DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 10/03/2015 Duedate: 10/16/2015
NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA
DM-93 TURN-439
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
NOT ENOUGH
BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
(93-9834) [5-3-0,66]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
POSITION IS EMPTY NOT ENOUGH
BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
(93-9834) [5-3-0,66]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
NOT ENOUGH VAMPIRIAL
BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685) THE BLOODLUST (1688)
(93-9834) [5-3-0,66] (93-9849) [1-1-0,12]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685) 50
2. THE BLOODLUST (1688) 29 DARK TOADS (527)
3. ANGELS OF ANARCHY (1687) 0 Unchartered Team
4. KRAKEN'S DEN (1681) 0
5. THE DAMNED (301) -2BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1*BASH BROS LEFTOVE (1685) 31 9 0 77.5 1/ 1*BASH BROS LEFTOVE (1685) 11 4 0
2/ 2*FARM ANIMALS (1682) 20 14 1 58.8 2/ 2*FARM ANIMALS (1682) 6 4 0
3/ 3*THE BLOODLUST (1688) 3 3 1 50.0 3/ 5*THE BLOODLUST (1688) 3 3 1
4- 4*KRAKEN'S DEN (1681) 5 10 0 33.3 4- 4*KRAKEN'S DEN (1681) 2 3 0
5/ 0*THE DAMNED (301) 1 2 0 33.3 5- 3*ANGELS OF ANARCHY (1687) 0 5 0
6- 5*ANGELS OF ANARCHY (1687) 3 7 0 30.0 6/ 0*THE DAMNED (301) 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
CHALLENGE AND AVOID
A STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE
In the last newsletter, half of the fights were challenges or blood feuds. I am PROUD
of everyone on Noblish Isle for "getting it"! Challenges, and their partner "avoids"
are underused strategic weapons. Don't be left home without them!
An avoid is an attempt to prevent a warrior from challenging you. Why allow a warrior
the advantage of selecting you for a match? Why allow a warrior to decide on a special
strategy just for you? One great thing about avoids is that you may avoid THE WHOLE
TEAM of any warrior you want to avoid. You are allowed to avoid two whole teams. There
is no use double-avoiding as it does not improve your chances to avoid that individual
team.
A challenge is an attempt to fight a specific warrior. Why not attempt to fight a
specific warrior of choice? Why leave the opponent selection to the MUGS (match-up
gods) or, worse yet, an opponent who chooses/challenges you? You are allowed to
challenge two warriors. You may, indeed, challenge the same warrior twice. (Double
challenge) It DOES improve your chances of a match to double challenge a same warrior.
Of utmost importance is to understand that you must challenge and avoid NUMBERS, not
names. Challenge WARRIOR NUMBERS. Avoid TEAM NUMBERS. Challenge individual warriors;
avoid whole teams.
No challenge or avoid is 100 percent effective. Challenges can be further enhanced by
winning a TV or TC (Tournament Victor; Tournament Champion) in a Mailer or Face-to-
Face Tournament. The TV/TC effectiveness lasts six months. So, in a normal arena, the
warrior who won the TV gets 12 or 13 turns of enhanced challenging. The most effective
challenge, The Blood Feud, is nearly 100 percent effective.
A four turn BLOOD FEUD is awarded to your TEAM (Any member can use it each turn.) when
an opposing warrior kills one of yours. Blood feuds transcend classes. (E.g. a
Challenger can BLOOD FEUD an Adept or an Initiate can BLOOD FEUD a Challenger Champion, etc.) To use a TV or Blood Feud, simply
write BF or TV on the challenge line with the to-be-challenged warrior number and
circle it all for emphasis. How does one choose whom to challenge and what to avoid?
That's a good question and like many decisions, they are more of an art than a
technology. This is the methodology used by The Consortium managers. It works well for
them.
1. Always avoid two different teams
2. Actively seek to challenge twice. (If only one good choice is available,
double challenge.)
3. Challenge for these situations
a. A probable win
b. A warrior you have beaten before
c. To tie up a warrior you do not want to fight one of your fellow warriors b
especially the Duelmaster
d. To take advantage of a Blood Feud (4 rounds)
e. For a good style match up.
4. Avoid for these situations b always
a. Emphasis on a team who is bloodfeuding you
b. Emphasis on a team who just beat you
c. Emphasis on a team with warriors in range who are far more experienced or
skilled than you
d. Emphasis on a team you just cannot seem to beat.
e. Emphasis on teams with warriors whose styles are difficult for your style
Often there will be more warriors to challenge or more teams to avoid than the
strategy sheets allow. Choose wisely.
