Keep the combat balance in my favour?

[Vattic]

I really don't have this combat system figured out and wondered how I should go about keeping the combat balance in my favour?

[jorb]

Balance shifts in your favor when you deal damage to your opponent. Also, there are certain combat moves that can shift it in various directions. See http://www.havenandhearth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12 for descriptions of the combat moves.

[Vattic]

Indeed I was worried that was the only answer.

Is there any way to stop the combat balance swinging in my opponents favour?

[jorb]

I would write a long ass sticky on the combat system. Loftar has however said he's gonna do it, which means it might get done somewhere between now and never.

Edit: You can also use the maneuver "Bloodlust", you will get hurt doing so, though.

[Vattic]

Hehe this is the problem, bloodlust is useless to me currently as what I'm fighting deals 0 damage but maxes out the combat balance anyway. I guess block/doge are my only options.

Thank you for answering me my questions.

[loftar]

Hehe this is the problem, bloodlust is useless to me currently as what I'm fighting deals 0 damage but maxes out the combat balance anyway. I guess block/doge are my only options.

Our standard solution when that happens is to simple remove our armor. :)

[Blaze]

You can use combat meditation (maneuver) and sidestep (instance attack). I time my maneuvers by switching between meditation and shield so I can attack more frequently while still keeping maximum defensive capability. Sidestep pulls advantage towards you by a full 5 points, that's full advantage if you started at neutral.

If you're fighting boars, they use the initiative they gain to increase their advantage (Boar special ability most likely). If it gets too high, go ahead and duck into a house, it resets the advantage level.

[theTrav]

Higher level foxes also have an ability that spends initiative and gives them advantage.

My favorite trick is to get one initiative via normal means, then chain no pain a loop of side step -> push the advantage -> side step -> valourous strike -> repeat.