DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 11/02/2013 Duedate: 11/15/2013
NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA
DM-93 TURN-389
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
HORRIBLE LEARNING
BASH BROS PIKER (1634)
(93-9489) [8-0-0,91]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
POSITION IS EMPTY HORRIBLE LEARNING
BASH BROS PIKER (1634)
(93-9489) [8-0-0,91]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
FIRST DOWN FAVE RHYTHM
COUNT ON ME (1633) BASH BROS PIKER (1634)
(93-9486) [5-3-0,52] (93-9491) [4-4-0,34]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
(-1)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. HIGH WAY 2 (1637) 26
2. COUNT ON ME (1633) 26 BRUTE STRENGTH (491)
3. BASH BROS PIKER (1634) 15 Unchartered Team
4. GHOSTWALKERS (1630) 7
5. MISFITS OF DOOM (1624) 0 COUNT ON ME (1633)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1*COUNT ON ME (1633) 26 14 0 65.0 1/ 3*HIGH WAY 2 (1637) 9 6 0
2/ 2*HIGH WAY 2 (1637) 14 11 1 56.0 2/ 2*BASH BROS PIKER (1634) 9 6 0
3/ 3*BASH BROS PIKER (1634) 22 18 0 55.0 3/ 1*COUNT ON ME (1633) 8 7 0
4/ 4*GHOSTWALKERS (1630) 5 9 0 35.7 4/ 5*GHOSTWALKERS (1630) 5 9 0
5- 5*MISFITS OF DOOM (1624) 7 30 0 18.9 5- 4*MISFITS OF DOOM (1624) 3 1 0
6- 6*DEVIL'S CARTEL (1631) 0 1 0 0.0 6- 6*DEVIL'S CARTEL (1631) 0 1 0
'*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn
(###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
TIPS FOR WINNING
Your warriors are putting up a good fight, but just can't seem to win? Perhaps
this list of sixteen Consortium actions can help:
1. Always challenge and avoid.
2. Challenge warriors you have beaten before and styles your warrior has the
advantage with. (e.g. AB challenge TP, TP challenge LU, ST challenge SL, SL
challenge LU, etc)
3. Avoid teams who seem to regularly beat you and teams with nearby warriors with
styles which have an advantage over your warrior. Avoid the team that just beat
you last fight.
4. Make your warrior do what his style does best. (e.g. ST s get the jump, Lus
dodge, TPs parry, etc)
5. Use high CN to your advantage by soaking hits and then hitting a worn down
opponent.
6. Pay attention to where an opponent is aiming his attacks and protect that
location on subsequent fights.
7. "Pick on" warriors with less skill, less experience, or lots of losses.
8. Pay attention to fight history in your arena. Know which are tournament
warriors, sandbaggers, etc with hidden FE. (Fight experience.) These warriors
are likely highly skilled compared to your normal arena warrior. Stay clear of
them.
9. Use tactics appropriately--Decise to help you get the jump, Dodge to help you
avoid being hit, Slash or Bash to hit harder, Parry to focus on parry, Response
to counter known decise users.
10. Dress appropriately--naked is faster/quicker, plated is most protected and
sponges best but slower
11. Watch fights carefully to find a favored weapon--one which you crit often with or
which you get lots of extra value hits. Use that weapon and those similar to it.
12. Know your opposing manager's styles and methods. Try to fight weaker managers
and avoid those who just seem to win lots.
13. Use the challenge and if-challenged strategies on your strategy sheet to turn
fights in your favor.
14. If your warrior is in a difficult spot in the rankings/arena listing, sit him
out. Don't fight if you do not have a good chance to win. (e.g., your 5 FE
warrior has jumped way up in the rankings and is surrounded by much more
experienced warriors, or your scum TP is surrounded by aimed-blows, etc)
15. Phone a friend. Ask for help or advice. The right helpful person is likely to
want to help you succeed.
16. Send your warrior to tournaments. Gets hidden FE on his record and up his
skill/stat level unbeknownst to those paying little attention.
Count Number (Abba Cuss), Consortium affiliated
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This correction to the weapon/stats, produced by Assurnasirbanipal, is included here
because this newsletter will have a weapons/stats chart at the end. Use these
modifications to that chart.
Assur's Weapon Requirement Chart (Without the inaccuracies)
Over the years, many people have published weapon charts. Most of them have had
mistakes. This is the correct weapon chart and you should discard all others.
STR SIZ WIT DFT STR SIZ WIT DFT
Battle Axe 15 3 7 9 Maul 15 9 5 7
Broadsword 11 3 9 7 Morning Star 13 3 9 11
Dagger 3 3 7 7 Quarterstaff 11 9 11 11
Epee 7 3 15 15 Scimitar 9 3 11 11
Great Axe 13 3 9 11 Shortsword 5 3 11 3
Greatsword 15 9 9 11 Shortspear 9 3 5 7
Hatchet 7 3 5 7 War Flail 11 3 5 5
Halberd 17 9 9 11 War Hammer 13 3 5 7
Longsword 11 3 13 11 Large Shield 13 7 3 7
Longspear 11 9 5 9 Medium Shield 9 3 3 5
Mace 13 3 3 5 Small Shield 5 3 3 5
---Battle Axe requires 9 size if you are carrying an off hand weapon
Off Hand No Wit Requirement
Strength Requirement same as for Main Hand
No Size Requirement
Off Hand Deftness Requirements
For this section, you look at the weapons you want to use in your main hand (MH)
and off hand (OH). From the chart above find their deftness requirements. Use these
values in the chart below (MH on the left, OH on the top) and the result is the
deftness to use them together.
Examples: Suppose your scum wants to use ME in your main hand and LG in your off
hand. Cross referencing, 5 on the left, 7 on the top, you'll see that the required
deftness to use them together is 9.
MH\OH 3 5 7 9 11 15
3 4 6 8 10 12 16
5 5 7 9 11 13 17
7 6 8 10 12 14 18
9 7 9 11 13 15 19
11 8 10 12 14 16 20
15 10 12 14 16 18 22
Caveats: In finding the values for this chart, there have been inconsistencies. The
chart shows the value that we believe will always be well suited. Some warriors seem
to be able to use weapons in both hands with lower deftness than the chart shows. So
far, I have not seen evidence for a warrior requiring more than the value shown.
Note that some values make little sense. (While you can use an EP with an off hand
SH together with 10 deftness, you would still lack 5 points of deftness to use the
Epee.)
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Rhythm and Blues
A Few Thoughts on Rhythm
Every warrior has a favorite rhythm--a favored number for Offensive Effort and
Activity Level. (Note, to the best of my knowledge and belief, there is NO favored
Kill Desire.) This rhythm is set when the warrior is created, and it is revealed to
the manager when the warrior graduates.
I have never been entirely clear as to what, exactly, using the favored rhythm
does for the warrior, but there is a general agreement that it does something,
usually something good. Paces him, perhaps, to get the most fight for the least
endurance burn? Paces him so that he can make the most of his style's specific
strengths and minimize the weaknesses? Something like that, no doubt.
This implies that favored rhythms are linked to style, and that certain ranges
may be specific to style, and I understand that the major number crunchers have
demonstrated this to be so. It further suggests to me that if one knows the range of
favored rhythms for a given style, one may be able to give a warrior of that style a
more effective strategy than one derived simply by guessing and looking at the
warrior's stats and overview.
Wherefore I have pulled out the favorite rhythms by style of the graduated
warriors available for my inspection. You will note that the size of the samples
varies a lot from style to style. This roughly indicates the ease with which I have
been able to keep the different styles alive until graduation, modified by my
personal preferences as to style.
The first letter in a pair indicates favored Offensive Effort, the second favored
Activity Level.
VH=very high H=high M=moderate L=low VL=very low
Distributing the ten numbers available in an even and logical manner, we get:
VH= 10, 9 H= 8,7 M= 6,5 L= 4,3 VL= 2,1
We don't know exactly which number of the pair a given "favorite" is, but this is
close enough.
