View source for Guide to Fighting

== Starting off ==
Combat is very different here compared to other servers, and is dictated heavily by stats, skills, armor and weapon choices. However, to learn combat you have to start simple by understanding the core mechanics.  

== Wrestling and Unarmed attacks ==
One of the most important things to know how to use and defend against in combat is grappling. By grabbing someone with the grab action, and tightening your grip, you are able to perform a grabbing move, usually either Smashing, Twisting or Tackling (and pinning). 

'''Smashing''' is dictated by what someone is smashed against and strength.

'''Twisting''' relies on the wrestling skill and strength, and is used to dislocate or break limbs.

'''Tackling''', which only works on the upper, middle and lower body is how you non-lethally take someone out of combat, throwing them to the ground and forcing them to drop their weapon, relying on strength, constitution and the wrestling skill. With tackling come '''Pinning.''' if you stand onto of the person and grab them with your other hand you can tackle them again and pin them to the ground, forcing them to stop fighting until they can struggle out.


There are also intents that are combat focused, out of the four (Biting, Kicking, Jumping and Stealing) Biting and Kicking are the ones primarily used in combat. 

=== '''Biting''' ===
Relies on strength, and specific traits (strong bite), is one of the best ways to inflict bleeding and critical hits that are intended to be lethal without a weapon, heavily depending on where you aim they can create a good last attack on an attacking Foe if you have been disarmed, since as long as your mouth isn't covered you can bite someone legs or feet while on the ground. ''fun fact, if you are chewing someone and want to stop to speak or such (you cannot do so while chewing) by emoting *spits or using the spit emote in the emotes tab, you can stop biting without having to move away to spit it out. (Or just right-click chew/drink)''

'''Kicking''', along with stomping is a great way to disable people quickly and efficiently if you use your surrounding to your advantage. If someone is against a wall, or any solid object, you are able to kick them into it to get a guaranteed stun (even diagonally!), however there are also unique interactions with kicking. Stomping can occur when you are standing over someone and try to kick them, resulting in a stomp rather than a kick, and if you are wearing any hard boots or shoes can result in breaking or fracturing peoples bones. Groin (lower chest) kicking/stomping someone not wearing trousers or armor covering the groin can result in a quick and easy nutcrack, eggcrack or pelvis crack which completely disables both of someone's legs, resulting in a massive advantage for yourself. 


''Other methods of not using weapons in combat are more niche and don't have direct action associated to them. The following are''

=== '''Arm grabbing''' ===
Disables that limb from attacking even with just light grip, forcing someone to have to struggle out or use their other hand to fight instead.

=== '''Charging''' ===
Heavily relies on the constitution of both people involves entering a run and ramming into another person leading them, or yourself, to fall over as if they were tackled, while also stunning yourself. The longer the distance ran the more force is gathered, like a bull, however charging short distances is much less strong, and charging from up-close has a major disadvantage and usually results in you failing the charge.

The basic math of a charge is - Strength + Constitution + From behind +/- Distance vs Strength + Constitution

== Archery ==
May your arrows blot out the sun, or at least their eyes.

Archery is a very niche but very effective combat style, you are left exposed when performing it so be sure to have protection, whether that is structures or allies.

=== '''Knocking''' ===
When loading an arrow it is called 'knocking' you can either do this slowly by grabbing an arrow with one hand and interacting with the bow in the second hand.

There is a much faster way to do this however by simply clicking on the quiver with your bow to rapidly knock arrows.

Note: The crossbow cannot rapidly knock bolts.

=== '''Aiming''' ===
Unlike most weapons, the bow requires you to draw and aim the bow before releasing to fire, many might consider rapid clicking to shoot, but it will result in your arrow veering off course at a 90 degree angle, likely hitting something you didn't want to hit.

Hold down the Left-click to start drawing your bow, you will see a small loading symbol on your crosshair, it will then form a Psycross or Y shape, it will take a second or more depending on your skill, once it is formed, you can release your left-click to shoot.

Arrows will go in a straight line until it hits something, this means it can shoot off screen, so be aware of that, either for friendly fire or long distant shots.

=== '''Intent''' ===
When shooting you have a couple options that depend on your positioning (Shoot and Arc) if you are aiming on a level field, the Shoot intent is all that is required.

However when shooting over people's heads or down Z layers, the Arc intent will allow you to do so.

To properly perform an Arc shot from above, aim at your target's blurred outline from above, ''do not look down.''

=== '''Skill and Strategy''' ===
Archery uses the Perception stat and Archery skill to determine your likelihood of hitting the body-part you were aiming for and above journeymen, you are likely to hit your shots, but the question is, where to aim?

Like melee combat, the ideal target is the least armored part of the body, thankfully all attacks with a projectile are direct, so you can hit someone anywhere on their body.

The prime targets are; Feet/Legs, Neck and Eyes

Opponents usually leave Feet and Legs protection for last, take advantage of this by hitting there, an arrow can pierce through light armor with ease, hitting a leg will probably result in the target falling over with a crippled limb, a good target for follow up attacks for you and your allies or removing an opponent from the fight.

The neck is usually one of the most protected spots, it is unlikely your target will leave it vulnerable, but if they do, you can take advantage to land heavy bleeding blows, requiring immediate attention, a good finisher.

The eyes and face are usually left unprotected, landing a blow to both eyes will result in the target going blind, and if lucky, a instant kill to the skull.

Note: Non-Carbon creatures (Such as wolves, spiders, ect) do not suffer the same wounds as a Carbon creature (Humanoids), so be sure to target their head or eyes for best results.