How good is luck?

[Tom]

I heard some race(es?) have different Luck at start of the game.
How much does Luck affect the game?

The alchemist elixir can give +5 to Luck.
Compare this with +4 stats, +6 to specifik stats, +2 Class etc etc

I now have a choice between +5 Luck and +3STR +3CON plying a skeleton archer.
Is this really a choice?
Im heading to Last hope for the stats unless someone can convince me that Luck is more needed.

Tom

[Grey]

Well, I don't really know what effect luck has on the formulae, but in general I'd say ToME4 is a very deterministic game and luck doesn't play a huge part. There is no failure chance for the vast majority of spells and talents, and only physical ones have a chance to miss. There is little random variation in damage caused. Luck can affect quality of drops as well I think, but I can't see the difference being that big myself.

Overall I'd say melee chars would benefit most from luck, but it's not going to help that much. If you want to improve your to hit and damage rolls then you're better having the Strength.

[Dwarf_Hammer]

Luck has a minor effect on a bunch of things: acc, def, saves, criticals, etc. It doesn't affect loot iirc.

[Aquillion]

Luck has a minor effect on a bunch of things: acc, def, saves, criticals, etc. It doesn't affect loot iirc.

That just seems so... boring.

[jenx]

From the [b30] code it seems to figure in these equations:

breakStealth:
chance = 10 + self:getTalentLevel(self.T_UNSEEN_ACTIONS) * 9 + (self:getLck()- 50) * 0.2

combat defense
return math.max(0, self.combat_def + (self:getDex() - 10) * 0.35 + add + (self:getLck() - 50) * 0.4)

combat attack
return self.combat_atk + self:getTalentLevel(Talents.T_WEAPON_COMBAT) * 5 + (weapon.atk or 0) + (ammo and ammo.atk or 0) + (self:getLck() - 50) * 0.4

combat weapon crit chance:
return self.combat_physcrit + (self:getCun() - 10) * 0.3 + (self:getLck() - 50) * 0.30 + (weapon.physcrit or 1) + addcrit

combat spell crit chance:
return self.combat_spellcrit + (self:getCun() - 10) * 0.3 + (self:getLck() - 50) * 0.30 + 1

spell friendly fire chance (hitting self with AoE spell):
local chance = self:getTalentLevelRaw(self.T_SPELL_SHAPING) * 20 + (self:getLck() - 50) * 0.2
chance = 100 - chance

combat physical resistance:
return self.combat_physresist + (self:getCon() + self:getStr() + (self:getLck() - 50) * 0.5) * 0.35 + add

combat spell resistance:
return self.combat_spellresist + (self:getMag() + self:getWil() + (self:getLck() - 50) * 0.5) * 0.35 + add

combat mental resistance:
return self.combat_mentalresist + (self:getCun() + self:getWil() + (self:getLck() - 50) * 0.5) * 0.35 + add

encounter chance on worldmap (I'm not sure if who:getLck(7) is the same as self:getLck() - maybe it isn't.
return local harmless_chance = 1 + who:getLck(7)

[Grey]

Well, I think those formulae show that luck really is entirely negligible. It's pretty much impossible to get Luck in the amounts needed to have any significant effect in the game.

[Zonk]

Luck has a minor effect on a bunch of things: acc, def, saves, criticals, etc. It doesn't affect loot iirc.

That just seems so... boring.

It should perhaps affect loot on the ground and 'extra'drops from enemies, but not their actual equipment - otherwise, being luckier could be a disadvantage by making your enemies more well equipped!

[lukep]

I still think luck is better than most other stats, and would take 6 luck over +1 to all stats most of the time. To compare,

10 luck gives you:
4 defence, 4 accuracy, 3% crit, 1.75 to all saves, as well as 2% chance to avoid friendly AoE, and 2% chance to not break stealth.

+2 to all gives:
1.4 defence, 1.4 accuracy, 0.6% crit, 1.4 to all saves, 3.6 encumbrance, 2 spellpower, 2.1 mindpower, 10 mana, 8 HP and 0.29 resist all as well as requirements, and talents.

[Grey]

I'd say choosing luck over a primary class stat is a bad idea though.

[Tom]

I still think luck is better than most other stats, and would take 6 luck over +1 to all stats most of the time. To compare,

10 luck gives you:
4 defence, 4 accuracy, 3% crit, 1.75 to all saves, as well as 2% chance to avoid friendly AoE, and 2% chance to not break stealth.

+2 to all gives:
1.4 defence, 1.4 accuracy, 0.6% crit, 1.4 to all saves, 3.6 encumbrance, 2 spellpower, 2.1 mindpower, 10 mana, 8 HP and 0.29 resist all as well as requirements, and talents.

As halfling I recall reading I have +5 bonus from scratch.

I found a ring with +10 Luck I use.
With the ring I get an extra 3% to not break stealth (+15 Luck) on top of the 68% I have from Unseen Action.
Is this correct?

[Pyris311]

Everyone starts off with 50 base Luck, right?

[Hedrachi]

Everyone except Halflings, who start out with 55. So, lukep's line about 10 luck giving you blah blah blah means +10 extra luck on top of what you already have. Everything luck gives seems to be linear.