Editing Damage (section)

==== Secondary skill factors – variables I<sub>2</sub> and I<sub>3</sub> ====
Variable I<sub>2</sub> represents [[secondary skill]] modifier of either [[Archery]] or [[Offense]] depending on the attack type. Creatures able to [[Ranged attack|attack from the distance]] gain bonus from the Archery secondary skill when using their ability, and if a creature engages into [[melee]] combat, it gains bonus to its damage from Offense secondary skill. For ranged attacks, Archery secondary skill may give 0, 0.10, 0.25 or 0.50 for I<sub>2</sub> depending on what level the skill is (if any). Similarly, Offense may give 0, 0.10, 0.20 or 0.30 to melee attacks. Because creatures cannot peform ranged and melee attacks at the same time, Archery and Offense modifiers cannot affect damage simultaneously.

Variable I<sub>3</sub> is related to Archery and Offense modifiers through heroes who specilize in these skills. There are three heroes specializing in Archery or Offense; Orrin specializes in Archery, while Gundula and Crag Hack specialize Offense (also Corkes in HotA). They receive additional bonus from Archery or Offense secondary skill, as calculated with the following formula:

<big><code>I<sub>3</sub> = 0.05 &times; hero level &times; I<sub>2</sub></code></big>

As can be seen from the formula, the specialty bonus requires that the hero has the appropriate secondary skill, otherwise I<sub>2</sub> becomes 0, which leads I<sub>3</sub> to become 0 as well. In other words, Orrin does not receive his specialty bonus if he does not have Archery secondary skill; same applies to Gundula and Crag Hack with Offense (also Corkes in HotA). By default these heroes start with the skill they specialize in, but in custom maps the map-maker may change the starting skills.

A special case of the variable I<sub>3</sub> is [[Adela]] and her [[Bless]] specialty. Adela's Bless maximizes base damage as usual, but also deals extra damage according to the following formula:

<big><code>I<sub>3</sub> = 0.03 &times; hero level &divide; creature level</code></big>

Because of the division, Adela's Bless bonus is greater for low-tier creatures. Her Bless grants +3% damage per her level to 1st level creatures, whereas it grants +0.6% per her level for 5th level creatures.