Duel II Archive

     There have been several articles about fighting styles, some say theirs is the 
best, or ultimate, one said theirs is the most fun style.  Well, I feel that parry-
strikers are just as much fun to play as any other style.
     First, let's start with the run down of what they say in the "RED BOOK".  The 
book says that parry-strikers are defensive, using small quick movements in their 
actions (sounds like you could say that about some other styles as well.)  The book 
says that some managers swear that a high wit is critical to the style (only those who 
have no brains would disagree with that.)
     Let's get to business.  First and foremost this style is deceptively aggressive, 
making them a very good offensive type of fighter, or deadly type of defensive 
fighter.  Offensively they tend to get the jump on their opponent.  I had a parry-
striker that was only jumped 3 out of 11 fights, before he died.  To prepare and run a 
parry-striker can be quite confusing, so I will try to help make it as simple as 
possible.  Here are my feelings on roll-ups for the parry-strike style:

     ST:  11-15, I'll explain later.
     CN:  who cares.
     SZ:  10-14, don't go over 14.
     WT:  13-17, 17 is the best.
     WL:  13-17, to get good endurance.
     SP:  not important.
     DF:  11-15, I'll explain later.

     Here are some good roll-ups for a parry-striker:  11,7,10,17,17,7,15; 
15,7,11,17,16,7,11; 11,7,14,17,13,7,15; 15,7,14,17,13,7,11.  Now, if you have a decent 
wit, the way you run this fighting style will depend on strength and deftness.  For 
example: if your fighter has a high DF and a low ST it would be to his/her advantage 
to be defensive, since the speed would benefit the ability to move in reaction to 
their opponent.  If the ST is high, and DF low, it would be better to fight 
offensively like a striker, trying to get the first, and only blow in.  If they don't 
have a decent wit, you're on your own.  I can't help you on that.  Remember this style 
of fighting is the same as a striker except for added knowledge of parrying, as well 
as bein a little more aggressive.  I would not suggest a low ST and DF, it will take 
away from your WT & WL, and you don't want to do that, but if you do, good luck.  You 
don't need much CN if you have a good WL, which gives you your endurance.  SZ; you 
don't want it to be above 14, it would hurt your fighting style more than your 
attributes.  WT; it is the same as it is with strikers, the higher the WT the faster 
and deadlier they become.  Raise WT to 17 if you don't have it at the start, then 
don't worry about it again until ADM.  WL; this is where you get your endurance.  13 
is fine to start out, but I would suggest 15, then bump it up to 17 in basic.  SP; it 
is what you need to riposte, but PSers have this "one strike one kill" attitude.  
Meaning that there isn't much time to riposte with a killing attitude, so do whatever.  
DF; what is there to say, it helps, but is not crucial to be a great PSer.  Now to 
running a PSer.  If he is an offensive fighter 10-10-10 Dec. all the way through the 
fight, even in desperation.  If Defensive, 1st 10-10-10 Resp., 2nd 10-7-10 Dec., 3rd 
10-10-10, 4th 10-10-10 Dec., 5th 10-10-10 Dec., 6th 10-10-10, Desp. 10-10-10 Resp.  
Remember, first you want to assure your defense, and to do that, you should go 
defensive the first minute.  By the second minute you will be secure enough to go on 
the offensive, but experiment.  6th minute on, leave blank, for by that time he/she 
will know what to do (if their WT is high that is.)  The best thing you could do for 
your fighter is watch the fights, if you are getting more defensive skills than 
offensive, run the def., or change weapons.  That is the best advice I can give you 
about PSers.  About armor, I like to use ringmail or nothing, but experiment.  I know 
that there is someone that will disagree with me, but I feel that I have given you 
some ideas about this fighting style that can be used, even though I am a new manager, 
playing for just over a year.  No matter who writes a style article, it is just 
advice, not the bible.  Just use the articles as a point of reference, not as sworn 
law.
     This is a very fun fighting style, try it out.  I have written this in answer to 
Foreign Legion Arena 31, and The Spartans Arena 8.  I challenge any Primus Manager to 
correct my writing of PSers.  It is not my favorite style, but it is as fun as any 
other that I have used, including my favorite one (Which is a STRIKER!!)  If there are 
any comments, please Diplo The Priest, the manager of The Heroes of XIAN DM-10, or The 
Crucifiers DM-46.

