Duelmasters: AB article (Milo)

From: leeme@cnsvax.uwec.edu

Date: Tue, 01 Jun 1993 17:44:52 +0000

One last Aimed Blow article!

From 3/2/90 --- Retyped 3/22/90 M.Lee

AIMED BLOW REBUTTAL

I normally don't pay much attention to most of the newsletter
    articles but last turn's "The Mutant Aimed Blow" was...well, saying it
    was off the wall would be an understatement.  First of all, Sablon-O-Vlad
    is a good manager, he knows what he's talking about (most of the time)
    but most of us have a style that we specialize in.  I've spent the last
    two years figuring out how to set up and run the AB.  My team W/L isn't
    that impressive (23-44-2 and 82-186-8) because I've tried just about
    every setup/strategy imaginable for an AB.  With that said, I'd like to
    set the record straight on AB's.
         First, let's take a look at Vlad's hypothetical AB and two of mine
    which fight over .500%.

Vlad     #1      #2
    ST   9-11    9-11    9-11
    CN   3-5    13-15   11-13
    SZ   5-7     9-12    9-12
    WT  13-15   13-15   19-21
    WL  17-19   13-15   11-13
    SP  19-21    3-5     4-6
    DF  11-13   19-21   15-17

Let's take a look at all three AB's.  I agree with a ST of 9-11,
    AB's only need ST for weapons and armor.  They do not need to do massive
    damage.  CN of 3-5? Get real! An AB can stand around for 4-5 minutes and
    keep up sustained offense until his opponent drops, but to do that he'll
    have to be able to take a few hits (you can't parry or dodge everything).
    Try anywhere from 12-15 (depending on SZ).  SZ of 5-7 sounds about right.
    My current AB range from around 7-12, I'd rather have a 5-9 range, but
    I've been having a streak of bad luck with new recruits lately.  WT of
    13-15 is fine, as long as DF is 21 (more about that in a minute).  I'd
    prefer WT of 19-21 (WT should be raisable to 23-25 in ADM).  WL of 17-19.
    High will is always nice unless you get a size 3, speed 3 rollup and need
    somewhere to put the extra points (fat chance!).  I think you would do
    better giving your AB a WL of 11-13 and putting the extra points into WT
    and/or DF.  SP 19-21 is Sablon's biggest mistake (although CN 3-5 came
    close).  I have an AB with a speed of 4 who overwhelms most of his
    opponents in the first minute.  I also had an AB with a speed of 13 who
    stood around waiting to be hit.  An AB gets his quickness from his style,
    SZ, WT and DF.  SP doesn't seem to have much to do with it.  DF 11-13.
    Too low! Lungers lunge, Bashers bash, TPs parry, and ABs hit what they
    aim for.  So what's the magic stat that determines accuracy and
    precision? Right! Deftness.  If an AB has a 21 WT then he can get by
    (barely) on a 15 DF, but he needs a 19-21 DF.  Anything less and he just
    won't have the attack and defensive accuracy he needs.
         As far as offensive effort/activity/kill desire and strategy, you'll
    have to work them out for yourself.  Every AB fighter seems to fight
    differently but try a medium off/low act/low to medium kill unless you're
    going all out.  If all out, then try high/low/medium.  A lot of managers
    won't agree with all I've said, but I've tried it and it works (at least
    for me).
         Lord Milo Moria (Undying High Lord of the Confederation of the
    Horseclans)