DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 11/26/2005 Duedate: 12/09/2005
NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA
DM-93 TURN-197
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
DUROC DON
TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381)
(93-7995) [8-2-0,64]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
DUROC DON LEXAYN
TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381) HANDS OF HADES (1382)
(93-7995) [8-2-0,64] (93-8002) [8-0-0,55]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
DUROC DON ORVAL RAS
TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381) MIDDLE WAY 13 (1384)
(93-7995) [8-2-0,64] (93-8009) [4-4-0,33]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
HANDS OF HADES (1382)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397) 63
2. HANDS OF HADES (1382) 53 TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381)
3. MIDDLE WAY 13 (1384) 16 Unchartered Team
4. THE DARK SIDE (1401) 15
5. SHERMANS STABLE (1383) 9MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 0*MOLLUQ'S MARAUDER (1397) 5 0 0 100 1/ 3*HANDS OF HADES (1382) 10 5 1
2/ 1*THE DARK SIDE (1401) 8 2 2 80.0 2/ 2*MIDDLE WAY 13 (1384) 9 6 0
3/ 2*HANDS OF HADES (1382) 25 15 1 62.5 3/ 4*THE DARK SIDE (1401) 8 2 2
4/ 3*MIDDLE WAY 13 (1384) 22 18 0 55.0 4/ 1*SHERMANS STABLE (1383) 7 7 1
5/ 4*SHERMANS STABLE (1383) 21 18 1 53.8 5/ 0*MOLLUQ'S MARAUDER (1397) 5 0 0
6/ 5 TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381) 19 26 0 42.2 6/ 5 TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381) 3 9 0
7- 6*THE DAIKEN TADA (152) 2 9 1 18.2 7- 6*THE DAIKEN TADA (152) 1 0 1
'*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn
(###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
+ ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Lighthouse ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +
I thought I'd say few words today about styles and challenges. You have all
seen--or will see before you leave Noblish Island (it runs on turns numbered ending
in 3), this chart (and I thank Magic Man for making it available):
KEY FOR ODDS OF WINNING:
1 - ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE 6 - BETTER THAN EVEN
2 - HARDLY LIKELY 7 - GOOD CHANCE
3 - NOT MUCH 8 - HIGHLY PROBABLE
4 - SLIGHT CHANCE 9 - MOST DEFINATELY
5 - 50/50 10 - ALMOST GUARANTEED
Reminder: Left Row vs Top Column
BA ST LU SL AB TP PS PL PR WS
BA 5 2 6 6 8 9 7 6 5 6
ST 8 5 8 9 9 6 7 5 6 4
LU 4 4 5 6 10 5 7 7 9 6
SL 4 1 5 5 8 6 8 7 8 9
AB 2 2 2 4 5 10 6 6 6 7
TP 3 4 6 4 1 5 7 8 6 5
PS 3 3 3 4 5 4 5 4 5 4
PL 5 4 3 3 6 2 7 5 7 6
PR 7 5 2 2 4 5 6 3 5 4
WS 5 8 6 2 4 6 7 5 6 5
I consider this chart to be a fertile topic for debate, possibly even
acrimonious debate. There is some truth in it, I don't dispute that. And it is to
this chart, usually, that managers refer when they speak of some warrior having "the
style advantage" over another. But I believe that other factors than style are at
least as important, and perhaps MORE important, such as the relative skill of the two
managers and two warriors involved.
But, as I say, there is some truth in it, especially where the managers and
warriors are on a level of experience. Therefore, information on the styles of other
warriors in a given arena is important, so you can gauge your challenges and avoids
to give you the best chances for winning. This is one of the things alliances do for
their members--provide a forum for exchanging style information. It is also the
reason why experienced managers generally regard it is bad form to reveal a warrior's
style in the personals. [Exceptions to this--when the warrior in question has been a
stylemaster, and when the warrior in question is graduating.] Style information is
valuable; you, or somebody, fought to get it, so it shouldn't be given away.
But there's more to "style knowledge" than simply being able to say, "X has the
style advantage over Y." You have to use your information. Note that "offensive
warriors" are bashers, lungers, strikers, and slashers. Defensive styles are those
with "parry" in their names. Aimed Blows and Walls of Steel are ambiguous and may be
considered--and run--either way.