     Coordination has long been ruled as having no effect on a warrior.  I have 
noticed a few things that may be the cause of certain coordination levels.  So I 
decided to write this article to give the general DM populace something to ponder.  
Below is the coordination table:

Coordination =  SP + DF

06 - 16  = Clumsy
17 - 20  = Slightly Uncoordinated
21 - 27  = Normal
28 - 31  = Highly Coordinated
32 - 39  = Very Highly Coordinated
40 - 42  = Marvel of Fighting Coordination

     Since I run a lot of bashers that have a clumsy rating most of the time, I 
noticed a few things that happen to them and not the high coordination warriors I 
have.  Most people don't have clumsy warriors, save some bashers and TPs, so it may 
not be paid that much attention to.
     The first thing I have noticed is that a clumsy warrior seems to drop his weapon 
more often than a higher coordination warrior.  So I think that maybe he has a higher 
chance to do this than normally coordinated warriors.
     Second, I noticed that clumsy warriors have harder time trying to quick draw 
their back-up weapon, causing them to fumble around trying to get it.
     Third is that the clumsy warrior also is slower to get up after he has been 
knocked down.  It may also influence the roll on whether you get knocked down or not, 
along with other factors.
     These things aren't as noticeable the higher the coordination becomes.  That's 
probably why a lot of people don't place any  value on coordination.  At the higher 
levels of the game there aren't any clumsy warriors, so coordination isn't noticed.  
You can still get knocked down, lose your weapon, and draw your back-up quickly, but 
the odds are more in your favor with a higher coordination in my opinion.
     Well, may joy and happiness be with you.  If you would like to chat , I can be 
reached at 103260.3347@compuserve.com  
     You may diplo me at LORDS OF THE ABYSS, in DM 11, or any of the JOKER'S WILDS 
scattered about.

                                                         Ta-Ta,
                                                         Sir Jessie Jest
                                            (He who always gets the last laugh......)

     We all know them.  We all hate them.  What am I talking about?  Scum.  But there 
is nothing better than a scum to scout at your enemy's weak points.  You can see if 
they'll last long, what weapons they use, where they attack, their style, etc.  And 
you typically don't have to fear a loss.  Picture this.  You see a guy on the listing 
10-5-2.  Well, you don't want to send your best warrior with his perfect 5-0-1 because 
you want to keep winning.  So you send in your scout.  Now you know if you can beat 
him.  The scout will enable you to better pick and choose your fights.  Also if you 
feel like getting back at someone these scum are great.

How to design:

ST13+ can go as low as 11
CN17+
WT5-7 no more
WL17+
SP3 as low as possible
DF7 is perfect

     So a perfect set up would be 15-19-13-7-19-3-8 to start train CN till 21 then WL 
21 WT 8 DX 9 then whatever you want.  This guy is not for ADM he's just for regular DM 
and to be used to scout.  Don't worry about skills until you've 3 raises in everything 
then go to skills.  Oh yeah strategy.

1-1-1-1-1-1-1
1-1-1-1-1-1-1
1-1-1-1-1-1-1
HE---------HE
BD---------BD
Parry-------P

     Get rid of him when they get up high.  Then they've already scouted everything.

                                   Brought to you by Mr. Drake DM#5, Mgr. of Pirates

by One Armed Bandit

Twice a year, there is a great gathering. These tiny men with their stained clothing and great intellects do not look like your traditional gladiators, but they will meet and compete for a chance at Duel2 immortality. No, no, I’m not talking about the managers at the Face-to-Face. I’m talking about the murderous dwarves at the Bloodgames.

Its probably the worst advertised event in Duel2 history. It happens twice a year, every year, and you don’t have to fly across the country to participate. For some, the Bloodgames are just a distant memory of a t-shirt that never arrived, newer managers may have never even heard of it. For others, though, it is a way of life. And it can be your way of life, too.

