Helpfile Changes!

[Raona]

Updated WIZARD and PRIEST helpfiles to clarify the restriction on learning spells above level 1 before joining a guild.

[Raona]

Updated DEATH, CORPSES, and CORPSE RETRIEVAL helpfiles to reflect the fact that corpses now decay more slowly, over a period of about 5 days rather than 1.

[Raona]

Updated WATERDEEPNEWS to include mention of Rat Hill, the Market Square, and the Dripping Dagger.

Removed outdated merchant announcements.

If you would like to place a new merchant announcement, or have something else for the news, please PM Raona.

[Harroghty]

Updated help train in order to clarify that one must use ' or " in order to train skills with two or more words in the name. e.g. train 'handle animal'

[Raona]

Expanded new helpfile for READ MAGIC, and linked to the SCROLLS helpfile.

[Raona]

At Bellayana's initiative, the PRIEST and DRUID helpfiles were edited, the key change being clarification that druids do not gain domain spells as clerics do.

[Anguin]

Oh, I never realized that. Thanks! But... doesn't that make the Nature domain obsolete? Only Malar, Mielekki, and Chauntea grant that domain, but it looks like their clergy are all druids, not clerics.

[Lirith]

The nature domain is sort of obsolete in that those spells aren't granted to druids as domain spells, but they DO get them in their ordinary spell list.

[Raona]

Updated POINT BLANK SHOT and COMBATMODE helpfiles to reflect the fact one can now fire projectiles in melee even without the point blank shot feat.

[Cret]

Can we update 'use magic device' to include a chance to read magic?

[Raona]

Can we update 'use magic device' to include a chance to read magic?

A fine suggestion, thank you! Done.

Also buffed up HELP SCROLL further, to link in that fact, and indicate the relative chance of success with the various means.

[Raona]

Gave the MEMORISE helpfile a makeover, adding information about the order in which the energy to cast spells is regained. If you see any further helpful goodies that might be added there (or any corrections that need to be made), please let me know!

[Raona]

Heavily revised the helpfile on TRIGGERS (and bots and the like). The absolute restriction on these has been rescinded, but the emphatic prohibition against autonomous action of any sort has been (hopefully) clarified. Comments are welcome.

[Raona]

Gave SHAPECHANGE and POLYMORPH major makeovers, to reflect code changes, explain the various failure echoes, and improve the guidance on possible races. Also brought information over from one helpfile to the other, to the extent that they share code.

[Zorinar]

Can I make a suggestion about the helpfile change to Shapechange.
Can we make it know that shapechange should only allow animal and elemental forms, and no other races. Whereas polymorph allows for all of the above?

[Raona]

Can I make a suggestion about the helpfile change to Shapechange.
Can we make it know that shapechange should only allow animal and elemental forms, and no other races. Whereas polymorph allows for all of the above?

Thanks - a fine suggestion! Done. I used some wiggle words, since I'm not sure elementals are options for shapechange, and I didn't change polymorph, since it allows a wider variety of races, but not as many, and I think the current text is consistent with that. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Raona]

Attempted to clarify the non-stacking nature of armour bonus types in ARMOUR CLASS. Added a specific warning to this effect to the TWO WEAPON DEFENCE helpfile, and added an alternative spelling keyword to that one for we Yanks.

PRAY - Added a bullet specifying that the gods will not be able to help you with your prayers unless you are online and paying attention.

[Raona]

Updated HIT BONUS helpfile: proficiency effects are (at least to some extent) reflected in a weapon's hit bonus shown in SCORE, so removed a line saying that wasn't the case. Added a line explaining the impact of size mismatch.

[Raona]

Updated and corrected "Passwords and Zmud" helpfile.

"Second Attack" helpfile got a major update and revision to reflect changes in the attack skills.

[Raona]

At Tarven's suggestion, added a new helpfile on Attacks of Opportunity and linked to the improved bash, improved brawling, and improved disarm feats.

For you wizards considering specialization, Tarven is hard at work on adding a helpful listing of the files in each school of magic. Thanks Tarven!