Stance: Difference between revisions

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(Included stance modifiers for various DS components.)
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__NOTOC__
The '''STANCE''' verb can be used to change a character's stance between six different stances: offensive, forward, advancing, neutral, guarded, and defensive.
'''Stance''' determines how much a character is focused on defending vs. attacking. It is controlled by the {{boldmono|STANCE}} verb.


There are six main stances in which a character can exist: offensive, advance, forward, neutral, guarded, and defensive. In offensive, a character is devoting all of his or her efforts toward attacking. When in stance defensive, that character is dedicating all energy toward defending. Neutral stands in between the two, and forward and guarded allow further incrementing. Characters who are in stance defensive will generally take less damage from physical attacks, including bolt spells, than those in stance offensive.
== Attack modifiers ==


In stance offensive, 100% of a character's weapon skill is applied to AS, and the character has a far reduced chance to evade, block or parry.
{{addmetext}}


In stance defensive, only 50% of a character's weapon skill is applied to AS, and the character has the highest chance to evade, block or parry.
== Defense modifiers ==


== Numerical Equivalents ==
Each component of [[Defensive strength]] (DS) is affected by stance.


Stance is often represented in formulas as a numerical percentage value from 0 to 100. These numbers are an abstract representation of a character's "defensiveness". Some situations allow for finer gradation than the six stances ([[#Finer Stance Adjustments|see below]]).
=== Evade ===


{| {{prettytable|text-align:center;}}
[[Evade]] (or Dodge) DS retains up to 75% of full effectiveness while in offensive stance.

{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!STANCE
!OFF
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!ADV
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!FOR
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!NEU
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!GUA
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!DEF
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
|-
!PERCENT
!MODIFIER
|0%
|<center>0.75</center>
|20%
|<center>0.80</center>
|40%
|<center>0.85</center>
|60%
|<center>0.90</center>
|80%
|<center>0.95</center>
|100%
|<center>1.00</center>
|}
|}


=== Block ===
== STANCE (verb) ==
The STANCE verb can be used to change a character's combat stance.


<pre{{log2}}>
[[Block]] DS retains up to 50% of full effectiveness while in offensive stance. The natural +20 DS from holding a shield and any enchantment on the shield itself are exempt from stance effects.
Usage:
STANCE (stance type)


Where {stance type} is one of the following:
{| {{prettytable}}
OFFENSIVE (all offensive, no regard to defense!)
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
ADVANCE (mostly offensive, little defense.)
!'''STANCE'''
FORWARD (more offensive, moderate defense.)
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
NEUTRAL (more defense, moderate offense.)
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
GUARDED (mostly defensive, little offense.)
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
DEFENSIVE (all defensive, no offensive.)
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!MODIFIER
|<center>0.50</center>
|<center>0.60</center>
|<center>0.70</center>
|<center>0.80</center>
|<center>0.90</center>
|<center>1.00</center>
|}


Use STANCE VERBOSE to show your stance changes to others in the room.
=== Parry ===
</pre>


The [[POSTURE (verb)|POSTURE]] verb can also be used to set stance, but will always display changes to others in the room as if in STANCE VERBOSE mode.
Before any weapon skills are taken into account, there is a flat bonus of up to +50 [[Parry]] DS based on stance.


Verbose messaging:
{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!DS Bonus
|<center>0</center>
|<center>10</center>
|<center>20</center>
|<center>30</center>
|<center>40</center>
|<center>50</center>
|}


*{Character} drops all defense as he moves into a battle-ready stance.
*{Character} moves into an aggressive stance, clearly preparing for an attack.
*{Character} switches to a slightly aggressive stance.
*{Character} falls back into a relaxed, neutral stance.
*{Character} moves into a defensive stance, clearly guarding himself.
*{Character} moves into a defensive stance, ready to fend off an attack.


== Finer Stance Adjustments ==
For '''one-handed weapons''' (including one-handed polearms), the amount of Parry DS derived from weapon skill ranges from 20% effectiveness in offensive stance to 70% effectiveness in defensive stance.


There are times when a character can end up between the six main stances.
{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!MODIFIER
|<center>0.20</center>
|<center>0.30</center>
|<center>0.40</center>
|<center>0.50</center>
|<center>0.60</center>
|<center>0.70</center>
|}


For '''two-handed weapons''', effectiveness ranges from 30% in offensive stance to 105% in defensive stance.

{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!MODIFIER
|<center>0.30</center>
|<center>0.45</center>
|<center>0.60</center>
|<center>0.75</center>
|<center>0.90</center>
|<center>1.05</center>
|}


For '''two-handed polearms''', effectiveness ranges from 27% to 94%, and there is an additional flat DS bonus based on stance:

{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!MODIFIER
|<center>0.27</center>
|<center>0.41</center>
|<center>0.54</center>
|<center>0.68</center>
|<center>0.81</center>
|<center>0.94</center>
|}

{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!DS Bonus
|<center>15</center>
|<center>18</center>
|<center>21</center>
|<center>24</center>
|<center>27</center>
|<center>30</center>
|}


For '''bows''' (shortbows, composite bows, longbows), effectiveness ranges from 15% to 45%. The enchantment bonus on a bow contributes directly to DS and is exempt from stance effects.

{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!MODIFIER
|<center>0.15</center>
|<center>0.21</center>
|<center>0.27</center>
|<center>0.33</center>
|<center>0.39</center>
|<center>0.45</center>
|}


For '''crossbows''', effectiveness ranges from 12% to 37%. The enchantment bonus on a crossbow contributes directly to DS and is exempt from stance effects.