The cost: $10 to roll up the team, $49 to run them. At each Face-To-Face tourney, two Bloodgames arenas are run. One of them (called the FtF Bloodgames) gets run round-by-round for ten rounds, and warriors are allowed to change their strategies, avoid, and make Bloodfeud challenges. For the other arena (called the Mail-In Bloodgames), there are no bloodfeuds or avoids and each warrior must use the same strategy and train for all ten rounds. You can participate in both even if you don’t attend the FtF, but you’ll be at a slight disadvantage in the FtF Bloodgames (the Mail-In Bloodgames is a perfectly level playing field).

The teams: Each team consists of TEN warriors, one of EACH style. You can design each warrior however you want, as long as the stats add up to 84 points and no stat is lower than a 3 or higher than a 21 (referred to as DYOs or design-your-own warriors). Simply write down the following information on a piece of paper and mail it to RSI (or email it to csr@reality.com): your name, your account number, the words “Mail-In Bloodgames” or “FtF Bloodgames”, the team name, and all ten warriors (name, style, gender, ST-CN-SZ-WT-WL-SP-DF). If you submit them early enough you will probably get a chance to see the overviews before sending in strategies for each of them (using a normal strategy sheet, remember only one strategy and train for the entire event). If you want to play it safe, however, you can submit strategies along with the team information, just write “NEW” in each of the Warrior ID spots and either “MI BG” or “FTF BG” in the Game # spot. Some managers who are especially hard-core will roll up each team more than once, and look over the overviews to determine which team had the best luck in the roll-up process. Just remember, it costs $10 each time you roll them up.

The rules: So what’s the catch? $59 for 10 design-your-own warriors? Not so fast, buddy. At the end of ten rounds, the top three warriors of different styles from each arena will be granted immortality, trained up to the minimum ADM requirements, and will graduate to ADM. Every other warrior will be gone forever. Executed, freed, or retired to a quiet life on the farm like your childhood dog Buster, whatever helps you sleep at night. If the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ranked warriors are a LU, a WS, and an AB, then those three will win the prizes. However, if the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ranked warriors are a LU, a LU, and a WS, the 2nd place LU is out of luck, his prize will drop down to the highest ranking member of a style that isn’t LU or WS. So what does it take to be one of the top ranked warriors? Warriors are ranked based on number of kills, first and foremost, with their record and recognition points being the tie breakers. Oh, did I mention that the chances of dying are FIVE TIMES that of a normal arena?

What to expect: You will run into many opponents who are SZ 3, who have 21 WT and 21 WL, who are using a 10 KD and aiming for the vitals, who are using unusual weapons that Duel2 folklore says have a greater chance of delivering that killing blow, such as the Battle Axe. You may run into such classic archetypes as the 17-3-3-21-21-8-11 ST or the 17-16-3-3-21-3-21 AB.

So why should you play? There are many reasons. You don’t have to feel guilty about killing your friend’s warrior, for starters, because that’s the whole objective. Unique kill text make it all the sweeter, too. You won’t see anyone get “pierced completely through” or “skewered through their vital organs” anywhere else (at least I hope not). Not only is it exciting to read, but my most rewarding warrior came from the Bloodgames and yours could, too. Whether you are a tournament player or an arena player, if your warrior is tough enough to survive the Bloodgames, he’s tough enough for whatever task you set him to. My first Bloodgames graduate was a warrior named Sushi Slinger of Sea Dogs: 17-3-3-21-21-12-7 SL. He left Old Valamantis with a 10-0-3 record and immortality. Since then, he has been a Tournament Victor in the Freshman tourney, a Runner-Up in the ADM tourney, and a three-time Tournament Victor in the Eligibles tourney. He is now fighting in Primus against the best of the best and holding his own. Your Bloodgames graduate could join him in Primus, too.

