DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 01/26/2024 Duedate: 02/08/2024
NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA
DM 93 TURN 653
This Week's Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
HOWDY DOODY
CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909)
(93-11176) [7-3-1,82]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
HOWDY DOODY DAME JEDI
CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909) UBER ACES (1903)
(93-11176) [7-3-1,82] (93-11147) [6-3-0,33]
Popularity Leader This Week's Favorite
ASSURS HONOR HOWDY DOODY
UBER ACES (1903) CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909)
(93-11145) [2-7-1,17] (93-11176) [7-3-1,82]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. SLAUGHTER HOUSE V (1913) 59
2. CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909) 35 BASH BROS SUPERSTARS (1908)
3. BASH BROS SUPERSTARS (1908) 18 Unchartered Team
4. ROMAN REPUBLIC (1911) 3
5. APOCALYSPE (216) 1 SLAUGHTER HOUSE V (1913)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1- 1*DIVIDED NATIONS (1912) 1 0 0 100. 1/ 2 CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909) 11 4 1
2/ 0*SLAUGHTER HOUSE V (1913) 4 1 1 80.0 2/ 3 BASH BROS SUPERSTA (1908) 9 6 0
3/ 3 BASH BROS SUPERSTA (1908) 34 16 1 68.0 3/ 1*ROMAN REPUBLIC (1911) 7 8 1
4/ 2*ROMAN REPUBLIC (1911) 16 9 3 64.0 4/ 0*SLAUGHTER HOUSE V (1913) 4 1 1
5/ 4 CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909) 28 22 2 56.0 5/ 4*UBER ACES (1903) 3 7 0
6/ 5*UBER ACES (1903) 17 27 1 38.6 6- 5*DIVIDED NATIONS (1912) 1 0 0
7- 6*DRAGON BLOOD (1914) 1 4 0 20.0 7- 6*DRAGON BLOOD (1914) 1 4 0
8/ 0*APOCALYSPE (216) 0 1 0 0.0 8/ 0*APOCALYSPE (216) 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
Basics of Strategy, part 1
Lots of articles focus on how to make the best warrior of a certain style, but fewer
articles describe the magic boxes in your strategy sheet and what numbers to put in
them to win win win. I attempt to give managers some guidance.
Abbreviations: OE=Offensive Effort, AL=Activity Level, KD=Kill Desire
Most of this series of articles will focus on OE and AL and not as much on tactics,
but I will give counters to each strategy. A future article (or articles) will talk
about weapon selection.
Caveat: This article is largely how Assur thinks of strategy and not everything in it
is proven or scientific fact.
The first thing to consider is how you want your warrior to win. There are three main
warrior types. Pure Offensive, Pure Defensive, and Hybrid. Once you know that
answer, you have a better idea on how you want to fight.
Offensive Effort (OE): How much effort your warrior wants to put into attacking. For
many warriors, finding your 'favorite' is a goal. The advantages of using your
favorite OE is pretty high. But sometimes, depending on how you fight, you'd rather
simply fix the OE to certain numbers. More on OE on the warrior types.
Activity Level (AL): How much movement you put into the fight. Things Assur believes:
Higher AL=More Initiative/Decisiveness, More Dodging. Lower AL=More Parry. The
advantages of using your favorite AL are not nearly as clear as using your favorite
OE. For many warriors, simply using 10AL is often better than your favorites. Unless
you are a parry style, 1 AL tends to not be very effective (unless you're fighting a
pure defensive).
Higher #'s on both OE and AL use endurance faster.
Kill Desire (KD): A note to the arena master on your warrior's willingness to keep the
fight going. Higher=Greater chance for a death in the fight. Lower=Lesser chance for
a death in the fight. Recommended for most warriors to keep it between 3 and 8
inclusive. 9-10 makes warrior fight somewhat strangely and while you will kill more,
it affects your abilities in detrimental ways. Lots of theories on what KD actually
does. Assur has no real clue, so he simply recommends 3-8.
Favorites: Every warrior has a "favorite" rhythm. You find out your approximate
favorite rhythm when you graduate. Many people try to figure it out before they
graduate their warriors to ADM. You can't be sure you've got the right rhythm, but
sometimes you'll find that sweet spot. There are other articles that talk about
possible ranges per style.
