DRAGON REALMS
A Guide to Combat v2.0 by Syvanus Gaiane
Hello Reader! And welcome Syvanus' Guide on Combat. Everything written here is true to my
current knowledge. Now let's start...
Table of Contents
1. Weapons
2. Armor
3. Combat Verbs
4. Basic Combat
5. Combat Skills
6. Group Hunting
7. What To Do During an Invasion
8. Hunting Ettiquette
9. Helpful Hints
10. Credits
1. Weapons
A weapon is something you attack with, may it be a sword, a club or an arrow. I've even
seen someone attack with branches! (Quarter Staff) Dragonrealms offers a collection of
weapons so vast, I cannot list them all. Try for the weapon your guild training suggests
(when you join a guild, you will be pretrained in the guild's preferred weapon.) Of course
you could try for something else (As a ranger, I started with short bow training, but have
switched to medium edged.) And to make it easy to identify weapons, store catalogs now
list weapons and their classes.
Weapon Breakdown
----------------
Heavier weapons do more damage per hit, drains more fatigue per swing, and gives you a
longer Round Time.
Lighter weapons do minimum damage per hit, low fatigue loss per hit, and short RTs.
Edged weapons can be used to skin, and are the most plentiful.
Blunt weapons cannot be used to skin, but can give enemies internals.
Ranged weapons can be used at long range, but at close range, there is a penalty for using
ranged weapons.
And having skill in an alternative weapon is useful, as new rules make it easier for you
to break your weapons. I would suggest a ranged weapon as a secondary, as you can hit
enemies from a distance where they cannot hit you. I suggest a minimum of 10 ranks in your
alternative.
2. Armor
Running around without armor is dangerous. You should equip yourself accordingly, and this
varies for every person. You should cover your head, neck, arms, chest, back, abdomen and
legs. APPRAISE your armor to determine what body parts it covers. NOTE: Layering armor,
while it may provide extra protection, will weigh you down considerably. In another word
you wear : Laminated Chain Mail and chain vambraces, the chain mail already protects your
arms, and the vambraces add protection, but you get a LOT of maneuvering hinderance.
Armor Breakdown
---------------
Leather armor is very vulnerable, but have almost no manuevering hinderance, so it easy to
dodge attacks.
Plate armor is very resiliant to damage, but you will have a very difficult time evading
many attacks.
There are creatures in the lands that can cut through Heavy Plate like it was butter, so
having the evasion bonus of leather helps.
In another words, having training in 2 or more armors can help. You can hunt weaker
monsters in heavy or light armor, for weaker attacks balances the damage/evasion ratio.
But when hunting stronger monsters, it is better to avoid a hit wearing leather then to
take a hit in plate and have your head fly off.
3. Combat Verbs
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MISCELLANEOUS BATTLE COMMANDS- use to engage or retreat from enemies.
ADV <target> - You attempt to engage <target>
RETREAT - You attempt to retreat from combat.
HANGBACK - You attempt to avoid being engaged.
BLOCK <target> - Use this to switch your attention in MultiBattle.
GUARD <player> - Use to block an enemy from advancing on <player>
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OFFENSIVE STANCES- these commands determine whether your trying to attack or defend. NOTE:
After you attack, the
offensive stance is set on neutral.
DODGE - You concentrate on evading.
PARRY - You concentrate on attacking. Gives RT.
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DEFENSIVE STANCES- these commands determine how you attempt to defend yourself. Input is
STANCE <position>. Occasionally when you use these stances, they say that you are in
a position to charge. This means you were at pole when you typed in the command and if you
attack, you attempt to rush your enemy.
Positions : SHIELD - You try to block attacks with a shield.
EVASION - You try to evade attacks.
PARRY - You try to parry attacks with your weapon.
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MISSILE COMMANDS- to be used with ranged weapons.
LOAD <weapon> with <ammo> - You load your weapon with ammo.
