DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 04/28/2017    Duedate: 05/11/2017

NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA

DM-93    TURN-477

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

THUNDER WONDER
DARK CLOUDS (1719)
(93-10029) [6-1-0,88]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

POSITION IS EMPTY              THUNDER WONDER
                               DARK CLOUDS (1719)
                               (93-10029) [6-1-0,88]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

HASAMI                         HASAMI
DRIFTY DREAMS (1717)           DRIFTY DREAMS (1717)
(93-10016) [2-5-0,11]          (93-10016) [2-5-0,11]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

DARK CLOUDS (1719)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. ODD SQUAD (1712)            40
2. FAMOUS PIRATES (1720)       36      BANE'S CHILDREN (235)
3. DRIFTY DREAMS (1717)        31      Unchartered Team
4. DARK CLOUDS (1719)          26
5. LINKS OF TERROR (1718)      19      DARK CLOUDS (1719)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1*DARK CLOUDS (1719)        22  12  0 64.7   1/ 2*DARK CLOUDS (1719)       11  3 0
 2/ 2*FAMOUS PIRATES (1720)     19  11  2 63.3   2/ 3*FAMOUS PIRATES (1720)    10  5 0
 3/ 4*LINKS OF TERROR (1718)    18  16  1 52.9   3/ 9*ODD SQUAD (1712)          7  3 0
 4/10*ODD SQUAD (1712)           9  10  0 47.4   4/ 5*LINKS OF TERROR (1718)    6  8 0
 5/ 7*DRIFTY DREAMS (1717)      15  19  0 44.1   5/ 6*DRIFTY DREAMS (1717)      6  9 0
 6/ 3*LIZARD DEN (1723)          3   4  0 42.9   6/ 7*BASH BROS PEPPER (1721)   5 10 0
 7/ 8*BASH BROS PEPPER (1721)   12  18  0 40.0   7/10*LEGIONS OF FATE (1724)    4  6 0
 8/ 9*LEGIONS OF FATE (1724)     4   6  0 40.0   8/ 8*LIZARD DEN (1723)         3  4 0
 9/ 6*MISFIT KINGS (1722)        7  13  0 35.0   9/ 4*MISFIT KINGS (1722)       3 12 0
10/ 0*KILL UNIT (1725)           1   4  0 20.0  10/ 0*KILL UNIT (1725)          1  4 0

    '*'   Unchartered team                       '-'  Team did not fight this turn
   (###)  Avoid teams by their Team Id          ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

                    FINDING FAVORITE WEAPONS -- THE CONSORTIUM WAY

     Does your battle axe "slice across with tree-felling power"?  Or your long sword 
unleash a "piercingly accurate thrust"?   Or your quarterstaff attack with "berserker 
fury"?  No?  Read on. A common discussion in D2 is about finding a favorite weapon.  
Why would anyone want to find the warrior's favorite weapon?  Why?  Simply because a 
warrior usually fights much better with his favorite in his hand.
     Upon graduation to The Isle (Lord Protectorship) each warrior is informed of his 
birthright favorites.  (Called "faves" by most of us.) That includes, the favorite 
weapon, the favorite rhythm, and with luck, some favorite tactics and/or tactic 
learns.  Warriors also usually fight better when they are on their "faves".
     This article is only about the weapon part of a warrior's faves. If one could 
fine a warrior's faves early, one would presumably be giving their warrior a nice 
advantage in fights.  So how does one find a favorite weapon?  Actually, you cannot 
"find" it, but you can surmise it from the data you collect.
     Consortium managers tend to find their warrior's fave weapon appx.  30-50% of the 
time before graduation.  (Some of the time, the fave is just not discernable; some of 
the time, the estimate is just plain incorrect.)

     The Consortium method is as follows:

     Chart/record these numbers from each fight:
          Weapon used
          Swings
          Crits
          Extra value hits

     Then record the data by weapon as follows: crits/swings/EHV.  For example, a 
     striker may have tried three weapons with these results:
          BS  0-21-1
          SS  3-13-2
          SC  1-19-0

     The more crits per swing, the more likely you have found a favorite weapon.  
(Bear in mind that a favorite weapon is not the ONLY reason one crits more.  Factors 
like experience, attack skill quantity, strategy levels, etc., also come in to play.) 
Even if it is not the fave, it is certainly a better performing weapon, and ought to 
be considered for a lot of use.  It is thought that if a weapon is performing well, 
the favorite weapon is probably that weapon, or one of a similar type.  For example, 
the SS above looks most favorable, so there is some possibility that the fave is that 
SS or another lunging type weapon, such as a LO or LS.
     One of the more common questions is "Just what is a crit?" We Consortiumites 
define it as a swing which "reads with extra ferociousness"! For example, using the SS 
above, lunges with the SS is a normal swing while "shortspear moves like angry 
lightning" is a critical swing.
     To alleviate any questions of what is a critical swing, below are listed the best 
active list of criticals per weapon.  

    ************************  The Weapons Criticals List  ************************

Broadsword (BS)
Brings his BROADSWORD down in a horrible cleaving motion!
BROADSWORD arcs from overhead with maximum momentum and force!
BROADSWORD whips horizontally across with a deadly timed power!
Charges forward, BROADSWORD whistling through the air!
Hacks at her (BROADSWORD at her) foe with untamed berserker energy!
Makes a ferocious backhanded assault with her BROADSWORD!
Sweeps his BROADSWORD in a sudden, vicious assault!
Unleashes a horrifying attack (with her BROADSWORD), straining every
muscle for power!

Battle Axe (BA)
Brings his BATLE AXE hurtling down with devastating force!
Brings his BATTLE AXE slicing across with tree-felling power!
BATTLE AXE arcs forward with a terrible destructive energy!
Makes an all-out cleaving attack with his BATTLE AXE!
Slices up wickedly with the gleaming blade of his BATTLE AXE!
Sweeps his BATTLE AXE in a deadly assault on his opponent!
Unleashes an incredible full-bladed chop with her BATTLE AXE!
Whirls his BATTLE AXE from overhead, attacking with demonic fury!

Dagger (DA)
Attacks, his DAGGER wielded with an unnerving precision!
DAGGER flashes as he takes a sudden vicious slash at his foe!
DAGGER strikes instantly as his opponent leaves an opening!
Drives his DAGGER in a forward slash!
Ducks low and takes a wicked upward slice with his DAGGER!
Leaps forward, DAGGER thrusting with malevolence and surety!
Makes a cruel and cunning underhanded attack with his DAGGER!
Strikes overhead, DAGGER ripping with incredible swiftness!
Whirls and strikes backhandedly with his DAGGER!

