amazingly enough, i read this entire post.
one comment.
Datruth, you say that you used the 3 potions to counteract the "surprise" magic attack.
isn't surprise a battle strategy?
it appears you were taken by surprise honorably and decided to cheat to deal with that strategy.
all of your arguements from that point fall apart.
you were being bested in a duel and that's that.
deal with it.

Here is a story that might shed light on this topic:

      When I was a young Enki, my parents unjustly taken from me, I had to venture out on my own. I made my way to Hyddla and found myself alone in the big city.
I had several harrowing encounters with bandits, robbers and the like. It happened that each time I was accosted it was by an elf. Several different elves were the cause of my misery. It was not long before I developed a severe distaste for elves and avoided them at all cost. As is common, I began to find my way in the world and trained in different combat techniques and grew strong and confidant.

      I was out by the ruins one day when I met a fine Fenki who trains warriors. As we talked, I told her of my dislike for elves. She told me that it was not logical for me to hate a whole race for the actions of a few. She said she understood my feelings but that I needed to let go of my prejudice if I ever wanted to be at peace. I was unwilling and she refused to train me any further until I could learn not to act out of fear and hatred. I had been wronged by elves and wasn't willing to let it go. I walked away and left my training. I ventured out into the hills and decided to spend some time seeing the countryside and decided on an aim for my future.

      I was far away from civilization camping by a stream and had been so for several days, when I heard a cackling from upstream. It was a crazy sound. I headed out to investigate. I hadn't gone far when I spotted an old man jumping up and down laughing maniacally. He was saying "got you, you little tree rat!" and "another one down and many more to follow!". I saw that in his outstretched hands was a dead squirrel! When he finally saw me, he greeted me cheerfully enough and asked if I would like some company. I invited him back to my camp where I prepared us a nice fish dinner over the fire. He seemed to be a nice enough old man, and he displayed none of the strange behavior I had seen earlier. He was a master fisherman and, over the next few days, taught me many useful fishing techniques. He also showed me methods for drying and smoking fish to preserve them for future meals.

      One day we were hanging some fish over the fire for smoking, when the old man whirled toward a tree. In the blink of an eye his sling was in hand and he fired a stone at something moving in the branches. I saw a small furry red squirrel fall to the ground. It wasn't dead, just stunned. The old man ran quickly and snatched it up, wringing it's neck dead. Then he started gigling in a slightly insane sounding manner. I watched dumbfounded as to why he was behaving so. Later, when we were by the fire, I asked him what he had against squirrels. He showed me a few Small, mended holes in his pack where squirrels had chewed through trying to get to his food. He said they had had stolen his food and damaged his pack for the last time. He had vowed to kill every squirrel he saw. When I mentioned that not every squirrel deserved to die because of the actions of a few, he got upset. I told him that it didn't make sense to hate all squirrels for what a few had done, he said to mind my own business. It was later that night that I realized that what I had said to him applied to me and my feelings about elves as well. I left the crazy old squirrel hater by by the stream that day, and headed back to civilization.

Since that day, I have made friends with several elves and found them to be good folk. I have continued my training and am no longer consumed by fear and hatred. Life is sure a lot more pleasant now.

Just food for thought,
Gris

Hmmm....I saw that i needed the new client, downloaded it while i was sleeping last night and was playing this morning. No big deal. It seems you\'re doing an awful lot of whining when you could just download the new client and start playing. This is a tech demo, being developed by volunteers in thier spare time. It\'s also free, so you take what you get. You are a tester first and a player second. Remember that before complaining as if you are a paying customer.

Gris

jst a note -- I have a slow DSL connection and it only took about 6 hrs. to download

Aaaahh... it is so gratifying to see good folk come together in this way. I am delighted for you both. I hope to be able to attend the big event. Let me know when and where. A big congratulations.

Gris

i have a character too. Can i join u?  

Gris

fish
more fish
lots more fish

...and this is your computer on drugs!
I think that looks so cool!

I want the outfit.

Computer type:  Powerbook G4
Mac OS Version: 10.3.9
Processor:  1.25 Ghz G4
RAM: 1024 MB
Video Card:  ATI Mobility Radeon 9700  
64MB VRAM

Problems: a lot of black areas, weird trails and graphic stretching when exiting sewers, heavy lag in Hyydla and Oja(in town).