Defense is a Skill which can be practiced by player characters in Betrayal at Krondor. It decreases the frequency of receiving damage from an attacker in combat.
Overview
The rate at which a physical strike from an adjacent enemy results in a miss rather than a hit is modified by the target's Defense Skill and the attacker's Accy: Melee Skill, as well as the accuracy modifier of the weapon used in the attack. Higher Defense levels increase the frequency of avoiding damage from an enemy's attack, as well as providing a small reduction in damage if the attack does connect. Defense can be compared with more detailed defense mechanics in other games like block, parry and evade.
Increasing Skill
Defense can be increased
- by training, that is using physical attacks in combat, especially if it is the only Skill selected; areas with repeating combats, such as combat-blocked routes to inaccessable areas, the Prelate's house, and Ockie's house, are particularly useful for this.
- by teachers, such as Sumani; by completing a quest at the Temple of Dala; and, after unlocking the right keywords, by Devon. These increase the defense of the whole party
- by books: reading Psalms of Dala or Thiful's Bird Migrations will increase the defense of individual party members
- by buff potions: defense will receive a temporary boost by drinking Dalatail Milk before battle
Trivia
- Repeated-combat areas are also useful in raising the Accy: Melee, Accy: Crossbow, and Accy: Casting Skills.