I noticed someone put up a post-cap goal of capping stalking/hiding on a ... wizard? the other day, and wondered how much it would cost a bard to cap stalking/hiding. That's when I noticed that we can 2x stalking/hiding. At that point, it was on. I'll give you guys the taste I gave myself before going to sleep because I have to work in a few hours, and I'll play with it/optimize my hunting experience more tomorrow.

I went with brawling over a weapon because UAC ambushing is more fun in my experience. Plus, the best weapon I could wrangle without begging someone to lend me something would be a sonic weapon, and I'm aiming for one shot kills therefore negating the advantage of air flares. I experimented with using a shield and not using a shield. I preferred going shield-less because the reduced MM of using a shield. I also discovered to my dismay that the decreased shield size of a sonic shield due to air lore training doesn't seem to have an affect on the MM penalty.

My skills for this log are as follows. I'm fairly far post-cap, so I could keep up a lot of things in addition to what I would consider core to this build: 2x brawling, 2x stalking/hiding, 1x ambush, 1x spell, 75 ranks of air lore (that's right, this is a Tonis build), 1x dodge, 1x cman, 1x physical fitness, 1x harness power, 60 ranks of armor.

>skill
Zarston (at level 100), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Two Weapon Combat..................| 5 1
Armor Use..........................| 200 100
Shield Use.........................| 302 202
Combat Maneuvers...................| 302 202
Brawling...........................| 302 202
Ambush.............................| 201 101
Multi Opponent Combat..............| 200 100
Physical Fitness...................| 302 202
Dodging............................| 262 162
Magic Item Use.....................| 54 11
Harness Power......................| 299 199
Elemental Mana Control.............| 102 24
Mental Mana Control................| 120 30
Spirit Mana Control................| 102 24
Elemental Lore - Air...............| 175 75
Elemental Lore - Earth.............| 105 25
Elemental Lore - Water.............| 5 1
Mental Lore - Manipulation.........| 175 75
Mental Lore - Telepathy............| 108 26
Survival...........................| 201 101
Stalking and Hiding................| 302 202
Perception.........................| 302 202
Climbing...........................| 201 101
Swimming...........................| 160 60
First Aid..........................| 82 18
Trading............................| 302 202

Spell Lists
Minor Elemental....................| 75

Spell Lists
Bard...............................| 127

NELEMAR

[Ruined Temple, Third Floor]
You notice a triton radical.
Obvious paths: north, east, west
[wander]>target random
You are now targeting a triton radical.
--- Lich: wander has exited.
>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
A soft feeling of serenity touches your mind, providing you with a clearer understanding of recent events.
[Use the LUMNIS verb to see your Gift of Lumnis options.]
A triton radical raises an outstretched hand to the air!
A wispy tendril of pure magic reaches out to encircle a triton radical and those nearby.
>punch
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a triton radical!
Your attack is hindered by holding a translucent shield perfused with effervescent chromatic pulses!
You have good positioning against a triton radical.
UAF: 637 vs UDF: 615 = 1.035 * MM: 74 + d100: 65 = 141
... and hit for 33 points of damage!
Solid blow to the jaw leaves the triton radical spitting blood... and teeth!
The triton radical chokes, momentarily unable to speak!
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
>punch
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a triton radical!
Your attack is hindered by holding a translucent shield perfused with effervescent chromatic pulses!
You have excellent positioning against a triton radical.
UAF: 637 vs UDF: 551 = 1.156 * MM: 77 + d100: 100 = 189
... and hit for 58 points of damage!
Awesome punch to forehead snaps head straight back with a sickening *CRUNCH!*
The triton radical collapses, gurgling once with a wrathful look on his face before expiring.
The dully illuminated mantle protecting a triton radical begins to falter, then completely fades away.
A white glow rushes away from a triton radical.
The dull golden nimbus fades from around a triton radical.
The brilliant aura fades away from a triton radical.
The very powerful look leaves a triton radical.
The white light leaves a triton radical.
The guiding force leaves a triton radical.
The warm glow fades from around a triton radical.
A triton radical seems slightly different.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.

