It's my third time playing this game, yet I still couldn't figure out how to best build my characters, especially fighter-type classes.

First, I'm just curious about which skill(s) affect the combat stats (such as To Hit, Attack Rating, etc.) most? Is it the more 'general' weapon skills such as close combat, dual weapons and ranged combat? Or is it the more 'specific' ones such as sword, bow, axe, polearm, and so on?

I just got a hint that for every 10 points of stealth skill the character who possess that skill will get a raise in AC by 1. Does anybody happen to know any other improvements related to certain point in character vital stats (str, int, dex, etc.)?

When are the critical strike skill going to show some effects? I got a ninja with about 70+ critical strike point, still she almost NEVER does any instant kill.

OK, I think that's all I have to ask for now. Thanks in advance.

• RE: Which skill?,Dragon2k, 03:07 AM, Feb-25-03
  • RE: Which skill?,paladin76, 11:02 PM, Feb-25-03
    • RE: Which skill?,Dragon2k, 03:12 AM, Feb-26-03

LAST EDITED ON Feb-26-03 AT 03:11 AM (Pacific)

1) all. all those skills will improve with usage. it's harder to go from 95-100 than it is to go from 0-95 in any given skill.
they all are important. Close Combat and the appropriate weapon skill, are equally important. if, when added together, equal or are greater than 100, another attack will be gained, in addition to the ones speed gives you
Dual Weapons, many times around here as Dual Wield, only affects people who have 2 weapons equipped simutaneously, like a sword and dagger (of which was quite popular back in the middle ages). DW helps offset the penalties to hit and swings, when equipping a secondary weapon. DW, at 125 makes the main weapon, as effective as it would be alone, and the secondary weapon, can be 62.5% as effective as it alone would be, when primary.
really, concentrate on upping the proper stats for your fighter. Streghtn, Dexterity, and Speed all are important, Vitality is nice, but not a requirement for such a High HP class anyway.
Senses, just isn't worth putting beginning points into. helps just a bit when aiming.
obviously, a fighter is for damage, and lots of it, so Powerstrike, gained when STR=100 natural, is obviously a great skill to have. not to mention STR increases stanima by a lot, and CC by a godly amount, thus letting you berserk more often without problems, like him falling asleep during combat.

2) 80 Speed - AC+1; 90 SPD=+2AC (that faerie mage of yours, may be the first to have this improvement), includes any haste spell's effects.

3) Critical Strike skill, is flaky, some days you get 10 in a row, other times you go whole weeks with none. it depends really on your character's Level, Speed, Dexterity (likely), and all vs the monster's defensive stats (like level)
i.e. if your ninja is level 8 and you fight Vampire bats (10), not likely to get a instakill. come back later at level 15, and chances are, you could see one.
also, it's called "Instakill" when it happens, and is very easy to miss. no special sound effect for it.
minor clarification edit

Well, thanks a lot. This will help me greatly.

That's what this board is for
Glad to help