>If I go to use Cleave, and then immediately try and use DoubleStrike, I wait the normal amount of time for the maneuver to hit, but instead of cleave firing off I get Double strike. And to top it all off, it eats the Cleave cooldown, so I can start another Double strike immediately after.

I noticed the first part of this as well. My sense of what's happening is CLEAVEs charge is building, and when it's ready to fire, it checks for 'other actions', and finds DOUBLESTRIKEs charge building, thus making CLEAVE fail.

The 'eating CLEAVEs cooldown' though is weird, I didn't notice that. Are you sure it's not simply because CLEAVE isn't executing? Have you tried, say, holding an edged, executing a CLEAVE, switching to a blunt, executing a CRASH, immediately executing a DOUBLESTRIKE, and then checking to see if CLEAVEs CD has reset?

By which I mean, I ought to test that too...

Just finished up some early morning testing.

So it looks like the changes that Socharis mentioned in terms of balancing the creatures' offense/defense a bit more has been implemented? Young gryphons and dobeks were appraising as far below my skill level now, so I went ahead and made the leap into Ratha celpeze.

After ~20 minutes into testing the first time, I got a lot of skills moving very well, but then lost the upper hand, took a few stuns, and found myself dead.

Round two, I lasted just over 20 minutes (22 I believe), and was forced to make a hasty retreat due to injuries.

My only critique at this point would be that I'm still having a difficult time moving some of my magics while hunting (Elemental/Attunement). This was not what I'd consider easy or comfortable hunting, so I was casting a lot just to stay alive. I was using a combination of BoS, DEMA, and DMRS, all while keeping DALU pulsing at min prep for a general passive debuff. For the first three spells mentioned, I would charge my armband with 15 mana, then harness another 15 before casting. Sometimes I'd harness 30, just to try to get attunement budging, but that wasn't very sustainable.

That being said, I can still move all of my magics fine outside of combat, so I guess that may be intentional. It just felt like a lot of casting with minimal reward.

Here's a breakdown of what everything looked like after my second round:

Guild: Bard

Circle: 90
Showing all skills with field experience.

SKILL: Rank/Percent towards next rank/Amount learning/Mindstate Fraction
Shield Usage: 339 08% engrossed (27/34) Light Armor: 333 03% nearly locked (33/34)
Chain Armor: 317 35% nearly locked (33/34) Defending: 337 32% nearly locked (33/34)
Parry Ability: 361 02% very rapt (31/34) Small Edged: 316 80% riveted (28/34)
Small Blunt: 310 32% very rapt (31/34) Crossbow: 323 34% thinking (5/34)
Staves: 314 69% perusing (2/34) Light Thrown: 332 63% very focused (21/34)
Brawling: 316 95% considering (6/34) Offhand Weapon: 315 85% very riveted (29/34)
Melee Mastery: 345 59% nearly locked (33/34) Missile Mastery: 318 79% focused (20/34)
Attunement: 515 08% dabbling (1/34) Arcana: 424 25% perusing (2/34)
Targeted Magic: 343 72% ruminating (8/34) Debilitation: 429 13% nearly locked (33/34)
Evasion: 347 05% nearly locked (33/34) Athletics: 231 57% dabbling (1/34)
Perception: 394 79% learning (3/34) First Aid: 194 04% considering (6/34)
Appraisal: 485 08% dabbling (1/34) Tactics: 429 70% deliberative (11/34)
Bardic Lore: 656 20% thinking (5/34)

Total Ranks Displayed: 9023
Time Development Points: 581 Favors: 10 Deaths: 140 Departs: 125
Overall state of mind: clear
EXP HELP for more information


You are certain that the asaren celpeze is healthy.
You are certain that it is rather stronger than you are.
You are certain that it is not quite as agile as you are.
You are certain that it is about as disciplined as you are.
You are certain that it is somewhat less quick to react than you are.
You are certain that it is somewhat more conditioned than you are.
Taking stock of its offensive abilities, and defending with a primitive korograth hide shield surfaced with a thick layer of vicious briars and a light kertig throwing axe, you are certain that the asaren celpeze is a worthy opponent.
Taking stock of its defensive abilities, and attacking with a light kertig throwing axe, you are certain that the asaren celpeze is a rather difficult opponent.
If you attacked with a light kertig throwing axe, you are certain that the enemy would train rather well.
If you threw the axe at the enemy you are certain that it would train rather well.
If you defended by parrying attacks, you are certain that the enemy would train rather well.
If you defended by evading attacks, you are certain that the enemy would train rather well.
If you defended by blocking attacks, you are certain that the enemy would train rather well.
If you attempted to beguile the enemy with tactics, you are certain that it would train acceptably.
If you targeted and cast a spell at the enemy, you are certain that it would train rather well.
If you attempted to debilitate the enemy, you are certain that it would train acceptably.

But considering all the armor and shields you are wearing or carrying, you are currently fairly hindered and your stealth is fairly hindered.


Strength : 25 Reflex : 65 +
Agility : 55 Charisma : 60
Discipline : 50 Wisdom : 50
Intelligence : 60 Stamina : 30


I was buffed with a 60 mana Harmony for the duration of the testing, potency set to 130%. Combat stances varied depending upon the weapon.


Damage taken:
Your body feels very beat up.
Your spirit feels full of life.
You have some minor abrasions to the neck, minor swelling and bruising around the right arm compounded by cuts and bruises about the right arm, some tiny scratches to the left arm, minor swelling and bruising around the right leg compounded by cuts and bruises about the right leg, some tiny scratches to the left leg, some minor abrasions to the right hand, some minor abrasions to the left hand, a severely swollen and deeply bruised chest area with odd protrusions under the skin compounded by gaping holes in the chest area, minor swelling and bruising in the abdomen compounded by cuts and bruises about the abdomen, some minor abrasions to the back.

Bleeding
Area Rate

---

chest very bad(tended)
inside chest very bad
You have a seriously poisoned right arm.
You have a seriously poisoned left leg.