DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 10/29/2019    Duedate: 11/11/2019

SEAM ARENA

DM-20    TURN-114

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

KURGAN
80S FANTASY (60)
(20-751) [13-9-2,126]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

KURGAN                         POSITION IS EMPTY
80S FANTASY (60)               
(20-751) [13-9-2,126]          

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

DEAD GIRL                      POLLUX LYNXEAR
LOSERS (20)                    DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)
(20-690) [16-18-3,69]          (20-672) [20-19-2,106]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

PIXELBENDERS (36)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. PIXELBENDERS (36)           45
2. DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)         43      PHANTOM REGIMENT (25)
3. OAKLEAF (59)                23      Unchartered Team
4. HUCKLE'S CATS (23)          17
5. PHANTOM REGIMENT (25)        9      BASH BROS MANAGERS8 (57)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 2 PHANTOM REGIMENT (25)    201 148  9 57.6   1/ 8 PIXELBENDERS (36)        11  4 0
 2/ 3 I'M NOT EGGBERT (9)      248 197 19 55.7   2/ 4 OAKLEAF (59)             10  5 0
 3/ 4 DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)      301 258 22 53.8   3/ 3 HUCKLE'S CATS (23)        9  6 0
 4/ 6 PIXELBENDERS (36)        243 215 10 53.1   4/ 1 THIRSTY THUGS (31)        8  5 1
 5/ 5 THIRSTY THUGS (31)       293 260  8 53.0   5/ 2 PHANTOM REGIMENT (25)     7  8 1
 6/10 OAKLEAF (59)              68  65  0 51.1   6/ 6 80S FANTASY (60)          7  8 0
 7- 8 DIETIES AND DEMIGOD (37) 236 227 13 51.0   7/ 5 I'M NOT EGGBERT (9)       6  5 0
 8/ 9 80S FANTASY (60)          55  54  7 50.5   8/ 7 DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)       6  9 0
 9/11 HUCKLE'S CATS (23)       226 260  5 46.5   9/10 LOST SENTINELS (19)       3 12 0
10/12 LOST SENTINELS (19)      228 330 25 40.9  10/12 LOSERS (20)               2  4 0
11/13 LOSERS (20)              209 310 35 40.3  11-11 DIETIES AND DEMIGOD (37)  1  2 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

I was just traveling down memory lane for DM 20, and I started to take a look at my 
graduates.  My goal with each of my active arenas is to graduate a warrior from all 10 
styles.  I've done this in both DM 45 and 81.  I have a few others that are only a few 
styles short, but obviously DM 20 is on my radar.  Here is my progress thus far with 
my first graduates from each style.  Most of these warriors have been fun, and a few 
of them have been surprisingly good (or "knacky" as we usually call it in D2).  The 
number in parenthesis at the end is the order it graduated.

                       AB -- 5-11-10-15-15-7-21 +3 overall (1)
                       BA -- 21-9-8-15-15-9-7 +2 overall (3)
                       LU -- 11-9-13-21-15-4-11 -1 overall (4)
                       PL -- 13-14-7-13-21-5-11 mode (7)
                       PR -- NONE
                       PS -- 9-14-14-21-9-4-13 -1 overall (2)
                       SL -- NONE
                       ST -- 17-4-12-21-9-10-11 +2 overall (5)
                       TP -- NONE
                       WS -- 10-12-14-15-17-5-11 +3 overall (6)

As you can see, I have 3 left before completing this RR, but currently have none of 
those styles active (I'm writing this after turn 113).  I got two of the hardest out 
of the way early with the Aimer and Piker, but I've never had an easy time running 
Rippers.  So, we shall see how long this will take.

What are some of your D2 goals?  How close are you to reaching them?

