Duelmasters Past and Present

Unchartered Poster Joined: Jul 02, 2002 Posts: 10

I am a former player of this game. I come here once in a while to check on some of the older managers I used to know. I personally haven't played the game since back in like '95. My general assessment of this game is that it is dying. I see arenas being elimnated, most of which I was in, and it saddens me. I see arenas now that barely survive with 5 or 6 teams in it. Gee the competition in those arenas must be really fierce...NOT. What you people need to do is petition RSI to either lower their cost in hopes of luring new players, as well as some of the older ones back, or they should make an online version of the game so people don't have to wait for 2 week snail mail. These are just suggestions. I personally play a game very similar to Duelmasters online, and it is FREE. Not to mention the fact that I get turn results every weekend. Kinda blows RSI's product outta the water.

RSI needs to modernize and join the rest of us in Cyberspace. Come on guys, let them know your thoughts. Nothing will ever get done unless you voice your opinion to them.

ILNEVAL, Former player of 10 years

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 9:32 am

Your points are valid, but you seem to be assuming nobody has proposed these changes. Well we all have. I myself addressed the cost issue back in 1991 by asking players to diplo me so I would have a survey to turn into them. Also, RSI doesn't own the rights to internet play of Duelmasters. Ed owns them and his online venture went bust. I'm saddend by the small arenas as you are, but most of those players were offered a chance to move to a larger arena. The thing RSI needs to do is advertise better. I hope you come back, we need all the experienced managers as possible.

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 4:22 pm

Lugal_gg wrote:

Also, RSI doesn't own the rights to internet play of Duelmasters. Ed owns them ...

That's not what I heard...

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 4:54 pm

Actually, I think Paul Brown has the rights, and that was part of his buyout from RSI. What this means in real terms, though, is that RSI may never create a play by email game, nor allow email turn submissions. Believe me, they can't cheat on that, either, as Paul WILL notice and sue.

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 5:25 pm

My bad, I thought Ed still owned the rights. Wasn't he the one who tried the online venture?

Site Admin Joined: Jun 20, 2002 Posts: 1344

Neither Paul nor Ed restrain RSI from going electronic. The simple fact is that If DM went web based it would die a very quick and painful death.

I see lots of little online games and they are all lame. Duelmasters is not lame. Smile

I think Bloodpitt and Roman Arena are both web based and free or almost free. Try those out... they don't hold a candle to DM.

Advanced Expert Poster Joined: Nov 04, 2002 Posts: 132

I think LHI has a point.

In a web based environment, the turns would be expected to run much faster. Building a warrior from birth to ADM to Gateway, etc... wouldn't take nearly as long. Part of the success of Duelmasters is... "anticipation". Throwing the game on a web site removes nearly all of the anticipation from the game.

- Dreihdenflahg

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2003 9:28 pm

Personally, I can live with 2-week turnarounds, but it would be nice to at least have the OPTION of emailing turns.

And at last summer's FTF, I could swear I recall Sandy saying RSI wasn't allowed to take turns through email.

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2003 12:02 am

The fact is that Duelmasters works on the level of a very involved hobby, and not a particularly cheap one I admit. Now some few hobbies may hold your interest and pocketbook for 10 years but the number isn't terribly large. If you're still playing your free version on-line in ten years than, while I'd be surprised, I guess you'd have a strong point.

I don't know that Duelmasters, if free to do so, couldn't run successfully on-line but I'm not sure how much savings the change would make anyway and I know many of the stalwart players now wouldn't care for it. (I don't see any reason why a fairly similarly priced Duelmasters wouldn't still have most of the things that make it superior if placed on-line but that wouldn't address most of this complaint). It is a definate lack of convenience not to be able to do much of the communication by e-mail. (Due to cheating by previous players the set-up sheets at least have to be original and go by snail mail.)

Unchartered Poster Joined: Jul 02, 2002 Posts: 10

And most of you have played for how long?

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:17 am

Dreih has a point with the anticipation part of the game. The key to Duelmasters is that it is an easy game to learn, extremely difficult game to master. Ilneval, I originally joined in 1986 with a team in DM47 called “The Lion’s Den”.

I’ve seen the issue of price raised again and again over the years – but face it, there hasn’t been a price increase since inception. Those who really clamor for price reductions are those who run oodles (nice sophisticated word there) of teams in the vain search for the ‘perfect’ warrior. We’ve all seen what gathering an inordinate number of roll-ups have done – if you’ve doubt, check out DM82. Price isn’t an issue. Be thankful the price hasn’t been raised – several times – already. I’m sure that in order to retain the clientele they have, RSI hasn’t done so.

In (key words here) MY opinion the game – at least at the basic level – is fine just the way it is. Sure, a new introduction every now and then, be it a new weapon or armor or political facet could infuse the game with a renewed aspect for the older managers. However moving it online would – in the words of LHI – kill the game.

I think it was Lugal_gg that stated RSI could advertise more. AMEN! In all my years, I’ve seen only a few advertisements in DRAGON magazine. I’m thinking that if presented correctly to a college market the game could be reinvigorated. Of course that would take additional capital….say $10 per warrior for the tournaments……
Laughing

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:46 am

Ilneval, I have been playing off and on since 1990.

I think RSI could do a turn entry program for players to submit turns. that would save the company a little money that could be put towards advertising. And ditto what Kat said.

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:51 am

I have been playing for a total of close to 7 years. I started out in Niania. I don't think it too much. On the contrary, I would actually accept a price increase of sorts if it meant saving the game, MORE ADVERTISMENT, and better service. Of course I get great service now, but you know the girls HAVE to stay tired all the time. I don't think tourney increases would help. I would run fewer players in a tourney if it were $10 per. That would mean my 21 I sent would cost me another $63, and I wouldn't pay that. But, I think rasising the turn fee a bit wouldn't be bad, nor would a raise in cost of running in ADM. But ADVERTISEMENT is going to be their downfall. QUICKLY. Unless they do something about it. I play Roman Arena. It's ok, but not great. It just doesn't have the feel of DM. The game would die so quickly if it went on-line. That part needs to be left alone. I do think they would be better off accepting turns via email, but I know that would get shot down ASAP. The turn around time is fine with me. Hell, I play slow arenas, so it's a month. So I'm patient. But I think we all agree that unless they do SOMETHING soon, not this year or next maybe, but in say 3-5 years, this game will be a skeleton of it's former self. I just hope they don't wait that long to try and save it.

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2003 10:53 am

The problem with any type of turn entry would be manipulation of the system, plus it would mean change at RSI headquarters.

Change is conflict – conflict causes stress. They’ve already switched to Decaf – WHAT ELSE DO YOUI WANT?!?!?!

In all actuality, I think if there was a pass-worded system in place where you could input your strats – it could be great. PARTICULARLY if there was a digital receipt that your input was made. Could cut down on the recent rash of input errors.

Site Admin Joined: Jun 20, 2002 Posts: 1344

I have been playing since about 92. Gak - 11 years. I think DM has plenty of steam left in it... people were saying the RSI would die in 2 years... when I started. The game has a dedicated following that cycles over time. People quit the game... others come back. New people join. It all works out.