[help]-You: "Aww shit. This is kind of fun being an ambushing bard."

[Ruined Temple, Third Floor]
You notice a siren and a triton radical.
Obvious paths: north, east, west
--- Lich: wander has exited.
>hide
A siren notices your attempt to hide!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
A siren smirks playfully as she glances around the area.
A triton radical searches methodically through the environs.
A triton radical lets out a truncated gurgle as he glances about with eyes narrowed, anger clear in the sound's undertones.
>punch
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a siren!
You have good positioning against a siren.
UAF: 672 vs UDF: 560 = 1.200 * MM: 97 + d100: 43 = 159
... and hit for 51 points of damage!
Palm strike to face drives nose straight into brain!
The siren gives a plaintive wail before she slumps to her side and dies.
The brilliant luminescence fades from around a siren.
The bright luminescence fades from around a siren.
The silvery luminescence fades from around a siren.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
>punch
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a triton radical!
You have good positioning against a triton radical.
UAF: 672 vs UDF: 590 = 1.138 * MM: 91 + d100: 50 = 153
... and hit for 41 points of damage!
Strong downward swing staggers foe and dents skull!
The triton radical is knocked to his knees!
The triton radical seems at a loss for words!
** Your articulated gauntlets unleash an invisible burst of force! **
... 20 points of damage!
Strike to foot! The triton radical hops around dizzily on other foot and falls.
It is knocked to the ground!
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
>punch
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a triton radical!
You have excellent positioning against a triton radical.
UAF: 672 vs UDF: 510 = 1.317 * MM: 101 + d100: 77 = 210
... and hit for 67 points of damage!
Teeth knocked out... through the back of the triton radical's head!
The triton radical gurgles once and goes still, a wrathful look on his face.
The dully illuminated mantle protecting a triton radical begins to falter, then completely fades away.
A white glow rushes away from a triton radical.
The dull golden nimbus fades from around a triton radical.
The brilliant aura fades away from a triton radical.
The very powerful look leaves a triton radical.
The white light leaves a triton radical.
The guiding force leaves a triton radical.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.

OTF

[Old Ta'Faendryl, Market Road]
You notice an Ithzir seer.
Obvious paths: north, south
>hide
An Ithzir seer notices your attempt to hide!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
>punch
>punch
...wait 1 seconds.
An Ithzir seer raises a hand and turns slowly, as if trying to sense something.
The Ithzir seer furrows his blue brow thoughtfully.
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch an Ithzir seer!
You have decent positioning against an Ithzir seer.
UAF: 672 vs UDF: 439 = 1.530 * MM: 111 + d100: 50 = 219
... and hit for 53 points of damage!
Spinning backfist snaps the Ithzir seer's head to the side!
The Ithzir seer falls to the ground in a crumpled heap.
The opalescent aura fades from around an Ithzir seer.
The deep blue glow leaves an Ithzir seer.
The Ithzir seer no longer bristles with energy.
The dim aura fades from around an Ithzir seer.
An Ithzir seer seems to lose an aura of confidence.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.

SCATTER

[The Rift, Scatter]
Eyes of various shapes and sizes peer out from the soft pink ceiling above, blinking and following every movement within the room. Hands from different beasts and humanoids protrude from the walls, grasping for anything within reach. The floor is covered with ice water and dark swimming shapes, with only a few slightly raised stones providing safe passage from one end to the other. You notice a darkly inked fetish master.
Obvious paths: north, northeast, down
>hide
A darkly inked fetish master notices your attempt to hide!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
>hide
A darkly inked fetish master notices your attempt to hide!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.

A darkly inked fetish master claps its palms together, momentarily uniting its glowing tattoos before forcefully thrusting its hands forward toward you!

