- A NEW tactical aspect to combat has been added to Nodeka: flanking!
    Attackers will now gain combat bonuses whenever their victims are
    focused on a different target. See 'help flanking' for full details.
   
    The implementation of flanking is significant, but it is also just
    a starting point - from here, new skills can and will be implemented
    which enable and interact with the mechanic.
   
    The base mechanic as implemented now will provide strong benefits to
    groups of players in taking down more powerful foes. Flanking is a
    great benefit to pet classes as well. Further benefits will come in
    the form of skill improvements and new skills with which some classes
    will be able to interact with the flanking mechanic. (Hello, footpads!)
   
    Feedback to Whim, and keep your eyes on the MotD for further
    developments. =)

 help flanking

flanking:

Flanking, or the art of "ganking the poor chump from behind", is a strong
component of tactical group combat on Nodeka. Used wisely, this tactic can
enable a player to successfully assault a target s/he might otherwise be
unable to harm.

Any direct offensive move (attack, spell, or skill) may benefit from flanking.
The following conditions must be true in order for an attack to be considered
a "flanking attack":

1. The victim must already be in combat.
2. The victim must be focused on (attacking) someone OTHER than the person
   making the attack.

Any offensive move made while both of the above conditions are true is
considered a flanking attack, and receives the attendant bonuses. (Note,
however, that the sneakier classes on Nodeka have other ways of granting their
attacks "flanking" status even when these conditions are not true...)

All flanking attacks gain the following bonuses:

1. A large boost in accuracy.
2. A small boost in damage.

An interesting aspect of flanking is that it is more effective on victims with
high +hit/+damage scores. While this pair of bonuses are, by and large, two of
the strongest statistics on Nodeka, they do come with a minor trade-off.
Enhanced levels of +hit and +damage represent an increasingly significant
dedication of attention to an effective offense - a narrowing of focus which
leads to devastating attacks, but leaves the player less aware and more
susceptible to being flanked.

Flanking, thus, is a great boon to groups of players in taking down more
powerful foes, as well as a tool which finesse classes (such as footpads)
are able to call upon and interact with via their individual skill sets.

Non-player characters gain the benefits of flanking as well, but with the
following limitations:

1. Player pets DO receive full flanking bonuses.
2. Non-pet NPCs gain flanking bonuses as well, but at a SHARPLY reduced rate.