DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 03/04/2006 Duedate: 03/17/2006
NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA
DM-93 TURN-203
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
POSITION IS EMPTY
Chartered Recognition LeaderUnchartered Recognition Leader
POSITION IS EMPTY POSITION IS EMPTY
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
YOLAN BETTS ELLA
MIDDLE WAY 14 (1409) RAVEN'S LOFT (1406)
(93-8139) [2-2-0,9] (93-8122) [1-0-0,16]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
TEAM COUNTRY (1407)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. RAVEN'S LOFT (1406) 63
2. TEAM COUNTRY (1407) 38 BANE'S CHILDREN (235)
3. THE DARK SIDE (1401) 21 Unchartered Team
4. MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397) 0
5. FIST FIGHTERS GANG (1405) -9 RAVEN'S LOFT (1406)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 0*RAVEN'S LOFT (1406) 4 1 1 80.0 1/ 2*TEAM COUNTRY (1407) 7 3 2
2/ 1*TEAM COUNTRY (1407) 7 3 2 70.0 2/ 1*MIDDLE WAY 14 (1409) 7 8 0
3/ 2*MIDDLE WAY 14 (1409) 11 9 0 55.0 3/ 0*RAVEN'S LOFT (1406) 4 1 1
4- 4*MOLLUQ'S MARAUDER (1397) 13 12 1 52.0 4/ 4*THE DARK SIDE (1401) 4 8 0
5/ 5*THE DARK SIDE (1401) 16 16 3 50.0 5- 3*MOLLUQ'S MARAUDER (1397) 2 8 0
6/ 3*FIST FIGHTERS GAN (1405) 7 7 1 50.0 6/ 5*FIST FIGHTERS GAN (1405) 1 3 0
'*' 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[ +
Profile of a Team
Middle Way 7
Instead of giving you the profile of a graduating warrior this week, I'm going
to show you what I started with and what I did to make the Middle Way 7.
Warrior #1 I made a parry-riposte, as much because I like making rippers as
because I thought this was an "ideal" ripper. (Hint, it is NOT an "ideal" ripper.)
13 + 0 = 13 I left the ST at 13 because that's enough to use any ripper's
5 + 0 = 5 weapon. I didn't raise the CN, though an "ideal" ripper would have
12 + 0 = 12 more, because I didn't have the points to spare. I can raise this
13 + 2 = 15 warrior's CN later, and in fact I did so on the first fight. Why
7 + 6 = 13 didn't I raise the WT to 17 or 19, as I could have done? Again, I
13 + 0 = 13 needed the points more elsewhere, and 15 is sufficient for any of
7 + 6 = 13 the ripper's preferred weapons. Learning with a 15 WT is fine,
also. I raised WL to 13, the maximum allowable addition of points, because that is
THE most important stat. Without a decent WL, you can't raise any of the other
stats, and 13 is marginal anyway. If this warrior survives to graduation, it will go
into automatic retirement because of that low WL. SP I left alone because that's
more than enough for any ripper to start with. DF I raised by the maximum six points
because it's so useful for a) getting initial skills (this warrior was born with an
expert in riposte) and b) hitting on target and winning fights before the low CN
loses them. This warrior is very frail--mostly the low CN, but incredibly quick
(relatively high SP and DF combined). She can't carry much weight, but she does do
good damage.
Warrior #2 I made a wall of steel, which may be my favorite style. I added
6 + 3 = 9 three to ST because I HATE warriors who do little damage. Also,
10 + 0 = 10 raising ST to 9 will allow this warrior to use the SC, one of my
16 + 0 = 16 favorite weapons. Nothing to CN, 10 is okay. Not great, but okay.
12 + 5 = 17 Five to WT, since I have the points to spend there, gives me 17,
7 + 6 = 13 just about the ideal starting WT. The full six to WL for the same
6 + 0 = 6 reason as above--gotta get it as high as possible, and this is
13 + 0 = 13 still just marginal for a long term warrior. I left the SP at 6,
because I never know what to do with SP anyway. And DF left at 13 because the points
were needed more urgently elsewhere, and 13 will give this warrior the SC, the wall
of steel's best weapon. This warrior came out slightly uncoordinated (the low SP)
but at the same time quick on his feet. He can trip faster than anyone you ever saw!
Again, can't carry much weight but does good damage.
Warrior #3 I made another ripper. Hey, I warned you I'm doing rippers right
9 + 0 = 9 now! It would probably have made a better lunger, but I didn't
8 + 0 = 8 feel like making a lunger, and besides, the idea of a seven-foot
20 + 0 = 20 tall ripper tickled my fancy. I left ST untouched, as 9 will
14 + 3 = 17 give this warrior the SC. CN is acceptable, though low for a
4 + 6 = 10 ripper. Raised WT to 17, because WT is always useful to have; if
4 + 1 = 5 I could have put the two extra points on WL, I'd have settled for
11 + 4 = 15 a WT of 15, though. Six points to WL for the same reason as above
--this team is cursed in the WILL department. Oh, well, you work with what you've
got. Four added to DF for starting skills and accuracy, and the final one point I
dropped on SP because it looked so desperately low. This warrior came out with
"slightly uncoordinated" but is not listed as "slow and inactive," possibly thanks to
that extra point on SP. At least, that's what I choose to tell myself. This one
came out slightly uncoordinated but incredibly quick and active, can't carry much
weight but does great damage (the SZ).
Warrior #4 has perhaps the best potential, in my view. I made it a wall of
11 + 0 = 11 steel (you're not surprised, are you?). Left ST and CN alone;
9 + 0 = 9 they're high enough to go with. Raised WT to 15, which is a good,
13 + 0 = 13 meaty WT. Why not 16? Because that wouldn't give me anything I
10 + 5 = 15 can't get at 15, and save the extra point for use elsewhere. WL to
12 + 5 = 17 seventeen--gotta love it. If this warrior survives, that 17 WL
5 + 1 = 6 means long-term possibilities in the form of relatively easy stat
10 + 3 = 13 raises later on. One point on SP because I had it and that seemed
more useful than any other place I might put it. Three to DF, because the extra
accuracy is always useful, though I could have stopped at 11 (the minimum needed to
use a SC) and put the other two points elsewhere. If I had chosen to do that, they
would probably have gone to ST for more damage. Slightly uncoordinated but active
and very quick on his feet, can't carry much weight but does good damage. A familiar
pattern, eh?
