Re: DM: Help with fighting my slasher

From: itlm013@fella.ucdavis.edu (Captain Caveman)

Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 19:53:57 +0000

In article <101706@bu.edu> mauricia@bu.edu (Anthony Mauricia) writes:
>Jim Smith (jas@rdii.com) wrote:
>: I have some questions on the best way to keep my new slasher alive,
>: so I thought I'd ask here.  Here is the info:

Low CN characters die.  Realizing this is the easiest way to keep them
alive.  It may sound paradoxical, but the easiest way to make a warrior
lose in DM is to try and cover their weaknesses, instead of playing to
their strengths.

I've had many characters die, including some really good ones.  It
happens.  Run this character in a way that maximizes wins, and she has
less chance of dying.  That means low armor, high offense and activity
levels, and fighting warriors who have the chance to kill you (like
other offensives) and not styles set up to bet you (like TPs).

>: 11-4-9-15-17-15-13 SL
>: is RIGHT HANDED
>: is INTELLIGENT
>:  nothing short of a genius at keeping her foes off balance and in trouble
>:  does a lot of little things well
>:  makes very clever attacks
>:  rarely makes mistakes
>:  is always thinking ahead
>: is INCREDIBLY QUICK and ACTIVE
>: is HIGHLY COORDINATED
>: is VERY FRAIL-even a single blow can devastate her
>: can only carry a VERY LITTLE WEIGHT in armor and weapons
>: is INCREDIBLY QUICK and ELUSIVE on her feet
>:  making even dangerous opponents look harmless
>: does GREAT DAMAGE with every blow

Damn fine roll-up.

>: I plan on fighting her in ALE-L.  For weapons, I was going to use
>: SC/DA against light and medium armor and BA against heavy armor, with
>: an SH as a backup.  (That keeps her carry weight down to 9 which is her
>: limit I think.)  I was thinking that as frail as she was, it was crucial
>: for her to get in fast and furious, so I was thinking 10-10-5-HE-HE-x-x
>: for the first minute.  As far as training, I was going to train CN
>: a couple times before training skills.
>:
>: My questions are:
>:
>: 1) Is she better off without the dagger; i.e. will she fight better
>:    weilding the SC 2-handed rather than using the dagger off-handed?

Yes, lose the DA.  The SC gives an absolutely beautiful attack bonus when
used one-handed.  Besides, daggers are for parrying.  If your slashers
are parrying, they're in *deep* trouble.

>: 2) Is the BA a good idea against heavy armor or will it slow her down
>:    too much and make her too tired.

A BA is a fine weapon, but there are others that are just as good, and are
well-suited to your fighter.  I'd suggest the BS, because it's well suited,
does good damage, and is effective against heavy armor.  If you really want
to use a two-handed weapon, the GA is also a good choice.

>: 3) What is a good breakdown for light, medium and heavy armor?

For slashers, your main problem is going to be fighters wearing Scale Mail.
When I run my slashers, I accoutn for this by having light go all the way up
to ASM/H, or 11.  My general breakdown for slashers is

Light (0,10) (for all the way up through ARM/F, which is more common than
	ASM/S)
Medium (11,12) (for ASM/H and ASM/F)
Heavy (13,+) (for ACM and beyond)

>: 4) What do I do with minutes 2-6?

Pretty much the same.  Slashers sometimes actually take more than one
minute to put an opponent down (scary but true).  I usually run them the
same for minutes 1-3, and then a moderate strategy for 4 and 5, and limping
along in 6th on.

>: 5) What do I do for desparation?

Two options: Decisiveness or Riposte.  I prefer Decis myself.

>: 6) Should I use the Slash tactic or will it slow her down too much?

The slash tactic is good in minutes 3+ to *kill* your opponent.  Never
use it in minute 1.  Ever.

>: 7) Should I train a few skills before training CN?

No.  Train skills, and don't worry about the CN.  Unless you're sitting
right on the edge of a CN breakpoint, it's never worth the lost skills.

>: I would appreciate any advice, especially from David since he is the
>: Sultan of Slash.  Thanks in advance for any help.

David's claim to fame is that better slashers have died under him.  I can
run a character into the ground just as well as he can.
:)

Trump
dfcleary@ucdavis.edu

References

DM: Help with fighting my slasher
jas@rdii.com (Jim Smith)
Wed, 11 Nov 1992 21:59:51 +0000
Re: DM: Help with fighting my slasher
mauricia@bu.edu (Anthony Mauricia)
Thu, 12 Nov 1992 19:21:16 +0000