DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 05/26/2009 Duedate: 06/22/2009
THE STOMPING GROUNDS ARENA
DM-20 TURN-444
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
MAULARIA
MAUL RATS (360)
(20-3702) [14-1-0,133]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
MAULARIA FOCUSED BASH
MAUL RATS (360) MAULERS (387)
(20-3702) [14-1-0,133] (20-3862) [1-0-1,21]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
MAULARIA MAULMENTUM
MAUL RATS (360) MAUL RATS (360)
(20-3702) [14-1-0,133] (20-3848) [11-0-0,103]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
MAUL RATS (360)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. MAULERS (387) 59
2. NUMBSKULLS (375) 13 MAUL RATS (360)
3. MAUL RATS (360) 5 Unchartered Team
4. DUNGEON CELL BA (368) 0
5. MAUL MASHING ORCS (376) 0 MAULERS (387)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 0*MAULERS (387) 4 1 2 80.0 1/ 1 MAUL RATS (360) 7 1 0
2/ 1 MAUL RATS (360) 42 12 0 77.8 2/ 4 NUMBSKULLS (375) 5 3 1
3- 2*MAUL MASHING ORCS (376) 13 8 2 61.9 3/ 0*MAULERS (387) 4 1 2
4- 3 DUNGEON CELL BA (368) 35 29 3 54.7 4- 2 DUNGEON CELL BA (368) 4 1 0
5/ 4 NUMBSKULLS (375) 31 37 1 45.6 5- 3*MAUL MASHING ORCS (376) 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.
Since things are getting kind of slow in The Stomping Grounds, it's time to make some
changes to bring other teams back. Starting this month, we are now instituting
casual Fridays. This means that after I reshape your armor and the bones beneath it
during any Friday night fight, you will be crowbarred out of your contorted metal
shell so that you can crawl out in your more comfy clothes. It feels nice to be the
good guy for a change.
Bashmaster Maularia
SPY REPORT
Greetings warriors! It is I, Zontani Sharp Eyes, here to bring report of the
clash and bustle of the weekly THE STOMPING GROUNDS games. A new guild, MAULERS,
entered THE STOMPING GROUNDS with a clash this turn, showing off a 4-1-2 record.
Indeed, a worthy addition to the city guilds. FOCUSED BASH caught the eye of many in
the gladiatorial commission as he skillfully bested INCOMPETENT PUNK and was awarded
21 points in recognition. In one of the week's more notable duels, MORDANT GOON put
down THUD, causing him to lose 9 points of recognition in the process. Not for
nothing has MAULARIA in the past laid claim to the Duelmaster's throne, and this week
it's proven its combat skill yet again. Heed this! A seer has warned that if
exactly 6 die in duels this week, the whole city shall perish! Just remember...5 or
7!
Many and various are the arts of battle. In THE STOMPING GROUNDS "art" is a
word that has long since passed from the language!
What warrior does not hone his years, impatiently waiting for the moment of his
foe's mortality? Some say a warrior is judged by the way he bears arms. One thing
is sure, better a dagger in hand then a sword on the belt!