{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!MODIFIER
|<center>0.12</center>
|<center>0.17</center>
|<center>0.22</center>
|<center>0.27</center>
|<center>0.32</center>
|<center>0.37</center>
|}


For '''runestaves''', the amount of Parry DS derived from weapon skill ranges from 20% effectiveness in offensive stance to 70% effectiveness in defensive stance. The enchantment bonus on a runestaff contributes directly to DS and is exempt from stance effects.

{| {{prettytable}}
|-style = "background:#DDD; color: blue"
!'''STANCE'''
!'''<center>OFF</center>'''
!'''<center>ADV</center>'''
!'''<center>FOR</center>'''
!'''<center>NEU</center>'''
!'''<center>GUA</center>'''
!'''<center>DEF</center>'''
|-
!MODIFIER
|<center>0.20</center>
|<center>0.30</center>
|<center>0.40</center>
|<center>0.50</center>
|<center>0.60</center>
|<center>0.70</center>
|}


*Offensive combat abilities such as [[Feint]] and [[Call Wind (912)]] can force a target to change their stance, and these adjustments generally do not come in increments of 20%. For example, an endroll of +137 on a feint would move the target 37 percentage points closer to offensive: if they were in guarded stance (80%), they would be in a 43% stance, just barely more defended than forward (40%).
== CMAN Combat Mastery ==


*Wizards with the [[Mage Armor (520)#Fire Aspect|Fire aspect]] of [[Mage Armor (520)|Mage Armor]] active [[CHANNEL (verb)|{{boldmono|CHANNEL}}]] their spells in a more offensive stance than they are actually in, with the number of "bonus stance points" based on their [[Elemental Lore, Fire|Fire Lore]].
The [[Combat Maneuvers|combat maneuver]], [[Combat Mastery]], allows a character to refine their stance to 10% (at rank 1) or 5% (at rank 2) changes in stance.


*[[Combat Mastery]], a [[Combat Maneuvers|combat maneuver]], and [[Warrior_Tricks#Stance_Perfection|Stance Perfection]], the corresponding [[Warrior Tricks|Warrior Trick]], allow a character to refine their stance further. Both skills initially allow the character to change their stance in 10% increments. As the associated skill is further trained, 5% increments become available.
== External links ==
*http://www.play.net/gs4/info/combatguide.asp#combatfactors


[[Category:Verbs]]
[[Category:Combat Mechanics]]

Latest revision as of 11:57, 5 January 2018

Stance determines how much a character is focused on defending vs. attacking. It is controlled by the STANCE verb.

There are six main stances in which a character can exist: offensive, advance, forward, neutral, guarded, and defensive. In offensive, a character is devoting all of his or her efforts toward attacking. When in stance defensive, that character is dedicating all energy toward defending. Neutral stands in between the two, and forward and guarded allow further incrementing. Characters who are in stance defensive will generally take less damage from physical attacks, including bolt spells, than those in stance offensive.

In stance offensive, 100% of a character's weapon skill is applied to AS, and the character has a far reduced chance to evade, block or parry.

In stance defensive, only 50% of a character's weapon skill is applied to AS, and the character has the highest chance to evade, block or parry.

Numerical Equivalents

Stance is often represented in formulas as a numerical percentage value from 0 to 100. These numbers are an abstract representation of a character's "defensiveness". Some situations allow for finer gradation than the six stances (see below).

STANCE OFF ADV FOR NEU GUA DEF
PERCENT 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

STANCE (verb)

The STANCE verb can be used to change a character's combat stance.

Usage:
    STANCE (stance type)

Where {stance type} is one of the following:
    OFFENSIVE  (all offensive, no regard to defense!)
    ADVANCE    (mostly offensive, little defense.)
    FORWARD    (more offensive, moderate defense.)
    NEUTRAL    (more defense, moderate offense.)
    GUARDED    (mostly defensive, little offense.)
    DEFENSIVE  (all defensive, no offensive.)

Use STANCE VERBOSE to show your stance changes to others in the room.

The POSTURE verb can also be used to set stance, but will always display changes to others in the room as if in STANCE VERBOSE mode.

Verbose messaging:

  • {Character} drops all defense as he moves into a battle-ready stance.
  • {Character} moves into an aggressive stance, clearly preparing for an attack.
  • {Character} switches to a slightly aggressive stance.
  • {Character} falls back into a relaxed, neutral stance.
  • {Character} moves into a defensive stance, clearly guarding himself.
  • {Character} moves into a defensive stance, ready to fend off an attack.

Finer Stance Adjustments

There are times when a character can end up between the six main stances.

  • Offensive combat abilities such as Feint and Call Wind (912) can force a target to change their stance, and these adjustments generally do not come in increments of 20%. For example, an endroll of +137 on a feint would move the target 37 percentage points closer to offensive: if they were in guarded stance (80%), they would be in a 43% stance, just barely more defended than forward (40%).
  • Wizards with the Fire aspect of Mage Armor active CHANNEL their spells in a more offensive stance than they are actually in, with the number of "bonus stance points" based on their Fire Lore.
  • Combat Mastery, a combat maneuver, and Stance Perfection, the corresponding Warrior Trick, allow a character to refine their stance further. Both skills initially allow the character to change their stance in 10% increments. As the associated skill is further trained, 5% increments become available.