Most of the circumstances are straightforward, and it is easy to select the challenges
and avoids. However, in many cases, especially those with little knowledge of nearby
opponents, it will come down to what style or type of warrior is best to
challenge/avoid. There are available charts "out there" which prioritize which styles
have advantages over other styles. Beware of them. The data is based on warriors over
the years and those managers who submitted data for those charts. The warning b
today's lunger is not yesterday's lunger, and my aimed blow is not your aimed blow,
and today's basher is not yesteryear's basher, and a tourney warrior is not
necessarily an arena warrior, etc, etc, etc. The Consortium offers their generic style
considerations for challenges and avoids:
1. Fast offensives challenge AB, slower BA, SL, ST
2. Aimers challenge scummy/tanky warriors
3. Scums challenge LU and softer hitting/smaller offensives
4. Scum hunters (need special strategy ) are good damage/endu LU, hard hitting
BA, critting or hard hitting ST, hard hitting SL with good endu, good PS
5. Consortium-style wastes challenge LU and softer hitting/smaller offensives
6. Lungers challenge AB, PR, PS
7. Rippers, if skilled, challenge ST, faster BA's
The Consortium always avoids and almost always challenges.
One final note. The challenging will bring into play and discussion: What is an
appropriate challenge?" The "rules"/"D2 system" allow you to challenge anyone in your
class and the class just above you. Your class is defined, interestingly, as Inits,
Adepts, Champs, and Duelmaster. A "Challenger" Init is an Init b challenge wise. A
"Challenger" Champ is a Champ bchallenge wise. Hence the higher level challenger
category can challenge the lower level "non-challenger" class. (Simply put, a
Challenger Init can challenge an Init, a challenger Init, and an Adept. An Adept can
challenge Adepts or Challenger Adepts.) This system can allow/cause challenges from
very high experience and recognition point warriors to very low recognition point and
experience warriors. Some regular arenas foster the belief that challenges may/should
ONLY be parallel or up in recognition points. These are usually Andorian arenas. The
rules/system may allow otherwise, but the environment and the beliefs of sportsmanship
of Andorian types differ. This can cause some "discussion altercations".
Challenges and avoids are there to be used to your advantage. Do so.
-- Friendly Farmer (Consortium affiliated)
***---------*---------*---------*---------**---------*---------*---------*---------***
Skills, Natural Learning and Favorite Learns
Favorite Learns... These can make or break a warrior. For many veteran managers, a
warrior's favorite learn can mean he becomes a tourney warrior (or loses his status as
a tourney warrior). It can mean retirement or the dark arena or a place on the
manager's roster for life. What is a good favorite learn?
Unfortunately, the answer 'depends.' First, you must understand the difference
between a warrior's natural learning and favorite learn. Every fighting style has a
natural order for learning skills. While the actual result can be dramatically
different (learning is random and is affected by other things besides your warrior's
fighting style). Here is Assur's best attempt to give the natural learning order for
each style. Take this list with a grain of salt. The only list Assur will put any
confidence on is the Bashing style. He's run enough and is familiar enough with their
patterns to say with some confidence that the order is correct (even with the vast
difference that individual warriors learn).
Aimed Blows: Attack, Riposte, Parry, Decisiveness/Defense, Initiative
Bashers: Attack, Decisiveness, Parry, Initiative, Riposte/Defense
Lungers: Initiative, Defense, Riposte, Attack, Decisiveness, Parry
Parry Lungers: Parry, Initiative, Defense, Attack, Decisiveness/Riposte
Parry Ripostes: Riposte, Parry, Attack/Defense, Desisiveness/Initiative
Parry Strikers: Parry, Decise, Initiative, Attack, Riposte, Defense
Slashers: Initiative, Attack, Decisiveness, Riposte, Defense/Parry
Strikers: Decisiveness, Attack, Initiative, Defense, Riposte/Parry
Total Parries: Parry, Defense/Riposte, Attack, Decisiveness/Initiative
Wall of Steels: Initiative, Attack, Parry, Defense, Decisiveness, Riposte
Another thing to note is that some styles just plain learn poorly while other styles
learn very well. In particular, Parry Lungers and Parry Strikers have the worst top
two learns (learns that just do not work well together). Meanwhile, Strikers have one
of the best patterns for the early game.