Epee (EP)
Attacks from low guard, EPEE slicing wickedly upwards at her foe!
Blurs forward, EPEE stabbing suddenly with blinding speed!
Dives forward, EPEE stabbing repeatedly with his charge!
EPEE leaps forward suddenly from a high guard overhead!
EPEE strikes forward in a clash of cold steel!
Lunges forward, EPEE thrusting with incredible speed and accuracy!
Makes an incredible flesh-splitting slash with her EPEE!
Whips his EPEE blade back and forth as if to slash his foe to ribbons!

Fist  (FI)
Attacks, FISTS punching with piston-like horse felling power!
Attacks his foe with a pinpoint accurate ELBOW!
Dives forward, FISTS driving at his opponent with menacing fury!
Explodes into a deadly double OPEN HAND strike!
HANDS flash forward, jabbing fiercely at her surprised foe!
Hammers down a ferocious FOREARM smash!
Hauls back and spins into a near-lethal ELBOW smash!
PUNCHES from the waist with an unbelievable quickness!
Spins around and hammers a tremendous ELBOW smash towards his foe!
Throws a rock-fisted PUNCH of incredible felling power

Kick (FI)
LEG smashes outward, kicking with tremendous force!
Throws a piston like SIDE KICK at his opponent!
Leaps into the air taking a vicious flying KICK at his opponent!
Unleashes a bone-crushing KICK of incredible power!
Focuses all of his skill and power into a devastating KICK!
Howls as he snaps a full force KICK at his foe!
Spins, throwing a devastating WHEEL KICK at his foe!
Attacks, LEGS flying in an unbelievable double footed kick!

Great Axe (GA)
Attacks, bringing his GREAT AXE down with bone-splitting force!
Brings his GREAT AXE ferociously slashing downward from his head!
Cuts powerfully forward, his full weight behind his GREAT AXE!
GREAT AXE slices at his opponent with concentrated hatred!
Makes a malevolent attack with his gleaming GREAT AXE!
Muscles ripple as his GREAT AXE cuts through the air!
Throws his entire weight behind his GREAT AXE in a mighty assault!

Greatsword (GS)
Attacks, bringing his GREATSWORD down with bone-splitting force!
Attacks, swinging his GREATSWORD with untamed savagery!
Brings his GREATSWORD hurtling downward from above his head!
Brings his GREATSWORD smashing outward in a vicious attack!
Hacks mercilessly at his foe with his GERATSWORD!
GREATSWORD arcs forward in an attempt to cut his foe in two!
Muscles ripple as he makes a powerful swing with his GREATSWORD!
Whirls his GREATSWORD overhead, attempting a bashing attack!

Halberd (HL)
Attacks, HALBARD sweeping with devastating momentum!
Batters mercilessly at his foe with his HALBARD!
Flashes outward, attacking with horrifying power!
Grimly unleashes an incredible attack with his HALBARD!
Hurls his body behind a full length sweep with his HALBARD!
Jerks her HALBARD brutally upward in a wicked thrusting arc!
Lashes out with the full length of her HALBARD!
Powers her HALBARD to smash at her foe with untamed fury!
Smashes her HALBARD down executioner-style from overhead!

Hatchet (HA)
Backhands mightily, revealing the flash of her HATCHET spike!
Chops savagely downward with her trusty HATCHET!
Hacks viciously downward with the blade of his HATCHET!
HATCHET flashes with snake-like speed and accuracy!
Lashes out brilliantly with his HATCHET!
Makes a HATCHET swing that takes the crowd's breath away!
Twists his HATCHET aiming a malevolent chop at the defense!
Unleashes a HATCHET attack that absolutely stuns the fans!

Large Shield (LG)
Barrels forward, LARGE SHIELD smashing before him as the crowd roars!
Cruelly attempts to pulverize his foe with his LARGE SHIELD!
Cruelly attempts to batter her foe with her LARGE SHIELD!
Rest same as other shields

Longspear (LS)
Catapults forward, LONGSPEAR flashing in a deadly assault!
Charges forward, LONG SPEAR thrusting with murderous power!
Is making a deliberate attempt to impale her enemy with her LONG SPEAR!
LONG SPEAR strikes forward with incredible swiftness and power!
Lunges into an attack, his LONGSPEAR flying with incredible force!
Makes a devastating thrust, LONG SPEAR blurring in the attack!
Makes a lighting thrust with his LONGSPEAR! (*)
Unleashes a murderous thrust that brings the crowd to their feet!

Longsword (LO)
Catapults forward, LONGSWORD stabbing cruelly at his foe!
Feints, then springs viciously forward with his LONGSWORD!
Lashes out with her longsword in a murderous thrust!
Leaps into an incredible flesh-splitting lunge with his LONGSWORD!
LONGSWORD lunges forward with a flash of cold, cruel steel!
Strikes forward with his LONGSWORD, all his weight behind his blow!
Thrusts her LONGSWORD, brilliantly timing her opponent's motion!
Thrusts his LONGSWORD, cleverly timing his opponent's motion!
Thrusts his LONGSWORD forward with an unbelievably deadly force!
Unleashes her LONGSWORD in a piercingly accurate thrust!

Maul (ML)
Bats murderously at his foe with his MAUL!
Bludgeons his MAUL with terrible savagery!
Makes a devastatingly powerful sweep with his MAUL!
Smashes furiously downward with his MAUL!
Sweeps his MAUL in a tremendous bone-crushing arc!
Throws his weight behind is MAUL in an all-out assault!

Medium Shield (ME)
Barrels forward, MEDIUM SHIELD smashing before him as the crowd roars!
Cruelly attempts to batter his foe with his MEDIUM SHIELD!
Cruelly attempts to flatten his foe with his MEDIUM SHIELD!
Smashes his MEDIUM SHIELD wickedly forward toward his foe!
Sweeps his MEDIUM SHIELD in a sudden, unexpected assault!
Runs forward, seeking to pummel his opponent with his MEDIUM SHIELD!

