DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 12/26/2015 Duedate: 01/08/2016
NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA
DM-93 TURN-445
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
HODES
FAMILY NAMES (1695)
(93-9884) [4-0-0,42]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
POSITION IS EMPTY HODES
FAMILY NAMES (1695)
(93-9884) [4-0-0,42]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
VAMPIRIAL DANTALION
THE BLOODLUST (1688) FIGHTING IRISH (1693)
(93-9849) [3-5-0,14] (93-9876) [1-2-0,19]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
FAMILY NAMES (1695)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. FIGHTING IRISH (1693) 44
2. FAMILY NAMES (1695) 42 ONLY HUMANS (147)
3. BASH BROS RIPPER (1696) 10 Unchartered Team
4. THE BLOODLUST (1688) 7
5. BATTLE CHASERS (304) 1 FAMILY NAMES (1695)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1- 1*D-X (457) 1 0 1 100 1/ 1*FAMILY NAMES (1695) 11 4 0
2/ 3*FAMILY NAMES (1695) 15 5 0 75.0 2/ 2*BASH BROS RIPPER (1696) 9 6 2
3- 4*ROSS' RAIDERS (1689) 5 3 1 62.5 3/ 5*FIGHTING IRISH (1693) 6 4 0
4/ 5*BASH BROS RIPPER (1696) 10 10 2 50.0 4/ 4*THE BLOODLUST (1688) 3 11 0
5- 6*CHAOS LORDS (1691) 7 7 0 50.0 5- 7*D-X (457) 1 0 1
6/ 8*FIGHTING IRISH (1693) 7 8 0 46.7 6- 8*ROSS' RAIDERS (1689) 1 0 0
7/ 7*THE BLOODLUST (1688) 11 17 2 39.3 7- 6*CHAOS LORDS (1691) 0 4 0
8/ 0*BATTLE CHASERS (304) 0 1 0 0.0 8/ 0*BATTLE CHASERS (304) 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
THE SYNOPSIS OF FOUR SUCCESSFUL CURRENT ACTIVELY RUNNING D2 TEAMS (12-15-15)
The Consortium runs many full arena teams. Perhaps the discussion of those five random
long-running teams will provide knowledge or clues for the New D2 manager. The twenty
warriors have been intermingled so that the four arena teams remain unknown. The
warriors are divided by style.
BASHER
14-11-14-15-9-10-11 (5-3-0)
15-3-13-21-17-8-7 (5-1-0 and 2-3-0 in tournament)
11-5-13-15-17-12-11 (14-4-0)
Bashers are: 24-8, .750, no kills, also 2-3 in tourney
SLASHER
11-8-14-17-17-6-11 (3-2-0)
9-9-13-14-16-9-14 (4-4-1)
17-9-5-15-17-10-11 (1-1-0)
12-4-13-17-17-10-11 (1-2-0)
Slashers are: 9-9, .500, one kill
STRIKER
8-5-18-14-16-13-10 (9-0-2, 10-6-0 in tournaments)
10-3-18-14-18-11-10 (2-2-0)
14-8-13-17-9-12-11 (3-2-0)
11-9-17-17-9-14-7 (11-5-1)
15-10-14-15-9-10-11 (13-1-0)
11-9-15-15-9-14-11 (2-2-1)
Strikers are: 40-12, .769, four kills, also 10-6 in tourney
WASTE
16-15-6-16-16-5-10 (9-6-0)
11-15-11-15-17-4-11 (17-8-0)
Wastes are: 25-14, .641, no kills
TOTAL PARRY
14-19-8-7-15-9-12 (31-10-1)
17-20-11-4-16-11-5 (16-17-0)
16-15-13-4-20-4-12 (11-3-0)
11-16-13-9-18-7-10 (1-0-0)
14-19-16-4-19-3-9 (12-11-0)
Total Parries are: 71-42, .628 one kill
The twenty warriors are: 169-85-6, .665. Let's look at this scenario a little closer
and c0mment and question.
Q1- Are these such great rollups/warriors? No. They are pretty typical and average,
with it looking like the more ugly rollups were made into TPs. In arenas, The
Consortium does not DA in search of "better" rollups.
C1- It looks like it does not, at all, take wonderfully designed warriors to win well.
(60%+) Indeed, mediocre warriors often do better than godlings in arenas. Look at
striker #4 above and you will see a very mediocre design that is doing superbly.