I'm including the raw data here, despite the fact that it looks very boring,
heck, it is very boring, so that any of you who wish to may study it and make your
own deductions.
Aimed Blows, twenty-two graduated warriors polled as to favorite rhythms:
L/VL L/L VL/L VL/M L/VL M/VL M/L L/VL VL/VL L/M
L/L L/M L/L VL/L VL/M L/VL L/L VL/L L/M M/L
VL/VL L/L
Notice a pattern here? Nothing higher than Moderate, and every pair has at
least one Low or Very Low. In other words, Aimed Blows prefer to be run "scummy."
Or if you're feeling charitable, they like to take their time and make their blows
count, which is natural enough when you consider that accuracy is their strong suit.
Bashers, twenty-five graduated warriors polled.
VH/VL VH/VL VH/VL H/VL H/L H/L H/M H/L M/VL H/VL
VH/VL H/L H/M M/L H/L H/L H/M VH/L VH/VL VH/VL
H/L VH/M H/L H/VL M/L
Again, there's an obvious pattern, but it's a different one. Offensive Effort
no lower than Moderate, Activity Level no higher than Moderate, and often a very
sharp division between the two in any given pair. High Offensive Effort, low
Activity Level. No instances of M/M listed here! Bashers are very direct in their
fighting: attack, attack, attack. No finesse, little dodging.
Lungers, forty graduated warriors polled.
VH/H H/H H/M M/H M/H M/VH L/H VH/M VH/VH H/VH
H/VH M/VH VH/M H/H H/VH M/VH H/VH H/H VH/M M/VH
VH/VH L/VH L/H H/VH M/H M/M M/H M/M H/VH H/H
VH/VH VH/H M/VH L/H M/H H/H H/H VH/M M/M VH/H
Everything but VL is represented in this group. Two out of the forty warriors
have rhythms of M/M. It may be significant that these are both fairly old warriors;
other anomalies have shown up from time to time in very old warriors. Other than
that, every pair contains either H or VH at least once, although there seems to be no
definite preference as to which position it should be in. A slight bias toward
faster OE than AL, but the sample isn't large enough to be sure of that. It's common
to see BOTH numbers H or VH for this style. Lungers like to run fast, and a good
lunger fight has a lot of action--dodging to the side, leaping over or ducking under
a blow, as well as attacking. Of course, that means they tend to burn out fast, too,
so you have to plan for that.
Parry-Lungers, twenty graduated warriors polled.
M/VH M/H L/M H/VH VL/H M/M H/M H/H H/M H/L
M/L H/H L/L H/L M/M H/L L/L H/M VL/L L/VH
Granting that this is a small sample, I see no pattern here. P-lungers vary a
lot from one warrior to the next, and you have to experiment to find the rhythm that
works best for any individual warrior. Some are more lunger, some more parry. In
fact, you could say that the "Offensive Total Parries" and "Defensive Lungers" that
some managers write articles about could be summed up as: Parry-Lunger.
Parry-Ripostes, a mere fourteen graduated warriors polled.
VL/M M/M M/M H/M L/M VL/M L/M L/H M/H L/H
VL/M L/H L/M L/M
Hardly a definitive sample (these are hard to graduate), but there seems to be a
pattern of Offensive Effort no higher than Moderate (okay, one, unless it's a typo),
Activity Level no lower than Moderate. I must admit that I have been known to run
them with an OE of High or Very High when I got tired of having them jumped by
offensive-styled warriors. Some rippers can handle that without flailing or getting
tired, and some can't.
Parry-Strikers, twenty-one polled.
M/VL M/VL VL/M M/M VL/H L/L L/VL VL/L L/L M/L
M/H L/M M/VL L/VL VL/L VL/VL VL/M VL/L L/L VL/L
M/L
I see every range of numbers here but VH, and no obvious pattern. Figures.
Everyone says this style is notional when it comes to how they want to run. A large
sample might show some clear tendency, but from this small group, all I can say is,
they don't seem to like to run very fast.
Slashers, sixty warriors polled. What can I say? I like slashers, and when I was
starting out, I ran a lot of them, many of whom lived to graduate. In some cases,
this was unfortunate, but at the time, it seemed like a good idea....
VH/VL H/L H/VL M/L H/VL H/L M/VL H/L H/VL M/M
M/M VH/VL VH/L H/VL H/VL VH/L H/VL H/L M/VL VH/L
VH/M M/VL H/M M/VL M/VL H/L H/L M/L H/VL VH/VL
VH/VL M/M H/VL M/VL H/VL H/VL VH/L H/L H/L H/VL
M/L M/L H/VL M/M M/L M/L VH/VL VH/L M/VL H/VL
H/VL VH/VL H/VL H/VL VH/L H/VL M/L H/VL VH/VL
Now that we're back among the pure offensive styles, a pattern emerges again.
No Offensive Effort lower than Moderate, no Activity Level higher than Moderate.
Within those limits, anything goes--from Moderate/Moderate to Very High/Very Low.
Slashers like to run hard, they don't like to stand around and scum their opponents,
but they'll accept a modestly cautious approach if it's called for. Pay attention to
the details in your warrior's fight. If he starts getting tired early on, you
probably need to lower his Offensive Effort some. If he never gets the first blow
and loses continually because of that, raise Offensive Effort.
Strikers, sixty-three polled. (shrug) When in doubt, make it a striker....
VL/M L/L L/L H/VL M/H M/L L/M L/L L/VL M/L
M/VL M/L H/VL H/L M/L M/VL M/L M/H L/VL M/M
L/M L/VL M/VL L/VL L/VL M/L L/VL VL/L H/L M/H
M/H H/VL VL/L H/VL M/VL VL/L H/VL M/VL M/VL VL/VL
M/VL L/H H/L M/VL H/VL M/M L/VL M/L M/L M/L
H/M M/L L/M VL/M M/VL M/L M/M L/L M/VL M/L
H/VL H/H M/L
Neither Offensive Effort nor Activity Level of Very High appears, but that
leaves a lot of possible combinations (okay, only sixteen, but that seems like a lot
when you're writing an article late at night), and most of them seem to show up on
this list. Strikers, like P-Strikers, need tinkering.
Total Parries, twenty-nine warriors polled.
VL/M VL/L M/VL VL/VL L/L VL/VL VL/M VL/VL L/M VL/L
VL/M L/M L/H M/M M/VL VL/VL VL/L VL/VL L/L VL/VL
VL/L L/L VL/L L/L VL/L L/VL VL/L VL/L VL/L
No Offensive Effort higher than Moderate, no Activity Level except one higher
than Moderate. This is what you'd expect, right? Total Parries conserve their
energy. While you can run them faster, they aren't going to like it. And if they
don't like it, they aren't going to perform really well.
Walls of Steel, thirty-five polled.
M/VL L/L L/VL M/L M/M L/VL H/VL L/VL M/VL VH/M
M/L L/M H/VL H/M L/L L/L M/L M/L M/VL M/L
M/L H/L VH/VL H/L M/L L/M H/M M/M M/M H/L
M/VL VH/M H/L M/VL H/M
No Offensive Effort of Very Low, no Activity Level higher than Moderate. Some
people call this style the "parry-slash," others say it's a prime candidate for
running like a berserker. Otherwise, a lot of variation. Some are scummy (L/VL) and
some are slice-and-dice machines (VH/M). Too bad you can't tell right off which
you've got, eh? This style needs attention and experimenation for best results.
Now that you've plowed through all the tedious stuff (at least, it was tedious
for me to organize the data, hope it was less so for you to look at it), I'll offer a
word of advice to new players. Make all or most of your first warriors of the styles
that have clear patterns. Bashers and slashers are the easiest to do well with right
off the bat. Lungers and strikers are a little trickier, but not much. The others
are a lot trickier. Winning right off with your first attempts at those styles--
especially once you're out of Noblish Island and into the cold, cruel mainland, is
unlikely. However, the study and struggle needed to master one of the trickier
styles is amply rewarded by the rush of guiding one to a winning record, a
duelmastership, and graduation.
