I targeted a GMNPC who was in hiding stalking me tonight. I had no idea I was even engaged, she was never not in hiding ... I'm absolutely, 100% certain she was in hiding at the time of the target since she backstabbed me less than a second after the command went through. Log snippet follows.

I must stress this happened VERY fast. Estimate I was in the room less than 5 seconds before I was dead ... the time between the targeting and the backstab was miniscule.

Gizella

>nw
[Island Ring Road, Belarritaco Bay]
A brook trickles between rich farms on either side of the road, down to a small bay visible to the southwest. Beyond the bay, one can see part of the city of Mer'Kresh in Torbis Sanhalas. You also see a black-pawed snow leopard, a pure-bred Ilithic hunting dog, a spotted leopard, a deeply gouged brass strongbox, an oiled leather jacket, a heavy deobar belaying pin, a broad-barbed arrow, a broad-barbed arrow, a broad-barbed arrow, an onyx-hilted scimitar, and some leather greaves.
Also here: Thirin, Glythion, the body of War Hawk Genneron who is lying down, and Parran.
Obvious paths: southeast, west.
>
Chaosbringer Magdar just arrived.
>
Weaponsmith Barimor just arrived.
Taghz just arrived.
Chaosbringer Magdar just went west.
Thirin searches around for a moment.
Barbarian Mekage just arrived.
>
Appearing to have lost sight of his target, Taghz stops advancing.
Appearing to have lost sight of his target, Barimor stops advancing.
Appearing to have lost sight of his target, Mekage stops advancing.
You hear the ghostly voice of Genneron say, "Onyx scim"
>
Taghz just went west.
>
Korsobar just arrived.
>
Appearing to have lost sight of his target, Thirin stops advancing.
The spotted leopard slinks off.
The Ilithic hunting dog pads off.
The snow leopard slinks off.
You notice as a white leopard slinks into the area.
>
Korsobar just went southeast.
Derellor just arrived.
>
Parran picks up an onyx-hilted scimitar.
You get an odd feeling that someone is watching you. It quickly passes.
>target jour chest
*NOTE: I was following Jourok around with FS prep'd and cambrinth focused, hitting enter to target his chest with each new room I entered.*
Thirin eats a jadice flower.
>
You must be preparing a spell in order to target it!
>
Barimor moves into a position to parry.
>
Korsobar just arrived.
>prep fs 6
target chest

You notice as a white leopard waves its tail slowly in the air.
>That will disrupt most of your current attunement, leaving you effectively none.
You trace an arcane sigil in the air, shaping the pattern of the Fire Shard spell.
You begin to weave mana lines into a target pattern around Bretari, focusing on her chest.
>
Thirin eats a plovik leaf.
>w
>
* With the speed and temerity of a swooping falcon, Bretari backstabs a slim dagger with a jeweled hilt at you. You attempt to dodge, taking the full blow. The dagger lands a very heavy hit that shoves the dagger clean through the mouth and out the back of the head (Say 'ah'!).
Your sabre falls to the ground.

You feel the winds surrounding you disperse.
The shimmering shield fades from around you.
Your death cry echoes in your brain as it quickly dawns on you that you have just died! Already, you feel the tug of eternity upon your spirit and you struggle to remain tied to this world.

You are somewhat comforted that you have gained favor with your God and are in no danger from passing on into the Starry Road forever.

Your body will decay beyond its ability to hold your soul in 406 minutes.
[You're solidly balanced]
You are a ghost! You must wait until someone resurrects you, or you decay. Either way, it won't be long now! (HELP for more details).

I was also able to reproduce this bug. A few comments:

1)If there's a critter in the room it won't work. (makes sense)
2)If a bug with stealth and magic is gonna be fixed, I'd much rather see it be things not coming out of hiding when they fall down/go unconcious. Of course, both would be prefered.

Tessaa

"Chip-chop it up shoot the breeze"

<<I targeted a GMNPC...

<<That says it all. This NPC decided your ticket was being punched... "It's good to be the King/Queen">>

::chuckle:: Alas the post was about the apparent bug of being able to target someone I had never seen, who was in hiding from the moment I entered the room, not about being surprised by dying at the hands of a GMNPC.

Gizella

Definitely looks a lil buggy. I'm already reviewing some of the target acquistion stuff in target, so I'll take a peek and see if I can rummage it out.

Thanks Gizella

Talian

Yes I'm sure that GM's cheat all the time just so they can win. This is so they can have fun and laugh at our expense. <heavy sarcasm intended>

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Gotta love how people assume the worst. She was involved in a plot line and I don't think the GM intended on having that NPC die at the moment. But then that's a foreign concept.. Plot lines... <heavy sarcasm returned>


Elriic Melnebone

~For the Balance!

~I have returned!

"I don't think you experienced a true bug, I think you experienced a GM influencing the events so he/she could waste you :P"

Sorry Holmes, but GM's aren't allowed to cheat either. I remember someone posting about a GM pulling some stuff that a PC could never pull (something like having the abilities of multiple guilds or something) and Maelona said she'd like into it and talk to the guilty parties.

Tessaa

P.s. Any GMs that wish to cheat for my benefit, I give you permission.

>I'm super big on GMNPCs not "souping" themselves up so that they are using abilities or doing things that anyone cannot reasonable achieve in the game -- or will be able to achieve in the future.

That mean you're going to go poke Velmix and Jomay? ::grins::

-Chris

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<iMike> monty python would be funny if nerds hadnt invented an entire subculture devoted to quoting it