Confused about stats

[Dr.Disaster]

To put it simply: can I screw up so badly that I find my party incapable of finishing the game at Normal difficulty?

If you stay with 2 to 3 skills per character it's very unlikely.

[Neutronium Dragon]

I will add that Strength is not usually a good focus even for front-line heavies. They need enough to be able to wear their armor and carry things (which minotaurs pretty much have by default), but it contributes such a small amount to damage that it isn't really worth raising beyond that point.

Dexterity, on the other hand, is reasonably useful because it improves accuracy, evasion, and two resistances, all of which are helpful (ESPECIALLY if you're using an inaccurate weapon type like maces). Vitality is also good for front-liners, but only to the extent of having enough to withstand a hit or two if you get pinned down.

Ranged characters, typically in the back row, may find the opposite of the above to be true: Strength boosts ranged damage and the accuracy boost of Dex doesn't matter to them. They're also less likely to need evasion (since they shouldn't be taking many melee attacks and ranged attacks ignore evasion).

It's for that reason that the minotaur hurler (thrown-weapon specialist) is probably the most brutal ranged combatant in the game.

[Gavener]

More Great info, thanks to all that put something in, i am on Level 5 at the minute getting killed by Crap spiders

[steyrhahn]

getting killed by Crap spiders

They've killed me more than once.

I'm sure its been stated before, but does evasion help with dodging/resisting non-melee attacks like fire or poison or ice?

[Dr.Disaster]

I'm sure its been stated before, but does evasion help with dodging/resisting non-melee attacks like fire or poison or ice?

Nope that's what resistances are for .. and the WASD keys

[BloodBlade22]

basic information about stats can be found here:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2833&hilit=strength+effect#p28879

Thanks for this, the info there was great.

I still have a few questions:

1. Is vitality and energy retroactive? I did some searching and found a post from 2012 saying it wasn't, some badgering ensued and I didn't feel like reading 15 pages of that, so has it changed since then or is it still the same old? I ask this because I started a new game and equipped the loincloth which has -1 willpower, however my energy did not go down. Does this only affect my character during level up, and would having it equipped gimp my character?

2. The link posted has this line (among others):
"Evasion increases by 2 points for every 1 point of Dexterity. (Dexterity 12 provides +2 Evasion; Dexterity 20 provides +18 Evasion.)"
So I assume that 20 dex is the max you would ever want? So I wouldn't want to pump 18+2 from the trait into dex for a rogue considering there will be equipment with dex bonuses as well?

Thanks.

[Dr.Disaster]

1. Is vitality and energy retroactive? I did some searching and found a post from 2012 saying it wasn't, some badgering ensued and I didn't feel like reading 15 pages of that, so has it changed since then or is it still the same old? I ask this because I started a new game and equipped the loincloth which has -1 willpower, however my energy did not go down. Does this only affect my character during level up, and would having it equipped gimp my character?

After character creation vitality and wisdom affect a character only during level up.
The value of vitality (respectively wisdom) determines, how much health (respectively energy) is added by a level up.

2. The link posted has this line (among others):
"Evasion increases by 2 points for every 1 point of Dexterity. (Dexterity 12 provides +2 Evasion; Dexterity 20 provides +18 Evasion.)"
So I assume that 20 dex is the max you would ever want? So I wouldn't want to pump 18+2 from the trait into dex for a rogue considering there will be equipment with dex bonuses as well?

Dexterity can increase during play by either the skills a player chooses or equipment but how much dex anyone wants i can't tell.