From: johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu (John White)
Subject: DM - Sisterson's Guys
Originator: johnjohn@kanga
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 08:04:21 GMT

In article <1992Apr15.235937.6398@ccu.umanitoba.ca>  
umsister@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Sisterson) writes:
>Greetings Netland, let me introduce you to my warriors:
>
>We have Demonspawn (4-1-1)
>Lunging
>Right Handed
>  has learned how to keep his foe in trouble
>  cleverly controls his foes' actions
>  makes clever attacks
>  is gifted at avoiding blows
>is incredible quick and active
>is incredible quick and elusive on his feet
>strength    :  11
>constitution:  13
>size        :  8
>wit         :  11
>will        :  15 (was 14)
>speed       :  16
>deftness    :  11
>Expert in initiative.

First of all, it's quicker to type the stuff in like this:

Demonspawn: lunger
11-13-8-11-15(1)-16-11.  I mean, we all know what the numbers mean, and its  
less of a pain to read (and type!)

>I currently fight him with the go all out style, and he responds pretty  
good.  I fight him with:
>1st  2nd  3rd  4th  5th  6thOn  Desp
> 9--->
> 9--->
>10--->
>AB--->
>BD--->

I used to believe in this method of lunging, but I've found that dropping  
kill desire to 6 makes better attacks.  Unless you're really going for the  
kill, a 10 KD is pretty counter-productive.  I think, anyway....

>I know, it is very boring, but it seems to work.  His best

I know, it does.  I like to go 10-10-6-x-x or 10-8-6-x or 10-6-6-L (against  
slower warriors).  Also, I slow way down after minute two.  In desperation,  
using a dodging strategy has saved my ass many a time.  4-9-4-x-D works.

> weapons combination is the Short spear, and a dagger for

Does he make crits?  Look for the favorite weapon (obviously).  Try LO, or  
SH if that doesn't work.

> parrying.  Demonspawn seems well suited to both weapons,
> and is now beginning to use the dagger with a little style.

If you do use SS, using it alone is supposed to give you an attack bonus.

>I fight Demonspawn with no or little armor.

Cool.  Some comments on your design:  The con is higher that strength, so  
perhaps a PL would have worked better.  For any warrior that I plan to keep,  
I _always_ have a 15+ wit.  If I had it my way, I'd always have 17+.   
Without a 15, you don't have the necessary starting skill base, you don't  
have the learning speed to get you to AD within 30 fights, and you don't  
really have the ability to train your wit past 21, where the real skills  
are.

Your will is too low for what I would call the will intensive styles: LU,  
PL, SL, WS, TP.  With those, I would _strongly_ urge you to use a 17 or 21  
will.  With the other styles, you can get away with a 15.  Some people say  
that I'm extreme, but most would agree in their heart of hearts.

Your speed is too high.  The only style that really benefits from a high  
speed is striking.  I would stay around 7-11 for a lunger.  9 is optimum.

Deftness is a _really_ important stat, third in importance to wit and will.   
11 is pretty much minimum for most styles if you want to run a long-term  
guy.  Again, it's hard to get above 21 when you start below 11.  I like, 11,  
13, or 17.  Or 21, but not at the cost of wit, will, or a runnable warrior.

Of course, I'm talking about running a long-term guy.  If you're running a  
warrior merely to win some quick fights, then get DA'ed, you've done a good  
job.  In summation, he doesn't have a "future" except to win some quick  
fights, and get DA'ed in hopes of a better rollup.  Something like  
11-3-10-17-17-9-13.  *droool*

Bluntly, DA while you're ahead on the win-loss column.

>Errant Zombie (2-3-1):
>Slashing
>Right Handed
>is Bright
>   has learned very well how to keep his foes in trouble
>   makes few mistakes
>is a very active fighter
>has poor endurance
>can take a lot of damage
>cannot carry a lot of weight in weapons and armor
>is quick on his feet
>   avoiding blows rather that parrying them
>does great damage with every blow
>strength     :  9 
>constitution : 15
>size         : 12
>wit          : 14
>will         :  9
>speed        : 14
>deftness     : 11
>
> Errant Zombie seems to be comming around, but with that low
> of a will, I fear the dark arena is in the near futur for
> him.