                                          Luck on the sands,

                                          Master Darque

***---------*---------*---------*---------**---------*---------*---------*---------***

                            The No Tourney Pledge Problems

    In theory, the no tourney arenas and pledge are fantastic.  They go back to an 
early time of the game when tourneys were not the end all goal.  The game wasn't about 
DAing until you got the perfect warrior to run.  The game wasn't ruled by prize 
modified freaks.  Certainly that was a noble and fantastic goal.  But the reasons I 
have refrained from playing in no tourney arenas are that the 'pledge' actually 
restricts you from what I think is the other great positive of the earlier time.  You 
can play however you want.  The pledge does not allow you to play however you want and 
so until this time, I have resisted.
    If I want to sit a guy out of for a bloodfeud, I cannot unless I sit my entire 
team.  If I do get a great guy, I cannot run him in tourneys.  If one of my favorites 
dies, I can't run him in dead tourneys.  If I want to sit a Challenger Init, 
Challenger Adept, or Challenger Champ, I cannot.  If I simply  want to not run a 
warrior to avoid a temporary bad environment for my warrior, I cannot.  In short, I 
cannot play the game however I want to play it.
    Being forced to run all five warriors is the biggest problem.  To me, that takes 
away from the no tourney pledge which is intended to bring the game back to an earlier 
age.  As you will notice, I sat my team out for 3 turns to avoid a bloodfeud.  Why 
should I give DMob 4 free shots at my initiate with his Duelmaster?  Obviously I don't 
know if he would have taken them or not, but I have no intention to let him!
    I have my reasons for choosing this time to join the No Tourney game, but already 
my resolve is being tested.  I am not a fan of the way the old school game was 
implemented and so I will feel free to sit my entire team when I want to sit a 
warrior.  I will follow the rules, but only to the letter of the law.  I will tailor 
my play to maximize my own enjoyment and work around what I view as the pledge 
problems.

                                          -- Assur

                                      SPY REPORT

Greetings, my sweets!  As always, it is wonderful to see you out for the arena 
festivities today.  We had an action-packed turn with lots of fights, a few 
bloodfeuds, and no deaths!  You read that correctly!  No one died today in Seam, so I 
am sure the whacko fortune tellers will be out in force tonight proclaiming doom and 
gloom for the world!  Bah!  Okay, enough of that!  Let's take a look at our exciting 
turn!

LC was on his way out after achieving immortality the last turn.  As is custom, our 
new Lord Protectors get one final fight in the arena before heading to the new 
training facilities on the Eye of the Isle. There weren't many challenges this turn 
and it appears LC joined that trend.  Our title match became a random match up.  
Kurgan got the call because no one was interested in challenging LC for the 
opportunity at greatness.  It is a good thing for Kurgan too, seeing as he beat LC and 
is our new Champion!  Congrats to Kurgan.  He is managed by Hombre.

The most avoided team was once again Darque Knights.  And, they were once again 
avoided mostly by I'm Not Eggbert.  We have one other Lord Protector who fought his 
last in Seam today as well.  LP Mr. Racoon leaves us after a long career on the sands 
of Seam.  He also happens to be our most challenged warrior for turn 114.  Bigfoot 
sent a challenge his way, and was victorious!  It was down, as has been a usual 
practice for Oakleaf lately, but Mr. Racoon is a Lord Protector, so he wasn't in 
danger of dying.

Congrats to Oakleaf, even though I was just scolding them for down challenging.  Two 
of their warriors were informed today of their promotion to the Isle of the Eye.  So, 
a hearty, "Good Job!" to Bigfoot and Welvet.  They will fight one last time in Seam 
and then we shall bid them adieu!  If my files are correct, Bigfoot and Welvet become 
the first graduates for the Oakleaf guild in Seam!  So, an extra congratulations to 
Ganolus and his crew!

Have a wonderful evening, my darlings!  I'm off to visit an herbalist friend.  While I 
was away, my pup got into a batch of shewroot caps and it has made him sick!  Poor 
pup!  I'm hopeful the herbalist will have a concoction to make it all better!  I hope 
to see you next time for more exciting Seam action!

Sidara Brightbell

P.S. Thanks to Assur and Master Darque for their spotlights this turn. A big thank you 
to Nomad as well, who has been writing personal ads of late.  So, to the rest of you 
Hombre, Ganolus, Tolbin, Savant, Mixelplick, DMobster and whoever else is lurking -- 
how about some interaction?!?!