If you KNOW or even just suspect that you have an offensive warrior who will be
facing a defensive warrior, you can adjust your strategy accordingly. You change
your armor and the speed with which you're running the warrior to pace him for a long
haul, perhaps. (And this is the adjustment that most often needs to be made.)
Or if you've got an offensive warrior facing another offensive, you can do the
same--slow your warrior's pace--and hope to take out your opponent in the second
minute when he's gasping for breath. Of course, you have to survive the first minute
somehow. More armor, perhaps, or defenisve tactics. But it's a fact that,
especially in the lower levels of the game, many offensive warriors DO burn out by
the end of the first minute or shortly thereafter. So if you're paced for that, you
may be surprised at some of the wins you can get.
Jorja
The Middle Way
+<]H[>+-----+<]H[+ Question of the Week #10 +]H[>+-----+<]H[>+
The Question, Aruak City (dm 11), turn 426:
If a warrior is wearing plate and he is hit on the hand or ankle does he get the same
amount of protection? It seems to me the most you could wear on your hand is
Chainmail. -- Hanibal, Q.O.W.
The Answers, turn 427:
Q.O.W. -- I think if you wear armor of chainmail or lighter, the protection to your
limbs is limited, certainly not to a degree equal to the armor you are wearing over
the body. But I think with platemail or full plate, the armor protects your limbs
well. Gauntlets, which I imagine being used with platemail and up, are steel plates,
so they protect better than chain. I think this is played out well in our fighters'
fights. I've seen chain wearing warriors who are tough go down with one shot to the
leg, while the same warrior in platemail takes one or two more hits. You'd be
surprised at how well medieval gauntlets' metal plates flexed for hand movement. --
Adie
QoW -- When using heavy armor, the limbs seem to be less well protected than the
chest and abdomen. I base this observation mainly on the number of ineffective
("bounced") hits seen against the torso compared to the limbs. The lighter armors
don't seem to have this difference. -- Generalissimo Puerco
Hannibal -- Questions! Great, I've missed them. Unfortunately, I can't offer much
help on this. I do know that to rely on "it would logically seem that" is the way to
get into trouble, unfortunately. After all, it would logically seem that a basher
should be well-suited to using the fist, and this is not so. So I can't guess about
the "armor for hands and feet" question. -- Leeta
Hannibal -- Take a good look at a suit of full plate some time. ; Everything EXCEPT
the head is protected, unless you're wearing a helmet of some sort as well. If
you're going to have warriors wearing APA, you better put them in a Helm or a Full
Helm as well, otherwise you may as well send them out in leather. A hit to an
unarmored head and you're APA is worthless. -- Talon, War-Priest of Mantor the Bright
The Question, Aruak City (dm 11), turn 427:
All -- I was looking at a fight a few turns ago with Predator (Broadsword fav). In
min 1 he attacked 12 times w/ BS and only 1 crit. Min 2 six normal attacks, weapons
breaks, pulls his epee and throws three crits in a row. He always threw more crits
using an epee even though he is -6 in Deftness to use it. He used a BS in two other
fights with no crits. This makes me wonder; are favorites generated after your
warrior graduates? -- Hanibal Q.O.W.
The Answers, turn 428:
Q.O.W. -- From my understanding, favorite weapons are generated when your warrior is
created, and the bonuses are applied in basic. However, I have experienced similiar
situations to what you have seen with Predator. I have a lunger who never seemed to
throw a crit with the short spear, but constantly threw crits with the longspear even
though he wasn't quite suited to it in strength or deftness. I felt certain the
longspear was his favorite weapon because of this, and was highly shocked when upon
graduation the shortspear was listed as his weapon of choice. -- the Outsider
Hanibal, Q.O.W. -- From what I have experienced and discussed with other managers,
fighting rhythm, weapon, learns and tactics are determined upon creation. Did you
change rhythms during any of these fights? Was your attack rating high or low at the
time? If all is the same, and you throw more crits with an epee, maybe you should
send your "favorite weapon" to hell and go with what works. After all, the whole
point of finding your fave weapon is to increase your crit percentage. Although, it
would be nice to have BS crits over the EP crits (except for the knockdowns!) -- Dr.
