DF Tournament Post Draft #2

Yes, you read that properly. Dwarf Fortress Arena Challenge!
See, Dwarf Fortress has a nifty little feature that not too many players toy around with - the Object Testing Arena. You can create creatures, teach them to fight and give them stabby, slashy, bashy or [i]completely useless[/i] things with which to kill each other. (Un)surprisingly fun.

So I've decided to run a tournament. Should you be interested in taking part, you get to manage one of the gladiators; train them, buy them equipment, and send them into the Arena with a pat on their back and words of encouragement.
I'd... uh... recommend against entering yourself. Matches tend to end pretty bloodily, parts tend to fly everywhere, and the arena does not yet employ legendary Medicalgoblins... but I assure you, we're working on it.
I'll be making match results available as both a combat report, screenshots if anything flashy happens that I feel like pointing at and wincing, and in video format.

For the first tournament I'll probably be taking sixteen (16) entrants; I'm not sure how much work this will be, or the level of interest, so I figure I'll start small. If more than sixteen people want to enter, then the first fourteen entrants or so will have guaranteed slots, and the final one or two participants will be determined battle royale style; toss every contestant fighting for it into the arena at the same time, as fairly as I can manage, and see who wins out.
No, the winners of those slots will not get points for winning. They just get to compete.
On the positive side, should I GET that many people interested, I'll definitely run another tournament, and it'll have more slots open. Whilst signing up early on ensures participation, it won't ensure your first round will be against the person who signed in ahead or after you, though.

NB: this tournament uses a modded older version of Dwarf Fortress. Attempting to test things in vanilla DF will result in silly stuff like godly Minotaurs, since default Minotaurs now get something like Expert in all weapon skills straight off the bat, or no werewolves at all because werebeasts are... different... in DF2012.
If you want the version I'll be using, [url=http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17084765/Ironhand%20.57%20for%20Arena.zip]here[/url].

[u]Playable Races[/u][spoiler]Size is by mass and influences both how much damage is done - bigger characters tend to do more damage - and how easy it is to knock over opponents. Larger characters will attempt to charge at and knock smaller enemies on the ground, giving them a massive speed and damage bonus over their fallen opponents, who often spend a slow turn trying to get back up. However, with high enough dodging skills charging opponents are often avoided and sent rushing by, opening up easy attacks on their back. Small competitors can do almost as much damage as large ones with slashing and stabbing, but bashing and punching works much, much better for big characters.

Attributes are always an absolute value, so any given dwarf will have the strength, agility, and other stats of any other. Strength is for dealing damage and improving ability to carry around armor without penalty. Agility improves speed of actions and movement, often allowing a vital first strike. Toughness is ability to resist damage and fainting from pain. Endurance is the ability to keep fighting without becoming tired and eventually passing out from exhaustion. Recuperation is ability to heal wounds somewhat over long fights.

Both normal and special unarmed attacks are only sometimes used when an object is not being wielded, and the character will generally prefer the use of the object, especially favoring weapons with which they have higher skill. Martial trances massively boost skills to phenomenal levels for a short time but happen only when facing multiple opponents.

Each race has a certain point value that it may use to purchase skills and items. Smaller, weaker races receive additional points to make up for their shortcomings and to represent their relative cleverness.

[b]Gremlin[/b]
Size: 12
Agility++
Strength+
Toughness+
Endurance+
Unladen Speed: 1129
Tiny: Dodging skill costs 25% less than for standard races.
1800 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, large dagger, whip
May use 2-handedly: short sword, scourge, mace, war hammer

[b]Dark Gnome[/b]
Size: 18
Agility+
Strength++
Unladen Speed: 1077
Tiny: Dodging skill costs 25% less than for standard races.
1750 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, large dagger, whip
May use 2-handedly: pick, short sword, scourge, mace, war hammer

[b]Kobold[/b]
Size: 25
Agility: ++
Strength: +
Toughness: +
Recuperation: +
Unladen Speed: 1153
Tiny: Dodging skill costs 25% less than for standard races.
1500 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, large dagger, whip, short sword, scourge
May use 2-handedly: spear, battleaxe, pick, mace, war hammer, bow

[b]Strangler[/b]
Size: 40
Strength+++
Unladen Speed: 1029
Has two pairs of arms and three eyes
1375 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, large dagger, whip, short sword, scourge, spear
May use 2-handedly: battleaxe, pick, mace, war hammer, flail, long sword, crossbow, bow
Note: Modded with [CAN_LEARN] to use skills.

