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<font:Arial Bold:20>Strategy Guide - The Seven Sword-Styles<font:Arial:16>

Editor's Note:

This fragmentary guide was discovered drifting through the sorry vacuum of Traas Sector 8, long-abandoned by its author: the noble, if somewhat insane, Grak Bakula Foldman.  Foldman was a legendary Omphr who fought and drank with a similar tenacity.  Once, after downing a pint of Buldovian Scum Ale, he boasted to his compatriots that he was the most knowledgeable duellist who had ever existed, and that he had seen over ten-thousand fighting styles in his time.  Naturally, they laughed at him and someone pulled his trousers down.

It was at that very moment that he vowed to give up sword-fighting to become a writer, leaving behind the earnest practise of something he knew well to mis-educate others about it.

After many hours slaving over a hot quill, Foldman had only managed to recall seven styles, and so decided to call it a day.  He was last seen orbital-gardening somewhere off the Mrandavian Welt.

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Introduction
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So, you want to be a sword-fighter, eh?  More fool you.  Anyway, heed well these styles and you will yada-yada-yada....Look, there are better Omphr than you out there and they're more than likely to cut more slices in you than a particularly appetising Brobingan Space Salami, so if you don't read this guide you're screwed.  You hear me?  Good.

On with the Seven Styles....

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Transient Cow Style
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Situation: Opponent attacking you.

The most basic defensive posture revolves around keeping your sword in the central position, out in front of you and angled at about 45 degrees upwards.  This is called the Central Blocking Position, and is the linchpin of Transient Cow Style.  From here, you are able to move the sword quickly to any compass-point to block an attack.  Great, huh?

To deploy Transient Cow, remain still at the centre of the arena and wait for your opponent to come at you.  When he approaches, note the location of his sword in order to anticipate the strike he will choose. 

It is important to block late in Transient Cow.  The Central Blocking Position has the advantage of facilitating a rapid block in any direction.  However, you will lose this advantage if you over-commit and block too early, allowing your opponent to fool you with a feint.

If you are sure you know the direction of your opponent's attack, Charge Block.  If you are successful, strike at him as he is stunned.  This is the most usual offensive technique in Transient Cow.

If you continue to keep relatively still, successfully blocking your opponent's attacks, he will become frustrated and be less measured.  Transient Cow also teaches to strike when your opponent becomes sloppy, but beware, as always, of the feint.  Y'hear me?

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Invisible Eel Style
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Situation: Opponent attacking you

Invisible Eel is a slippery technique...sometimes I just kill myself.  Anyway, hold your sword straight out in front of you and await your opponent's charge.  As he nears you, slash your sword in the direction directly away from his.  While doing this, also move backwards and in the direction of your slash slightly, then you're certain to nail the...I mean, this will afford you greater accuracy.

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Noble Bear Style
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Situation: Opponent attacking you

Hold your sword at about head-level, angled straight ahead.  In this style, you must choose when to attack and when to dodge.  Your attack will be a downwards slash towards the head, but aimed slightly left or right depending on your opponent's slash, and your timing must be perfect.  If your opponent is going for a high slash you should dodge out of the way and back off.  If he is going for a low slash, bring your sword down shortly before he starts.  That's what I told 'ya.

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Soaring Eagle Style
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Situation: Neutral

Approach your opponent fast, and strafing to one side.  For this technique, you must attempt to pass him on the right or the left at just sword range.  While you do this you must examine your opponent's sword: if he is in a good position to strike, move further away from him to pass by out of harm's way.  If you have the advantage, slash laterally (left to right or right to left depending on which side you are strafing).

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Flailing Goat Style
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Situation: Attacking opponent

This is all about timing and stupidity.  Move gently towards your opponent; make him believe that you are merely sizing him up.  Then, go crazy with slashes in all directions.  While you will see a lot of beginners using this style (and also losing every single bout), it's just irritating enough that it might catch someone unawares...if you're lucky.

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Formulaic Beaver Style
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Situation: Attacking opponent

Formulaic Beaver is about building dams.  Metaphorical dams.  With the sword.

Approach your opponent with stealth, lead him into believing you are using Transient Cow.  Then, move your sword out to his non-sword-bearing side, and bring it around in an arc towards you, building a "dam".  This will most likely shock him into failure.

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Malak's Dirty Style
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Situation: Attacking opponent

Keep your opponent revolving around by moving around him in a circle, wait for him to make a slash, then reply with rapid lateral slashes of your own after dodging his blow.  Never relent, remain slashing as he flails about.  Until he learns to charge-block you on the approach, he will find it hard to defeat you....