Strange
QoW -- Well, now you're understanding why I don't make too much of an effort to try
to find a warrior's "favorite" weapon. Finding a weapon they win with is much more
important, and Predator certainly had no problem winning. I think people have had
enough cases where a suspected favorite weapon was confirmed to suggest that a
warrior's favorites are determined before AD, but the exceptions such as Predator's
are numerous. I'll bet Adie will have more to say on this matter, since it seems
like it happens to her warriors a lot. -- Generalissimo Puerco
Q.o.W. (Fav Weapons) -- I was the closest thing the KoV had to somebody who found
their favorite weapon in basic. But since I got my advanced master in attack so soon
it's hard to tell. We really haven't noticed our warriors having a favorite weapon
in basic. I personally think there may be something to what you're saying. But I
think most people believe that it's there all along. -- Maxwell Honorblade
Hanibal's Question of the Week -- No, favorites are generated when the warrior is
first created. Unless you get a favorites-prize and use it on a warrior, his
favorites always and forever remain what they were at the time of generation. --
Leeta
Q.O.W -- BS favorite and no crits sounds typical for a lot of warriors. Or GA...or
BA...or even SC. Sometimes, favorite weapons just don't serve. I have a WS in
Primus with GA favorite and Grandmaster Attack who throws more normals than crits
with her favorite. To make matters worse, I have a LU in Primus with Archmaster
Attack who still throws normals...with her favorite and with LO. Some warriors, in
my experience, just don't throw crits like they should. Others will go crazy with
their favorite weapon in basic, right from the start. I've discovered many favorite
weapons that way over the years...then again, I've also THOUGHT I'd discovered
favorite, only to have them be something else. I've always thought that somewhere, a
bit is kept with each warrior for how experienced they are with any given weapon...
and if you use a weapon enough, you get better with it (skills not withstanding). I
can't prove it, but watching some of my LS and SS, SH and MS favorite warriors using
SC and LO, you see improvement over time, even when they aren't getting more attack.
-- Talon Warsmith, Epee favorite <grin>
Hanibal, Q.O.W., favorites are born with the warrior. It's just that sometimes they
seem hard to believe. -- Kennelworth
Q.O.W. -- I've always understood that a warrior's favorite weapon is generated right
at the beginning. I have however, had the similar experience of throwing more crits
with a non-fav weapon. -- Anti
SPY REPORT
Greetings warriors! It is I, Zontani Sharp Eyes, here to bring report of the
clash and bustle of the weekly NOBLISH ISLAND games. Former top team SHERMANS STABLE
was unseated this week as HANDS OF HADES moved up from 3rd ranking to take the top
spot with a 4-1-1 record for the round. A new guild, MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS, entered
NOBLISH ISLAND with a clash this turn, showing off a 5-0-0 record. Indeed, a worthy
addition to the city guilds. IANTHE caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial
commission as she skillfully bested DANGEROUS CRIMINAL and was awarded 17 points in
recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, SALLI VOSS put down MAYTODD,
causing her to lose 13 points of recognition in the process. Our Duelmaster has
lost, folks, lost to M. CHARDINEE, BUT DUROC DON is still the Duelmaster because he
has the most recognition points! Would you believe that over half of the old women
in NOBLISH ISLAND seem to feel that they could fight better than you gladiators?
But come now, let us look deeper into the maze of contention and crossed blades
that is city NOBLISH ISLAND. My inside sources tell me that the team to beat in
NOBLISH ISLAND these days is SHERMANS STABLE. At least, most blades in town are
looking to avoid them. Methinks more than a few here could name the guild it was
that spent the better part of last week avoiding SHERMANS STABLE. Indeed it was
HANDS OF HADES. Loose talk at the arena has reached my ears and it but confirms the
knowledge that many fighters are after MIKADO. Watch your back! A match that raised
a few eyebrows at the games this week, it seems that SCOUT posted a challenge against
the more highly recognized ORVAL RAS. The results, you ask? Well, the firebrand
SCOUT was bested by ORVAL RAS. Remember warriors, this is the discipline of steel.
What warrior does not hone his years, impatiently waiting for the moment of his
foe's mortality? SJURE has sworn to take up religion upon living to tell of his
recent bout with the Dark Arena horrors. A rare thing indeed! Dark alleys may hide
both secrets and assassins. In the arena there is only the brightness of steel.
Keep vigil always!
