DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 03/29/2019    Duedate: 04/11/2019

NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA

DM 93    TURN 527

This Week's Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

SLOW
BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)
(93-10251) [6-0-0,73]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

POSITION IS EMPTY              SLOW
                               BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)
                               (93-10251) [6-0-0,73]

Popularity Leader              This Week's Favorite

FORD GRENADA                   FORD GRENADA
C CARS (1752)                  C CARS (1752)
(93-10244) [2-4-0,20]          (93-10244) [2-4-0,20]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)      34 
2. C CARS (1752)                 -11   DRAGON'S FIRE (711)
                                       Unchartered Team

                                       BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1*BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)  20   8  0 71.4   1/ 1*BASH BROS DRIVING (1753) 11  4 0
 2- 3*SHADOWBORN (1751)          9  11  1 45.0   2/ 2*C CARS (1752)             5 10 0
 3/ 2*C CARS (1752)             13  17  0 43.3   3- 3*SHADOWBORN (1751)         3  2 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

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.

Look at that!  I somehow beat that Veteran Mercenary.  I won't beat one of the tougher 
champ level NPC's, but denying those old beat up cars the throne for even a single 
turn was very satisfying.

And with the win, it is possible I can lose and keep the throne!

MUHAHAHAHA.  Good luck to me.  Bad luck to Jalopy man!

                                          -- Slow

                                      SPY REPORT

     Greetings, warriors of NOBLISH ISLAND!  Once again I've been called out of 
retirement for my abilities and insights into Spyreporting.  What's with SUNDAY 
DRIVER?  He actually beat C CARS' DODGE CHARGER, and walked away with 18 more points 
from the fight.  Laughs were big at BASH BROS DRIVING while they watched SUNDAY 
DRIVER clobber DODGE CHARGER.  It lost 13 points and got bruised from objects thrown 
from the stands.  Try as he might, CONVICTED ASSASSIN wasn't good enough at 
persuading SLOW to step down from the Duelmaster's throne...  Advice to fighters with 
a 1 will--give up fighting!   
     No matter the time or place, men will always duel.  How well I know the feeling 
of being in the most avoided team!  Don't fall out of practive, C CARS!  In my day, 
no team with a 12-13-0 would scare me off!  What's the problem, BASH BROS DRIVING?  
How well I know the feeling of being the most challenged warrior, SPEEDING TICKET!  
Don't make idle boasts, they may come back to haunt you.   
     Warriors of NOBLISH ISLAND unite.  You have only your games to lose!  Is it my 
imagination, or are fighters getting younger every day?  To die so young, so 
gloriously!   
     Who knows what the future holds for a warrior.  More fights, there's no doubt.  
Are you as tired of reading this as I am of writing it?  Actually, I guess I'm 
writing it before you read it.  Oh, well.  Remember--a good fighter needs both good 
skills and good luck.  Until next time,-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SLOW 10251                    6   0  0  73         BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)  

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JEEP CHEROKEE 10248           4   2  0  33         C CARS (1752)             
 SPEEDING TICKET 10254         5   0  0  30         BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)  

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SUNDAY DRIVER 10253           3   2  0  30         BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)  
 CAR TROUBLES 10255            3   0  0  25         BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)  

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 FORD GRENADA 10244            2   4  0  20         C CARS (1752)             
-GRIM SHADOW 10240             3   1  0  16         SHADOWBORN (1751)         
-GWEN NIGHTROSE 10236          2   2  0  15         SHADOWBORN (1751)         
-DUNKEN BLACKROSE 10239        2   2  0  15         SHADOWBORN (1751)         
 RAV 4 TOYOTA 10247            2   4  0  14         C CARS (1752)             
 DODGE CHARGER 10246           3   3  0  12         C CARS (1752)             
 KIA SOUL 10245                2   4  0  10         C CARS (1752)             
 ALMOST HIT 10252              2   4  0  10         BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)  
-ERIC VAN QUNN 10238           2   2  1   9         SHADOWBORN (1751)         
-ASHER BLACK 10256             0   1  0   1         SHADOWBORN (1751)         

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
TRAFFIC 10250           1  2 0 BASH BROS DRIVI 1753 ERIC VAN QUNN 10238   524   