After that, there is a lot of magic that happens that nobody understands completely
which affect how a warrior learns. Some of it is randomness, too.
BUT... in addition to all of this, every warrior, when created, gets assigned a
favorite learn. It is believed by Assur that this roll is completely random and every
favorite learn is equally likely. This roll can make or break your warrior. Some
managers even design certain warriors with the hope that they will get a certain roll.
Some styles want particular learns almost universally (Parry Ripostes love parry
favorite learn, Slashers love decisiveness, etc). But most of the time, you will have
an idea of what your favorite learn is early on in your warrior's career.
Hopefully it will help your warrior win. Sometimes you can even tailor your warrior's
strategy to use this favorite learn. Other times, you should just ignore that learn
and still fight the warrior how it was originally designed and intended.
Just as I will tell you that ignoring your warrior's favorite weapon and fighting
rhythms are an important part of your development as a manager (don't always ignore
these things, but feel free TO ignore them), I will also tell you that you can
consider how to change your strategy to win based on what and how you are learning,
but don't force it. A big, strong basher with favorite learn defense is not going to
win many fights by dodging. Keep going hot with that warrior.
Good luck and I hope this article about learning is helpful.
DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
Notes from the arena champ.
Not Enough Leftovers. Not Enough to beat Khalhums Dwarf. Not Enough to say, "What a
pretty turn."
However I DID have enough recognition points to remain the Duelmaster over that plow
horse that nobody loves. Well, maybe the friendly farmer loves it. But it is ugly,
stinky, and when not plowing more than boring.
My goal in life? Prevent the horse from taking the throne!
SPY REPORT
Good day, friends and fiends, welcome to your friendly neighborhood spyreport.
I doubt NOBLISH ISLAND will ever be the same. And let's see, TOO MANY fought PLOW
HORSE and gained 23 points and contributed to BASH BROS LEFTOVERS' 4-1-0. PLOW HORSE
has lost to TOO MANY, falling 15 points, while helping make FARM ANIMALS a 1-4-0
turn. Our Duelmaster has lost, folks, lost to VETERAN MERCENARY, BUT NOT ENOUGH is
still the Duelmaster because he has the most recognition points! By the way, was
that our Duelmaster that I saw last night, cramped under the table at The Dripping
Blade?
He who challenges well, fights well. He who avoids without cause, shall lose
for good reasons. My mama told me that one. I also notice that the BASH BROS
LEFTOVERS stable was the most avoided team this turn. Come on NOBLISH ISLAND, what
are you afraid of? And avoiding BASH BROS LEFTOVERS more than any other team we find
FARM ANIMALS. NOBLISH ISLAND, are we going to accept, or respect this sort of thing?
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. A brave warrior does not carry a
red shield, he has nothing to cover or hide when the fight is over. Consider well.
Thought for the day, a new sword shines bright, but the notched sword sings the
sweetest. Always good to rest in NOBLISH ISLAND, but never good to wear out my
welcome. Look for me in future turns. Until the sun next rises and my pen sets to
paper-- Alarond the Scribe
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
NOT ENOUGH 9834 5 3 0 66 BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
TOO MANY 9832 7 1 0 48 BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
PRETTY KITTY 9815 6 1 1 37 FARM ANIMALS (1682)
MYSTERIOUS 9831 6 2 0 34 BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MOLDY 9830 7 1 0 33 BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
PLOW HORSE 9816 6 1 0 33 FARM ANIMALS (1682)
SOMEONE ELSE ATE 9833 6 2 0 28 BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
FAT COW 9812 3 3 0 22 FARM ANIMALS (1682)
ROOSTER 9813 3 4 0 19 FARM ANIMALS (1682)
FANTHOM DEFT 9850 2 0 1 19 THE BLOODLUST (1688)
MOCKINGBIRD 9814 2 5 0 19 FARM ANIMALS (1682)
-PRISCUS 9807 2 1 0 18 KRAKEN'S DEN (1681)
-SWEETNESS 9841 1 1 0 15 ANGELS OF ANARCHY (1687)