[b]Serpent Man[/b]
Size: 50
Agility-
Strength++
Toughness++
Endurance++
Unladen Speed: 992
Lacks legs, but has a tail.
Will inject paralyzing venom upon a successful skin-breaking bite.
1300 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, large dagger, whip, short sword, scourge, spear, battleaxe, pick, mace, war hammer
May use 2-handedly: flail, long sword, crossbow, bow

[b]Soldier Ant Woman[/b]
Size: 50
Agility++
Strength++
Endurance++
Unladen Speed: 1018
Insect-proportioned body with two pairs of arms
Will bite in unarmed combat
1300 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, large dagger, whip, short sword, scourge, spear, battleaxe, pick, mace, war hammer
May use 2-handedly: flail, long sword, crossbow, bow

[b]Dwarf[/b]
Size: 60
Agility: -
Strength: +
Toughness: ++
Endurance+
Unladen Speed: 952
Sometimes enter Martial Trance when facing superior numbers
1200 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, large dagger, whip, short sword, scourge, spear, battleaxe, pick, mace, war hammer
May use 2-handedly: maul, great axe, flail, long sword, crossbow

[b]Elf[/b]
Size: 60
Agility: +
Recuperation: +
Toughness-
Unladen Speed: 1048
1200 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, large dagger, whip, short sword, scourge, spear, battleaxe, pick, mace, war hammer, long sword, flail
May use 2-handedly: two-handed sword, halberd, pike, bow

[b]Goblin[/b]
Size: 60
Strength: +
Endurance: ++
Recuperation: +
Unladen Speed: 996
1200 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, large dagger, whip, short sword, scourge, spear, battleaxe, pick, mace, war hammer
May use 2-handedly: maul, great axe, flail, long sword, bow, crossbow

[b]Human[/b]
Size: 70
Strength+
Unladen Speed: 977
1200 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, large dagger, whip, short sword, scourge, spear, battleaxe, pick, mace, war hammer, long sword, flail
May use 2-handedly: two-handed sword, maul, halberd, great axe, pike, bow, crossbow

[b]Molemarian[/b]
Size: 90
Agility-
Toughness++
Endurance+
Recuperation+
Unladen Speed: 956
Do not feel pain
Centuar-like body with two arms and four legs
775 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, large dagger, whip, short sword, scourge, spear, battleaxe, pick, mace, war hammer, long sword, flail.
May use 2-handedly: two-handed sword, maul, halberd, great axe, pike, bow, crossbow
Note: Modded with [CAN_LEARN] to use skills.

[b]Tigerman[/b]
Size: 130
Agility-
Strength+
Toughness+
Unladen Speed: 952
925 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, and all melee weapons.
May use 2-handedly: bow, crossbow

[b]Werewolf[/b]
Size: 110
Strength-
Endurance++
Recuperation++
Unladen Speed: 1000
925 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, and all melee weapons.
May use 2-handedly: bow, crossbow

[b]Minotaur[/b]
Size: 200
Agility--
Strength++
Unladen Speed: 941
Will gore with horns in combat
675 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, and all melee weapons.
May use 2-handedly: bow, crossbow

[b]Troll[/b]
Size: 230
Agility--
Toughness++
Strength+
Recuperation+
Endurance-
Unladen Speed: 936
Will gore with tusks and horns in combat
625 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, and all melee weapons.
May use 2-handedly: bow, crossbow

[b]Yeti[/b]
Size: 270
Agility--
Strength+
Endurance--
Unladen Speed: 917
575 points
May use 1-handedly: buckler, shield, and all melee weapons.
May use 2-handedly: bow, crossbow
Note: Modded with [CAN_LEARN] to use skills.

For reference purposes, as far as I can tell I'm Goblin-sized.[/spoiler]
[u]Skills[/u]
[spoiler]The first level of each skill costs the purchase price, and each subsequent level n costs n times the original price, in addition to the price of the previous levels purchased to make it available. For example, if level one of a skill costs 5, level two will cost 10, level 3 15, etc. To actually buy level 3 of that skill from 0 would cost 5+10+15 = 30. Up to level 14 may be purchased in any skill. All weapon skills also give an innate parrying ability when the correct weapon is wielded in addition to improving accuracy and damage dealt. Remember to save some points for buying equipment.

Fighting (generally improves all physical combat, generates opportunity-strikes for melee targeting)
Cost: 15

Archery (generally improves all ranged combat, especially accuracy)
Cost: 10

Axe (used for battle axe, halberd, and great axe)
Cost: 30

Sword (used for short sword, long sword, and two handed sword)
Cost: 30

Knife (used for large dagger)
Cost: 30

Mace (used for mace and flail)
Cost: 30

Hammer (used for hammer and maul)
Cost: 30

Spear (used for spear)
Cost: 30

Pike (used for pike)
Cost: 30

Lash (used for whip and scourge)
Cost: 30

Bow (used only in ranged combat with bow, for melee get sword skill)
Cost: 30

Crossbow (used only in ranged combat with crossbow, for melee get hammer skill)
Cost: 30

