viewtopic.php?f=24&t=435&p=1427
Primarily highlighting Rias's response here from Nov 30, 2018 12:13 am:
Anyway ... I'll get off my soap box now and say that yes, there will probably be a way for magic users to defend themselves in dangerous situations without using conventional weapons/shields and their related skills, but will still require extra skill investment beyond just a single magic skill they would have been investing in already anyway. And it probably won't be quite as effective as the more dedicated-combatant conventional methods, overall.
When he had posted that in 2018, dodge was only given by melee skill. As seen here,
"First of all, 75% of a character's Ranged Combat skill may now apply to Dodge rolls, just as is the case with Melee Combat. The greater of one's Melee- or Ranged-based numbers will be applied (they don't stack with each other)."
As you need to take ranged skill to effectively throw sorcery bolts, you already will have some level of defense as of June 20th last year. So technically he has already accomplished the expectation.
Back to the topic, though.
Ranged is not necessarily a 'physical combat skill'. Conceptually, this is what the skill says
"General skill at ranged combat with any attack, both offense and defense. Some weapon types may be less effective without specialization, such as slings."
Calling it 'physical ranged combat is picking specifically one facet of the skill. It also determines things like your precision at throwing ranged magic attacks, which is exactly what mental calculations for precision is. I believe combat is addressed with general skill here for simplicity sake and dividing the skill up sounds like the opposite of that.
But I like to play from both sides of the coin, so here are my two perspectives to share here.
The take it as it is perspective: If it helps you mentally be prepared to not be yoda, just don't think of Ranged Combat as a physical feat of prowess. Yes, here in COGG Ranged Combat is a catchall that also encapsulates the ability to dodge, throw a dagger, or fire a bow; just don't do any of those things. I think splitting off an entirely separate but effectively equal defensive skill stat seems like excess bloat to me. I think as far as flavor goes, you can certainly think that your character is avoiding blows in the manner as described, without necessarily needing to resort to a whole new set of skills. Setting up a whole new set of calculations to account for a second set of skills that do the same thing as the first but worse just feels like asking for trouble; if it does get put through, you're going to have people asking for it to be buffed to be in line with regular ranged combat, I guarantee that within 2 years down the line people will be heckling for mental calculations to be equivalent to ranged combat, and no amount of telling them 'it is what it is' is going to satisfy them. I imagine that implementation would be a lot of work taken from other content, and that more skills to finagle with will bloat up any kind of combat changes that could potentially occur. Ability-wise, actually, there is already the arcana based ability warding sphere, a barrier that can block incoming attacks that arcanists gain access to. It's a boost to dodge, block, and parry against most incoming attacks. Not sure how it compares to actual skill.
The 'support your fellow book nerds' perspective: Having a separate skill set that has its own separate mental-based defense roll system for magic might be cool, but it mostly feels like you're asking for showing different flavor text. Maybe we can have dodging affixed with special flavor text for scholars! E.g. having skill in sorcery causes your dodge to trigger special flavor text. Sounds verbose though. The best of both worlds.
I'm always for more abilities though.
A cryosorcerous disc? Well, there isn't a cryomancy right now. But if it happens, Yes, please!
"- "Awakening" a wooded grove in preparation of the arrival of intruders that will be assailed by lashing roots and entangling vines and such." Yes, please!
"Barkskin ritual" Yes, please!