Warrior #5 is a total parry. Somehow he just didn't look like anything else.
4 + 5 = 9 Points to ST to reach my minimum preferred of nine, so that he will
14 + 1 = 15 not be cursed with little damage. After all, he MIGHT strike a
16 + 0 = 16 blow some day. Also, I wanted him to be able to stand up under his
9 + 0 = 9 armor. An extra point to CN, because total parries can always use
12 + 5 = 17 more of that. Nothing on WT, as skills are not important for him,
9 + 0 = 9 and 9 isn't too bad... for a total parry. Five to bring WL to 17;
6 + 3 = 9 this is as important for a total parry as for any other style, and
maybe more so, since it affects endurance. Left SP alone; he won't be moving much.
Three to DF to bring that up to 9 so that he can use some weapons other than the
shields. I have a hard time thinking of shields as weapons, frankly. Normal
intelligence--no statement as to how intelligent he is, but then again, no statement
that he is "very stupid" either. A compromise I--and he--can live with. He's got
good endurance and can take a lot of damage, thanks to CN, SZ, and WL. Can't carry
much weight (the low ST) but does great damage (the high SZ). I've already raised
his ST by one and plan to up it another point to 11, as I have chosen to arm him with
a longspear (they use 'em like quarterstaves for parrying and may, on rare occasions,
even attack with them); also, if I am reading the chart correctly, there are no
skills to be burned by stat trains from 9 to 11.
You'll note that only one of them won its first fight. This is not unusual, nor
is it distressing to me. In fact, I like for them to lose their first fight, as it
teaches them a little humility! But seriously, the first fight gives you a chance to
get the feel of the warrior and decide what adjustments to make to each one's
standard strategy.
Number 1 was going 6-6-6 straight across, not fast enough to burn out early, not
slow enough to scum. She got the first blow, which is good, but I don't expect her
to do it again; her opponent should probably be cranking up his Offensive Effort to
grab the first blow for himself. She didn't start showing exhaustion statements, so
she can handle this speed, at least; it was damage (that low CN) that took her down.
The second was going 8-6-6 and did NOT get the first blow, which was appropriate
considering his opponent's style. He went down to damage, the wimp, before I could
tell if he could sustain this speed.
The third, my seven-foot ripper, went 6-6-6 and had no trouble dealing with the
Persistent Beggar. I really can't call that a test.
The fourth was jumped, knocked down, went desperate, and quit, all in the space
of a few seconds. He's going to get some teasing for that from his teammates! He
was going 8-6-6, but there wasn't time to see how he liked that.
The last one, the total parry, went down to damage, having made no attempt to
parry, dummy that he is. I may set him the parry tactic in minute one. He was going
6-6-6, for all the good it did him. If he'd bothered to parry and hung on a little
longer, he could have had that fight, because his opponent was staggering with
exhaustion in the first minute.
Jorja
Middle Way 7
+>]H[<+-----+>]H[+ Question of the Week #6 +]H[<+-----+>]H[<+
From turn 412:
AK's Q.O.W. -- There's no single trick to keeping warriors alive. Constitution and
armor probably helps the most because it's more difficult for them to run out of hit
points and die in the infirmary, plus they don't go desperate as easy which is
usually when the death intent comment comes. Warrior experience is a big help, but
it takes time to earn, of course. Tourneys could help with this, but you can die
there too. It may be at half chance, but you get so many.... It really comes down
to the death intent statement usually. Skill, and toughness (including armor) help
to keep you from getting to that point, and once there, only warrior experience makes
a difference in reducing the chance of failing the survival role after that death
intent statement. -- Adie
AK's Q.O.W. #2 -- It takes a lot more than three master ratings once you get to the
middle ranks of ADM. In the lower end, that could be enough. But success is much
more attributed to the sum of the warriors' capabilities. Are they tough? Do they
have staying power/endurance? Do they defend well, even with low skills? Do they
have good rythyms? Do they 'like' their rythyms? How bout their favorite weapon?
Is it good and do they love it or hate it? Sometimes a warrior, for a reason not
easily definable, just wins. Other super skilled ones can just lose regularly. Of
course, each warrior may win at one level of the game, like basic and as freshmen,
but maybe lose like crazy higher up. Godlings will commonly come into their own as
champions and freshmen. The very rare few can win ALL the way. Those warriors are a
true joy.... -- Adie
Another Q.O.W. -- Perhaps it is not the fact that your good roll-ups never get
blessed and the others do. But it may be the fact, that you only get few great ones,
and it is EASY to remember them not getting gifted. Kind of like that syndrome where
people find it easy to remember all the negative things in their life, but find it
difficult to point out the equal or more numerous good things. However, if this is
not the case, keep those better gifted average roll-ups. Especially those that can
win in basic. You may find them winning in ADM later too, especially once they start
training stats. Also, if you get enough great roll-ups, you will eventually get
gifted ones. Remember, some styles find it easier to be more gifted. -- Adie
AK47 -- Let's see... <shuffling through paperwork> It says here that the three
recently deceased warriors from my team had 'normal', 'a lot', and 'very frail' hit
points. The 'very frail' one died in the infirmary, which is a little different.
The hit points, if you will, just determine how much damage can be sustained before
the warrior goes desperate/frantic/careless/you-name-it. Once that happens, con
ceases to matter. I've seen all types of warriors buy the farm, from 7 will to 21,
from no armor to APA/F. You hit upon the most important point, winning as much as
possible, but beyond that it's all about luck. Running in a friendly arena can help
the statistics of dying, but it doesn't mean any individual is safe and unkillable.
