Post by Entropic Discord on Apr 23, 2014 3:58:22 GMT
Note: What with the Chosen Tournament making an expected comeback, and T1 making a permanent home in Nu Guardia, I figured I'd help people who may think they know everything, or people new to the T1 side of rp a thing or two about basic T1. Things that are simple, but are oddly overlooked.
That said, onward with the lesson.
If you want to be better at T1ing, there are a couple of things that you need to be aware of. In my opinion, all of these things are common sense, but it’s occasionally difficult to apply something unless you’re always consciously aware of it.
1.) Be knowledgeable.
2.) Analyze everything as if it were a contract.
3.) Think ahead.
You would likely be amazed how many people do not do these things when fighting. Any one quality is good, having none of them will almost guarantee eventual failure; having all three of them is a massive step in the right direction.
Let’s start by looking at number one. Be knowledgeable! This is a vague instruction, with no real guide as to what you should be knowledgeable in - that’s the point. Not one opponent is the same, and so not one particular tidbit of information is going to help you every time. There are various schools of magic, various methods of executing them, and an infinite amount of ways to be creative, incorporating unusual variables into the mix. What chances of beating Faustus Clemens do you have if you know nothing of electromagnetism? Do you believe taking out Ziren Rhizae is possible without knowledge of necromancy? If you understand an art, it is much easier to roll with the punches. That said, you should never stop learning. Even the people that have been doing this for years are still discovering things that are useful.
Number two: Analyze everything as if it were a contract. As far as you should be concerned, your posts, as well as your enemies, -are- contracts. They are your binding words that have all relevant information. Every single thing that your opponent does needs to be on mind. Every word you write down needs to be on your mind as well - your opponent will be reading your posts with the same watchful eye. Let’s say, for example, that you come across the following sentence: “And then Jake took his sword, removing it from his sheath, unleashing a wave of heat that would incinerate everything it came near.” At first, this sentence looks quite menacing. Jake’s holding a sword that will surely burn all it touches! As you read on, you hear little else about the sword and its powers, and instead find nothing but words spoken by Jake bragging about your impending doom.
This is a problem. Why? Because he’s holding a sword designed to incinerate everything near it! He offers no lines of reasoning that make him exempt from this. Most people would not realize that, and instead try and figure out what they’re going to do about the sword. They need not do anything, for the opponent summoned his own death. This isn't to say you should auto their death, but rather you may see some things like this that need to be discussed. Things along those lines need to always be watched for. Not necessarily an opponent killing himself, but a phrasing that can be taken advantage of in your favor.
Now if you read the tidbit at the bottom you will know I borrowed this article from someone from another site, that person being a long time friend. I have found, that the above statement rarely ever makes you, the fighter look like a good T1-er. In fact, you shouldn't if you do things like try to force your opponent into a situation where they'd kill themselves like that without very good logical backing. That said, it is useful to analyze everything but not for that purpose. The reason you want to keep a careful eye on your opponent is so it becomes easier to predict what they are going to do or to discern properties of various attacks. Say your opponent unleashes a fireball and then leans forward, it would be logical to assume that he would then begin to move forward in the next turn. If you charge through the ball, and he begins to move backward, you can claim superior positioning due to his leaning forward.
Thirdly, think ahead. Most think one move at a time, focusing solely on individual attacks that are meant to finish off your opponent. If these moves fail, you quickly find yourself not knowing what to do. Very rarely will the talented T1ist focus on one move. Everything is a set up for something else. Even an attempt for a climatic finishing move, no matter how sure they are it will succeed, is merely opening a window for another opportunity in the event that it fails. If you throw a fireball, do not do so focusing on burning them with the fireball. If it does work, that’s nice, if it doesn’t - that’s okay too. You’re expecting either option and are setting up your moves for either. Perhaps there is a tree behind your opponent that is dead and dried out. If they move out of the way, they are likely starting a fire. If your character is a fire user, as they should be if you’re throwing fireballs, this is very advantageous to you. Think in combinations. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.
If you can consistently keep these things in mind with every move you make, and with every post of your opponents that you interpret, it will drastically improve your game. It may not make you top-five-material over night, but you will certainly be a few milestones ahead of the people that do not do this.
