Akika's first pdeath

1. trance_m Akika's first pdeath -
   You were killed by his dexterity and the combat style matchup, I think.
   
   It looks like you were counterbalanced the whole time. That counts as defensive in the hierarchy, so dual wield > counterbalance.
   
   That plus his extremely high dex explains why you only hit him 2 or 3 times.
   
   You only hitting him 2 or 3 times explains how he ended up with scratches at the end.
2. Akika Akika's first pdeath -
   Claw= two-handed
   Two-handed vs. dual wielding= combat superiority for me for pretty much the whole time.
   
   I think she only switched to defensive at the end to sideswipe me. I never switched my weapon.
3. erlwith Akika's first pdeath -
   I'm not a master of the ninjetsu, but I can say that you clearly went about this fight the wrong way. Against a warrior with 16 strength why *not* stay counterbalanced? The likelihood of him hobbling you is slim, now you're dodging everything he throws at you and there's few other combat skills he can use to debilitate you. Now you get to clobbering/sidestepping/uncanny and lag him while he attempts to hobble you. Dirtkicking? Why? Against someone whose dex is 3 points higher than yours, you have BLINDNESS DUST.
   
   Then you're below 50% health and start caltrapping? Are you afraid your 120 hps is going to scare him into fleeing? Since you haven't hit him but a couple of times by that point, caltraps were not going to swing the fight in your favor. I mean of course getting good with any class comes with time I guess but you got to use your head. (Plus all that \x93ninjas aren\x92t mean to stand toe to toe with a warrior\x94\x85. Even if it\x92s a drow warrior)
   
4. Akika Akika's first pdeath -
   I guess I'll point out all of things that DIDN'T screw me over:
   I had sanc, I didn't try to disarm when she wasn't blinded, she didn't hobble me, I had combat superiority most of the time (all of the time when not blinded), I didn't use my dusts and make mobs angry at me, I did go for blind first, I had one rank higher than her, I didn't use charm weapons that she would have resisted, I had 22 hitroll which isn't THAT bad at 40.
   
   Given all of these factors, I'm looking for mistakes on MY part that led me to only inflict a few scratches on what looks like a pretty even match. The fact that drows have ~25 dex isn't my fault. I even tried to use caltraps to do something about that. Maybe if I at least got her down to below half health, I wouldn't be so utterly confounded, but if I could only inflict a few scratches without making any glaring mistakes, I don't see how I'm ever supposed to beat her, even if I get lucky. For example, based on how much I hurt her, she didn't even need sanc.
   
   I'm not angry, just dumbfounded.
5. jonus Akika\\'s first pdeath -
   Drow's strength is a bit better, more like 18 (not 16). The times I have played a ninja envenom is your best friend. Usually on the small classes with no strength landed a poison will really screw them up (often making their weapon to heavy to wield). After the first dirt kick wore off that would have been time to pack it in and haul ass. When you decide to run go invis warriors can't see invis and it might actually buy you enough time to get away. As for how the fight went you definately need to try different weapon combos so that you can land those sidesteps and uncanny attacks.
6. Akika Akika's first pdeath -
   Didn't see Erlwith's post before I posted. As for not staying counterbalanced, I just instinctively stay out of combat style inferiority because I'm scared to death of hobble and I didn't want to risk it even with the strength difference. Plus I didn't think that the one extra defense would make that much of a difference. Blindness dust/poison smoke in front of the Grandmaster of Treants would have been a disaster. As for uncanny/clobber/sidestep, I don't think I got a single round where I was not blind and not lagged. I used caltraps twice, once when I was blind and didn't have anything else to do, and to reduce the dex difference. You're right though, the second time was a mistake, even though I did it with 190 hp, not 120. That's one mistake I see now. But does misusing caltraps ONCE explain only a few scratches? Not to me. And if ninja's aren't supposed to go toe-to-toe with warriors, what are some suggestions?
   
   As for Jonus' post: what's envenom? And I know how to use weapon advantage skills, just ask the people I've killed. It's just that I saw Vevier's log where she used those skills without blinding first, and she got killed too.
7. Laban Oni Luck? -
   What was your luck score at the time? If you are 'calamatous' or whatever.. stay the hell out of pc battles I've found. And if they had lady luck, and you had crap luck.. that could be a 'small' factor in your ass beating. :P
8. erlwith Akika's first pdeath -
   Right 18 strength, but if you had simply murdered and fled away you could've lured him away from the mobs around him, or forced him to run away from the guard. (Most players don't think about sticking around mobs when fighting to protect them from ae's like blindness dust)
   
   I mean, in theory the two caltraps and two dirtkicks individually didn't lose the fight for you... but, that's like 8 rounds of combat you're lagged and doing absolutely nothing to your opponent damage wise.
   
   The idea behind combat is deffinetly kill or be killed. In other words, kill them before they kill you. If dirt kick fails and before you can even get your second dirt in he's reduced your hp by 1/5th it's time to ruuuun.
   
