I guess you're talking about the attack rating, etc (uper right corner)? It's accessible on the first inventory page as well by clicking the small shield&sword. Useful since you can directly check weapon/accessory influence. I always thought it was closely related with the "to hit" number. You'll not be able to hit anything unless that number is in the corresponding range. I had the impression that the backstab multiplier is connected with this value as well (never got x2 unless this value was >20). If i don't get enough hits in a fight i usually try to switch to weapons with higher attack rating.
Avenstar has some numbers which skills/attributes influence attack range (like .1*weapon skill, etc.).
N.B. Just had a look at the fine manual (p.20):
Attack Rating: An indicator of how likely you are to hit monsters with this weapon...
To Hit: A component of the Attack Rating...
Oh, and Algorithm:
The word algorithm is a corruption of early English algorisme, which came from Latin algorismus, which came from the name of the Persian mathematician Abu Ja'far Mohammed ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi (ca. 780 - ca. 845)... (wikipedia)
Unlike Rhythm, which stems from the greek word "flow" (Rhythmos, Rhein)
Edit: Just read you offhand post, if you have 65 in sword you'll get +6 from there, and 45 mace will add +4. So if your attack stats differ only by 1, the nunchakus would be better if you'd get same skill level for sword and maces...
[ 02-06-2004, 02:47 AM: Message edited by: ferro287 ]