Jorja
The Middle Way
+<]H[>+-----+<]H[+ Question of the Week #9 +]H[>+-----+<]H[>+
The question, turn 420:
All -- I was noticing the skill modifiers for low to high size; do these negatives
keep a warrior from being successful at the high end of the game? -- Hanibal --
Q.O.W.
Answers, turn 421:
Q.O.W. (size) -- Smaller size has always had an advantage in the upper levels of the
game, especially at the top of Primus and Gateway. The bonus to defense and parry
offsets the initiative loss and the damage taking and dealing that a large size
provides. Of course, large size comes with its own defense penalty. A high defense
is critical in the upper levels where it is imperative not to get hit. If you are
unhittable, it comes down to an endurance contest. However, huge warriors,
especially those gifted in defense can make devastating opponents on their road to
the top. They are tough and dish out more than all the little pip squeaks ever
could. It's much easier to get a great warrior out of a smaller size than out of a
larger size of course, due to stat distribution to the other critical areas like WT,
WL and DF, so finding a great huge warrior is difficult. My best is Khazakh who is
in 105 right now. He's gifted in defense and endurance, and he's devastating in the
arena. But some day, near the very top, his size will probably be a hindrance unless
his attack is absolutely crazy and he can hit the little guys. -- Adie
Q.O.W. (answer) -- It depends greatly on what you define as the top of the game.
Certainly any sized warrior can be effective at the top of a basic arena or any AD
arena. By the time you're talking Primus or Gateway it's mainly a matter of whether
or not your team can muster enough warriors to win magical prizes to enhance you,
those without them must be truly gifted indeed. -- Maxwell Honorblade
Q.O.W. -- Do the small size skill negatives prevent success in the top end game? --
Certainly not! While the negatives are there, remember that small size allows more
"points" elsewhere, easily making up the skills. The smaller warriors are *often*
the leaders at the top end. There are also TC-winning ways to modify warriors, and
this past FTF prize is "very expensive" for this very purpose. -- Kennelworth
QoW -- I don't participate at the Primus/Gateway level of play, but the word is that
ability to deal a powerful blow remains important and thus allows the large warriors
(read: lungers) to remain competitive with their smaller peers. What I do know is
that my sz 3 Lunger that's +4 in defense will have, when completely maxxed out in
both skills and stats, the highest number of naturally attainable defense skills in
the game. Unfortunately, she'll only do tremendous if she's lucky. -- Generalissimo
Puerco
QOW -- My limited experience in the high end of the game (I have one whole Gateway
warrior...WHOO!) the most important skills are, in order: attack, defense, and
initiative. So while it isn't good to lose defense, init is a valuable asset as well
(helps keep the momentum). Another aspect in the end game is the damage rating,
which size does help and can make a LOT of difference. But since it is better to
have a 21 wit than a 21 size, I would say that in general over 11 size is unwanted.
-- Anti
The questions this time were in regard to the Style-vs-Style chart and how to run a
parry-riposte.
Parry-Riposte: How to run them? Hmm... well, I've only run three so far, but I
think I've seen a lot of what they can and can't do. From my experience, if their
parry is decent, they can take a couple good hits, and carry decent, give them heavy
armor and run parry tactic (very helpful with their low parry bases), but at maybe 4-
5-5, or faster at 5-3-5. The parry tactic augments their defense, but they'll still
try to riposte since they have so much of it. For those who are more frail, can't
carry much, and have decent defense, I go in lighter armor and run maybe 3-6-4 (I've
never run dodge tactic here, but I'd try). My first ripper to AD had a 7 ST, did
normal damage, and she ran in ALE/L running with moderate activity. She graduated 16-
6. Of course, she's also +5 in att, +2 in par. But she still defends much better
than she parries in that light armor. -- Adie
P.S. As for early in the career, scumming is handy, but put OE up just a bit so
they'll swing if given the opportunity. Armor for sure to keep them alive unless
you're bold.
Leeta -- I've seen that chart too, but I have no idea if it was based off of a large
number of fights. I think those numbers for strikers reflects their great ability to
throw those crits early in the career, and to be quick to the first hit. For parry-
strikers, I think it merely reflects the variability in how they can be run and
designed. The chart of course is based on gross stereo-typing of the styles. I
wouldn't use it too much even as a beginner. -- Adie
Leeta -- I think that "chance to win by style" chart is silly. Doesn't it say that
lungers will almost always beat aimers? My aimers tend to do pretty well against
lungers, how about yours? -- Generalissimo Puerco
Leeta and ALL others -- While I have not seen this chart, I can't help but say that
it is probably not very accurate. Too many things factor into a match-up of two
warriors to expect style to <cut off by Hal, unfortunately>
On thinking it over in the light of the past month's fights, I have a feeling
that the chart is probably rather old, and that recent advances in management
technique have drastically undermined its usefulness in most instances. Discounting
luck (which one should never do, of course), and all other things being more or less
equal, the best manager is more likely to win, rather than the one whose warrior has
the favored style. (Now, there's an inflamatory statement!) Probably that
overstates the case, but I think managerial skill is now a significant factor,
anyway, even if it isn't decisive. -- Jorja
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---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===---
Duelmasters
-----------
DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 734): THROUGH THE WINDOW of PAPERBOYS (slugbait, mgr.)
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 736): GHOST of THE UNDEAD (Death Jester, mgr.)
DM 13 DULLENS (turn 703): LITTLE GRAY BIRD of CARDOW HUNTERS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 15 MALCORN (turn 730): STOLEYOURSPOT of BASH BROS PARKING (Assurnasirbanipal)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 732): GOLDEN GIRL of GOLDEN GLADIATORS (Midas, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 724): GABOGOOL of STORMY'S TROOPERS I (Storm Lord, mgr.)
DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 725): NEWT ROCKNE of MAN OR BEAST? (The Dark One, mgr.)
DM 28 MORYA (turn 364): KOROSHIYA ICHI of LORD OF DISCIPLINE (Longshot, mgr.)
DM 29 LAPUR (turn 722): SPIN MCDUECAN of CLAN CROW (Owsly, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 362): GENERAL PURPOSE of MILITARY MAYHEM (Crip, mgr.)
DM 32 ARVAT (turn 718): YOUNG EMPIRES of COLLEGE RADIO (Floyd, mgr.)
DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 715): KURELLEU ZIEN of THE SEWING CIRCLE (Jorja, mgr)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 707): DEIRDRIE of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 666): HALFTIME of EPIC RAP (Howlin' Wolf, mgr.)
DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 340): THE JANITOR of AVID FANS (Crip, mgr.)
DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 334): PAUL of CHEERS (Otis, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 321): THE BEATLES of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.)
DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 597): MEECHAM of MEN OF STEEL (Howlin' Wolf, mgr.)
DM 60 ARADI (turn 582): SISTER MOON of DREAMTIME (Hombre, mgr.)
DM 61 JURINE (turn 564): CHUCK ENDERN of MIDDLE WAY 16 (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 65 DAL SHANG (turn 559): NOCALLLISTEXEMPTION of BASH BROS EVANGELISTS
(Assurnasirbanipal, mgr.)
DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 269): EDMONDS of GASHOUSE GANG (Crip, mgr.)
DM 74 DAYLA KIV (turn 520): GORAN DJIAN of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 75 JADE MOUNTAIN (turn 514): WINTER ROSE of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 506): THE MONGOOSE of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 623): CROWN ROYAL of BLACKED OUT ON... (Otis, mgr.)
Top Teams
---------
DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 734): QUEEN (Howlin' Wolf, mgr.)
DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 736): DREAMERS (Sleepy, mgr.)