   As far as what you do against a warrior. Sneak attack, get the first hit, debilitate him, try and catch him off guard too without sanc., lag him to death so he can't use combat skills. Strength deffinetly plays a large factor in hobble, even the 2 strength difference can save you from a hobble or two . And btw, 22 hitroll for a ninja at 40 is average/low, I'd really suggest raising that and your damroll asap. He seemed to be better equipped especially since he was doing mauls through sancs vs a higher level (I assume you had sanctuary). Nothing's full proof, and different players have different playstyles. It's a matter of figuring out several strategies, using them in practice and figuring out which works best for your playstyle.
9. Amdorin Akika's first pdeath -
   I see that you were combat superior, but the main concern for rogues in regards to weap/combat advantage is weapon advantage so that you can pull off your ninja skills. Blindness dust has been toned down a bit, but it's' still a mal which I'm sure he didn't have much saves in if he thought it a straight up fighter battle. That would have screwed him longer than a dirt kick, (it's an area attack so be careful) and it would give you plenty of room to switch weapons and get your weapon skills on.
   
   If you can, incorporate his vulns (light, silver and mithril projectiles). Look in tainted for some good weapons to use, I believe there's an axe and maybe a spear that attack with rays (light).
   
   Also, don't be afraid to go for the strangle/assassinate, size isn't much a problem between you two (dex, ..meh) and you have your caltraps still (which I believe you should have tried earlier than sub 50% hp perhaps after a blind dust). I doubt a drow would wield a weapon too close to his strength limit so I don't see the need for nerve, but caltraps/blind definitely. Good luck.
10. Clifton Akika's first pdeath -
    Instead of getting defensive, just take the advice. If you just want someone to pat you on the back and say drows are overpowered, just say it. There's no need to defend everything you did.
11. Clifton Akika's first pdeath -
    If things aren't going well for you, switch tactics. After four rounds and minimal damage, it's time to switch tactics. Use weapon skills, they're super for a reason. Sure, you might get hobbled, but play it like Voravith and cheese recall potions. Other than that, run when you have to, not when you need to. Hit, run, rinse, repeat. You aren't a warrior so there's no need to fight like one.
12. Akika Akika's first pdeath -
    'Instead of getting defensive, just take the advice. If you just want someone to pat you on the back and say drows are overpowered, just say it. There's no need to defend everything you did.'
    
    That was not very nice and completely unnecessary. :( I'm ashamed of you, Clifton, I thought you were anti-flame. A big problem I had with the playerbase was the tendency for everyone to flame each other. I didn't do anything to instigate snide comments against myself, as far as I can see. I'm allowed to question advice if I think there is a valid point against it. Did I ever say "OMG UR A TOTAL N00B, STFU!!!1!"? No, I just pointed out objective things. Also, I don't think anyone thinks drows are overpowered, especially drow warriors, which is why I was that much more surprised.
    
    Anyway, I would like an apology and a cookie.
13. shadok Advice -
    Basically I was betting on you using your dagger/sidestep. That's why I went with the tongue/segment. I knew you'd be smart enough not to blindness dust, that's why I stuck to the mobs here and there. What I didn't count on you doing was caltraps. Sure caltraps are affective, but sometimes wasted on high-dex races, in my opinion. If I miss a dirt kick, that should be your initiative to get weapon/combat style advantage and clobber the shit out of me. Use your ninja skills more, that's why you're a ninja. As far as I can see you're mistakes were not taking advantage of my missed dirt kick and you stayed in the fight blinded versus a warrior who has blind fighting.
14. Akika Akika's first pdeath -
    Ohhhh... right. Blind fighting. That might explain those rounds where I got hit a billion times and I only hit Iverfin like twice. Never realized how nice blind fighting was.
    
    As for the weapon advantage thing... this is what I'm confused about. I saw the Vevier v Harlen log, where Vevier had weapon advantage and Harlen had combat advantage. Vevier used uncanny, Harlen used sideswipe, and Harlen won decisively. So I figure, warrior skills> rogue skills, but since rogue skills> nothing, which is what would happen if the warrior was blind and I was not, I thought that the way to go would be to blind first, then bust out clobbers and the like. So now, am I correct in taking it that if I have weapon advantage, I should just go straight for the sidestep/clobber/uncanny, even at the risk of being answered by a hobble/sideswipe/overhead?
15. shadok Advice -
    Only if you have weapon/combat style advantage would I risk that. Sidestep does major damage, plus a trip if lucky. Lagging the warrior for a bit, clobber would do good also. In my opinion I would only go for dirt when the person was near death, causing them to smack theif head. Just my opinion though.
16. mullet Akika's first pdeath -
    First to clarify things.
    
    Akika, you ARE being VERY defensive. Clifton very rarely flames just to flame. There is actually a point behind his nagging 95% of the time, you just have to look a bit closer. (he is a fag, I know lol)
    
    Dirt kick is Highly reliable. Use it. Blindness dust is highly reliable. Use it.
    
    FLEE is highly reliable. Use it when you are getting your ass handed to you always. Sometimes you just get unlucky. Thats when you need to learn to run. I would say thats the hardest part about this game. Learning when to run. I still have some serious issues with it and it gets me in trouble alot.
    
