[Kirk]

Not necessarily on topic, but thinking about being at the beginning of TFT, turning 18, and going off to college on a shoestring (no help from parents), I still remember my first arena combat that very day we brought the rules with the gargoyle and fighter on the cover home to puzzle out.

It was me and my friend and my brother and his friend, so my brother's friend and I were on one team, and reading through the rules as best we could understand them, we settled on two characters.

The thought was to bracket whatever they did so that we would be able to handle anything. ;)

My partner's character:

ST- 9
DX- 15
MA- 10
Rapier 1-1
Small Bow 1-1
Knife 1-1

My character:

ST- 15
DX- 9 (4)
MA - 10 (4)
Battleaxe 3
Hvy. Crossbow 3
Knife 1-1
Plate Armor/ 5 hits

What could possibly go wrong? You want speed and dexterity? We got it!
You want almost impenetrable armor and devastating death on a stick? Yes, sir!

And...I "cleverly" made use of the fact that you *could not have a DX lower than 5* for to hit purposes because of *critical hits* at 3, 4, or 5 so I was really only paying -4 for my plate, not -5! ;)

And not only that, when I did hit, there was half a chance it would be doubled or tripled Battleaxe or Hvy. crossbow damage. So when I hit, you were dead, dead, dead. Done and done. *And* who could penetrate plate armor, anyway?

My brother and my friend took the following:

ST- 14
DX- 10
MA - 10
Two-handed Sword 3-1
Lt. Crossbow 2
Knife 1-1


ST- 11
DX- 13 (10)
MA- 10 (6)
Shortsword 2-1
Longbow 1+2
Knife 1-1
Chainmail/ 3 hits
Sm. Shield/ 1 hit

We entered the arena to view for the very first time our Melee opponents. "We can take these guys," I said. They were armed with swords, I had my crossbow at the ready to take out one opponent, then I would clean up with my Battleaxe. My friend charged out to meet their running charge.

He, being quick and dextrous, lashed out with his stinging rapier. "Take that!", he cried, as he wisely drilled the least armored of his foes. Rolling...and success. Damage...2 pips -1 for one hit. "Hmmm...", he said.

Now for our opponents' last desperate attempts before we murderlized them. The shortsword attack, success, and 10 pips - 1 for 9, instant death!

The look on my partner's face was classic. "What?," he moaned. "That's it?" "Don't worry," I said, "they can't get to me yet and my shot has yet to come."

Snap, the shot from my crossbow flew across the arena to strike harmlessly against the far wall. "Hmmm," I thought to myself, "I guess it's two on one, but my armor will protect me while I kill them with just two blows from my axe."

They rushed me but I got my back to a wall. "Ha, eat this!"

Well, after about two more turns of them slowly whittling away my strength while I desperately swung for the stands, I collapsed from my mortal wounds, laying the first marker down for a long line of dead warriors to come and beginning my study in earnest of mathematics at the university and the bell curve.