The girls are as pretty in NOBLISH ISLAND as ever I remembered them....and the
fighters as ugly! Don't let your reputation slip! Ahh, but I can hear the spires of
a far off city calling to me. I must away! Till next we meet remember - the pen is
mightier than the sword, but a maul is a different story!-- Zontani Sharp Eyes
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
DUROC DON 7995 8 2 0 64 TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
LEXAYN 8002 8 0 0 55 HANDS OF HADES (1382)
IANTHE 8003 4 4 0 54 HANDS OF HADES (1382)
IOSUA 8001 5 3 0 39 HANDS OF HADES (1382)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
SJURE 7999 5 3 1 33 HANDS OF HADES (1382)
SALLI VOSS 8013 5 3 0 33 MIDDLE WAY 13 (1384)
ORVAL RAS 8009 4 4 0 33 MIDDLE WAY 13 (1384)
QUEG TERCE 8011 5 3 0 31 MIDDLE WAY 13 (1384)
EBOLA 8097 2 0 1 31 THE DARK SIDE (1401)
POTOMAC 8005 5 3 0 30 SHERMANS STABLE (1383)
MIKADO 8007 5 3 0 29 SHERMANS STABLE (1383)
PORTAR SHAW 8010 6 2 0 25 MIDDLE WAY 13 (1384)
ULYSSES 8004 4 3 1 25 SHERMANS STABLE (1383)
OMAR 8008 3 5 0 25 SHERMANS STABLE (1383)
JACKHAMMER 8095 2 0 1 25 THE DARK SIDE (1401)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
HAMPSHIRE HARRY 7994 5 5 0 20 TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381)
CHOW MAIN 8098 2 0 0 20 THE DARK SIDE (1401)
MAYTODD 8006 4 4 0 16 SHERMANS STABLE (1383)
-LI LONG 804 1 2 1 16 THE DAIKEN TADA (152)
XIU MEI 8000 3 5 0 14 HANDS OF HADES (1382)
WERQ 8077 1 0 0 14 MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397)
BOLOQ 8073 1 0 0 13 MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397)
ASHANNA 8075 1 0 0 13 MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397)
TARIQ 8074 1 0 0 13 MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397)
CHESTER CHARLIE 7998 1 9 0 12 TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381)
LANDRACE LARRY 7997 1 9 0 12 TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381)
MALIQ 8076 1 0 0 10 MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397)
SCOUT 8099 1 1 0 9 THE DARK SIDE (1401)
-LUTHER 803 1 1 0 6 THE DAIKEN TADA (152)
KUNG POW 8096 1 1 0 4 THE DARK SIDE (1401)
-HAZARD 807 0 2 0 2 THE DAIKEN TADA (152)
-SENIOR BOB 806 0 2 0 2 THE DAIKEN TADA (152)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
SHEWISH GIANT 21 0 1 0 DARK ARENA 0 SJURE 7999 197 NONE
ROLV URSAL 8012 2 6 0 MIDDLE WAY 13 1384 EBOLA 8097 197
PERSONAL ADS
To all Noblish Managers -- Once your time here has come to an end, and you must
choose a new home to call your own, I ask you to consider Mordant, the cradle of
modern dueling. We have a growing population, but have room for any that wish to
test their mettle against some of the finest in the game. If you have any questions,
you can contact me via the boards (post, PM, or email), and I will be happy to
answer. -- Lord Xiang, mgr. Wind Storm DM-1
Salli Voss -- I guess Helloise was right, if I get hit enough I'll learn how to
block. I'm glad I learned that lesson before our fight. -- Ianthe
Potomac -- Ya hit hard lad, that's why I had to break your maul, 'twas bruising me
shield arm. -- Iosua
Orval Ras -- Another fight I wasn't expecting to come out on top of. I already know
what Jorja is probably going to say: armor, armor, armor for a total parry but if I
used armor I wouldn't be able to show off my chiseled physique (heh, a little golem
humor). -- Lexayn
Jorja -- You said that mine is a tricky style and no one really understands it, but
do you have any tips?? I am confused at being trained to strike first and keep an
initiative, but trained more to parry than to attack??? What was my manager
thinking?! -- Xiu Mei, the Parry Strike
All -- Well, Sjure is going to the Dark Arena. He has gotten so insubordinate of
late and won't stay away from the taverns long enough to learn anything. I guess big
guys don't think that they have to listen to little old imps, perhaps this will send
a message to em. -- Helloise the Imp, mgr. Hands of Hades
Ianthe -- I hate it when stuff like that happens. Really good work on your part. --
Salli Voss
Xiu Mei -- Ah. Yours is a style my manager finds baffling. Jorja does RUN that
style, and she's even graduated some, but she claims that's pure luck. -- Queg Terce
Lexayn -- Orval had some unprintable stuff to say about golems, especially golems of
your style, but nothing you need to hear. -- Jorja
Chester Charlie -- Ah, pork chops -- Portar Shaw
Landrace Larry -- And bacon, too. -- Rolv Ursal
5 November 2005
It is with a proud heart that I announce the newest member of the Desolate Empire
alliance. Dok Sik will be known from here forth as Dark Knight Dok Sik, of the
Desolate Empire. May he be blessed with victory and courage. May his enemies' blood
flow freely! -- The Dark Knights Wasby and Toker
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
SJURE viciously butchered SHEWISH GIANT in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
IOSUA won victory over PORTAR SHAW in a 3 minute Challenge battle.