Q2- Why only five styles? Where are the AB, LU, PL, PR, PS? Remember from Newby 101
that The Consortium recommends running the easier designs, such as offensives and
total parries? The above summary points out that such advice might even be good for
running normal arenas. There are some LU and AB and PL in other Consortium arenas, and
all ten designs are definitely on Consortium tournament teams. However, to make those
five missing designs run well and win often, it often takes godling or near-godling
designs. Godling rollups can be very, very hard to find.
Q3- Do strikers kill more than others? Well, not really. If you observe closely above,
the killing strikers are large sizes. This might indicate that size or damage-doing
have more to do with it than style. Another reason that the striker kill ratio is
highest in this group is the hefty w/l record of the strikers. If one does not lose,
one cannot die. And sort of conversely, the more one wins, the more chances they have
to kill.
O2- TP's, if scums (as all five of these are) can take a long time to graduate to ADM.
(See TPs #1 and #2.) Why, they are typically "stupidish" and have a very low skill
learn rate. Also, time/fights are also used to train stats rather than skills. The
physicals are far more important than the skills for a scum. Typical graduation
qualifications require 14 wins and 20 fights, which is often very easy for scum, but
skill ratings are also required, and they are hard to achieve if one is learning few
skills.
O3- Taking off on O2 above, some warriors are designed to burn. (Train stats and
acquire skills through some of the stat trains.) All the TPs above were as such. And,
take a look at slasher #2, strikers #1 and 2, and wall-of-steel #1 above. They, too
were designed to burn. In non-scum, how does one determine a warrior is designed to
burn? The Consortium definition: many stats are set just below prime skill-learning
stats (like 10 DF to 11, and 14 WT to 15, and 16 WL to 17, or 14ST to 15) AND the
warrior has sufficient WL to allow probable stat raises. (e.g. 14+WL; 14 WL = 70%
chance to earn the 1st stat of a type.)
O4- While only five styles were used on these four teams, the mix of offensives and
defensives is solid, allowing for better optimization of challenges and avoids. This
probably adds to the nice overall w/l record.
Hopefully this team synopsis has helped your understanding of many concepts of the
game. You can find more detail on the concepts inferred in this article by reading the
spotlights in the Noblish Island (DM93). Feel free to ask me questions about this
spotlight or the Consortium concepts. I will answer.
-- High Hopes (HH to you) -- Consortium affiliated
***---------*---------*---------*---------**---------*---------*---------*---------***
Assur's Guide to Tank Hybrids
Today's subject is one of Assur's favorite type of hybrids. They may not be the best
warriors to grace the sands, but they are a lot of fun. The idea is that you can't
take them down and at some point they will attack back and when they hit, they will
hit hard!
1) Design
Tank Hybrids (hereafter referred to as simply tanks) are hybrids that wear lots of
armor and have lots of hit points. There are lots of variations of this type of
hybrid, but typically they are not depending on anything other than their physical
prowess to win.
Encumbrance and Hit Points are amongst their most important attributes. Skills are
nice, but in some cases almost a forethought. Attack is probably the most useful
skill to have, followed by Parry and Defense.
Endurance, Wit, and Will are all nice to have, but you can create a tank without any
of these. Typically they will have minimum 14 in strength and constitution, often
much more. Historically Assur has made high will versions of tanks, but has seen
others succeed with very low will tanks as well. Usually at least one of speed or
deftness is quite low. Most of Assur's tanks have also been stat trainers, so some of
them have started lower than 14 in strength or constitution.
2) Style Choice
Any style can tank it up, but the higher attack styles work better, simply because
when you do attack, you want to hit. But any style can work. Lungers have the highest
attack base. Aimed Blows with 21 deftness are just below Lungers. Next is a four way
tie between Parry Lungers, Wall of Steels, Bashers, and Slashers. Parry Strikes,
Parry Ripostes, and Strikers are all considered lower attack styles, but the lowest
starting attack style is, of course, the Total Parry (a full 8 attack skills lower
than the same Lunger). Advantages/disadvantages of tanking styles:
Lunger: Highest total skills, but learns are not the best and high endurance burn.
Aimed Blows: High deftness requirements means designs are very limited. Wall of
Steels: High total skills, learns (att/par/ini) are awesome for tanks. High Endurance
burn.
Basher: Learn attack and decise, reasonable endurance burn. A more offensive of tank.
Parry Lungers: Similar to Wall of Steels, with slightly worse learning and skills.
Slashers: Similar to Bashers, but don't learn decise as fast and slightly higher
endurance burn.
