DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 01/20/2022    Duedate: 02/16/2022

ARKERS ARENA

DM-8    TURN-473

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

BEA ZERK
TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)
(8-5267) [12-3-1,122]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

BEA ZERK                       BASIL HAYDEN
TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)          2133 BOURBON ST (668)
(8-5267) [12-3-1,122]          (8-6075) [2-0-0,47]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

RADTEEF WAZGRIM                SACRILICIOUS
BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)         TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)
(8-5919) [21-13-3,113]         (8-6011) [5-4-0,33]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. THE CHOSEN (613)            36
2. 2133 BOURBON ST (668)       31      Z GLADIATORZ (519)
3. BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)      23      Unchartered Team
4. THE OUTLAWS 2 (631)          0
5. INFOMERCIALS (659)           0      2133 BOURBON ST (668)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1 Z GLADIATORZ (519)       408 216 10 65.4   1/ 1 BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)   11  4 0
 2/ 2 SMITHSONIAN (245)        944 554 25 63.0   2/ 2 THE CHOSEN (613)         10  5 1
 3- 3*INFOMERCIALS (659)        10   6  1 62.5   3- 5 THE OUTLAWS 2 (631)       4  6 1
 4/ 4 BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)   249 197 16 55.8   4- 3 BROKEN SPIRITS (632)      4  6 1
 5/ 5 THE CHOSEN (613)         404 378 31 51.7   5/ 6 Z GLADIATORZ (519)        3  2 0
 6- 7 THE OUTLAWS 2 (631)       68  75  7 47.6   6/ 4 SMITHSONIAN (245)         3  4 0
 7/ 6 TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)     48  53  7 47.5   7/ 8 TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)     3  7 1
 8/ 8 OTHERWOOD (642)           42  54  2 43.8   8/ 7 OTHERWOOD (642)           2  1 0
 9- 9 BROKEN SPIRITS (632)     103 138  8 42.7   9/ 9*2133 BOURBON ST (668)     2  6 0
10/10*2133 BOURBON ST (668)      2   6  0 25.0  10-10*INFOMERCIALS (659)        0  2 0

    '*'   Unchartered team                       '-'  Team did not fight this turn
   (###)  Avoid teams by their Team Id          ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

"And the crown is yours!" the Arenamaster held it high for all Arkers to see, then 
placed it on my head and said, "Now, Duelmaster Cheshire Moon, tell us a tale, that we 
may know thee." And I grinned.

"Well, when I was a young moon, my aged father said to me, "Soon my throne will be 
yours!" And I grinned. My forward lover said to me, "Soon, I will bear your child!" 
And I grinned. My enemy said to me, "Soon, I will have your head!" And I grinned. My 
lunatic mom said to me, "Wear my talisman to protect you!" And I ran. I ran so far 
away; I ran to Otherwood, and stopped at a cottage by a lake. The lady there said to 
me, "What are you doing in my bed?!" And I grinned.

I saw things there in Otherwood that bear no logic. (Have you ever seen a hawk kill a 
horse?!) I took off my mother's luck charm, left the lake lady, and sired a new moon 
with my spunky lover. My father "lords over the Isle" now, and in real courage I 
ascend to his throne!

But I am the luckiest here this day because I am amongst you all! Your new Duelmaster 
asks of you this fine day to tell us a tale of yourself, that we may know thee, o 
wildest of heart, boldest of all Arkers! Mine enemies may soon strike me down, and I 
grin! Because what we do in Otherwood echoes in eternity, returning to us a hundred-
fold!!" 

The Arenamaster glanced nervously to the superstitious multitudes assembled as I 
coughed up a bloody rattled Albus glass jaw boneball, and then my cry rang out for all 
Arkers to hear: "MUSHROOMS!  BLUEBERRIES AND WALNUTS!  SWEET POTATOES IN OLIVE OIL! 
CRANBERRIES, FLAME RAISINS, and SPLIT PEAS, TOO!!  BANANA and HARDBOILED EGG IN A 
POMEGRANATE JUICE! BY DUELMASTERLY DECREE, THIS MY BREAKFAST BOWL OF CHAMPIONS ON 
EVERY TABLE IN ARKERS!!!"

And the crowd grinned, and cheered wildly, but the Arenamaster raised his eyebrows; 
mushrooms, indeed. And Split Bea Zerk? For breakfast???

"AYE!  I sharpen my knife
and widen my grin
in anticipation
of next moon's feat!!"

