Ambush v Perception

[waywardgs]

So as of now I'm fully 2x in ambush and perception, and I'm wondering if it would benefit me to drop to 1x in ambush and push perception to 3x. I know there are diminishing returns to aiming, but I don't care, I want to get as close as possible to always hitting my target. I'm pretty close now- will this help? What will I lose if I drop ambush?

Also, on a side note, I dropped picking and disarming entirely but can't see like level traps very often anymore- how much would 3x perception help me with detecting for the purposes of 407/408?

For reference, here's my current training:


[PHP](at level 76), your current skill bonuses and ranks (including all modifiers) are:
Skill Name | Current Current
| Bonus Ranks
Armor Use..........................| 40 8
Combat Maneuvers...................| 193 93
Ranged Weapons.....................| 280 180
Ambush.............................| 256 156
Physical Fitness...................| 256 156
Dodging............................| 334 234
Arcane Symbols.....................| 140 40
Magic Item Use.....................| 130 35
Harness Power......................| 108 26
Stalking and Hiding................| 258 158
Perception.........................| 256 156
Climbing...........................| 140 40
Swimming...........................| 105 25
First Aid..........................| 40 8

Spell Lists
Minor Elemental....................| 11

Any advice? Thanks in advance.

Edit: oh, the odd ranged number is from enhancives.

[AnticorRifling]

Only double leathers?

[waywardgs]

Yeah, I'm digging the lighter armors since I switched from mbp. Dunno- I dodge the hell out of stuff, and my DS went through the roof. The only problem is casting, and I either just kill casters too fast or hide and snipe or ewave, so the CvA isn't that big of a deal to me at this point.

[Gan]

Do you primarily shoot from hiding or in the open?

Hiding is where you'll notice the diminishing returns with lowering ambush ranks. You'll aim for the eye but hit the leg.

If you shoot from the open then I would not worry about it.

[Asrial]

I don't think you'll notice a difference from hiding. AIMING from hiding uses ambush/perception in equal parts (among a ton of other factors).

Think of it this way...

Currently you have 1x ambush + 1x ambush + 1x perception + 1x perception = 4. After the change.. you'll still have 4.

If you shoot from the open.. it uses only perception so then this change would give you probably a dramatic benefit.

My advice?

Don't 3x perception until you've met other goals. 2x ambush and try to get middle ground (2.5x) perception.

[droit]

If you dropped 2x ambush, you'd lose a bunch of AS. Poor choice.

[waywardgs]

Sounds good, thanks for the advice, think I'll stick with the current arrangement then. I shoot from hiding maybe half the time if not less, but when I do hide it's for defensive purposes and I don't want to sacrifice my effectiveness there. Appreciate the input!

[TyrilPraedus]

If you dropped 2x ambush, you'd lose a bunch of AS. Poor choice.

Agreed.

Range AS = Range + (ambush/2 + percption/2)/2 + DEX Bonus

...and i think perception is capped at 2x for level for the AS formula. Correct me if i am wrong please.

[waywardgs]

Agreed.

Range AS = Range + (ambush/2 + percption/2)/2 + DEX Bonus

...and i think perception is capped at 2x for level for the AS formula. Correct me if i am wrong please.

Yeah, I'm aware of the AS equation, I was more wondering about the aim success equation, really... anyone have any ideas about that?

[droit]

That's already been answered. When you're shooting from the open, aiming relies on your perception skill. When you're shooting from hiding, it uses the average of your perception and ambush skills. Therefore, going from 2x ambush/2x perception to 1x ambush/3x perception would have no effect on your aiming from hiding, but would increase your aiming from the open only slightly (thanks to diminishing returns). I think the AS bonus from 2x ambush far outweighs the slight aiming bonus from 3x perception.

[TyrilPraedus]

I get pushdown also from sniping.

[waywardgs]

That's already been answered. When you're shooting from the open, aiming relies on your perception skill. When you're shooting from hiding, it uses the average of your perception and ambush skills. Therefore, going from 2x ambush/2x perception to 1x ambush/3x perception would have no effect on your aiming from hiding, but would increase your aiming from the open only slightly (thanks to diminishing returns). I think the AS bonus from 2x ambush far outweighs the slight aiming bonus from 3x perception.

Ah, gotcha. Got it now, thanks.

[Asrial]

No one really knows the 'formula' for aiming success. There's a lot of factors involved and no easy way to test it :(

Also, there's an always present 1% miss.

[AMUSED1]

It's also been said that even if you have max training in ambush and in perception then adding sighting on a bow on top of that will still increase how good you can aim. So sighted bows FTW.

[Androidpk]

Curious, how much of a role does perception play in open aiming with a melee weapon? And ambush?

[droit]

Curious, how much of a role does perception play in open aiming with a melee weapon? And ambush?

Aiming a melee weapon uses the average of ambush and CM from the open and just ambush from hiding (if I remember correctly). Perception doesn't factor into it.

[Gan]

Stacking 402 on before you hunt is also a win.

[Izzy]

Stacking 402 on before you hunt is also a win.

404 also helps aiming. No idea if it's worth it, but it can't hurt.

[Gan]

Yea. I do 404 as well but I shoot from the shadows. I dont know if 404 helps from open firing.

[waywardgs]

Does 404 or 402 help with getting past a critter's EBP?

[Asrial]

Does 404 or 402 help with getting past a critter's EBP?No, I don't think so.

I think it's specifically to do with hitting your aimed target with a ranged weapon (and I think thrown weapons and ranged weapons are different systems).

[TyrilPraedus]

cman dirtkick

lowers EBP

[waywardgs]

cman dirtkick

lowers EBP

yeah, I just picked up a couple ranks in that. If you get enough, you can train for that cman where you do a little ho-down jig, kicking up dust and then disappear...


Suddenly, Rogue begins to hurriedly kick up dirt all around himself! Before you can react, your view of Rogue is obscured by the resulting choking haze of dust that completely envelops him!
The dust quickly settles back down and you notice that Rogue is no longer there!

[AnticorRifling]

Fuck that they should let you make balls of dust that you throw on the ground and ninja vanish!