DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 08/30/2019 Duedate: 09/12/2019
NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA
DM 93 TURN 538
This Week's Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
PLUMBER
OCCUPATIONS (1755)
(93-10265) [6-1-1,52]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
POSITION IS EMPTY PLUMBER
OCCUPATIONS (1755)
(93-10265) [6-1-1,52]
Popularity Leader This Week's Favorite
FAST CARS FAST CARS
BASH BROS YUPPIE (1754) BASH BROS YUPPIE (1754)
(93-10258) [4-3-0,17] (93-10258) [4-3-0,17]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
OCCUPATIONS (1755)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. OCCUPATIONS (1755) 22
2. BASH BROS YUPPIE (1754) -2 COLD IRON BLOWS (794)
Unchartered Team
OCCUPATIONS (1755)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1*OCCUPATIONS (1755) 20 15 1 57.1 1/ 1*OCCUPATIONS (1755) 8 7 1
2- 2*THE FAMILY (1756) 16 13 1 55.2 2/ 2*BASH BROS YUPPIE (1754) 8 7 0
3/ 3*BASH BROS YUPPIE (1754) 18 17 0 51.4 3- 4*LOST LEGION (1757) 2 3 1
4- 4*LOST LEGION (1757) 11 14 5 44.0 4- 3*THE FAMILY (1756) 2 3 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 Pure Defensives
After the offensives, parry-based defensives are the easiest style to master, though
there are also dodge-based defensive warriors out there (the dodge-based defensives
are harder to win with in basic).
1) Design
In creating a pure defensive, the things that you should be concerned about are:
* Hit Points, Carry Ability, Endurance, and your skills in parry and/or defense.
Again, other attributes and skills can't hurt, but those are the vital attributes
for how you'll be fighting.
* Hit Points come from Constitution (mostly), Size, and Will
* Carry Ability comes from Strength and Constitution, though if your Strength is
lower than your Constitution, the carry ability only comes from your Strength.
* Endurance comes from Strength, Constitution, and Will (especially Will)
* You get Parry Skills at
Str: 5, 7, 15, 17, 21, 21
Siz: (5), (7), (15), (17), (21), (21)
Wil: 5, 7, 15, 17, 21, 21
Dft: 5, 7, 9, 11, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 21
* You get Defense Skills at
Siz: (5), (7), (15), (17), (21), (21)
Wit: 5, 7, 9, 11, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 21
Wil: 5, 7, 15, 17, 21, 21
Spd: 5, 7, 15, 17, 21, 21
Dft: 5, 7, 9, 11, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 21
Note that for parry and defense skills in size, you get penalized for having higher
sizes.
For parry based styles, it is highly recommended to have 11+ strength and as much will
as you can get. Eleven deftness is also very nice. You can't have too much
constitution. It is recommended to not be too big, because you don't typically have
enough points for the stats you really want. Wit is nice, but not necessary. Almost
always, 1 point of con is better than 1 parry skill.
For dodge based styles, it is much tougher. ABs are usually made with 21 deftness
because they get attack skill bonuses, but for a pure defensive dodging AB, the
deftness isn't as vital. If you're going open handed, strength can be sacrificed. I
do not know as much about pure defensive AB's, especially in basic. For Lungers, you
want lots and lots of endurance. Twenty-one will and as much strength and
constitution as you can get. Low size is highly recommended for dodge based
defensives. Somehow you also need to have enough defense skills from your other stats
to be able to dodge.
High speed is not desired on either, simply because you want those points elsewhere.
Simply because of all the parry & defense skills, 11 deftness is suggested as a
minimum.
2) Style Choice
For parry based defensives, any style that learns parry naturally works fine. Style
is almost irrelevant, because in most of these fights, a couple of parry skills or
endurance burn doesn't come in to play. There are times when it does, which is what
makes Total Parries the king (good endurance conservation and best natural parry in
the game), but all of these styles can be very, very successful as pure defensives.