Quite right!  Read on.

> I fight him with a scimitar and a small shield.  He
> uses the shield to good advantage, and make the 'arcing
> attack' with the scimitar quite often.  It seems like he
> likes his current weapons.

True.

> I have to keep him around for
> a bit because he just killed another guys warrior, but
> after the blood fued limit is up, he is da bound.  Any
> ideas with this boy?

This guy specifically:  Don't wait, DA _now!_  Screw honor!  This costs  
_money!_  :-)
It was suggested to me that slashers can be just as devastating as lungers,  
givin a little time.  I don't really have the experience to comment, but  
I'll try my best.  Slashers aren't as overwhelming from the start, but they  
learn riposte skills a bit quicker than the other offensive styles.  I would  
run him 10-8-6-x or Decise.  10-6-6-S against slow defensives.  Don't use  
slash against offensives; it slows you down to "target" speed.  Against  
defensives, the extra damage is a definite bonus.  Slow way down after two  
minutes of offense.

Wizard of Oz is better qualified than I am...

Slasher's specifically.  9-13 ST for SC to GA.  lower con for the points.   
Higher sizes mean better starting init, a good thing for slashers.  However,  
you don't want to screw up your wit/will/deft.  15+ wit.  15+ will.  7-11  
speed.  13+ deftness.  Say, 11-8-9-17-15-9-15?  Not bad, but not terrific.   
I would tend to make designs that are a bit to low for a lunger into  
slashers.  That may just be me.  Any comments on that?

>Next is Drakus Durn (3-2-0)
>Bashing
>Right Handed
>  has learned to be decisive and quick
>  seldom wastes his endurance needlessly
>is slightly uncoordinated
>can take a lot of damage
>can do tremendous damage with a blow
>strength      :  11
>constitution  :  15
>size          :  17
>wit           :  11
>will          :  11
>speed         :  9
>deftness      :  11 (was 10)
>
>I've tried Drakus out with a few weapons, and the greatsword
> seems to be his favorite.  The problem is he is not strong
> enough to wield it.  That usually does not stop him though.
> Last turn, I turned a TP into mashed patatoes.  Poor guy
> did not know what hit him.  I went 10 for all OE, AL, and
> KD. When Drakus's KD or AL or OE is too low, he just stands
> there.  But with all 10's, he goes beserk.  I think I'll
> keep him around until he works his way up to the adepts.
> Then I'll see how he fairs in the DA.  

Keep him as long as he wins.  Just challenge TP's and Tank PS's.  DA  
sooooooon!  Not enough wit and will to have a good starting attack.  The  
flaw with the rollup was the high con and size.  Too bad.  If you draw bad  
cards, discard and hope to draw something better...

It looks as if he's outlived his usefullness...

>Pari Pami Acier (1-4-0)
>Parry-Lunge
>Left Handed
>  makes clever attacks
>  parry intelligently
>can carry a good amount of weith in weapons and armor
>can do good damage with a blow
>strength      :  15
>constitution  :  13
>size          :  10
>wit           :  11
>will          :  11
>speed         :  13
>deftness      :  11
>
>Pari has learned 5 init skills, and 1 parry skill.  He does
> ok for the 1st few hits, then basically just dies on the
> sands.  I'm sending him to DA next turn.  I fight him with
> shortsword, and a shortsword.  The last two losses were
> both to warriors with at least 5 more fights though.  Any
> ideas?  He fights best with a high OE, middle-high AL, and
> a middle KD.  

Good riddance!  So .... avarage.  You want to bump up his strengths, not  
make up for his weaknesses...  Lower speed is better.  Higher wit and  
will...

>I am open to suggestions by anybody, either masters, or scum
> like myself.

I don't think of myself as a master (so little money, so little time!), but  
I don't think I'm scum either.  We're all learning, here! :-)

--
John White
johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu
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-- 
John White
johnjohn@cco.caltech.edu
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