Questioning strength modifiers

[fliend]

Ok, Ultima 7 has Strength, Dexterity, Combat ect. I know that strength is how much force against object/opponent blaa! blaa! blaa! and modifies how much junk you can drag around ect. But in terms of damage done to opponent, what is the difference in 18 and 19 or even 18 and 20. -IS- there a difference in 18-20 in damage inflicted or does it really matter at all if your strength is 18, 20 or even 30 as far as damage inflicted. A two-handed wheapon is about 11. How is that applyed to strength? Is it 11 for a weak beginner Avatar at 18 or is it max at 30(or both). U9's clue book gives a clear answer, +2 for Strong +4 Powerful ect. But U7's only said what I said above. I have searched the net and only found info already obtained in the Key to BG guide. Will exult be doing these modifications? Personally, I liked U9's style as far as that was concerned. Ultima 8 uses Strength for accuracy. That ain't right. AD&D uses that too but also uses damage. Dexterity alone should be used for accuracy, not muscle mass.

[Tim]

Yes, how's it work?

And combat skill, not dexterity, is the messure of accuracy. Dexterity should lessen the chance an opponent has to hit you and also increase the rate of your attacks.

[fliend]

Playing the original game(not Exult) I've noticed that the two-handed sword is awkward to use early on. I don't know if strength or dexterity improves two-handed wheapon use. Last time I played, I hardly ever made a hit with a two-handed sword(using the Avatar) and was always trying to get the stupid thing into position to hit. Dupre' is better than the Avatar. Probably because he is more aggressive(even when not in 'berserk' mode') At STR 60 I always made my Avatar use the Black Sword, but he was still awkward. Monsters would usually gang up on the Avatar and he couldn't decide who to attack first. Setting to manual attack is useless. I've kind of noticed an improvement in combat AI when I increase my party's intelligence from 18 to 20 but I could be wrong. Jaana in particular is terrible in getting stuck in walls. Shamino is usually the one who ends up following me and the rest get stuck. I've wondered if Intelligence modifiers could be applyed to the Exult game. A less intelligent(common sensewise) character would loose his/her way. A more intelligent one would figure it out.

[Neutronium Dragon]

In the original games Intelligence *does* affect characters in combat; they seem to undertake better tactical maneuvers when intelligent.

A great way to see this is in the list field in Monitor in SI, under the original engines.

Train a character with Shazanna, giving them a halberd as a weapon. The dumb characters (Shamino and Dupre) will just stand still, trading blows (and taking a beating as a result).

The intelligent characters (the Avatar and Iolo) will often (though not always) begin a 'strike-and-retreat' pattern where they swing and then take a step back as Shazanna swings, resulting in her attack missing completely. They'll generally continue this technique until they back into a wall, but Shazanna may well have lost the battle by then.

I've never taken the time to see what other effects Intelligence may have, though I'm sure they're there.

Neutronium Dragon

[fliend]

That is interesting. I am going to try and up Jaana's intelligence to 25 and see if she still gets stuck in walls. SI's clue book goes into + damage modifiers for monsters but an Alligator with 16 STR can do more damage,(+12), than a bear with 18 STR(+6). niether a bear or alligator use wheapons.