>incant 1005

Chromatic streams of air shimmer and dance around you as your melody soars into a triumphant crescendo.
Your spellsong is ready.
You weave another verse into your harmony, directing the sound of your voice at a darkly inked fetish master.
The fetish master falls to the ground in a deep slumber.
Sing Roundtime 3 Seconds.
(Forcing stance down to guarded)
>hide
A thorny vine suddenly sprouts from the ground and begins to thrash about violently!
The thorny vine lashes out at you, but is unable to grasp you.
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
>stance offensive
You are now in an offensive stance.
>punch
A darkly inked fetish master is awakened by your attack!
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a darkly inked fetish master!
You have good positioning against a darkly inked fetish master.
UAF: 637 vs UDF: 615 = 1.035 * MM: 106 + d100: 53 = 162
... and hit for 52 points of damage!
Palm strike to face drives nose straight into brain!
As a darkly inked fetish master slumps to the ground, the darkly lined tattoos traversing its skin lose the luminescence that had seemed to radiate from them.
A darkly inked fetish master appears less powerful.
A darkly inked fetish master seems to lose an aura of confidence.
The very powerful look leaves a darkly inked fetish master.
The white light leaves a darkly inked fetish master.
The deep blue glow leaves a darkly inked fetish master.
The light blue glow leaves a darkly inked fetish master.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.



[The Rift, Scatter]
Humanoid shadows float across the otherwise empty alleyways of a desolate marketplace. The fruit in stands are rotten and covered in frost, while shop fronts have been built up with immense blocks of ice. An eerie silence pervades the area, occasionally broken by soft mumbling. You notice a Vvrael destroyer and a thick membranous barrier.
Obvious exits: south, down
A Vvrael destroyer swings a crackling black steel claidhmore at you!
A heavy barrier of stone momentarily forms around you and blocks the attack!

In an awe inspiring display of combat mastery, a Vvrael destroyer engages you in a furious dance macabre, spiralling into a blur of strikes and ripostes!
A Vvrael destroyer swings a crackling black steel claidhmore at you!
AS: +456 vs DS: +675 with AvD: +30 + d100 roll: +35 = -154
A clean miss.
A Vvrael destroyer swings a crackling black steel claidhmore at you!
You move at the last moment to evade the attack!
A Vvrael destroyer swings a crackling black steel claidhmore at you!
You barely dodge the attack!
A Vvrael destroyer swings a crackling black steel claidhmore at you!
You evade the attack by a hair!
A Vvrael destroyer swings a crackling black steel claidhmore at you!
You evade the attack by inches!
>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
>stance offensive
You are now in an offensive stance.
>punch
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a Vvrael destroyer!
You have good positioning against a Vvrael destroyer.
UAF: 637 vs UDF: 510 = 1.249 * MM: 83 + d100: 61 = 164
... and hit for 34 points of damage!
Solid blow to the jaw leaves the Vvrael destroyer spitting blood... and teeth!
The Vvrael destroyer chokes, momentarily unable to speak!
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
>punch
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a Vvrael destroyer!
You have good positioning against a Vvrael destroyer.
UAF: 637 vs UDF: 478 = 1.332 * MM: 83 + d100: 10 = 120
... and hit for 3 points of damage!
Strike comes up short, barely brushing the cheek!
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
>punch
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a Vvrael destroyer!
You have excellent positioning against a Vvrael destroyer.
UAF: 637 vs UDF: 478 = 1.332 * MM: 79 + d100: 59 = 164
... and hit for 39 points of damage!
Strong downward swing staggers foe and dents skull!
The Vvrael destroyer is knocked to his knees!
The Vvrael destroyer seems at a loss for words!
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
>hide
Roundtime: 3 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.
You attempt to blend with the surroundings, and feel confident that no one has noticed your doing so.
>punch
You leap from hiding to strike!
You make a precise attempt to punch a Vvrael destroyer!
You have excellent positioning against a Vvrael destroyer.
UAF: 637 vs UDF: 431 = 1.477 * MM: 100 + d100: 90 = 237
... and hit for 64 points of damage!
Teeth knocked out... through the back of the Vvrael destroyer's head!
The Vvrael destroyer writhes in black agony and dies.
Roundtime: 4 sec.
Roundtime changed to 1 second.