This, like some other guides here, is a HEAVY work in progress, information is subject to change as the game undergoes re-balancing and exits PR hell!
So, you want to learn how to beat people up? Then you've come to the right place!
Psydonia is a dark and hostile place, where blood is spilled regularly, and death lurks in every dark corner of every forest, cave, and city. The combat system proves to be just as unforgiving and cruel as the environment for anyone who wishes to take up arms against a foe.
Whether a pack of volfs have closed in you, bandits circle around you like hungry hyenas, or the dark forces call upon your name, you are in danger... There's only one way out of it, and it will be painful.
Combat is stat/skill based, pick your fights. If you aren't playing a combat class, you're probably going to lose, unless you're fighting another miscreant like yourself.
Critical Hits (or crits) are crucial to winning an encounter, once a crit lands, the target of said crit will be in a much worse position, from bleeding out extremely fast due to an artery hit, to losing function in a limb.
Stamina is everything. It determines whether or not you can avoid and deal damage. Running out of stamina will stun you, leaving you wide open, and it will take a considerable time to recover from zero. Be mindful!
Combat is lethal and unforgiving, avoid direct confrontation unless you're sure you can win. Throw things at them, hide in the treetops, sneak into the shadows - or just run.
Numbers matter, and they are often the prime factor deciding victory, a lone fighter will have to make use of their brain and experience to get out of a bad situation. In other words, loneliness kills.
There are 6 combat stances, Feint, Swift, Strong, Defend, Aimed, and Weak.
It's important to know that Vanderlin has a dedicated Combat Mode button. Combat mode toggles multiple things:
Automatic parrying/dodging: Your character will not attempt to parry or dodge unless Combat Mode is on. If you try to fight without it on, chances are you're going to get hit more than you're hitting them, and you will usually lose.
Passive energy drain: Having Combat Mode active will passively drain your energy bar, displayed in blue next to your stamina bar. Energy dictates whether your character can run, climb, and move quickly. Energy can only be replenished by sleeping. Don't forget to turn Combat Mode off after you are done killing what needed killing.
Chat verb changes: Your character will not be displayed as "saying" or "shouting" things, and instead their messages will be displayed with an em dash (—) before them. This serves as a way to tell when someone else is in Combat Mode.
Offensive actions against literally everything. Useful for breaking items (i.e, removing a tree stump without a spade, or breaking a table with a weapon.)
Combat Music. Helps you not forget it's turned on. (Also most combat soundtracks are ABSOLUTE BANGERS.)
You'll see that your character can either PARRY or DODGE. Though both fulfill the purpose of trying to prevent you from being struck and killed, they both function differently.
You must be in Combat Mode for your character to actually start parrying or dodging!
Dodging
Dodging relies on a few key factors: SPD, Armor Weight, and Traits. Dodging, as the name implies, relies entirely on your character's nimbleness, NOT their weapon skill, to avoid harm. characters with high SPD, the Fast Reflexes trait, which some roles start with, and a light armor rating will find it easy to dodge. Inversely, characters with heavy plate and low SPD will find it difficult to do so. Dodging successfully will move your character a tile to the side- which can prove dangerous near hazards like kneestingers. Dodging can be overcome by characters with high weapon skill, high PER enemies using aimed intent, being grabbed, magic, ranged attacks, which cannot be dodged, and most devastatingly, being knocked down. You cannot dodge while prone, and if you're dodging, it's because you're lightly armored in the first place. If you're fighting a competent opponent, this can easily mean Death. Avoid being knocked down at all costs! Switch to PARRY quickly as you're getting up to have a chance to avoid the wrath of your assailant.
Parrying
Parrying relies purely on your character's specific weapon skill, as well as your weapon's defense rating against your enemy's skill to avoid damage. As a general rule of thumb, unless you are using a shield with Defend stance, trying to parry with any weapon skill below skilled will generally result in your parry being defeated. As such, parrying is far more useful for experienced, armored combat roles to contend with those of a similar skill level. You'll find a legendary swordsman's parry near impossible to defeat, but a bard's weak dagger parry can be overcome with a stick. You can parry, even while prone. Having both Parry and Defend stance is essential for the use of shields, which are the only way to block projectiles!
(TBF, //i know jack about wrestling's code)
(TBF, //what each of these do)
(TBF, //kinds of weapons, likely users)
(TBF, //self explanatory)
(TBF, //hit unarmored/painful area, i.e groin)
(TBF, //this will speak about bad luck, getting crit, yielding and surrendering)
After having taken in the knowledge of killing and maiming, you may think: how, when, and why can I, or should I, use all of this? You have to consider the "why" of your fight. Are you a guardsman, arresting a thief? A terrified pilgrim fearing for their life? A murderous graggarite, just looking for their next meal, or a strong, and steadfast templar of the church? What would each of them strive to achieve? Disabling, maiming, running away from, or simply killing a foe? You have all of these tools of harm and pain at your disposal, but use them mindfully. Your number one objective should not be to kill the enemy and be done with it. Your objective should be to triumph in combat: not every confrontation needs to end with a dead man.
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