Tournies aren't that safe, in my opinion. FEs are helpful, but I think they are just
a visible artifact of being a developed fighter. A warrior with a lot of FEs but a
lousy learn rate probably isn't much more survivable just due to those FEs. -- Axly
AK47 -- Three masters sounds like a good rule of thumb, but that would vary depending
on what the warrior's physicals were like. I might say two masters and two ad exes
for defensives, but I'm no expert on them. -- Axly
Hanibal, QoW -- I have no idea. Some styles get gifted more than others, and in
certain areas. If you want the best bonuses, run aimers! -- Axly
QOW / AK 47 -- I've found skills keep a warrior alive better than anything. My best
learners have all lived. Especially offensives who learn a lot of init and decise
quickly. Swing first and keep swinging. I'd take WL over CN for its skills. I fear
mentioning this that it may jinx me, but I've never lost a warrior past about 10
fights. Armor has helped me at times, but it robs warriors of much of their finesse.
If a good defensive warrior can live through about 5-10 fights and learn well
he/she/it should be well on the way to success. -- JRK
QOW / AK 47 -- I think it's an oversimplification to say three masters are needed in
AD. I also think it depends on the arena. Andorak is very competitive right now. I
have warriors with three advanced masters who can't seem to win much anymore. As to
what the requirement is... I think it depends on a number of factors, where you are
in the rankings, what your favorites are, what you get in the way of challenges,
matchups and where your attributes fall. Three masters and tremendous
damage/endurance would be much different from three masters and normal in both areas.
I'm not sure a good benchmark can be set. But it is certainly and interesting
question. -- JRK
QOW -- Overall, I would lean toward saying the reverse is true as far as giftedness.
Most of my average warriors have come out very close to average, usually a little
above. While many of my good warriors have been at least +3, often +5 or more. On
my all star team of long ago (Maxwell Honorblade, Monica Virtueshield, Michael
Honorblade, Corina Honorblade, and Angela Silverblade) all of my warriors were gifted
(four of them by +3 or more, 3 by +5 or more), average or not. I also tend to do
well in attack and poorly in init. Giftedness seems to be a fickle thing, I suspect
this is because the RUGS are involved. -- JRK
P.S. I apologize if it seems I am bragging, but my record and I have never gotten
over the graduation of all those warriors.
Axly -- Damned if I know. I found the style-linked starting points very curious.
Looks to me like there was an attempt to balance styles that resulted in drastic
imbalances! -- Leeta
Hanibal -- Once you've gotten the death-intent statement, only luck will keep you
alive. The thing you need to do is avoid getting the death-intent statement. No,
this is serious. You can up a warrior's hit points in the design stage, by adding to
CN and, I think WL (but maybe ST), and having a large SZ helps. Of course, if you
pile the points on there, he may be dumb and clumsy. You can pile on the armor,
which will help keep him alive but may lose him fights unless he can scum; some
warriors are totally immobilized by armor.
On a more positive note, if I have a warrior who is "very frail" that I really
don't want to die, I will use armor, and I will attempt to keep him alive by using
the "surrender in desperation" tactic. No, no, it isn't a joke! Honest! Say I've
got a frail warrior, probably with normal or lower endurance. I send that boy out
running hard, 10-10, even. Sometimes, especially if he's smart and deft, he wins
right off. But if he doesn't win right off, he rapidly becomes exhausted and quits.
I forget who it was who suggested this to me, years ago--Phido, maybe. It doesn't
always work (nothing ALWAYS works), but it may help. And I'd rather have good
warriors lose than die; if they stay alive long enough, they build up skills and
start winning. -- Leeta
P.S. Yes, CN keeps you alive better than WL. WL sometimes leads a low-CN warrior to
go on fighting a little too long.
P.P.S. Yes, warriors who can take a lot of damage do die, sometimes, because some
warriors can dish out a lot of damage.
P.P.P.S. The survival of low-CN high skill warriors is more a matter of strategy
than anything else. And, obviously, if you don't lose, you don't die.
P.P.P.P.S. Picking your arena does contribute to warrior survival, but it can be
tricky, since a warrior has, as a normal minimum, a year to go before graduation and
the character of an arena may change in the course of a year. Andorian is not always
a guarantee of relative safety; you need to look at the actual managers present and
evaluate THEM for propensity to run killing styles and strategies. In my opinion,
tourneys are of limited value in building up a warrior for the regular arena. Sure,
the chance of dying is only half that in regular dueling, but the chance of learning
skills or training stats is also only half. And that's what increased FE is about:
more skills, more stat trains.
P.P.P.P.P.S. There is NO number of fights that will preserve you from being killed,
and if you fight equally experienced opponents who happen to be "headhunters," it
won't improve your chances much, either! Pick your fights with care, challenge and
avoid every time. The only absolute guarantee against death is a potion of
immortality (a tourney prize) or graduation.
AK47 -- It depends on the advanced arena you're fighting in. And by "hold your own,"
do you mean have a 50% winning percentage, or rise rapidly through the ranks, or make
it to the top, or what? I have run warriors in Lirin Kiv (ADM 107) from the day it
opened, and in that arena, no, you don't have to have three masters. Oh, sure, it
HELPS, especially now that the arena has aged enough so that some of the foundation
warriors DO have those masters. But it happens to be a small advanced arena fed by
small basic arenas, and while the competition among the fossils in the upper levels
is stiff, the lower levels aren't that bad. Heck, even MY warriors win sometimes!
Or, try 101, Home Guard. Yes, the current status lets in warriors who are
potentially good, but I doubt anyone there has three masters, and if they do, they're
probably on their way out. -- Leeta
P.S. And no amount of innate ability on the part of a warrior can overcome for long
the effects of careless management. Management may not be ALL, but it's at least
half.
