> I still maintain JM was in error here. More chances to hit
> only lowers deviation from the average - that is, you're more
> likely to get average results. Sometimes that is a good
> thing, but it is not advantageous as a general rule. A higher
> deviation just means you're further away from the average -
> you're more likely to do worse than average, but you're just
> as more likely to do *better* than average.
>
> --
> John H. Kim
> kim@...

You are correct, but I prefer to stick by the average. I'm sure the game was
designed with typical bell curve plots for damage. One side of the bell curve
being extremely "bad rolls" and low damage over the course of a fight, and the
other side being one of those fights where you ask your groupmates to scroll
back and "look at all that damage I did and how many times my weapon proced!"

We all know from personal experience that being on the low end of that curve
gets ya killed or sends you fleeing. No question. Everyone has had to flee
many a fight that they should have won due to a run of bad rolls (misses).
This is *less* likely to occur if you stick to the center of the bell curve
with your weapons and choose medium/fast weapons with medium/light damage.

In other words, everyone knows that when their warrior picks up a Thulian
Bladed Claw (5dam/19dly) they're hitting fast and light, with probably
unspectacular (average) results. However, when they pick up a Blackened Iron
Bastard Sword (BIBS at 20dam/47dly) they're GAMBLING. Anyone who has played
with a slow, high damage weapon knows what it's like to be playing saying
"gimmie a hit, gimmie a hit, gimmie a hit". The importance of hitting each
and every time is greatly increased with slower weapons. When I play with my
Claws, I hardly even notice the misses, and by the time I do I'm having the
chance to hit again.

Crier Sharpsong - 23rd Bard on Fennin Ro

Jason A. Farqu´┐¢
CDI at http://www.pigging.com/