Whats the latest thinking on stats affecting performance?

[Mr Creosote]

The title is prolly a bit vague.
What I mean is, for example, skil with swords. Is the prime controlling attribute swords or close combat?
If you had say 50 points in only one or the other (I know it doesnt work that way, but just to help me understand), which would be more powerful - Sword 50 CLose Combat 0 OR Sword 0 Close 50?

[Ben Lauritson]

My guess is that sword will increase you effectiveness with the sword more than close combat will. I say that because close combat governs all melee weapons, and so I think that it would have less of an effect compared to the individual weapon skills. I'm comparing it to the magic skills, about the spellbook skills having less of an effect than the individual realm skills.

I don't know that however, it's just my theory.

[Loudhy]

From my experience, Close Combat is the ability to hit with each weapon ( weapon skill can be 0)
The higher the weapon skill , the better is the chance to hit and penetrate armor and the greater is the damage.

[img]graemlins/monster5.gif[/img]

[Mr Creosote]

Right, so which is more important?

I mean would it be viable to points JUST in Sword and ignore Close?

[DraconFighter]

"I mean would it be viable to points JUST in Sword and ignore Close?"

Yes, that would work. What I've always read and seen in my own game play is that:

1. Every point in Close Combat increases your attack rating .05 and the number of attacks .01

2. Every point in Sword increases your attack rating .1 and the number of swings .01

So, as a general rule, it is better to increase the specific weapon skill (sword, bow, etc) rather than the general skill (close combat, ranged combat).

But I think you'll also notice the sword skill increases faster on its own than the close combat skill, so you might want to put points into both.
And for a ranger, the ranged combat skill determines the number of critical kills.

Of course these aren't the only numbers that influence your attack rating, # of attacks, and # of swings. Attributes like Senses, Dexterity, and Strength also have a bearing.

The # of attacks per round and the # of swings per attack are simple concepts. Does anyone have a good handle on what the "attack rating" actually does? The manual says the "attack rating" is how likely you are to hit a monster and
the "to hit" number is a component of the attack rating. I couldn't begin to translate this into percentages.

[Horpner Sneed]

The following web page contains the information you want, but I don't know if it is accurate. In addition, the terminology is tough to follow, e.g., what's the difference between "attack rating" and "chance to hit"?

Stats Explained Close Combat Skill: .05 Attack Rating, .01 # of attacks Sword Skill: .1 Attack Rating, .01 # of swings

The numbers above are the increase per point you invest. So Close Combat is half as important as "Weapon" for your Attack Rating, and just as important as "Weapon" for your number of attacks. This explains why Fighters and Rangers tend to get extra attacks sooner than other classes (Ranged Combat is analogous)

[Mr Creosote]

I'm thick [img]smile.gif[/img]
I still don't understand.

I mean. All other things being equal and for one moment putting aside all the other influences to combat attack, how does Close positively effect things? If the attribue that a sword user really needs is sword, then what use is close combat as a generalisation sort of attribute?

If Close is ADDED to the Sword attribute then Close is important, but if it isnt added in a cumulative way then it appears to have no use whatsoever.

I am just trying to understand where best to put my level up points. For example, a Lizzie Fighter.
I'll put 3 points in Sword, all well and good but where best to spend the other 6? If Close hasnt much effect then its a waste to put them there and I may as well start putting them in something like Modern Weaps for later on in the game.

I always played the game by putting max points in Sword AND Close, but I am wondering whether its best to just put points in prime attribute slike Sword, Shield, Mod Weaps and let the generalised attribute slike Ranged and Close just build on their own over time.

[ferro287]

It is added altogether. If you're having trouble distributing points for a lizzie fighter, then your other chars are in trouble

No, close combat and sword, and maybe polearms/staff would prolly be the best for the typical fighter.

[ScottG]

Oh its far more complex than that Mr. Creosote. Class and Class level are also part of the picture - as are attributes (in differing capacities).

But for what you really want to know.. "where to put your points", you should really place points where you find it is more difficult to increase the skill quickly through regular use.

I typically find that close combat progresses more slowly than any weapon skill - so IF I place any points in a skill related to my primary form of combat, THEN I will place it in close combat.

Typically though I'll place skill points in other skills that I rarely use at all.. i.e. if my primary form of combat is close combat with a sword - then I'll typically spend my points on ranged combat, bows, and slings (for chucking potions like cherry bombs) - knowing that these skills won't improve very fast because I don't use them much.

In otherwords - place your points where your character is deficient, but will occasionally use that skill.

If you unlock ANY specialist skill - like Ironskin, then ALWAYS plow your points into that skill.

[ 02-12-2004, 03:06 PM: Message edited by: ScottG ]

[DraconFighter]

"I'm thick
I still don't understand."

I don't think you need to get into exactly how the game computes attributes, skills, and everything else in order to enjoy the game. Maybe the best approach would be to ask questions about developing specific characters and parties. Chances are somebody here has done it before.