MrCoulomb
04-15-2002, 08:24 PM
*SORT OF RANT*
As far as I can tell, there are two main camps developing on the subject of duelling. One is, 'Do whatever you can to win.' and the other is 'Try and win, but also try and make it a good fight.'
I'm leaning towards the latter view. It's not because I lose to people who use boring tactics - I usually win against those and lose against those who make it interesting. It's just that - especially in a duel mode when people are watching - it the kill is really easy, or it consists of just slashing until you hit something, or one person only seems to know one force power and spends the rest of the time running away while it recharges... where's the entertainment in that?
Nowhere, as far as I can see. And if I'm bored in a duel, whoever is watching is going to be even more bored.
Let's face it, the things that make people say 'wow' on the servers, the things that entertain them most are anything that is cinematic. Now, sometimes the use of force grip, or a strong special move can look cinematic. And that's cool. But it stops being cinematic and starts being boring if it's the ONLY thing you do.
So.. to make a duel interesting, for both the people dueling, and whoever is watching, then I think the key is variety. That might mean taking some risks and trying new things, but it's worth it. There's nothing quite like a duel with many, many cool moments.. take this example, which is a typical good duel:
We begin, with both sabers not lit, in the carbon freeze chamber, circling eachother, walking. Someone throws an insole, the sabers ignite, one person leaps, the other slides underneath to strike the first blow. The two part, waiting for an opportunity, and then one suddenly throws the saber, but the other dodges and slides towards him. He is defenceless, but just as the other is about to deliver a strong blow, the saber comes back into his hand, and immediately the battle continues. One of them suddenly starts a force grip (i'm not a fan of this power in a duel, but only because most people who use it use it ALL the time), when the time is right, and the other is in trouble until he finds the force push button. However, he is still stunned, and things look bad for him, as the other kicks them down to the area arond the main arena. He waits patiently, then takes the lift upward, where the other is waiting and immediately their sabers lock. After a struggle, he is knocked backwards, down to the bottom of the lift, and the other does a flip down, and strikes him dead where he lies.
See, in that example, both players make a conscious effort to vary their tactics and the result is a fun duel with lots of surprises. Now doesn't that sound more fun than:
They both starts at eachother immediately. One person is in strons stance and trying to hit anything. The other uses force drain and is easily avoiding the slow blows of the strong stance. Eventually, the other one force grips when he is in a convenient place, and then, goes to strike back. It doesnt work, so he runs away again, does more force draining, and tries to grip again. and again. and again. All the while, the other guy is still trying to hit, and maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. Who wins? Who cares!
*END OF SORT OF RANT*
As far as I can tell, there are two main camps developing on the subject of duelling. One is, 'Do whatever you can to win.' and the other is 'Try and win, but also try and make it a good fight.'
I'm leaning towards the latter view. It's not because I lose to people who use boring tactics - I usually win against those and lose against those who make it interesting. It's just that - especially in a duel mode when people are watching - it the kill is really easy, or it consists of just slashing until you hit something, or one person only seems to know one force power and spends the rest of the time running away while it recharges... where's the entertainment in that?
Nowhere, as far as I can see. And if I'm bored in a duel, whoever is watching is going to be even more bored.
Let's face it, the things that make people say 'wow' on the servers, the things that entertain them most are anything that is cinematic. Now, sometimes the use of force grip, or a strong special move can look cinematic. And that's cool. But it stops being cinematic and starts being boring if it's the ONLY thing you do.
So.. to make a duel interesting, for both the people dueling, and whoever is watching, then I think the key is variety. That might mean taking some risks and trying new things, but it's worth it. There's nothing quite like a duel with many, many cool moments.. take this example, which is a typical good duel:
We begin, with both sabers not lit, in the carbon freeze chamber, circling eachother, walking. Someone throws an insole, the sabers ignite, one person leaps, the other slides underneath to strike the first blow. The two part, waiting for an opportunity, and then one suddenly throws the saber, but the other dodges and slides towards him. He is defenceless, but just as the other is about to deliver a strong blow, the saber comes back into his hand, and immediately the battle continues. One of them suddenly starts a force grip (i'm not a fan of this power in a duel, but only because most people who use it use it ALL the time), when the time is right, and the other is in trouble until he finds the force push button. However, he is still stunned, and things look bad for him, as the other kicks them down to the area arond the main arena. He waits patiently, then takes the lift upward, where the other is waiting and immediately their sabers lock. After a struggle, he is knocked backwards, down to the bottom of the lift, and the other does a flip down, and strikes him dead where he lies.
See, in that example, both players make a conscious effort to vary their tactics and the result is a fun duel with lots of surprises. Now doesn't that sound more fun than:
They both starts at eachother immediately. One person is in strons stance and trying to hit anything. The other uses force drain and is easily avoiding the slow blows of the strong stance. Eventually, the other one force grips when he is in a convenient place, and then, goes to strike back. It doesnt work, so he runs away again, does more force draining, and tries to grip again. and again. and again. All the while, the other guy is still trying to hit, and maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. Who wins? Who cares!
*END OF SORT OF RANT*