I'm creating a character who is not investing a lot into melee. I'm looking at the Dodge stat and the Parry stat, and Dodge seems all-around better for me (Parry might be better if I wanted high weapon skill for other things). Is there something I'm overlooking? Dodge can be used against ranged attacks; Parry cannot. Dodge can be boosted with experience to +20, but I don't see any skills to boost Parry, other than the defensive stat, which is only +10.

Let me know if there's something I'm missing, because I'm a Techmarine who wants a machinator array, so it seems silly for me to be dodging, but I can't justify investing in Parry, other than for flavor.

Scoates said:

Parry also gives the opportunity to use Counter-Attack, which Dodge does not. They're keyed off of different Characteristics, meaning raising the Characteristic tied to one (WS vs Agi) might be cheaper than the other. WS you can raise anytime and at any Rank so long as you have the XP; Dodge-specific skill advancement has to wait until its appearance on the Rank table. And parry uses the same stat as to hit with your (eventual) power axe. That's something.

Also Techmarines are soak-builds more than anything else. Artificer armor + cheap Toughness advances + The Flesh Is Weak + cover boosting = lol what damage.

If you're not putting any xp into Weapon Skill and going with a mostly shooty build, I'd go with dodge.

Dodge, as Kshatriya indicates, can be raised with agility, but your skill bonuses come at much later ranks. It also works against all attacks, and raising your agility helps other skills at the same time. The fact that you can dodge a wider variety of attacks than you can parry is a huge benefit.

Parry is pretty handy though. In addition to Counter Attack, Parry also works with Stalwart Defense. That's an ability I've seen turn even devastators into Parry belivers, simply because they get a chance to parry everything from melee weapons. Damage in this game tends to add up quickly (especially versus opponents with multiple attacks), and if you completely ignore a skill like WS you have a huge flank that your fellow Brothers are going to need to fill (even with the uber toughness of a Techmarine- but then again that's the purpose of having a team, right?

Scoates said:

You can take Dodge advances, it's fine, you're not missing anything. A number of times you might not be dodging or parrying anyway but use your servo-arm.

Alex

Dodging is good, unless you aren't aware of the attack (such as someone shooting you from behind, and NO you'd NEVER hear the shot before it hits you unless its a bow and arrow or hand-thrown spear that is, bullets fly FASTER than the speed of sound). But this is the same for parry, though I'd imagine once engaged in melee you'd be on the lookout for attacks from anyone engaged with you (watch out for that sneaky gretchin though!).

If you don't plan on doing much melee then focusing on dodge makes more sense. Although bonuses to parry are easier to come by (balanced weapons, etc.).

Thanks for all the info.

Is Stalwart Defense available to Techmarines? I don't see it.

Devastators.

Alex

Can always ask for it as an Elite Advance.

I don't want to point out the facts that our fellow brothers have said.

I only want to remember our brothers that weapons with defensive, like chainswords and power swords gets +10/+15 if not more.

Haven't seen anything that boost your agility from anything else than drugs (which always have drawbacks)

Both Dodge and Parry can get a talent, that makes you x/y one more time.

You can get Dodge+10/+20.

Alex