AIM <target> - You aim at <target>
FIRE - You fire an arrow at AIMed <target>
SHOOT <target> - You shoot <target> without aiming.
THROW <weapon> at <target> - You throw <weapon> at <target>
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POLE AND MELEE COMMANDS- to be used with melee or pole arm type weapons
FEINT <target> - A weak strategic attack that attempts to throw
<target> off guard. Low RT.
SLICE <target> - A blow to the side. Most commonly used. Medium RT
JAB <target> - Weak puncture attack. Medium RT.
THRUST <target> - Strong puncture attack. Medium RT.
CHOP <target> - A overhead slice. Medium RT.
SWEEP <target> - Low slice, often used to trip enemies. Very effective
on four-legged creatures. High RT.
LUNGE <target> - Risky manuever, used as a fatal strike. High RT.
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MAGIC COMMANDS- used for setting up and using magical weapons.
CONCENTRATE - Use this to see if there is enough mana in an area to cast a spell.
PERCEPTION also works.
PREPARE <spell> <power> - You prepare to cast <spell> at spell level
<power>. NOTE: Magics have limits to how much
<power> it can be put into it.
TARGET <target> - You aim attacks magics at <target>
CAST <target> - You cast prepared spell at <target>
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BATTLE RELATED COMMANDS- use to determine battles.
ASSESS - You recieve an overview of the battle(s) in the room.
FATIGUE - Checks your fatigue level. Never let it drop below 10 or risk losing your
balance FAST.
HEALTH - Checks your body for damage.
ADVICE WELFARE - Checks your body for any damage that may hinder you.
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4. Basic Combat
Battle Breakdown
----------------
Missile Range- You can attack with ranged weapons and magic.
Polearm Range- You can attack with ranged weapons, magic and pole arms.
Melee Range - You can attack with any weapon at this range, although there are penalties
at thid distance with ranged weapons.
Dragonrealms runs on messages, and not numbers. When you attack or are attacked, a message
depicted the following attack is displayed, may you be hit or not. The information
displayed are any hits, damage to weapons/armors, your balance and your position in
battle. NOTE: having a bad balance and position does not mean much if you are skilled
enough. I have killed goblins from being EXTREMELY UNBALANCED and YOUR OPPONENT IS IN AN
OVERWHELMING POSITION. Battle results are based on your weapon skill, your balance, your
position, agility, any damage penalties, your fatigue level, your enemy's parry, shield
and evasion abilities and your enemy's reflexes.
5. Combat Skills
As you fight, combat skills increase. The higher your skills, the better your chances of
beating your enemy.
You learn Weapon Skill by striking enemies with your weapon.
You learn Armor Skill by being struck by enemies.
(You only learn the body armor group.)
You learn Shield Skill by blocking attacks with your shield.
You learn Parry Skill with every successful parry.
You learn Evasion Skill by dodging attacks.
You learn Targeted Magic Skill by attacking with magic.
You learn Harness Skill by preparing spells.
You learn Primary Magic Skill by casting spells.
You learn Power Perception by using CONCENTRATE.
6. Group Hunting
The secret to a good hunting group is organization and balance. I've been hunting with
successful and unsucessful groups, and have learned the secrets of group hunting. Hunting
parties need people to do various tasks.
Task Breakdown-Battle
---------------------
1. Guardian - Person who either wears plate or has high evasion skills, to take or avoid
the blows and distract the
enemy. (S)he should advance first on the enemy.
2. Flankers - As the guardian distracts the enemy, the enemy does not pay as much
attention to everyone else. This is a good
opportunity for up to 2 others to join in the melee fight. These people are the flankers,
and tend to do more damage as the enemy does not pay as much attention to them.
3. Ranged - If there are more than 3 people in the group, the rest must attack from
missile range as only 3 players can be
engaged to a critter at once. Use anything, from bows and arrows to casting spells*.
4. Dragger - If a member of your party is stunned, this person should DRAG them to an
adjacent wound and wait for them
to recover. I suggest that one of the RANGED people be a dragger.