SCOUT was viciously subdued by ORVAL RAS in a popular 3 minute Challenge match.
EBOLA butchered ROLV URSAL in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge contest.
KUNG POW was overpowered by OMAR in a 2 minute mismatched Challenge match.
CHOW MAIN bested CHESTER CHARLIE in a 2 minute Challenge duel.
JACKHAMMER overpowered LANDRACE LARRY in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge struggle.
DUROC DON was overcome by M. CHARDINEE in a 2 minute gruesome Title fight.
IANTHE vanquished DANGEROUS CRIMINAL in a 3 minute uneven duel.
LEXAYN vanquished MIKADO in a dull 7 minute uneven fight.
MAYTODD was overpowered by SALLI VOSS in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
HAMPSHIRE HARRY was overcome by POTOMAC in a popular 1 minute bout.
ULYSSES subdued CONVICTED THIEF in a 5 minute match.
XIU MEI was devastated by QUEG TERCE in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
BOLOQ demolished MORDANT DESERTER in a 1 minute mismatched match.
WERQ overpowered PERSISTANT BEGGAR in a tiring 4 minute mismatched conflict.
MALIQ won victory over PERSISTANT BEGGAR in a 2 minute amateur's bout.
ASHANNA vanquished MORDANT DESERTER in a 1 minute one-sided fray.
TARIQ devastated MORDANT DESERTER in a 1 minute mismatched brawl.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|BASHING ATTACK 5 LUNGING ATTACK 19 - 4 - 2 83 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 5 TOTAL PARRY 15 - 5 - 0 75 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 5 PARRY-LUNGE 3 - 1 - 1 75 |
|TOTAL PARRY 3 AIMED BLOW 6 - 3 - 0 67 |
|WALL OF STEEL 3 BASHING ATTACK 16 - 11 - 1 59 |
|AIMED BLOW 2 WALL OF STEEL 18 - 16 - 1 53 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 2 SLASHING ATTACK 4 - 4 - 0 50 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 2 PARRY-STRIKE 9 - 10 - 1 47 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 19 - 30 - 0 39 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 1 STRIKING ATTACK 4 - 7 - 0 36 |
Turn 197 was great if you Not so great if you used The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles: the fighting styles: top eleven warriors are:
AIMED BLOW 2 - 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 - 3 3 BASHING ATTACK
PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 2 2 LUNGING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY 3 - 0 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 1 2 TOTAL PARRY
BASHING ATTACK 4 - 1 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE
WALL OF STEEL 2 - 1 1 WALL OF STEEL
LUNGING ATTACK 3 - 2 1 AIMED BLOW
STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 1 1 PARRY-STRIKE
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
LUNGING ATTACK DUROC DON 7995 8 2 0 64 TEMPESTUOUS SWINE (1381)
TOTAL PARRY LEXAYN 8002 8 0 0 55 HANDS OF HADES (1382)
PARRY-RIPOSTE IOSUA 8001 5 3 0 39 HANDS OF HADES (1382)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is DUROC DON 7995. The most popular warrior this turn
was ORVAL RAS 8009. The ten other most popular fighters were SJURE 7999, DUROC DON
7995, IOSUA 8001, CHOW MAIN 8098, SCOUT 8099, KUNG POW 8096, OMAR 8008, POTOMAC 8005,
QUEG TERCE 8011, and PORTAR SHAW 8010.
The least popular fighter this week was MIKADO 8007. The other ten least popular
fighters were WERQ 8077, LEXAYN 8002, XIU MEI 8000, ULYSSES 8004, LANDRACE LARRY
7997, CHESTER CHARLIE 7998, ROLV URSAL 8012, TARIQ 8074, ASHANNA 8075, and MALIQ
8076.
