Re: Adventurers' Guild

From: csqx@vax5.cit.cornell.edu

Date: Thu, 13 May 1993 06:12:17 +0000

In article <gunzlerC6wonG.9o8@netcom.com>,
gunzler@netcom.com (Mitch Gunzler) writes:
> Um, as an amused and interested person who probably is not alone,
> I was wondering if someone could share a slightly more descriptive introduction
> to either or both of these games?  I gather that they involve running fighters
> in an arena setting (and some other things in (AG).
>
>    Mitch

well, then, here are my observations/opinions

DUELMASTERS is an arena combat game. Every player controls a stable of five
fighters that compete in one of the many arenas (groups of players) that
exist.  Each turn the player can opt to involve 1, 2, or all of his fighters
in the contests.  Combatants can choose to challenge a particular opponent
or merely pair off randomly.

BTW, i haven't played DM in a while so some specific details are a bit hazy.

Fighters are created by assigning points to 7 (i think) attributes.  RSI
randomly "rolls" up inital values for each attribute and then the player
customizes the fighter by adding points to whatever attribute s/he sees fit.
Of course, there is a limit on the number of points that can be added.  The
player then must choose a fighting sytle for each character.  The fighting
style describes how the character fights.  Examples:  Lunger, striker,
basher, parry-striker, total parry.  I think there are ten sytles to choose
from, and once choosen, fighting style cannot be changed.  One sents these
choices back to RSI.  RSI then sends back a character description which
lists attributes, fighting style, and other phyical data.  It also includes
the character's skills (i.e. fighting/defensive skills/abilities).  For
example, "is incredibly quick and elusive, dodges blows rather than parrying
them, very frail" etc.

The actual mechanics of fighting goes a bit like this.  For each fighter,
the player chooses what armor and weapons that will be used in various
situations (e.g. light/medium/heavy armored opponents).  The player also
chooses the combat strategy the fighter will employ for each minute of the
fight (minutes 1-6 then 7&up).  For each minute, the player sets the offensive
effort, activity level, and kill desire (scale of 1-10), attack area, defense
area, and possibly an offensive/defensive tactic.  A desparation strategy
can be indicated as well.  A separate orders can be given for a challenge
fight, if one occurs.

An actual fight will first state some pertinent facts about both fighters,
and then describe a blow by blow account of the battle.  One fighter wins
when the other is killed, knocked unconcious, or yields.  In my limited
experience (3 turns), fights typically last 1 or 2 minutes, tho i guess
they can go on for as long as it takes.

Fighters can improve in their skills and/or attributes. After each fight,
one can try to train skills or raise an attribute.  Neither is guaranteed
success.  One does not train specific skills, but rather general
fighting ability.  One can try to raise a specific attribute, however (also
less likely to succeed).

In each arena, fighters are ranked by a point system based on wins, losses,
and the quality of opponents faced.  Records are also displayed for each
stable.  Awards are given out each turn for such things as the most
popular fighter, best team, best fighter, team on the rise, etc.. Each
award also give the player discounts onthe next fight.

The newsletter gives the results of all the fights in that arena, individual
and team records, awards, etc. .  The newsletter may also include short
columns on topics related top the game, stories, or game history (of the
game world, that is).  The duelmaster of the arena (highest ranked fighter)
also gets to write a column for inclusion in the newsletter.  Each player
can also post messages/personals to the newsletter each turn.  I believe
they can also submit "stories" introducing their stable/characters to the arena.

DM is run by RSI, reality simulations, inc., but i don't remember the address.
Neither do i remember the exacyt cost, but it consists of a flat fee per
turn plus a charge for each character fought that turn.  I believe the
turn charge is $10.75 to run all five fighters.  Turns are every two weeks
for the normal game;  there are slow games also available.

Adventurers Guild (which i currently play)

In AG one plays the persona of only one character.  The character trains in
a guild through round robin tournaments in order to perfect one's skills in
order to go adventuring.  Or at least, that's the idea, as one doesn't have
to go adventuring (it's dangerous out there!).  Each turn, one can either
stay in the guild and train in the round robin combats or go out adventuring.

If one elects to stay in the guild, one fights with seven other people of
roughly equal ability in a round robin fashion.

well, i'm getting tired of typing, so maybe i'll finish this desciption later.
or maybe whoever is reading this should wait to see if the rulebook
is posted.

Suffice to say, the round robin combats are arena fights, similar to
DM in that respect.  Combat mechanics and character creation/development
are totally different of course, as are how the fights are descibed.
unlike DM, team combats, up to 10 on 10 can also take place if you can
manage to arrange them.

Adventuring involves one or more characters running off to some adventuring
site to seek danger/gold/combat/fame/and all that stuff.

sorry 'bout this brief desc for AG.  i'm not doing it justice.

IMHO, AG is much. much better than DM (of course, since i didn't descibe it
well, one may not know.  maybe later).  i can also wholeheartetly
agree that customer service for AG blows RSI out of the water.

well i really gots to go now.

stagger lee #561
ciston guild

References

Re: Adventurers' Guild
gharris@jade.tufts.edu (George W. Harris)
Wed, 05 May 1993 17:50:39 +0000
Re: Adventurers' Guild
stuff@hp.uwsuper.edu (Sharon Tuff)
Wed, 05 May 1993 20:30:14 +0000
Re: Adventurers' Guild
gunzler@netcom.com (Mitch Gunzler)
Wed, 12 May 1993 08:52:27 +0000