AG: dodging From: twoods@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu (T. Woods) Date: Sun, 13 Nov 1994 20:01:01 +0000 I'd like to start a discussion on the merits of dodging. :) I've been very successful with doding with my characters. I'm amazed that they are able to dodge especially considering many people's low opinion of it. First I should tell a little tale about dodging and parrying that I experienced with Boran Stoneshaper. Boran has a high level with the large shield (level 6). He also has a level 3 int. parry, level 5 combat sense, and is 36 inches and light weight. There has been some slight controversy over how effective the large shield is at parrying attacks. But Hugh has recently (within the last couple of weeks) confirmed that the large shield is THE best parrying weapon, i.e. has the largest bonus on your chance to parry. But I wanted to test this theory out with Boran one turn so I didn't turn off intelligent parry and put down parry 100% of the time with the large shield. Boran was at 26 wsp with the large shield and 27 d/r. The results were quite surprising. Boran's % to parry was roughly 75%. This was with a level 3 int. parry and the best parrying weapon in the game! But Boran's dodging was 90%! Roughly a 15% greater chance then parrying even with 3 int. parry! These percentages were true not only for the overall battle analysis but were even true when fighting the same opponent who made Boran both dodge and parry. Against the same opponent Boran's dodge was 15% better then his parry. This may seem odd, especially considering the fact that the large shield was supposed to be so effective at parrying. I decided to call up Hugh and find out what was going on. It seems that your size and build affect your chance to defend, something plainly stated in the rulebook. But what isn't discussed is exactly how it affects your defense. It seems that your size and build have a larger affect (bonus/penalty) on your ability to dodge then parry. So if you're small and light you have a bigger bonus on dodging then parrying. This is why Boran's chance to dodge was 15% greater then parrying, even with the best parrying weapon in the game and level 3 int. parry added in. But the penalty for being bigger/heavier is smaller when you're trying to parry, thus bigger characters parry better then they dodge, even if they have the same pts. with d/r and their weapon. It seems to me that peoples opinion of dodging as a defense is somewhat skewed. They try to translate what works well with big/heavy characters to what works well with small/light characters and sometimes that just doesn't work! Anyone with an opinion, feel free to voice it but please give some facts. I'd like this to be somewhat enlightening on the game and not just a bunch of opinions. Later, Todd Woods Boran - "Damn Morin tied me for D/R! It's really time to work on cunning!" Morin - "29 d/r! Soon I'll surpass Boran. And cunning is only a 4 multiple for me! :) " Mirn - "Elves shouldn't dodge, just stand there and wave their hands in the air, pretending their spells actually do something!" Referenced By Up