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A NOTE ON MAILMEN
In response to the articles on new fighting styles, those were good, but how can
you forget our most favorite warrior who has a style all his own? The Mailman! To
Duelmasters he is our most sacred person. I mean, how many of you managers out their
have sat down and calculated what day your Duelmasters will arrive and have sat
waiting for it to arrive, while unknown to you, your mailman is fighting away to get
your Duelmasters delivered. Let's review him...
ST - should be around 19. He needs to heft two medium bags, cloth mail armor and
a ton of rubber bands.
CN - 13, give or take a few. He does get bitten by dogs often.
SZ - Any.
WT - At least 10. He often likes to read the mail.
WL - Try about 20. He must endure all kinds of weather.
SP - 16 is good. He needs to run across streets in traffic.
DF - 10 is good. Sometimes he has to carry packages.
This setup should get you a good mailman but they are hard to come by. If you
can come up with any better, diplo me. I am:
Staple Gun
mgr. of Technet (3)
The New Deal (23)
I am currently working on the U.P.S. and Federal Express warriors.
"Strikers R Us"
Greetings, everyone. It is I, Talon, again. I am very glad to see everyone
participating in the arena and sharing their thoughts on styles and strategies. This
turn I will take on the striking attack style, which is certainly one of my favorites.
I believe the striker is one of the easiest styles to run, and one in which no
team should be without. A high-powered striker can diversify and empower your team.
A well run striker can beat any other style, period, at any level in regular
Duelmasters. In arenas where scum TPs are rampant, strikers are just the answer as
they can attack for up to 12 minutes or more. Strikers are versatile. They can do
exceptionally well with a dagger as a weapon or with a halberd. They can do well with
no armor or with plate armor.
Stats:
Biff Primal Solid Perfect
ST 5-21 9-17 13 15
CN 3+ 3+ 6 3
SZ 9-21 3-17 9 5
WT 3-17 17 + 17 21
WL 9-17 13 + 17 15
SP 5+ 5-13 9 8
DF 9+ 9-17 13 17
With the way I design strikers, there are essentially two strikers that evolve.
The BIFF and the PRIMAL. The Biff striker is typically one that is not looking long-
term, but one which I want to run and have fun with. With this striker, I try to have
one stat (wit, will, or deftness) which is extraordinary, one which is average, and
the other ends up being at some non-normal level. Some examples of the Biff are: 10-
10-11-4-17-17-15, 7-11-17-17-11-6-15, 9-5-14-17-11-13-15, 4-8-17-15-13-10-17, and 21-
3-15-21-5-8-11. With these warriors, the emphasis is on having fun and learning more
about the style.
The Primal is essentially a Primus-quality warrior. In this category, the
striker will be designed with stats that most other managers will gasp, "OH MY, WHY
DID YOU MAKE HIM A STRIKER?" It is also the warrior that will be Duelmaster for 8
straight turns and will go to ADM with a 16-4-2 record, with 4 Masters and an Ad Ex.
The key here is to create a warrior with AT LEAST a 17 wit and 15 deftness, along with
a 13+ will and who will do normal damage or better. The goal with the Primal is a 21
wit and 17 deftness, because this will ensure a great warrior.
Weapons and Armor: As for weapons, the best striking weapons that I have found
and used are the dagger, epee, scimitar, broadsword, quarterstaff, greatsword,
longsword, war hammer, and sometimes the short spear. I don't run my strikers with
shields or off-hand weapons, as it takes away from their attack. The heaviest armor I
will use is padded leather. Always wear a steel cap or a helm.
Strategy (general):
Min. 1 2 3 4 5 6+ Desp
OE 10 8 6 6 6 5 5
AL 10 5 4 2 2 1 8
KD 6 8 6 6 6 5 5
attack arms/legs/head -- take your pick
protect arms/legs/head -- take your pick
off tactic decise, slash, bash, depending on weapon
def tactic response is best; try dodge though.
With this strategy, a striker with a normal endurance should fight for eight
minutes as a scum TP and come out on top, outrageously victorious. Just match your
weapon with your tactic and only use the tactics in minute one or desperation.
If you have any further questions on this or any other style, feel free to diplo
me.