* Total Parries are the most common pure defensive on the sands. There are plenty
of nicknames for Total Parries who are pure defensives, because of how
frustrating it can be to face them. They learn parry and defense skills
naturally, are well suited to all of the shields, and often ignore opportunities
to attack. They also have the highest parry base in the game.
* Parry Strikers would be my next choice. They conserve endurance better than any
of the other parry based pure defensives. They learn parry naturally. They are
well suited to the Small Shield.
* Parry Ripostes conserve somewhere around the same level as Total Parries. They
learn parry skills naturally. Because they also learn so many riposte skills,
even running defensive strategies they will tend to try to gain the initiative.
They are one of the best natural hybrids, but they make fine pure defensives as
well.
* Parry Lungers burn endurance much faster than the styles listed above. They
have much higher skill bases overall, but their parry is the same as Parry
Ripostes and Parry Strikers. They learn parry naturally.
* Wall of Steels have the potential for the highest parry in the game. Total
Parries will never be bonused in parry skills, so while they start with the
most, a Wall of Steel can be bonused and start with two more parry skills than
any other style can. On the other side of things, they burn endurance faster
than any of the other styles listed and typically use heavier weapons. Like
Parry Lungers, they have a higher overall skill base, but for the discussion of
the pure defensive, those other skills don't matter as much.
The other option is a dodge based Pure Defensive. Most of the time, these styles are
run as hybrids in later minutes, but they both have the ability to run as pure
defensives for an entire fight.
* Lungers are the king in basic. They learn defense naturally and have the
highest starting defense in the game. In fact, they are the only style other
than Total Parries that learns defense naturally. On the down side, they burn
endurance fast.
* Aimed Blows are the other style that typically runs as a pure dodge defensive. I
do not know much about these warriors, but watching them is a thing of beauty.
In ADM, when they can start going open handed without concern, they rule the
game, but even in basic, they can be very successful. The down side for them is
that they do not learn defense skills naturally, so you're really hoping it is
their favorite learn.
As always, any style can be run as a pure defensive, for part of a fight or an entire
fight. The styles listed above are merely the traditional choices. And realize that
the dodge based styles I list are often run as hybrids in later minutes. The line
between a pure defensive and a hybrid is often blurred, because even some Total Parry
pure scum will attack and win fights after their opponent is exhausted (which is one
of the hybrid strategies I will mention later).
3) Weapon Selection (with requirements)
If you aren't planning to attack, it hardly matters what weapon you use, right?
Typically, parry based pure defensives use an off hand shield (and often a main hand
shield)
* Large Shield (13 Str, 3 Wit, 7 Dft) (10+ Dft to use in off hand, depending on Main
hand weapon)
* Medium Shield (9 Str, 3 Wit, 5 Dft) (7+ Dft to use in off hand)
* Small Shield (5 Str, 3 Wit, 5 Dft) (7+ Dft to use in off hand) ABs often use their
Fists, because they get a bonus to their ability to dodge. As with style choice,
weapons selection often does not matter for these fights. The fight outcome is
more a function of your opponent's ability to take you down or wait you out, not
on your abilities or skills.
* Main hand weapon is whatever you are well suited to. BA (requies 15 str, 7 wit,
and 11 deft; plus 9 size if using an off hand) is a nice high damage/low wit
choice. SS is a nice low wit choice for some other styles (9 str, 5 wit, and 7
deft). For a dodging warrior, LS might also be a good choice (11 str, 9 siz, 5
wit, and 9 deft).
4) Strategy and Tactics
For your parry based pure defensive, 1-1 Parry or 1-1 Open works great. The response
tactic has some interesting uses, especially in minute 1 or minute 6. Note that this
strategy will usually make your fights quite boring to read, especially the 1-1 parry
strategy. This strategy and type of warrior is not meant to be fun, but good ones can
amass amazing records, especially before Advanced Duel2. Your best challenges are
styles that burn their endurance fastest (Lungers, Wall of Steels, and Parry Lungers)
or any warrior that does average damage and runs hot (Many bashers, slashers and
strikers). Stay away from Aimed Blows!!! Really not recommended for a parry based
defensive to run higher than 6-6 in minute 1.