Morning Star (MS)
Attacks, whirling the MORNING STAR with tremendous Force!
Attempts to smash at his opponent with his MORNING STAR!
Cleverly tries to break her foes defense with her MORNING STAR!
MORNING STAR whines with unstoppable velocity!
Snaps the MORNING STAR forward in a deadly assault!
Swings his MORNING STAR with deadly intent at his target
Whips his MORNING STAR downward in a remorseless arc!
Whips his MORNING STAR downward in a vicious power smash!

Quarterstaff (QS)
Bats murderously at his foe with his QUARTERSTAFF!
Brings his QUARTERSTAFF smashing ferociously downward!
Impresses everyone with a masterful thrust of her QUARTERSTAFF!
Jabs murderously at her foe with the tip of her QUARTERSTAFF!
Lashes out with her QUARTERSTAFF in a lightning quick assault!
Surprises everyone with a masterful swing of his QUARTERSTAFF!
Sweeps her QUARTERSTAFF in a tremendous bone-crushing arc!
Whirls her QUARTERSTAFF, attacking with berserker fury!

Scimitar (SC)
Attacks, her SCIMITAR wielded with malevolence!
Ducks low, her SCIMITAR slicing suddenly upwards!
Leaps forward, swinging her SCIMITAR into a veritable wall of blades!
Leaps into the air, bringing his SCIMITAR down in a powerful slash!
Leaps into the air in a furious slash!
Leaps into the air taking a furious slash with his SCIMITAR!
makes a brilliant twisting thrust with his SCIMITAR!
times a devilish cunning attack, SCIMITAR leaping with deadly force!
twists into a tremendous cutting attack with his SCIMITAR!
Turns into a furious whirlwind of blades as her SCIMITAR leaps forward!
SCIMITAR lunges with awesome cutting power!

Small Shield (SM)
Attempts to swat at his foe with his SMALL SHIELD! (NOT a crit)
Barrels forward, SMALL SHIELD smashing before him as the crowd roars!
Charges forward, trying to run down his opponent with his SMALL SHIELD!
Cruelly attempts to batter his foe with his SMALL SHIELD!
Cruelly attempts to bruise his foe with his SMALL SHIELD!
Runs forward, seeking to pummel his opponent with his SMALL SHIELD!
Sweeps his SMALL SHIELD in a clever backhanded assault!
Sweeps his SMALL SHIELD in a sudden, unexpected assault!
Smashes his SMALL SHIELD wickedly forward towards his foe!

Short Spear (SS)
Dives into a powerful lunge with its SHORT SPEAR!
Lunges past its foe and brings its SHORT SPEAR into a brilliant backhand stab!
Makes a menacing underthrust with her SHORT SPEAR!
Rushes her foe, her SHORT SPEAR underthrusting malevolently!
SHORT SPEAR leaps forward with incredible swiftness and power!
SHORT SPEAR moves like angry lightning!
SHORT SPEAR strikes with blinding quickness!
Springs with full extension with her SHORT SPEAR!

Shortsword (SH)
Focuses his energy in a powerful upward stab with his SHORTSWORD!
Hacks viciously downward with her SHORTSWORD!
Lashes his SHORTSWORD cruelly at a break in the defense!
Makes a clever stab with his SHORTSWORD that stuns the fans!
Stabs powerfully upward with his SHORTSWORD!
Thrusts his SHORTSWORD forward with his full force behind it!
Thrusts his SHORTSWORD in a lightning move at the defense!
SHORTSWORD leaps forward in a bloodthirsty assault on his foe!
Sweeps his SHORTSWORD in a tight, powerful slash!

War Flail (WF) "Whiffle"
Attacks, his WAR FLAIL whistling with a frightful acceleration!
Cracks his cruelly barbed WAR FLAIL with tremendous force!
Hauls back and power smashes with his WAR FLAIL!
Lashes out, WAR FLAIL chains curling with a hideous power!
Takes a tremendous swipe at his foe with his WAR FLAIL!
Sweeps his WAR FLAIL in a vicious flailing arc!
Unleashes a murderous full force attack with his WAR FLAIL!
WAR FLAIL screams in the rush of this assault!

War Hammer (WH)
Attacks, his WARHAMMER wielded with pile-driving precision!
Backhands, swinging his HAMMER-SPIKE savagely at his target!
Brings his WAR HAMMER crashing downward with horrific power!
Is attempting to smash through the defense with his WAR HAMMER!
Launches a brilliant attack with his WAR HAMMER!
Makes a lightning-quick backhand smash with her WAR HAMMER!
Sweeps his WAR HAMMER downward in a crudely brutal smash!
Sweeps his WAR HAMMER downward in a vicious power slash!
Takes a tremendous swipe at his foe with his WAR HAMMER!

Remember: "Crits" are the key.  Good luck in your weapon selection decision making as 
it just may make the difference between a win or a loss.

                               -- Old Pegleg of Famous Pirates (Consortium affiliated)

***---------*---------*---------*---------**---------*---------*---------*---------***

                                   What the Style?