A thought before I go. Each warrior practices one style, but must not the wise
manager learn the secrets of them all? 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 next we meet remember - the pen is mightier than the sword, but a maul is a
different story!-- Zontani Sharp Eyes
DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MAULARIA 3702 14 1 0 133 MAUL RATS (360)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MAULMENTUM 3848 11 0 0 103 MAUL RATS (360)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
TROLLDOZER 3703 10 1 0 74 MAUL RATS (360)
-NARCOLEPTIC GUARD 3746 8 5 1 71 DUNGEON CELL BA (368)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-MYOPIC VOYEUR 3822 7 3 0 60 DUNGEON CELL BA (368)
-HAM BURGLAR 3744 6 7 1 59 DUNGEON CELL BA (368)
-CHILLY ARSONIST 3743 9 4 1 58 DUNGEON CELL BA (368)
-CLUMSY BARBER 3742 5 8 0 57 DUNGEON CELL BA (368)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
BASH-O-MATIC '76 3859 4 0 0 50 NUMBSKULLS (375)
HEAD TRAUMA 3777 5 9 1 43 NUMBSKULLS (375)
THUD 3780 9 5 0 38 NUMBSKULLS (375)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-CRUSHED CUTICLE 3785 4 0 0 22 MAUL MASHING ORCS (376)
-BASHFUL BEHEMOTH 3782 3 1 1 22 MAUL MASHING ORCS (376)
-TEACUP THUMPER 3783 2 2 0 21 MAUL MASHING ORCS (376)
FOCUSED BASH 3862 1 0 1 21 MAULERS (387)
-I SEE DEAD PEOPLE 3705 4 2 0 20 MAUL RATS (360)
-SMASHING SUCCESS 3784 3 1 0 19 MAUL MASHING ORCS (376)
ROCK CRUSHER 3864 1 0 1 16 MAULERS (387)
STOMP 'EM FLAT 3863 1 0 0 13 MAULERS (387)
MAD MAULER 3861 1 0 0 8 MAULERS (387)
-MAULICIOUS 3852 0 2 0 2 MAUL RATS (360)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
MISS BALL 3860 0 1 0 1 MAULERS (387)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
INCOMPETENT PUNK 0 0 0 ROCK CRUSHER 3864 444 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
4 May 09
Players of Duel 2:
RSI wants to try, in a few arenas, a system that rewards role-play and general arena
involvement. Our thoughts at this time are as follows, and feedback is earnestly
solicited:
1. What to reward.
a. Spotlights--they don't have to be involved and lengthy storylines, and in fact,
my own inclination is to say: anything game related and original (i,e,, not a
reprint), maybe set a minimum length. I use TOGS here as my model--half a column as
formatted for the newsletter, and we don't judge the quality of the writing (so long
as the editor isn't grossed out), just the intent to make a positive contribution.
b. A dm column where one is "due." Again, no judgment on quality of writing, should
be dm-related, and I would say (this is just me) a minimum length of maybe five
lines.
c. Personals. More than just "you suck," or "good fight." How much more doesn't
really concern me, and quality, other than "not offensive to the editor," should not
be an issue. We don't want to encourage participation and then muzzle it.
d. It has been suggested that a reward point or two be offered for running a full
team. We could include this, but my own inclination would be to say that there would
be no points for this, but that those who don't make a clear effort on this
(accidents happen, so maybe something like "when the three-turn total of fights is
below twelve"?) aren't eligible for points on any turn until they get it back up to a
full team.
2. How to reward it.
a. We've been thinking nebulously about some kind of point system, obviously, as an
example, say 3 points for a spotlight, 2 for a column, 1 for personals, more points
here for what takes more effort, but some points for any effort. This is in no way
final! But some way to keep track of who is contributing and how much, and as non-
subjective as possible; this would be noted as each newsletter would be proofed. A
way to clearly identify who's sending in what would help, but I can work it out by
referring to the warrior listings if I have to.
b. But, assuming a point system, do the rewards, whatever they end up being, go to
the player who achieves a certain point total? Is this calculated per turn, or as a
running total over as many turns as it takes to reach that point? Or to the player
with the highest total on any given turn? What about ties?
c. What do the points get the player? The current thought is X points gets a free
fight, probably replacing the "Popularity Leader's" free fight in the relevant arena.
That suggests only one player getting a role-play free fight on any given turn. Is
this enough to encourage the newsletter participation we're hoping for? Should we
convert "This Week's Favorite" to a role-play free fight also? Or handle rewards in
some other way entirely?
3. Where it happens.
The current thought is, try it in four arenas: one in each region, and one slow
arena. Who picks the arenas in question? I'd be inclined to rule out those that are
doing fairly well already (Ardivent, Sunset, Lapur; Arkers, Morya, North Fork), but
is that wise? Or even fair? Darned if I know. Places where it is NOT currently
intended to happen: Transfer arenas. Maybe rule out the no-tourney arenas as
current candidates, too?
If this seems to work well enough to be worth the effort, should we consider
extending it to more, eventually to all non-transfer, arenas?
