The question, turn 420:
All -- I was noticing the skill modifiers for low to high size; do these negatives keep a warrior from being successful at the high end of the game? -- Hanibal -- Q.O.W.
Answers, turn 421:
Q.O.W. (size) -- Smaller size has always had an advantage in the upper levels of the game, especially at the top of Primus and Gateway. The bonus to defense and parry offsets the initiative loss and the damage taking and dealing that a large size provides. Of course, large size comes with its own defense penalty. A high defense is critical in the upper levels where it is imperative not to get hit. If you are unhittable, it comes down to an endurance contest. However, huge warriors, especially those gifted in defense can make devastating opponents on their road to the top. They are tough and dish out more than all the little pip squeaks ever could. It's much easier to get a great warrior out of a smaller size than out of a larger size of course, due to stat distribution to the other critical areas like WT, WL and DF, so finding a great huge warrior is difficult. My best is Khazakh who is in 105 right now. He's gifted in defense and endurance, and he's devastating in the arena. But some day, near the very top, his size will probably be a hindrance unless his attack is absolutely crazy and he can hit the little guys. -- Adie
Q.O.W. (answer) -- It depends greatly on what you define as the top of the game. Certainly any sized warrior can be effective at the top of a basic arena or any AD arena. By the time you're talking Primus or Gateway it's mainly a matter of whether or not your team can muster enough warriors to win magical prizes to enhance you, those without them must be truly gifted indeed. -- Maxwell Honorblade
Q.O.W. -- Do the small size skill negatives prevent success in the top end game? -- Certainly not! While the negatives are there, remember that small size allows more "points" elsewhere, easily making up the skills. The smaller warriors are *often* the leaders at the top end. There are also TC-winning ways to modify warriors, and this past FTF prize is "very expensive" for this very purpose. -- Kennelworth
QoW -- I don't participate at the Primus/Gateway level of play, but the word is that ability to deal a powerful blow remains important and thus allows the large warriors (read: lungers) to remain competitive with their smaller peers. What I do know is that my sz 3 Lunger that's +4 in defense will have, when completely maxxed out in both skills and stats, the highest number of naturally attainable defense skills in the game. Unfortunately, she'll only do tremendous if she's lucky. -- Generalissimo Puerco
QOW -- My limited experience in the high end of the game (I have one whole Gateway warrior...WHOO!) the most important skills are, in order: attack, defense, and initiative. So while it isn't good to lose defense, init is a valuable asset as well (helps keep the momentum). Another aspect in the end game is the damage rating, which size does help and can make a LOT of difference. But since it is better to have a 21 wit than a 21 size, I would say that in general over 11 size is unwanted. -- Anti
The questions this time were in regard to the Style-vs-Style chart and how to run a parry-riposte.
Parry-Riposte: How to run them? Hmm... well, I've only run three so far, but I think I've seen a lot of what they can and can't do. From my experience, if their parry is decent, they can take a couple good hits, and carry decent, give them heavy armor and run parry tactic (very helpful with their low parry bases), but at maybe 4-5-5, or faster at 5-3-5. The parry tactic augments their defense, but they'll still try to riposte since they have so much of it. For those who are more frail, can't carry much, and have decent defense, I go in lighter armor and run maybe 3-6-4 (I've never run dodge tactic here, but I'd try). My first ripper to AD had a 7 ST, did normal damage, and she ran in ALE/L running with moderate activity. She graduated 16-6. Of course, she's also +5 in att, +2 in par. But she still defends much better than she parries in that light armor. -- Adie
P.S. As for early in the career, scumming is handy, but put OE up just a bit so they'll swing if given the opportunity. Armor for sure to keep them alive unless you're bold.
Leeta -- I've seen that chart too, but I have no idea if it was based off of a large number of fights. I think those numbers for strikers reflects their great ability to throw those crits early in the career, and to be quick to the first hit. For parry-strikers, I think it merely reflects the variability in how they can be run and designed. The chart of course is based on gross stereo-typing of the styles. I wouldn't use it too much even as a beginner. -- Adie
Leeta -- I think that "chance to win by style" chart is silly. Doesn't it say that lungers will almost always beat aimers? My aimers tend to do pretty well against lungers, how about yours? -- Generalissimo Puerco
Leeta and ALL others -- While I have not seen this chart, I can't help but say that it is probably not very accurate. Too many things factor into a match-up of two warriors to expect style to
On thinking it over in the light of the past month's fights, I have a feeling that the chart is probably rather old, and that recent advances in management technique have drastically undermined its usefulness in most instances. Discounting luck (which one should never do, of course), and all other things being more or less equal, the best manager is more likely to win, rather than the one whose warrior has the favored style. (Now, there's an inflamatory statement!) Probably that overstates the case, but I think managerial skill is now a significant factor, anyway, even if it isn't decisive. -- Jorja