Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Could some one explain how ability to hit works and how damage is done.?

Robin, Thief of Hearts · 06-18-2001, 09:12 PM

Well the lads have answered and quite well too.
Let's see if I can do it in a mathematical way to make it easier-

THAC0 = amount you need to hit armour class of 0. The lower the THAC0, the better for you.

Now, the lower the armour class, the harder it is to score a hit.
Thus an AC of 5 is easier to hit than an AC of -3.

Your swing-weapon dice-roll( 1-20) will score a hit IF it is equal to or greater than your THAC0 minus the enemy AC.

If Random roll >= (your THAC0 - enemy AC) ------------------------> You HIT.

(If you can dredge up memories of math class, it should be clear that a NEGATIVE AC is a good thing for you to have, and the more negative the better.)

If you should roll a full 20, then you score a "Critical hit". Now, some instances allow critical hits to occur if you roll just 19. I think this can happen if you're using a single weapon and have proficiency in single weapon usage skill, for example.
That mighten't sound like a whole lot of improvement, but look at it this way:
Regular chance to get a Crit hit = 1 in 20.
Augmented chance to get a Crit hit = 2 in 20, or TWICE as often!

A Critical Hit does substantially MORE damage than a regular hit, but helmets can block them. It's rather like the headshots in Doom. Since MANY many enemies wear helms, it can be a disadvantage to score lots of Crit Hits in battle. Those blows just ring off the enemy helm.
*Dong!*

There are few things you can do to improve your chances of hitting the enemy.
- Never fight when exhausted. It spoils your THAC0.
- Backstab the enemy wherever possible, this is said to help your THAC0. I don't know the details, but brother it SURE helps your damage!!

Now, about damage -
Working out damage inflicted is pretty easy. Read up your weapon stats and there you go:
1D4 = from 1 to four points. ( roll one 4 sided dice.)
2D6 = from 2 to 12 points( 2 times 1D6 )

Some weapons have an additional add on damage- eg a magical bonus. This ranges from plus 1 to plus 5 in the game. A rare single weapon, the Spear of Impaling does a Gigantic super-whopping extra 10 points damage!
Some other weapons have associated special effects that do additional damage-
such as fire arrows, which do additional 2 points fire damage.

06-18-2001, 09:12 PM	#4
Robin, Thief of Hearts The Magister Join Date: April 8, 2001 Location: Caribbean Posts: 144	Well the lads have answered and quite well too. Let's see if I can do it in a mathematical way to make it easier- THAC0 = amount you need to hit armour class of 0. The lower the THAC0, the better for you. Now, the lower the armour class, the harder it is to score a hit. Thus an AC of 5 is easier to hit than an AC of -3. Your swing-weapon dice-roll( 1-20) will score a hit IF it is equal to or greater than your THAC0 minus the enemy AC. If Random roll >= (your THAC0 - enemy AC) ------------------------> You HIT. (If you can dredge up memories of math class, it should be clear that a NEGATIVE AC is a good thing for you to have, and the more negative the better.) If you should roll a full 20, then you score a "Critical hit". Now, some instances allow critical hits to occur if you roll just 19. I think this can happen if you're using a single weapon and have proficiency in single weapon usage skill, for example. That mighten't sound like a whole lot of improvement, but look at it this way: Regular chance to get a Crit hit = 1 in 20. Augmented chance to get a Crit hit = 2 in 20, or TWICE as often! A Critical Hit does substantially MORE damage than a regular hit, but helmets can block them. It's rather like the headshots in Doom. Since MANY many enemies wear helms, it can be a disadvantage to score lots of Crit Hits in battle. Those blows just ring off the enemy helm. Dong! There are few things you can do to improve your chances of hitting the enemy. - Never fight when exhausted. It spoils your THAC0. - Backstab the enemy wherever possible, this is said to help your THAC0. I don't know the details, but brother it SURE helps your damage!! Now, about damage - Working out damage inflicted is pretty easy. Read up your weapon stats and there you go: 1D4 = from 1 to four points. ( roll one 4 sided dice.) 2D6 = from 2 to 12 points( 2 times 1D6 ) Some weapons have an additional add on damage- eg a magical bonus. This ranges from plus 1 to plus 5 in the game. A rare single weapon, the Spear of Impaling does a Gigantic super-whopping extra 10 points damage! Some other weapons have associated special effects that do additional damage- such as fire arrows, which do additional 2 points fire damage.