    People who sit there and use only ninja/thief skills get owned. Why? Because you have a whole set of skills for a reason. No, you shouldnt sit there and uncanny. Yes, you should dirt, then perhaps caltraps for easier dirting later, then use your ninja skills.
    
    Blind fighting did not kick your ass, the lack of it did. And the fact you stayed in combat and LET him dirt you. Next time I suggest allowing him to attack first (I know, CRAZY) so you can put in a dirt that isnt so unreliable like a opening attack.
    
    MOVE!!!!! Blindness dust cant be used there? Get the fuck out of that spot and use it in the next area. You're argument that the grand master was there is totally bogus, since you can fucking move.
    
    And lastly. Alot of the guys above have over analyzed the crap out of this. Stats matter. Weapons matter. They are not the be all end all of a fight. Just because something has 2 more dex than you DOES NOT MEAN YOU SHOULDNT DIRT. Like...Jesus. Stats have always affected skills. They just let us know HOW now, and people are jumping all over it. Use your damn skills.
    
    Do not take this and get defensive. If you have a question, feel free to PM me. If you feel I am getting personal, stfu you fucking noob.
    
    If not, Im glad you can take advice when you ask for it.
17. Akika Akika's first pdeath -
    Oh, but I like Clifton. But saying that I just want someone to pat me on the back was harsh. If I wanted that, I would've posted a log where I actually won. :P
    
    If I have a question, I'd rather post it here to get multiple opinions and so that other people can see a discussion. No, you're obviously not getting personal because you're giving me applicable advice instead of saying "Instead of getting defensive, just take the advice." Which to me translates into a somewhat nicer way of saying "Just shut up and do what you're told."
    
    It's hard to communicate over the internet with the lack of facial expression and vocal inflection, so I think people are getting the impression that I think I didn't do anything wrong and that I'm awesome. Well, I don't.
    
    On a brighter note, I think nobody who has posted here knows who I am. ^^ Anyway, I feel like there's a little tension here, so I'll just stop posting comments on this log. Just in case someone accuses me of getting defensive.
18. jonus Akika\\'s first pdeath -
    Sorry about the confusion, envemon is a thief's gimmick. But blackjack, assinate, blindness dust, or poison smoke are all good to use.
19. marsd Akika's first pdeath -
    Apparently no one has bothered enough, or bored enough to try guessing your characters, which can be easily guessed. I have a pretty strong clue as to who you are right now, now that you got my attention... but I'll remain silent for the time being.
    
    As for ninjas, a ninja beating any warrior is cheesecake until they land hobble bash. If you play your weapons right, you can easily almost 3 round any single warrior, at any rank after 30. How I know? Well I've been smacked by more than enough ninjas to know that.
    
    Although I'm not about to explain exactly how, you could look at Voravith's logs for some examples.
20. slade Akika's first pdeath -
    What is the tongue, segment? If he was using segment to begin with, start right away with clobber with a good staff. Thats basically your overhead crush (slightly better actually), abuse it if you get a chance. If shaft, I wouldn't sidestep early, too laggy and more of a finisher imo. I'd get going on the dust. If it was blade, I'd probably start with an uncanny attack, then head to the dust.
    
    Get to open ground where you can use blindness dust. Your dirt is normally pretty good, but I wouldn't go that route on the drow. He probably didn't have many mal saves (most don't), so work the dust. Plus if his saves are horrible poison smoke would be worth a try once or twice. But after you get him dusted head for the weapon type skills. Especially if he is wearing shaft or segment, clobber that blinded douche and you'll disarm him along with the typical nastyness. Dust length + no weapon = sweet. If hes blade, you could uncanny or throw poison smokes, or maybe just dual wield flails and caltraps or nerve or whatever.
21. mullet Akika's first pdeath -
    Sorry about the confusion, envemon is a thief's gimmick. But blackjack, assinate, blindness dust, or poison smoke are all good to use.
    
    And blackjack isnt? Lay off the crack Jonus...lol
22. jonus Akika\\'s first pdeath -
    Strangle, man i am dying here.
23. Clifton Akika's first pdeath -
    Akika, mullets got it right. If you've got questions about any of the tactics, I'd say go ahead and ask.
24. retard Akika's first pdeath -
    Well honestly I haven't played a ninja in a long time, and with things like cure light removed and hobble/overhead added (which is complete ninja OWNAGE) I'm not sure I would want to either. Hopefully Burzuk has something up his sleeve.
    
    So that out of the way here is the only real point I have in mind to make.
    
    *** You're a ninja. ***
    
    That means (unless the class has been completely fucked over) you have to rely on your stealthy methods to get initiative. I'm sorry, fight in front of the grandmaster treant, what!? No. Ninjas pick their battles much more cautiously. Waiting on WATER to dust and caltraps is a smooth idea.
    
    Youre human, good choice. High hitroll vs fighters and ikuzachi helps more than dirt vs blind fighting target. Ignore the stupid gimp weapon type skills - you need a staff for parry as it'll quickly be your only defence. If you can get a two-handed clobber in, cool. Sidesteps? Not worth wearing a dagger for. Uncanny? Crappy exotics only. Just iku.
    
    Thats about it.