Bree-Hobbits now have the highest Parry in the game

[kdresser]

I was just listening to a review of the one ring and the reviewer mentioned how often scholars and storytellers have higher parry Ratings than soldiers etc. due to their higher wits scores. That does seem to not make sense as far as backgrounds go. Has anyone noticed this? Is there a good fix? It would be odd for someone with the storytelling background to be insanely good at dodging attacks compared to their experienced warrior companions. It bothers me a bit.

[Stormcrow]

There is no correlation between attributes and callings, and Wits is not a measure of raw intelligence. Parry represents the chance to avoid being hit at all, not the chance to block an attack with a weapon.

That is to say, scholars and storytellers don't necessarily have higher Wits than warriors, and, even if they do, that's not to say that they're better at parrying (with a lowercase p) than warriors.

[atgxtg]

That is to say, scholars and storytellers don't necessarily have higher Wits than warriors,

No, that's tied to culture and background, but the more "scholarly" backgrounds tend to have a higher Wits.

and, even if they do, that's not to say that they're better at parrying (with a lowercase p) than warriors.

Actually that is what the game is saying. Part of the definition of the Parry Stat is the ability to wards off blows. So if Scholars and Storytellers have a higher Wits and that translates into a higher Parry, then yes, they are better at parrying than warriors, in the game.

Now the "fix" for that would be some sort of way for warriors to be able to use their combat skills to improve their parry. Even something like substituting weapon skill for Wits for the Parry score. But..doing so could open up a whole new can of worms.

[poosticks7]

Wits = Anticipation in this regard, so yes higher Wits means you are less likely to be hit. Now that is a combination of footwork, deflection and dodging.

[atgxtg]

Wits = Anticipation in this regard, so yes higher Wits means you are less likely to be hit. Now that is a combination of footwork, deflection and dodging.

Yeah, but it's kind of a shame (not to mention somewhat insulting to warriors), that combat skill doesn't factor into it at all. A character could be a skill 6 swordsman, but still easy to hit.

[Stormcrow]

A hero with a high weapon skill can choose a more defensive Stance during combat, making them harder to hit but having the same chance to hit as a lesser combatant in a more aggressive Stance. That's how weapon skill affects defense.

[Stormcrow]

and, even if they do, that's not to say that they're better at parrying (with a lowercase p) than warriors.

Actually that is what the game is saying. Part of the definition of the Parry Stat is the ability to wards off blows. So if Scholars and Storytellers have a higher Wits and that translates into a higher Parry, then yes, they are better at parrying than warriors, in the game.

Part of the Parry stat being about warding off blows does not mean that every Parry is about warding off blows. Someone with high Wits but who isn't described as a warrior often avoids being hit by other means: not being there when the blow lands, for instance.

[atgxtg]

Part of the Parry stat being about warding off blows does not mean that every Parry is about warding off blows. Someone with high Wits but who isn't described as a warrior often avoids being hit by other means: not being there when the blow lands, for instance.

Warding off blows is the definition of the word "parry". And I'd be willing to bet that a skilled swordsman was better at parrying than Einstein.

I understand why the Game does what it does (it makes Wits just as useful for combat as Body and Heart, and makes Elves and other "smart" characters better able to avoid damage), but I still know what it's doing doesn't really make much sense.

[poosticks7]

Yet a skilled swordsman will win more often.

A character with a sword skill of 4 dice and low wits of say 3 will beat a character with basic sword skill of 2 but with high wits of 7

He can go defence stance and be hit on a 15 while needing 19 himself to hit the other guy. Which taking the average rolls of the d6 (3.5) means the skilled swordsman needs a 4+ on the feat dice the high wits guy in return needs a 8+.

So the guy with more skill will win.

This of course doesn't factor in gandalfs and eyes nor that the low wits master swordsman hits bloody hard more often (with high body).

Now if they were equal skill however, let's say 3 dice sword. Then the high wits fellow will be better off in the fight only needing a 5+ to hit while he is in return hit on a 9+


Note - As this is implying a Pc vs Pc situation then the stance is chosen by the character who rolls a better Battle roll from turn to turn. Although Awe or perhaps Riddle could be called for. (Just made that rule up as I was typing) So other factors come into play.

In conclusion - skill is the deciding factor

[Stormcrow]

Warding off blows is the definition of the word "parry".

But warding off blows is not the definition of the game term Parry (with a capital P). "This is a defensive bonus, reflecting a character’s ability to keep his head in a dangerous situation, to be aware of opponents’ actions and to ward off an opponent’s attacks." Warding off blows, parrying(with a lowercase p) is only the last part of that.

Stats in The One Ring are very broad, and represent a combination of things, which may not be present equally in all characters. A warrior with Parry 7 may be good at warding off blows, while a burglar with Parry 7 may be good at perceiving danger and dodging it before it comes, and a scholar with Parry 7 might just have a cool head at all times and can think more quickly than his opponent. An archer with Parry 7 might be good at all of these things, but not as good as the warrior, burglar, or scholar in the component they excel at. The mechanics of TOR don't make this distinction; everything is averaged into the Parry score.

So being a studious sort does not automatically mean you are better at blocking weapon strikes with your own weapon. You are interpreting the meanings of the game terms Wits and Parry too literally and narrowly.