Basics of Combat, Volume 4, Dodge

Yesterday I posted about one mechanism used to avoid damage even after a hit has been successful. Today, we are going to take a look at the other mechanism, Dodge chance. The two mechanisms actually use the same formula to determine the percent chance of success. The difference between the two is Parry uses Strength as it primary attribute and Dexterity as a secondary and Dodge in the reverse. Dexterity is much more important to your Dodge chance than Strength is. So let's take a look at another example shall we?

Once again our 1st level warrior (getting rather attached to him) is facing off against a big mean, and notably ugly, Scar-Eyed Goblin Whelp. The warrior hasn't had a chance to improve his dodge skill so it starts off at the value of 1. He has a 14 in Dexterity, an 18 in Strength, and no other bonuses to Dodge, so this gives him the early numbers of:

Skill - 1
Bonuses - 0
Dexterity Bonus - 24.5 (14 * 1.75)
Strength Bonus - 1.5 (18 / 12)

The calculation for the Target's dodge chance modifier would look like this:

(1 / 5) + 24.5

So his final skill for Dodge is, 24.7. His Strength bonus is taken into account later.

Now the stats for the Scar-Eyed goblin haven't chanced since the last time he attempted to hit our hapless warrior. Since he is a MOB (Monster OBject) he, therefore, has a skill value equal to its effective level (1) times ten, so this Offense skill is 10. Offense is equally dependent on two attributes, both Dexterity and Strength. So it gains a bonus equal to the average of these two scores. Now our little goblin isn't the strongest nor the most agile of the species, as such, his Strength is a 16 and his Dexterity is 14. Nor has his race developed any bonuses to offense since the last attack (nor than they discovered deodorants either). So, in the end, his stats are as follows:

Offense Skill - 10
Offense Bonus - 0
Strength and Dexterity bonus - 26.25 (15 * 1.75)

So the goblin's total Offense score would be:

(10 / 5) + 26.25

Giving the final value of 28.25.

So Dodge uses the following formula to determine your chance at avoiding an attack:

Dodge = 5 + Target's Strength Bonus + (Target's Dodge Skill - Attacker's Offense Skill)

So to fill in the numbers it would look like this:

5 + 1.5 + (24.7 - 28.25)

Leaving us with the final value of 2.95 or the final value of 2, since NWN2 drops fractions. This value is actually below the minimum dodge/parry chance so our warrior gets a helping hand up to the minimum value of 3%. So our warrior has an additional 3% chance to avoid all damage dealt from the Scar-Eyed Goblin Whelp.

Once again, for those of you who enjoy easy numbers:
1) For every 5 skill points in your chance to dodge is modified either up or down by 1%.
2) For every Dexterity point your chance to dodge is modified either up or down by 1.75%.
3) For every Strength point your chance to dodge is modified either up or down by 0.08%.

Next post we will be looking at the chance of only getting a glancing blow. But for now, see you in the game!