This is not a "someday down the line we might" concept. We want to do this, and
SOON. Your feedback would be appreciated, for, against, changes, anything. You can
email me directly at jputney zianet com (make sure it says DM in the subject line) or
send a diplo to scribe, any arena.
the Scribe
P.S. Staff members not to be eligible for role-playing free fights.
5 May 09
The Battle Royal V is upon us! Come join one of the original contests that has had
some of the games best managers involved in the past. DM 18, Talcama, some consider
it to be the crown jewel of the Delarq cities is where this contest will take place.
The Battle Royal is intended to be a play as you want, play what you want Delarquan
style contest with very few rules. While I'd love to say, "NO AVOIDING" is the only
rule (and that wouldn't be too far off), I must spell out situations that can and
have occurred and require additional clarification.
The advantages of this format:
1) Simple.
2) No penalty for DAs.
3) No restrictions on warriors entered into the contest (baggers, TC mods, etc all
welcome)
4) No penalty for not fighting.
5) It isn't a race where 21 wit and favorite learn determine the victor.
6) Losing a warrior (or even your whole team) doesn't eliminate you from contention.
7) It is possible to overcome almost any deficit. And this has been proven, with
managers making huge point swings in short periods of time!
8) It is a contest designed to show manager skill rather than warrior ability.
There are a few disadvantages:
1) There is no set end. It is possible for this contest to go on indefinitely. In
practice, this format has worked very nicely in the past and I expect it will
continue to work well.
2) You cannot avoid (But that is part of the fun and the head to head nature of this
contest requires this rule.)
3) It encourages bloodshed.
4) Baggers and experienced warriors have an advantage over new warriors.
Battle Royal Rules:
- Any team in Talcama is eligible to participate. There are no restrictions on
warriors (baggers, TC prize modified, etc). However, any warrior that fights for
your team is considered in the BR.
- Teams may not avoid any other team within the contest. (Note that you may avoid
teams outside the contest but you do so at your own risk.) Avoiding a team on the
turn they enter the Battle Royal is not considered against the rules (since you
couldn't know the team wasn't part of the BR). The suggestion is not to avoid at
all. Assur (the contest moderator) gets an avoid report every turn and will catch
people avoiding!
- Managers may only enter a single team in the contest.
- Any manager with more than one team in Talcama may not challenge any other contest
warrior with their non contest team(s). The intention is that no advantage can be
gained by having multiple teams in the arena.
****Failure to comply with the above rules***
1st offense: Disqualification from the prize, but you may still participate.
2nd offense: Warning.
3rd offense: Removal from Battle Royal.
- If a manager decides to switch teams, his score will start back at 0. This is to
prevent a manager from sweeping the contest with several teams of sandbaggers. Can a
manager use this clause to go from a negative score to zero? Yes. I realize this is
sort of cheating, but I'd rather have a manager start over with a new team than drop
out of the contest. Even so, they have to start at 0 and must gain 25 points.
- If your warrior loses a contest fight because of an input error and this error is
verified by RSI, you will have a point added to your score. The head to head records
will remain the same and any points gained by another manager will remain on that
manager's record.
- As soon as you are announced in the newsletter, you are officially entered into the
Battle Royal. Scoring begins on that turn! You are expected to follow the rules
that turn and every turn following. Your team may enter any time they wish during
the course of the Battle Royal.
- If you are exiting the Battle Royal, you are not removed until the turn after your
intention is published. You are asked to follow the rules for that turn (either
through not avoiding or not running your warriors).
Scoring:
- Scoring begins the turn your team declares participation.
- Scoring continues through the turn your team withdraws.
- Score is calculated by: Wins+Kills-Lossses.
- Only fights with other B.R. participannts count towards your score, but they count
whether they are challenges or random match-ups.
- First Manager to 25 points wins!
- In event of tie, B.R. continues until one team that has reached 25 points is ahead
of all other participants.
Disputes:
- The attempt has been made to make these rules as complete and bulletproof as
possible, but Tripwire will resolve any disputes as fairly as he is capable.
Prizes:
For the Winner:
6 Months Free Play in Talcama for the winning team (doesn't include tourneys)!
One +1 Bonus Potion (up to max for warrior, to be used on a warrior in DM 18)!
