DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER Date : 03/01/2004 Duedate: 03/13/2004 ALJAFIR ARENA DM-17 TURN-480 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS GHENGIS KHAN HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) (17-6205) [24-13-0,138] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader GHENGIS KHAN DARK MAGICIAN HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) LET'S DUEL! (519) (17-6205) [24-13-0,138] (17-6417) [7-1-0,84] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite TIBERIOUS CREME A. SHUN HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) DELTA DOOM (492) (17-6209) [25-14-1,127] (17-6152) [13-10-1,101] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. DELTA DOOM (492) 38 2. HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) 31 DELTA DOOM (492) 3. DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) 21 Unchartered Team 4. LET'S DUEL! (519) 18 5. SPECIAL ED (499) 0 LET'S DUEL! (519) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 2 DELTA DOOM (492) 99 77 6 56.3 1/ 1 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) 10 5 0 2/ 3 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) 180 142 6 55.9 2/ 6 DELTA DOOM (492) 6 5 0 3/ 4 DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) 35 30 2 53.8 3/ 2*LET'S DUEL! (519) 6 5 0 4- 5 SPECIAL ED (499) 192 165 7 53.8 4/ 3 MIDDLE WAY (484) 5 10 0 5- 6*GROW (512) 15 13 1 53.6 5- 5*GROW (512) 3 1 0 6/ 7*LET'S DUEL! (519) 16 15 0 51.6 6/ 4 FISH THANGS (505) 2 4 0 7/ 9 MIDDLE WAY (484) 159 276 3 36.6 7/ 8 DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) 1 5 0 8/ 8 FISH THANGS (505) 12 22 0 35.3 8- 9 SPECIAL ED (499) 0 3 0 '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank TEAM SPOTLIGHT >)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #77 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(< Near Barikala: The Golden Moon, Lady Protector Artemisia commanding, was approaching the Urt Delta from the northeast as the day drew to a close. Her goal was Zukal, but as soon as the ship came within sight of land, she would anchor and wait for daylight. The maze of channels and islands that formed the delta was not something to attempt at night. At least, not now. A decade ago there had been an intricate network of beacons that a skilled and familiar pilot could use to reach the city's docks at any hour, but the invasion from the East had put an end to that. The defenders had destroyed the beacons to hamper their foes, and the triumphant invaders of Zukal had neither the knowledge or desire to restore the system. Artemisia's lip curled. The Easterners called the people of Alastari barbarians, because many of their cultures were young. But if the 'civilized' old cultures of the East didn't--or couldn't--restore safe shipping, who was the true barbarian? The lookout shouted that land was in sight, and Artemisia turned to squint into the setting sun. But she was lower than the man on the mast and couldn't see the dark line of the shore yet. With a shrug, she turned to look the other way, searching the sky for a warning of the sudden storms that had given this great lake its name. That horizon was clear, also. She didn't quite trust it, but...the sky was clear and the wind was steady. Good enough, for now. When she turned to the west again, she could see land herself, the long, dark hump of Barikala Island, silhouetted against the crimson sky. The sun vanished from sight, and its light was replaced by the broad, slightly greenish beam that shot straight upward from the center of Barikala. Around her, the sailors moved to place the ship in a safe position and run out the anchors for the night; her first officer needed no instructions to handle that. That beam of light over Barikala was also new since the invasion, and Artemisia wished her friend Beag Magda were here. The Elf understood such things. Or at least knew how to think about them, because nobody understood just what that blazing beacon was...other than dangerous. No one who had landed on Barikala in the last few years had returned from there to tell what they'd seen. The lookout called down something else that she couldn't hear over the bustling sounds of sails being lowered and anchor chains creaking off their drums. One of the sailors halfway down the mast below him shouted up, got an answer, and came hurrying down. "Koro says there's something coming out through the delta," the sailor reported. "He isn't sure what, the light's about gone, but it might be a group of canoes. They aren't in a main channel, anyway." Artemisia glanced to the side. Her first officer was