Most likely answer is observer bias of some kind. Weapons have a damage range and skeleton hp could be in the middle of that range.

It's entirely possible to hit a regular skeleton with an iron mace (which they are weak against) and not have it die in one hit, because you rolled low for damage, or hit multiple things, (like a wall, or rock, or another enemy) reducing your damage.

Also, defense rating for enemies? Does that exist or is it speculation to support the bias?

Originally posted by magilla666:

Originally posted by Maelstrom:

He said he was using a sword on the melee skeleton and a bow on the ranged one. Swords do slash damage, which skeletons are neither weak nor strong against.

Better read it again. Sword against both of them.

Oh, my bad. No more 5 AM forum posting for me!

Originally posted by Maelstrom:

Originally posted by magilla666:

Better read it again. Sword against both of them.

Oh, my bad. No more 5 AM forum posting for me!

we all make that mistake.

He said he was using a sword on the melee skeleton and a bow on the ranged one. Swords do slash damage, which skeletons are neither weak nor strong against.

Originally posted by Maelstrom:

He said he was using a sword on the melee skeleton and a bow on the ranged one. Swords do slash damage, which skeletons are neither weak nor strong against.

Better read it again. Sword against both of them.

Same reason a neck can destroy my new karve with three hits of its tongue? Early access, details not ironed out.

Bows do mostly pierce damage. Skeletons are resistant to pierce damage.

Damage types matter in this game. A lot actually. You should use a mace on skeletons and draugr as they're weak to blunt damage.

Originally posted by Maelstrom:

Bows do mostly pierce damage. Skeletons are resistant to pierce damage.

Damage types matter in this game. A lot actually. You should use a mace on skeletons and draugr as they're weak to blunt damage.

Originally posted by Breezie:

I've noticed that with the iron sword, I can end a sword and shield skeleton in one hit, but the bow skeletons take 2.

The point was that the ranged skeleton supposedly has more defense than the melee skeleton. He wasn't trying to use the bow on the skeleton.

A geared melee opponent should be better able to handle the melee damage than a geared ranged opponent. Why go against such a blatantly obvious thing?