Research:Open ambushing

Open Ambushing (ambushing without hiding)

Ambushing without hiding is modified by ranks in Combat Maneuvers and Ambush skill only (barring of course different players having different STATS that could affect this skill).

The more Combat Maneuvers ranks you get, the less Ambush ranks you will need to see the relative maximum benefit of the skill. Even at level 50 with 2x CM ranks you will start to hit a plateau of diminishing results with the Ambush skill on open aiming, even with large weapons.

That plateau is at around 25 to 30 ranks for a level 60ish player with 2x CM. So it's possible that if you are level 25, you might see benefit of up to say 50 ranks, or if you are 75, maybe only up to say 20 ranks.

The last time I did the math, when I was about level 75, I could achieve a say 75% success rate vs legs with a maul with 2x CM and 25 ranks of ambush, and an 80% with 2x CM and 30 ranks of ambush. It then took nearly 30 more ranks of ambush for me to notice and even 1% increase in accuracy.

How much ambush helps is a diminishing effect that seems linked to how close to the designed maximum accuracy you get with CM training, via basically gaining levels and continuing to double train in the skill.

Note: The percentages in this document are not mathematically correct, but are rather designed to make a point. While not accurate, they convey how the ambush-CM relationship works, and give the rough plateaus as one player has experienced them.

If I ever locate my exact figures, I'll post them in a table below.

Saved post regarding this matter, in response to whether or not a plateau exists

Yes, I'm 100% certain that ambush training, used in conjunction with open ambushing has a spot where you start getting diminishing returns.

The problem is, that level at which you get diminishing returns depends on what train you are (because of CM ranks, having Wspec, and having full bond). You can't just say "30 ranks is where the plateau is".

Something like "A level 75 warrior with 2x CM, full wspec and full bond, will only see realistic additional benefit to aiming a claidhmore with 30 ranks of ambush or less" is more realistic.

But it might be that a level 30 warrior sees trackable benefit for up to 55 ranks of ambush.

From my own data with myself, which I just blew a fixskill to test:

Level 80, 2x cm, 15 ranks ambush, aiming at left leg with claidhmore 50 times at earth elementals = .62

Level 80, 30 ambush ranks, aiming at left leg with claidhmore 100 times at earth elementals = .73

Level 80, 50 ambush ranks, aiming at left leg with claidhmore 100 times at earth elementals = .74

The TPs from 15 to 30 made sense to me. The TPs from 30 to 50 did not.

Also note that only hits that successfully struck the critters were used. The "deflected off their side" BS that only happens on elementals wasn't counted in the swing count.

Also interestingly, with a maul, I had nearly or above 10% higher accuracy per category. (Without being bonded to it).

Resources

• Madmountan's brain and personal calculations.