DM 13 DULLENS (turn 703): CARDOW HUNTERS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 15 MALCORN (turn 730): TERMINUS (Carick, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 732): GOLDEN GLADIATORS (Midas, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 724): A UNIT (Padre, mgr.)
DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 725): MAN OR BEAST? (The Dark One, mgr.)
DM 28 MORYA (turn 364): POSITION IS EMPTY
DM 29 LAPUR (turn 722): THE GUILD (Guido, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 362): THE CANUCKS (?, mgr.)
DM 32 ARVAT (turn 718): URT'S DURT URCHINS (Tolbin, mgr.)
DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 715): OBSIDIAN HALL (Dameon Darkheart, mgr.)
DM 35 MURSKA (turn 707): CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 666): TOLBIN'S X-MEN (Tolbin, mgr.)
DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 340): AVID FANS (Crip, mgr.)
DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 334): BAAL'S MINIONS (Var, mgr.)
DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 321): LIFE IMPACTS (Smitty, mgr.)
DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 597): MEDAL OF HONOR A11 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
DM 60 ARADI (turn 582): DREAMTIME (Hombre, mgr.)
DM 61 JURINE (turn 564): SHEWISH BUFFET (One Armed Bandit, mgr.)
DM 65 DAL SHANG (turn 559): MEDAL OF HONOR C11 (The Anarchist, mgr.)
DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 269): GASHOUSE GANG (Crip, mgr.)
DM 74 DAYLA KIV (turn 520): TOLBINS LADIES (Tolbin, mgr.)
DM 75 JADE MOUNTAIN (turn 514): FALSE OVERTURES (Guido, mgr.)
DM 78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 506): SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 623): DIRT DEVILS et al (The Dark One, mgr.)
Recent Graduates
-----------------
DM 15 MALCORN (turn 729): QUASIL of TERMINUS (Carick, mgr.)
DM 16 WILLAF (turn 732): WELL DON of GARBAGE PAIL KIDS (Kharadmon, mgr.)
DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 724): GABOGOOL of STORMY'S TROOPERS I (Storm Lord, mgr.)
DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 362): GENERAL PURPOSE of MILITARY MAYHEM (Crip, mgr.)
DM 33 NIATOLI ISLAND (turn 715): KURELLEU ZIEN of THE SEWING CIRCLE (Jorja, mgr)
DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 340): THE JANITOR of AVID FANS (Crip, mgr.)
A TALENT SCOUT of AVID FANS (Crip, mgr.)
(turn 339): AURORA MARIE of NORTHERN LIGHTS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 334): PAUL of CHEERS (Otis, mgr.)
(turn 333): CARLA of CHEERS (Otis, mgr.)
DM 61 JURINE (turn 564): ZENSU LASAGNA of SHEWISH BUFFET (One Armed Bandit, mgr.)
(turn 563): STORMCROWE PIE of SHEWISH BUFFET (One Armed Bandit, mgr.)
DM 65 DAL SHANG (turn 558): LORAND TEN SORN of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
DM 74 DAYLA KIV (turn 520): GORAN DJIAN of SAND DANCERS (Jorja, mgr.)
DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
Notes from the arena champ.
Another Dwarf, another victory! I wish I could say it'll be smooth sailing from
here, but I know better. I'm the smartest Piker in the land and while I may learn
horribly, I at least learn a lot. Horrible isn't so horrible when you've got enough
learns.
By no means is my victory assured, but even should I lose, I stand a good chance
of retaining the throne and keeping it away from those athletes. I will give them
credit, they are good sports, the entire lot of them, always giving me kudos and
congratulations as I've sat here on the throne.
What is the chance, though, that I can remain undefeated for my time here?
Assur says I have a chance, but it is by no means a given!
-- Horrible Learning
SPY REPORT
Well, what are you looking at, NOBLISH ISLAND? Ain't you never seen Snide
Clemens before? Ah, shaddup and listen to my news. Of course, we're all terribly
impressed to see FIRST DOWN win a fight and gain 19 points, terribly. Tsk, tsk,
KEOSAQUA LANE beat STRIKER and STRIKER lost 13 points. You're breakin' my heart.
And if variety is the spice of life, NOBLISH ISLAND may be getting bland, as HORRIBLE
LEARNING stays top dog in the city. The Warty Toad, humph! I've tasted better ale
at mortuaries. Where do they get this stuff? From NOBLISH ISLAND's trash dumps?
He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day, the coward. BASH
BROS PIKER, I suppose you'll be glad to know you were this turn's most avoided team.
Care to know who is the most afraid of you? And who led the way in this mass act of
cowardice? Let's see, well, whatcha know? It was COUNT ON ME. Ha ha ha ha! Ooh,
I'm frightfully impressed, FAVE RHYTHM was this turn's most challenged warrior.
Watch that ego swell, sports fans.
Ah, now we come to my favorite part, where we see all the guys who are dead and
gone, and get to see if their team cared. Honor is like a chainmail shirt, it only
shines through use. Certain nameless cowards will doubtless rebuke me on this one.
I was about to buy a new quill pen the other day, but some fighter took it for
an epee. Forgive me for writing with a dagger. Just wait 'till next time I show up
here, I won't be so nice! So nyaaah! I see the crowds are getting restless, I must
leave now-- Snide Clemens
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
HORRIBLE LEARNING 9489 8 0 0 91 BASH BROS PIKER (1634)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
FIRST DOWN 9486 5 3 0 52 COUNT ON ME (1633)
FAVE WEAPON 9493 5 3 0 52 BASH BROS PIKER (1634)
MEOSHA PALMER 9508 5 0 1 35 HIGH WAY 2 (1637)
FAVE RHYTHM 9491 4 4 0 34 BASH BROS PIKER (1634)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-MAT TUKHOLT 9438 4 4 0 33 MISFITS OF DOOM (1624)
THIRTY-LOVE 9488 6 2 0 28 COUNT ON ME (1633)
KEOSAQUA LANE 9506 3 2 0 28 HIGH WAY 2 (1637)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
100 YARD DASH 9484 6 2 0 21 COUNT ON ME (1633)
INDY 500 9485 5 3 0 21 COUNT ON ME (1633)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-CAMI DEAORDAN 9500 2 0 0 20 MISFITS OF DOOM (1624)
SMYTHE TODD 9510 3 2 0 17 HIGH WAY 2 (1637)
3 POINT SHOT 9487 4 4 0 16 COUNT ON ME (1633)
JACK OF ALL TRADES 9492 3 5 0 14 BASH BROS PIKER (1634)
STARFIRE 9472 1 1 0 14 GHOSTWALKERS (1630)
THUMPER 9471 2 1 0 12 GHOSTWALKERS (1630)
LOW SKILL BASE 9490 2 6 0 12 BASH BROS PIKER (1634)
-SHMEGAL 9499 1 1 0 12 MISFITS OF DOOM (1624)
QUINCY ROSS 9509 2 3 0 9 HIGH WAY 2 (1637)
STRIKER 9469 2 1 0 7 GHOSTWALKERS (1630)
MILTON ONLY 9507 1 4 0 7 HIGH WAY 2 (1637)
SWIFTY 9470 0 3 0 3 GHOSTWALKERS (1630)
BRUTE 9473 0 3 0 3 GHOSTWALKERS (1630)
-FURY 9478 0 1 0 1 DEVIL'S CARTEL (1631)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
PERSONAL ADS
A piker on top?! Give me a break! -- Count Number (Abba Cuss to you)
We would like to give a "shout out" to Assur and his 7-0 piker. That is an unusually
fine feat. Kudos. -- The Consortium Elders
2-1 pikers over numbers? 2-1 Assur over Abba Cuss? Pshaw! -- Abba Cuss
All -- It may appear from reading personals that there is a fierce rivalry between
Assur and The Consortium Rep on Noblish Isle. While there is that normal enjoyment
of competition that we all feel, most of what you hear is nothing more than chatter
and role playing. There is a mutual respect between us, and you will see a lot of
"that" amongst the managers in D2. Both of us are really here for one primary reason
--to help, guide, inform, stimulate, answer, etc new players to the fine and fun game
of D2. -- The Consortium Elders (Abba Cuss, local rep)
So, ask all of your helpers/sponsors/mentors (Jorja, Assur, Abba Cuss) questions! We
will answer. -- This ad sponsored by your local Make-Abba-Assur-Jorja-Earn-Their-Keep
Committee.