Talon, mgr. Eagle's Claw
HOW I MADE DUELMASTER IN THREE EASY STEPS
OR
a new look for Aimed Blows
Greetings and salutations, all. Here's a new twist on aimed blows I haven't seen
before....one that works, at least for me! Here's what I did with Rex Walters, my
first Duelmaster in the Free Blades transfer arena, DM 70.
ST: 17 (for good damage, attack and parry skills)
CN: 13 (gonna need every hit point he can get)
SZ: 4 (smaller the better!)
WT: 4 (overrated for aimed blows!)
WL: 21 (if ya try this method, 17 is a MINIMUM)
SP: 4 (ya want NO speed, none, nothing, zero!)
DF: 21 (better max this one out too, at least a 19)
You laugh at me? I started expert in both attack and parry! (OK, so I got lucky,
I didn't expect either one of em.) But both are in reach with a little luck. Hey, if
ya can get that strength to 21 you're almost guaranteed those experts... though a bit
more CON would be nice.
But how do I RUN this monstrosity, you may ask? Why, I'm glad you inquired!
LOTS of armor. The hit points combined with, say, platemail should win this character
a lot of fights. But, while I've picked up a few easy wins scumming, that's not
really what this character does best.
I use the only weapon Rex is well suited to: the bare hand. With an offhand
small shield or shortsword, so I can take advantage of that expert parry rating. So:
FI-SH, APM-H.
And I run him at a 4 offensive effort, with a matching 4 activity level. He can
last through the initial onslaught of nearly any offensive, then smash them.... like a
good waste. And with that monster endurance and good damage, no one scums this
warrior!
I attack and protect the head, usually, and keep the kill desire high... 5-7
generally. Now, how to become Duelmaster?
Well, step one is fight your first fight... and train your CON. Step two, now
that you're in the arena, is get a fight with an up-and-coming young warrior from the
Duelmaster's team... and kill them. (I randomly matched up with, and killed, a member
of the incoming Duelmaster's team...luck helps, ya know.) Offensives that wear
themselves out but haven't quite dropped are the easiest to kill.
Then, when the Duelmaster comes at you (bragging about how he "only" needs to
beat you twice to assure his ascension to the Isle) you stomp him. Badly. Once
you're on that lofty throne he won't even be able to bloodfeud you, since you can bet
he's not gonna be anywhere near the challenger champions after losing to a 2-fight
warrior (just ask Ciron of ENDS WITH IRON, now in AD).
There are drawbacks, of course. Once you get to that level, odds are you're
gonna get stomped like a stuck pig (I was most challenged 2 turns in a row after this
trick... Oo! I love mixed metaphors...) But... even a 4 wit warrior can learn skills
against gladiators with 50 fights!
Rex is now 7-3-1. All three losses have come against warriors now in AD. In
those ten matches, he's trained his strength and constitution once each, and learned
twenty skills, including his adex in both parry and attack. And boy, is it fun
humiliating some of those "gods" bound for AD!
What else can one do with this warrior? Well, Rex is, get this, well suited to
an off-hand epee! He wouldn't dare use one as a primary weapon, but its a great off-
hand toy...
Does he have what it takes to be a long-term winner? Who knows? He's probably
the DUMBEST aimed blow to ever make Duelmaster... He's in the Challenger Champions and
climbing....and he'll meet ya in AD!
Amazingly enough, this is not an isolated fluke. We entered a similar warrior
into Bloodgames (with the 4's as 3's, and a bit more CON). That warrior, Jalon, is
now in AD after going 9-1-5 and finishing on TOP of his Bloodgames arena.
Ah, just thought I'd mention I have had a second bare-handed Duelmaster, now...
Seeker Still Water in DM 74 is an open-hand lunger, Duelmaster at 8-1... but that's
another story...
--Khyron
mgr., Pitt Gladiators (2,29,56,103)
Jayhawks (70)
Silent Storm (65,74,75)
and numerous others....
THE WALL OF STEEL AS A BERSERKER
This article is for newer players; more experienced managers will, I'm sure, have
much more sophisticated ideas about warrior design and strategy. This will enable a
newbie to design a competent warrior who should be able to achieve a better than 50/50
record.
The wall of steel, or "waste," is often considered the second scummiest style in
Duelmasters. I love the style, but I don't run mine that way; I prefer to think of
the waste as a fierce dervish ripping into his opponent like an airplane propeller.