-SPICULUS 9808 2 1 0 13 KRAKEN'S DEN (1681)
-AUTUMNBE 9643 3 2 0 12 CAVEAT EMPTOR (1657)
VAMPIRIAL 9849 1 1 0 12 THE BLOODLUST (1688)
-TETRAITES 9809 1 2 0 12 KRAKEN'S DEN (1681)
-SALTY 9844 1 1 0 7 ANGELS OF ANARCHY (1687)
-DRAXXUS 9644 1 4 0 7 CAVEAT EMPTOR (1657)
-SUGAR 9840 1 1 0 7 ANGELS OF ANARCHY (1687)
ZED 1676 1 2 0 5 THE DAMNED (301)
-SEARRUS 9645 0 4 0 4 CAVEAT EMPTOR (1657)
-PERSEPHONE 9642 0 4 0 4 CAVEAT EMPTOR (1657)
-AGRISEL 9646 0 4 0 4 CAVEAT EMPTOR (1657)
-CARPOPHORUS 9811 0 3 0 3 KRAKEN'S DEN (1681)
-GINA 9843 0 2 0 3 ANGELS OF ANARCHY (1687)
-SPICE 9842 0 2 0 2 ANGELS OF ANARCHY (1687)
KIL'SLAER 9848 0 1 0 1 THE BLOODLUST (1688)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
ATTILIUS 9810 0 3 0 KRAKEN'S DEN 1681 FANTHOM DEFT 9850 438
D'UN TOUCHED 9851 0 1 0 THE BLOODLUST 1688 HIGH ELF 439 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
Not Enough, apparently you are more than enough. We Farm Animals salute a very
competent Duelmaster. Kudos. -- Friendly Farmer
Sugar, that was a fine challenge on your part, but somehow I beefed out a win. Mooooo!
-- Fat Cow
Salty, I may be a cute little kitten, but, like that energizer bunny, I can go and go
and go. And go I did! -- Pretty Kitty
Ambitious Guard, thank you for helping propel me towards a summit match with
Duelmaster Not Enough. I hope he fights up to his name when I catch up to him. -- Plow
Horse
Someone Else Ate, I have your number. And I know how to tweet. (chirp, chirp) --
Mockingbird
Sweetness, I feel I have to crow about my win on your challenge. -- Rooster (letting
rip a monstrous cockadoodledoo)
Assur, what a fine, fine article on "damage doing". Kudos, Pal. -- Friendly Farmer
Arya, your questions:
"(1) Is there a way to translate the "wit statements" to AL/OE? In other words, would
a warrior with "an extremely active fighter be run better at 9 or 10 AL?
(2) Is a wild swing the result of a lack of attack skills, too high of an OE/KD or
coordination?
(3) How much of a negative is using an unsuitable weapon? I mean not suited because
of ST/WT/DF."
And Consortium answers:
(1) Not really. The wit statements probably do not predict the rhythm that a warrior
desires.
(2) All the above. No one factor determines wild misses. I would also add -
experience, and the opponent's skill/physicals are also important factors.
(3) I doubt that anyone really knows the exact amount of negative impact caused. We
Consortiumites rank them in the exact order you listed - ST, WT DF, but that is a feel
based on years of experience, not fact.
Those are great questions, by the way. I am sorry that the answers were not as
definitive as the questions. -- Friendly Farmer, Consortium affiliated
Health. Humility. Honor. -- Friendly Farmer
Answers:
1) Is there a way to translate the "wit statements" to AL/OE? In other words, would a
warrior with "an extremely active fighter? be run better at 9 or 10 AL? Or does it
matter?
--- There is nothing to suggest what the best AL/OE for your warrior is other than
trial and error. The Consortium managers and I will give you hints and help on how to
find those numbers, but even we don't have magical abilities to help us win every
fight.
OE: Offensives normally want high (7-10), Hybrids generally want moderate to high,
Pure Defensives generally don't want much at all.
AL: Except for parry based warriors (TP/WS/PL/PR/PS and occasionally others), 10 is
your friend. I use 10 for every style at times, but I believe 10 decreases your parry
a 'bit.'
2) Is a wild swing the result of a lack of attack skills, too high of an OE/KD or
coordination?
--- Wild Swings are indicative of several things:
Low attack on your warrior (could be about your attack skills, the weapon you're
using, or simply a bad roll of dice)
The defensive ability of your opponent. You will make more wild swings against
warriors with good defensive skills.Your strategy is not 'compatible' with your
warrior.
If it is just the occasional wild swing (or against one specific opponent), I wouldn't
worry too much about it. If it is every fight... worry.
3) How much of a negative is using an unsuitable weapon? I mean not suited because of
ST/WT/DF.
--- You'll get many different answers to this if you were to poll a lot of managers.
