The Art of Combat

Contents

1. Introduction
2. A word about MUD client settings
3. A word about using triggers
4. A word about Avalon macros
5. The Basics
6. The great levellers: equilibrium & balance
7. How to become a great fighter
8. The theory of one-on-one combat
9. GLOSSARY

A word about MUD client settings

"Fighting is a battle of wits and, if your wits are only as good as your settings, you will ultimately lose."

There are two types of people who wish to fight: those who feel settings are essential and those who see them as helpful. Those who feel they are essential will spend their time setting up all their macros, aliases and whatnot before they fight anyone; there are a few exceptions, such as if the person being fought is considerably smaller or deemed less skilled. But I'm talking about a fair, equal fight. Those who see settings as just helpful will not dally with settings. They will fight immediately and setup anything they lack as they go along. This is a crucial aspect of the fighter. You are not there to predict. You are there to react. The better you react, the better you are. You cannot predict another's reactions. If you try, you will lose.

Even when you have absolutely no settings, Avalon macros or anything like that, you force yourself to create them in the heat of combat. If someone double jabs you with grimleaf and bukandas, you'll most certainly setup an allheal and megillos/concentration macro, maybe even one to refill your pipe. After that fight, which you may well lose because of the lag time, next time you'll instinctively remember the macro numbers. This is another important aspect of the fighter. Those who make settings forget them. Those who make triggers will not be as aware. There is always a way around triggers. Always. (see a word about using triggers)

Settings are to be made during a fight, not before it. This way you ensure both that you know them by heart without needing to spend hours memorizing, as well as following the true spirit of Avalon combat, which is not about how good you are at coding your client, but how good you are on your toes. The coders always lose and lose badly. Human ingenuity defeats all. Remember that next time you sit around setting up.

Proceed to next section: A word about using triggers