Ok, now that I've settled back in the game and had my share of action, I remember why I stayed very far away from anything combat related. The screen goes by sooo fast. That coupled with how I didn't know what in the world is going on (Like today, I thought was a everyone vs us wild nodes on Astral, that was really a I-have-no-idea-what-we-were-doing on Cesestia)

Now, I'm not looking for battle strategy or anything. Just some tips on knowing what in the heck is going on during a fight. What about way to slow down my screen just a little bit, so I can actually read it. My 25 year old eyes aren't as young as they used to be!

Assuming you're not on Nexus, you can do things like highlights or #say/#echo (for zMud), and just look for the lines that are a different colour from the base text to tell you what's going on. In the REALLY spammy stuff, you just have to try to catch a few words and try to guess what's going on from that, and that's your best hope (unless you do a lot of #subs, but I really dislike them).

You could also try to gag stuff, or sub something like...

Nejii twists Geb's left arm with Kjat, Horizon Weft, locking it up.

with

NEJII LARMGRAPPLE GEB

If you treat a variety of things with that procedure, and highlight some others, it should become much easier to parse relevant stuff from annoying combat spam.

After enough practice, eventually, your eyes will get used to seeing certain words and reacting off that, it helps a bit.

Like say:

THICK SHADOWS DRAG AGAINST YOUR EVERY ACTION = bad.

At that point the fight has usually slowed down a lot. >.>

You take that back! Nexus can so highlight.

It's not worth the bother. Nexus is unworthy!

Oh dear. Krellan is going to hunt you down now.

I think I'm pretty safe. He has Nexus!

Edit: And yes, I am (obviously) joking. It's not quite THAT bad.

I have subs for a few things. I'm going to have to figure out a good system of highlights and such.

Thanks for the input. Hopefully soon, I'll be a force to be reckoned with! (Or maybe not.)

It can, but it decides not to do it half the time

Actually, Nexus highlighting works ALWAYS for me. Maybe your scripting is messed up?

it was fast the very first spars.. i was jsut mashing buttons and dont even know what happens.. but it will go slower as time goes.. actually, you dont even have to read so much faster.. just recognize that you have time to think.. people dont attack every sec you know.. once every 3-4sec or about 2.3 if fighter.. so thats a lot of time actually to see whats going on..

after you attack.. just watch whats going on while waiting for balance.. you cant do anything anyway.. so might as well see whats happening
(not unless you have no system and has to manually cure everything.. then it might be hectic)

and also, if you want to be good.. what are you doing here? you should be sparring right now..

Not much of a script, most of them has two lines:
a. #highlight color.
b. do x.

b always happen, a not.
I gave up on understanding it.

His scripting isn't messed up, Nexus is just moody.

(How he gets B to always work I don't kow, though, Nexus doesn't even bother with that for me.)

hence why you need a decent client *wink* *nudge*

Regarding wildnodes, and other situations where the spam is ridiculous from all the fighters, what's really important for being useful is to be prepared. Know who you're going to target and keep watch for mentions of their name. Know what role you're meant to be playing in the fight (damage, hindering, or whatever else) so that you don't have to think about it too much. And use your prompt to watch your balance/equilibrium, because you'll sure as heck miss the 'you've regained balance' message, but the prompt comes up every line so you can't miss it. And simply fire away! That way you'll be useful despite not knowing what the hell's going on. Preparedness is next to godliness.

No it really is

Who are you and what did you do to Krellan?

I use echos and gags ALOT. Basically, when I start fighting My screen is flooded with echos telling me what to do. BALANCE BALANCE BALANCE. IMAPLED DON'T TOUCH THE KEYBOARD. LOVE! THAT HO USED LOVE! Things like that.