[Zooko]

I am confused by the rules about spending gems in battle. I've read the manual (back before I lost it Last week) and I've read Liga's manual addendum, and discussed it on the forum and in private Messages. I *think* mages can spend up to one gem to increase their effective level by one, plus up to N-1-K gems to reduce their fatigue, where N is their effective level (*before* the first gem was spent ??) and K is the gem cost of the spell. But I wouldn't bet on my understanding being correct.

I'm really hoping to figure this out before I try to cast huge high-level spells in combat. But to get back on topic for this thread, I'm also hoping that gem usage is simpler in dom3.

Hm. Now I will think of a concrete proposal to make it simpler -- not because I'm likely to think of a better idea than Johan and Kristoffer can think of, but because my proposal might stimulate them to think of a good idea.

... Hm. Okay:

My proposal is that gems have no effect in combat except to satisfy the "gem requirement" for spells.

That feels good to me, because I feel like the battle AI is sure to make bad decisions about when to spend or not to spend gems, so if the scope of opportunities to spend gems is narrowed I'm happy.

Also, it would reduce confusion, thus making the game easier for new players to get into.