Base Stats Question

[Melkor]

Greetings,

I've been attempting to roll an optimal character (20 in all stats) for some time, but after reading information posted here and on the wiki, I'm wondering if this is actually necessary.

I read that a random roll score of 20 on a stat-check would always result in a loss, therefore would a character with two 19s in stats, but still retaining the 30% bonus to all skills and magical abilities have the same potential as one with straight 20s, or would the additional point in each of these stats have an effect on other aspects of the game?

Please respond with your opinions, as I've already rolled past a couple of characters with the maximum bonuses but 19s in stats believing that they would not be as effective as a character with 20s across the board, but obviously I'd be happy to spend less time rolling and more time playing if it will make no difference.

[shadowblack]

I'd take the 19s, especially if you plan to some day become AG. But even if you are not going to become AG as long as you have 30% bonus to all skills and powers one or two 19s are of no consequence. Just make sure you have items that increase your 19s to 20 so that you can get the max bonus in related checks.

[Doolipalally]

Welcome, Melkor (does that mean if you misbehave we can call you Morgoth? :))

I agree with Shadowblack: a few 19s are nothing to worry about, if you have all 30% bonuses. There are different in-game ways of boosting a couple of stats - no problem!

[thingirl]

Those two said it all. Oh, and welcome to the forum.

@ Dooli: Welcome, Melkor (does that mean if you misbehave we can call you Morgoth? )

Almost exactly what I was going to say wen I saw his name!

[Melkor]

Thankyou for the quick replies, and I don't plan on misbehaving, but if I do, by all leave me to rot in the void ;).

So are these ways of improving the base stats available to non-AG players? And from your replies it seems like the additional stats do infact have some other use aside from the roll checks, although probably not being hugely important.

Would you be able to give some examples of what the extra points would benefit, are they required for quests, directly related to combat skill, or some other gameplay mechanic?

[thingirl]

There are two types of {{checks}}, stat checks and random checks. Stat checks are when you roll 1-20 and try to pick a number < your stat (like the Hammertoung quest in the Stoneback). However, 20 is a fail on these.

On random checks, you roll 1-100 and you have a number (not always shown) that you have to roll >. These sometimes recieve bonouses from stats (commones are Agility and Luck). And example of this is the Ghost Lady. Hope this helps.

[shadowblack]

No, non-AG players cannot increase their base stats.

As for what their other uses are:
Sometimes you have to pick a number between 1 and 100, with various bonuses. Sometimes these bonuses are based on your current stats, for example: Aura*2, so with an Aura of 19 your bonus will be 38 while with an Aura of 20 it will be 40. In such cases the game takes your current stats, not your base ones. For example, if you start with Aura 19 and wear a ring that increases Aura by 5, your current Aura will be 20 (which is the max), so you will have the max bonus you can get from Aura.

The other use of stats is for equipping items. For example, a sword may require 20 Might, so if you have 19 Might you won't be able to wield it. However once again your current stats are taken into account, so you can wear an item that increases Might to meet the requirement. For example, if you have Might 19 you can wear a ring that increases Might by 4, thus meeting the required Might 20.

[Melkor]

Thanks for the clarification on those points, it seems like the only change would be a 2 point deficit in a 1-100 check.

How common are the items which have stat increase bonuses? Would it be fairly easy to improve all areas of my character, or are they hard to obtain?

From this information it does sound like I may as well just accept the next set of +30% bonuses that come up, but any extra 20s would obviously be a bonus.

I just hope that it won't take me too many more days to get those stats back again (really wishing I'd saved that earlier roll now :().

Thanks for all your help :).

[thingirl]

They're relatively common. For reference, Edanust has straight 20s. The only stats she isn't boosting are Agility and Luck.

[Melkor]

What would you say are the most important stats for everyday adventuring, for combat etc.?

Would it be worth hanging on to several pieces of equipment for different bonuses based on different activities, or are some stats more heavily favoured?

[Doolipalally]

I don't know about which stats come up most frequently, but when it comes to equipment, items which give you a stat boost tend to be magical, and it's almost always worth hanging on to magical items anyway (you don't get their full value if you sell them, and you never know what's going to come in handy).

[Melkor]

Thanks a lot for all your help, now I just need to get lucky with the roller so I can put all this information to good use :).

[Oldschool]

Welcome to the Forum Melkor.

Regarding boosting stats by items. Just remember that as a non AG you have a more limited access to equipment.

However with that said I'll defer to Thingirl as she mentions one of her non AG characters in her earlier post.

[thingirl]

Edanust’s current stat-boosting equipment (not counting MR, SP, and NR):

Amulet Of Storms (+1 Body, Mind, and Spirit)
Emerald Bracelet (+5 Aura and Mind)
Sorcerer's Battle Ring (+1 Aura, Mind, and Spirit)
Ring Of Souls (+1 Aura, Mind, and Spirit)
Gold Ring Of Valour (+1 Might and Spirit)

At Durnsig she has:
Helm Of The Stag (+1 Spirit)
Gauntlets Of The Wolf (+1 Agility)
Belt of the Bear (+2 Might)
Iron Rod (+1 Agility and Might)
Ring of Troll Might (+4 Might)
Ring of the Serpent (+1 Aura)

So that’s a total bonus of:
+2 Agility (0 equipped)
+1 Body (1 equipped)
+8 Might (1 equipped)
+8 Aura (7 equipped)
+8 Mind (8 equipped)
+5 Spirit (4 equipped)
+0 Luck (0 equipped)

Also, I'm helping out with adding Template:check to the wiki. It seems like Agility and Luck are two of the most common stats to have bonuses.

[Oldschool]

Also thought I'd pass these comments from the GM along....

From the "docs" "playing tips" on the home page....

Don't underestimate the importance of having a strong LUCK score.
And from April/May 2008 Questions to the GM.....

Luck often affects random number checks in the game (which you'll see noted on the screen). It also helps in combat. The combat system will automatically attempt to reroll a '1' or a '2' result, based on a character's luck score. The higher your luck, the better chance you have of getting those low rolls redone. Luck also helps in areas like 'The Old North Wood' and 'Tarkhald Crypt' in finding the special locations.

And as far as I know that's not the base score but adjusted.

[Arik]

Welcome, Melkor!

What stats are the most important? If you have all 20s except for 2 19s, it doesn't really matter.

And, even as a non-AG, you'll probably find enough magical equipment to get the two 19s you rolled to 20.