     My opponents of style ___ keep beating me, but my representatives of that style 
lose!  Manager ___ seems to dominate with style ___!  What style is the best?!?  What 
style should I make my warrior?These burning questions come up over and over again.  
And while it is true that not all styles are equal, there are good reasons to use (and 
become proficient with) all 10 fighting styles.  This article hopes to demystifysome 
of questions above.
     First, it is useful to understand that winning warriors win by being a pure 
offensive (and these are the easiest to master), a pure defensive, or a hybrid of the 
two.  Below, I list the styles in approximate ease to learn and succeed with.  The 
'big four' weapons (BA, BS, LO, SC) are often considered the best four weapons in the 
game (weapons are also not equal) I try to give an overview of all strengths and 
weaknesses, but realize that the higher your warriors advance in that game, the more 
the game favors attack and defense skills.  But during your warrior's career in basic, 
all of the skills are fairly well balanced.
     When I talk about tourney success, I am talking about winning it all!
AB's, L's, and STK's win more tourneys than the rest of the styles.  Also realize that 
these descriptions are intended to help you know how to design to a style's strengths 
and hide their weaknesses.
     Strikers -- The premiere pure offensive style.  They learn decise and attack.  
Their starting skills are relatively low (most notably their attack), but they 
conserve endurance well and can use virtually every weapon.  They are one of the 
strongest tourney styles in basic.  However because of their mostly one sided nature, 
they are not as strong past graduation.  They cannot be bonused in attack.
     Total Parries -- The ultimate pure defensive warrior, but by virtue of their 
defenses also make fine hybrid warriors.  They learn defense and parry.  Starting 
skills other than defense and parry are poor and have the worst attack of any style.  
Moderate endurance conservation and can use all of the 'big four' well suited.  
Usually considered a 2nd tier tourney style and the large numbers of AB's in tourneys 
these days makes life harder for TP's.  However, many managers have strategies and 
designs to use for TP's to minimize their vulnerabilities to the most popular style 
around.  TP's have shown themselves competitive at virtually all levels of the game 
except the very top (years away for a new warrior).  They cannot be bonused in parry.  
     Bashers -- I call them the poor man's striker.  They are solid pure offensives 
and the most popular pure offensive style to use for Tank Hybrids.  They learn attack 
and decisiveness.  They start with very high offensive skill sand very low defensive 
skills.  I put them in the middle for endurance conservation and have the worst weapon 
selection of any style, unable to use any of the 'big four' well suited.  They are one 
of the weakest tourney styles at virtually all levels, but are better than average 
against AB's early on.  Past graduation, their usefulness is limited.  They cannot be 
bonused in decise or riposte.
     Lungers -- The ultimate hybrid, but can be offensives or defensives.  They learn 
init and defense.  They have the highest attack and defense in the game and the 
highest overall starting skills.  They burn endurance fast and have access to the LO.  
A top tier tourney style at all levels (though perhaps never the favorite).  They were 
once the dominant style past graduation.
     Wall of Steels -- Strong as hybrids or defensives.  They learn init, parry and 
attack.  They are tied with lungers for highest overall starting skills.  They burn 
endurance fast and use SC, BA, and BS well suited.  They can be competitive at most 
tourney levels but are 2nd tier.  They can only be bonused in attack or parry.
     Slasher -- Another pure offensive style, harder to play because they don't learn 
decise as fast as other offensives.  They learn init and attack.  A high attack style.  
Somewhere between middle and high for endurance burn, they have access to all of the 
'Big Four.'  They have been successful at most tourney levels but at best can be 
considered a 2nd tier tourney style.
     Parry-Strikers -- Can run as any of offensive, defensive, or hybrid.  They learn 
parry and decise.  They have very low starting skills, including attack.  They 
conserve endurance perhaps better than any other style and can use all the 'Big Four.' 
They are shunned by tourney managers because of their poor learning in basic and their 
typical horrible favorites in ADM.  I rank them higher than the bottom three because 
in basic, parry and decise are very, very useful and the other three are harder to 
makewin early on.
     Aimed-Blows -- Can run as any of offensive, defensive, or hybrid.  They learn 
attack and riposte.  With 21 deftness, they are second only to L's in best 
attack/defense.  The conserve endurance perhaps equal or better than PS's and can use 
LO and SC.  However they can use FI and gain a bonus to defense skills, making them 
the strongest style past graduation.  They are one of the big three tourney styles, 
but as strikers dominate at the lower levels, aimed blows dominate at the upper levels 
(and rookies).  They cannot be bonused in decisiveness.  What makes them hard to run 
early on is their tendency to learn so much attack and riposte (which without other 
skills are not a pure winning formula).
     Parry-Ripostes -- Great hybrids, ok defensives.  They learn riposte, parry, and 
attack.  Their skills are frustratingly low, especially in attack and defense.  That 
said, they are in the moderate area of endurance conservation and can use LO and SC.  
Their best tourney success is in the lower tourneys, preying on strikers, but again, 
2nd tier at best.  One of the harder styles to master, especially because there aren't 
many good wind up strategies for them (every one seems to run optimally slightly 
differently).
     Parry-Lungers -- Mostly run as hybrids, have succeeded as defensives or 
offensives.  They learn initiative and parry.  Overall, their skills are strong, one 
of the higher attack skill styles.  They burn endurance like slashers and have access 
to LO and SC.  Traditionally one of the better styles in upper tourneys, not nearly as 
many of them are being run in today's game because of their difficulties in basic and 
are often considered a poor man's version of the lunger.

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

You can't have my throne, Convicted Assassin!