Pure Offensive Warriors: These are by far the easiest types of warriors to master and
create a strategy for. The tried and true strategy is 10 OE, 10 AL. Go out fast and
hard! Feel free to modify with Lunge, Decise, Bash, or Slash Tactics. This strategy
is very fast, very effective, and very taxing. But most fights are over quick, so
endurance isn't typically a factor.
10-10-x Decise Tactic is the fastest strategy you can use.
If endurance is a factor for your warrior or because your expected opponent is going
to try for a longer fight to wear you out, start lowering those numbers. Assur
usually lowers AL first, then OE. After minute 1, Assur lowers AL very fast in the
fight.
Assur rarely runs pure offensives lower than 7 OE in minute 1, but runs virtually all
AL's in different situations / with different warriors.
Question: Would it be better to try and find my warrior's favorites than to run with
the tried and true strategy?
Answer: Some warriors do fight better at somewhat lower numbers. But for a pure
offensive, 10-10 is tough to beat. Assur has not had success with pure offensives
without at least one of OE or AL on the high side (8+). The other is typically
moderate or higher (5+). Though Assur does have some bashers that fight best at 10-1.
These bashers have already graduated and have known favorites of VH-VL. For some
bashers with these numbers 10-1 is actually more effective than 10-10. For others
with the same favorites, 10-10 is better.
Armor: Usually light or none. There are exceptions (tank offensives) but because of
the endurance issues, Assur typically goes ALE or none for armor and no higher than S
for helm (maybe a H on a warrior he really loves and doesn't want to die).
Countering the tried and true strategy.
Option 1: If you can't beat them, join them. It is always an option to try and
counter with the same strategy. A huge factor in attacking first is 'luck,' so
countering with the tried and true strategy gives at least a chance to 'luck' into a
win.
Option 2: Counter Tactic. If your opponent is using the Lunge tactic or Decise
tactic, you can attempt to counter using the 'counter' tactic. Response is the
counter tactic to Decise. Dodge is the counter tactic to lunge. Counter tactics are
not automatic wins, but they do work.
Assur's best results with the response tactic is to use standard pure offensive
numbers (5-10 OE/5-10 AL), wear armor, and use the response tactic in both minute 1
and desperation. When I say 'best results,' I mean exactly that. Response is a
fickle mistress. I've seen huge upsets using response as well as fights where my
opponent ignored my 'counter strategy.' For the Dodge counter tactic, high AL, max of
moderate armor and dodge.
Option 3: Wait for an opportunity. Wear some armor and either fight on favorites or
use the standard pure offensive numbers (5-10/5-10). This works best if you have some
con and your opponent isn't just going to thrash you up.
Option 4: The fancy riposte tactic. The riposte tactic is tricky, because you have to
successfully parry or dodge and then you have the chance to riposte. Assur uses the
riposte tactic with warriors who have good defenses but don't have good riposte.
Option 5: Avoid! You will most likely encounter at some point a warrior that comes
out really fast and either starts a string of crit attacks and/or hits hard enough to
simply thrash you up fast. As much as you may want to stroke your ego by beating the
best, some times it is better to concede that your opposing manager has found a
special warrior that you just shouldn't mess around with. Most commonly, these
warriors are Strikers or Aimed Blows, but you may encounter Slashers or Bashers (or
even another style) that you don't want to mess with. Duel2 has evolved and there are
a lot of managers that are looking for and trying to create monster offensives.
Sometimes, these warriors will have lots of tournament experience and learning that
doesn't show on their record. (See that 5-0 record that is the Duelmaster? He could
easily have 20 or more fights from tournaments, and typically 21 wit to go with those
fights).
