--- src/cmd7.c.orig	Mon Jul 21 21:43:45 2003
+++ src/cmd7.c	Mon Jul 21 21:45:38 2003
@@ -1936,6 +1936,11 @@
 	char out_val[160];
 	char choice = 0;
 	bool lockpval = FALSE;
+	int lockpval_which = -1;
+	int lockpval_reason = 0;
+	static char *lockpval_reasons[2] = {
+		"don't know how", "aren't skilled enough"
+	};
 	int pval;
 	int oldpval;
 	energy_use = 100;
@@ -1993,7 +1998,14 @@
 			/* If this item has an ability that depends on pval which the player
 			 * cannot set, don't allow them to change the pval either. */
 			if ( a_select_flags[i].pval && flags_select[i])
+			{
 				lockpval = TRUE;
+				if (lockpval_which < 0)
+				{
+					lockpval_which = i;
+					lockpval_reason = 0;
+				}
+			}
 
 			/* Set the color and set-ablitity of this flag */
 			if ( flags_select[i] )
@@ -2007,8 +2019,15 @@
 			/* If the alchemist has not passed the skill level for this flag,
 			 Set this flag as unsettable.
 			 */
-			if ( flags_select[i])
+			if ( a_select_flags[i].pval && flags_select[i])
+			{
 				lockpval = TRUE;
+				if (lockpval_which < 0)
+				{
+					lockpval_which = i;
+					lockpval_reason = 1;
+				}
+			}
 			else
 				flags_select[i] = -4;
 		}
@@ -2117,7 +2136,9 @@
 				{
 					if ( lockpval )
 					{
-						msg_print("You cannot do that - you don't know how!");
+						msg_format("You %s to increase '%s'",
+							   lockpval_reasons[lockpval_reason],
+							   al_name + a_select_flags[lockpval_which].desc);
 						continue;
 					}
 					pval++;
@@ -2127,7 +2148,9 @@
 				{
 					if ( lockpval )
 					{
-						msg_print("You cannot do that - you don't know how!");
+						msg_format("You %s to decrease '%s'",
+							   lockpval_reasons[lockpval_reason],
+							   al_name + a_select_flags[lockpval_which].desc);
 						continue;
 					}
 					pval--;