Toughness is one of the main attributes.
Effects
- Toughness is the main stat used to determine the PC maximum hit points; roughly one hit point is given for each two points of To, as well as one per level (+9 HP at level 10, +19 HP at level 20, and so on) at Toughness of [2/4/6/8] 14/16/18/20/23/26/29/34/38/45/50/60/70/80/90 (2/4/6/8 checks had weird results in testing).
- The PC gains one point of natural PV for every two points of Toughness starting with 20. This increase is capped at 58 toughness (+20 PV).
- Toughness improves the chance to avoid being affected by sickening melee attacks. In the absence of bad luck, 30 Toughness provides immunity to these attacks.
Toughness affects starting natural HP regeneration, but only to a minor degree; the character's race is the defining factor.
The Toughness stat also has some influence on the PC's ability to resist becoming paralyzed from wands of paralyzation and paralytic skin.
How to train it
Herbs
Toughness is very easy to train by eating morgia roots. B/U/C status does not matter; they always have a positive effect. Around 4 herbs are sufficient for an increase. Morgia roots no longer work for Toughness if it is 25 or higher, although an extreme amount of training at 24 can increase it to 26. Eating morgia roots cannot train Toughness if it is already at its potential.
Corpses
Toughness can be trained by eating the corpse of a swamp hydra or any variety of hill orcs.
Garth
The PC can pay Garth to train their Toughness. Higher values of Toughness require progressively more gold.
Leveling up
Like all attributes, Toughness is slightly trained every time the PC levels up. The Athletics skill increases the amount of Toughness training gained.
How to raise it
Corpses
Corpses that can increase potential: Wight, Wraith, Spectre, Vampire, Moloch, Greater moloch, Ancient white dragon, Great white wyrm, Titan, Greater titan
Corpses only partially affected by potential: Keriax
Corpses that ignore potential: Keethrax, Minotaur emperor, Ancient Stone Beast, Ultimate doppelganger (trolls only)
Stat potions
Potions of toughness and potions of gain attributes can be used to increase Toughness. There is no soft or hard cap for using these; blessed potions of gain attributes give +1 (to all other stats also), uncursed potions of toughness give +1, blessed potions +2.
Starsign
The Dragon starsign grants a +1 Toughness bonus. The Tree starsign grants a +2 Toughness bonus.
Class powers
- Barbarians receive +3 Toughness as part of their level 32 class power.
- Farmers receive +3 Toughness as part of their level 40 class power.
- Beastfighters and Bards receive +6 Toughness as part of their level 50 class power.
- Weaponsmiths receive +8 Toughness as their level 40 class power.
- Healers receive +8 Toughness as part of their level 50 class power.
- Chaos Knights receive at least +1d2 Toughness from their level 25 class power.
Talents
The "Tough" talent that is only available at the start of the game increases initial Toughness by 2.
Corruption
PCs receive a Toughness bonus based on their alignment and the number of corruptions they have (+1 per 2/3/4 corruptions at chaotic/neutral/lawful).
How to abuse It
Food
A lot of corpses, for instance those of dark elves, will decrease Toughness if eaten. Most will raise another stat in exchange, but not necessarily a more useful one.
Undead
Many undead monsters list the ability to drain Toughness among their nasty types of attacks. These include, funnily enough, all those whose corpses actually increase Toughness: wights, wraiths, spectres and vampires. Care should be taken to either destroy these quickly and well-armored in melee, or fight from a distance.
Corruption
Three corruptions affect Toughness: very light (-6), maggot breeding (-6) and bulging cranium (-3).
Casting spells from HP
Casting spells from HP heavily abuses Toughness.
Class powers
Necromancers gain a class power at level 50 that lets them escape from most forms of death by sacrificing half their Toughness score and HP.
Aging
Toughness gradually reduces with age; the stat first decreases when PC reaches middle age, then further at each stage in their lifecycle after that.
Items
Several items in the game will grant a Toughness bonus if worn (standard bonus in brackets). These include:
- knives of endurance (base +4, varies) and weapons of might (+2)
- bracers of toughness (base +4, varies) and body armor of resilience (+4 to 6)
- the artifacts Protector (+2), robes of resistance (+5), shield of raw steel (+8)
- the artifact weapons Rolf's Companion (+3), Hammerhead (+3), staff of the Wanderer (+6), Black Thumb (+3)
- Chaos Orb of Elemental Earth (+10 when equipped in the tool slot)
Requirements
Toughness | Required for |
---|---|
10 | Hardy |
11 | |
12 | Beast of Burden Tough Skin |
13 | |
14 | |
15 | Very Hardy Iron Skin |
16 | |
17 | |
18 | |
19 | |
20 | Extremely Hardy Steel Skin |