NPC melee fix(ed?)

[Halladar]

I had found that eqthieves site, but didn't mention it because of some of the oddities.

Like Ranger defense post 50 going to 255 while warriors were capped at 252.

I don't know enough to post knowledgeably on the history of some of this stuff. But I do remember Pallies and SK's were on a different melee damage when kunark came out. Warriors had a different one, and monks had yet another.

Plus at some point warriors got that thing where the max hit (di/db stuff) was shifted for them.

I don't think this was the case pre-kunark.

Anyway I sent a tell to a 48 paladin in game (thanks Barthorn).

He said his skills were:

Dodge 125
Parry 175
Riposte 175
Defense 210

which is the same as the eqthieves site.

If the eqthieves site has skill caps the same as what we have on this server it will be for Rangers:

Dodge 137
Parry 185
Riposte 150
Defense 200

I haven't tested it here, but I seem to remember that 1 def = 5 ac. If that is true top end Rangers will be -50 ac to true tank classes. Plus most of the gear they can wear has less ac. I don't think lower riposte caps would make that much of a difference.

Basically unless the mitigation tables are different for different classes, or soft/hard cap ac stuff is in, I'd think a ranger is fine in the tank role for most stuff except things like ghoul lord or raids.

Which is the way I think it ought to work honestly.

But I haven't grouped with any high level rangers on this server, so I have no idea how it actually plays out.