                                          -- Thunder Wonder

                                      SPY REPORT

     Good day, in NOBLISH ISLAND a quiet thief gets rich, but a quiet spymaster gets 
poor.  So bring me ale and harken to my tidbits of news.  It seems the training can 
make the difference, as GREYSKULL is pushed out of top team by DARK CLOUDS, who came 
from 2nd with a 4-1-0 this turn.  Now keep the taverns open late tonight, for there 
are sorrows to drown for MISFIT KINGS, whose 0-5-0 this turn dropped them by 5 into 
9th.  ODD SQUAD stable has parlayed this turn's 4-1-0 into a 6 space move up the 
rankings.  This brings them up to 3rd place.  Good work, guys!  The DARK CLOUDS guild 
has had a 4-1-0 turn and deserves to be watched in the future.  You never know where 
this kind of thing can lead.  And let's see, OLIVE fought JOPAR and gained 22 points 
and contributed to ODD SQUAD's 4-1-0.  NOTHING has lost to HENRY MORGAN, falling 10 
points, while helping make BASH BROS PEPPER a 2-3-0 turn.  Defending hers title for 
another turn, THUNDER WONDER kept NOBLISH ISLAND's warrior, CONVICTED ASSASSIN, from 
claiming the throne.  Tell me, is nothing sacred?  I have heard from unimpeachable 
sources that The Warty Toad uses trolls in their stew.  Talk about gristle!   
     I tell you, a green quarterstaff lasts longer than a seasoned sapling.  A basher 
friend of mine assures me this is true.  I also notice that the LINKS OF TERROR 
stable was the most avoided team this turn.  Come on NOBLISH ISLAND, what are you 
afraid of?  And guess who avoided LINKS OF TERROR stable the most?  Believe it or 
not, it was FAMOUS PIRATES.  Anyone surprised?  Well, sports fans, take notice that 
KIRENN from LINKS OF TERROR was NOBLISH ISLAND's most challenged warrior this turn.  
In a brave attempt, BASILISCUS from LIZARD DEN challenged up 19 points to fight GOING 
WITHOUT from the BASH BROS PEPPER stable.  BASILISCUS perhaps got his just desserts, 
seeing as he was overcame by GOING WITHOUT and ended up with 2 recognition points.   
     A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only once.  Wise men know this to 
be true.  Is it really true that NOBLISH ISLAND has more dishwashers per capita that 
fighters?  Just thought I'd ask...   
     I like this place, NOBLISH ISLAND, the taverns have old wine, and young serving 
girls.  Who could ask for more?  Well, I'm burning daylight here in NOBLISH ISLAND 
and I've a long road ahead of me.  Happy Trails.  Until the sun next rises and my pen 
sets to paper-- Alarond the Scribe  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 THUNDER WONDER 10029          6   1  0    88       DARK CLOUDS (1719)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JINGLE BELL 10015             6   1  0    43       DRIFTY DREAMS (1717)
 KIRENN 10020                  5   1  1    39       LINKS OF TERROR (1718)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BLACKBEARD 10031              5   1  0    32       FAMOUS PIRATES (1720)
 LONG JOHN SILVER 10063        3   0  0    32       FAMOUS PIRATES (1720)
 ANNE BONNY 10030              4   2  1    29       FAMOUS PIRATES (1720)
 LADYHAWKEYE 10044             2   2  0    28       MISFIT KINGS (1722)
 GOING WITHOUT 10037           5   1  0    26       BASH BROS PEPPER (1721)
 CAPTAIN KIDD 10034            4   2  1    25       FAMOUS PIRATES (1720)
 RAIN STORM 10028              6   1  0    24       DARK CLOUDS (1719)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 DAKUROZU 10026                2   4  0    24       DARK CLOUDS (1719)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 HENRY MORGAN 10032            2   4  0    23       FAMOUS PIRATES (1720)
 OLIVE 10061                   1   1  0    23       ODD SQUAD (1712)
 ELYTRA 10025                  5   2  0    22       DARK CLOUDS (1719)
 JINXEE 9988                   4   1  0    21       ODD SQUAD (1712)
 CANDY CANE 10019              2   5  0    21       DRIFTY DREAMS (1717)
 BONGO 10027                   3   4  0    19       DARK CLOUDS (1719)
 NOT ENOUGH 10038              2   4  0    16       BASH BROS PEPPER (1721)
 JOPAR 10023                   4   3  0    15       LINKS OF TERROR (1718)
 FRENAR 10022                  4   3  0    15       LINKS OF TERROR (1718)
 TONARION 10024                3   4  0    15       LINKS OF TERROR (1718)
 AZNA 10067                    1   1  0    15       LINKS OF TERROR (1718)
 BEOWULFISH 10043              2   2  0    14       MISFIT KINGS (1722)
 ONIHANA 10017                 2   4  0    14       DRIFTY DREAMS (1717)
 ODDO 10060                    2   0  0    14       ODD SQUAD (1712)
-MOLOCH 10052                  1   0  0    14       LIZARD DEN (1723)
-AUTUMNBE 9643                 3   2  0    12       CAVEAT EMPTOR (1657)
 HASAMI 10016                  2   5  0    11       DRIFTY DREAMS (1717)
 OAK 10062                     2   0  0    11       ODD SQUAD (1712)
 BALTHAZAR 10057               1   1  0    11       LEGIONS OF FATE (1724)
 CHEESE 10074                  1   0  0    11       DRIFTY DREAMS (1717)
 RAN OUT 10035                 2   4  0    10       BASH BROS PEPPER (1721)
 FILL THE SHAKER 10036         2   4  0    10       BASH BROS PEPPER (1721)
 KOMODOENSIS 10048             1   1  0    10       LIZARD DEN (1723)
 SYMGARA 10056                 1   1  0     9       LEGIONS OF FATE (1724)
-CHAMAELEONTIDAE 10050         1   0  0     9       LIZARD DEN (1723)
 BORON 10072                   1   0  0     9       KILL UNIT (1725)
 SIR TALON 10046               2   2  0     8       MISFIT KINGS (1722)
 NOTHING 10039                 1   5  0     8       BASH BROS PEPPER (1721)
 DUNCAN 10058                  1   1  0     7       LEGIONS OF FATE (1724)
-DRAXXUS 9644                  1   4  0     7       CAVEAT EMPTOR (1657)
 LUTHIEN 10059                 1   1  0     4       LEGIONS OF FATE (1724)
-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)
 BLIEW IZE 10055               0   2  0     2       LEGIONS OF FATE (1724)
 BASILISCUS 10049              0   2  0     2       LIZARD DEN (1723)
 SCOTCH MARY 10066             0   2  0     2       MISFIT KINGS (1722)
-DRACO AGAMIDAE 10051          0   1  0     1       LIZARD DEN (1723)
 LORD OF WAR 10068             0   1  0     1       KILL UNIT (1725)
 KIM 10069                     0   1  0     1       KILL UNIT (1725)
 ZENITH 10070                  0   1  0     1       KILL UNIT (1725)
 MS. O 10073                   0   1  0     1       ODD SQUAD (1712)
 CARVER 10071                  0   1  0     1       KILL UNIT (1725)

'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
FRANCIS DRAKE 10033     1  2 0 FAMOUS PIRATES 1720  KIRENN 10020          474   
ZENZA 10021             1  2 0 LINKS OF TERROR 1718 ANNE BONNY 10030      473  REVENGED
HABBUBLER 10047         1  3 0 MISFIT KINGS 1722    SPYMASTER             477  NONE

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Oh, no!  Old Pegleg was kidnapped!  Probably by that Assur person, who needed help 
strategizing for the Mailer and the upcoming Slaughter Challenge in DM45.  Assur is 
such a scallywag! -- The Consortium Elders
P.S. That means no pirateese this newsletter. (So sad.)

     Arrrrrgh. -- Ed.

Kirenn, Anne Bonny was quite impressed with your talent.  Way to "Blow The "Man" 
down!. -- The Consortium Administrative Assistant

Beowulfish, don't you find that newer literary characters oft smack down the older 
literary characters?  Long John Silver sends you a dubloon for your loss and 
suffering. -- The Consortium Administrative Assistant

Bubbles, Bubbles, Henry Morgan wanted more than that!  Couldn't you let him be on top? 
-- The Consortium Administrative Assistant

Sir Talon, Captain Kidd thanks you for the challenge and the easy win.  Did you know 
King Arthur in your day? -- The Consortium Administrative Assistant

Dakurozu, don't feel so bad about losing to Blackbeard.  Everybody seems to do it; it 
is the IN thing. -- The Consortium Administrative Assistant

To All, it is such a pleasure to see so many of you here on Noblish Island.  It is an 
honor to compete and discuss things with you.  Be sure to ASK SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT 
D2!!!!!!!!!  That is really what The Consortium and Assur are here for.  Ask us..... 
Ask us..... Ask us........... -- The Consortium Folk (And Assur, too)