there, as he should be. "We may have an attack coming up," she said quietly. He nodded and moved off to make sure the crew was ready. Artemisia tapped her fingers on the hilt of her cutlass, reviewing possibilities, then shrugged. It was useless to speculate without more information, and dangerous to formulate plans under such circumstances. She would have to wait upon events. Zukal: Ghenis glared down into the alley where the last of the soldiers were marching past. Nothing had happened. The dark god he had believed he served had not responded. The Ferencian was lying to them all. But somewhere, he knew, there was such a dark demongod, and he vowed to find it. And the Ferencian liar would be the first sacrifice.... He withdrew carefully from the roof above the alley. It would be a good idea to get out of Zukal for a while. Out from under that liar Pelishtekan's eye, so that he could think and lay his plans in relative safety. Niatoli Island, that's where he would go. The false cult already had a 'mission' there, and Cousin Og would be his, Ghenis's, first recruit. The Isle of the Eye: Beag Magda sat at a small table near the back of the Two Lilies and swirled the last of the tea in her cup moodily. She had no fault to find with the Lilies, they knew her here and always gave her the same table. And the tea, as usual, was excellent. Something was wrong somewhere, but it was less definite--and more important--than a problem with the service, or a mediocre cup of tea. She was almost afraid to look into her cup. That was nonsense. It was only the unknown that should be feared, and once she read the tea leaves, the problem would not be unknown. Well, it would not be completely unknown, but tea leaves were a very imprecise method of diagnosis and prognostication. With a little shake, she threw off the dark mood, emptied the last swallow of tea into the saucer, and peered into the cup at the leaves clinging to its bottom and sides. She could feel the hair trying to rise on the back of her neck. The leaves seemed to be swimming in a web of shadows. The patterns they formed all indicated as plainly as tea leaves could that something very dark was impending. But nothing was clear. Who was menaced, and by what? How soon? Beag Magda set the cup down very carefully, because her hand was trying to shake, and laid coins beside it to pay for the tea. She needed more information, and she couldn't get it here. Stormcrowe: Lord Protector Ipecac stalked ashore and glared around for someone to share his outrage. Anyone who recognized him in time--and Stormcrowe was a small island with a limited population who generally DID recognize one another--departed hastily. Lady Protector Snowfall wasn't quite fast enough. "Do you know what HAPPENED?" Ipecac demanded. Looking distinctly queasy, Snowfall shook her head. "My ship was ATTACKED," the warrior from Emetics snapped. He didn't notice when the shapely woman flinched from his vehemence; people were always doing that around him. He stalked closer, dropping his voice for privacy. "Monsters," he hissed. "Demons out of the waves. Half shark, half man, you might say. Others like kraken. They were summoned by a dark wizard on a black ship. We have to do something about this." Snowfall swallowed a couple of times, then said, "Why? And how?" Ipecac raised his eyebrows. "You want to live on nothing but fish caught in the harbor?" he asked. "They could blockade us! And what if they decide to come ashore and attack us here on the island?" He frowned thoughtfully. "Probably it's part of some Karnhorn plot, and if we don't nip it in the bud, they'll be all over us, murdering and enslaving. Can't have that." "No," Snowfall agreed faintly, "we can't have that. But how do we stop them?" "We fight, of course!" He hesitated, perhaps realizing that such a plan was lacking in useful details. "All the ships will have to be armed with...catapults," he suggested. "And...none of them going out alone. Yes. And we need to find any wizards on the island and recruit them to help fight, and more importantly to find out what we're up against. That's a beginning." He nodded firmly. "We need to start right away!" Snowfall turned quickly to the rail at the edge of the dock and fed the fish her lunch, then straightened. "Yes, I can see that. Wizards, catapults, convoys. No time to waste...." DUELMASTER'S COLUMN Notes from the arena champ. Back for another round. Turn 6 of my reign. Mouse Noyle, it wasn't even close. I cannot decide whether I am getting better, or you are getting worse. That fight was much more one-sided than our fight on Turn 4 of my reign. Where did