Misc. Object (used for picks, shield bashing, and stabbing with ranged ammunition)
Cost: 25

Wrestling (in unarmed combat: holding enemies in place, choking, breaking joints)
Cost: 5

Striking (fists)
Cost: 10

Kicking (feet/tail)
Cost: 10

Biting (used for both goring and biting attacks)
Cost: 10

Dodging (improves the chance to leap away from charges avoid incoming attacks, even when prone)
Cost: 20

Shield (greatly boosts chance to deflect attacks with shield or buckler)
Cost: 20

Armor (helps avoid armor speed penalty, may be unnecessary with enough strength)
Cost: 5

[url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApE5Vl3Bi3jfdEpZczlUeUpGaUtWeUJ5Zy1KWUlLTFE]Skill Cost Chart[/url][/spoiler]
[u]Equipment[/u]
[spoiler]Each type of equipment has a set value which is then multiplied by whatever material you choose to get the equipment made out of. All weapons are available in metal, and bows/crossbows also come in wood. Armor is available in metal, wood, and leather, depending on what type of armor it is. Shields are not available in leather. Characters may have a single one-handed weapon, a single two-handed weapon, two one-handed weapons, a one-handed weapon and shield, a shield alone (not recommended), or go entirely unarmed so that they may use wrestling and their special melee attack, if any. The number of hands used for each weapon varies by race.


Materials
Material Choice (Price multiplier) Description

Cowhide Leather (0.75x) low-weight, very poor stopping power
Oakwood (0.75x) low-weight, very poor edge, very poor stopping power
Copper (1x) high-weight, mediocre edge, mediocre stopping power
Silver (1.5x) very high-weight, poor edge, poor stopping power. good for bludgeoning weapons
Iron (2x) medium-weight, good edge, good stopping power
Bronze (2x) high-weight, good edge, good stopping power
Platinum (2.5x) extremely high-weight, very poor edge, poor stopping power. excellent for bludgeoning weapons
Steel (5x) medium-weight, very good edge, very good stopping power
Adamantine (12x) extremely low-weight, exceptional edge, exceptional stopping power

[u]Weapons[/u]
Note that bashing-type weapons are somewhat more expensive because they are effective using heavy materials such as copper or silver that can be purchased cheaply. However, the ideal material for bashing weapons is platinum, unless of course you can afford slade. Avoid using adamantine bashing weapons. All weapons may be sold back at half price in future rounds.

Large dagger (cheap cutting weapon for small characters that slices through unarmored flesh extremely well)
Cost: 90

Whip (unsharpened weapon that has the potential to cause a great deal of pain to unarmored and armored targets alike. functions like a long flail with small chunks of metal along its length)
Cost: 140

Scourge (sharpened whip that can cut unarmored flesh to ribbons with ease, but is somewhat less effective against armor)
Cost: 120

Short sword (small sword that is used for both slashing and stabbing, allowing it to sever limbs and hit internals. performs poorly against armored targets)
Cost: 100

Long sword (large sword that is used for both slashing and stabbing)
Cost: 110

Two-handed sword (very large sword that only tall creatures can wield. both slashing and stabbing)
Cost: 120

Battleaxe (heavy weapon that can sunder unarmored flesh with terrifying ease. largely ineffective against heavily armored opponents)
Cost: 90

Great axe (massive axe with a long handle. surprisingly ineffective against heavily armored opponents)
Cost: 100

Halberd (long, axe-like weapon that can only be used by tall creatures. Has hacking AND spear-like stabbing attacks)
Cost: 120

Mace (solid bashing weapon, best used with heavy metals, effective against armor, but unlikely to cause swift deaths. works well even with cheap metal)
Cost: 180

Flail (unwieldy but harder-hitting version of mace, best used with heavy metals, effective against armor, but unlikely to cause swift deaths. works well even with cheap metal)
Cost: 200

War hammer (bashing weapon with smaller contact area, best used with heavy metals, extremely effective against armor. works well even with cheap metal)
Cost: 200

Maul (crude, massive bashing weapon, best used with heavy metals, effective against armor, but unlikely to cause swift deaths. works well even with cheap metal)
Cost: 170

Spear (simple stabbing weapon, good for piercing internals if you can find a way through armor)
Cost: 110

Pike (very long stabbing weapon, great for hitting internals if target is not well-armored)
Cost: 120

Pick (Uses the misc obj. user skill. can poke holes in your opponent, often even through armor)
Cost: 100

Bow (very poor in melee, fires high-velocity projectiles. arrows tend to cause tremendous pain, but are poor at finishing off targets. comes with 40 ammo of same material held in another hand. manager may request less ammo if they choose, to avoid weight issues)
Cost: 150

Crossbow (very poor in melee, fires high-velocity projectiles. bolts tend to cause tremendous pain, but are poor at finishing off targets. slightly superior to bows. comes with 40 ammo of same material held in another hand. manager may request less ammo if they choose, to avoid weight issues)
Cost: 160

[url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApE5Vl3Bi3jfdExROVd2RzI5WVYyU0xaUWpLTVB2OUE]Weapon Cost Chart[/url]

[u]Shields[/u]
Note that the material used to make your shield does not impact block rate; an oak shield blocks just as well as a steel one. The material used will affect the damage you deal when bashing with your shield, and may provide some protection to the shield hand itself.

