Re: Duelmasters - Short Term guys

From: ccs012@yogi.ucdavis.edu (Dennis Cleary)

Date: Tue, 07 Jan 1992 03:22:10 +0000

In article <1992Jan6.223436.2962@cco.caltech.edu> johnjohn@krusty writes:
>So, here are some ideas that I have about running short term warriors with a
>good shot at winning too....

I would hate to see a design for a short-term warrior that lost a lot.  Oh
wait, I've already run several of those.  The trouble is, mine all seem to be
WT 17 WL 17 finesse stylists.  :(

>The design theory -
>The basic idea behind the shortterm warrior is that he doesn't have the chance
>to survive long-term. To me, this means the warrior has a serious detriment in
>wit or will or both.

Well, if he has a serious detriment in both, what are you going to do?  A
warrior with a poor skill base who can't learn and doesn't last.  Sounds like
instant DA, just $1.50, to me.

>The method -
>Your roll-up should have a high wit/speed/deft. Since will is being shorted, I
>leave it alone. Pump up the remaining stats to get a good "first jump" kind of
>guy.  This results in warriors like my 11-11-8-17-5-17-15 basher.  This design
>had a high wit/speed/deft combo, perfect for a guy that _could_ go to AD and
>retire (theoretically).  5 will dooms him in my eyes. He is good for some wins
>against slow bashers, and the finnesse styles. The wit gives him learns, and a
>kind of permanance, even.

I know of about 5 different warriors with 5 WLs who made it all the way to
AD.  It depends on how well you avoid some warriors, and how lucky you are with
challenges to others.  21 WT sure helps too.

As for the design mentioned above...

Actually, it depends on the style as to what kind of character you want your
short-termer to be.  For strikers (and possibly lungers) I agree with your
above statement.  While your mileage may vary, I've found that Bashers need
high ST and WT, and at least an 11 DF.  This type of roll-up is almost a sure
winner up through, about, Challenger Adepts.

Now, don't doubt the veracity of the claims presented here.  I've used that
basher design about 6 times, for a total record of 27-5-9 (or thereabouts).
My current character designed along these lines is Peel The Cap (of .sig
fame), now 7-0-3 at ST 17 CN 10 SZ 13 WT 17 WL 9 SP 7 DF 11.

>Resisting the temptation -
>If you keep this type of warrior, he'll top out around Chall. Adepts, where
>people have the skill learns and the stats to back them up as well.  Here is
>where you have the fights that last...and sometimes, you have to as well.  DA
>BEFORE YOU GET THIS HIGH!!!

But how do you know when to DA?  I suggest a good guideline is either after the
first loss (my personal favorite) or after your first kill versus a reasonably
good and experienced team.  Waiting until you're a Chall. Adept makes it
awfully hard to let go of these guys, especially since they occasionally win
1 or 2 and become the youngest Champ or even the youngest Duelmaster in the
history of the arena.

>A good topping out is in Adepts, where you can still work those guys who went
>4-0-0, and don't have any ratings.  Eat them for lunch. Initiates are way fun.
>Just remember, by the C.Adepts, people will have your number.  Beware.

Okay, just point out to me which 4-0-0 characters are legit and which ones are
the pretenders.  Another character of mine, an 11-10-9-17-9-17-11 slasher
currently has experts in Init (NEX=1) and Decis (NEX=1) and is looking at
an expert in Attack relatively soon.  At 5-1-0 (lost to an 11-1-0 TP when he
was 4-0-0), he _looks_ like a pretender, but is actually a contendor.  I say
avoid these guys, and attack the 5-5 Adepts who aren't really very good and
don't have much of an experience edge over you.

Or do what mine do, random against seemingly unbeatable characters, and kick
their butt.

>Role-Playing to the hilt -
>This is where you can have the most fun, writing spotlights about your
>sado-masochistic basher who is deciding his next victim's name.... or anything
>else you want.  Then DA, and laugh and laugh and laugh....

I couldn't agree more.  Of course, role-playing is up to the individual.
I also like to name my characters, for instance: Lunge-O-Rama or Gimme
Longspear for that special lunger in your life; Death From Above or A Bigger
Stick for the Basher you find just too irresistable; or even Siege, or Walls
of Jericho for that Scum you've grown to love.

>Just thought I'd point out this method of running a disposable.

Actually, I've always wondered about guys who gave out their own special
secrets.  Why give away your winning ways?  Why not say what hasn't worked for
you, and then pretend that it has?

Bizarre.

+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------------+
! Donald Trump, CEO Trump Gladiatorial Enterprises ! dfcleary@ucdavis.edu    !
!	Too Much Posse - Murska (35)               ! "People use the DA too  !
!    	Stragety, Dammit! - Andor (57)	           !   much -- let me kill   !
!       Riff-Raff Crew - Free Blades (103)         !   them!" - Peel The Cap !
+--------------------------------------------------+-------------------------+

References

Duelmasters - Short Term guys
johnjohn@krusty
Mon, 06 Jan 1992 22:34:36 +0000

Referenced By

Duelmasters - Short Term guys
johnjohn@krusty
Mon, 06 Jan 1992 22:34:36 +0000