SPY REPORT
Busy, busy, busy, lots of things happening in NOBLISH ISLAND this turn, and
let's start with a look at some of the teams. It seems the training can make the
difference, as ROMAN REPUBLIC is pushed out of top team by CHILDHOOD T.V., who came
from 2nd with a 4-1-0 this turn. On their very first turn, SLAUGHTER HOUSE V had a
4-1-1, and with this kind of luck or skill, should do well. Welcome to NOBLISH
ISLAND. And let's see, DEVON fought TIBERE GRACCHUS and gained 20 points and
contributed to SLAUGHTER HOUSE V's 4-1-1. ZOGI has lost to WOLFGANG, falling 15
points, while helping make UBER ACES a 1-4-0 turn. Defending his title for another
turn, HOWDY DOODY kept NOBLISH ISLAND's warrior, KHALHUMS DWARF, from claiming the
throne. Can someone confirm a rumor for me? I hear the top team makes their losing
fighters do dishes at The Welcome Wench until they win. Maybe?
Oriental wise man once say, 'Hiding behind shields prevents proper sun tanning.'
Inscrutable, but true. I also notice that the BASH BROS SUPERSTARS stable was the
most avoided team this turn. Come on NOBLISH ISLAND, what are you afraid of? And
avoiding BASH BROS SUPERSTARS more than any other team we find CHILDHOOD T.V..
NOBLISH ISLAND, are we going to accept, or respect this sort of thing?
A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only once. Wise men know this to
be true. We'd like to remind certain teams not to rob the graves of their enemies.
You know who you are; and it's considered rude.
I like this place, NOBLISH ISLAND, the taverns have old wine, and young serving
girls. Who could ask for more? It's been nice chatting with you, until we meet
again, keep your swords sharp and your hammers heavy. Until the sun next rises and
my pen sets to paper-- Alarond the Scribe
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
HOWDY DOODY 11176 7 3 1 82 CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
PERRY MASON 11178 7 3 0 55 CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909)
MAVERICK 11179 5 5 0 50 CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909)
CONCEITED 11170 9 1 0 46 BASH BROS SUPERSTAR (1908)
FLASH GORDON 11177 5 5 1 44 CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909)
ENTITLED 11171 7 3 1 39 BASH BROS SUPERSTAR (1908)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
DAME JEDI 11147 6 3 0 33 UBER ACES (1903)
PROTON 11144 4 5 0 32 UBER ACES (1903)
BIG LUG 11146 4 5 0 32 UBER ACES (1903)
NO LOYALTY 11172 6 4 0 30 BASH BROS SUPERSTAR (1908)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
COSMETIC SURGERY 11173 6 4 0 22 BASH BROS SUPERSTAR (1908)
DEVON 11202 1 0 0 20 SLAUGHTER HOUSE V (1913)
TWILIGHT ZONE 11175 4 6 0 19 CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909)
PUBLIUS SCIPIO 11188 3 2 1 18 ROMAN REPUBLIC (1911)
-RED ROGUE 11207 1 0 0 18 DRAGON BLOOD (1914)
MARCUS CATO 11191 4 1 1 17 ROMAN REPUBLIC (1911)
ASSURS HONOR 11145 2 7 1 17 UBER ACES (1903)
APPIUS CAUDEX 11190 4 1 0 16 ROMAN REPUBLIC (1911)
ARCHER 11199 1 0 1 16 SLAUGHTER HOUSE V (1913)
WOLFGANG 11201 1 0 0 16 SLAUGHTER HOUSE V (1913)
TIBERE GRACCHUS 11189 3 2 1 12 ROMAN REPUBLIC (1911)
-ENRIQUE SUAVE 11196 1 0 0 11 DIVIDED NATIONS (1912)
PERRY 11200 1 0 0 6 SLAUGHTER HOUSE V (1913)
ZOGI 11187 1 1 0 5 UBER ACES (1903)
ALL ABOUT CONTRACT 11203 1 1 0 4 BASH BROS SUPERSTAR (1908)
-BLACK BARD 11208 0 1 0 1 DRAGON BLOOD (1914)
-BLUE BARBARIAN 11206 0 1 0 1 DRAGON BLOOD (1914)
WILHEIM 11198 0 1 0 1 SLAUGHTER HOUSE V (1913)
-WHITE WARLOCK 11205 0 1 0 1 DRAGON BLOOD (1914)
AALIYA SAILEAS 1188 0 1 0 1 APOCALYSPE (216)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
OVERPAID 11174 5 3 0 BASH BROS SUPER 1908 FLASH GORDON 11177 651 REVENGED
GREEN RANGER 11204 0 1 0 DRAGON BLOOD 1914 TIBERE GRACCHUS 11189 652
QUINTUS FABIUS 11192 2 3 0 ROMAN REPUBLIC 1911 ARCHER 11199 653
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
SAIGH EUBHA 11094 0 1 0 SANGUIS ITER 1894 PUBLIUS SCIPIO 11188 650
PERSONAL ADS
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
HOWDY DOODY viciously subdued KHALHUMS DWARF in a 2 minute bloody Title fight.
