Combat skills are just that; skills involving battle and the weilding of weapons.

Combat skills are associated with one of two statistics; strength or dexterity. As with the other skills, the higher the associated stat plus the higher the level of skill, the better you are at your particular combat.

Combat skills are skills that make the most use of stats and skill levels, as they virtually always are used against another NPC or PC, which means your relative levels and stats will likely be compared. They are also the most specific; one weapon will involve a very different style than the other.

Unlike other skills, combat skills are 'generic' skill levels; you do not gain special abilities for a higher level of skill save what is described here.

A character with a weapon skill that is capable of parrying (such as a sword or martial arts, but not a bow or dart) may attempt to disarm his opponent. Disarming will not work unless the character is one higher level in his fighting skill than his opponent is.

Novice: Your character can hit a medium-sized target about half the time.

Proficient: Your character can hit a medium-sized, moving target about half the time.

Advanced: Your character can hit a medium sized, moving target about 3/4 of the time.

Expert: Your character puts his weapon exactly where he or she wants it, and hits moving targets 9/10ths of the time depending on the target's skill at defending or lack thereof.