Parry Strikes: One of the few warrior types where their learns work together (decise
and parry). Conserve endurance very well. The best tanking style of the lower attack
styles.
Strikers: Again similar to bashers, but with fewer attack skills, but better endurance
conservation.
Parry Ripostes: Only 2 attack more than total parries, worse learning, and worse
weapon selection suggests that Total Parries would be a better choice. Total Parries:
Horrible attack, but can use most of the big weapons and the best defenses in the game
makes them a good choice for a more defensive tank.
3) Weapon Selection
Typically you will choose the highest damage weapon you can use for your Tank. Some
nice choices (with relatively low stat requirements) are: Maul (15 Str, 5 Wit, 7 Dft),
Broadsword (11 Str, 9 Wit, 7 Dft), Battle Axe (15 Str, 7 Wit, 9 Dft), and Long Spear
(11 Str, 5 Wit, 9 Dft)
Feel free to choose other weapons, even if you lack the requirements to use them.
4) Strategy and tactics
Tanks are fun to run, because you can really play with their strategies and see
different results. Typically you will run in the upper range of offensive effort
(5+), but in certain minutes, you very well might go more defensive depending on your
tank. As mentioned last turn, some warriors will actually attack more with lower
offensive effort (usually if it is their favorite rhythm). To start, though, play
with 5-10 offensive effort. Activity level can be anything. I have literally run
tanks with 10 activity level in one fight and 1 activity level in the next.
I have used almost every tactic with Tanks. I can't remember using the Riposte
tactic, but no reason you can't try it. And some styles are not well suited to some
tactics.
5) Armor
APA/F is the norm.
DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
Notes from the arena champ.
I am Spencer, your newest Duelmaster. I can say that I was one of the least
likely Family Names warriors to arrive at this post. But I am here and plan to keep it
that way.
Why was I named Spencer? The story I have been told is that way back when, the
Consortium boss was in the same class through grade school (St. Michael's) and high
school (Cannelton High) as Elaine Spencer. He even dated her once, back when they had
those drive-in movie places. But he really thought her younger sister, Annette
Spencer, was zowie! But his good friend, Bill Lemaire, (Cannelton High and roomie at
the University of Evansville) beat him to her and later married her. The cad! But
actually, Elaine and Annette, even though Spencers, have nothing to do with my name,
so I have wasted all those words. (sigh)
The real reason I am Spencer is that the Boss's youngest daughter married a
Spencer and is now a Spencer. So, I, too, am a Spencer. I like to think I can fight,
but I KNOW I would rather tell stories that fight. It's true.
-- Spencer DMI
SPY REPORT
Hail and well met warriors of NOBLISH ISLAND! Know me for who I am, Zontani
Sharp Eyes, Spymaster extraordinaire of all Alastari. DANTALION caught the eye of
many in the gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested FANTHOM DEFT and was
awarded 17 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, MINSTREL
put down VAMPIRIAL, causing her to lose 5 points of recognition in the process. Our
last turn's Duelmaster has lost, folks, lost to KHALHUMS DWARF, and SPENCER has made
the way for a new Duelmaster! With SPENCER clearing the throne, FAMILY NAMES of
HODES takes a proud seat as NOBLISH ISLAND's new Duelmaster, by virtue of recognition
points. No confirmation, but my sources claim that the top team has gained their
position using magical aids. Charmed weapons perhaps?
But come now, let us look deeper into the maze of contention and crossed blades
that is city NOBLISH ISLAND. NOBLISH ISLAND, city of gladiators! Mighty among the
names of thy guilds is THE BLOODLUST, a guild shunned and avoided by many in the
weekly duels. Methinks more than a few here could name the guild it was that spent
the better part of last week avoiding THE BLOODLUST. Indeed it was FAMILY NAMES.
Mighty fighters cannot but expect competition from those below. HARD TO RUN take
warning! You have more than a few enemies in NOBLISH ISLAND.
Is not Death a warrior's foremost adviser? Warriors, may this counselor stand
ready at your right hand forever! Fate is a fickle mistress. She showers the
miserable with fortune but sets enemies against the victorious. Remember this!
