Fighting in KOTOR

[jamesbfurst]

When I'm fighting I seem to miss a lot! How do you meleee, etc. in the PC version of the game? And how do you improve your aim so as to have better success when attacking other creatures?

[Adm. Pellaeon]

How do you melee, etc., in the PC version of the game?

Click on the target you wish to attack.

And how do you improve your aim so as to have better success when attacking other creatures?

1. Level up. Higher-level characters have better "to hit" bonuses.

2. Use better weapons. Higher-grade weapons and "upgradeable" weapons have "to hit" bonuses and thus make your chances of scoring a hit against that slippery-as-a-snake foe.

3. Improve your dexterity. Dexterity gives "to hit" bonuses.

4. Pick feats that give you better chances to hit your foe. Don't dual-wield if you haven't at the very least invested 1 feat into 2WF. Don't carry around a Heavy Blaster Rifle when you've invested into Dueling. Invest feats into your weapon of choice (but this isn't recommended for the PC himself/herself until later in the game).

5. Wear items that give you "to hit" or Dexterity bonuses.

6. Don't fight people who are far beyond you. A level 2 character is not going to be able to successfully land a blow on Marl.

[Armisael]

If you're using melee weapons then you'll want strength instead of dexterity. You'll probably want it if you're using a lightsaber, too.

[Adm. Pellaeon]

The strength-dexterity argument is well documented, but if you're ever going to use a blaster, dexterity is far more valuable than strength (yes, I know that this is about melee, and thus swords). Since Armisael has brough up being a Jedi, I feel that it's important to mention that Jedi cannot wear armor if they want to use a number of their powers, and thus dexterity is far more valuable because of its benefits to your armor (defensive) rating.

For lightsabers, the To Hit determination is the higher of your STR or DEX bonus ... so you can see the value of higher DEX than higher STR for your armorless Jedi who's having trouble connecting on blows.

[Armisael]

To press the other side of the argument, if you're okay with using force powers and/or stims when you really feel you need that extra defense (which isn't often, in my experience), then there's nothing to gain by raising your dexterity above 15 because of the dex bonus cap on robes, whereas the damage bonus from your strength modifier will apply for as much strength as you can get.

[Adm. Pellaeon]

So there you go, James ... both sides of the coin. Now just sit back, relax, and enjoy KOTOR.

(EDIT: Thanks, Armisael, for presenting the contrasting strength arguments.)

[Astafas]

Originally posted by Adm. Pellaeon
The strength-dexterity argument is well documented, but if you're ever going to use a blaster, dexterity is far more valuable than strength (yes, I know that this is about melee, and thus swords). Since Armisael has brough up being a Jedi, I feel that it's important to mention that Jedi cannot wear armor if they want to use a number of their powers, and thus dexterity is far more valuable because of its benefits to your armor (defensive) rating.

For lightsabers, the To Hit determination is the higher of your STR or DEX bonus ... so you can see the value of higher DEX than higher STR for your armorless Jedi who's having trouble connecting on blows.

Are you referring to some threads here at BG?

Is this how the To Hit bonus for Lightsabers is calculated? I've seen posts stating both that it is Str and that it is Dex that is used... Where did you find the information? Thanks in advance!

[Armisael]

It's pretty common knowledge, don't know if it's documented in the manual or anything. The higher of strength and dexterity is used to calculate the attack bonus for a saber user. Offensive Jedi prefer strength, defensive Jedi prefer dexterity. That's basically it.

[pcp8]

U can get the ability to het "Sniper shot". If u've got that ability, u proberly would hit much better. BUT, remember to have a good dx, when u r carrying blasters.

[Armisael]

Sniper shot/critical strike don't increase your attack, only your critical threat range...

[Adm. Pellaeon]

Originally posted by pcp8
U can get the ability to het "Sniper shot". If u've got that ability, u proberly would hit much better. BUT, remember to have a good dx, when u r carrying blasters.

Armisael's right ... SS/CS don't improve your ability to hit someone. You need to focus on feats that give direct combat bonuses (i.e., the weapon proficiencies) if you first concern is landing the blow. The three schools of fighting all hurt your ability to land a blow, and it's only the Master forms that minimize these penalties.

[Migromul]

I think the critical feats DO improve the to-hit bonus. But not directly. Instead of increasing your to-hit-bonus it decreases the AC of the enemy, if I understand the desciption correct. It lowers the AC by 5. I think it is the AC of the enemy.

But if it lowers it when you use the skill, or when you hit your oponent within the critical hit range, I don't know.

[Armisael]

Nope; it lowers your defense rating.

[Adm. Pellaeon]

Critical Strike

Prerequisites: None

This feat doubles the critical threat renage of melee attacks (e.g. if a weapon needs a roll of 20, a critical hit will result on 19 or 20). If the attack hits, the target is also stunned for 6 seconds unless they make a Fortitude save at a DC of the attacking character's level + attacking character's Strength modifier. This feat lowers Defense by -5 when used. Critical Strike works with melee weapons only.

That is the EXACT transcription of http://www.gamebanshee.com/starwarskoto ... strike.php from the Feats section of GB's KOTOR website. It lowers YOUR defense and does nothing to improve YOUR to-hit modifier.