Re: Odyssey Melee Combat

From: dman@p-o.widomaker.com (dman)

Date: Tue, 05 Mar 1996 00:00:00 +0000

In article <DnsHn0.JDC.0.-s@cs.vu.nl>, sjoerd@cs.vu.nl says...
>
>dman@p-o.widomaker.com (dman) writes:
>
>>I was just looking at the algorithms for calculating initiative, to-hit
>>percentages, etc., and was struck by the fact that any armor heavier
than
>>leather is basically a disadvantage all around.  Losing mobility can
kill
>>your initiative not to mention making you easier to hit.  The only
bonus,
>>and it seems to be a small one, is that you can absorb several
percentage
>>points more damage with heavier armor with the increased melee defense
>>ability.
>
>Note that the increased melee defense ability makes one less easier to
>hit,
>especially when defense is still near zero. So it may be possible
>that, despite the mobility penalty, the chance-to-be-hit will decrease.
>Together with the better damage absorbtion, heavy armor can be
>usefull, espcially when you don't care about initiative.
>
>>In reality I guess this makes sense as heavier armor would slow you down
>>but, in Odyssey, that basically means never giving characters armor
>>heavier than leather.  How boring!  Am I missing something here?
>
>No, you're reading the rules exactly the way I do.
>
>Sjoerd Schreuder

But is doesn't.  Have you plugged some numbers in?  What I had calculated
made me realize, at all levels, that any armor heavier than leather would
make your character easier to hit.  For instance, a character with a
mobility of 20, melee of 1000, and defense of 1000 with glowing leather
has the attacking score - 84.78 percent chance of being hit.  When wearing
glowing chain, however, that is reduced to attacking score - 80.97, which
of course equals a greater chance to be hit.  Basically, the defense
bonuses of heavier armor didn't begin to make up the difference of the
lost mobility.

So when wearing heavier armor the following occurs:

1.  Your initiative takes a hit and monsters are likely to get the 1st
shot in in all rounds of conflict for every action.
2.  You are more likely to be hit when you are attacked.
3.  The amount of damage you can absorb increases by only a very small
amount.  I think the number I came up with was a 6% increase which when
you are looking at even a 200 point attack only comes out to being able to
absorb about 12 more points of damage when wearing plate instead of
leather.

So to get ahead in combat in Odyssey, it would make sense to wear light
armor and jack up your defense scores to absorb damage independent of the
armor you are wearing.  Of course this is all calculated with armor
available at the beginning of the game.  Perhaps during the course of the
game armor might be found that would substantially increase the defense
score making wearing it worthwhile.

If my logic is flawed somewhere someone please correct me.

References

Odyssey Melee Combat
dman@p-o.widomaker.com (dman)
Tue, 05 Mar 1996 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

Odyssey Melee Combat
dman@p-o.widomaker.com (dman)
Tue, 05 Mar 1996 00:00:00 +0000