Buckler (small shield with a blocking rate closely associated to shield skill. highly recommended for the very small races. not available in leather. unskilled blockrate of 12)
Cost: 120

Shield (large shield with a high blocking rate, closely associated to shield skill. those with a good shield and the skill to use it can be nearly untouchable. not available in leather. unskilled blockrate of 20)
Cost: 240


[u]Armor[/u]
Both a helm and 1-2 caps may be worn simultaneously. In addition, up to 3 layers of mail armor may be worn under plate or leather body armor. Leather Armor may not be worn with plate- both are hardened, rigid pieces. Otherwise, only one piece of armor allowed per slot. As with weapons, all armor may be sold back at half price.

[b]Head Slot[/b]
Helm (protects the head, which can prevent you from being knocked out and from receiving blows to the brain that instantly end your life. attacks on the head have a 2% chance of finding a gap and ignoring the helmet entirely)
Cost: 50

Cap (partially protects the head- it only has a 75% chance of intercepting any blow to the head. may wear up to two underneath a helm, reducing the odds of through-armor hits)
Cost: 30

[b]Body Slot[/b]
Mail Shirt (only available in metal. protects the upper and lower body and upper arms and legs. includes a partial hood that protects the throat, ears, and face (but not the head), as well. if you can only afford one piece of armor, this would be a good choice. may be worn under a breast plate or under leather armor. you may stack up to three mail shirts at a time. attacks have a 5% chance of finding a hole through any given mail shirt, effectively ignoring it. additional mail shirts reduce the chance of this through-armor strike drastically. ineffective against bashing weapons)
Cost: 90

Leather Armor (only available in leather. rigid, hardened leather that serves as cheaper alternative to breast plate. note that it has better coverage than a breast plate- it shields your upper arms and legs in addition to the entire torso. includes a partial “hood” similar to that of mail armor. reduces impact of blunt strikes to a degree)
Cost: 80

Breast Plate (very sturdy armor that protects only the torso. not available in leather. virtually impossible to cut through if made out of strong material, and is more effective against bludgeoning attacks than a mail shirt)
Cost: 80

[b]Leg Slot[/b]

Leggings (provides protection to the lower body and entirety of the legs, not including the feet. not available in wood. ineffective against bashing weapons)
Cost: 50

Greaves (provides superior protection to the lower body and entirety of the legs, not including the feet, comparable to the rigidity of a breast plate. not available in leather)
Cost: 60

[b]Hand Slot[/b] (comes in set of two or four so all hands are covered at no extra cost)

Gauntlets (not available in leather. protects the hands and lower arms)
Cost: 40

Gloves (only available in leather. protects the hands and lower arms)
Cost: 40

[b]Foot Slot[/b] (comes in set of two or four so all feet are covered at no extra cost)

Low Boots (protects the feet only)
Cost: 30

High Boots (protects the feet and the lower legs)
Cost: 40

[url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ApE5Vl3Bi3jfdFdsd25xekUxdXd1aEotMUFmWE1pSHc]Armour Cost Chart[/url][/spoiler]
[u]Example Starting Character[/u]
[spoiler]Sebemn, Goblin
1200 points
Right-Hand: Copper Shield (240)
Left-Hand: Copper Shield (240)
Skill: Shield-Use 8 (720)

Anyway, should this Goblin happen to win her first match, she'll have another 1200 points to spend on things. She could sell both shields back for 120 points each (1440), buy a pair of Bronze Shields (480 each, 480 remaining), and Shield-Use 10 (another 380, 100 remaining).[/spoiler]
[u]Winning[/u]

If your gladiator happens to win a match, they get points equivalent to their starting points to spend on new equipment and on improving skills.

Equipment bought for previous rounds can be sold back to the arena at half its point value; it doesn't matter if it's been used or not, bought equipment can only be sold back at half cost, and you can't sell back skill ranks.

[u]Interest on Unspent Points[/u]

Any points that you choose not to spend during a given round will accrue a modest 20% interest that may be spent on the following round's purchases.
5 points become 6 points, 500 points become 600 points. This is on top of the points you get for winning a round.

Rules courtesy of Vox Nihili and [url=http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3426500]his tournaments[/url] over at the SA forums. He came up with this stuff, not me, and I'm using them here with his permission.