Mat Tukholt -- Well fought, guy. You were obviously faster than me. -- 100 Yard Dash
Jack Of All Trades -- I am very, very good in the red zone. I hope you feel better
soon. -- First Down
Fave Rhythm -- I couldn't get into mine. -- 3 Point Shot
Milton Only -- Game, set, match! -- Thirty Love
Fave Weapon -- Mine is 400HP. Apparently that is not enough when competing with you.
Drat! -- Indy 500
Horrible Learning -- It appears that you can learn enough to stay on top. Way to go!
-- those of us out on the High Way
100 Yard Dash -- At least I didn't have to run against you this time. I don't think
wind-sprints would have helped me. -- Quincy Ross
P.S. Now, if it was swimming....
Thirty-Love -- It was too much! Maybe twenty.... -- Milton Only
Low Skill Base -- I like that in an opponent. -- Meosha Palmer
Swifty -- Seriously, drop the shield. It isn't helping you and it gets in your way.
Your style's tricky enough without that complication. -- Keosaqua Lane
Striker -- Consider re-thinking your armament. A weapon you can't use isn't much
better than no weapon. There should be a chart at the end of this newsletter (if we
haven't lost count) that will have some suggestions. -- Smythe Todd
Starfire -- Cheese LOUISE, lady, get some armor! Armor is your friend! -- Quincy
Ross
P.S. Yeah, okay, I'm not wearing that much, but it's a style thing. YOU need armor.
Consortium -- I'm very confused. Who is managing your Count on me team? I think
I've seen 3 different authors writing personals. Perhaps there is confusion over in
the Consortium? That would explain my 2-1 record against your team last turn. --
Assur
Meosha Palmer -- You're not scum! (And I'm not a very good one.) -- Low Skill Base
Indy 500 -- I can beat you in a short race, but forget a longer one. -- Fave Weapon
3 Point Shot / First Down -- Those easy wins are not going to be so easy anymore.
With all our trains, we should be near unbeatable now! -- Fave Rhythm / Jack of all
Trades
--note from Assur... famous last words....
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
3 POINT SHOT was viciously subdued by FAVE RHYTHM in a 9 minute Challenge fight.
HORRIBLE LEARNING demolished VENEMOUS CONCUBINE in a 1 minute one-sided Title melee.
FAVE WEAPON overpowered INDY 500 in a 1 minute mismatched duel.
FIRST DOWN devastated THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a exciting 3 minute one-sided fight.
MEOSHA PALMER devastated LOW SKILL BASE in a 6 minute bloody one-sided duel.
THIRTY-LOVE savagely defeated CULT MEMBER in a 2 minute bloody brawl.
JACK OF ALL TRADES was outlasted by 100 YARD DASH in a dull 15 minute gruesome melee.
BRUTE was vanquished by EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
STARFIRE won victory over QUINCY ROSS in a 2 minute novice's duel.
THUMPER narrowly defeated MILTON ONLY in a 2 minute beginner's match.
SWIFTY was overpowered by SMYTHE TODD in a 2 minute one-sided fight.
STRIKER was demolished by KEOSAQUA LANE in a 1 minute mismatched competition.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|PARRY-STRIKE 6 TOTAL PARRY 16 - 6 - 1 73 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 4 LUNGING ATTACK 5 - 2 - 1 71 |
|TOTAL PARRY 3 WALL OF STEEL 11 - 8 - 0 58 |
|WALL OF STEEL 2 PARRY-STRIKE 24 - 21 - 0 53 |
|BASHING ATTACK 2 STRIKING ATTACK 17 - 15 - 0 53 |
|AIMED BLOW 1 BASHING ATTACK 12 - 13 - 1 48 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 AIMED BLOW 6 - 8 - 0 43 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 1 SLASHING ATTACK 3 - 4 - 0 43 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 - 4 - 0 33 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
Turn 389 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 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 3 PARRY-STRIKE
WALL OF STEEL 2 - 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 1 2 STRIKING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY 2 - 1 LUNGING ATTACK 0 - 0 2 TOTAL PARRY
PARRY-STRIKE 3 - 3 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 AIMED BLOW
STRIKING ATTACK 2 - 2 1 BASHING ATTACK
BASHING ATTACK 1 - 1 1 WALL OF STEEL
1 PARRY-RIPOSTE
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
PARRY-STRIKE HORRIBLE LEARNING 9489 8 0 0 91 BASH BROS PIKER (1634)
STRIKING ATTACK FIRST DOWN 9486 5 3 0 52 COUNT ON ME (1633)
TOTAL PARRY MEOSHA PALMER 9508 5 0 1 35 HIGH WAY 2 (1637)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is FIRST DOWN 9486. The most popular warrior this turn
was FAVE RHYTHM 9491. The ten other most popular fighters were FIRST DOWN 9486,
MEOSHA PALMER 9508, THIRTY-LOVE 9488, STARFIRE 9472, MILTON ONLY 9507, SMYTHE TODD
9510, HORRIBLE LEARNING 9489, FAVE WEAPON 9493, THUMPER 9471, and KEOSAQUA LANE 9506.
The least popular fighter this week was 100 YARD DASH 9484. The other ten least
popular fighters were LOW SKILL BASE 9490, 3 POINT SHOT 9487, JACK OF ALL TRADES
9492, SWIFTY 9470, BRUTE 9473, INDY 500 9485, STRIKER 9469, QUINCY ROSS 9509,
KEOSAQUA LANE 9506, and THUMPER 9471.
AVERAGE
I was trying to design a warrior that would have no weaknesses, when my mind
wandered (It does this a lot!) to what would be the average stat for this game called
Duelmasters.
Almost at once I came upon the number nine. Why, you may ask?
Okay, I'll tell you, after all that's the point of this article. There are
nineteen levels for each stat, half this is 9.5, since RSI randomly assigns attributes
between 3-21.
In this manner, even if they assign an attribute below average, the player can
bring it up to at least average by adding 6 points when he modifies the rollup. I
checked this assumption with some rolls I have received, and it appears to run true
with some interesting results.
A 9 SZ seems to allow use of any weapon without being too small.
9 ST seems to allow you to use most weapons without the comment "does not have ST
to use weapon well."
9 SP with a 9 DF will give the normal speed/coordination to offensive warriors
and to PS, PL and PR. (Does anyone think WS, TP, AB are normal?)
9 WT with a 9 WL will give no negative wit/will statement (no positive one
either).
A 9 in all attributes leaves 21 points to modify the key stats for a warrior's
style.
I have been trying for a while to design warriors with a minimum of 9 in all
attributes, or to at least be able to train to a 9 in a couple of raises. I am still
trying with mixed results to date.
I lost track to the point or purpose of this article, but maybe it will provoke
some thought, yes, no, maybe? Suggestion and comments will come.
Jeff Hannah, c/o Star Signs, DM 13
EARTHWORM FLAMBE A LA THAIGYN
Arena gourmets, try this tasty tidbit, before, during and after your next
training session:
Ingredients - 3 qts. processed camel spit
1 pint fingernail larva
6K cups giant earthworm droppings (imported)
3 cups sweet'n'sour orc sweat
1 slice head cheese
1 bavarian mint (imported)
1 tsp. toe jam (I would suggest your own)
Directions - 1. Pre-heat oven to 6200C.
2. Grease 1 22x22 Turtle shell.
3. Pour camel spit & orc sweat into shell, mix with high octane
gasoline (unleaded for those on diet), place in oven, and heat for 3 -
4 hours.
