The official GemStone IV encyclopedia.
Patron's Blessing bestows a refined combat knowledge upon the paladin, increasing effective Combat Maneuvers ranks for purposes of the Combat Maneuver List (CML) and Attack Strength (AS). The caster's effective Combat Maneuvers rank is increased by +10, with an additional +0.75 for every Paladin spell rank beyond 11, capped at level. The Combat Maneuvers bonus granted by this spell also helps with aiming weapons.
With the increase in effective Combat Maneuver ranks, there is also an increase in mana cost. The base mana cost is 11, +1 for every 3 Combat Maneuver ranks above the initial 10.
This spell also increases the paladin's defense against standard maneuver roll attacks (both original maneuvers and SMRv2). The bonus ranks in Combat Maneuvers granted by this spell are also taken into account by the old SMR. This benefit is paladin only.
The total Combat Maneuver offensive bonus received between Patron's Blessing and the Paladin's actual Combat Maneuvers training cannot surpass what the paladin would receive were they to be fully trained (twice per level) in Combat Maneuvers. The Attack Strength bonus and SMR defense, however, is uncapped (in relation to the Combat Maneuvers bonus, but the Attack Strength and SMR defense bonus is also still restricted by the spell ranks formula noted above, which is capped at level).
If the paladin uses any enhancive items that increase Combat Maneuvers skill, the benefit of the spell is still limited to full (2x) skill training. If the paladin's actual training plus enhancives already exceeds 2x then the spell will not increase effective CML ranks. Any additional bonus would only contribute to Attack Strength.
Lore Benefits
Training in Spiritual Lore, Blessings provides an additional bonus of +1 Combat Maneuver rank at 3 Blessings Lore ranks, to a maximum of +17 Combat Maneuver ranks at 187 Blessings Lore ranks, on a seed 3 summation.
| Spiritual Lore, Blessings ranks
|
0 |
3 |
7 |
12 |
18 |
25 |
33 |
42 |
52
|
| Lore bonus to Combat Maneuver ranks
|
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8
|
| Spiritual Lore, Blessings ranks
|
63 |
75 |
88 |
102 |
117 |
133 |
150 |
168 |
187
|
| Lore bonus to Combat Maneuver ranks
|
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17
|
|
Messaging
| Cast
|
An unbridled power surges through you, infusing your body with might and improving your reactions.
|
(Caster's eye color) energy surrounds (caster), dancing off (his/her) body without harm.
|
| Expiration
|
You feel your abilities diminish as the energy provided by your patron fades from around you.
|
(Caster) loses the flickering (caster's eye color) energy surrounding (him/her).
|
Resources