What styles do Aimed Blows fear the most? -- Anonymous Coward

Rainstorm -- I still like rain! --Hasami

Old Pegleg -- A buccaneer, hahahaha! -- Kikyo

Long John Silver -- Good thing for you that Old Pegleg dressed you in all that metal.  
Bad for me though... Sin Zoo is making me run around the island everyday for more 
wind. -- Beowulfish

Captain Kidd -- This is not over between us!  I will have my revenge for you making me 
look silly in front of all those people. -- Sir Talon

Good people of Noblish Island, Ladyhawkeye is well worth the price of admission.  
Please, continue to come and watch her ascension to Duelmaster of this fine arena... 
she will not disappoint! -- Sin Zoo (Misfit Kings)

Commodore Pegleg and Lord Assur -- I have read a number of training articles regarding 
the benefits of training either skills or attributes for my warriors.  With regard to 
the topic of "skill burn"... if I train a warrior's attribute (say Speed to a 12) and 
the charts in the CIC tell me that I "burned" on of each INI and DEC, but the fight 
report only says that Speed was increased...  How do I know for sure that I've 
"burned" INI and DEC and have received a increase in both skills?  There was an 
increase that I did to an attribute that should have given one of my warriors an 
"Expert" rating in the skill through a "burn" increase, but the fight report didn't 
say anything regarding the skill increase or the rating. -- Sin Zoo (Misfit Kings)

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

HABBUBLER was butchered by SPYMASTER in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
LADYHAWKEYE lost to JINGLE BELL in a action packed 1 minute Challenge battle.
CANDY CANE demolished FILL THE SHAKER in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
HENRY MORGAN devastated NOTHING in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge contest.
LONG JOHN SILVER luckily beat ELYTRA in a 2 minute bloody Challenge match.
KOMODOENSIS was devastated by KIRENN in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
SCOTCH MARY was devastated by NOT ENOUGH in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match.
BEOWULFISH was luckily beaten by RAIN STORM in a 4 minute Challenge melee.
SIR TALON was vanquished by DAKUROZU in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
BASILISCUS was vanquished by GOING WITHOUT in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge duel.
THUNDER WONDER overpowered CONVICTED ASSASSIN in a 1 minute gory uneven Title match.
BLACKBEARD defeated FRENAR in a 2 minute match.
CAPTAIN KIDD was luckily beaten by CAPTURED ORC in a 1 minute bloody competition.
BONGO bested SYMGARA in a exciting 2 minute bloody battle.
TONARION luckily beat HASAMI in a crowd pleasing 4 minute gory conflict.
ANNE BONNY vanquished RAN OUT in a 1 minute mismatched bout.
JOPAR was vanquished by OLIVE in a 1 minute one-sided fray.
ONIHANA was bested by ODDO in a crowd pleasing 3 minute gory brawl.
JINXEE overpowered KIM in a 1 minute one-sided match.
BLIEW IZE was overpowered by CHEESE in a 1 minute one-sided match.
BALTHAZAR handily defeated MS. O in a 1 minute mismatched competition.
DUNCAN savagely defeated LORD OF WAR in a 2 minute brutal beginner's fight.
LUTHIEN was savagely defeated by AZNA in a action packed 4 minute beginner's fray.
OAK outlasted CARVER in a slow 12 minute novice's match.
ZENITH was viciously subdued by EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a 1 minute novice's match.
BORON defeated CONVICTED THIEF in a action packed 1 minute novice's bout.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|BASHING ATTACK                  10         WALL OF STEEL      3 -   0 -  0     100  |
|AIMED BLOW                       8         LUNGING ATTACK    25 -   9 -  0      74  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  8         AIMED BLOW        26 -  19 -  1      58  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      6         TOTAL PARRY       23 -  17 -  0      58  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    6         STRIKING ATTACK   24 -  24 -  1      50  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   4         BASHING ATTACK    30 -  36 -  1      45  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  3         PARRY-STRIKE       6 -   9 -  0      40  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         PARRY-RIPOSTE     11 -  22 -  0      33  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         SLASHING ATTACK   10 -  20 -  0      33  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         PARRY-LUNGE        1 -   4 -  0      20  |

Turn 477 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     SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  2         4  STRIKING ATTACK
WALL OF STEEL      1 -  0     LUNGING ATTACK     1 -  3         3  AIMED BLOW     
AIMED BLOW         5 -  3     PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  5         2  TOTAL PARRY    
STRIKING ATTACK    5 -  3     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  0         2  BASHING ATTACK 
BASHING ATTACK     5 -  5     
TOTAL PARRY        3 -  3     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  THUNDER WONDER 10029        6   1  0   88 DARK CLOUDS (1719)
AIMED BLOW       KIRENN 10020                5   1  1   39 LINKS OF TERROR (1718)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is HASAMI 10016.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was HASAMI 10016.  The ten other most popular fighters were AZNA 10067, LUTHIEN 
10059, BEOWULFISH 10043, ONIHANA 10017, SYMGARA 10056, BLACKBEARD 10031, JINGLE BELL 
10015, ELYTRA 10025, DUNCAN 10058, and NOT ENOUGH 10038.

The least popular fighter this week was CARVER 10071.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were OAK 10062, ZENITH 10070, LORD OF WAR 10068, MS. O 10073, BLIEW IZE 
10055, KIM 10069, JOPAR 10023, RAN OUT 10035, FRENAR 10022, and BASILISCUS 10049.

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Thank you.  We wish you the best of luck in your games! -- RSI

                                  A NOTE ON MAILMEN

     In response to the articles on new fighting styles, those were good, but how can 
you forget our most favorite warrior who has a style all his own?  The Mailman!  To 
Duelmasters he is our most sacred person.  I mean, how many of you managers out their 
have sat down and calculated what day your Duelmasters will arrive and have sat 
waiting for it to arrive, while unknown to you, your mailman is fighting away to get 
your Duelmasters delivered.  Let's review him...
     ST - should be around 19.  He needs to heft two medium bags, cloth mail armor and 
a ton of rubber bands.
     CN - 13, give or take a few.  He does get bitten by dogs often.
     SZ - Any.
     WT - At least 10.  He often likes to read the mail.
     WL - Try about 20.  He must endure all kinds of weather.
     SP - 16 is good.  He needs to run across streets in traffic.
     DF - 10 is good.  Sometimes he has to carry packages.
     This setup should get you a good mailman but they are hard to come by.  If you 
can come up with any better, diplo me.  I am:

                                   Staple Gun
                                   mgr. of Technet (3)
                                   The New Deal (23)

     I am currently working on the U.P.S. and Federal Express warriors.