For the dodge based pure defensive, High Activity Level is important. How high
depends largely on your warrior. Experiment to find what works best. Offensive
Effort is typically low. Dodge or Open for tactics.
Once again, the line between pure defensive and hybrid can become very blurred. Not
attacking at all may not be your best way to win fights. What if in a later minute
you raise your offensive effort and do not use a defensive tactic? You're suddenly
not fighting as a pure defensive. For many warriors, this is a much better strategy
than simply trying to wait until your opponent drops from exhaustion. The mechanics
of the game can allow for some very strange results. I had a basher with very little
endurance and 3 will refuse to drop from exhaustion and finally won after 6 minutes
against a total parry. This is probably more important for dodge based defensives,
but can also be true for parry based defensives.
5) Armor
APA/F is the norm. ASM/x is a nice choice, especially against that nasty SC. For
dodging defensives, I've experimented a lot and don't have a conclusion as to what
armor is best. I try not to overencumber for a dodge warrior, but even though
warriors don't dodge as well with APA/F, it is not clear to me that you shouldn't wear
APA/F.
SPY REPORT
Well, what are you looking at, NOBLISH ISLAND? Ain't you never seen Snide
Clemens before? Ah, shaddup and listen to my news. Of course, we're all terribly
impressed to see ENGINEER win a fight and gain 18 points, terribly. Tsk, tsk,
ENGINEER beat FAST CARS and FAST CARS lost 16 points. You're breakin' my heart. Due
to absence, and inability to defend the throne, RAMIAL has lost the Title of
Duelmaster. Start setting that alarm earlier! And it's out with the old, in with
the new, as PLUMBER takes the Title and last week's bar tab from the old Duelmaster.
Heh, heh. The Welcome Wench, humph! I've tasted better ale at mortuaries. Where do
they get this stuff? From NOBLISH ISLAND's trash dumps?
He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day, the coward. NOBLISH
ISLAND, I am losing what little hope I had in you. OCCUPATIONS the most avoided
team? What insult will suffice, I cannot say. And it looks like BASH BROS YUPPIE
avoided them the most this turn. What a pack of would be losers, if you ask me.
Hmph. Ooh, I'm frightfully impressed, FAST CARS was this turn's most challenged
warrior. Watch that ego swell, sports fans.
Death and Taxes. The less death I see, the more it taxes my patience. Let's
see if anyone's dead or dying. And one more turn will show if THE FAMILY can
successfully bloodfeud that elusive SPINX over PAPA JOE. Honor is like a chainmail
shirt, it only shines through use. Certain nameless cowards will doubtless rebuke me
on this one.
There's got to be a better place in NOBLISH ISLAND to get a drink than The
Welcome Wench! Any suggestions? Just wait 'till next time I show up here, I won't
be so nice! So nyaaah! Paste this one in your scrapbooks, you'll need the kindling
come this winter-- Snide Clemens
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
PLUMBER 10265 6 1 1 52 OCCUPATIONS (1755)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-RAMIAL 10276 4 1 1 58 LOST LEGION (1757)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-SPINX 10273 4 1 4 45 LOST LEGION (1757)
SUPERFICIAL 10259 5 2 0 34 BASH BROS YUPPIE (1754)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-TONY TATAGLIONI 10272 4 2 0 33 THE FAMILY (1756)
ENGINEER 10267 3 4 0 28 OCCUPATIONS (1755)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-SAMMY THE BULL 10268 3 3 0 26 THE FAMILY (1756)
SELFISH 10260 2 5 0 25 BASH BROS YUPPIE (1754)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
PROCTOLOGIST 10266 6 1 0 23 OCCUPATIONS (1755)
FAST CARS 10258 4 3 0 17 BASH BROS YUPPIE (1754)
MODEL 10263 3 4 0 13 OCCUPATIONS (1755)
-FRANK DA FIXER 10271 3 3 0 12 THE FAMILY (1756)
REFEREE 10279 2 4 0 10 OCCUPATIONS (1755)
-ATTICUS 10277 2 3 0 9 LOST LEGION (1757)
NO FAMILY 10281 2 2 0 8 BASH BROS YUPPIE (1754)
-DIEGO 10282 0 2 0 2 LOST LEGION (1757)
-TAVIN 10294 0 1 0 1 LOST LEGION (1757)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
ARROGANT 10262 3 4 0 BASH BROS YUPPI 1754 PLUMBER 10265 538
WASTEFUL 10261 2 1 0 BASH BROS YUPPI 1754 SPINX 10273 534 NOT REVENGED
ITALIN JOE 10278 3 2 0 THE FAMILY 1756 SPINX 10273 537
PAPA JOE 10269 3 1 1 THE FAMILY 1756 SPINX 10273 535
PERSONAL ADS
Ok, Ok, Mr. Assur. I won't embarrass you with the "results". Plus, we split this time.