Broadsword
Brings his BROADSWORD down in a horrible cleaving motion! (*)
BROADSWORD arcs from overhead with maximum momentum and force! (*)
BROADSWORD whips horizontally across with a deadly timed power! (*)
Charges forward, BROADSWORD whistling through the air! (*)
Hacks at her (BROADSWORD at her) foe with untamed berzerker energy! (*)
Makes a ferocious backhanded assault with her BROADSWORD!
Sweeps his BROADSWORD in a sudden, vicious assault!
Unleashes a horrifying attack (with her BROADSWORD), straining every muscle for power! (*)

Battle Axe
Brings his BATLE AXE hurtling down with devastating force! (*)
Brings his BATTLE AXE slicing across with tree-felling power! (*)
BATTLE AXE arcs forward with a terrible destructive energy! (*)
Makes an all out cleaving attack with his BATTLE AXE!
Slices up wickedly with the gleaming blade of his BATTLE AXE! (*)
Sweeps his BATTLE AXE in a deadly assault on his opponent! (*)
Unleashes an incredible full-bladed chop with her BATTLE AXE! (*)
Whirls his BATTLE AXE from overhead, attacking with demonic fury! (*) (*)

Dagger
Attacks, his DAGGER wielded with an unnerving precision! (*)
DAGGER flashes as he takes a sudden vicious slash at his foe! (*)
DAGGER strikes instantly as his opponent leaves an opening! (*)
Drives his DAGGER in a forward slash! (?)
Ducks low and takes a wicked upward slice with his DAGGER! (*)
Leaps forward, DAGGER thrusting with malevolence and surety! (*)
Makes a cruel and cunning underhanded attack with his DAGGER! (*)
Strikes overhead, DAGGER ripping with incredible swiftness! (*)
Whirls and strikes backhandedly with his DAGGER! (*)

Epee
Attacks from low guard, EPEE slicing wickedly upwards at her foe!
Blurs forward, EPEE stabbing suddenly with blinding speed! (*)
Dives forward, EPEE stabbing repeatedly with his charge! (*)
EPEE leaps forward suddenly from a high guard overhead!
EPEE strikes forward in a clash of cold steel! (*)
Lunges forward, EPEE thrusting with incredible speed and accuracy!
Makes an incredible flesh-splitting slash with her EPEE! (*)
Whips his EPEE blade back and forth as if to slash his foe to ribbons! (*)

Fist
Attacks, FISTS punching with piston-like horse felling power!
Attacks his foe with a pinpoint accurate ELBOW! (*)
Dives forward, FISTS driving at his opponent with menacing fury!
Explodes into a deadly double OPEN HAND strike!
HANDS flash forward, jabbing fiercely at her surprised foe!
Hammers down a ferocious FOREARM smash!
Hauls back and spins into a near-lethal ELBOW smash!
PUNCHES from the waist with an unbelievable quickness! (*)
Spins around and hammers a tremendous ELBOW smash towards his foe!
Throws a rock-fisted PUNCH of incredible felling power! (*)

Great Axe
Attacks, bringing his GREAT AXE down with bone-splitting force! (*)
Brings his GREAT AXE ferociously slashing downward from his head! (*)
Cuts powerfully forward, his full weight behind his GREAT AXE! (*)
GREAT AXE slices at his opponent with concentrated hatred!
Makes a malevolent attack with his gleaming GREAT AXE!
Muscles ripple as his GREAT AXE cuts through the air! (*)
Throws his entire weight behind his GREAT AXE in a mighty assault!

Greatsword
Attacks, bringing his GREATSWORD down with bone-splitting force! (*)
Attacks, swinging his GREATSWORD with untamed savagery! (*)
Brings his GREATSWORD hurtling downward from above his head!
Brings his GREATSWORD smashing outward in a vicious attack!
Hacks mercilessly at his foe with his GERATSWORD! (*)
GREATSWORD arcs forward in an attempt to cut his foe in two!
Muscles ripple as he makes a powerful swing with his GREATSWORD!
Whirls his GREATSWORD overhead, attempting a bashing attack! (*)

Halberd
Attacks, HALBARD sweeping with devastating momentum!
Batters mercilessly at his foe with his HALBARD! (*)
Flashes outward, attacking with horrifying power!
Grimly unleashes an incredible attack with his HALBARD!
Hurls his body behind a full length sweep with his HALBARD!
Jerks her HALBARD brutally upward in a wicked thrusting arc!
Lashes out with the full length of her HALBARD!(?)
Powers her HALBARD to smash at her foe with untamed fury! (*)
Smashes her HALBARD down executioner-style from overhead!