                                          -- Cheshire Moon
                                             Duelmaster of Arkers

                                      SPY REPORT

     Greetings warriors!  It is I, Zontani Sharp Eyes, here to bring report of the 
clash and bustle of the weekly ARKERS games.  My praise to THE CHOSEN for their 4-1-0 
week this time out.  Indeed, it was a skillfully fought round deserving of notice!  
As is fitting, the most sought after warrior on the challenge boards this week was 
none other than Duelmaster CHESHIRE MOON himself.  Who here was not present for the 
title fight this week as BEA ZERK boldly challenged CHESHIRE MOON in order to strive 
for the Duelmasters honors?  This time victory fell to the grasp of the usurper.  All 
hail BEA ZERK, Duelmaster of ARKERS!  No confirmation, but my sources claim that the 
top team has gained their position using magical aids.  Charmed weapons perhaps?   
     But come now, let us look deeper into the maze of contention and crossed blades 
that is city ARKERS.  I saw one fighter that warriors avoided when this week's 
challenge seeking began.  THE OUTLAWS 2 is feared.  This much I can say.  If you 
didn't look down dark alleys you'd have been hard pressed to find any of THE CHOSEN 
last week.  Busy avoiding THE OUTLAWS 2?  A match that raised a few eyebrows at the 
games this week, it seems that BASIL HAYDEN posted a challenge against the more 
highly recognized BROONY BIG GUT.  The results, you ask?  Well, the firebrand BASIL 
HAYDEN subdued BROONY BIG GUT.  Remember warriors, this is the discipline of steel.   
     Is not Death a warrior's foremost adviser?   Warriors, may this counselor stand 
ready at your right hand forever!  Dark alleys may hide both secrets and assassins.  
In the arena there is only the brightness of steel.  Keep vigil always!   
     The girls are as pretty in ARKERS as ever I remembered them....and the fighters 
as ugly!  Don't let your reputation slip!  More than a sharp eye must I keep, indeed 
a stout pair of legs must I keep as well!  The endless paths of Alastari await me!  
Till we meet again, remember:  a turtle walks slow, hides head in a shell, and harms 
no one; a lion runs to slay its prey.-- Zontani Sharp Eyes  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BEA ZERK 5267                12   3  1   122       TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 RADTEEF WAZGRIM 5919         21  13  3   113       BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)
 CHESHIRE MOON 5749           16  11  1    97       OTHERWOOD (642)
 ALBUS BONERATTLER 5874       20  17  4    95       THE CHOSEN (613)
-TEXAS RED 5504               14  15  2    92       THE OUTLAWS 2 (631)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-NIOBE 5818                   11   6  0    83       BROKEN SPIRITS (632)
 MODEL T 6024                  7   1  0    73       SMITHSONIAN (245)
-BUNKER HILL 5907              9   8  2    72       SMITHSONIAN (245)
 ANGELA DEATH 4310             7  10  2    69       TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LISA YAKVIGOR 6010           11   8  0    66       THE CHOSEN (613)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BERTA THE INDOLENT 6051       8   1  0    56       THE CHOSEN (613)
 MAHTHA RIBKRAKA 6023         10   6  1    55       BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)
 ZODIAC 5993                  11   1  0    53       Z GLADIATORZ (519)
 MOMMA CASKET 4311             7   9  2    52       TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)
 BASIL HAYDEN 6075             2   0  0    47       2133 BOURBON ST (668)
-CAMPTOWN RACES 5999          13   4  0    45       SMITHSONIAN (245)
 PAX THE YUGE 6008             9  11  1    44       THE CHOSEN (613)
-ARKANSAS DAVE 5832            8   6  0    44       THE OUTLAWS 2 (631)
 GERTY DUTHUG 6061             6   0  0    43       BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)
-ZONE 5992                     4   1  0    37       Z GLADIATORZ (519)
-COTTON GIN 6037               5   2  1    34       SMITHSONIAN (245)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SACRILICIOUS 6011             5   4  0    33       TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)
-CLAY ALLISON 6067             2   2  1    33       THE OUTLAWS 2 (631)
-WEN 5910                      2   0  1    33       INFOMERCIALS (659)
 BROONY BIG GUT 6054           6   2  0    32       BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)
-WILLIAM ANDERSON 6052         3   4  0    29       THE OUTLAWS 2 (631)
-TAZRAK 6035                   5   6  2    26       BROKEN SPIRITS (632)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-THISTLE MAN 5862              4   2  0    21       OTHERWOOD (642)
 XIESTRA KOR 6069              2   1  1    21       THE CHOSEN (613)
-FLEX TAPE 5911                3   0  0    20       INFOMERCIALS (659)
-SHAMWOW 5913                  2   2  0    20       INFOMERCIALS (659)
-TREE ANEMONE 5863             4   2  0    17       OTHERWOOD (642)
 SLASHA FIERCE 6034            2   3  0    17       TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)
 TAFF DED'EAD 6087             1   1  0    17       BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)
-FABIUS 6050                   2   5  0    15       BROKEN SPIRITS (632)
-NADS 5912                     1   2  0    15       INFOMERCIALS (659)
-WILLA THE MIST 5861           2   4  0    10       OTHERWOOD (642)
-ZOOM 6042                     1   1  0    10       Z GLADIATORZ (519)
-TRISKA D. PHOBIA 6070         2   1  2     9       BROKEN SPIRITS (632)
-SNUGGIE 5914                  2   2  0     8       INFOMERCIALS (659)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CIVIL WAR 6085                1   1  0     5       SMITHSONIAN (245)
-IRONBARK 5882                 1   2  0     5       OTHERWOOD (642)
-ROSE DUNN 6071                1   1  0     4       THE OUTLAWS 2 (631)
 ZOOM ZOOM 6077                1   1  0     4       Z GLADIATORZ (519)

