisanthra is also a member of your group.

Ihston traces a series of glowing runes while chanting an arcane phrase...
Ihston gestures. Your form blurs.

First Cleric to bless my weapon

The cleric Guenhafyr  freely blessed Bremerial's sword on multiple occasions without complaint. In fact she was the first to do so.

Name: Guenhafyr
Profession: Initiate
Race: Giant Gender: Female
Clan: Wsalamir Clan

First 'out of my depth' Moment

There is no doubt that there will be many times in Bremerial's life where she will be overwhelmed by numbers of the enemy, or by the strength of just a single opponent. However this was the 'first' such moment. She decided to wander to Varunar before she was really old enough.

Today is Restday, day 29 of the month Jastatos in the year 5106. It is 12:44 by the elven time standard. It is currently afternoon.

You also see a skeletal lord.
You drop to your knees in utter despair! Overcome by the foul stench of pure evil emanating from the skeletal lord, your arms fall slack at your sides and feel your limbs slipping away as an utter and complete fear seizes a suffocating control of your mind and body!

A skeletal lord thrusts with a splintered lance at you!
AS: +274 vs DS: +151 with AvD: +33 + d100 roll: +80 = +236
... and hits for 77 points of damage!
Deft strike to the back cracks vertebrae!
You are knocked to the ground!
You are still stunned.
You struggle against your fear!
FS: 123 - FD: 75 + FvP: 23 + d100(L): 27 = 98
Warded off!

You slowly regain control of your senses, wiping the tears from your eyes and the drool from your mouth.
symb of return
Your surroundings blur into a white fog . . .

Definitely brown trousers time. Will leave Varunar for a while!

First death from a box

You bash at the fel chest with your red brick.
Splinters fly as you hit it for 36 points of damage!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Suddenly, a sturdy fel chest gives off a loud sizzle, and explodes in a bright flash!
Being closest, you take the brunt of the blast!
... 20 points of damage!
Good blow to your abdomen!
You are stunned for 3 rounds!

The chest's casing is blasted into hundreds of tiny flechettes!

You are severely perforated!
... 10 points of damage!
Well aimed shot almost removes an eye!
... 30 points of damage!
Well aimed strike shatters bone in left arm!
... 25 points of damage!
Shot knocks your head back by pushing on the inside of the skull!

It seems you have died, my friend. Although you cannot do anything, you are keenly aware of what is going on around you...

You mentally give a sigh of relief as you remember that the Goddess Lorminstra owes you a favor.

...departing in 16 mins...
Your corpse is struck by flechettes!
Dozens of flechettes fly off to the north!
Dozens of flechettes fly off to the east!
Today is Niiman, day 2 of the month Eoantos in the year 5106. It is 02:14 by the elven time standard. It is currently after midnight

First major gem found

You punch with an acid-etched vultite katar at an ice troll!
AS: +263 vs DS: +96 with AvD: +29 + d100 roll: +91 = +287
... and hit for 57 points of damage!
Pierced through neck, a fine shot!
The ice troll cries out in cold agony one last time and dies.
The powerful look leaves an ice troll.
The light blue glow leaves an ice troll.
Roundtime: 4 sec.


You skinned the ice troll, yielding an ice troll scalp.

You search the ice troll.
It had 236 silvers on it.
It had an uncut diamond on it!
Interesting, it carried a blue crystal on it.
It had nothing else of value.
An ice troll turns to slush, leaving nothing behind.

You put an acid-etched vultite katar in your spidersilk harness.
You pick up an uncut diamond.
You kiss an uncut diamond
You put an uncut diamond in your ebony cloak.

First resuced person

Bremerial  rescued her first person today. For more details read my log.

First death of hunting partner where I am leading

A spectral miner eyes flare with evil red light!
A spectral miner swings a mining pick at Krowlvict!
AS: +346 vs DS: +227 with AvD: +31 + d100 roll: +71 = +221
A layer of shifting stone shatters!
... and hits for 66 points of damage!
Wild downward slash severs Krowlvict's right foot!
Bloody stump, anyone?
Krowlvict screams and falls to the ground grasping his mangled right leg!
He is stunned!

A spectral miner eyes flare with evil red light!
A spectral miner swings a mining pick at Krowlvict!
AS: +346 vs DS: +172 with AvD: +31 + d100 roll: +91 = +296
... and hits for 104 points of damage!
Right eye ripped from head, along with most of brain.

* Krowlvict drops dead at your feet!

Double Whammy! First witness to arrest and collateral box damage

Wolenthor settles into the difficult task of picking the lock on a battered iron coffer.
You hear a snap and then Wolenthor mumbles some unprintables.
Suddenly, you hear a sound like shattered crystal and a bright reddish-brown light flashes from the lock mechanism!

Wolenthor is engulfed by the light!
... 20 points of damage!
Good blow to right arm!
He is stunned!
A wave of russet ethereal ripples moves outward from a battered iron coffer.
Persoma is buffeted by the russet ethereal waves, and is knocked to the ground.
... 50 points of damage!
Massive blow to chest collapses sternum!
She is stunned!
Divious is buffeted by the russet ethereal waves, and is knocked to the ground.
... 70 points of damage!
Blow to back removes the spinal column!

* Divious drops dead at your feet!

Someone screams, "Murder by Wolenthor! Call the town constable!"