                                   "Strikers R Us"

     Greetings, everyone.  It is I, Talon, again.  I am very glad to see everyone 
participating in the arena and sharing their thoughts on styles and strategies.  This 
turn I will take on the striking attack style, which is certainly one of my favorites.
     I believe the striker is one of the easiest styles to run, and one in which no 
team should be without.  A high-powered striker can diversify and empower your team.  
A well run striker can beat any other style, period, at any level in regular 
Duelmasters.  In arenas where scum TPs are rampant, strikers are just the answer as 
they can attack for up to 12 minutes or more.  Strikers are versatile.  They can do 
exceptionally well with a dagger as a weapon or with a halberd.  They can do well with 
no armor or with plate armor.

Stats:

               Biff     Primal         Solid         Perfect
     
ST             5-21      9-17           13             15
CN              3+        3+             6              3
SZ             9-21      3-17            9              5
WT             3-17      17 +           17             21
WL             9-17      13 +           17             15
SP              5+       5-13            9              8
DF              9+       9-17           13             17

     With the way I design strikers, there are essentially two strikers that evolve.  
The BIFF and the PRIMAL.  The Biff striker is typically one that is not looking long-
term, but one which I want to run and have fun with.  With this striker, I try to have 
one stat (wit, will, or deftness) which is extraordinary, one which is average, and 
the other ends up being at some non-normal level.  Some examples of the Biff are: 10-
10-11-4-17-17-15, 7-11-17-17-11-6-15, 9-5-14-17-11-13-15, 4-8-17-15-13-10-17, and 21-
3-15-21-5-8-11.  With these warriors, the emphasis is on having fun and learning more 
about the style.
     The Primal is essentially a Primus-quality warrior.  In this category, the 
striker will be designed with stats that most other managers will gasp, "OH MY, WHY 
DID YOU MAKE HIM A STRIKER?"  It is also the warrior that will be Duelmaster for 8 
straight turns and will go to ADM with a 16-4-2 record, with 4 Masters and an Ad Ex.  
The key here is to create a warrior with AT LEAST a 17 wit and 15 deftness, along with 
a 13+ will and who will do normal damage or better.  The goal with the Primal is a 21 
wit and 17 deftness, because this will ensure a great warrior.
     Weapons and Armor:  As for weapons, the best striking weapons that I have found 
and used are the dagger, epee, scimitar, broadsword, quarterstaff, greatsword, 
longsword, war hammer, and sometimes the short spear.  I don't run my strikers with 
shields or off-hand weapons, as it takes away from their attack.  The heaviest armor I 
will use is padded leather.  Always wear a steel cap or a helm.

Strategy (general):

Min.           1    2    3    4    5    6+   Desp
OE             10   8    6    6    6    5    5
AL             10   5    4    2    2    1    8
KD             6    8    6    6    6    5    5
attack         arms/legs/head -- take your pick
protect        arms/legs/head -- take your pick
off tactic     decise, slash, bash,  depending on weapon
def tactic     response is best; try dodge though.

     With this strategy, a striker with a normal endurance should fight for eight 
minutes as a scum TP and come out on top, outrageously victorious.  Just match your 
weapon with your tactic and only use the tactics in minute one or desperation.
     If you have any further questions on this or any other style, feel free to diplo 
me.

                                                  Talon, mgr. Eagle's Claw

                    HOW I MADE DUELMASTER IN THREE EASY STEPS


                                          OR
                              a new look for Aimed Blows

     Greetings and salutations, all.  Here's a new twist on aimed blows I haven't seen 
before....one that works, at least for me!  Here's what I did with Rex Walters, my 
first Duelmaster in the Free Blades transfer arena, DM 70.
     ST: 17     (for good damage, attack and parry skills)
     CN: 13     (gonna need every hit point he can get)
     SZ: 4      (smaller the better!)
     WT: 4      (overrated for aimed blows!)
     WL: 21     (if ya try this method, 17 is a MINIMUM)
     SP: 4      (ya want NO speed, none, nothing, zero!)
     DF: 21     (better max this one out too, at least a 19)

     You laugh at me?  I started expert in both attack and parry! (OK, so I got lucky, 
I didn't expect either one of em.)  But both are in reach with a little luck.  Hey, if 
ya can get that strength to 21 you're almost guaranteed those experts... though a bit 
more CON would be nice.
     But how do I RUN this monstrosity, you may ask?  Why, I'm glad you inquired!  
LOTS of armor.  The hit points combined with, say, platemail should win this character 
a lot of fights.  But, while I've picked up a few easy wins scumming, that's not 
really what this character does best.
     I use the only weapon Rex is well suited to: the bare hand.  With an offhand 
small shield or shortsword, so I can take advantage of that expert parry rating.  So: 
FI-SH, APM-H.
     And I run him at a 4 offensive effort, with a matching 4 activity level.  He can 
last through the initial onslaught of nearly any offensive, then smash them.... like a 
good waste.  And with that monster endurance and good damage, no one scums this 
warrior!
     I attack and protect the head, usually, and keep the kill desire high... 5-7 
generally.  Now, how to become Duelmaster?
     Well, step one is fight your first fight... and train your CON.  Step two, now 
that you're in the arena, is get a fight with an up-and-coming young warrior from the 
Duelmaster's team... and kill them.  (I randomly matched up with, and killed, a member 
of the incoming Duelmaster's team...luck helps, ya know.) Offensives that wear 
themselves out but haven't quite dropped are the easiest to kill.
     Then, when the Duelmaster comes at you (bragging about how he "only" needs to 
beat you twice to assure his ascension to the Isle) you stomp him.  Badly.  Once 
you're on that lofty throne he won't even be able to bloodfeud you, since you can bet 
he's not gonna be anywhere near the challenger champions after losing to a 2-fight 
warrior (just ask Ciron of ENDS WITH IRON, now in AD).
     There are drawbacks, of course.  Once you get to that level, odds are you're 
gonna get stomped like a stuck pig (I was most challenged 2 turns in a row after this 
trick... Oo!  I love mixed metaphors...)  But... even a 4 wit warrior can learn skills 
against gladiators with 50 fights!
     Rex is now 7-3-1.  All three losses have come against warriors now in AD. In 
those ten matches, he's trained his strength and constitution once each, and learned 
twenty skills, including his adex in both parry and attack.  And boy, is it fun 
humiliating some of those "gods" bound for AD!
     What else can one do with this warrior?  Well, Rex is, get this, well suited to 
an off-hand epee!  He wouldn't dare use one as a primary weapon, but its a great off-
hand toy...
     Does he have what it takes to be a long-term winner?  Who knows?  He's probably 
the DUMBEST aimed blow to ever make Duelmaster... He's in the Challenger Champions and 
climbing....and he'll meet ya in AD! 
     Amazingly enough, this is not an isolated fluke.  We entered a similar warrior 
into Bloodgames (with the 4's as 3's, and a bit more CON).  That warrior, Jalon, is 
now in AD after going 9-1-5 and finishing on TOP of his Bloodgames arena.
     Ah, just thought I'd mention I have had a second bare-handed Duelmaster, now... 
Seeker Still Water in DM 74 is an open-hand lunger, Duelmaster at 8-1... but that's 
another story...

