How does cutting Sils work? (For those without Angrist)

[NotMorgoth]

I've managed to get several wins now. The first one found Angrist and cut a Silmaril from the crown easily, but the second did not, and had a harder time.

My main weapon was a longsword and I did not have any success cutting the Sil with this; I then tried switching to a 5d3 mattock, which, with a strength potion cut the Sil on the first attempt.

So is it just a case of getting the highest damage weapon possible? Would a great axe or similar be just as good? How much does melee skill contribute to success chance, and is it much harder for low-melee characters, eg archers or pacifists?

I gather that in the Elder Days it was possible to use Song of Sharpness with a light weapon, but that song is long forgotten and has passed away into the West.

[wobbly]

Its a straight roll of damage vs protection, with later sils having higher protection. More damage is good. A sharp weapon halves the protection number. Angrist is double sharp, it ignores protection completely.

Melee skill helps, but the crown has crit resistance. Its similar to wraiths, you need a bigger roll to crit. I mostly just use a heavy weapon.

If you have the rolls window open you can see the actual numbers.

[NotMorgoth]

Thanks - I forgot to add, does the digging bonus from mattocks help at all?

[Pete Mack]

Does Smithing skill contribute?

[wobbly]

Smithing doesn't count, digging doesn't count. It's basically an attack on a - 5? Evasion target with high protection and critical resistance.