Re: Advice Wanted (DM)

From: ez007195@dale.ucdavis.edu (Yeon Choi)

Date: Mon, 31 Jan 1994 05:27:12 +0000

In article <gunzlerCKDp2x.HpG@netcom.com> gunzler@netcom.com (Mitch Gunzler) writes:
>In article <CKA7sL.5GH@ucdavis.edu> ez007195@dale.ucdavis.edu (Yeon Choi) writes:
>>In article <gunzlerCK9zI7.HG2@netcom.com> gunzler@netcom.com (Mitch Gunzler) writes:
>>I used to think that gaining a new level in Attack rating gained you a
>>commensurate bonus in your damage rating i.e. bumped you from normal to
>>good, good to great etc.  This was before the advent of Master+ classes,
>>though, so I don't know what's happened since then.  Other than that,it's
>>just straight percentages addedto dice rolls and compared to your oppo-
>>nents'.
>
>That sounds like a straight answer, thanks.
>So, other than warm fuzzies, it doesn't matter when you get to Master,
>just that you've acquired N skills (for a total of X) in that area, right?

Well, it also helps in determing what warriors you should attack.  If
you find out through the grapevine that scum killer got his Master
Attack, do you want to send your Master Parry scum after him?  It's an
even fight (always to the scum's advantage), and the extra ratings let
you know.  Before, you could get an idea of how good a guy was by how
current your data was:  Scum Killer got his AE Attack 6 turns ago, and
seems to be learning mostly attack skills, but I don't have complete
data so I don't know how *many* attack skills.

>For instance, I am told WL is used in deciding whether to faint or drop dead.

I think that WL probably has an effect on how deep into his hit points a
character will go before giving up.  The higher the WL, the deeper he'll
go.  If endurance comes out of hit points, then this would have an effect
on endurance as well.

>>That's why many parts of DM are counter-intuitive, like speed being a
>>worthless stat.
>
>It sure sounds that way, based on the skill charts.
>By the way, what effect does "coordination" have, and does that occasionally
>make a high speed worthwhile?  Or is a high Deftness, modest speed (so you
>don't get "uncoordinated") good enough?

I've never found a use for coordination.  I suspect that it might effect
the penalty for using an off-hand weapon, but I've never run any data
to see if this is true.  Occasionally you'll get the obtuse comment,
"Very highly coordinated with the ability to use a weapon in each hand."
I don't know what that means, either.

I think the main reason that SP is useless is because it doesn't give you
the two most important skills:  Attack and Parry.  Great Decis and Init
are okay, but if you're consistently getting your attacks parried or
(worse) riposted, then all that speed is doing you any good.  Attack is
paramount for any offensive.  A high Parry stat is necessary to reduce
your opponent's overall attack ability.  I've had Master Attack WS's go
up against Master Parry TPs and look like total amateurs.

You need both.

Trump
ez007195@dale.ucdavis.edu

References

Re: Advice Wanted (DM)
gunzler@netcom.com (Mitch Gunzler)
Thu, 27 Jan 1994 06:32:30 +0000
Re: Advice Wanted (DM)
ez007195@dale.ucdavis.edu (Yeon Choi)
Thu, 27 Jan 1994 09:31:32 +0000
Re: Advice Wanted (DM)
gunzler@netcom.com (Mitch Gunzler)
Sat, 29 Jan 1994 06:37:45 +0000