NOTE: Due to recent spell changes, certain spells, such as FIREBALL, FROSTBITE, and STATIC
DISCHARGE may affect your group members. I suggest using a low level spell that only
effects only the critter, and cast it at a high mana level.
Task Breakdown-After Battle
---------------------------
1. Leader - Someone to lead you around. Make sure none of your members have RT or you will
leave them behind.
2. Treasurer - Someone TRUSTWORTHY to search and gather ALL the coins and items dropped by
defeated enemies.
3. Skinner - If your hunting a skinnable critter, this person is designated to skin them
before the critter decomposes.
4. Picker - Carrying boxes can slow you down. Have this person pick boxes while being
guarded.
7. What To Do During an Invasion
Invasions are when creatures from the outside attack the town. Obey the following
guidelines to survive.
1. If you see an invasion, send the word through the gweth.
2. DO NOT mislead people into believing there is an invasion when there isn't one. Doing
this can get you killed.
3. Most invasion creatures are very powerful and the lower circle people should not engage
them. They should gather in Guilds that are in the town or run to the other side of town.
EXAMPLE: On a recent invasion, NE Gate was full of tough monsters (if you need to know,
sun vultures, blood and bone wolves) but the fields where the goblins are were unvisited
by these creatures and were relatively safe.
4. If you can help, please do. The citizens of Elanthia depend on elders to help protect
the lands.
5. DO NOT steal items off dead people. This is grave robbing, and you can get in BIG
TROUBLE for doing so.
6. If the invasion critters leave items, please do not touch them. They belong to the
killer or the group the killer is in. Taking
these items can get into trouble with the players of sometimes, even the GMs.
7. If your an empath, be sure not to overheal! You will be needed later. If you cannot
save a person because his/her injuries are to dire, have them depart and hold their things
until they return.
8. Hunting Ettiquette
1. If someone was in a room before you, and an enemy enters, do not engage it unless asked
to by the player that was there before you.
2. Don't join in a fight unless asked. There are exceptions, such as if the other player
is stunned or it is an invasion.
3. Don't attack other players because they made you angry by attacking your monster. The
consequences of killing another is
grave compared to just leaving.
4. DO NOT steal items from other people's kills. If you do so, a GM may intervene, and
when a GM intervenes, it's can be trouble.
9. Helpful Hints
*Check your fatigue everytime you attack. Never let it drop below 10.
*When in trouble in battle, retreat twice then attempt to hide. If you succeed, engage the
enemy once more and attack it from hiding.
*Check your health after every hit you take. Retreat and head for the nearest empath if
you start to bleed.
*Never attempt to engage an enemy new to you without some help from another player. You
don't know how many deaths occur because players get cocky after beating some rats, then
being completely overwhelmed by a goblin.
*Fight Rats in the shipyard until they rarely hit you, but you can finish them off with a
few feints.
*When using Ranged or Thrown weapons, pick up the weapon or arrow you attacked with and
use it again.
*Try not to carry money or extra items into battle. They add to your emcumbrance and makes
it harder to dodge and regain balance.
*Know when your in trouble, and get out of there!
*Examine your weapons and armors frequently. Damaged armors and weapons usually don't
perform well.
*Due to recent changes, monsters will appear tougher to older players. Also, the critical
damage system (that determines if you
cause a light wound of rip a leg off) is buggy and is being fixed by GameMasters. Give the
GMs time, as the combat system must be extremely complex.
*There are less and less one hit kills made by either side due to recent combat system
changes. This may make older players angry, but it does not affect younger players much.
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| Thats all for now. (11/12/96) Credits |
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That's it for now. If have any comments, corrections, contributions, or just wanna chat,
EMAIL me at AL987654@AOL.com or look for me in the lands. And please be nice about it.
Visit my webpage! At http://members.aol.com/al987654/index.htm
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| DragonRealms (c) Copyright 1996 Simutronics Corporation |
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THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL SIMUTRONICS FILE.