Re: DM: The Height of Mediocrity

From: johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu (John Carlos White)

Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1993 21:12:12 +0000

itlm013@dale.ucdavis.edu (Donnie Trump) writes:

> 9  6  9  9  16  12  9

>Yes, pathetic, isn't it?  Not enough WT to be long-term, not enough DF
>to be good with a blade.  His main strengths are low CN and low SZ.  An
>offensive, but not a good one.

>Here's what I did:

>            LU
>ST  9 + 2 = 11
>CN  6 + 0 =  6
>SZ  9 + 0 =  9
>WT  9 + 4 = 13
>WL 16 + 5 = 21
>SP 12 + 1 = 13
>DF  9 + 2 = 11

My comment is that it sounds like you never decided what to do with the
guy.  10 and out?  or what?  If he's short term, then there's no use in
adding to the wit, and you have four extra points.  Points that a dixie
lunger can put to good use in deft/strength.  For short-term lungers, I
like a much lower wit, like 5, but a higher size and strength.  Can't
have everything!

I would go 12-6-9-9-21-12-15.  A lunger good for a kill.

>ST:  11 gives use of every lunging weapon (save the halbard :).  I considered
>	it important, given his other weaknesses, that he be well-suited to
>	his weapons.  Combined with WT/DF, he can use everything except
>	the epee.

I added one for damage.  This is where I would concentrate initial
training.

>SZ:   9 Perfect.  Gives every lunging weapon without wasting points, and
>	gives fair defensive bonuses

Higher gives better damage and init.

>WT:  13 I would prefer to have 17 (especially with that WL), but can't
>	reach it.  15 is a waste, so I kept it at 13 and jacked the ST. I
>	suppose ST 9 WT 15 has it's advantages, but not enough.  Besides, this
>	guy's a regular AD wonder - even if he reaches AD, he'll suck there.

15 isn't bad, and can learn as well as a 17.  Better sometimes.  I prefer
lower for short-terms.  It doesn't really hurt that you can't really use
your weapon.

>WL:  21 Gotta have *one* strength.  21 Helps with endurance, aggressiveness,
>	attack, and defense.  It may also help with Init, I'm not sure.
>	I've had a lot of success with WT 9 WL 21 dixies, so maybe a higher
>	WT will only *add* to that success.  So I'm dreaming, humor me...

Gives a big boost to starting lungers.

>SP:  13 Helps out with Init, Riposte, and Defense.   It may help get the
>	jump occasionally, but it's highly unlikely.  I like high SP when I
>	can get it, so here it's not too bad.  I would prefer SP 11 DF 13,
>	but RSI refuses to allow even me to subtract points.

I wouldn't add to it, seeing as how in general, the even numbers are better
when dealing with speed.

>DF:  11 13 would be better, but 11 gets the most in the way of skill bonuses
>	(short of 21, that is).  Gives the LO, my favorite lunging weapon.
>	Not spectacular, but workable.

15 is better.

>His opening day strategy is:
>
>         1  2  3  4  5  6+ Desp Armor: ALE/L
>	10 10  8  --->   7   3  Training: Skills
>        10  6  ------>   5   9
>         6  --------->   5   3
>        AB  ----------------->
>  	LE  ----------------->
>         L  -  -  -  -   -   -
>         -  -  -  -  -   -   D

I like 10-10-7 for this guy, given his pretty decent speed.  Jump or die!
Well, not completely, but pretty close.

I think that 10-6-9-15-21-12-11 isn't a bad long-term lunger.  Ok, not
great, but he could get to AD.  Depending on his rolls, you'd have to
look at keeping him after that, though.

John

References

DM: The Height of Mediocrity
itlm013@dale.ucdavis.edu (Donnie Trump)
Tue, 09 Feb 1993 20:03:07 +0000