Hatchet
Backhands mightily, revealing the flash of her HATCHET spike!
Chops savagely downward with her trusty HATCHET!
Hacks viciously downward with the blade of his HATCHET! (*)
HATCHET flashes with snake-like speed and accuracy! (*)
Lashes out brilliantly with his HATCHET!(?)
Makes a HATCHET swing that takes the crowd’s breath away! (*)
Twists his HATCHET aiming a malevolent chop at the defense!
Unleashes a HATCHET attack that absolutely stuns the fans!

Kick
LEG smashes outward, kicking with tremendous force!
Throws a piston like SIDE KICK at his opponent!
Leaps into the air taking a vicious flying KICK at his opponent!
Unleashes a bone-crushing KICK of incredible power!
Focuses all of his skill and power into a devastating KICK!
Howls as he snaps a full force KICK at his foe!
Spins, throwing a devastating WHEEL KICK at his foe!
Attacks, LEGS flying in an unbelievable double footed kick!

Large Shield
Barrels forward, LARGE SHIELD smashing before him as the crowd roars!
Cruelly attempts to pulverize his foe with his LARGE SHIELD!
Cruelly attempts to batter her foe with her LARGE SHIELD!
Rest same as other shields

Longspear
Catapults forward, LONGSPEAR flashing in a deadly assault! (*)
Charges forward, LONG SPEAR thrusting with murderous power! (*)
Is making a deliberate attempt to impale her enemy with her LONG SPEAR (*)!
LONG SPEAR strikes forward with incredible swiftness and power!
Lunges into an attack, his LONGSPEAR flying with incredible force! (*)
Makes a devastating thrust, LONG SPEAR blurring in the attack! (*)
Makes a lighting thrust with his LONGSPEAR! (*)
Unleashes a murderous thrust, that brings the crowd to their feet! (*)

Longsword
Catapults forward, LONGSWORD stabbing cruelly at his foe! (*)
Feints, then springs viciously forward with his LONGSWORD! (*)
Lashes out with her longsword in a murderous thrust! (*)
Leaps into an incredible flesh-splitting lunge with his LONGSWORD!
LONGSWORD lunges forward with a flash of cold, cruel steel! (*)
Strikes forward with his LONGSWORD, all his weight behind his blow!
Thrusts her LONGSWORD, brilliantly timing her opponent’s motion! (*)
Thrusts his LONGSWORD, cleverly timing his opponent’s motion! (*)
Thrusts his LONGSWORD forward with an unbelievably deadly force! (*)
Unleashes her LONGSWORD in a piercingly accurate thrust! (*)

Maul
Bats murderously at his foe with his MAUL! (?)
Bludgeons his MAUL with terrible savagery! (*)
Makes a devastatingly powerful sweep with his MAUL!
Smashes furiously downward with his MAUL! (?)
Sweeps his MAUL in a tremendous bone-crushing arc!
Throws his weight behind is MAUL in an all-out assault! (*)

Medium Shield
Barrels forward, MEDIUM SHIELD smashing before him as the crowd roars! (*)
Cruelly attempts to batter his foe with his MEDIUM SHIELD!
Cruelly attempts to flatten his foe with his MEDIUM SHIELD!
Smashes his MEDIUM SHIELD wickedly forward toward his foe!
Sweeps his MEDIUM SHIELD in a sudden, unexpected assault! (*)
Runs forward, seeking to pummel his opponent with his MEDIUM SHIELD!

Morning Star
Attacks, whirling the MORNING STAR with tremendous Froce!
Attempts to smash at his opponent with his MORNING STAR! (?)
Cleverly tries to break her foes defense with her MORNING STAR! (*)
MORNING STAR whines with unstoppable velocity!
Snaps the MORNING STAR forward in a deadly assault!
Swings his MORNING STAR with deadly intent at his target (*)
Whips his MORNING STAR downward in a remorseless arc!
Whips his MORNING STAR downward in a viciouis power smash!

Quarterstaff
Bats murderously at his foe with his QUARTERSTAFF! (*)
Brings his QUARTERSTAFF smashing ferociously downward! (*)
Impresses everyone with a masterful thrust of her QUARTERSTAFF! (*)
Jabs murderously at her foe with the tip of her QUARTERSTAFF!
Lashes out with her QUARTERSTAFF in a lightning quick assault!
Surprises everyone with a masterful swing of his QUARTERSTAFF! (*)
Sweeps her QUARTERS in a tremendous bone-crushing arc!
Whirls her QUARTERSTAFF, attacking with berserker fury!

