Why do you use modifiers against lower ranks?

[Wild Irish Rover]

I've been around the block a few times. I'm not new to the dueling game, but something really irritated me tonight while trying to duel in the Outback after being gone for a couple of years.

In the room were no low ranks or below. I was the lone punching bag but I wanted to duel to get back in the swing. So I dueled who ever wanted too, after some coaxing.

First duel came from King. I got fancied twice, and managed to nullify one. Still lost. After an hour or so I dueled Teagan and got Fancied once and lost that round.

My question/complaint, why use modifiers against low/no rank duelers? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of trying to get people to join/re-join?

Editors Note: All three uses of modifiers were used while leading the match. I understand the use of modifiers when losing against lower rank to try and even the score or lessen the gap. The use while leading is what is frustrating.

[Harris]

Basic question. Did you ask, either IC or OOC, that the Emerald and Ruby you were fighting refrain from using modifiers?

A Sapphire or below that's dueling is still trying to make top rank. You should *expect* that they're going to use their fancies in an effort to push themselves closer to Emerald.

Everyone that has modifiers earned them and in my opinion can use them how they see fit. However a Glass can still respectfully request that they not use them to keep things even if they so desire. There are plenty of people from the exact opposite school of thought that are insulted when higher ranks refrain from using their mods and "baby" them as I've heard it referred to.

Whatever *you* want to do, simply make a request to whomever you're dueling. Nobody is a mind reader. An upper rank can't know what your stance is on mods unless you make it known to them.

[Wild Irish Rover]

Basic question. Did you ask, either IC or OOC, that the Emerald and Ruby you were fighting refrain from using modifiers?

A Sapphire or below that's dueling is still trying to make top rank. You should *expect* that they're going to use their fancies in an effort to push themselves closer to Emerald.

Everyone that has modifiers earned them and in my opinion can use them how they see fit. However a Glass can still respectfully request that they not use them to keep things even if they so desire. There are plenty of people from the exact opposite school of thought that are insulted when higher ranks refrain from using their mods and "baby" them as I've heard it referred to.

Whatever *you* want to do, simply make a request to whomever you're dueling. Nobody is a mind reader. An upper rank can't know what your stance is on mods unless you make it known to them.

First, think in aspect of a new entrant who doesn't know the difference of ranks. All they want is to try it out. They finally get acceptance to duel, be it against Glass or Diamond. Next thing they know they've been fancy/feinted and have no idea what's going on.

They end up losing the duel, but shrug it off as growing pains. They try again against someone else and get the same treatment.

What would likely be the first thoughts to come to mind?

[Harris]

"Man, I'm getting beat. I better read up on the rules some more and find out what this is all about."

It's called learning the game. If you pick up a new video game and just jump in headlong without reading the the tutorials or learning the controls, guess what's going to happen? You're gonna get trashed and frustrated. If someone new gets hit with fancies then all they have to do is seek help or ask questions. If you get beat a couple of times and quit without ever trying to get help or ask questions, that's on you (general you).

How is anyone supposed to know who's new and who's not? You're playing under a new SN, but you've made it known you're not new. How many people here have 30 different alts they play under? Again, nobody is a mind reader. If you'd like for someone to duel with or without fancies, it's as simple as making a request.

[Wild Irish Rover]

http://www.ringsofhonor.org/community/dofgameguide.php
http://www.ringsofhonor.org/dof/index.php

Those offer nothing other than moves and rules guidelines. It's a trial by fire, and the firing squad is a win hungry bunch of upper ranks.

[Harris]

New Dueler Guide

Again, there are plenty of tools. Trial by fire? This game has always been trial by fire. The Dueling Zone site actually has the matricies listed, calling tools, and other resources to help newer players. Again, asking questions will get virtually any new person directed to Dueling Zone for all those things to help them. Ask and you shall receive.

[Wild Irish Rover]

Is there any way to get the link you provided added to the "Community" section of the RoH homepage? For a novice clicking on the DZN link shows some nifty information, but without the link you provided a player would have to know to click on the "Caller Tools" tab. At first glance a player would say, "I'm not a caller, that's not for me." Or even better. Let's make a Sticky Post on the OOC Boards and Subject it same as the link. "New Dueler Guide."

