Well here is a new one. I'm posting this here for I can not see it being other than a Bug. A bit of background first.

My horse had been killing vipers fine a week ago. I had it stabled about that long and took it into vipers today. I did nothing different from what I have been doing for months now. The horse was not injured, it was fed and well groomed.

Now it seems to me that it decayed in skills. I do not see this as a bug, but it is distressing if this is true. Why a Horse would decay in skills when we do not....I just don't know. This leads to the possibility that the Paladin Bonding process might be subject to Decay also. But that is for another post.

My point in posting is this. A serious problem with my Horse's balance in combat. Even though the Horse could not hit without having the Viper halted, it should not be loosing balance with a good hit. Especially attacking from the flank and attacking a Halted creature.

Yet in the following captures you will see that with nearly every hit the horse lost balance. No other creature does this. No person would do this. So something really needs to be adjusted here please.

I editted out my own defending to make this easier to read. On the 2nd and 3rd capture I assessed more often so that the decay of the horse's balance is easier to note. I also verified that I had halted the correct viper.

I went through three trials just to make sure that it was not a fluke. On each occasion the horse lost balance, to the point where it was Very badly balanced, or Extremely imbalanced, when it killed the viper.

I hope you see this Jeremael and can give us some comments on this. And perhaps an update on the Horse system in general.

Thanks,

Candidus

*********************

Trial #1

You gesture at a giant thicket viper.
You stare intently at a giant thicket viper, stopping it in its tracks with your gaze.
Roundtime: 2 seconds

You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: solidly balanced) is advancing on a giant thicket viper (1) at pole weapon range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (1) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse closes to melee range on a giant thicket viper.

A steel grey horse snaps with wicked teeth at a giant thicket viper. The teeth lands a good hit to its left arm!
>
A steel grey horse snaps with wicked teeth at a giant thicket viper. The teeth lands a good strike to its right arm!
>
A steel grey horse snaps with wicked teeth at a giant thicket viper. The teeth lands a good strike to its chest!
>
A steel grey horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a hard hit that flicks off a few scales!
>
A steel grey horse lashes out with its forefeet at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a light hit to its right leg!
>
A steel grey horse snaps with wicked teeth at a giant thicket viper. The teeth lands a solid hit to its chest!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: somewhat off balance) is facing a giant thicket viper (1) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (1) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse slashes with razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a hard hit to its head!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: incredibly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (1) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (1) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a solid hit that tears the skin nastily!

You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: slightly off balance) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: incredibly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (1) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (1) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a good strike to its right leg!
>
A giant thicket viper is able to move again.

**************

I signaled the horse to retreat and this point. I start again with a new viper and the 2nd capture.

**************

>cast second viper
A steel grey horse closes to melee range on a giant thicket viper.

You gesture at a giant thicket viper.
You stare intently at a giant thicket viper, stopping it in its tracks with your gaze.
Roundtime: 2 seconds
>
A steel grey horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a solid hit that flicks off a few scales!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: incredibly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (4: incredibly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: off balance) is facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse lashes out with its forefeet at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a good hit to its left leg!
>asse
A giant thicket viper searches the area.
>
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: incredibly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (4: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: off balance) is facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse snaps with wicked teeth at a giant thicket viper. The teeth lands a solid hit that pokes a small hole in the flesh!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: incredibly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (4: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: somewhat off balance) is facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse lashes out with its forefeet at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a light hit to its abdomen!

You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: incredibly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (4: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)
>
A steel grey horse lashes out with its forefeet at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a good strike that barely pierces the skin to nick the chest!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: incredibly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (4: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: very badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)
>
A steel grey horse snaps with wicked teeth at a giant thicket viper. The teeth lands a hard hit that sticks deeply into the flesh!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (4: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a hard hit that just barely penetrates the skin to nick the stomach ('Tis but a scratch!), barely stunning it!

You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: incredibly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: very badly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (4: incredibly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: very badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (2) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse lashes out with its forefeet at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a strong hit that splits a deep cut from which fresh blood oozes!
A giant thicket viper grows limp and seems to deflate slightly.
A giant thicket viper is able to move again.
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: incredibly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (4: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)
>
A steel grey horse turns to face a giant thicket viper.
A steel grey horse begins to advance on a giant thicket viper.
>face next
face next
You turn to face a giant thicket viper.
>You turn to face a giant thicket viper, leaving the thicket viper on your flank at melee!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: incredibly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (4: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: very badly balanced) is advancing on a giant thicket viper (4) at missile range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (1) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

************************

Here we see the Horse Stun a viper on one occassion. Yet even there the Horse does not gain noticeable balance. It did go up from Very badly to Badly - but it went back down to Very badly on the next hit.

