rchandra wrote:The "it looks easy", "it looks extremely dangerous" etc. you get from examining the monsters (with xv) works ok for melee vs melee with no major abilities on either side.
I forgot about that. Thank you! But it doesn't take equipment into account, or abilities like "Heroism" (when I have them, that is) or potions of might or speed, does it? I had a couple of situations where "extremely dangerous" turned out to be -- when I was cornered -- quite managable, while I was at least once 2-shot by a merely "dangerous" melee monster.
-- I understand that caution is the better part of valour. However, I also died several times, because avoiding to much left me with no place to retreat. --
Still, the information from examining is extremely valuable for figuring out *when* I'm ready to take on that ogre with a given strategy/build. However, I suppose there is no rough-and-ready formula for vague estimates? For instance: "Hmm, with my armour and chance to hit + damage and with that ogre's health and damage, I have -- let me see -- probably a X% chance of coming out alive, if I face him at full health. With my potion of might that raises to Y%. The level above is haunted by Sigmund and a player ghost, so the chances of survival are slim, even if no bat pops up between me and the stairs. If I use that wand of slowing, my chances of affecting him are Z%. So my best bet is ...."
Assuming, I'd be willing to do the actual math (for instance for an advanced character to whom I have grown attached). Where could I find the relevant formulas? I tried to read on the Wiki how chance-to-hit is calculated, in particular in relation with armour penalties, but I couldn't find it.
Sorry for the thread/threat screw-up. English is not my first language, and it seems zat vonce in a vhile zis accent of mine affects my spelling ...