In accordance with this view, most walls of steel that I design couldn't scum if they
wanted to (well all right, sometimes it happens by accident if the opposing warrior is
going all-out and can't last very long). It's fun to run them fast; they get the jump
on people who don't expect it of them, and their fights are exciting. Mind you, they
don't win as much as if they ran more defensively, but the ones with good stats still
do okay (I'll make practically anything a waste and run it, but this article isn't
about the ones that a sane manager would DA).
So, here is a design for a competent wall of steel:
ST 13+ Needed for endurance, damage doing, and weapon selection.
CN 9+ You need a passably good con for endurance.
SZ 7+ Teeny weenie wastes don't hit hard enough or take enough damage. Real big
(15+) is bad because it hurts endurance.
WT 13+ Preferably 17. Like any other style, the smarter they are, the better.
WL 17+ Needed for endurance, damage-taking, and sheer grit. 21 is recommended.
SP 3+ Whatever.
DF 7+ Higher deftness is better, but you can get by without it.
As you can see, these are fairly easy requirements. Of course, the more wit,
will, and deftness, the better your waste will be (same as any other style). If you
don't end up with at least good endurance on the overview, the warrior probably isn't
going to do very well. With that high will, though, you can bump con a couple of
times and you might get good endurance, so there's still a chance.
Choose your weapons based on deftness, and your opponent's armor weight. I
normally use something like 0-8 SC, 9-12 BS, 13+ GA, backup SC or BS. No shield.
Some other good weapons for the waste are QS (only takes 11 ST, and can hit heavy
armor), MS, and BA. The war flail isn't a very good weapon, but you can play with it
against leather armor. For armor, I usually choose something middling like ARM & H,
but will go with APL & H if he has a lot of con.
For strategy--I heard a rumor (NOT confirmed) that a wall of steel gets a bonus
if his OE equals his KD. Since I don't like to use a kill desire above 6, I don't go
by that in the first couple of minutes. Keep the activity level moderate to low; the
waste doesn't need to jump around a lot and the way he keeps his weapon moving, he's
burning a lot of endurance without that added drain. Attack and defend the arms, like
a slasher; a waste is a sort of parry-slasher. A typical strategy for my wastes might
look like this:
Minute 1 2 3 4 5 6 Desp
Offensive 9 8 7 6 5 5 2
Activity 6 5 4 3 2 1 6
Kill des. 6 6 6 6 5 5 2
Att. loc. RA LA RA LA RA LA RA
Pro. loc. AM AM AM AM AM AM HE
Off tac. none -- -- -- -- -- --
Def tac. -- -- -- -- -- -- P
I play with the numbers a lot, depending on what the warrior seems to like. For
example, if he doesn't parry too well, I'll give him a more offensive desperation
strategy, like 8-4-8-slash. (If I really like a warrior I sometimes use a 7+ KD to
try and save his life.) If he never manages to get the jump on anybody, I'll try
running him more defensively, like with a first minute of 3-6-3. It's not as much fun
as going all out, but it's more fun than losing all the time.
You can challenge pretty much any style (lungers aren't recommended). When
fighting a warrior you know to be very defensive (a TP, or a scummy variety of PS, PR,
PL, or WS), slow down or you will be scummed. For the most part, though, an offensive
waste is very versatile and can beat any style. The better his important qualities
are (WT, WL, DF, endurance), the better the quality of warriors he can defeat. In
other words, if you have a so-so rollup that barely made the minimum requirements,
challenge so-so opponents. If you have a good rollup, go for the gold. Challenge
warriors with a few more fights than you, so you'll learn plenty of skills--but don't
challenge way way up in experience, because it's no fun to lose a good warrior.
For the most part, train skills--especially on your challenge strategy, when
you're going after someone with more fights! And for sure on the first fight, because
you'll likely be matched against someone who can teach you a lot. It's okay to train
con once in a while if you need more endurance and damage-taking; and if you have bad
luck on the rollup and get "does little damage" or something, you might have to train
strength once or twice (no more!). But it's best not to train any other stats until
way, way down the road.
Ask your DM sponsor or any experienced manager in your arena for more advice (if
they tell you I'm full of hot air, they're probably right). A little bit of good
advice from a more advanced player can make a big difference in your enjoyment of the
game!
If you have any questions or suggestions, you can diplo: the She-Puppy, mgr.
Mordant Prison DM-1, and others.