You are buffeted by the russet ethereal waves, and knocked to the ground.
You are pinned in place, unable to move.
Roundtime: 18 sec.
... 30 points of damage!
Hard strike to your left leg breaking tendons and bone!
You are stunned for 6 rounds!
Wolenthor is buffeted by the russet ethereal waves, and is knocked to the ground.
... 10 points of damage!
Light strike to chest.
Kyrstynn is buffeted by the russet ethereal waves, and is knocked to the ground.
... 50 points of damage!
Massive blow to chest collapses sternum!
She is stunned!

A nearby goodwife screams, "Endangering public safety!"

Most 'dramatic' death

[Darkstone, Dungeon]
Fragile curtains of sticky cobwebs brush across your face and cling to your skin as you move through this passage. The floor is damp and rotting, laced with patches of blue-black mold and covered with decaying carcasses, including that of a rodent, whose open eyes still gleam evilly even in death. You also see a banshee, a banshee, a stone sentinel, an empty cell and a rusted iron door. Obvious exits: east

Round 1
A stone sentinel opens its mouth and spews out a shower of stones at you.
You are hit by a stone.
... 5 points of damage!
Blow to your back connects lightly.
You narrowly miss being hit by a stone.
You are hit by a stone.
... 7 points of damage!
Blow grazes your left leg.
You narrowly miss being hit by a stone.
You are hit by a stone.
... 5 points of damage!
Blow to your back connects lightly.
You are hit by a stone.
... 7 points of damage!
Blow grazes your left leg.
You are hit by a stone.
... 10 points of damage!
Strike to your head breaks your cheekbone.
You are stunned for 1 round!
You are hit by a stone.
... 5 points of damage!
Strike glances off your chest.
You are hit by a stone.
... 10 points of damage!
Light blow to your left leg.
You are still stunned.

Round 2
A stone sentinel opens its mouth and spews out a shower of stones at you.
You are hit by a stone.
... 15 points of damage!
Nasty blow to your chest!
You are stunned for 1 round!
You are hit by a stone.
... 10 points of damage!
Strike to your head breaks your cheekbone.
You are hit by a stone.
... 5 points of damage!
Stubs one of the fingers on your right hand.
You are hit by a stone.
... 15 points of damage!
Nasty blow to your back!
You are hit by a stone.
... 5 points of damage!
Strike hits close to your right eye making you flinch!
You are hit by a stone.
... 10 points of damage!
Light blow to your back.
You narrowly miss being hit by a stone.
You are hit by a stone.
... 5 points of damage!
Stubs one of the fingers on your left hand.
You are hit by a stone.
... 25 points of damage!
Strong blow breaks your neck!
The dim aura fades from around you.
The misty halo fades from you.
You feel the extra courage wane.
You become solid again.
The deep blue glow leaves you.
The layer of protection fades away.
The powerful look leaves you.
The brilliant luminescence fades from around you.
You notice your blood flow go back to normal.
The feeling of vulnerability leaves you.
You lose your extra internal fortitude.
The light blue glow leaves you.
The bright luminescence fades from around you.

It seems you have died, my friend. Although you cannot do anything, you are keenly aware of what is going on around you...
You mentally give a sigh of relief as you remember that the Goddess Lorminstra owes you a favor.
...departing in 16 mins...

Redux - enough said!

Redux is a wonderful thing! I was hunting in Stonghold with no spells and in offensive stance when....

A stone mastiff claws at you!
AS: +315 vs DS: +162 with AvD: +7 + d100 roll: +4 = +164
... and hits for 5 points of damage!
Thrust slides along the back.
Cuts a nagging itch.

Without redux I would have almost certainly been dead.

• Today is Tilamaires, day 26 of the month Phoenatos in the year 5108.

[Warrior Guild, Courtyard]
Also here: Badat, Neebyter

You softly say, "Would ye believe most of my weight is in my pack... i'm like some tortoise, carrying the world and it's mother in my back."
You softly say, "Need to get more locker space."
You softly say, "Or marry someone with more locker space."
You softly say, "Oooo you two look single." You glance at Neebyter and Badat
You rub your chin thoughtfully. You try hard not to grin.
Neebyter chuckles.
Neebyter says, "I am."
Neebyter says, "But mi'lockers full."
Badat chuckles.
Badat says, "Mine too."
You softly say, "Whoa you two are too quick on ye feet there."

• Today is Volnes, day 25 of the month Lumnea in the year 5107.

The ghostly voice of Jarrsick quietly says, "Drat it all.
You bash forearms with Jarrsick in greeting.
Speaking softly to Jarrsick, you exclaim, "Hey Jarrsick - the sign of a great warrior - bashing forearms even in death!!"

• Today is Volnes, day 8 of the month Lormesta in the year 5107.

Kipa turns towards you and renders you a sharp salute with her pruning shears.
Kipa asks, "Oops, shears ruin that huh?"

• Today is Restday, day 7 of the month Lormesta in the year 5107.

Bremerial says, "I've just noticed, I've been hunting with a leg missing."
Burak says, "That's when you know you're really tough!

Simutronics® is a registered trademark and service mark of Simutronics Corporation. All rights reserved. The GemStone ® IV game is copyright © 1987-2006 Simutronics Corp. All rights reserved. GemStone ® is a registered trademark of Simutronics Corp. All rights reserved