What's the point of the duel mechanic?

[DarkFenix]

I can't remember the last time I was actually able to duel an enemy general, it always just says "Doesn't want to duel".

CA made a big song and dance about this mechanic when marketing the game, but it turns out the AI can just press the proverbial "block" button and remove it entirely. So why even bother with it in the first place?

I'd have thought it'd at least let me issue a challenge, then there'd be a penalty for refusing it, like that general's retinue taking a morale hit after seeing their leader being completely spineless right in front of them.

[edisonvn92]

The AI doesn't want to duel your Lu Bu because they are at least smarter than before and know not to send their generals to certain deaths.

AI will totally duel you if they see there is a chance of winning the duel. Just bring a random low level general and AI will ask for duels. Or well, letting your generals dueling AI's Lu Bu or Guan Yu. At least, try treating AI as if you are playing against normal players in a sense, instead of 80IQ dumbass.

As far as I remember there is a penalty for refusing duels, for players at least. Not sure about AI

[Gregorovitch]

The AI will accept duels especially for their champions, vanguards and sentinels but it depends on the circumstances. It also depends possibly on the character of the general in question. It definitely is very keen on duels if it's own generals are very strong in melee compared to yours, but sometimes it seems to offer/accept duels even when it's not.

It's tempting to think this might be because either the AI believes it must win the battle or it's faction's days are surely numbered, therefore death or glory is in order, or because some general traits make them more likely to accept duels regardless of win chance.

[Trel1305]

I have no problem with duels. But just like you the AI is smart about who it duels. I have some rare cases where the AI clearly was at a disadvantage just did a desperate duel challenge.

I have cases where Liu Bei is spammed with duels no matter how many times I refuse it. In my campaign right now I have 30 total duels and won 28 of them. So saying duels never happen isnt true

[Sins]

It also depends on how the AI feels about the battle as a whole and your generals abilities.

If they think they're going to win anyway they likely won't bother to duel, but if your general is a serious threat to their army or they're losing they're far more likely to take a duel just to distract your general or try to make a last-ditch effort to get something out of the fight.

[Too Much Salt]

If you win the duel, it will buff your units.

Normally, famous characters like Lu Bu and Guan Yu will find it hard to duel AI because the AI is smart enough to know they don't stand a chance.

Use generics to duel. If your generics are geared and you have enough supporting buffs, you can win easily.

[Trel1305]

Originally posted by Too Much Salt:

If you win the duel, it will buff your units.

Normally, famous characters like Lu Bu and Guan Yu will find it hard to duel AI because the AI is smart enough to know they don't stand a chance.

Use generics to duel. If your generics are geared and you have enough supporting buffs, you can win easily.

Hmm..do you get a buff every time you win or is it only when you win in the time limit

[DarkFenix]

Originally posted by edisonvn92:

The AI doesn't want to duel your Lu Bu because they are at least smarter than before and know not to send their generals to certain deaths.

AI will totally duel you if they see there is a chance of winning the duel. Just bring a random low level general and AI will ask for duels. Or well, letting your generals dueling AI's Lu Bu or Guan Yu. At least, try treating AI as if you are playing against normal players in a sense, instead of 80IQ dumbass.

As far as I remember there is a penalty for refusing duels, for players at least. Not sure about AI

Against the AI it won't even let you challenge them, so there's no penalty by definition.

It's not as though it even helps them at all. Sure, they won't let my Guan Yu beat up one of their generals... in which case I'm going to dogpile that same general with Liu Bei, Zhang Fei, AND Guan Yu. Same end result, but it happens faster, I don't lose a bunch of health on Guan Yu, and the fight's collateral damage will take out a bunch of their soldiers too.

[lemurs2]

no point.

[The Devil]

If you are crushing their armies with your general they will usually challenge u at higher diffilcuties i find. It is rare i get challenged right of the bat though

[Nero]

You gotta use a general of equal or lower might, the AI will agree to duel. Then send your other general to buff him with abilities or use your own abilities or intervene with troops or run away.

You can run away, it will make the troops stronger and then tell a strong general of yours to kill the dismounted enemy general.

Duels take generals out of the fight so that they don't ride around smashing your precious troops.

[Trel1305]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

You gotta use a general of equal or lower might, the AI will agree to duel. Then send your other general to buff him with abilities or use your own abilities or intervene with troops or run away.

You can run away, it will make the troops stronger and then tell a strong general of yours to kill the dismounted enemy general.

Duels take generals out of the fight so that they don't ride around smashing your precious troops.

^ This

Would you rather have a vanguard killing hundreds or dueling them to keep them out of the fray.

[ComeToTeddy]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

You gotta use a general of equal or lower might, the AI will agree to duel. Then send your other general to buff him with abilities or use your own abilities or intervene with troops or run away.

You can run away, it will make the troops stronger and then tell a strong general of yours to kill the dismounted enemy general.

Duels take generals out of the fight so that they don't ride around smashing your precious troops.

wow i didnt even think about buffing with your other generals. isnt that sort of un-sportsmanly

[Nero]

This isn't a tournament. It is total war. Results are all that matters.

[Killer29687]

It seems the AI will fight your general based on the matchup of classes, aka a commander player general will more likely be able to issue duels then a powerhouse red general... it seems the AI doesn’t take into account abilities but will take into account your equipment.

Having a duel and using a strategists skill that basically blocks the enemy general from using any active skills is priceless, likewise a purple general’s buff skills are also amazing... I find green generals to be better dueler’s due to the AI accepting the challenge more often then not by them... include the fact that they have a skill that does 15k damage and they can kill when needed... hell people say the best general is lu bu.... your half right, if you talking campaign wise no, since some of his skills that are picked are useless compared to the skills he could’ve took... likewise his only god power skill is his splash attack, which chunks generals yes but can be dodged easily... his spear gives him unbreakable but that’s useless in a duel, add to the effect the spear gives him a -15 purple skill penalty I find it not so worth it... his horse is decent yes but there is a better horse.... sun jians. Why? That horse gives you 25percent more armor... dunno if it stays in effect when he’s off the horse though.

Anyways my pick for best general? The bandit queen.... poison blade saps chunks of enemy hp ( can’t be used in duels but should be used before a duel) she is a green general yet has tenancy of steel and her weapon grants her fatigue immunity...

Add to that her high hp and sun jians horse she’s a god amongst mortals... hell even include huang zhongs bow and she can kill any general before engaging if all her shots hit.

Tldr: purple generals are nice yes but depend on luck, red are decent but die too fast. Yellow? Haha no they are terrible.... green? High hp coped with skills that does high damage? Sign me up

[rob.dee]

if you dont like it turn off romance mode ...simple....on the other hand i get alot of duels happening and love the drama of it , your best bet to get duels is when fighting armies with champions in it.