diff --git a/data.c b/data.c
index 0a73dd4..ed0a2ab 100755
--- a/data.c
+++ b/data.c
@@ -20952,8 +20952,8 @@ void initskills(void) {
 		addskilldesc(SK_PERCEPTION, PR_NOVICE, "^gYou can now check for trails on staircases before descending.^n", B_TRUE);
 		addskilldesc(SK_PERCEPTION, PR_NOVICE, "^gYou now have perception of your blind spots.^n", B_TRUE);
 		addskilldesc(SK_PERCEPTION, PR_BEGINNER, "^gYou can now determine the depth and direction of footprints.^n", B_TRUE);
-		addskilldesc(SK_PERCEPTION, PR_BEGINNER, "^gYou can now recognise the quality of all items.^n", B_TRUE);
-		addskilldesc(SK_PERCEPTION, PR_ADEPT, "^gYour field of vision is now wider.^n", B_TRUE);
+		addskilldesc(SK_PERCEPTION, PR_BEGINNER, "^gYour field of vision is now wider.^n", B_TRUE);
+		addskilldesc(SK_PERCEPTION, PR_ADEPT, "^gYou can now recognise the quality of all items.^n", B_TRUE);
 		addskilldesc(SK_PERCEPTION, PR_EXPERT, "^gYou can now move without leaving footprints.^n", B_TRUE);
 		addskilldesc(SK_PERCEPTION, PR_MASTER, "^gYou field of vision now extends behind you.^n", B_TRUE);
 	addskill(SK_STEALTH, "Stealth", "Affects your ability to move silently.", 0); // untrainable?
diff --git a/io.c b/io.c
index 9d5f325..e9f8c0e 100755
--- a/io.c
+++ b/io.c
@@ -4935,7 +4935,7 @@ void docommslf(lifeform_t *lf, char ch, lifeform_t *lf2, cell_t *targc) {
 					sayphrase(lf, SP_MERCYACCEPT, SV_TALK, NA, player->race->name, player);
 					// they knock you out
 					msg("^%d*WHACK*^n", C_YELLOW);
-					fallasleep(player, ST_KO, rnd(50,100));
+					loseconsciousness(player, getkotime(player),lf);
 					// they take all your stuff
 					/*
 					for (o = player->pack->first ; o ; o = nexto) {
@@ -7059,7 +7059,7 @@ char *makedesc_ob(object_t *o, char *retbuf) {
 		}
 
                 // item value
-                if (getskill(player, SK_PERCEPTION) >= PR_EXPERT) {
+                if (getskill(player, SK_PERCEPTION) >= PR_ADEPT) {
                     showvalue = B_TRUE;
                 }
                 if (!showvalue) {
@@ -11941,6 +11941,11 @@ void drawstatus(void) {
 		unsetcol(statwin, C_LIGHTBLUE);
 	}
 
+	if (lfhasflag(player, F_STRIKETOKO)) {
+		setcol(statwin, C_ORANGE);
+		wprintw(statwin, " Mercy");
+		unsetcol(statwin, C_RED);
+	}
 	if (lfhasflag(player, F_RAGE)) {
 		setcol(statwin, C_RED);
 		wprintw(statwin, " Rage");
diff --git a/lf.c b/lf.c
index 945119f..b193e42 100755
--- a/lf.c
+++ b/lf.c
@@ -9213,6 +9213,16 @@ int getjobrecommendation(race_t *r, job_t *j) {
 	return rec;
 }
 
+int getkotime(lifeform_t *lf) {
+    int kotime;
+    kotime = rnd(50,100);
+    if (lf != player) {
+        // monsters stay knocked out for a long time
+        kotime *= 10;
+    }
+    return kotime;
+}
+
 int getlastdir(lifeform_t *lf) {
 	flag_t *f;
 	f = lfhasflag(lf, F_LASTDIR);
@@ -17838,7 +17848,7 @@ void loseconcentration(lifeform_t *lf) {
 
 void loseconsciousness(lifeform_t *lf, int howlong, lifeform_t *fromlf) {
 	if (!isunconscious(lf)) {
-		fallasleep(lf, ST_KO, rnd(50,100));
+		fallasleep(lf, ST_KO, howlong);
 		if (fromlf && isplayer(fromlf)) {
 			pleasegodmaybe(R_GODMERCY, 5);
 		}
@@ -17932,7 +17942,7 @@ int losehp_real(lifeform_t *lf, int amt, enum DAMTYPE damtype, lifeform_t *froml
 	// would this damage reduce the lf to < 0 hp ???
 	hpleftafterdam = lf->hp - amt;
 	if (lfcanbekod(lf) && (lf->hp > 1) && (hpleftafterdam <= 0)) {
-		int threshold = 0,kochance = 0;
+		int threshold = -10,kochance = 0;
 		// merciful weapons - these will ALWAYS ko, even if
 		// they are already unconscious.
 		if (!ko && fromob) {
@@ -17965,7 +17975,7 @@ int losehp_real(lifeform_t *lf, int amt, enum DAMTYPE damtype, lifeform_t *froml
 
 			if (damtypeok) {
 				if (playerinvolved && godprayedto(R_GODMERCY)) {
-					threshold = -10;
+					threshold -= 10;
 					if (isplayer(lf)) {
 						// player being hit?
 						kochance += 75;
@@ -17974,15 +17984,14 @@ int losehp_real(lifeform_t *lf, int amt, enum DAMTYPE damtype, lifeform_t *froml
 						kochance += 30;
 					}
 				} else {
-					threshold = -5;
 					kochance += 15; // base chance to KO with bashing.
 				}
 
 				// TRYING to ko rather than kill?
 				if (fromlf && lfhasflag(fromlf, F_STRIKETOKO)) {
 					if (cansee(fromlf, lf)) {
-						kochance += 30;
-						threshold -= 5;
+						kochance += 50;
+						threshold -= 15;
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -18364,7 +18373,7 @@ void losehpeffects(lifeform_t *lf, int dam, enum DAMTYPE damtype, lifeform_t *fr
 			// this is mainly used in attack.c, so that we can announce
 			// "you hit xxx. xxx loses consciousness." as opposed to
 			// "xxx loses consciousness. you hit xxx." which makes no sense!
-			kotime = rnd(50,100);
+			kotime = getkotime(lf);
 			if (waskod) {
 				*waskod = kotime;
 			} else {
@@ -20348,7 +20357,7 @@ void precalclos(lifeform_t *lf) {
 
 			if (plev >= PR_MASTER) {
 				inc_quad_range(&startq, missingeye ? NULL : &endq, 2);
-			} else if (plev >= PR_ADEPT) {
+			} else if (plev >= PR_BEGINNER) {
 				inc_quad_range(&startq, missingeye ? NULL : &endq, 1);
 			}
 
diff --git a/lf.h b/lf.h
index 3300187..967a95e 100755
--- a/lf.h
+++ b/lf.h
@@ -212,6 +212,7 @@ enum JOBCATEGORY getjobcat(lifeform_t *lf);
 //enum SUBJOB getsubjob(lifeform_t *lf);
 char *getjobname(lifeform_t *lf);
 int getjobrecommendation(race_t *r, job_t *j);
+int getkotime(lifeform_t *lf);
 int getlastdir(lifeform_t *lf);
 int getleftrightwalls(lifeform_t *lf);
 int getlfaccuracy(lifeform_t *lf, object_t *wep);