Ok this should explain everything about the combat mechanics of Aow.
It may not not work exactly like this, but then it works in a very similar way, and you will not be able to experience any difference
Every time a unit try to hit another unit a "random" number between 1 and 10 is generated If the number is 1 the unit always make a critical miss
If the number is 10 the unit make critical hit (always hit and do max damage)
If the number is 2 - 9 the the unit has a chance to make a normal hit
If attack is 4 or more higher than defense: 2-9 = hit (10% miss, 80% normal hit, 10% critical, 11.1 % of your hits will be critical)
If attack is 3 higher than defense: 2 = miss, 3-9 = hit (20 % miss, 70% normal hit, 10% critical, 12.5 % of your hits will be critical)
If attack is 2 higher than defense: 2-3 = miss, 4-9 = hit (30 % miss, 60% normal hit, 10% critical, 14.3 % of your hits will be critical)
If attack is 1 higher than defense: 2-4 = miss, 5-9 = hit (40 % miss, 50% normal hit, 10% critical, 16.6 % of your hits will be critical)
If attack = defense: 2-5 = miss, 6-9 = hit (50 % miss, 40% normal hit, 10% critical, 20 % of your hits will be critical)
If attack is 1 lower than defense: 2-6 = miss, 7-9 = hit (60 % miss, 30% normal hit, 10% critical, 25 % of your hits will be critical)
If attack is 2 lower than defense: 2-7 = miss, 8-9 = hit (70 % miss, 20% normal hit, 10% critical, 33.3% of your hits will be critical)
If attack is 3 lower than defense: 2-8 = miss, 9 = hit (80 % miss, 10% normal hit, 10% critical, 50 % of your hits will be critical)
If attack is 4 or more lower than defense: 2-9 = miss (90 % miss, 0% normal hit, 10% critical, 100 % of your hits will be critical)
When a normal hit is made then a random number between minimum and maximum damage is generated, and that number is the damage.
Maximum damage = the damage listed for the unit
Minimum damage is normally 1, but:
If attack is 5 or 6 higher than defense it's 2
If attack is 7 or 8 higher than defense it's 3
If attack is 9 higher than defense it's 4
So if an swordsman (attack 4, damage 3) hit an archer (defense 2) with a NORMAL hit then there is:
33.3 % chance of 1 damage
33.3 % chance of 2 damage
33.3 % chance of 3 damage
If a hero with 10 attack and 6 damage hit an archer with a NORMAL hit then there is:
25 % chance of 3 damage
25 % chance of 4 damage
25 % chance of 5 damage
25 % chance of 6 damage
Some examples:
(in all examples R = Random number)
1) a unicorn (att 6, def 4, dam 4 + charge) is attacking a human swordsman (att 4, def 2, dam 3):
(unicorn: critical hit 10%, normal hit 80%, miss 10 %)
(swordsman: critical hit 10%, normal hit 40 %, miss 50%)
a) The unicorn make it's first strike at the swordsman: R = 4, the unicorn make a hit (damage: 1- (4+2)) R = 2, swordsman lose 2 hit points
b) swordsman counter strike: R = 7, the swordsman make a hit (damage 1-3) R = 3, unicorn lose 3 hit points.
c) Unicorn make it's 2. strike: R = 10, unicorn make a critical hit (damage 4), swordsman die
2) a human swordsman (att 4, def 2, dam 3) attack a hero (with att 8, def 10, dam 5):
(hero: critical hit 10%, normal hit 80%, miss 10 %)
(swordsman: critical hit 10% normal hit 0 %, miss 90%)
a) The swordsman make his first strike at the hero: R = 6, miss
b) hero counter strike: R = 8, the hero make a hit (damage 2-5) R = 4, swordsman lose 4 hit points
c) The swordsman make his 2. strike at the hero: R = 8, miss
d) hero counter strike: R = 2, the hero make a hit (damage 2-5) R = 3, swordsman die