At 04:13 PM 5/13/99 -0400, you wrote:

>Btw, despite my good connection, I don't particularly like
>that an external factor like connection speed could have this
>sort of impact on the game.

Well, what's interesting is that it's not as great as you think - I was
originally playing on a T-1 connection, then I switched to the home
computer (a 14.4) and suffered VERY little lag difference - usually only
during big magic-fights (another reason I like soloing). I've upgraded to
56k, and the only difference is I go linkdead less often.

>> The increased speed
>> DOES mean a lot, btw - much more than the increased str.
>
>Has anybody figured out exactly what it is increased str does?

Increased str = increased attack score, thus, you hit more often, and have
more potential to do more damage. I'm right on a threshold for both STR
and DEX, so I notice immediately when STR and DEX bonuses make a
difference. (For example, I recently bought two dervish rings, and instead
of boosting my ac by 2, they boosted it by 5, because the dex bonus pushed
me over that threshold.)

>And as I said yesterday, the speed boost for both the anthem
>and the whistling warsong do not stack, so there's less of a
>reason to use both together. (Would be interested if others
>find differently)

I wasn't aware that the warsong gave a speed bonus - in fact, in my
comparisons (I use scarabs as my "baseline") with no bonus, I hit less
often than the creature I'm fighting, with the Warsong, it's the same, but
the Anthem puts me at equal-to or faster. Pretty sweet if you ask me.

In regards to stacking, I had someone point out that this might be
considered "abuse" - what are your thoughts?

Talies on Bristlebane
http://amtgard.pinkpig.com/bards/eqbard.htm