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 KURGAN 751                   13   9  2   126       80S FANTASY (60)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BIGFOOT 740                  15   8  0   123       OAKLEAF (59)
 WELVET 721                   17  10  0   121       OAKLEAF (59)
 POLLUX LYNXEAR 672           20  19  2   106       DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)
 MAUSOLEUM 710                19  11  1    99       PHANTOM REGIMENT (25)
 CHANNEL MIXER 646            18  16  0    96       PIXELBENDERS (36)
 RAMIREZ 748                  11  11  2    91       80S FANTASY (60)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ZULA 750                     15   7  1    89       80S FANTASY (60)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-GREY MOUSER 729              11  12  2    78       DIETIES AND DEMIGODS (37)
 BAGHERRA 639                 13  34  2    75       LOST SENTINELS (19)
-YOG-SOTHOTH 681              13  22  0    75       DIETIES AND DEMIGODS (37)
 MUCK 736                     10  14  3    74       LOST SENTINELS (19)
-HEIMDALL 719                 18   8  1    73       DIETIES AND DEMIGODS (37)
 MR. GRUNKLE 677              15  22  1    73       HUCKLE'S CATS (23)
 SAWDUST 717                  12  16  0    72       HUCKLE'S CATS (23)
 CRAGGY MATTERHORN 767         9   7  1    71       I'M NOT EGGBERT (9)
 DEAD GIRL 690                16  18  3    69       LOSERS (20)
 CLOUDZILLA 763                9   7  0    69       I'M NOT EGGBERT (9)
 MIGHT WIND MAKER 756          9   8  0    68       I'M NOT EGGBERT (9)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PATHAREA 765                 12   6  0    66       PIXELBENDERS (36)
 SCARRED 725                  13  14  0    64       OAKLEAF (59)
 VOX SUNFIRE 773              10   6  0    61       DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)
 XAPHA IRONJAW 760            11   9  2    58       DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ZEPHYR 713                   12  17  1    54       LOSERS (20)
 FREDDIE FOX 768              10   8  0    52       HUCKLE'S CATS (23)
 SLEEPLESS 752                12   9  1    47       PHANTOM REGIMENT (25)
 TWOFEET D'GRAVE 757          10  10  1    46       PHANTOM REGIMENT (25)
 REQUIEM 780                   8   5  0    45       PHANTOM REGIMENT (25)
 HARUSHU 753                  11  10  0    43       THIRSTY THUGS (31)
 MEG MUCKLEBONES 747           9  13  1    41       80S FANTASY (60)
 SUSIE SWOOF 784               5   4  0    40       DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)
 DUMBO 787                     6   2  0    37       OAKLEAF (59)
 MIXL 777                      7   7  0    34       THIRSTY THUGS (31)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ALLMIGHT 782                  4   6  0    33       LOST SENTINELS (19)
 CPT. OCTOPUS 783              3   4  0    28       I'M NOT EGGBERT (9)
 IRWIN 801                     3   1  0    28       THIRSTY THUGS (31)
 DITHER 792                    4   2  0    24       PIXELBENDERS (36)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BLOODMOON 798                 3   2  1    23       PHANTOM REGIMENT (25)
 RADIUS 796                    3   2  0    21       PIXELBENDERS (36)
 SMUDGE STICK 799              2   2  0    21       PIXELBENDERS (36)
 MR READ-A-LOT 774             2  14  0    20       HUCKLE'S CATS (23)
 GNAT 786                      4   5  1    18       LOST SENTINELS (19)
 PURGE 785                     3   6  0    15       LOST SENTINELS (19)
 FAL ICETOOTH 810              1   0  0     4       DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)
 VALERIA 807                   0   2  0     2       80S FANTASY (60)
 JOBE 808                      0   1  0     1       THIRSTY THUGS (31)
 VIKTORIA 809                  0   1  0     1       OAKLEAF (59)

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
SNAKEBITE 791           0  5 0 OAKLEAF 59           BLOODMOON 798         113  JUST REVENGED
ABIGAIL 790             0  3 0 THIRSTY THUGS 31     DEAD ROACH 703        111   

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Oakleaf -- I would like to point out that Snakebite bit the dust on its challenge.  
Sorta bit 'imself as they say.  Ok, so I had something to do with it.  But it was not 
intentional.  It is never good to see a warrior go down.  It is hard to come back from 
that, I should know.  Phantom and all.  If honor must be defended in this case I await 
the challenge. -- Bloodmoon

Craggy -- Huh, you are a quick one, aren't you?  I guess that was a good challenge on 
your part. -- Sleepless

Welvet -- Wait a minute, what?!  I'm not sure what I'm more confused by, the fact that 
you actually got the jump on me or the fact that your name is apparently welvet and 
not velvet.  Somehow I never noticed that before. -- Mausoleum

Who let the Hoodlum loose in the arena?  Somebody needs to tell that kid that bashers 
don't usually use scimitars.  If he is a hoodlum and dumb enough to get caught at it 
perhaps he deserves what he gets, but really, someone ought to help that poor kid out 
a bit. -- Requiem

Lets see if I can avoid messing up the entire ads section with non-plain-text ads 
again . . . 

Master Darque -- What is the point of an old-school arena if nobody does the old-
school thing and writes ads?  

With no gods fighting there were no rippers.  None.  But we were up to two plungers!