Editors Note: So I saw it now. Chrome wasn't displaying the text as a link for some reason. Question still stands. May this be added to the RoH homepage in some fashion?

Edit 2: My eyes are getting old. Better place to put the "http://duelingzone.com/dz/tools/new_dueler_guide.htm" would be in the "Getting Started" tab of the home page.

[Wild Irish Rover]

I still have to come back to my original question.

You as a dueler are ranked higher than the person you are dueling. The newcomer doesn't know about standings or that they should check them. You on the other-hand know you're an Emerald and that name doesn't appear on the standings or is ranked Glass.

Why use modifiers?

[Harris]

Why use modifiers?

Because I earned them. Because I'm trying to get an achievement badge. Because I'm working toward a personal WoL milestone. Because my character is supposed to be a no nonsense tough guy. Because there's a tournament ongoing I'm trying to win. Because I think the person I'm dueling is an alt and trying to sandbag me. Because I'm looking to make Emerald. Because I'm an Emerald and trying to build my win cushion before I challenge.

The reasons are endless. Nobody is a mind reader. There are a variety of reasons anyone may opt to use their modifiers in any given situation. As I stated before, if you're aware of it, ask them to refrain. It's really that simple. I can't stress that point enough. Ask if they'll fight without them or at your level.

[Wild Irish Rover]

So basically. Screw you. Got it.

[Harris]

Not even close to what I said. The fact is, there are resources to use. I've given them to you. I've suggested the best course of action to quell your concerns. If you opt not to take the suggestions, then you're screwing yourself and blaming others for your lack of basic resolve.

You see a room of upper ranks, ask them to fight at your level. What's difficult to understand about that?

[Jaycy Ashleana]

I still have to come back to my original question.

You as a dueler are ranked higher than the person you are dueling. The newcomer doesn't know about standings or that they should check them. You on the other-hand know you're an Emerald and that name doesn't appear on the standings or is ranked Glass.

Why use modifiers?

1. Why are you assuming that just because the duelist is a higher rank, he/she knows "that name doesn't appear on the standings or is ranked glass"? I, for one, don't check the standings unless I need to know something (like who an opal holder is). I don't care what rank I fight, so I'm not going to bother looking it up.

2. As to the substantive answer to the why question, it depends. A player may use mods or not use them based on the character they're playing at the time. At least one of my characters wouldn't use all the tricks they know on a newbie. Another character, though, would use anything and everything they have against anyone to gain the upper hand. To make it even more complex, there are situations where my first character would use them - a tournament where wins counted and that win was important, or a challenge match, or if he/she would lose rank by losing the duel.

There is no one answer "why" people do it. If it frustrates you, either do as Harris suggests and ask about it before dueling someone or just spend some time learning who does it and then don't duel those people.

[Wild Irish Rover]

Both of you are missing the point.

Point - New dueler Joe Bloe. First night dueling wants to try the game out. Read the posted rules. Doesn't know about checking standings to see who is ranked as what. Get's a duel and while losing his opponent fancies/feints to pad the lead.

That now falls on their shoulders for being ignorant to standings?

Seems woefully counter-productive to draw in new and raw people.

[Harris]

Both of you are missing the point.

Point - New dueler Joe Bloe. First night dueling wants to try the game out. Read the posted rules. Doesn't know about checking standings to see who is ranked as what. Get's a duel and while losing his opponent fancies/feints to pad the lead.

That now falls on their shoulders for being ignorant to standings?

Seems woefully counter-productive to draw in new and raw people.

And how do we know Joe Bloe is new, exactly? How do we know what Joe Bloe's stance on mods happens to be? You're assuming a lot. I know Glass duelists who *PREFER* fancies be used against them in an effort to learn how to combat them. You're assuming everyone is like you and that's simply not the case. Some people fire up a new game and don't start on easy or normal, they go straight to hard. It's absurd to think that everyone higher ranked is going to know exactly how people want them to use their modifiers.

[Wild Irish Rover]

Key word.

"New".

Not everyone is a reincarnation of the same old player.

New means New. Should I break out Websters for you?