everybody go? Aljafir used to be a bustling metropolis. Pip the Troll is a no-show. The Victorians are gone. The members of the Midnight Foundation (Jekyll, Carny et al) have abandoned their "home arena." Judge tells me that the rollup gods abandoned the arena too (at least based upon his latest replacement rollup). Tiberious killed the only guy who could potentially beat me. Good job Tiberious. I do not want to fight any of those aimed-blow folks. Keep trying y'all. I am looking for someone, anyone, who can knock me off this throne. See you next turn. Your Duelmaster, Ghengis Khan SPY REPORT Thankyouthankyou. It's great for me, The Unknown Spymaster to be back in ALJAFIR. Hope you enjoy the show. Oh, who am I kidding? I already got paid! Coming up with a solid 3-2-0 outing, DELTA DOOM has advanced 4 places in the rankings. Hey everybody, watch out for IDUN, who flew up 20 points in the rankings after mashing MOUSE NOYLE like a melon. Keep your eye on this gal. And falling like a basher in the top ten was MOUSE NOYLE, who dropped 16 points after a disappointing (to say the least) bout with IDUN. Drawing on all of his experience as a 13-9-1 warrior, CREME A. SHUN went for the Duelmastership against GHENGIS KHAN this week. Our battling duelmaster GHENGIS KHAN has managed to hold the title, fending off CREME A. SHUN's none too subtle advances. Better luck next time, DELTA DOOM. Advice to bashers--never force anything, just get a bigger halberd! Here is other news that is of note. Did you hear that DEITIES & DEMIGODS was most avoided team this week? Well, knowing the personal hygiene of DEITIES & DEMIGODS' warriors, I'm not surprised! For those of you who like math, try this one: DEITIES & DEMIGODS + Weapons That go Boom = DELTA DOOM + Avoid City. Well dang howdy, but if challenges were votes, KARO LEE would be president. Although it may be a contest she doesn't want to win. In a touching display by a 'touched' warrior, DARK MAGICIAN went after KARO LEE, who was higher by 24 points. Well, when the dust settled, DARK MAGICIAN won victory over KARO LEE. Remember that an arena is not always a safe place to be, but it is one of the most interesting, though! Ask not the elves for counsel, for they will say both yes and no. Silly buggers, eh? Well, that wasn't too bad; Alarond told me that the people in ALJAFIR have no sense of humor. Or maybe that they were senseless. Okay, so I may not be the world's best comedian, but then you guys aren't the world's best warriors. Hasta la bye-bye. (Loud choruses of 'Beat it, ya bum!')-- The Unknown Spymaster DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME GHENGIS KHAN 6205 24 13 0 138 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME TIBERIOUS 6209 25 14 1 127 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) CREME A. SHUN 6152 13 10 1 101 DELTA DOOM (492) TORLYN UNA 6288 17 17 1 97 MIDDLE WAY (484) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME DARK MAGICIAN 6417 7 1 0 84 LET'S DUEL! (519) IDUN 6396 9 3 1 80 DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) KARO LEE 6133 13 37 0 76 MIDDLE WAY (484) MOUSE NOYLE 6252 17 23 0 74 MIDDLE WAY (484) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -ELDAR BARRY 6334 3 1 0 44 GROW (512) -PHLEUM PRATENSE 6335 4 2 0 42 GROW (512) -OANIUN SETT 6331 4 4 1 37 GROW (512) ELMER FLOOD 6574 3 1 0 34 DELTA DOOM (492) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME TABETA UNIS 6405 7 12 0 33 MIDDLE WAY (484) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME DARON EL 6414 7 11 0 33 MIDDLE WAY (484) -CHERRY PITTER 6332 4 1 0 33 GROW (512) CASS KETT 6546 4 3 0 33 DELTA DOOM (492) FLUFFY SCULPIN 6575 2 1 0 33 FISH THANGS (505) -EXODIA! 6420 4 3 0 32 LET'S DUEL! (519) -DA 6564 2 1 1 25 SPECIAL ED (499) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME NAPOLEON 6578 2 1 0 23 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) -LA JINN 6419 2 3 0 20 LET'S DUEL! (519) BLOWFISH 6262 2 3 0 20 FISH THANGS (505) ANHUR 6544 4 6 0 18 DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) -GREY MOUSER 6290 1 4 0 16 DEITIES & DEMIGODS (507) TRASH 6588 1 0 0 13 DELTA DOOM (492) -BARRACUDA 6547 1 0 0 13 FISH THANGS (505) GEARFRIED 6573 2 2 0 9 LET'S DUEL! (519) GRACEFUL CHARITY 6586 1 1 0 4 LET'S DUEL! (519) -SILKY SALMON 6537 0 4 0 4 FISH THANGS (505) PURPLE HEART 6590 0 1 0 1 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? SLUG 6591 0 1 0 DELTA DOOM 492 BLACK ORC 645 480 NONE TROUT TART 6261 6 4 0 FISH THANGS 505 TIBERIOUS 6209 477 SACRIFICIAL LAMB 6589 0 1 0 HEROESANDFOUNDONE 475 HIGH ELF 644 480 NONE PERSONAL ADS Idun -- I don't know what it was