Hanibal -- Regarding blessed warriors and great rollups, the law of averages says
everybody has a chance to be blessed. But it takes a LOT of warriors for the law of
averages to operate visibly. I have had great (in stats) warriors who were blessed
and the same who were cursed, ditto for average ones. -- Leeta
* }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ *
---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===---
Duelmasters
-----------
DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 535): PUSS of ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 535): CHIC SHEIK of ALL HALLOW'S EVE (Destitute Noble, mgr.)
DM 15 MALCORN (turn 529): NYARLATHOTEP of DARK CREATION (Herbert Philip Lovecraft
West, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 532): PERSIFLAGE of SHROUD IN MYSTERY (Noachian, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 530): EXODUS of THE OLD TESTAMENT (Ganolus Oakleaf, mgr.)
DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 528): JILL OPPY of FUNKY FOLK (Papa Bear, mgr.)
DM 28 SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM (turn 264): CAM SHAFT of OTTO'S MECHANICS (Crip, mgr.)
DM 29 LAPUR (turn 521): MOLLY of CROC FILES (THawk, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 262): NINJATO of SAMURAI KIDS II (Sensei Jan, mgr.)
DM 32 ARVAT (turn 517): LOU CYPHER of DEVIL ADVOCATES (The Dark One, mgr.)
DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 515): LIONESS of DARK TOADS II (TigToad, mgr.)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 507): TAKE COVER of THE BEARS (Papa Bear, mgr.)
DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 469): TIRRAJ of THE FAMILY (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 239): HOT LIPS of DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.)
DM 47 SCOMSS SWAMP (turn 233): B.B. CROSS of FEATHERS FLYIN' (Barnabas, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 220): YAIWE of DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.)
DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 396): ZIPPER of RESCUE RANGERS (JE, mgr.)
DM 61 JURINE (turn 375): PITSPAWN FOULDOG of FEAR FACTORY (Var, mgr.)
DM 65 DAL SHANG (turn 362): VIRGINIA, NO SANTA of GOT IT FOR CHRISTMAS
(Assurnasirbanipal, mgr.)
DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 169): APPLE DANISH of WORLDWIDE GORE (Crip, mgr.)
DM 74 DAIYLA KIV (turn 333): RAGING PYROTHAG of GEMSTONE CREATIONS (Tripwire, mgr.)
DM 75 JADE MOUNTAIN (turn 329): TREENVA TARAL of SAND DANCERS (Lorana, mgr.)
DM 78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 317): AIDEN of LETHAL HERITAGE (Lord Xiang, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 422): DRACO MALFOY of SLYTHERIN HOUSE from DAYLA KIV
(Rillion, mgr.)
Top Teams
---------
DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 535): ARENA FELINES (Garfield, mgr.)
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 535): DREAMERS (Sleepy, mgr.)
DM 15 MALCORN (turn 529): DARK CREATION (Herbert Philip Lovecraft West, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 532): POWER LEGION (Seraphim, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 530): MIDDLE WAY (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 528): JAGUAR WARRIORS (Noachian, mgr.)
DM 28 SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM (turn 264): DODGE BULLETS (Uncle Wolf, mgr.)
DM 29 LAPUR (turn 521): CARDOW HUNTERS (Uncle Wolf, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 262): SHERMANS STABLE (?, mgr.)
DM 32 ARVAT (turn 517): CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.)
DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 515): PHILANTHROPISTS (Aragorn, mgr.)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 507): FLIPPERS ARCADE (Huckle Cat, mgr.)
DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 469): THE FAMILY (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 239): ROAD WARRIORS (Barnabas, mgr.)
DM 47 SCOMSS SWAMP (turn 233): THE OPERA (Impresario, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 220): DARK SIDHE (Daehir, mgr.)
DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 396): RESCUE RANGERS (JE, mgr.)
DM 61 JURINE (turn 375): FAVORITE GUYS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 65 DAL SHANG (turn 362): none
DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 169): DARK RUNES (Liam the Goth, mgr.)
DM 74 DAIYLA KIV (turn 333): SAND DANCERS (Olinda, mgr.)
DM 75 JADE MOUNTAIN (turn 329): SAND DANCERS (Lorana, mgr.)
DM 78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 317): THE LEGENDS (Loch Ness, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 422): SUNNYLAND, etc. (Zalgor Prigg, mgr.)
Recent Graduates
-----------------
DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 535): BLUE HAVEN of BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 535): INSIGHTFULL INGIE of HIGH JINKS (Jondeaux, mgr.)
(turn 534): LUIGI of TEAM MARIO (?, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 531): GOLDEN ARCHES of GOLDEN GLADIATORS (Midas, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 529): MARSHALL of HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.)
DM 28 SLAUGHTER PRIEST MEM (turn 263): LE NETTOYE of THE PENTARCHY (The Pentalque)
DAISY HAMMER of FLOWER HAMMERZ (Hammer)
DM 29 LAPUR (turn 521): STONETOOTH of CARDOW HUNTERS (Uncle Wolf, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 262): BARTOFELES of THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord, mgr.)
KAMBARD MURH of MIDDLE WAY 7 (Jorja, mgr.)
(turn 261): IT FELT GOOD of WHY DID I DO IT (Fizban, mgr.)
DM 32 ARVAT (turn 517): ELECTRIC EYE of CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.)
(turn 516): SINNER of CALL THE PRIEST (Destitute Noble, mgr.)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 506): MORPETH of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 238): SHARD of NORTHERN LIGHTS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 47 SCOMSS SWAMP (turn 233): ACE METRIC of ROYAL FLUSH (Crip, mgr.)
(turn 232): TOTO of LAND OF OZ (Oz the Successful, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 220): STRYKER of DRUID'S GROVE (Talon Warsmith, mgr.)
DM 74 DAIYLA KIV (turn 332): LOQUE of FACING WORLDS (The Sentinel, mgr.)
DM 75 JADE MOUNTAIN (turn 329): TREENVA TARAL of SAND DANCERS (Lorana, mgr.)
DM 78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 316): NATASHA of LETHAL HERITAGE (Lord Xiang, mgr.)