If it were not for my skills as a spy I would have been mugged three times
already in NOBLISH ISLAND. Nice atmosphere you have here! Ahh, but I can hear the
spires of a far off city calling to me. I must away! Till next we meet remember: a
fool flies into a rage quickly and often. The wise are angered by the same thing
only once. Zontani Sharp Eyes
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
HODES 9884 4 0 0 42 FAMILY NAMES (1695)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
SPENCER 9886 3 1 0 33 FAMILY NAMES (1695)
MINSTREL 9877 3 0 0 30 FIGHTING IRISH (1693)
-BLOOD ROSE 2629 1 0 1 27 D-X (457)
MILLER 9887 4 0 0 25 FAMILY NAMES (1695)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
FELDSPAR 9873 2 1 0 23 FIGHTING IRISH (1693)
-STABLER 9854 2 0 0 21 ROSS' RAIDERS (1689)
WORST DEF IN GAME 9891 2 2 1 20 BASH BROS RIPPER (1696)
DANTALION 9876 1 2 0 19 FIGHTING IRISH (1693)
FANTHOM DEFT 9850 4 2 1 17 THE BLOODLUST (1688)
WON'T ATTACK 9889 3 1 0 16 BASH BROS RIPPER (1696)
VAMPIRIAL 9849 3 5 0 14 THE BLOODLUST (1688)
GENGELBACH 9883 2 2 0 14 FAMILY NAMES (1695)
-M. ALLEN 9855 2 1 0 14 ROSS' RAIDERS (1689)
-AUTUMNBE 9643 3 2 0 12 CAVEAT EMPTOR (1657)
DIPONA 9893 1 2 0 11 THE BLOODLUST (1688)
HAGEDORN 9885 2 2 0 10 FAMILY NAMES (1695)
WOEFUL BASES 9888 2 2 0 8 BASH BROS RIPPER (1696)
-TIMID TIM 9862 2 1 0 8 CHAOS LORDS (1691)
BAD ATTACK 9892 2 2 0 8 BASH BROS RIPPER (1696)
-LOTT R 9852 1 0 1 8 ROSS' RAIDERS (1689)
-BLOODIED MIKE 9863 2 1 0 7 CHAOS LORDS (1691)
HARD TO RUN 9890 1 3 1 7 BASH BROS RIPPER (1696)
-DRAXXUS 9644 1 4 0 7 CAVEAT EMPTOR (1657)
ALEMBIC 9874 1 2 0 6 FIGHTING IRISH (1693)
-CUNNING TERRI 9866 1 2 0 5 CHAOS LORDS (1691)
-ASHLEY'S GHOST 9865 1 1 0 4 CHAOS LORDS (1691)
-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)
VALKYRIE 9875 0 3 0 3 FIGHTING IRISH (1693)
BLUDTHYRST 9896 0 2 0 2 THE BLOODLUST (1688)
-ALEX BLOODBLADE 9895 0 1 0 1 CHAOS LORDS (1691)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
RED MONIKA 1689 0 1 0 1 BATTLE CHASERS (304)
-LONGSTER 9856 0 1 0 1 ROSS' RAIDERS (1689)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
DEATH BASHER 9847 2 1 1 THE BLOODLUST 1688 BLOOD ROSE 2629 443
DRAKONYA 9867 1 2 0 THE BLOODLUST 1688 WORST DEF IN GAM 9891 445
PERSONAL ADS
For your Yuletide bloodletting pleasure, sung to the tune of "Winter Wonderland."
Slay bells ring, are ya listenin'?
Beneath the moon, blood is glistenin'!
A grisly sight, we're happy tonight,
Watchin' all the Dark Arena fights!
In the daytime we can catch the action,
as the Duelmaster defends his crown!
All the criticals and bloody drama,
and if you're nasty you can challenge down!
Later on, by tavern fire,
managers, they'll conspire,
to face unafraid, the challenges made,
Duelin' in that Alastari land!
Wishing all good D2 managers a Happy Holidays!
-- Stik and Grim Fandango of Sunset
Congrats to the Fighting Irish on their top team on the move and their fine football
season. -- High Hopes
Won't Attack, I wish I wouldn't either, you know? You made me feel really bad tromping
me like that! But, I learned a wit stat and now my -1, -3, -1 Init/Att/Def are 0, -2,
0. How about that!? -- Hagedorn
Hey, Vampirial, those flopsy Farm Animals you talked about are long gone. I, Spencer,
am from the new Consortium representative of Family Names. Things will change around
here. Are you feeling it yet? -- Spencer (basking in her win over Vampirial and new DM
crown.)