Scimitar
Attacks, her SCIMITAR wielded with malevolence!(*)
Ducks low, her SCIMITAR slicing suddenly upwards! (*)
Leaps forward, swinging her SCIMITAR into a veritable wall of blades! (*)
Leaps into the air, bringing his SCIMITAR down in a powerful slash! (*)
Leaps into the air in a furious slash!
Leaps into the air taking a furious slash with his SCIMITAR! (*)
makes a brilliant twisting thrust with his SCIMITAR! (*)
times a devilish cunning attack, SCIMITAR leaping with deadly force! (*)
twists into a tremendous cutting attack with his SCIMITAR! (*)
Turns into a furious whirlwind of blades as her SCIMITAR leaps forward! (*)
SCIMITAR lunges with awesome cutting power! (*)

Small Shield
Attempts to swat at his foe with his SMALL SHIELD! (NOT)
Barrels forward, SMALL SHIELD smashing before him as the crowd roars! (*)
Charges forward, trying to run down his opponent with his SMALL SHIELD! (*)
Cruelly attempts to batter his foe with his SMALL SHIELD! (*)
Cruelly attempts to bruise his foe with his SMALL SHIELD! (*)
Runs forward, seeking to pummel his opponent with his SMALL SHIELD! (*)
Sweeps his SMALL SHIELD in a clever backhanded assault!
Sweeps his SMALL SHIELD in a sudden, unexpected assault! (*)
Smashes his small SMALL SHIELD wickedly forward towards his foe!

Short Spear
Dives into a powerful lunge with its SHORT SPEAR! (*)
Lunges past its foe and brings its SHORT SPEAR into a brilliant backhand stab! (*)
Makes a menacing underthrust with her SHORT SPEAR!
Rushes her foe, her SHORT SPEAR underthrusting malevolently! (*)
SHORT SPEAR leaps forward with incredible swiftness and power! (*)
SHORT SPEAR moves like angry lightning! (*)
SHORT SPEAR strikes with blinding quickness! (*)
Springs with full extension with her SHORT SPEAR!

Shortsword
Focuses his energy in a powerful upward stab with his SHORTSWORD! (*)
Hacks viciously downward with her SHORTSWORD! (*)
Lashes his SHORTSWORD cruelly at a break in the defense! (*)
Makes a clever stab with his SHORTSWORD that stuns the fans! (*)
Stabs powerfully upward with his SHORTSWORD! (*)
Thrusts his SHORTSWORD forward with his full force behind it! (*)
Thrusts his SHORTSWORD in a lightning move at the defense! (*)
SHORTSWORD leaps forward in a bloodthirsty assault on his foe! (*)
Sweeps his SHORTSWORD in a tight, powerful slash!

War Flail
Attacks, his WAR FLAIL whistling with a frightful acceleration! (*)
Cracks his cruelly barbed WAR FLAIL with tremendous force! (*)
Hauls back and power smashes with his WAR FLAIL! (*)
Lashes out, WAR FLAIL chains curling with a hideous power!
Takes a tremendous swipe at his foe with his WAR FLAIL! (*)
Sweeps his WAR FLAIL in a vicious flailing arc!
Unleashes a murderous full force attack with his WAR FLAIL!
WAR FLAIL screams in the rush of this assault!

War Hammer
Attacks, his WARHAMMER wielded with pile-driving precision!
Backhands, swinging his HAMMER-SPIKE savagely at his target! (*)
Brings his WAR HAMMER crashing downward with horrific power! (*)
Is attempting to smash through the defense with his WAR HAMMER!
Launches a brilliant attack with his WAR HAMMER! (*)
Makes a lightning-quick backhand smash with her WAR HAMMER!
Sweeps his WAR HAMMER downward in a crudely brutal smash! (*)
Sweeps his WAR HAMMER downward in a vicious power slash!
Takes a tremendous swipe at his foe with his WAR HAMMER! (*)