SPY REPORT
Good day, in NOBLISH ISLAND a quiet thief gets rich, but a quiet spymaster gets
poor. So bring me ale and harken to my tidbits of news. It seems the training can
make the difference, as MIDDLE WAY 14 is pushed out of top team by TEAM COUNTRY, who
came from 2nd with a 3-2-1 this turn. On their very first turn, RAVEN'S LOFT had a
4-1-1, and with this kind of luck or skill, should do well. Welcome to NOBLISH
ISLAND. And let's see, ZOLOF fought BRUNO and gained 22 points and contributed to
RAVEN'S LOFT's 4-1-1. BRUNO has lost to ZOLOF, falling 14 points, while helping make
FIST FIGHTERS GANG a 1-3-0 turn. Due to his absence and inability to defend the
throne, BOLOQ has lost the title of Duelmaster. Can someone confirm a rumor for me?
I hear the top team makes their losing fighters do dishes at The Welcome Wench until
they win. Maybe?
He who challenges well, fights well. He who avoids without cause, shall lose
for good reasons. My mama told me that one. Well, sports fans, take notice that
TONAR WADE from MIDDLE WAY 14 was NOBLISH ISLAND's most challenged warrior this turn.
The Dark Arena is for those who cannot win, not who cannot lose with grace.
Dignity in life or death is the warrior's creed. Whatever bright future WORREL
ARELLIN may have had, it's all history now. The manager of MIDDLE WAY 14 has lost a
promising 3-0-0 warrior. A brave warrior does not carry a red shield, he has nothing
to cover or hide when the fight is over. Consider well.
Remember, blood on the purple robe does not change it from a purple robe. Dare
to fight bravely. It's been nice chatting with you, until we meet again, keep your
swords sharp and your hammers heavy. Until the sun next rises and my pen sets to
paper-- Alarond the Scribe
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-BOLOQ 8073 4 1 1 50 MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397)
-KUNG POW 8096 4 2 0 39 THE DARK SIDE (1401)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-EBOLA 8097 3 3 1 37 THE DARK SIDE (1401)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
COUNTRY 8127 2 0 1 33 TEAM COUNTRY (1407)
NARUTO 8128 2 0 0 33 TEAM COUNTRY (1407)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
AMIDAMARU 8126 2 0 0 23 TEAM COUNTRY (1407)
ZOLOF 8124 1 0 0 22 RAVEN'S LOFT (1406)
THUNDER 8115 3 0 1 16 FIST FIGHTERS GANG (1405)
GRIMTOOTH 8123 1 0 1 16 RAVEN'S LOFT (1406)
ELLA 8122 1 0 0 16 RAVEN'S LOFT (1406)
TONAR WADE 8135 3 1 0 15 MIDDLE WAY 14 (1409)
-TARIQ 8074 2 3 0 15 MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397)
-ASHANNA 8075 3 2 0 13 MOLLUQ'S MARAUDERS (1397)
WHO CARES 8164 1 0 0 12 THE DARK SIDE (1401)
YOLAN BETTS 8139 2 2 0 9 MIDDLE WAY 14 (1409)
VINDAL ZAIR 8137 2 2 0 8 MIDDLE WAY 14 (1409)
RAND NOX 8120 1 0 0 8 RAVEN'S LOFT (1406)
BRUNO 8119 2 1 0 7 FIST FIGHTERS GANG (1405)
URVON YOLE 8136 1 3 0 6 MIDDLE WAY 14 (1409)
KURAMA 8129 1 1 1 5 TEAM COUNTRY (1407)
JACK OF BLADES 8118 1 2 0 5 FIST FIGHTERS GANG (1405)
TWINBLADE 8116 0 3 0 3 FIST FIGHTERS GANG (1405)
PRINZ 8121 0 1 0 1 RAVEN'S LOFT (1406)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
PERSISTANT BEGGAR 4 0 1 0 1 GRIMTOOTH 8123 203 NONE
D.A. 8166 0 1 0 THE DARK SIDE 1401 SHEWISH GIANT 21 203 NONE
RSI DA 8165 0 1 0 THE DARK SIDE 1401 BLACK ORC 20 203 NONE
WHISPER 8117 1 1 0 FIST FIGHTERS GA 1405 BOLOQ 8073 200
WORREL ARELLIN 8138 3 1 0 MIDDLE WAY 14 1409 COUNTRY 8127 203
LILITH 8104 0 1 0 SILVER DRAGON FO 1402 THUNDER 8115 199 NOT REVE
HIEI 8125 0 2 0 TEAM COUNTRY 1407 BLACK ORC 20 203 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
Middle Way -- Welcome back! Once the Dark Side move out I have another batch of
interesting fighters. -- Dark Side
Boloa -- I'm coming for you! -- Kung Pow
Ashanna -- Keep your head up. Had to take a loss sooner or later. -- Kung Pow
Tariq -- And there you are again, you mollusq. Uh, molluqs. Whatever. In the whole
three minutes of our fight, you only attempted one attack. Okay, I parried it, no
big deal. But ONE attack, when I launched twelve? And I wasn't running hard (high
offensive effort and/or activity level). Maybe you need to run a little faster
yourself? -- Worrel Arellin
Amidamaru -- Ouch. Nasty fellow, aren't you? Properly prepared, fast off the mark,
I hate that in an opponent. Good work. -- Yolan Betts
Naruto -- May you find yourself matched with someone who is prepared to outwait you!
May your weapon break! -- Vindal Zair the really annoyed
P.S. But it's just luck, it isn't that you're...really good, is it? Say that isn't
it!
Hiei -- It's the pits to be unable to handle your weapon, isn't it? Try a
broadsword, it might suit you better. -- Tonar Wade the ever-helpful
Country -- I really, really hate people who use that weapon. Getting hit by it is
the ultimate pits. -- Urvon Yole, in many pieces
Greetings to the newly arrived Team Country. You've got a few good men there, well
armed and running successfully. Glad to see it. If you have questions, just ask,
answering questions, or finding someone else to answer them, is what I'm here for. --
Jorja, the Middle Way
22 February 2006
The Olympics have arrived!