4. Place all other ingredients into osterizer at *whip* setting until
thick.
5. Bake for 7 days or until you get that distinctive scorched aroma.
6. Take out of oven, get a match, and light that sucker up.
7. Now scarf it down. Yum, yum.
*It's perfect for those Dark Arena picnics.*
For a first hand experience come over to Thaigyn's Scarf'N'Barf, right next to
the Welcome Wench, or go to D. Tramp's Tune-Up Garage & Salad Bar, 1 block east of
Saugum's Outhouse Inn..
*** Coming to an arena near you, the Steel Breez Chop'N'Slop, (formerly known as
the Eradicator's International House of Toe Jam***
To all, enjoy, Thaigyn of Petrys Acoplys
D. Tramp, Lord Petrys & Ennexa
Mephobasheth of Steel Breez.
DEATH INTENT STATEMENT EXPLAINED
In order to keep this brief, I'm going to avoid a long rambling opening and get
right to the meat of the issue. The `death intent statement' (`fights with a deadly
bloodlust in his eyes,' `is going for the kill,' `is eagerly seeking the death blow,'
etc.) can ONLY be gained in normal combat (non-Dark Arena, non-Bloodgames) AFTER
striking an opponent in a vital location (some region of the HE, CH, or AB, pelvis
included.) Once the death intent statement is printed, the struck warrior makes a
roll to survive the fight. If this roll is failed, he is dead, and the rest of the
fight is simply a matter of running down the dead fighter's hit points by normal, non-
critical attacks.
Now, the moral offshoot of this is that, knowing this, any fighter sent out by
his manager attacking a vital location is purposefully increasing his chance of
killing his opponent. The logic is this: if you attack vitals you are more likely to
hit a vital location. In striking a vital, you may get the death intent statement,
and that's then one dice roll to end the fighter. By attacking non-vitals you are
decreasing your chances of striking a vital (by increasing your chances of striking
non-vitals.) Note that this is not flawless, as the percentage of actually HITTING
your attack location is perhaps only 67% on high-deftness fighters, but by not
attacking vitals you are doing the best you can, which is all anyone can ask.
Here's the bottom line. A fighter can run 10-10-10 L-N and NEVER kill (excepting
infirmary deaths, which is an entirely separate case) if he hits only arms or legs.
Thus, while KD is a large factor in determining kills (a head shot by a 10-10-1
fighter is far less likely to get the statement than a head shot by a 10-10-10
fighter,) it is less important than attack location.
Gary Triplett, a.k.a. Miles/Sir Boyd
diplo Crimson Pegasi (arena 105) for advice, questions, comments, wit statement charts
or other charts, etc.
P.S. Apologies to those I said I'd diplo this to. I just decided to make this a
general article. If you're one of the managers in the wave that received only the tan
wit statement chart and the lavender activity statement chart, please re-contact me if
you'd like the explanation sheet, which includes details on all the statements printed
on the fighter overview.
REBUTTAL TO "THE LITTLE BASHER"
So many times I've seen one of these "helpful hints" that I disagreed with, but
never have I been so disgusted that I'd write a rebuttal. Well, this time I could not
sit aside and watch someone slaughter a style that I love.
I am referring to Belegrath's article, entitled, "The Little Basher." Now, even
though I have yet to have a warrior achieve the title of "Lord Protector," I have been
at this game for a couple of years now. I've run bashers more than any other style,
and my record with them is over .500. Therefore, I think I have enough experience and
knowledge to say that Belegrath's basher sucks!!!
The main purpose I write this is not to undermine Belegrath's managerial
abilities, but to warn any new people who might read his article. I don't think
anyone should waste their money on Belegrath's basher theory. Or even worse, to have
someone quit the game after getting the crap beat out of them having warriors modeled
after Belegrath's.
First, I'll tell you what is wrong with "The Little Basher" (to refresh your
memory: 20-6-3-13-7-20-15).
1) The best he can get, regardless of his strength, is good damage because of
his 3 SZ.
2) He'll fall over from exhaustion before the first minute is up, unless you run
a real low activity level. He'll be very frail and have very little endurance.
3) A 3 SZ?!? And what if the war hammer or mace aren't his favorite weapons?
You lost the QS, a very reputable bashing weapon, and the GS, which I've recently
found to be a great bashing weapon.
4) He probably won't pick up too many skills with a 13 WT. Good luck maxing out
in the next decade!!
5) With a 7 WL, he has only a 35% chance to raise a stat ONCE, then the chances
for that same category are halved every time thereafter. Therefore, he'll always be
very frail with poor endurance.
6) 20 SP, what a waste! Bashers, in my opinion, have no need for speed. And
even if you wanted to waste points on speed, you don't need to raise it to such an
extreme. One stat raise here, and you lose app. four skills.
7) 15 DF. This is pretty much the only point I agree with. I know, I know,
bashers don't need deftness. But just imagine a basher with an AB's accuracy!
I had a ST once who looked similar to Belegrath's basher. He looked like this:
19-4-13-16-3-19-10. What happened to him, you ask? He was killed by a maul-wielding
scum basher on his third fight. In his first two fights he hacked the crap out of two
TP's, and then fell over from exhaustion. No broken shields, no broken bones. Get
the point, yet?
Now, a better basher, not the best, mind you, would look like this:
13 ST Achieve good damage (possibly great) and be able to use all
bashing weapons (except HL).
10 CN This isn't important, but at least he'll be able to take a couple
of blows.
9 SZ Fulfills requirement for all bashing weapons.
17 WT A nice number. 19 isn't good, and 21 means that it should be
something else.
15 WL Gives at least normal endurance, and increases chances of raising
stats.
5 SP SP is unimportant, absolutely no need! Although, it will take a
few more skills to get a rating in Decise.
15 DF Wonderful to have DF. Keeps them from swinging at the flies (Most
of the time).
Well, there you have it. I hope I cleared things up a little. I doubt if anyone
else agrees with me, but that's what makes this game so fun!
LUVUALLWAYS,
Vanion
Drunken Stupor (11) The Dawn-Men (67)
The Dark (26) Othrsydosanity (74)
THE UN-SCUM
The type of TP I make will often win fights without ever getting hit! The fights
are exciting to read, full of dodges and ripostes, and if you've never seen a TP
outjump a Basher, make an offensive TP.
ST: 7-13 All you really need is normal damage! 11 is perfect, for carrying capacity
and weapon selection. Good damage is nice to have, but if it looks like your rollup
will get good or great, he's probably better off as a WS, LU or BA.
CN: 9-16 Again, all you need is normal. We're making a finesse substyle, and the
points are badly needed on WT, WL and DF. Just make sure he can take a hit or two.
Don't add any points here on the rollup, but go ahead and raise it later if you think
he needs it. Endurance is not a priority.
SZ: 3-9 A single digit is important for dodging and activity levels. I will go as
high as 10, but any bigger and you can't dodge well enough. Small size also helps
parry and defense, as well as getting a good activity and elusive statement on the
overview. Plus, you need the points below.
WT: 15, 17 or 21 only! This is the biggie, he'll learn like crazy! I know what
you're saying, "my 11 WT SCUM learns 3 skills a fight!" Yeah, but your SCUM's skill
base will be so low, when he's maxxed out in skills, my off. TP will be at the same
level of expertise by his 10th fight! For any style, 90% of the skills are in WT, WL
and DF, and that's where the 14 points must go.
WL: 13-21 As with any fighter, more is better. However, you can get by with normal
endurance, believe it or not! This TP will wear moderate armor, and can run active
for 6-7 minutes with normal endurance. That's long enough for all but a few
opponents. Raise WL on the rollup to 17 or 21 if you can, but if 13 or 15 is all he
can have, he'll be okay.
