UO Second Age

Does it work like the other combat skills or is tactics raised with offensive combat only?

Parry does not help tactics as far as I know.

It goes like this:

Did you swing? If yes, your weapon skill is checked and can increase.
Did your swing hit? If yes, your tactics skill is checked and can increase.
Did you get hit? If yes, are you holding a shield? If yes, your parry skill is checked and can increase.

Excellent info, thanks Mikel
I was asking because I am currently raising my tamer's fighting skills because I am just about to switch to bulls and figured I can tame -> release -> kill and this way I raise taming and have hides for a tailor to be made later.

Cheers

Use the orcs that spawn right around the corner in Del to kill your bulls.

Sweet idea I can just lure one into that area and let him have at the bulls. I will 'help him out' of course just to stay active otherwise it just gets boring watching them fight it out lol.

Thanks a lot Pirul, great advice!