I don't worry about it if my warrior is only down 1-2 points. After that I am not
happy about it, but will do it if the situation warrants it. Also, the penalties you
get are different depending on what stat you are lacking in. I DO believe the
penalties are progressively worse as you are down more and more points.
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
D'UN TOUCHED was butchered by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight.
NOT ENOUGH was unbelievably bested by VETERAN MERCENARY in a 2 minute Title duel.
PLOW HORSE was savagely defeated by TOO MANY in a action packed 3 minute bloody fight.
MOCKINGBIRD was devastated by MOLDY in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
PRETTY KITTY savagely defeated FRATSFA SLAVE in a crowd pleasing 1 minute competition.
MYSTERIOUS savagely defeated FAT COW in a 1 minute brutal struggle.
ROOSTER was bested by SOMEONE ELSE ATE in a 2 minute gory competition.
ZED slimly lost to VAMPIRIAL in a action packed 6 minute gruesome beginner's melee.
FANTHOM DEFT overpowered PERSISTANT BEGGAR in a 1 minute uneven duel.
KIL'SLAER was defeated by MORDANT DESERTER in a 2 minute novice's fight.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|AIMED BLOW 4 TOTAL PARRY 10 - 2 - 0 83 |
|BASHING ATTACK 3 PARRY-LUNGE 7 - 3 - 1 70 |
|WALL OF STEEL 2 WALL OF STEEL 13 - 6 - 1 68 |
|TOTAL PARRY 2 BASHING ATTACK 26 - 17 - 1 60 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 2 - 2 - 0 50 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 1 AIMED BLOW 13 - 13 - 1 50 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 1 SLASHING ATTACK 13 - 13 - 2 50 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 1 LUNGING ATTACK 8 - 8 - 0 50 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 0 STRIKING ATTACK 8 - 13 - 1 38 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 - 11 - 0 15 |
Turn 439 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 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0 3 BASHING ATTACK
WALL OF STEEL 2 - 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0 2 WALL OF STEEL
BASHING ATTACK 2 - 1 LUNGING ATTACK 0 - 1 2 AIMED BLOW
AIMED BLOW 2 - 2 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 PARRY-LUNGE
STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 TOTAL PARRY
TOTAL PARRY 0 - 2 1 LUNGING ATTACK
1 SLASHING ATTACK
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
BASHING ATTACK NOT ENOUGH 9834 5 3 0 66 BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
WALL OF STEEL TOO MANY 9832 7 1 0 48 BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
PARRY-LUNGE MYSTERIOUS 9831 6 2 0 34 BASH BROS LEFTOVERS (1685)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is NOT ENOUGH 9834. The most popular warrior this turn
was VAMPIRIAL 9849. The ten other most popular fighters were NOT ENOUGH 9834, TOO
MANY 9832, PRETTY KITTY 9815, ROOSTER 9813, MYSTERIOUS 9831, MOLDY 9830, SOMEONE ELSE
ATE 9833, PLOW HORSE 9816, FANTHOM DEFT 9850, and KIL'SLAER 9848.
The least popular fighter this week was ZED 1676. The other ten least popular
fighters were FAT COW 9812, MOCKINGBIRD 9814, D'UN TOUCHED 9851, KIL'SLAER 9848,
FANTHOM DEFT 9850, PLOW HORSE 9816, SOMEONE ELSE ATE 9833, MOLDY 9830, MYSTERIOUS
9831, and ROOSTER 9813.
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
NEW GRADUATES--FROM ALL ARENAS (INCLUDING CLOSED ARENAS)
For those of you who keep track of such things, several additional warriors
graduated from regular DM arenas (including closed arenas) since the last tournament.
NINOS HEROE (23-4516) SKI TAOS (388)
WINNING ISNT EVRTHNG (43-3604) FEARLESS LOSERS (359)
FRENCH KISS (73-590) WORLDWIDE GORE (36)
8TH ATTEMPT (82-11378) BELOW PAR (1651)
CHANGING BUFFALO (82-18031) TRIBAL COUNCIL (2759)
REAL REALITY (84-10296) SUPE FORCES 0907 (1855)
SPICY TRICEP (84-13301) 051410A (2337)
BARETTA NANO (84-27549) STORMY'S TROOPERS 11 (4888)
BEUFORD ANDERSON (84-28184) MEDAL OF HONOR 1A1 (5005)
LIFE IS GOOD (84-36076) AL BUMS IX (4438)
Congrats to the grads. -- Green Eyes