Combat

*Sefra's Winds, this article is incomplete! Maybe you can fill the gaps if you have an idea from your travels, Sehm..*

**Might and Delight**
> Should you find yourself in a combat situation, the first thing you’ll need to do is prepare. This is a combat system designed around preparation, initiative and timing and there are three essential stages that build up to the decisive moment. Before you begin of course, you’ll first need to survey your surroundings for a worthy opponent. Putting your hand on your sword will cast a red circle about you, alerting you to anyone (or anything) within challengeable radius. You’ll also be able to see their Force and Ward numbers, which will help you decide if you want to take them on.
>
>

Combat is a side feature in Book of Travels, allowing players to have a taste in dueling a foe with preparation and luck.

## Preparation

### Equipment

The Equipment that you wear will affect how you perform during combat, and the rate that you navigate around the world.

It is a must to have a sword to combat, if not you will be defeated at the 1st hit, no matter how much Ward you have.

####  Force

Force is governed mainly by the qualities of your weapon. When you engage in a combat situation, Force is the stat that dictates the power of your attacks.

####  Ward

Ward is granted mainly by armour and protective equipment. Ward represents how much Force you can deflect from an opponent's attacks before you start suffering fatal wounds.

####  Speed

Speed is influenced by your Burden, as well as effects from various equipment. It affects your stamina and your ability to tie Knots quickly. In combat, Speed hastens your initiative and quickens your attack timer, enabling your to reach higher hit-probability faster.

####  Burden

Burden is the antithesis of Speed. It makes you slower, increases time to tie Knots and slows down your initiative. Burden is connected to your encumbrance, particularly armour granting high Ward, making you sturdy but sluggish.

##### What is **Effective Speed**?

The Speed stat is affected by the Burden stat, which does the opposite of what Speed does. Because of this, your effective Speed is your current Speed - your Burden.

## Combat System

### Initiating Combat

A battle can only commence only if it is initiated by you or the foe. You can do the initiation by clicking the Attack Button close to the enemy.

How fast the **Initative Bar** fills up is based on your **Effective Speed**

### Battle

When Battle commences, your Combat UI will pop up showing your attack button as well as any Combat Skills you have learnt.
On both you and foe, both  and  would be visible, and additionally you will see your combat meter

## Foe Behaviour

The foes you meet in your travels all has different behaviours, here are some categories of foes that has their own unique interaction with combat.

### Wardens

Wardens are not hostile and will not initiate combat until you do. They will never back out from a fight and commence to the end. Since they do not battle out of malice and do it as a form of practice, you will not faint and lose Life Petals if defeated, thus giving a safe environment to get use to practicing the combat system.

## Miscellaneous

Being in the beginnings of Early Access, Combat at this moment is still very buggy.