game mechanics

[Rawhide]

Does anyone know the statistical distribution used for calculating damge dealt?
Powerstrike apparently increases probability of the high numbers. How does it affect the distribution?
Is it the same for spell damage and powercast?
How do magical resistance/ armour fit in?
How does the game decide if penetration has occurred?
What's the difference between the various attack modes (bash, lash, swing, thrust)?
Does anyone have monster spawning tables like they do for treasure generation?
Why do enemy spellcasters always have enough mana for level 7 spells no matter how many they've cast and even if they have nasty draining clouds on them?

[Target]

good questions, would like to know the answer to a few of them myself!!

[dplax]

Originally posted by Rawhide: 1. Does anyone know the statistical distribution used for calculating damge dealt? 2. Powerstrike apparently increases probability of the high numbers. How does it affect the distribution? 3. Is it the same for spell damage and powercast? 4. How do magical resistance/ armour fit in? 5. How does the game decide if penetration has occurred? 6. What's the difference between the various attack modes (bash, lash, swing, thrust)? 7. Does anyone have monster spawning tables like they do for treasure generation? 8. Why do enemy spellcasters always have enough mana for level 7 spells no matter how many they've cast and even if they have nasty draining clouds on them?

just numbered them for clarity

1. I don't.

2. I think powerstrike would rather be a multiplier

3. Powercast does do the same thing as powerstrike, but also increases the amount of time your spells last.

4. Magic resistance eiter totally negates an attack or reduces its effectiveness, probably the same is true for armour.

5; Probably depending on your attack rate and opponents armor.

6. I haven't noticed any difference.

7. I don't know of any.

8. Don't know.

[petertmorgan]

Originally posted by Rawhide: What's the difference between the various attack modes (bash, lash, swing, thrust)?

I remember seeing a table made for an older version of Wizardry (maybe Bane??) that showed the difference between the attack modes. I don't remember exactly what they said, or if it still applies to Wiz8, but I do remember that 'thrust' had a bonus to-hit but a slight minus to total damage done relative to 'swing'

[Rawhide]

I noticed that lash doesn't seem to penetrate as often; perhaps there's a strength factor in penetration which is ignored in lash attacks.
Bash is maybe similar, but less extreme.
When berserking, which attack mode is used? Is it randomly decided again, or does berserking count as a different type of attack?

[Ziggurat]

As to enemy spellcasters (question 8), some can go to zero stamina and keep on going. They don't even fall asleep. Nessie does reach her limit and will pass out. The Sige at the beginning of the cemetary you have to kill as she will always attack with spells and never pass out. Maybe because she is undead? Or is this also true for regular pure casting enemies?

Edit: as for the math used to calculate actions in battle, I think most of it is a trade secret and we'll never know exactly how things like number of swings, Tiger Strike, Crits, etc., work.

[ 12-12-2003, 08:32 PM: Message edited by: Ziggurat ]

regarding powerstrike, informal testing i've done shows that it does not increase damage. according to the help, it increases chance to hit/penetrate (or maybe just penetrate, i forget), but you dont need it to do more damage. my philosophy on it now is to open it (100 strength is great just for the damage multiplier), but i dont pump points into it at levelups unless i've got nowhere else to put the points.

powercast is slightly different. it mitigates the magic resistances of your targets, which will allow your spells to do more damage and cause more conditions. and, of course, there's the aforementioned extension of spell effects. for that reason, i always go for it right away (ie max intelligence) and pump powercast at every levelup for anyone whose primary role is spellcasting.

i've noticed that maces (bash) suffer less of a damage reduction against high armoured monsters (eg juggernauts, adamantium slimes) than swords (thrust, swing). similarly, the rogue backstab requires they use a weapon that has thrust as an attack mode (eg they cant backstab with a staff).

as to your questions about game mechanics, there's been lots of speculation, and some testing has revealed some indicative things. but as for precise forumlae? i dont think we'll ever see it.

but if they're going to keep it proprietary, then they better give us another game!

edit: clarity (i hope)

[ 12-14-2003, 07:53 PM: Message edited by: sultan ]

[Wolfie]

as to your questions about game mechanics, there's been lots of speculation, and some testing has revealed some indicative things. but as for precise forumlae? i dont think we'll ever see it.

Where's Alex "Perko" Meduna when you need him! Wizardry 8's Lead Gameplay Programmer / Designer, he's the one that gave us the spell learning details, see here for a copy (the top section).

but if they're going to keep it proprietary, then they better give us another game!

Absolutely!!! Bring on Wizardry 9, 10, 11!!!!!

[Rawhide]

Has anyone kept track of how much experience they get from each combat?
It seems as though as long as I kill one of the opponents I get experience as if I'd killed them all. I once met a group of 6 bitterwings and some plumed serpents and picked them off one by one with arrows while they battered a water elemental, but the combat ended and restarted a couple of times, and I netted a million points from the 'one' fight.

[Wereboar]

I noticed that lash doesn't seem to penetrate as often; perhaps there's a strength factor in penetration which is ignored in lash attacks.

I noticed that you only get half strength bonus to damage for lash attacks. And berserking with a whip often gives only normal damage, not double.

When berserking, which attack mode is used? Is it randomly decided again, or does berserking count as a different type of attack?

In wiz7, there was an attack mode called 'melee'. It was available only for very few weapons, if not only for one. It did double damage, but had IIRC -6 to hit. I think berserk in wiz8 is the same thing.