DM favorites

From: ewalents@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Erich Walentschak)

Date: Wed, 19 May 1993 19:42:23 +0000

Ok, I want to pose a question to all the experienced DM managers out there.
Ive been playing off and on for, oh, about 10 years now, and am STILL not clear
on this.

What exactly does the favorite strategy or even weapon help?  About all Ive
ever heard is attack.  If this is the case, then there are definately times
when NOT to use the favorite strategy.  For example, why would a TP who's favs
are moderate care about the attack bonus, when he wants to scum.  Or the
slasher who supposedly likes high/moderate.  That means he should run about 8-6
according to what I know, but if he knows he's going to get challenged by that
strkier whos just a bit more decisive than he, he'll get clobbered with this
strategy.  (ok, so maybe if he has ad ex in defense and rip he'll do ok, but
we're talking general cases)  HE needs to go with the 10-10-7 D strategy to
maximize his chances of getting the 1st swing.  The same ideas can apply to
weapon.  Ok, so my strkiers fav is a dagger.  Whats thats mean when Im going
after the TP in APA with 25 CN/WL.  Esp if its one of my guys (since almost all
of them seem to end up with very little endurance, whether it says it or not
:)  )  So, he may want to pick up that HL/GS/LS/whatever instead.

Now all Im trying to do here is figure out if favs help other things, like
decise and defense.  If not, advice to new managers is not to fall into a rut
of looking for your fav strategy, and then ALWAYS using it when you think you
find it.  1: youre probably wrong if youre just trying to figure it out.  2:
many times, there actually a better strategy, depending on who you think you'll
be fighting.

IMHO, the strategy sheet is only a small part of fighter strategy.  90% is that
little part in the bottom right corner with the challenges and avoids.  ALWAYS
challenge 2 people every turn who you can beat.  ALWAYS avoid 2 teams who you
think have warriors that can beat you.  Even if you have no reason to think
they would be challenging.  Also, dont challenge warriors just because their
team is ranked ahead of yours and you want to pass them.  (unless of course
youre sure you can win)  I see this all the time, and I used to do it.  All it
does is gives you an unsure matchup that the other guy almost invariably ends
up winning and you falling behind even more.  Fight someone you can beat, and
let him make the poor challenge and lose.

Ok, Ive rambled enough.  Hope to hear from everyone on this soon.  :)

Erich
The Wizard
A 11, 17, 28, 65, 73, 103

PS  10-10-7 D HE-HE is the quickest??  Im not necessarily arguing, but Ive
heard, and its always made sense to me that opposite arm was a quicker target
and that protect location didnt make much difference except AM gave an init
bonus.  This could all be wrong tho.  Whered you hear the HE-HE thing?  )Im not
sure who posted that so I hope they read this far  *grin*)