Honestly, I've not played savages, but you've also got to consider the outside factors specific to this situation. I've played enough orcs w/ crushing assault (similar, in some senses), that I've learned against SOME people, it's super-awesome. Others, not as much.

1) Daggers are super-easily-parryable, against swords which are awesome at parrying anyways, and further downside...he gets to try riposte'ing all those parry'd dagger attacks. Maybe Twist would have been better off w/ hands? They're often harder to parry.

1a) Consider this vs. axe spec, whip, mace. Probably get a LOT more mileage out of lessening their attacks/rnd.

2) I don't know if it effects parry or dodge, but if it lowers say the dodging ability of both combatants, you're probably hurting yourself more than them, because of the impact of wilderness familiarity.