Even more distressing is that it did not recover after the battle was over and entered into the next melee at Very badly balanced. I'm sorry but this is just wrong.

3rd and final capture.

*******************

>cast third viper

You gesture at a giant thicket viper.
You stare intently at a giant thicket viper, stopping it in its tracks with your gaze.
Roundtime: 2 seconds
>
A steel grey horse closes to pole weapon range on a giant thicket viper.

A steel grey horse closes to melee range on a giant thicket viper.
asse
>You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: solidly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: solidly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)
>
A steel grey horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a good strike to its right leg as it falters slightly!

>
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: off balance) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: off balance) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: off balance) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse slashes with razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a glancing strike to its left leg as it falters slightly!
>asse
>
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: off balance) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: badly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse slashes with razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a brushing hit to its chest as it stumbles slightly!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: off balance) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: badly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse snaps with wicked teeth at a giant thicket viper. The teeth lands a strong hit to its right arm as it stumbles slightly!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: off balance) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: very badly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse snaps with wicked teeth at a giant thicket viper. The teeth lands a light hit to its head!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: slightly off balance) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: very badly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse slashes with razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a strong hit that tears the skin nastily as it struggles to regain balance!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: slightly off balance) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: very badly balanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)
>
A steel grey horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a strong hit that flicks off a few scales and it staggers to the ground!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: slightly off balance) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: extremely imbalanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: very badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A giant thicket viper is able to move again.

A steel grey horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a strong hit that flicks off a few scales!
>asse
A giant thicket viper sways back and forth, hissing something that sounds almost like a song.
>
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: extremely imbalanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: very badly balanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse slashes with razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a strong hit that nicks the neck with a light scratch, lightly stunning it!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: extremely imbalanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: extremely imbalanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (slightly off balance) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)
>
You feel fully balanced again.
>
A steel grey horse snaps with wicked teeth at a giant thicket viper. The teeth lands a solid hit that sticks deeply into the flesh!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: extremely imbalanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: extremely imbalanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse slashes with razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a good strike that etches a light cut into the right side of the chest, lightly stunning it!
>asse
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (3: extremely imbalanced) is facing you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: extremely imbalanced) is facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.
You (solidly balanced) are facing a giant thicket viper (3) at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

A steel grey horse rears up to its full height and lashes out with its razor-edged hoofs at a giant thicket viper. The hoof lands a very heavy hit that partially splits the sternum, snapping some ribs surrounding the heart!
A giant thicket viper slaps around a few times and then grows still.
>asse
You feel fully attuned to the mana streams again.
>
You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)
>
A steel grey horse turns to face a giant thicket viper.
A steel grey horse begins to advance on a giant thicket viper.
>asse

You assess your combat situation...

A giant thicket viper (1: nimbly balanced) is behind you at melee range.
A giant thicket viper (2: nimbly balanced) is flanking you at melee range.
A steel grey horse (1: extremely imbalanced) is advancing on a giant thicket viper (2) at missile range.

(You are also defending against a giant thicket viper.)

*******************

Here we see more stuns that do not improve the Horse's balance. Even with a knock down, the viper on the ground, through more than one hit with the viper on the ground - the horse does not gain balance, but only looses it.

In the past I have posted about a Balance problem with Horses in combat. I have never had proof before, only my impressions.

Let this serve as proof.

I hope something can be done about this. At the very least I would like to hear a Status update please. If it is a matter of "We can not work on this yet due to other systems needing to be done first" - that is fine. I understand these things.

But not communicating in such a situation would be demoralizing to say the least.

Thank you for reading this far.

Respectfully,

Candidus

Thanks Canaw for posting.

I just noticed something else when I re-read my post.

The Horse was not flanking the viper. It was facing it.

How can the Horse and myself both face the same creature? Should not the Horse be Flanking the viper? I was not mounted on it.

I could understand this if I was mounted, although even here it would be strange. Can not only one creature at a time face another? If I am facing a creature do not any other people that attack that same creature attack it on the flank?

If this is true why would it not be this way with a horse and an unmounted rider?

Anyways just something I was wondering about.

Thanks,

Candidus