[Balanor]

In honor of Halloween, a treat for me, and maybe a trick for others is a long-forgotten improvement to the AI (artificial intelligence) of NPC creatures who can cast spells. With the next server reset in a few hours, you may now begin encountering caster NPCs who have already buffed themselves - just like your PCs likely do before they entering the dangerous places that contain them.

So while scary already, this will give them a chance to be even scarier, and you may want to seriously consider altering how you approach battles with NPC opponents who are stoneskinned up and glowing/glittering like you may be!

Happy Halloween!

MUHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

[Wids]

In other words, those who can slot Dispel Magic should slot Dispel Magic. :)

[Balanor]

That would be one way to deal with it, sure.

I do want to provide some clarification based on a comments/questions I've received on this. First off, creatures in an arena, or the random assassins or slavers sent after your PCs will *not* spawn already buffed (even though for slavers/assassins that would make sense). I am keenly aware that PC survivability is important to everyone, and this is one example of a compromise between 'realism' and 'playability'. The intention of this change is that this should really only occur in adventure locations where these creatures have made their lairs/homes, and the PCs are coming in as the aggressors.

So if anyone does have questions/concerns/feedback about this AI change, or you are seeing things with the AI that you aren't sure are intended, send me a PM.