'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
HOOCH 5 6088            0  1 0 2133 BOURBON ST 668  STONE GOLEM           473  NONE
HOOCH 6 6090            0  1 0 2133 BOURBON ST 668  HIGH ELF              473  NONE
RABID GIT 6078          0  1 0 BLOODY HAND CLAN 626 TRISKA D. PHOBIA 6070 471   
MALSHAR 6086            0  1 0 BROKEN SPIRITS 632   XIESTRA KOR 6069      472   
OREGON TRAIL 6053       2  3 1 SMITHSONIAN 245      CLAY ALLISON 6067     471  REVENGED

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Cheshire, I guess Albus did keep it warm for you. A salute to The Duelmaster. -- 
Curator

Clay Allison, I like outlaws. I run 'em down! -- Model T

Fabius, tsk, tsk, your abs are flabbibg up. -- Cotton Gin

Rose Dunn, you outlaws are all sprint and no marathon. All spend and no save. Watch 
out for the tortoises. -- Civil War

Health. Humility. Honor. -- Curator and The Smithsonians

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

HOOCH 6 was butchered by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
HOOCH 5 was dispatched by STONE GOLEM in a 3 minute Dark Arena battle.
BEA ZERK overcame CHESHIRE MOON in a 1 minute veteran's Challenge Title match.
BASIL HAYDEN viciously subdued BROONY BIG GUT in a popular 3 minute Challenge fight.
RADTEEF WAZGRIM devastated MODEL T in a 1 minute uneven brawl.
ALBUS BONERATTLER overpowered ANGELA DEATH in a 1 minute one-sided struggle.
LISA YAKVIGOR was viciously subdued by VIRGINAL CONCUBINE in a 1 minute competition.
MOMMA CASKET was unbelievably bested by BERTA THE INDOLENT in a 2 minute duel.
GERTY DUTHUG luckily beat HONEST MERCHANT in a dull 15 minute duel.
ZODIAC luckily beat SACRILICIOUS in a exciting 3 minute fight.
PAX THE YUGE handily defeated SLASHA FIERCE in a exciting 1 minute one-sided bout.
MAHTHA RIBKRAKA bested CIVILIZED CRIMINAL in a 4 minute bloody conflict.
XIESTRA KOR savagely defeated CIVIL WAR in a crowd pleasing 1 minute gory match.
ZOOM ZOOM was handily defeated by TAFF DED'EAD in a 1 minute one-sided conflict.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|TOTAL PARRY                      6         TOTAL PARRY       31 -   9 -  0      78  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   4         STRIKING ATTACK   14 -   9 -  2      61  |
|AIMED BLOW                       3         PARRY-STRIKE       4 -   3 -  4      57  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  3         BASHING ATTACK    27 -  22 -  1      55  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         AIMED BLOW        18 -  16 -  0      53  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   2         WALL OF STEEL     17 -  17 -  1      50  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         PARRY-LUNGE        6 -   7 -  1      46  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         SLASHING ATTACK   20 -  24 -  3      45  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         LUNGING ATTACK    15 -  28 -  0      35  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -   5 -  0       0  |

Turn 473 was great if you     Not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

WALL OF STEEL      1 -  0     SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  2         3  BASHING ATTACK 
BASHING ATTACK     3 -  1     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  1         2  STRIKING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW         2 -  1     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         2  LUNGING ATTACK 
STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  1     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  1         1  PARRY-LUNGE    
TOTAL PARRY        3 -  3     LUNGING ATTACK     0 -  2         1  AIMED BLOW     
                                                                1  WALL OF STEEL  
                                                                1  TOTAL PARRY    