The Mordanti Olympics, having been gone for six years, have returned to the Mordanti
Alliance, sponsored by Amicitia Primoris. Teams have competed against each other for
recognition and notoriety four times in the past. It is far past time for the fifth
Mordanti Olympics to be held. The Mordanti Olympics shall be held in the Mordant
arena (DM-1) from May 1st (T544) through Oct 30 (T557). There will be a
'registration period' lasting until T543, where teams will be allowed to register by
activating in Mordant and declaring their participation in the personals. Rules will
be posted in the Mordant arena (DM-1) newsletter no later than T543, but shall be
available online before then. An announcement will be made as to where they will be
posted. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Lord Xiang
Amicitia Primoris
amicitia@gwi.net
http://amicitiaprimoris.gotdns.com
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
HIEI was butchered by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
D.A. was slaughtered by SHEWISH GIANT in a 1 minute Dark Arena battle.
RSI DA was easily killed by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute gory Dark Arena match.
COUNTRY slaughtered WORREL ARELLIN in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl.
NARUTO overpowered TONAR WADE in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
AMIDAMARU devastated VINDAL ZAIR in a 1 minute uneven Challenge brawl.
YOLAN BETTS defeated TWINBLADE in a 1 minute novice's struggle.
BRUNO was devastated by ZOLOF in a 1 minute one-sided competition.
JACK OF BLADES was handily defeated by WHO CARES in a 1 minute uneven melee.
THUNDER won victory over URVON YOLE in a 1 minute novice's duel.
KURAMA was outwaited by RAND NOX in a slow 9 minute novice's duel.
GRIMTOOTH executed PERSISTANT BEGGAR in a 1 minute gory one-sided melee.
ELLA subdued EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a 2 minute amateur's match.
PRINZ was handily defeated by MORDANT DESERTER in a 1 minute one-sided contest.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|SLASHING ATTACK 6 TOTAL PARRY 15 - 6 - 1 71 |
|BASHING ATTACK 4 PARRY-LUNGE 4 - 2 - 0 67 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 4 WALL OF STEEL 13 - 8 - 1 62 |
|AIMED BLOW 2 BASHING ATTACK 23 - 18 - 5 56 |
|TOTAL PARRY 2 LUNGING ATTACK 13 - 11 - 3 54 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 1 AIMED BLOW 8 - 8 - 0 50 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 12 - 16 - 0 43 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 STRIKING ATTACK 9 - 12 - 0 43 |
|WALL OF STEEL 1 PARRY-STRIKE 7 - 10 - 1 41 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 0 SLASHING ATTACK 8 - 12 - 0 40 |
Turn 203 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:
PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 0 SLASHING ATTACK 2 - 4 5 BASHING ATTACK
BASHING ATTACK 4 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 2 STRIKING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW 1 - 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 1 1 LUNGING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK 2 - 2 LUNGING ATTACK 0 - 0 1 AIMED BLOW
TOTAL PARRY 0 - 2 1 PARRY-LUNGE
WALL OF STEEL 0 - 1 1 SLASHING ATTACK
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is YOLAN BETTS 8139. The most popular warrior this
turn was ELLA 8122. The ten other most popular fighters were NARUTO 8128, AMIDAMARU
8126, YOLAN BETTS 8139, GRIMTOOTH 8123, COUNTRY 8127, ZOLOF 8124, WHO CARES 8164,
THUNDER 8115, HIEI 8125, and D.A. 8166.
The least popular fighter this week was RAND NOX 8120. The other ten least popular
fighters were KURAMA 8129, PRINZ 8121, URVON YOLE 8136, JACK OF BLADES 8118, BRUNO
8119, TWINBLADE 8116, VINDAL ZAIR 8137, TONAR WADE 8135, WORREL ARELLIN 8138, and RSI
DA 8165.
Article for Newbies
This here is an article aimed mostly at you new managers to the game out there.
This chart is a consensus of managers on the internet about how they felt each style
fairs against all other styles at the beginning levels of the game. Of course, once
you get ten or so fights under your belt the whole scenario changes and you can throw
this right out the window. But in the meantime, use this chart to help you get a
feel for the game, how the different styles interact with each other and to hopefully
dispel those 5-25 starts that can make you drop the game. Hope this helps you some.
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
There you have it folks. I would personally like to thank all the managers on the
internet who made a contribution to this effort. You know who you are. Also a big
nod of appreciation goes out to the mighty PUG (Ben Hitz) who organizes and runs the
roundtable and without whose effort little projects like this would prove quite
difficult.
David Gottwald - Magic Man
The Crew - Monuntial (34)
Rocky's Heroes - North Fork (47)
Tragedy Strikes - Andor (57) (inactive)
Natural Born - Illis (59)
Slow & Easy - Aradi (60)
Omega Squadron - Dragonhead (72)
MAKING YOUR CHALLENGES GO THROUGH
First, you need to be sure you are making your challenges correctly.
1. Are you writing down the warrior I.D. number of the warrior you want to
challenge?
2. Is your handwriting clear?
3. Is the warrior you are challenging within range of your warrior? Warriors
can challenge within their own class and the next higher class, plus the "Challenger"
classes can also challenge the next lower class. So, an Adept can challenge Adepts
and Challenger Adepts. A Challenger Adept can challenge Adepts, Challenger Adepts,
and Champions. (Try not to challenge down, though. Besides being unsportsmanlike and
making everyone mad, it isn't advantageous to your warriors. They need to fight more
experienced warriors so they will learn.)
4. Are your warriors eligible to make challenges? If they didn't fight within
the last two turns, then they can't challenge.
5. Are the warriors they want to fight eligible to receive challenges? If they
didn't fight within the last two turns, then they can't be challenged.
Next, adjust your choices for the maximum likelihood of getting your challenges.
There are several things that will help:
1. Have each of your warriors challenge two different opponents from two
different teams. That way, if the first opponent's team doesn't fight that turn, you
still might get your second challenge.