Hard To Run. of course it is with that heavy stuff you wear. Why don't you go naked
like a real man? I am not so hard to run, so I can wear what I want. I am, however,
good enough to beat you no matter what. -- Miller
Dantalion of Fighting Irish, my Big Boss is a Hoosier; are you also? Love that Golden
Dome. I guess you are finding what Assur and HH say, when they proclaim rippers one of
the most difficult to run successfully. However, with Assur running a plethora of
those things, maybe you will get some good clues. My style is a tough one for you, and
you seemed to be armored and weaponed well, so keep the faith. -- Hodes
Bloodied Mike and Chaos Lords, some advice from your previous round fight against
Hodes : your style is really not one to carry a shield, nor even a backup weapon; the
style is more of an all-out brawler and seems to do best armored and weaponed for
same; loved the weapon choice, though -- best in the game. -- HH
Worst Def In The Game, well, shucks, your defense was good enough for my whiffle.
Methinks you might be false advertising. -- Gengelbach (One of the worst warriors in
the game -- obviously)
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. High Hopes for Family Names and
Consortiumites everywhere Vampirial -- Beautiful DM Column last turn! Thanks -- Assur
High Hopes -- Seems like it has been a long time since a Consortium manager held the
throne here! Well done. You clearly are better than many of the former Consortium
reps! -- Assur
Consortium -- Funny, but I had always put PR's and TP's at about the same level of
endurance burn. These last couple of turns suggest that perhaps PR's have a slight
edge in conserving endurance. Either that or your TP's are inferior products -- Assur
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
HAGEDORN unbelievably bested HARD TO RUN in a 15 minute amateur's Challenge fight.
BLUDTHYRST was subdued by ALEMBIC in a 4 minute novice's Challenge melee.
DRAKONYA was assassinated by WORST DEF IN GAME in a 1 minute Challenge duel.
SPENCER was defeated by KHALHUMS DWARF in a 2 minute novice vs. master fight.
HODES devastated FRATSFA SLAVE in a 1 minute one-sided Title duel.
VAMPIRIAL was devastated by MINSTREL in a 2 minute bloody mismatched match.
FANTHOM DEFT was narrowly defeated by DANTALION in a action packed 4 minute melee.
FELDSPAR vanquished BAD ATTACK in a 1 minute uneven duel.
VALKYRIE was overpowered by GENGELBACH in a 1 minute uneven duel.
MILLER overpowered WOEFUL BASES in a 3 minute one-sided fight.
WON'T ATTACK handily defeated PERSISTANT BEGGAR in a tiresome 5 minute one-sided bout.
DIPONA demolished RED MONIKA 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-RIPOSTE 5 PARRY-LUNGE 8 - 4 - 0 67 |
|AIMED BLOW 4 TOTAL PARRY 12 - 7 - 0 63 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 4 AIMED BLOW 22 - 13 - 3 63 |
|TOTAL PARRY 2 WALL OF STEEL 12 - 8 - 2 60 |
|BASHING ATTACK 2 SLASHING ATTACK 8 - 6 - 1 57 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 1 BASHING ATTACK 19 - 16 - 1 54 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 1 PARRY-STRIKE 2 - 2 - 0 50 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 1 LUNGING ATTACK 9 - 10 - 0 47 |
|WALL OF STEEL 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 10 - 15 - 2 40 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 0 STRIKING ATTACK 5 - 9 - 0 36 |
Turn 445 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-STRIKE 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 1 3 AIMED BLOW
TOTAL PARRY 2 - 0 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 0 3 PARRY-RIPOSTE
PARRY-RIPOSTE 3 - 2 STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 1 2 LUNGING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW 2 - 2 WALL OF STEEL 0 - 1 1 TOTAL PARRY
LUNGING ATTACK 2 - 2 1 PARRY-LUNGE
BASHING ATTACK 1 - 1 1 WALL OF STEEL
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
AIMED BLOW HODES 9884 4 0 0 42 FAMILY NAMES (1695)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is VAMPIRIAL 9849. The most popular warrior this turn
was DANTALION 9876. The ten other most popular fighters were SPENCER 9886, MINSTREL
9877, BLUDTHYRST 9896, WORST DEF IN GAME 9891, HODES 9884, FANTHOM DEFT 9850,
FELDSPAR 9873, GENGELBACH 9883, VAMPIRIAL 9849, and WOEFUL BASES 9888.
The least popular fighter this week was HAGEDORN 9885. The other ten least popular
fighters were HARD TO RUN 9890, WON'T ATTACK 9889, ALEMBIC 9874, RED MONIKA 1689,
MILLER 9887, VALKYRIE 9875, BAD ATTACK 9892, DRAKONYA 9867, DIPONA 9893, and WOEFUL
BASES 9888.