you dun, but maybe this was enough penance? -- Torlyn Una Fluffy Sculpin -- I was handicapped by an innate inability to hit fluffy things. I think it was something my mother inadvertently impressed on me before my birth, as I understand that she had a "fluffy" brain and, well, you know. -- Daron El Ghengis Khan -- That was INSUFFERABLE! I actually got a title match, and YOU, a PRIMATE, insisted on hogging it? You are CLEARLY and INEXCUSABLY anti-Mouse. -- Mouse Noyle Caesar -- Yes, you are laughing, though most people couldn't tell because you're laughing in Latin. -- Karo Lee Phleum Pratense -- Euwh! -- Tabeta Unis Barnabas -- Er...did they get into your garden? Do I need to mend the fence? -- Jorja P.S. Different manager name, same manager. Judge -- Congratulations on your ripper, and good luck with a piker. -- Jorja P.S. You're probably going to need it. The most uncooperative style! Tabeta Unis -- I prefer it that way (you being at a handicap that is). Hopefully your teammates will also be at a loss if/when I gith them! -- Dark Magician Napoleon -- That was certainly the strangest fight in my brief career. Hopefully it taught me to pay attention at all times, rather than let my opponent just rip the attack away and hit me. -- Gearfried Elmer -- You're right, I'm not a wabbit, but I am proving easy to beat... -- Gearfried Eldar Barry -- I kept losing you from my vision...perhaps you should wear platform shoes if we ever fight again. -- Exodia Blow Fish and Fish Thangs -- Get real. Scumming up your waste is not going to help you beat Tiberious. It is a bad matchup for you. The purpose of bloodfeuding is to avenge the death of a fallen comrade. You are not even close to achieving this goal --you are just making yourselves look silly. I know it is frustrating to lose a quality warrior, but you unchallenged Tiberious, and Trout Tart got what he deserved. -- Judge, mgr. of HEROESANDFOUNDONES 25 February 2004 Readers, and especially those who volunteered warriors -- My apologies for the sudden lack of episodes. I've been sick, but expect to be back at the keyboard soon. -- the Scribe 3 March 2004 MONGO'S MARDI GRAS MADNESS DUELMASTERS AUCTION Mongo, aka Matt McIntosh and ex-Warden of the Dark Circle, is auctioning off his entire collection of Duelmasters warriors and stables. Don't miss out on this chance to own some fantastic warriors! There are ADM warriors available in every class from Primus to Freshmen, as well as over a dozen Basic stables. Does a Slasher with +4 attack, +4 decisiveness, +3 initiative and +2 riposte sound good? How about a Lunger who received the benefit of a TC prize, has TVed three times after graduating--and still hasn't maxed out his skills!? How about a Striker in the Freshmen class who has decisiveness for a favorite learn and the MAUL for a favorite weapon!? Or perhaps you prefer playing in Basic. Then how does a stable with four Adept class warriors who have a combined record of 41-19-9 sound? Or maybe a stable with three 21-Will warriors? Or perhaps a stable with four Initiates and a Rookie who have a combined record of 23-6-1? The quality of the lots is excellent. All you need to view and bid on the lots is go to: http://members.aol.com/jvmerlino/mardigras.html If you want to be on the mailing list to receive regular updates on the auction, just send an e-mail to JVMerlino@aol.com. Merlin, aka John Merlino and also an ex- Warden of the Dark Circle, will be running this auction for me. I just moved to New Orleans and am likely currently stumbling around the French Quarter...because it's Mardi Gras! So I have named my auction in honor of this occasion. The auction will start on Saturday, March 13th, 2004, and will continue for several weeks. But you should get your bids in early if you want your best chance at owning any of these fantastic warriors and stables. Many thanks to all for your interest and your bids, Mongo 5 March 2004 Style Masters Symposium Hosted by Hammer The years have slipped by and many DM Managers have come and gone since the last Hammer's Handbook was compiled and printed. There is now a stirring within me to begin writing and editing yet another Handbook with a distribution date sometime in 2005. This Handbook will be made available via Email with a possibility of burning the info to a CD for distribution. Special arrangements will be made to provide the information via printed page to those contributors who are serving sentences behind bars. The working title of this new Handbook is "Style Masters Symposium Hosted by Hammer". Distribution of this Handbook is projected to be MAINLY for those DM Managers who