DakHam
Squire
So you want to gain fame and big bucks in the arena, huh? Think you're up to the challenge?
In this guide, I'll take your hand and walk you through step by step to become a famous and aspiring gladiator.
First things first, here are a few no-no's to avoid in the arena:
(1) Tabbing out of the arena just because you're faced with bad odds.
(2) Tabbing out of the arena just because you don't have your favorite jousting lance.
(3) Tabbing out of the arena when you don't have Dranton on your team/Dranton is on the other team.
(4) Tabbing out of the arena when you're not mounted.
Secondly, I'll cover the various weapons you may find placed in your hands while in the arena.
(1) Ah, the one-handed sword. The most cliched weapon in all of gaming history, fortunately it's not twenty times stronger than the other weapons in the game. Decent attack, speed, and range make it a highly balanced weapon. Pair that with the fact that you can equip a shield, and you're in good shape. On foot, it is legendary, as you can charge archers with your shield raised and hope to reach the archer before he shoots your shield (and head) off. However, it loses its specialness on horseback. While you can still fight on horseback, it's greatly overshadowed by the jousting lance, and the two-handed sword has better range and damage. Still a good choice though (not like you have a choice... heheh)
(2) The two-handed sword. Most will scoff at it, choosing the one-handed sword+shield for its versitality and balance. The two-handed sword is not that great on foot, as you lose the protection of your valuable shield, leaving you vulnerable to archers. However, the two-handed sword is a better weapon to use than the one-handed sword when trying to fight enemies on horseback, for it has more reach and damage. On horseback, the two-handed sword gains some merit, known for being able to chop up enemies pretty quickly, and having more range than the one-handed sword. Still, jousting lances are preferred. Two-handed swords' usefulness will vary depending on your situation.
(3) The jousting lance. Ah, the mother of all mounted combat. In the arena, your opponents are almost as good as dead. The longest reach out of all the arena weapons, its viability is mainly due to its couching ability. Well-armoured foes have been known to been taken out in one couch hit from a lance. However, if your horse gets cut up and you find yourself eating dirt, you're in for some big hell. The jousting lance is a terrible weapon on foot, since it is so slow, and does pitiful thrust damage. If your shield breaks, you have no way of defending yourself, so you may just try to poke your opponent to death before he gets inside your range and cuts you up. It's a double-edged sword, so be wary of being too aggressive or too careful.
(4) The bow. Often times a nightmare for most arena fighters, that is to say, the ones with the bows. Become proficient in it though, and you're in for a real treat. On foot, your biggest fear is another archer. Especially a named archer, erm, Dranton >.>. Your only hope is to pelt enemies from far away. What do you do when you're on foot, and an enemy with a shield is charging at you? Simple, luck. You must be lucky. While he's charging at you with his shield raised, try shooting it a few times. If it doesn't break, you'll have to rely on plan B.
Plan B: Wait until he lowers his shield in order to slash you. Now aim for his head, and let loose your arrow. If you're lucky, you'll kill him due to the headshot or due to your other comrades cutting him up a little. If you don't kill him, you're already dead.
If you did break his shield, aim for the headshot. You should be able to get at least two shots in.
Facing calvary? Simple, just wait for him to lift his shield, and pelt him with an arrow anywhere. It'll disrupt his attack, forcing him to circle around you again. If he has no shield, you should have put an arrow to his head already.
On horse, things change a little. You are no longer vulnerable to footmen, as you can run away on your horse and shoot them to death. Your biggest concern, again, is enemy archers. Your only hope is to get lucky and pelt them enough before they return the favor. Again, aiming for the head when enemy lancers are charging you is a great way to knock them cold.
In any case, you should be rather prepared to handle most any situation in the arena. And don't forget kids, shoot your enemies with blunt arrows, not real arrows. (blunt arrows?)
In this guide, I'll take your hand and walk you through step by step to become a famous and aspiring gladiator.
First things first, here are a few no-no's to avoid in the arena:
(1) Tabbing out of the arena just because you're faced with bad odds.
(2) Tabbing out of the arena just because you don't have your favorite jousting lance.
(3) Tabbing out of the arena when you don't have Dranton on your team/Dranton is on the other team.
(4) Tabbing out of the arena when you're not mounted.
Secondly, I'll cover the various weapons you may find placed in your hands while in the arena.
(1) Ah, the one-handed sword. The most cliched weapon in all of gaming history, fortunately it's not twenty times stronger than the other weapons in the game. Decent attack, speed, and range make it a highly balanced weapon. Pair that with the fact that you can equip a shield, and you're in good shape. On foot, it is legendary, as you can charge archers with your shield raised and hope to reach the archer before he shoots your shield (and head) off. However, it loses its specialness on horseback. While you can still fight on horseback, it's greatly overshadowed by the jousting lance, and the two-handed sword has better range and damage. Still a good choice though (not like you have a choice... heheh)
(2) The two-handed sword. Most will scoff at it, choosing the one-handed sword+shield for its versitality and balance. The two-handed sword is not that great on foot, as you lose the protection of your valuable shield, leaving you vulnerable to archers. However, the two-handed sword is a better weapon to use than the one-handed sword when trying to fight enemies on horseback, for it has more reach and damage. On horseback, the two-handed sword gains some merit, known for being able to chop up enemies pretty quickly, and having more range than the one-handed sword. Still, jousting lances are preferred. Two-handed swords' usefulness will vary depending on your situation.
(3) The jousting lance. Ah, the mother of all mounted combat. In the arena, your opponents are almost as good as dead. The longest reach out of all the arena weapons, its viability is mainly due to its couching ability. Well-armoured foes have been known to been taken out in one couch hit from a lance. However, if your horse gets cut up and you find yourself eating dirt, you're in for some big hell. The jousting lance is a terrible weapon on foot, since it is so slow, and does pitiful thrust damage. If your shield breaks, you have no way of defending yourself, so you may just try to poke your opponent to death before he gets inside your range and cuts you up. It's a double-edged sword, so be wary of being too aggressive or too careful.
(4) The bow. Often times a nightmare for most arena fighters, that is to say, the ones with the bows. Become proficient in it though, and you're in for a real treat. On foot, your biggest fear is another archer. Especially a named archer, erm, Dranton >.>. Your only hope is to pelt enemies from far away. What do you do when you're on foot, and an enemy with a shield is charging at you? Simple, luck. You must be lucky. While he's charging at you with his shield raised, try shooting it a few times. If it doesn't break, you'll have to rely on plan B.
Plan B: Wait until he lowers his shield in order to slash you. Now aim for his head, and let loose your arrow. If you're lucky, you'll kill him due to the headshot or due to your other comrades cutting him up a little. If you don't kill him, you're already dead.
If you did break his shield, aim for the headshot. You should be able to get at least two shots in.
Facing calvary? Simple, just wait for him to lift his shield, and pelt him with an arrow anywhere. It'll disrupt his attack, forcing him to circle around you again. If he has no shield, you should have put an arrow to his head already.
On horse, things change a little. You are no longer vulnerable to footmen, as you can run away on your horse and shoot them to death. Your biggest concern, again, is enemy archers. Your only hope is to get lucky and pelt them enough before they return the favor. Again, aiming for the head when enemy lancers are charging you is a great way to knock them cold.
In any case, you should be rather prepared to handle most any situation in the arena. And don't forget kids, shoot your enemies with blunt arrows, not real arrows. (blunt arrows?)