Yes, Box in the Attic is mine.  My current intention is to play at least one 
generation of warriors here in DM 20.  After that, I will evaluate and decide if I am 
going to continue. -- Assur

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

SCARRED bested BLOODMOON in a 2 minute mismatched Bloodfeud fight.
BIGFOOT won victory over MR. RACOON in a exciting 3 minute expert's Challenge battle.
MIGHT WIND MAKER was vanquished by CHANNEL MIXER in a 1 minute Challenge brawl.
RAMIREZ overpowered BAGHERRA in a crowd pleasing 1 minute one-sided Challenge fight.
MIXL was bested by FREDDIE FOX in a 2 minute Challenge duel.
CPT. OCTOPUS was defeated by TWOFEET D'GRAVE in a 3 minute Challenge struggle.
IRWIN beat MR READ-A-LOT in a 3 minute amateur vs. veteran upset Challenge brawl.
LC was vanquished by KURGAN in a action packed 1 minute uneven Title duel.
ZULA was savagely defeated by POLLUX LYNXEAR in a popular 5 minute gory expert's duel.
WELVET beat VETERAN MERCENARY in a popular 1 minute gory melee.
MAUSOLEUM demolished MUCK in a 1 minute mismatched match.
CRAGGY MATTERHORN handily defeated THE HONEST MERCHANT in a 1 minute contest.
CLOUDZILLA subdued ZEPHYR in a 2 minute brawl.
XAPHA IRONJAW was beaten by PATHAREA in a 2 minute conflict.
MEG MUCKLEBONES was handily defeated by VOX SUNFIRE in a 1 minute uneven fight.
MR. GRUNKLE devastated HARUSHU in a 2 minute brutal uneven duel.
DEAD GIRL viciously subdued SUSIE SWOOF in a popular 3 minute brutal mismatched brawl.
SAWDUST demolished REQUIEM in a 2 minute one-sided bout.
ALLMIGHT was beaten by SLEEPLESS in a 2 minute fight.
DUMBO handily defeated PURGE in a 1 minute mismatched competition.
GNAT was overpowered by DITHER in a 2 minute uneven fight.
RADIUS demolished VALERIA in a 1 minute uneven bout.
SMUDGE STICK vanquished VIKTORIA in a 1 minute mismatched fray.
JOBE was outlasted by FAL ICETOOTH in a slow 8 minute novice's match.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   9         PARRY-STRIKE      20 -  14 -  0      59  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   8         STRIKING ATTACK   38 -  28 -  3      58  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  7         LUNGING ATTACK    61 -  45 -  2      58  |
|AIMED BLOW                       5         AIMED BLOW        32 -  26 -  0      55  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      5         WALL OF STEEL     18 -  18 -  1      50  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  4         BASHING ATTACK    35 -  44 -  1      44  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    4         SLASHING ATTACK   20 -  28 -  1      42  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         PARRY-RIPOSTE      5 -   8 -  1      38  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     2         TOTAL PARRY       20 -  33 -  1      38  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    0         PARRY-LUNGE        5 -   9 -  0      36  |

Turn 114 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:

SLASHING ATTACK    3 -  1     LUNGING ATTACK     4 -  5         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
AIMED BLOW         3 -  2     BASHING ATTACK     3 -  5         2  STRIKING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY        3 -  2     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  0         2  SLASHING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK    4 -  3                                       1  BASHING ATTACK 
PARRY-LUNGE        1 -  1                                       1  PARRY-STRIKE   
PARRY-STRIKE       1 -  1                                       1  WALL OF STEEL  
WALL OF STEEL      2 -  2                                       1  PARRY-LUNGE    

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  KURGAN 751                 13   9  2  126 80S FANTASY (60)
SLASHING ATTACK  WELVET 721                 17  10  0  121 OAKLEAF (59)
BASHING ATTACK   POLLUX LYNXEAR 672         20  19  2  106 DARQUE KNIGHTS (22)
PARRY-STRIKE     MAUSOLEUM 710              19  11  1   99 PHANTOM REGIMENT (25)
LUNGING ATTACK   CHANNEL MIXER 646          18  16  0   96 PIXELBENDERS (36)
WALL OF STEEL    ZULA 750                   15   7  1   89 80S FANTASY (60)
AIMED BLOW       CRAGGY MATTERHORN 767       9   7  1   71 I'M NOT EGGBERT (9)
TOTAL PARRY      HARUSHU 753                11  10  0   43 THIRSTY THUGS (31)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is DEAD GIRL 690.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was POLLUX LYNXEAR 672.  The ten other most popular fighters were BIGFOOT 740, DEAD 
GIRL 690, MR READ-A-LOT 774, WELVET 721, RAMIREZ 748, FREDDIE FOX 768, MR. GRUNKLE 
677, SAWDUST 717, GNAT 786, and CHANNEL MIXER 646.

The least popular fighter this week was FAL ICETOOTH 810.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were JOBE 808, VIKTORIA 809, VALERIA 807, PURGE 785, MUCK 736, 
BAGHERRA 639, MIGHT WIND MAKER 756, DITHER 792, ALLMIGHT 782, and HARUSHU 753.

The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:

BIGFOOT (20-740) OAKLEAF (59)
WELVET (20-721) OAKLEAF (59)

The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn:

MR. RACOON (20-670) HUCKLE'S CATS (23)
LC (20-707) THIRSTY THUGS (31)