SP: 5-9 This is a touchy area, and can make or break your TP. I like to use 7, 8
or 9. If you use 5 or 6, he'd better be small, and have a 17 or 21 WT. OR, a CN that
will allow him to take a lot of damage. If he's too big, dumb and slow then he'll get
"slow and inactive" on the overview, and that is too scummy for my TP. You MUST have
normal or better activity. SP also helps with your riposte, crucial to the off. TP.
DF: 11-17 Second in importance, behind WT. Parry, Riposte, Defense and Attack are
your mainstays, and they're all enhanced by a high DF. Try to get normal coordination
(SP+DF=21) if possible.
Here are some examples of good off. TPs, all are real fighters;
11 10 8 11 7 11 10
14 12 15 9 15 13 12
7 4 7 6 8 7 10
17 15 15 17 21 17 17
17 21 17 21 13 17 13
5 7 9 9 7 8 8
13 15 13 11 13 11 13
Now, how to fight them, you ask? Every one of them seems to like to run
differently, I've seen some tee off at 2-7-5, some do better at 4-4-5, some 2-3-2,
even those who go 3-3-5 first min, then go ballistic in the second (10-10-6). Also,
some run 7-7-7! You just have to play around with the numbers, 'til you find what
works best. Here's a general strategy I usually start with:
4 5 6 7 4 3 10 Armor: I use ARM/H most of the time,
7 6 5 4 4 2 10 but guys like examples #1 and 2
5 5 5 5 5 5 6 would be better off in ACM/F. If
facing a LU or SL, you can wear
RA ------------------------> HE APA/F (yes, even with normal endur-
AM ------------------------> HE ance!), 'cause the LU or SL is going
- - - - - - - to drop in min. 2, more than likely.
S S - - - - D
Weapons: Any sword and shield you're suited to, as well as the Quarterstaff and the
Longspear. Vs. heavy armor, use a BS two-handed.
Tactics: Parry, dodge, and especially vs. strikers, responsiveness! Resp. will drive
other managers nuts, prompting them to say, "How'd you do that?" My favorite tactic
for the Un-Scum.
Matchups: Every striker in the arena should be on your hit-list. Other good
challenges are PS, WS, PR, BA. Avoid lungers and ABs like the plague!
So, there you have it. If you'd rather have a TP who's as elusive as a La-Z-Boy
than one who sidesteps more blows than he parries, then don't follow my advice. But,
if you're ready to have fun fights with TPs, and watch their popularity rise (except
vs. scum) every match, then that's what I offer you.
Brought to you by Buri of the G.A.P.P.D.A., MGR. Aesier (3, 104), Swords of
Sergio (4, 104), S.O.S. (59), and way too many others. Fell free to diplo me, for
praise, ridicule, or just for the halibut.
Duelmasters for Dummies
There are handbooks around that will guide you in becoming the hottest player
Duelmasters has ever seen... if you're prepared to work at it. But what if you don't
want to be hot, but only pleasantly warm, have a good time, and not fret and stew
over maximizing the potential of every roll-up you receive? What if spending months
in the Dark Arena searching for the perfect roll-up sounds boring? What if the
"Perfect Warrior" is not for you, and you have no intention of dominating Gateway?
What if such handbooks as the Enchiridion represent "more than you ever wanted to
know" about the inner workings and minute tunings of the game?
This article is for you....
You have a new roll-up sheet in front of you; it doesn't matter whether it's a
new team or only one replacement. How do you design the warrior(s) for best present
enjoyment? First, don't send anyone straight to the Dark Arena. Okay, do if you
like to read Dark Arena fights, but not otherwise. Give every roll-up, regardless of
"Perfect Warrior" potential or lack thereof, your best design efforts and a chance to
show his stuff. Some supposed duds will surprise you.
A few simple rules for basic warrior design and strategy:
1) Aim at achieving an odd number in your key stats, 15 is good, 17 is better,
except in unusual cases (DF for aimed blows), 21 is too much of a good thing.
2) Wit and Will are the key stats for any warrior except a freak experiment.
Deftness and Strength are second, Speed and Constitution are third.
3) Offensive styles (Basher, Lunger, Slasher, Striker) and Total Parries are
easier to run and easier to win with than the finesse styles (Aimed Blows, Parry-
anythings, Walls of Steel). Yes, the finesse styles can be fun and devastating, but
don't START there. Start with the easier styles and work up to finesse. Watch out
for stereotypes. Big, dumb, clumsy bashers do not generally do well. Fast, brainy
lungers with low CN and WL burn out early in the first minute and also tend to die
easily. A medium good roll-up will do well at any of the offensive styles.
4) Pick your arena with some care, as different arenas favor and reward
different styles of play and different tones in the personals.
Generally speaking, arenas of the Andorian and Lirith Kai regions will frown on
down-challenges and deliberate killing, and hostile "trash-talking" personals will
not be appreciated. On the whole, these Andorian and Adantri arenas are the more
sociable arenas and will tend to have more personals and more role-playing. (There
are, of course, exceptions.) Players in the Andorian and Lirith Kai arenas will tend
to be helpful to a newcomer.
Arenas of the Delarquan region will accept more aggressive styles in play and in
personals, more down-challenging, and more killing... BUT you can expect to draw a
quick and hard response in kind. Generally these arenas are not as friendly as the
Andorians, and they are much less likely to help out a newcomer.
The arenas of the Free Blades region vary more among themselves than those of
the other regions but generally tend to fall in between the Andorian and Delarquan
extremes.
5) When arming your warrior, check the Weapon/Style/Stat Suitability chart
below, probably THE most useful chart for a beginner. It sorts the weapons by style,
listing only those that are favored by each style, and gives the minimum stats (in
ST, SZ, WT, and DF) to use any particular weapon. Note which weapons your warrior is
physically able to use. Arm him with something he can use and that is favored by his
style, and GIVE HIM A BACK-UP WEAPON, even if it's only a dagger. Do not be misled
by real-world logic, by the way: bashers are not well-suited to using the fists as
weapons! (If you are going to use the same weapon against all armor weights, it
isn't necessary to make three categories on your strategy sheet, and it annoys the
inputter.)
In fact, you might want to consult the chart below before picking a style for
your new warrior. It is not a good idea to make a warrior into, say, a basher, if he
is unable to use well any of the basher's weapons of choice. (I've done this by not
paying attention, and I have ALWAYS regretted it afterward.) For example, I just got
a replacement who is 8-10-20-9-12-4-7. If I make it 9-10-20-15-17-4-9, then I should
NOT make it a Basher, because the poor goop couldn't use any bashing weapon well. If
I go with this set of numbers, he should probably be a Lunger using a short spear, or
a Striker using a hatchet. But if I drop WT to 13 and raise ST to 11, he could use a
broadsword and might make a Slasher; equally, if I drop WT to 13 and raise DF to 11,
instead, he could use a scimitar and make a Slasher.... Choices, choices....
6) Put armor on the warrior before sending him out to fight. Armor saves
lives. Total Parries can take the heaviest armors, as they generally don't move
around a lot. Offensives can run faster with no armor or leather armor, but that
doesn't give them much protection. If you're worried about their survival, put them
in mid-weight armor; I favor ringmail for this, but scalemail and chainmail are also
options. Always put something on their heads! A blow to the head can be especially
deadly, so give them protection there--at least a steel cap, a helm for choice, a
full helm if the warrior is a Total Parry.
7) Train skills, unless/until you're sure this is going to be a throw-away,
short-term warrior.
8) Challenge warriors above your warrior, and/or those with more fights, for
the best chance to learn skills. Challenge warriors below your warrior to improve
your chances of winning and to provoke maximum hostility from other managers.
Repeated challenges to the same warrior, when there are other targets available, will
also provoke hostility.
9) Avoid teams with high kill percentages and teams that regularly down-
challenge or repeat-challenge.
10) Don't run a warrior 10-10-10 unless you like to see him go berserk and then
collapse half way through the first minute. Yes, the pure offensives should run
fast, but drop either Activity Level or Kill Desire or both by a few points if your
warrior doesn't have a good or better endurance. If endurance is not mentioned on
the warrior's overview, then it is "normal" or "average," and 10-10-10 will probably
burn him out early in the fight. If endurance is poor, don't even think of it.
