How do I combat creatures?

[Jacob_Lee]

For some reason I cannot grasp the wiki's guide to combat and i'm tired of boars mopping the floor with me on their iniative.

So, this is a basic question, I need to know how to fight something.

[KoE]

Have you tried Dataslycer's guide? It's a bit more user friendly (if well-hidden) and should help.

Also, if you're looking to hunt and/or defend your territory, it's probably better to make yourself a sling out of whatever strings you can find and focus on Marksmanship... though it'll be slow if the weapon is low quality or you don't put some points in Marksmanship.

[Pansy]

A couple of possibly useful facts: You are not supposed to be able to kill higher level animals in close combat for a long time in this game. That means that until you have raised your stats quite a bit they are going to mop the floor with you. Players with only a few days experience are not superheroes like in many games. In reality ordinary guys don't stroll out into the woods with axes to hunt bears. They don't go out and try to punch them to death either. If they do hunt bears they use a distance weapon. That's the way it is supposed to be in this game too.

To avoid taking damage when a boar suddenly comes out from behind a tree and charges you before you can react you need to raise your unarmed combat skill and leave your defense set to dodge. If your unarmed combat is 60, then with basic armor you should be okay to deal with attacks from level 5 boars and under. If your unarmed is between 50 and 60 you might be able to handle a level five boar, but might not, depending on luck. If you unarmed is under 50 it will probably ko you unless you take good evasive action.

The same ratio pretty much works for other levels of boar. If your unarmed is above 100 then you will be able to face level 10 boar. If your unarmed is only at 20, the only boar you can generally beat in close combat is a level I boar.

You can always use melee combat skills instead of unarmed, but in that case you need to carry a shield equiped and set your defense to shield instead of dodge.

I hope this helps.

[KoE]

It's also worth pointing out that even crappy armor goes a long way (although getting it from bunnies is obviously going to take a while). Just a leather chest and legs is the difference in a 2-hit KO and... well, more hits KO, though I'm not sure how many.

[Pansy]

If you have a buddy in game, practice sparring with him. This will make things a lot smoother for you when doing combat that leads to actual wounds. You'll figure out if you need initiative, or more defense or if you should try hitting now or later, or if your best bet is to make a run for the cabin and you'll figure out which hot keys to line up on your console.

But if you practice sparring do it in linen and bunny slippers, not in your nice brand new leather boots and armor. The boots and clogs and armor all take damage when sparring and the damage is permanent. The damage you take heals instantaneously but armor cannot be mended.

[Jacob_Lee]

Another question, how do I spar?

[Potjeh]

Right click on your sparring partner's character, and select spar. He'll get an invitation, and if he accepts you'll enter sparring.