One Limited Damage Bump Potion (one time use, up to max for stats, used on DM 18
warrior)!
One Minor Stat Switch Prize (up to 2 points can be moved from one stat to another
stat on a new rollup in DM 18, before adding 14 points. This prize can be used up to
3 months from the contest end. Both points must be used in the same place (can't
take one from a speed and one from deftness and add one to wit and will)).
One Favorites Knowledge Potion (to be used on a 5+ FE warrior in DM 18).
Rename One Dark Arena Creature in DM 18, which will be renamed for 6 Months or until
the Ladies decide to return it to the previous name.
All potions renaming prizes must be used within 2 turns of the end of the contest.
Endurance Award (available to all participants):
One +1 Bonus Potion (up to max for warrior, to be used on a warrior in DM 18).
To qualify for the Endurance Award you must participate in 90% of the total fights
possible over the course of the BR. If you don't have time to make it into the BR by
the first turn, there will be a two turn window before the counter will start for new
teams. The fights do not have to be BR point scoring fights, just 90% of the total
possible participation over the course of the contest! So, if the contest runs 26
turns, there are 130 fights possible. Your team must have 117 fights during those 26
turns to be eligible.
All prizes/potions subject to RSI's interpretation of how they are used/implemented.
RSI said the faves knowledge must be used on an Inits warrior or higher and set at
5FE or more.
Tripwire
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
MAULARIA devastated FEISTY RUFFIAN in a action packed 1 minute mismatched Title fight.
MAULMENTUM savagely defeated ROWDY DWARF in a 2 minute brutal melee.
TROLLDOZER was defeated by ROWDY DWARF in a 2 minute bloody master's duel.
BASH-O-MATIC '76 savagely defeated TEENAGE HOODLUM in a 2 minute brutal fight.
THUD was devastated by MORDANT GOON in a 1 minute uneven brawl.
HEAD TRAUMA overpowered ARADI THUG in a 1 minute one-sided struggle.
MISS BALL was bested by INCOMPETENT PUNK in a 2 minute novice's competition.
MAD MAULER overcame TOUGH MAMA in a 1 minute beginner's melee.
FOCUSED BASH slaughtered INCOMPETENT PUNK in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
STOMP 'EM FLAT vanquished TOUGH MAMA in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
ROCK CRUSHER slew INCOMPETENT PUNK in a 2 minute beginner's match.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|BASHING ATTACK 11 BASHING ATTACK 113 - 85 - 8 57 |
|AIMED BLOW 0 TOTAL PARRY 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 0 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 0 WALL OF STEEL 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 0 AIMED BLOW 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 0 STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|TOTAL PARRY 0 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
|WALL OF STEEL 0 LUNGING ATTACK 0 - 0 - 0 0 |
Turn 444 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:
BASHING ATTACK 8 - 3 AIMED BLOW 0 - 0 %11 BASHING ATTACK
PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0
PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0
PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0
LUNGING ATTACK 0 - 0
SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 0
STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 0
TOTAL PARRY 0 - 0
WALL OF STEEL 0 - 0
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
BASHING ATTACK MAULARIA 3702 14 1 0 133 MAUL RATS (360)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is MAULARIA 3702. The most popular warrior this turn
was MAULMENTUM 3848. The ten other most popular fighters were TROLLDOZER 3703,
BASH-O-MATIC '76 3859, MAULARIA 3702, HEAD TRAUMA 3777, ROCK CRUSHER 3864, MISS BALL
3860, FOCUSED BASH 3862, STOMP 'EM FLAT 3863, THUD 3780, and MAD MAULER 3861.
The least popular fighter this week was MAD MAULER 3861. The other ten least popular
fighters were THUD 3780, STOMP 'EM FLAT 3863, FOCUSED BASH 3862, MISS BALL 3860, ROCK
CRUSHER 3864, HEAD TRAUMA 3777, MAULARIA 3702, BASH-O-MATIC '76 3859, TROLLDOZER
3703, and MAULMENTUM 3848.
