Kill a bear with melee

[Winter]

Well this topic motivated me to go out and try this for myself. Anyways here is what I did.

First I find a cow or rabbit and initiate combat, but don't hit them.

Then I found a deer, for some reason I have a hard time hitting those with melee, and they dont hurt me through my armor, so I just punch them a lot with combat meditation on to gain as many initiative points as I can.

Then I find a bear, switch to the shield maneuver and the first move I do is sidestep, then I followed up with two storm of swords, which hits multiple time for full damage, and if you happen to miss, it has a chance of netting you more initiative points. Hopefully you have enough HP and dodge to last until the fight is over, as a last resort you could try using various strike if you still have your full combat advantage.

I just killed a level 5 bear with level 61 melee.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/8075/bear1.png
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/6004/bear2.png

[Lightning4]

Yeah, I semi-reliably could kill up to level 5 bears with my 70 melee skill with plated armor and soldier's sword. It all hangs on getting combat in your favor. If necessary, you may have to blow a "No pain no gain" to get there faster, otherwise you're pretty much fighting a losing battle.

[sami1337]

Are you keeping combat balance in your favour? That helps quite a bit...

Well if i could yeah, but i didn't get any initiative. Beats me why. Probably bad luck.

[ybobjoe]

Are you keeping combat balance in your favour? That helps quite a bit...

Well if i could yeah, but i didn't get any initiative. Beats me why. Probably bad luck.

You can always get initiative points before you start fighting the bear...

[sami1337]

Are you keeping combat balance in your favour? That helps quite a bit...

Well if i could yeah, but i didn't get any initiative. Beats me why. Probably bad luck.

You can always get initiative points before you start fighting the bear...

Not really. Even if i found another creature it would use too much stamina to get that init. I'd need to bring tea.

[Malicus]

Not really. Even if i found another creature it would use too much stamina to get that init. I'd need to bring tea.

You... don't? *blink blink*

[theTrav]

The idea of fighting a bear without stopping in the middle of combat to sip on your mug of steamy refreshing beverage is most baffling. How ever did you expect to get through it?

I find that using the shield maneuver almost never gets me any initiative.

Also, if you try punching a deer many times with dodge turned on you should be able to clock up a ton of initiative and then walk away while it's stuck on a tree and just stand around for your stamina to regen and THEN take on the bear.

Who says archers are the only ones who can exploit path finding

[Lightning4]

Er, as far as I know there is no difference between the dodge and shield maneuvers. The only difference is the number and chance of an *enemy* gaining initiative when they miss you. But, combat meditation will generate initiative faster as you're striking the enemy faster. I think Death and Glory also has some alternate method of gaining initiative, I think from damage you recieve when it is active.

[Rift]

Shield is 150% as effective as dodge, and uses the melee ratherthen unarmed skill.

[Winter]

I killed a bear with an ax, it wasn't too hard http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZmWm-CKqc8&fmt=18