                                             --Khyron
                                             mgr., Pitt Gladiators (2,29,56,103)
                                             Jayhawks        (70)
                                             Silent Storm    (65,74,75)
                                             and numerous others....

                          THE WALL OF STEEL AS A BERSERKER

     This article is for newer players; more experienced managers will, I'm sure, have 
much more sophisticated ideas about warrior design and strategy.  This will enable a 
newbie to design a competent warrior who should be able to achieve a better than 50/50 
record.
     The wall of steel, or "waste," is often considered the second scummiest style in 
Duelmasters.  I love the style, but I don't run mine that way; I prefer to think of 
the waste as a fierce dervish ripping into his opponent like an airplane propeller.  
In accordance with this view, most walls of steel that I design couldn't scum if they 
wanted to (well all right, sometimes it happens by accident if the opposing warrior is 
going all-out and can't last very long).  It's fun to run them fast; they get the jump 
on people who don't expect it of them, and their fights are exciting.  Mind you, they 
don't win as much as if they ran more defensively, but the ones with good stats still 
do okay (I'll make practically anything a waste and run it, but this article isn't 
about the ones that a sane manager would DA).
     So, here is a design for a competent wall of steel:

ST   13+  Needed for endurance, damage doing, and weapon selection.
CN    9+  You need a passably good con for endurance.
SZ    7+  Teeny weenie wastes don't hit hard enough or take enough damage.  Real big 
          (15+) is bad because it hurts endurance.
WT   13+  Preferably 17.  Like any other style, the smarter they are, the better.
WL   17+  Needed for endurance, damage-taking, and sheer grit.  21 is recommended.
SP    3+  Whatever.
DF    7+  Higher deftness is better, but you can get by without it.

     As you can see, these are fairly easy requirements.  Of course, the more wit, 
will, and deftness, the better your waste will be (same as any other style).  If you 
don't end up with at least good endurance on the overview, the warrior probably isn't 
going to do very well.  With that high will, though, you can bump con a couple of 
times and you might get good endurance, so there's still a chance.
     Choose your weapons based on deftness, and your opponent's armor weight.  I 
normally use something like 0-8 SC, 9-12 BS, 13+ GA, backup SC or BS.  No shield.  
Some other good weapons for the waste are QS (only takes 11 ST, and can hit heavy 
armor), MS, and BA.  The war flail isn't a very good weapon, but you can play with it 
against leather armor.  For armor, I usually choose something middling like ARM & H, 
but will go with APL & H if he has a lot of con.
     For strategy--I heard a rumor (NOT confirmed) that a wall of steel gets a bonus 
if his OE equals his KD.  Since I don't like to use a kill desire above 6, I don't go 
by that in the first couple of minutes.  Keep the activity level moderate to low; the 
waste doesn't need to jump around a lot and the way he keeps his weapon moving, he's 
burning a lot of endurance without that added drain.  Attack and defend the arms, like 
a slasher; a waste is a sort of parry-slasher.  A typical strategy for my wastes might 
look like this:

Minute    1    2    3    4    5    6    Desp
Offensive 9    8    7    6    5    5    2
Activity  6    5    4    3    2    1    6
Kill des. 6    6    6    6    5    5    2
Att. loc. RA   LA   RA   LA   RA   LA   RA
Pro. loc. AM   AM   AM   AM   AM   AM   HE
Off tac.  none --   --   --   --   --   --
Def tac.  --   --   --   --   --   --   P

     I play with the numbers a lot, depending on what the warrior seems to like.  For 
example, if he doesn't parry too well, I'll give him a more offensive desperation 
strategy, like 8-4-8-slash.  (If I really like a warrior I sometimes use a 7+ KD to 
try and save his life.)  If he never manages to get the jump on anybody, I'll try 
running him more defensively, like with a first minute of 3-6-3.  It's not as much fun 
as going all out, but it's more fun than losing all the time.
     You can challenge pretty much any style (lungers aren't recommended).  When 
fighting a warrior you know to be very defensive (a TP, or a scummy variety of PS, PR, 
PL, or WS), slow down or you will be scummed.  For the most part, though, an offensive 
waste is very versatile and can beat any style.  The better his important qualities 
are (WT, WL, DF, endurance), the better the quality of warriors he can defeat.  In 
other words, if you have a so-so rollup that barely made the minimum requirements, 
challenge so-so opponents.  If you have a good rollup, go for the gold.  Challenge 
warriors with a few more fights than you, so you'll learn plenty of skills--but don't 
challenge way way up in experience, because it's no fun to lose a good warrior.
     For the most part, train skills--especially on your challenge strategy, when 
you're going after someone with more fights!  And for sure on the first fight, because 
you'll likely be matched against someone who can teach you a lot.  It's okay to train 
con once in a while if you need more endurance and damage-taking; and if you have bad 
luck on the rollup and get "does little damage" or something, you might have to train 
strength once or twice (no more!).  But it's best not to train any other stats until 
way, way down the road.
     Ask your DM sponsor or any experienced manager in your arena for more advice (if 
they tell you I'm full of hot air, they're probably right).  A little bit of good 
advice from a more advanced player can make a big difference in your enjoyment of the 
game!
     If you have any questions or suggestions, you can diplo:  the She-Puppy, mgr. 
Mordant Prison DM-1, and others.