Re: DM: Two Roll-Ups

From: ez007195@dale.ucdavis.edu (Yeon Choi)

Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1993 03:22:41 +0000

In article <1993Sep16.193802.139@dragon.acadiau.ca> 860099w@dragon.acadiau.ca (Martin Ward) writes:
>
>Hmmm.  All kinds of ARENA postings.  Guess I'll have to start
>some DM discussion and what better way than with a roll-up...
>
>     13-5-4-18-10-11-9
>
>What would you do?
>

If I had this roll-up, I would go this way:

SL
ST 13 + 2 = 15
CN  5 + 0 =  5
SZ  4 + 0 =  4
WT 18 + 3 = 21
WL 10 + 3 = 13
SP 11 + 0 = 11
DF  9 + 6 = 15

Small characters are notorious for getting a) little damage, and b) killed.
If you get little damage with this character, you should either DA
immediately, or just resign yourself to a horrendous losing record until
you get Master Attack.  I know, I've suffered through enough small off-
ensives myself (the only one I had any success with was a 17 ST SZ 4
Lunger, and even he only got normal damage).

This is the main reason I chose the Slashing style: the damage bonus.
This character might, *might* get good damage, but normal damage is a
better bet.  Normal damage usually isn't enough, but with the right kind
of attack precision (which a 21 WT 15 DF will hopefully give) this mmight
be overcome.

Stat by stat:

ST 15:  As I said before, you need a good ST in order to avoid little
	damage hell.  It also helps with encumbrance (should you choose
	to weear any armor.  I would go ALE/L: the best protection nto
	weight ratio, although it still doesn't give a lot of help).
CN  5:  A 5 CN isn't very different from an 11 CN, and those points can
	go to more useful stats that give skills useful inthe Champs
	class, should you make it that far.
SZ  4:  Nice size, but for a character like this hardly ideal.  I'd
	prefer to switch SZ and SP myself, as strange as that sounds.
WT 21:  Because you can.
WL 13:  A nice break point, and about all you need for the slashing style.
	I've heard that some people like to give their slashers a lot
	of WL, but my best ones (the few, the proud, the survivors) have
	all had WL's in the 11-13 range.
SP 11:  Mid-range speed slashers aren't all that effective: they don't
	have the pure decisiveness of their high SP counterparts,nor the
	damage doing or attack precision of their low SP compatriots. I
	don't think that will hurt this guy, though, since the low SZ
	more than makes up for this problem.
DF 15:  Gotta have attack precision, as well as the ability to use all
	the slashing weapons.  And the more times you hurt the arms,
	the more likely you are to have short fights (good for this guy).

Overall, a good character but with some glaring weaknesses.  You might
also try the same numbers as a plunger or total parry, but don't get
attached...

>This is what I think would be the best design
>
>     13-5-4-21(+3)-15(+5)-11-15(+6) Striker

Not enough damage to make it as a striker, and if you're pumping up the
DF so you can use the EP then you're going to be disappointed to find oout
that it does about as much damage as daggers.  It does have some nifty
crits, but it's a sure ticket to getting scummed every time.  I'd put
more into ST in the hopes of getting better damage.  Remember, when this
guy gets tired, it's only going to take one hit to take him out...if you're
lucky.  With that WL he might tuff it out until he gets killed.

>Now, I chose the Striking style, because he has a low Constitution and he
>will need to conserve endurance.  I don't think a Lunging or Slashing style
>would be good enough in this case.

A good idea, but Strikers don't have the damage bonus so necessary to
this roll-up's success.  Good luck, though.  If I sound pesimistic it's
just that I had an 11 ST 4 SZ 17 WT 19 SP Striker who I eventually DA'd
out of disgust when he hit a Basher 18 times before tiring and being
taken out with one blow.  Very disturbing, although the other manager
thought it was quite a laugh I'm sure.

>My brother had this roll-up: 4-12-13-9-16-5-11
>
>He decided on this: 5-12-13-15-21-5-13 Total Parry
>
>Maybe send it to the DA?

Man, you sure are picky about your roll-ups!  DA?  No way.  Try this...

ST  4 + 3 =  7 or  5 or  5
CN 12 + 0 = 12    12    12
SZ 13 + 0 = 13    13    13
WT  9 + 4 = 13    13    15
WL 16 + 5 = 21    21    21
SP  5 + 0 =  5     5     5
DF 11 + 2 = 13    15    13

With this kind of roll-up, you've got two choices: Shortsword Lunger or
Small Shield TP.  Personally, I prefer the Small Shield TP because that
styles relies less on damage-doing and conserves endurance better, but
that's just my personal opinion.

Trump

"Alive and well and living in Lapur"

References

DM: Two Roll-Ups
860099w@dragon.acadiau.ca (Martin Ward)
Thu, 16 Sep 1993 19:38:02 +0000

Referenced By

DM: Two Roll-Ups
860099w@dragon.acadiau.ca (Martin Ward)
Thu, 16 Sep 1993 19:38:02 +0000