(Yes, I can hear all you number crunchers out there rising up to point out that there
are exceptions. I admit the exceptions, but these are general guidelines for the
average beginner. Exceptions belong in a different article.} Generally speaking,
Total Parries should run slowly.
11) Be wary of using tactics. Sometimes they help, sometimes they hinder, and
they're tricky. Even when a tactic gives some clear benefit, remember that it comes
with a built-in danger in that it commits the warrior to that attitude during the
minute it is used. A defensive tactic will tend to hinder offense, offensive tactics
will reduce the warrior's defense. Do not use both an offensive and a defensive
tactic in the same minute.
12) Fill out your strategy sheet clearly and completely to avoid antagonizing
the inputter! Don't make her guess what you want your warrior to do.
13) Write personal ads to take part in the player-player interaction. This is
a significant part of the fun of the game. If you want other managers to help you
learn, write =friendly= personals! Surprising how some people miss this obvious
point, but the obnoxious managers are likely to have a hard time getting help.
14) Fill out the front part of the Warrior Census Form. Picking a warrior's
race can make him a more clearly realized character and one that it is more fun to
write personals for. Filling out the warrior sayings can make reading the fights
more amusing. Fill out the back of the form only if you feel like it, as NOTHING on
the back, not even the character stats, has any effect on the fights. The back of
the form is all role-playing information and, at this time, will only be used if/when
your warrior appears in a spotlight written by a staff writer. When/if the extension
of the Duelmasters system for which the back of the form was originally intended is
completed, you will have another chance to fill out this stuff.
Weapons, Styles, Minimum Stats required for use
The weapons best-suited to each style are listed under that style. If a weapon is
not listed under that style, then it is not well-suited to use by that style.
Regardless of style, however, the stats required to use a weapon are the same.
This chart was composed with information found in the Enchiridion, and I thank
Pagan for making it readily available.
Aimed Blow nine weapons Slasher eight weapons
Dagger ST - SZ - WT 7 DF 7 Battleaxe ST 15 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 9
Epee ST 7 SZ - WT 15 DF 15 Broadsword ST 11 SZ - WT 9 DF 7
FiST - presumably any Epee ST 7 SZ - WT 15 DF 15
Longspear ST 11 SZ 9 WT 5 DF 9 Greataxe ST 13 SZ 5 WT 9 DF 11
Longsword ST 11 SZ - WT 13 DF 11 Hatchet ST 5 SZ - WT 3 DF 7
Quarterstaff ST 11 SZ 9 WT 11 DF 11 Longsword ST 11 SZ - WT 13 DF 11
Scimitar ST 9 SZ - WT 11 DF 11 Scimitar ST 9 SZ - WT 11 DF 11
Shortspear ST 9 SZ - WT 7 DF 7 Shortsword ST 5 SZ - WT 11 DF 3
Shortsword ST 5 SZ - WT 11 DF 3
Striker Note that the strikers can
Basher eleven weapons use every weapon plus the small shield
Greataxe ST 13 SZ 5 WT 9 DF 11 effectively. This is the only style that
Greatsword ST 15 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 11 has so broad a selection. Twenty-one
Halberd ST 17 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 9 weapons.
Large shield ST 11 SZ 7 WT 5 DF 5 Battleaxe ST 15 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 9
Mace ST 13 SZ - WT 3 DF 5 Broadsword ST 11 SZ - WT 9 DF 7
Maul ST 15 SZ 9 WT 5 DF 7 Dagger ST - SZ - WT 7 DF 7
Medium shield ST 9 SZ - WT 5 DF 5 Epee ST 7 SZ - WT 15 DF 15
Morningstar ST 13 SZ - WT 7 DF 13 FiST - presumably any
Quarterstaff ST 11 SZ 9 WT 11 DF 11 Greataxe ST 13 SZ 5 WT 9 DF 11
Warflail ST 11 SZ - WT 7 DF 5 Greatsword ST 15 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 11
Warhammer ST 13 SZ - WT 5 DF 7 Halberd ST 17 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 9
Hatchet ST 5 SZ - WT 3 DF 7
Lunger five weapons Longspear ST 11 SZ 9 WT 5 DF 9
Epee ST 7 SZ - WT 15 DF 15 Longsword ST 11 SZ - WT 13 DF 11
Longspear ST 11 SZ 9 WT 5 DF 9 Mace ST 13 SZ - WT 3 DF 5
Longsword ST 11 SZ - WT 13 DF 11 Maul ST 15 SZ 9 WT 5 DF 7
Shortspear ST 9 SZ - WT 7 DF 7 Morningstar ST 13 SZ - WT 7 DF 13
Shortsword ST 5 SZ - WT 11 DF 3 Quarterstaff ST 11 SZ 9 WT 11 DF 11
Scimitar ST 9 SZ - WT 11 DF 11
Parry-Lunger six weapons Shortspear ST 9 SZ - WT 7 DF 7
Epee ST 7 SZ - WT 15 DF 15 Shortsword ST 5 SZ - WT 11 DF 3
Longspear ST 11 SZ 9 WT 5 DF 9 Small shield ST 5 SZ - WT 5 DF 5
Longsword ST 11 SZ - WT 13 DF 11 Warflail ST 11 SZ - WT 7 DF 5
Scimitar ST 9 SZ - WT 11 DF 11 Warhammer ST 13 SZ - WT 5 DF 7
Shortspear ST 9 SZ - WT 7 DF 7
Shortsword ST 5 SZ - WT 11 DF 3 Total Parry twelve weapons
Parry-Riposte six weapons Battleaxe ST 15 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 9
Epee ST 7 SZ - WT 15 DF 15 Broadsword ST 11 SZ - WT 9 DF 7
Longspear ST 11 SZ 9 WT 5 DF 9 Epee ST 7 SZ - WT 15 DF 15
Longsword ST 11 SZ - WT 13 DF 11 Greatsword ST 15 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 11
Scimitar ST 9 SZ - WT 11 DF 11 Large shield ST 11 SZ 7 WT 5 DF 5
Shortspear ST 9 SZ - WT 7 DF 7 Longspear ST 11 SZ 9 WT 5 DF 9
Shortsword ST 5 SZ - WT 11 DF 3 Longsword ST 11 SZ - WT 13 DF 11
Medium shield ST 9 SZ - WT 5 DF 5
Parry-Striker eleven weapons Quarterstaff ST 11 SZ 9 WT 11 DF 11
Battleaxe ST 15 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 9 Scimitar ST 9 SZ - WT 11 DF 11
Broadsword ST 11 SZ - WT 9 DF 7 Shortsword ST 5 SZ - WT 11 DF 3
Epee ST 7 SZ - WT 15 DF 15 Small shield ST 5 SZ - WT 5 DF 5
Greatsword ST 15 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 11
Longsword ST 11 SZ - WT 13 DF 11 Wall of Steel eight weapons
Quarterstaff ST 11 SZ 9 WT 11 DF 11 Battleaxe ST 15 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 9
Scimitar ST 9 SZ - WT 11 DF 11 Broadsword ST 11 SZ - WT 9 DF 7
Shortspear ST 9 SZ - WT 7 DF 7 Greataxe ST 13 SZ 5 WT 9 DF 11
Shortsword ST 5 SZ - WT 11 DF 3 Greatsword ST 15 SZ 9 WT 9 DF 11
Small shield ST 5 SZ - WT 5 DF 5 Morningstar ST 13 SZ - WT 7 DF 13
Warhammer ST 13 SZ - WT 5 DF 7 Quarterstaff ST 11 SZ 9 WT 11 DF 11
Scimitar ST 9 SZ - WT 11 DF 11
Warflail ST 11 SZ - WT 7 DF 5
Jorja
The Middle Way
DM 93 and elsewhere