How your dodge and parry values are calculated:
Dodge:
This is the simpler value. Your
base dodge value at
all times is equal to your highest combat level. And by combat, I mean anything from the fight or magic skill trees. Ranged, healing, etc, all count. If your highest combat lvl is lvl 200 healing, your base dodge will be 200. From there, its simply modifed up and down from your equipment. Armor can have + and - dodge modifiers per piece, anbd two-handed weapons will usually hvea negative dodge mod (or 0) One-handed weapons, amps, guns all have no mods, currently. Shields will however have negative dodge, or 0.
Note: In very rare cases, your dodge could be based on your harvest or craft lvl. If your harvest or craft is much much higher, your base dodge will be half of that level. Say your best combat is 75 2H melee, but you're lvl 200 in harvest. You will have a base dodge of 100. As the combat only gets you a base 75, half your harvest is higher. But that's rather uncommon.
Parry:
Your base parry value is more variable. Simply put, it is your level in the melee weapon you are holding at the given instant. If You're holding a 2H axe, your base parry is your 2H axe fight level. If you switch to a 1H axe, your base parry switches to your lvl in 1H axe. If you are wearing amps, holding a gun, holding a pick or craft tool, or not holding any item at all your base parry is your lvl in hand-to-hand combat (same as Close Combat below lvl 150)
From there, basically it is modifed by equipment all the same ways dodge is. Armor can have + or - parry mods. 2H weapons will improve it, 1H, amps, guns, will have no effect. Shields and bucklers have very large parry modifiers.
That's probably the long explanation, but I was trying to be complete. Feel free to ask more questions!