2. Use your avoids. Have each warrior avoid the teams of whoever you think
might be likely to challenge him. If you can get out of being challenged, that
increases your chance of getting your own challenge through.
3. Don't challenge warriors who didn't fight last turn. The odds are higher
that they won't be fighting this turn.
4. Don't challenge warriors who might be involved in a bloodfeud (either as the
killers, or the avengers). A bloodfeud challenge has priority over all other
challenges.
5. Don't challenge Tournament Victors. A TV challenge has priority over all
other challenges except bloodfeuds. You'll need to do a little research in back
issues of the newsletter to find out who the TVs are.
6. Don't challenge warriors who you know are going to challenge someone else, or
are going to get challenged by someone else. Your challenge has a better chance of
getting through if it is the only challenge to that particular warrior.
7. Don't challenge the "easy pickings." That is, warriors above you who have
way too few fights or very bad records for where they are ranked. They will tend to
get challenged a lot.
8. Don't challenge warriors who are likely to be avoiding your team. This
includes any warrior your team fought within the last two turns.
Well, it sounds like I've eliminated just about everybody, doesn't it? Of course
you can challenge opponents who fit into one or more of those categories; just try to
find ones who don't. Your idea candidate for a challenge is: A warrior ranked
somewhat above your warrior in the same class, or in the next higher class, with a few
more fights than your warrior, and a winning record, who isn't a TV and isn't
currently at war with anyone.
I hope this will be of some help to you.
The Rogue She-Puppy
MAXIMIZING THE DUELMASTERS EXPERIENCE: WHAT THE RULES DIDN'T SAY
When you get your turn results in the mail it is very important that you squeeze
as much enjoyment as possible out of that envelope! I recommend (and also use!) the
following procedures.
First, open the envelope lengthwise with a letter opener. Remove the blue-sheet
BUT DON'T LOOK AT IT! It may tell you that you are broke and owe RSI a lot of money.
Flip it over instead! The blue-sheet will be used as a "hider" when you read the
fight results line by line, so you don't see the end of the fight by mistake and ruin
the excitement.
Remove the rest of the sheets in one smooth maneuver and place the flipped-over
blue-sheet on top of the pile, without looking at anything. You don't want to
accidentally uncover an unexpected replacement rollup. This is a traumatic experience
that should be avoided at all costs, as it indicates that one of your battles didn't
go exactly as planned.
Now you must prepare your room, or whever you are, for the battles. If you are
suicidal, or a lousy manager, or a suicidally lousy manager, remove all sharp objects
from the area. If you happen to manage an entire team of scummy warriors it is okay
to leave a loaded musket nearby.
The next step is to put on music. It definitely adds to the experience to have
your favorite tunes playing in the background, preferably AS LOUD AS YOU CAN GET AWAY
WITH! I christen each new warrior with a song that is his and his alone, and play
that song whenever it is his turn upon the sands. It is a personal choice but I
recommend Judas Priest, Manowar or Metallica. Avoid Abba and Barry Manilow (like I
had to say it). It is also important to match the song length with the expected
length of the fight. Don't choose "The Immigrant Song" for your 21-con Ultra-Scum.
Likewise, don't choose "Stairway to Heaven" for your quick lunger. Finally, sometimes
it is nice to choose an exceptionally violent alternate selection for those
Bloodfeuds.
Now you are almost ready! The final preparatory step (optional) is to prepare a
pot of coffee. Beer also works well, especially on Fridays, but I understand that
some managers are not Well-Suited to that particular beverage. I've heard the Duke
Malibu in Solven drinks goat blood, but mind you this is only a rumor. For the final
touch, try putting on any handy armor you have. Or a loin-cloth. I put on most of my
hockey gear.
The fights are on! The music is loud! The coffee is good! Read the fights
slowly, line by line using your blue-sheet as a guide. Don't go too fast, now. Yell,
"Yeah!" if your warrior scores an especially gruesome hit. Cringe if your warrior
feels the joys of a great axe connecting with his face (that means you, Marilith).
Raise your fist in the air when that total parry realizes that his last shield has
broken! And cry when your favorite gladiator is gravely injured and then takes ten
consecutive war hammer shots to the head...
When the end of the fight comes you will be emotionally drained, so yell out,
"Huzzah!!!" or "Damnnn!!!" or whatever, to take the edge off. When the fighting is
ended take a breather before preparing for the next cycle's fights. Reflect on what
has transpired and make a few notes. You'll be a better person (and manager) for it!
Isn't Duelmasters great?
Brought to you by ICE (the deranged): DM-49 (Vithicar) Rotting Livers (205)
DM-10 (Kolact) Beermacht
DM-22 (Solven) Steel Warriors
DM-24 (Zorpunt) No Escape
Winning With the Average Warrior
Hi! The Master of Anime here... Yeah, yeah, I know, you're all doing a
collective, "Who the Hell is this character?" Well, my claim to fame, if you can call
it that, is that I run Eve, one of the more popular, if not completely unspectacular,
warriors to fight in Alastari. I am a micro-manager (you've heard of mega-managers?
Well, think in reverse) who has been mainly running only one team during my 8+ years
of Duelmasters. This little write-up is aimed towards the less experienced managers,
the ones that can be brainwashed from some of the "How to build the perfect
warrior..." spotlights that tend to appear from time to time.
Many of the "How to build..." spotlights tend to deal with roll-ups that are
quite ideal, but in reality, rarely come out of RSI's number crunching machine,
commonly referred to as "the Roll-Up Gods". There have been a few good articles on
how to design skillful warriors from 'average' roll-ups. Those articles, in my
opinion, are the most helpful to new managers for the simple fact that you will almost
always get an 'average' roll-up. Occasionally, that 'average' roll-up might turn out
to be something special, and that is what I would like to key in on.
I know a lot of managers who will continually DA their warriors until they get
something that is as close to perfect as possible. You know, the warrior with three
or four 17s or the warrior with a couple of 21s or that size 3 or 4 warrior, etc...