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Shadowborn and Assur, I feel squeezed. I am trying to compete in an arena with a 30 
year vet and a newcomer that seems to already know what he is doing;  yet, The 
Commission has given me, by far, the worst set of recruits I, or any other Consortium 
Managers, have had to train. (Whew! That was a long sentence.) I think I am just going 
to go eat a dozen donuts and feel happy for a moment. -- Joe Jalopy

Hey, Assur, that was quite a fine summary of styles. Well done. -- Joe Jalopy
P.S. What's a tank basher? (Joking; joking.)
P.P.S. If I wanted a basher to both plate up and use a greatsword, it would have 11 
DF. If I didn't really want the GS, and I cannot remember the last time I used one, a 
lot of 7DF might occur.
P.P.S. My friend, Crip, another 30+ year manager like us, uses the GS a LOT.

Mr. Van Queen, all I can say is vroom, vroom!

Sunday Driver, get outta my way! -- Jeep Cherokee

I will not allow the Soul, Rav4, and Granada to post a comment, since they all lost. 
-- Joe Jalopy

All, sometimes we old-timers, use different abbreviations and nicknames for things, so 
I thought I would list those I use for styles. (Noting they are slightly different 
than Assur's.) AB (aimer), BA (basher), LU (lunger), PL (plunger), PR (ripper), PS 
(piker), SL (slasher), ST (striker), TP (tp or scum), WS (waste). -- Joe Jalopy

Joe Jalopy -- Wow, you must be a probationary Consortium manager. Excuses for 
losing?!? Very sad. Real Consortium managers figure out how to win 60% regardless of 
what the RUGs bless or curse them with. Enjoy your last 5 turns in the Consortium (if 
you even get that long). -- Assur

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

FORD GRENADA was unbelievably bested by SPEEDING TICKET in a 3 minute Challenge fight.
SLOW savagely defeated CONVICTED ASSASSIN in a 2 minute brutal Title melee.
JEEP CHEROKEE was overpowered by DANGEROUS CRIMINAL in a 1 minute mismatched duel.
DODGE CHARGER was devastated by SUNDAY DRIVER in a exciting 1 minute one-sided fight.
KIA SOUL was viciously subdued by CAR TROUBLES in a 3 minute gruesome brawl.
ALMOST HIT was savagely defeated by RAV 4 TOYOTA in a 2 minute brutal struggle.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|AIMED BLOW                       2         AIMED BLOW        10 -   4 -  0      71  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   2         TOTAL PARRY       10 -   6 -  0      63  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   2         STRIKING ATTACK    9 -   6 -  0      60  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      2         LUNGING ATTACK    10 -   7 -  0      59  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         PARRY-STRIKE       1 -   1 -  0      50  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  1         WALL OF STEEL     10 -  11 -  1      48  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         BASHING ATTACK    11 -  13 -  1      46  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         SLASHING ATTACK    2 -   3 -  0      40  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    0         PARRY-RIPOSTE      2 -   5 -  0      29  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  0         PARRY-LUNGE        0 -   0 -  0       0  |

Turn 527 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:

WALL OF STEEL      1 -  0     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  0         3  AIMED BLOW     
AIMED BLOW         1 -  1     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         2  LUNGING ATTACK 
LUNGING ATTACK     1 -  1     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  0         2  BASHING ATTACK 
BASHING ATTACK     1 -  1     SLASHING ATTACK    0 -  0         2  STRIKING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY        1 -  1     STRIKING ATTACK    0 -  1         1  TOTAL PARRY    
                                                                1  WALL OF STEEL  

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   SLOW 10251                  6   0  0   73 BASH BROS DRIVING (1753)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is FORD GRENADA 10244.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was FORD GRENADA 10244.  The ten other most popular fighters were CAR TROUBLES 
10255, SLOW 10251, KIA SOUL 10245, DODGE CHARGER 10246, RAV 4 TOYOTA 10247, SUNDAY 
DRIVER 10253, SPEEDING TICKET 10254, JEEP CHEROKEE 10248, ALMOST HIT 10252, and  0.

The least popular fighter this week was ALMOST HIT 10252.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were JEEP CHEROKEE 10248, SPEEDING TICKET 10254, SUNDAY DRIVER 
10253, RAV 4 TOYOTA 10247, DODGE CHARGER 10246, KIA SOUL 10245, SLOW 10251, CAR 
TROUBLES 10255, FORD GRENADA 10244, and  0.