For those of you who came in after I started this series of questions and answers, they are being taken from the newsletter for Aruak City, DM 11. The questions are being posed by Hanibal, a relatively new player and Noblish alumnus, and the answers are offered by any members of that arena who care to respond.
Question, turn 400:
All -- I think I have a basic grasp on most aspects of this game, but one thing I have no clue about is how to maximize skill learning. I had an 18 wit TP challenge up to a warrior who had 21 more fights than me and I only learned 2 skills. The next fight I was matched up against a less experienced warrior And I learned 5 skills. This is not an isolated incident. Any tips on skill learning? -- Hanibal's Q.O.W.
Answers, turn 401:
ADIE'S ANSWER -- Theoretically I think, learning has so many variables affecting it, that sometimes the number of learns appears random. Some suggested variables include fight experience differences between combatants, total skill differences, intelligence level of one or both combatants, what each's favorite learn may be, what styles the two warriors are.... There are so many, it's difficult to say. Sometimes you can see the effect of one variable more than another. Other times, one has absolutely no clue. -- Adie
Hanibal -- In your example of warrior learns, did you lose the fight against the more experienced opponent, but win the fight against the less experienced opponent? The outcome of a fight may affect learning, with the winner being bonused and the loser being penalized. I believe that the best way to make a warrior learn well is to give them a 21 wit. That's why wit is my favorite stat to have a 21 in! (Not to mention all the base skills it gives.) -- Generalissimo Puerco
Hannibal -- Skill learning is mainly a derivative of the warrior's wit--obviously the higher the better. But luck (die roll) plays a big part, as do what the other warrior can teach, how many skills yet to learn and a few lesser factors. -- Kennelworth
Hanibal, re the question of the week -- The main thing is to TRAIN skills. Okay, everybody stop laughing. You people (Hanibal, too) already realize this, but there may be a new manager reading this reply who doesn't. Seriously, I once had a manager whose team had just chartered (i.e., he'd been playing for ten turns) diplo me and ask why one of his warriors hadn't learned any skills. He sent me the warrior's numbers, and a little simple math revealed that this warrior had eight stat increases in those ten fights! He hadn't been TRAINING skills. Lesson there, never overlook the obvious.
As to a more useful answer, I don't have one, but I do have some secondary questions. For instance, I was once told that a warrior learns better with an odd-numbered WT. Since I have never personally run a warrior with an even-number WT that I can recall, I don't know. It sounds unlikely, but then, who knows how a computer thinks? Challenging up increases the ODDS of learning but is not a guarantee. Does anybody have any information as to whether a lower-ranked warrior who teaches well is one with lots of skills? My own information would tend to contradict that, as I have some excellent teachers in other arenas who have yet to receive their first rating.
I have heard that there is an increased chance of learning when the fight is a long one. Anybody know whether this is true or just wishful thinking on the part of those matched against scum?
Is the caliber of a warrior's teaching on a given fight reflected in his point gain in the rankings? I have been given to understand that points gained in excess of the basic minimum reflect how well above the average the warrior performed. In theory, a good performance means better demonstration and thus better teaching, but does it work out that way? Do warriors of a given style tend to teach a specific skill or group of skills better than other skills, as for instance, do total parries teach parry and defense?
I've heard it said that when facing an opponent who has only one skill left to learn, a warrior teaches best that skill he learns best. Does this hold true in other circumstances? -- Leeta
Question, turn 402:
All -- I understand that Deftness is the ability to better protect and attack your chosen location. I could care less if I hit my attack location as long as I hit. Does Deftness have any effect on connecting? I believe it is your attack skills vs. your opponents def/parry skills that determines this. -- Hanibal's Q.O.W.
Answers, turn 403:
Hanibal -- Deftness contributes a lot of attack skills to a warrior's base skills. This will increase your warriors' chances of hitting. Shot placement accuracy is said to be based on coordination (DF+SP), but I think having a good attack rating can lead to better shot placement as well. Kill desire may well influence shot placement also. It has been suggested that a warrior's chosen location to protect is the source of the "luck parry" comment that often results in broken weapons. While I personally fancy this theory, I think it would be difficult to prove or disprove. It sounds like a good project for some LP aimers to tackle. -- Generalissimo Puerco
Hanibal -- Re the QOW, probably. At least, I notice that those of my warriors with very low DF (and I've got some doozies here and there) spend a lot of time flailing wildly and missing. -- Leeta