If you are a relatively new manager and you are also doing this, I think you are
missing out on one of the more intriguing aspects of this game and that is warrior
development.
Being a micro-manager, I do not have an army of warriors like the mega-managers
do, but I'd like to think that I can hold my own against them (hey, if you're gonna
dream, dream big). Anyway, back to the point. One of my 'average' warriors seems to
have achieved a form of notoriety in Advanced Duelmasters to the extent that even the
ever quiet Mirage (manager of Donatello) has had something to say (it was at the last
Tempe FTF and my warrior, at the end of the 6th or 7th round, was listed as the top
Primus warrior on the tourney list.) Mirage pointed at my warrior on the list and
said, "That, is embarrassing..." I took it as a compliment. In case you're
wondering, my warrior is Akira (the reason I'm writing this article is that I've been
approached many times of late by managers who wanted to see Akira's numbers, thinking
he had some sort of godlike roll-up. I set them straight).
I'm not going to print Akira's numbers in this article for the main reason that I
don't have them with me at this time (it'll probably tick-off a lot of managers whose
warriors Akira has beaten anyway), but I do know this... he has about 30 attribute
increases and only one attribute is in the 20's, that one being WL (he even got gypped
by not getting some skills that you normally think he'd get by raising WL up the
20's). He won't be getting another attribute above 20 for a long, long time. (I
think his next highest attribute is 17... note that this is after the 30 or so
increases...) You should have a pretty good idea how generic this roll-up is... a
roll-up that would probably be DA'd by most managers looking for a good roll-up... a
roll-up that I even said, "I'll run him for kicks, but will probably retire him once
he gets to AD."... a roll-up that entered AD with a less-than-stellar 14-10 record...
a roll-up currently on a 20 fight win streak... a roll-up with three consecutive
Primus TVs.
So, before you give up on that average warrior, think again about giving him a
chance to flourish... he might suprise you as Akira has surprised me. Good luck in
the arena!
M.A., a proud member of GAPPDA
P.S. If you want to know Akira's original roll-up, diplo Anime Legends (Arena 102,
104).
P.P.S. Swift -- We GAPPDA members are NOT slugs!!! At least, I don't think we are...
TWELVE TIPS
A rookie manager asked me a question recently which prompted my "teaching juices"
to flow. I quote: "Just give me a dozen hints, and I'll leave you alone!" Obviously,
his challenge prompted me to organize my thought creating my Twelve Tips.
"Now wait a minute!" I hear you asking. "Why should I read on?" Simply put:
-- If you're an experience manager, you'll want to "clue me in" on other valuable tips
I missed.
-- If you're a "newbie," these tips will enhance your W-L record and compound your
fun.
"But, are they GOOD tips?" you ask. Believe me, fellow opponents, after 5000+
fights, dozens of "tutored pupils," many A.D. warriors, and a rather lofty W-L record,
they're GOOD tips. So here we go, in no particular order.
(I) ASK FOR HELP--Ask RSI about the Sponsor Program. Diplo "good" managers in your
arena. Proclaim your willingness to learn in a personal ad. You'll get some
conversation.
(II) OFFENSIVES FIRST--This is not an easy game, and the basher, lunger, striker can
be readily designed and more easily "mastered." (Whatever that means.) Avoid the most
difficult finessives, such as aimers (AB), rippers (PR), and probably wastes (WS).
Get some confidence first! Most of us old-timers yet struggle with a good aimed-blow.
(III) SKILLS, SKILLS, SKILLS--One of the most prevalent rookie errors is training too
many stats. Skills win fights, and in the long run, you will regret certain stat
raises.
(IV) COLLECT DATA--The more you know about your own warrior (And even with the same
stats, warriors differ) and the more you know about your opponents, the more likely
you can cause something "good" to happen. In the military/political world, we call
this "intelligence." (Clue: ask about a D.M. handbook filled with info.)
(V) PERSONAL ADS--Don't be a jerk! But write some every time. Let me assure you that
an unliked rookie cannot succeed in an arena against the local "Powers-in-control."
You want to create friendly opponents. (When you know what you're doing--then you can
try the jerk routine!)
(VI) TURN SHEET--Accuracy counts. Fill it out perfectly (and legibly) pal! Know what
each section is for. (Reread the instructions.) Many have been the surprised and
frustrated manager who caused his or her own problem! (Even us "megas" blow it now and
then!)
(VII) NO CON--Don't ever (well maybe 1% of the time) add points to constitution on an
offensive rollup. Other attributes may add skills; con won't. (Just wait until you
hear someone shout never add to con--ever. I didn't say that.)
(VIII) ONE WEAPON--For offensives. When you get to finesse styles, you'll understand
why you may want one in your off-hand also. But, almost always carry a backup. (Hands
can be hurt both striking and defending.)
(IX) CHALLENGE/AVOID--Always! A manager's prime purpose is to optimize his warrior's
chances. Challenge those you'll have a good shot at beating and avoid teams who can
cause you the most difficulties. (Challenge warriors--avoid teams.)
(X) ENTER TOURNAMENTS--What a way to acquire skills and experience without impacting
your arena W-L record. Actually, you will create a positive impact in that those
"tournament earnings" are "hidden" from other arena warriors. Plus, tournaments are a
real "rush!"
(XI) FIND A FRIEND--In every arena find at least one "friendly" foe. Share opponent
info. With two, or more, of you sharing, look how much more "intelligence" you'll
have.
(XII) STAY COOL--Don't let any problem (loss, death, personal ad, error, etc.) anger
you. (This is fun, right?) The cool head wins more matches than the emotional one.
So good luck, rookie! We were all in your shoes once. (And for some of us that
was a long, long time ago.)
THE CONSORTIUM
DM 8 Smithsonian (Curator)
DM 11 Bulldogs (Kennelworth)
DM 20 Animal Farm (Mino)
DM 46 Fandils (Fandil the Wise)
(and many, many more)