You are rocking! -- Agent
P.S. GREAT article on offensives. The only thing I might comment on is that I would
have added the DA and HA as "fast-strike" weapons.
A salute to the "new" Duelmaster. -- Agent
Selfish, oh, sure. I am far more selfish than you. -- Model
What!? what! I lost to the Venomous Concubine? Ruined my DM streak and no-loss streak.
I am so disheartened I shall bust a pipe! -- Plumber
Diego, I think my experience made the difference. It certainly is not because I am
"good". -- Referee
Tony T, well done, you punk! -- Proctologist
Fast Cars, well you showed me. You zipped all over the place. Shucks. -- Engineer
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
PLUMBER butchered ARROGANT in a 1 minute mismatched Title fight.
FAST CARS slimly lost to ENGINEER in a 3 minute gruesome battle.
SUPERFICIAL demolished REFEREE in a 1 minute uneven fight.
PROCTOLOGIST outwaited NO FAMILY in a slow 12 minute contest.
SELFISH overpowered MODEL in a 1 minute mismatched match.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|BASHING ATTACK 4 TOTAL PARRY 8 - 5 - 0 62 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 PARRY-STRIKE 3 - 2 - 0 60 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 2 STRIKING ATTACK 18 - 13 - 1 58 |
|TOTAL PARRY 1 BASHING ATTACK 28 - 22 - 7 56 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 1 LUNGING ATTACK 10 - 9 - 1 53 |
|AIMED BLOW 0 AIMED BLOW 3 - 3 - 0 50 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 5 - 6 - 0 45 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 0 WALL OF STEEL 6 - 12 - 0 33 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|WALL OF STEEL 0 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 1 - 0 0 |
Turn 538 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:
TOTAL PARRY 1 - 0 AIMED BLOW 0 - 0 4 BASHING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 1 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 3 STRIKING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 1 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0 2 LUNGING ATTACK
BASHING ATTACK 2 - 2 LUNGING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE
SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 0 1 TOTAL PARRY
WALL OF STEEL 0 - 0
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
STRIKING ATTACK PLUMBER 10265 6 1 1 52 OCCUPATIONS (1755)
BASHING ATTACK SUPERFICIAL 10259 5 2 0 34 BASH BROS YUPPIE (1754)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is FAST CARS 10258. The most popular warrior this turn
was FAST CARS 10258. The ten other most popular fighters were SELFISH 10260, PLUMBER
10265, SUPERFICIAL 10259, ENGINEER 10267, REFEREE 10279, ARROGANT 10262, MODEL 10263,
NO FAMILY 10281, PROCTOLOGIST 10266, and 0.
The least popular fighter this week was PROCTOLOGIST 10266. The other ten least
popular fighters were NO FAMILY 10281, MODEL 10263, ARROGANT 10262, REFEREE 10279,
ENGINEER 10267, SUPERFICIAL 10259, PLUMBER 10265, SELFISH 10260, FAST CARS 10258, and
0.