PSM Reference Guide

Player System Manager (PSM) skills are combat abilities in GemStone IV that your character can learn and use. This guide covers how to work with PSMs in Lich scripts.

What are PSMs?

PSMs include:

Category	Description	Examples
CMan	Combat Maneuvers	Bull Rush, Feint, Coup de Grace
Shield	Shield Specializations	Shield Bash, Bulwark, Phalanx
Feat	Character Feats	Cunning Defense, Combat Mastery
Weapon	Weapon Techniques	Cripple, Whirling Blade
Armor	Armor Specializations	Armor Spike, Armored Stealth
Warcry	Battle Cries	Bertrandt’s Bellow, Yertie’s Yowlp
Ascension	Ascension Abilities	Various ascension skills
QStrike	Quick Strikes	Rapid attack abilities

Skill Types

Each PSM has a type that determines how it works:

:passive - Always active once learned, no activation needed
:attack - Offensive action against a target
:buff - Temporary enhancement to your character
:stance / :martial_stance - Combat stance that modifies behavior
:setup - Prepares for a follow-up action
:area_of_effect - Affects multiple targets
:concentration - Requires focus to maintain

Using PSMs in Scripts

Check if You Can Use a Skill

# Check if you have enough stamina for Bull Rush
if PSMS.assess("bullrush", "CMan", true)
  fput "bullrush"
end

# Check with forced RT consideration
if PSMS.assess("feint", "CMan", true, forcert_count: 2)
  fput "feint"
end

Check Skill Availability

# Is the skill off cooldown and not overexerted?
if PSMS.available?("bullrush")
  # Safe to use
end

# Ignore cooldown check (for skills with ignorable cooldowns)
if PSMS.available?("burst", true)
  # Use even if on cooldown
end

Get Skill Information

# Find a skill by name
skill = PSMS.find_name("feint", "CMan")
# => { :long_name => "combat_feint", :short_name => "feint", :cost => {...} }

# Normalize a skill name for lookup
PSMS.name_normal("Bull Rush")
# => "bull_rush"

Forced Roundtime (Multi-Opponent Combat)

Characters with Multi-Opponent Combat training can perform multiple actions:

# Check max forcert rounds based on MOC ranks
PSMS.max_forcert_count
# => 0 (0-9 ranks), 1 (10-34), 2 (35-74), 3 (75-124), 4 (125+)

# Can I do 2 forcert rounds?
if PSMS.can_forcert?(2)
  # Yes, MOC is 35+
end

Handle Failures

PSMs can fail for various reasons. Use the built-in failure detection:

result = dothistimeout "bullrush", 3, /^You |#{PSMS::FAILURES_REGEXES}/

if PSMS::FAILURES_REGEXES.match?(result)
  echo "Action failed: #{result}"
end

Common failure messages: - “You are unable to do that right now.” - “You don’t seem to be able to move to do that.” - “You are still stunned.” - “You lack the momentum to attempt another skill.”

Combat Maneuvers (CMan)

Combat Maneuvers are trained through the Combat Maneuvers skill. Key maneuvers include:

Offensive

Bull Rush - Area attack, 14 stamina
Berserk - Rage mode, 20 stamina
Coup de Grace - Finishing move, 20 stamina
Feint - Setup attack, stamina varies

Defensive/Utility

Burst of Swiftness - Speed buff, 30/60 stamina
Combat Mobility - Passive defense
Combat Toughness - Passive health

Passive (Always Active)

Acrobat’s Leap
Block Specialization
Combat Focus
Combat Movement

Shield Specializations

Shield skills require wielding the appropriate shield type.

Passive Abilities

Adamantine Bulwark - Enhanced blocking
Block the Elements - Elemental resistance
Deflect Magic - Spell deflection (requires 3 ranks in Shield Focus)
Deflect Missiles - Ranged deflection

Active Abilities

Shield Bash - Offensive shield attack
Shield Charge - Rushing attack
Disarming Presence - Martial stance, 20 stamina

Shield Focus Types

Small Shield Focus
Medium Shield Focus
Large Shield Focus
Tower Shield Focus

Script Integration Example

Here’s a complete example of using PSMs in a hunting script:

# Check resources before engaging
def can_attack?
  return false if Spell[9007].active?  # No attacking while dead
  return false if stunned?
  return false unless PSMS.available?("bullrush")
  return false unless PSMS.assess("bullrush", "CMan", true)
  true
end

# Attempt a combat maneuver with error handling
def try_bullrush
  return unless can_attack?

  result = dothistimeout "bullrush", 3, /^You |#{PSMS::FAILURES_REGEXES}/

  if PSMS::FAILURES_REGEXES.match?(result)
    echo "Bull Rush failed"
    return false
  end

  true
end