Pupils: Abu Jazar & Cumiro
Today features a very special meeting of Nuke School prior to winter break. Really, its main focus is me instructing Abu Jazar, but we were assisted and observed by Edward and Cumiro.
I was really looking forward to this game, which featured a strong ally and quality opponents. Ed needs no introduction, Cumiro has been both ally and nemesis and past Nuke School pupil, and the tales I had recently heard about Abu Jazar were enough to make any player quail before the challenge this provisional legend posed:
Jazar: “Abu Jazar ruled the rankings for months in 2007-2008, not only winning almost every battle, but also finishing them with such high kill to loss ratios that both skilled and unskilled DEFCON operators shunned the name of Abu Jazar.” (12/5/12)
Airburst: “I remember playing you last year, you're pretty good.” (12/5/12)
Jazar: “Everyone already knows Abu Jazar and MAX are the masters of DEFCON.” (12/11/12)
Jazar: “The joke is you're going to try to beat Abu Jazar, the great master of all times?” (12/11/12)
But perhaps the most frightening tale of all was Jazar's claim, “I was Shai Hulud's mentor.” (12/6/12) Could this be true? The man Ace saw fit to place a bounty on; was this man the master of Shai, offensively ruthless and one of the game's better naval officers, a true Defcon great? I expressed my respect.
Cumiro, however, is not convinced. Meanwhile, Jazar displays contempt for his old pupil.
As we place, I check in with Edward. He's usually right, but given the set up taking shape, surely his advice will spell disaster! Roughly a full fleet vs. a half fleet. And we know my naval skills are not the best.
Cumiro is still sad, earning him tongue lashing from Jazar that proves prescient. Can EU win alone? Might he have to?
As the battle begins, I decide to be fair and formally introduce myself to Abu Jazar. Apparently he did not read earlier Nuke School dispatches about making promises you cannot keep.
Then again, perhaps Jazar recognizes my gesture, since he responds with several offerings to his king.
Lesson: I was preparing your destination long before you arrived. Also, CZA summarizes the essence of his strategy.
This next shot is conclusive evidence that Jazar lives in an alternate reality. Brat, you would not have scouted me with Senator's air force, R3Ds fleet, and Mrmot's ruler.
Interlude: I didn't just noob around. I was worried about Cumiro, since he seemed so sad. I went to listen to his troubles.
Interlude: Byron, here at Nuke School, we take feedback very seriously. Of course we watch and reply to our colleagues, students, and alumni! How are things in your fair land? And now that America has built up enough antibodies to Justin Bieber and Carly Rae Jepsen, what virus will you unleash on us next?
Order of Battle: The End of Jazar
The final revelation, as I get to the bottom of this Shai business and why this is a very special nuke school.
One last lesson on tactics. What's wrong with this picture?
Cumiro gets the last word.
Final score: CZA (207) & Ed (-2) defeat Cumiro 58 and Abu Jazar (-19), 205–39.
http://quackington.wikispaces.com/file/view/czaed.win.abu.jpg/392129220/czaed.win.abu.jpg
http://sfcon.demoszenen.de/dcrec/2012-12/2v2Equalised-2012-12-13_04.32.zip
Lessons:
1. Edward is great.
2. Elders, respect your youth and do not speak ill of your children.
3. Apparently EU, even in the hands of a skilled player, cannot win the game alone against NA and Asia.
4. Do not surface subs in radar range if you can avoid it.
5. Bring more fleet next time. Of course, you may have to hack the game to do this.
So much for Abu Jazar. I'm willing to grant some rust, but if you cannot beat up a mid-level player (I can think of five to ten people who can beat me up consistently, I suck at 1v1 these days, and I still have not been able to fix my launch sync) you have no business making the claims you've made about your general defcon skill. Baton, Jon, FY, Edward, LSWP, Laika, R3D, Mrmot, Tobias, possibly Deadcows (I don't know if he's fixed his math yet), Kudayta, and your ally Cumiro are all superior players.