Other things to always consider:
1) keep in mind just because you understand what necromancy [etc.] is, doesn't necessarily mean your character automatically does... or that they can crush it with their own real ultimate power. Institute outside knowledge so you can tell if your chain is being yanked, but that in no way means your character is privy to inside knowledge, unless specific circumsances allow it.
Hope this helps. <3
That said, onward with the lesson.
If you want to be better at T1ing, there are a couple of things that you need to be aware of. In my opinion, all of these things are common sense, but it’s occasionally difficult to apply something unless you’re always consciously aware of it.
1.) Be knowledgeable.
2.) Analyze everything as if it were a contract.
3.) Think ahead.
You would likely be amazed how many people do not do these things when fighting. Any one quality is good, having none of them will almost guarantee eventual failure; having all three of them is a massive step in the right direction.
Let’s start by looking at number one. Be knowledgeable! This is a vague instruction, with no real guide as to what you should be knowledgeable in - that’s the point. Not one opponent is the same, and so not one particular tidbit of information is going to help you every time. There are various schools of magic, various methods of executing them, and an infinite amount of ways to be creative, incorporating unusual variables into the mix. What chances of beating Faustus Clemens do you have if you know nothing of electromagnetism? Do you believe taking out Ziren Rhizae is possible without knowledge of necromancy? If you understand an art, it is much easier to roll with the punches. That said, you should never stop learning. Even the people that have been doing this for years are still discovering things that are useful.
Number two: Analyze everything as if it were a contract. As far as you should be concerned, your posts, as well as your enemies, -are- contracts. They are your binding words that have all relevant information. Every single thing that your opponent does needs to be on mind. Every word you write down needs to be on your mind as well - your opponent will be reading your posts with the same watchful eye. Let’s say, for example, that you come across the following sentence: “And then Jake took his sword, removing it from his sheath, unleashing a wave of heat that would incinerate everything it came near.” At first, this sentence looks quite menacing. Jake’s holding a sword that will surely burn all it touches! As you read on, you hear little else about the sword and its powers, and instead find nothing but words spoken by Jake bragging about your impending doom.
Now if you read the tidbit at the bottom you will know I borrowed this article from someone from another site, that person being a long time friend. I have found, that the above statement rarely ever makes you, the fighter look like a good T1-er. In fact, you shouldn't if you do things like try to force your opponent into a situation where they'd kill themselves like that without very good logical backing. That said, it is useful to analyze everything but not for that purpose. The reason you want to keep a careful eye on your opponent is so it becomes easier to predict what they are going to do or to discern properties of various attacks. Say your opponent unleashes a fireball and then leans forward, it would be logical to assume that he would then begin to move forward in the next turn. If you charge through the ball, and he begins to move backward, you can claim superior positioning due to his leaning forward.
Thirdly, think ahead. Most think one move at a time, focusing solely on individual attacks that are meant to finish off your opponent. If these moves fail, you quickly find yourself not knowing what to do. Very rarely will the talented T1ist focus on one move. Everything is a set up for something else. Even an attempt for a climatic finishing move, no matter how sure they are it will succeed, is merely opening a window for another opportunity in the event that it fails. If you throw a fireball, do not do so focusing on burning them with the fireball. If it does work, that’s nice, if it doesn’t - that’s okay too. You’re expecting either option and are setting up your moves for either. Perhaps there is a tree behind your opponent that is dead and dried out. If they move out of the way, they are likely starting a fire. If your character is a fire user, as they should be if you’re throwing fireballs, this is very advantageous to you. Think in combinations. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.
If you can consistently keep these things in mind with every move you make, and with every post of your opponents that you interpret, it will drastically improve your game. It may not make you top-five-material over night, but you will certainly be a few milestones ahead of the people that do not do this.
Other things to always consider:
1) keep in mind just because you understand what necromancy [etc.] is, doesn't necessarily mean your character automatically does... or that they can crush it with their own real ultimate power. Institute outside knowledge so you can tell if your chain is being yanked, but that in no way means your character is privy to inside knowledge, unless specific circumsances allow it.
Hope this helps. <3