DAME JEDI was vanquished by PERRY MASON in a 1 minute uneven battle.
FLASH GORDON demolished ASSURS HONOR in a 1 minute uneven fight.
CONCEITED bested BIG LUG in a 5 minute contest.
MAVERICK defeated DANGEROUS CRIMINAL in a 1 minute fight.
COSMETIC SURGERY was subdued by PROTON in a crowd pleasing 1 minute competition.
TWILIGHT ZONE was vanquished by ENTITLED in a 1 minute mismatched fight.
NO LOYALTY savagely defeated MARCUS CATO in a 2 minute bloody brawl.
QUINTUS FABIUS was assassinated by ARCHER in a 1 minute uneven melee.
ZOGI lost to WOLFGANG in a popular 1 minute gruesome beginner's duel.
PUBLIUS SCIPIO vanquished WILHEIM in a exciting 1 minute one-sided fight.
TIBERE GRACCHUS was handily defeated by DEVON in a 1 minute one-sided bout.
APPIUS CAUDEX savagely defeated ALL ABOUT CONTRACT in a 8 minute amateur's match.
PERRY savagely defeated AALIYA SAILEAS in a 1 minute gory amateur's match.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK 5 TOTAL PARRY 14 - 3 - 0 82 |
|BASHING ATTACK 4 PARRY-STRIKE 10 - 5 - 1 67 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 3 AIMED BLOW 17 - 11 - 1 61 |
|AIMED BLOW 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE 5 - 4 - 1 56 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 2 SLASHING ATTACK 14 - 13 - 0 52 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 2 STRIKING ATTACK 19 - 18 - 2 51 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 PARRY-LUNGE 5 - 5 - 0 50 |
|TOTAL PARRY 2 BASHING ATTACK 15 - 18 - 2 45 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 2 LUNGING ATTACK 15 - 19 - 1 44 |
|WALL OF STEEL 2 WALL OF STEEL 4 - 9 - 0 31 |
Turn 653 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:
AIMED BLOW 2 - 0 LUNGING ATTACK 1 - 4 4 STRIKING ATTACK
PARRY-LUNGE 2 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 2 3 SLASHING ATTACK
SLASHING ATTACK 2 - 0 WALL OF STEEL 0 - 2 2 LUNGING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK 3 - 0 1 AIMED BLOW
PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 1 1 BASHING ATTACK
BASHING ATTACK 2 - 2
TOTAL PARRY 1 - 1
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
STRIKING ATTACK HOWDY DOODY 11176 7 3 1 82 CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909)
SLASHING ATTACK PERRY MASON 11178 7 3 0 55 CHILDHOOD T.V. (1909)
TOTAL PARRY CONCEITED 11170 9 1 0 46 BASH BROS SUPERSTARS (1908)
AIMED BLOW ENTITLED 11171 7 3 1 39 BASH BROS SUPERSTARS (1908)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is ASSURS HONOR 11145. The most popular warrior this
turn was HOWDY DOODY 11176. The ten other most popular fighters were BIG LUG 11146,
NO LOYALTY 11172, PROTON 11144, PUBLIUS SCIPIO 11188, PERRY MASON 11178, APPIUS
CAUDEX 11190, PERRY 11200, FLASH GORDON 11177, COSMETIC SURGERY 11173, and ENTITLED
11171.
The least popular fighter this week was ALL ABOUT CONTRACT 11203. The other ten
least popular fighters were AALIYA SAILEAS 1188, TIBERE GRACCHUS 11189, ARCHER 11199,
QUINTUS FABIUS 11192, TWILIGHT ZONE 11175, CONCEITED 11170, ASSURS HONOR 11145, DAME
JEDI 11147, WILHEIM 11198, and MAVERICK 11179.