MAIL-IN TOURNEY XLVII
CHAMPIONS TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME
MAULARIA 3702 (12-1-0) 5 3 1 MAUL RATS
ROOKIES TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME
CORPSE ROT 3813 (0-0-0) 6 3 0 GRAVE DANCERS XX
ADM FOOLS TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME
PHIL PHILANTHROPIST 3330 (29-56-2) 0 3 0 PHILANTHROPISTS
ADEPTS FOOLS TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME
TROLLDOZER 3703 (9-0-0) 2 3 0 MAUL RATS
MAULMENTUM 3848 (9-0-0) 1 3 0 MAUL RATS
Daydream Believer
You once thought of me,
As a white knight on a steed.
Now you know how happy I can be...
It's true. I'm gone. I've punched my ticket to Immortality and I'm off to the Isle.
I know a lot of you are wondering what it is about me that has made me so successful.
I wish I knew for sure. I think it has more to do with intangibles (knack) than it
does with design, bonuses and favorites. I'll let you decide.
Daydream Believer (PR) 17-14-4-17-7-8-17 Poor Endurance--Good Damage
I -- 8 (+1) R -- 13 A -- 14 (+4) P -- 14 (+4) Df - 8 Dc - 6 (+3)
I know what you're thinking, "WTF, that guy looks like a 98 lb weakling!" Sigh...I
prefer to think my physical characteristics are ideally suited for a finesse style.
As for my bases, I know they aren't much to look at. After all, I am a PR. I'm
fortunate to be blessed where I need it the most--attack and parry.
Okay, so I've got nice bases with bonuses in the right spots. What about favorites?
Did I know them in advance or did I change them? The answer is no, I had no idea
what they were for sure until I recieved my graduation announcement. I would be
happy to tell you what my favorites are but I don't think my clone, Jumpinjack Flash,
would be very happy with me if I did. Let's just say that from the moment I stepped
on the sands as a Rookie I used the same strategy in EVERY fight. The only thing I
ever changed was armor (early on vs. TP's) and attack/defend locations. That should
give those of you who have faced me more than once something to think about.
You may be interested to know that I am all natural. I haven't had a prize of any
type used on me. I'm a freak of nature. It just goes to show you never know when a
guy like me will walk into your guildhouse looking for work as a gladiator. It's up
to you to spot the potential and nuture it along.
I'm going to list my tourney results and records versus each style. It isn't meant
to be a brag--I just thought you might find it interesting and a lot easier than
looking it up yourself. Enjoy!
Tourneys: Rookies: 15-1-3 TC. Initiates: 15-3-3 TV. Adepts: 16-2 TC.
Champs: 13-1-1 TC. Rookies--Champs record: 59-7-7 (.894) Challengers: 9-3 TV.
Challengers: 15-1-1 TC.
Challengers: 13-3 TV -- Runner-up (Marv-AB) Challengers: 13-3 TV -- Runner-up
(Teevella-LU) Challengers: 7-3 Challengers: 11-3-2 TV Challengers: 11-3-1 TV
Challengers: 13-3 TV -- Runner-up (Marv-AB)
Challengers: 12-3 TV. Challengers record: 104-25-4 (.806). Career Tourney record:
163-32-11 (.836) TC's: 4 TVs: 8 (3 Runner-ups) Arena record: 5-0-1 Grudge
matches: 3-0
Total record: 171-32-12 (.842) Tourney record vs all styles: AB: 7-11 BA: 6-0-1
LU: 46-9-4 PL: 5-1-1 PR: 2-0 PS: --- SL: 9-2 ST: 51-5-2 TP: 35-4-3 WS: 2-0
As you can see, the only style I had trouble with is the ABs. I think that has more
to do with which ABs I fought rather than the style as a whole. I was 3-1 vs ABs
early on (Rookies-Champs) and 4-10 in Challengers. I was 1-5 vs Marv, 0-1 vs Marv Jr
and 0-3 vs Soulsnare. I am going to make an educated guess and assume they all had
skills or prizes added to them to make them competetive at the Challenger level where
so few ABs are. I could be wrong, though I doubt it.
See you on the Isle,
Daydream Believer