contribute information/articles to Hammer by June 2004. Informative and entertaining articles should focus on insights regarding Any or All 10 Style Masters for both the Basic and ADM arenas as well as Tourney competition. Articles focusing on Weapons/Armor are also encouraged for inclusion. Whether you are a Newbie Manager without a clue or a Jaded Veteran; everyone has discovered something about this gaming experience that is both Insightful and Entertaining. Email Your Articles to HammerDM@fastermail.com or send them via Diplo to either Flower Hammerz (372) in DM 28 or Casino Hammerz (576) in DM 33. Length and Content of the Style Masters Symposium Hosted by Hammer will be Determined by the Quality and Quantity of Contributors Combined with the Literary Efforts of Hammer who is currently overseas for an indefinite period of time. Articles Contributed for this Project should be of Sufficient Length and Content to Warrant being Included to Receive the Finished Document when Hammer has completed this literary work to His satisfaction. Managers contributing articles are also requested to include a DM Bio of Themselves along with any Notable Successes and/or Failures during Their DM Career in Basic, ADM and/or Tourney Play. A listing of Active Stables would also be Helpful for Anyone Seeking to Reply to Contributors via Diplo, Email or Snailmail. May Your Blades Be Sharp And Your Wits Sharper! -- Hammer of Flower Hammerz (372) DM 28 and Casino Hammerz (576) DM 33 LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS SLUG was butchered by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight. SACRIFICIAL LAMB was slaughtered by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute gruesome Dark Arena battle. FLUFFY SCULPIN was demolished by TIBERIOUS in a 1 minute uneven Bloodfeud fight. CREME A. SHUN was unbelievably bested by GHENGIS KHAN in a 4 minute Challenge contest. DARK MAGICIAN demolished KARO LEE in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge competition. BLOWFISH was viciously subdued by DARON EL in a 7 minute bloody Challenge fight. GRACEFUL CHARITY was overpowered by NAPOLEON in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge brawl. TORLYN UNA handily defeated KUNG-FU MASTER in a action packed 1 minute uneven melee. MOUSE NOYLE was unbelievably bested by IDUN in a 5 minute uneven fight. ELMER FLOOD vanquished ANHUR in a 1 minute one-sided fight. TABETA UNIS was beaten by CASS KETT in a 3 minute melee. GEARFRIED beat PURPLE HEART in a 1 minute novice's fight. TRASH demolished CONVICTED THIEF in a 1 minute mismatched competition. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |SLASHING ATTACK 7 TOTAL PARRY 18 - 11 - 1 62 | |TOTAL PARRY 3 PARRY-RIPOSTE 17 - 12 - 1 59 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 AIMED BLOW 6 - 5 - 1 55 | |PARRY-STRIKE 2 PARRY-STRIKE 8 - 7 - 0 53 | |LUNGING ATTACK 2 SLASHING ATTACK 31 - 32 - 2 49 | |STRIKING ATTACK 2 STRIKING ATTACK 14 - 15 - 1 48 | |WALL OF STEEL 2 LUNGING ATTACK 21 - 24 - 0 47 | |PARRY-LUNGE 1 PARRY-LUNGE 6 - 7 - 0 46 | |BASHING ATTACK 1 WALL OF STEEL 8 - 14 - 0 36 | |AIMED BLOW 0 BASHING ATTACK 2 - 6 - 0 25 | Turn 480 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: PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 - 0 AIMED BLOW 0 - 0 5 SLASHING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 3 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 1 2 TOTAL PARRY SLASHING ATTACK 4 - 3 STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 2 2 LUNGING ATTACK PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 1 BASHING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 WALL OF STEEL LUNGING ATTACK 1 - 1 WALL OF STEEL 0 - 2 1 STRIKING ATTACK TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME TOTAL PARRY GHENGIS KHAN 6205 24 13 0 138 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) SLASHING ATTACK TIBERIOUS 6209 25 14 1 127 HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is TIBERIOUS 6209. The most popular warrior this turn was CREME A. SHUN 6152. The ten other most popular fighters were MOUSE NOYLE 6252, TABETA UNIS 6405, GHENGIS KHAN 6205, TORLYN UNA 6288, DARK MAGICIAN 6417, DARON EL 6414, NAPOLEON 6578, CASS KETT 6546, TIBERIOUS 6209, and ELMER FLOOD 6574. The least popular fighter this week was KARO LEE 6133. The other ten least popular fighters were FLUFFY SCULPIN 6575, SACRIFICIAL LAMB 6589, SLUG 6591, TRASH 6588, PURPLE HEART 6590, GEARFRIED 6573, ANHUR 6544, IDUN 6396, GRACEFUL CHARITY 6586, and BLOWFISH 6262. The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn: GHENGIS KHAN (17-6205) HEROESANDFOUNDONES (475)