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  BEA ZERK 5267              12   3  1  122 TRIAL BY COMBAT (512)
BASHING ATTACK   RADTEEF WAZGRIM 5919       21  13  3  113 BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)
PARRY-LUNGE      CHESHIRE MOON 5749         16  11  1   97 OTHERWOOD (642)
TOTAL PARRY      BERTA THE INDOLENT 6051     8   1  0   56 THE CHOSEN (613)
WALL OF STEEL    MAHTHA RIBKRAKA 6023       10   6  1   55 BLOODY HAND CLAN (626)
AIMED BLOW       BASIL HAYDEN 6075           2   0  0   47 2133 BOURBON ST (668)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is RADTEEF WAZGRIM 5919.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was SACRILICIOUS 6011.  The ten other most popular fighters were BASIL HAYDEN 
6075, MOMMA CASKET 4311, HOOCH 5 6088, BEA ZERK 5267, TAFF DED'EAD 6087, RADTEEF 
WAZGRIM 5919, PAX THE YUGE 6008, XIESTRA KOR 6069, ALBUS BONERATTLER 5874, and BERTA 
THE INDOLENT 6051.

The least popular fighter this week was GERTY DUTHUG 6061.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were ZOOM ZOOM 6077, ANGELA DEATH 4310, MODEL T 6024, CIVIL WAR 
6085, SLASHA FIERCE 6034, LISA YAKVIGOR 6010, BROONY BIG GUT 6054, CHESHIRE MOON 
5749, HOOCH 6 6090, and MAHTHA RIBKRAKA 6023.

                              MY TAKE ON THE PARRY SLASH

I'm sure I'm not covering any new ground with my insights on the Wall of Steel. It is 
my best fighting style and a favorite. I have currently 3 in ADM, and about a half 
dozen active in the arenas with one currently undefeated and Duelmaster in DM 41. 

So a bit about my observations.  Like most defensive styles it seems to work best to 
run these guys offensively while they are young so I outfit them and run them like a 
slasher. They favor the initiative, parry and attack skills which sucks a bit in ADM 
because they lack in defense skill and since defense is king in the late game, Walls 
of Steel fall back into the pack quite a bit. It stinks but done right they can hold 
their own vs anyone except end game lungers and aimed blows who seem to be way OP at 
that level. 

Anyway, stats are important of course. Strength should at least be 9+ to get slashing 
weapons. Con can be lower; I have gotten away with a con of 7 because I run them fast 
and furious anyway so if they get out jumped or crit dodged and ripped then they go 
down easy. Most fights are over in minute 1 anyway. Size is a thing; smaller sizes 
would be nice but you have issues with damage if you go low size and strength less 
than 11. I have an upper limit of around 14 size and a lower one of 5 in my current 
crew. Wit is a no brainer: 15+ is almost mandatory but I am running one with a 13 that 
is doing ok but learning slows down to a crawl if you have less than 15. Will is super 
necessary so I try not to go below 15 here with a build. Speed isn't really a 
priority, so I often go as low as 3 here and they still do very well. More speed would 
be nice, but speed is a luxury and not a necessity. Deftness is nice, I won't run a 
WOS with less than a 13 here; my highest is 21 with a current ADM build.

Now how to run them. Well, minute one is offensive so I typically run 10-10-6 and then 
taper off to a high offensive effort and a low or moderate activity level. It seems 
that the majority of my ADM builds prefer a high-low pace. 

So a couple of current warrior builds to show off the style. 

     Midnight, currently in ADM -- 9-11(2)-10-17-15-3-21, about to start stat raises 
     but currently has ad masters in attack and initiative. 

     Ishmail currently in Home Guard -- 12-9-6-15-17-9-15, currently at 93 skills and 
     wont be stat raising for a minute.

     Average Joe in Mordant -- 11-11-14-13-13-9-13, painfully bad at learning and 
     definitely not recommended for the faint of heart.

     Beowulf in Seam -- 11-12-9-15-17-3-17, currently at 54 skills and near the top of 
     the arena. Has fallen on hard times of late because of diminishing returns on 
     skill learns. 

     Broken in Shadowspire -- 9-14-9-17-17-5-13, very new and probably going to be a 
     .500 warrior when it's all said and done because of the low speed and deftness 
     combo.

     Bender in DM 41 -- 9-7-14-17-17-3-17, currently undefeated and duelmaster, won't 
     last long but he started out as a tourney warrior and has gone at best 6-3 and 
     went 4-3 in this past mail-in as an adept.

So for anyone who doesn't know, a speed and deftness of 21 total is needed to get 
normal coordination and a combo of 28 is needed to get the "fights well with either 
hand" tag on your roll up. So not really relevant to the topic but just thought I'd 
throw that out there. I like to keep this total at the very least 18 to get slightly 
uncoordinated on all my builds because coordination is vital to defense and attack. 

Okay, that's my take on this fun style. If I have enlightened anyone then you are 
welcome, I hope I at least entertained everyone. Take it easy.  

                                          -- Eli