DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER Date : 07/09/2003 Duedate: 07/22/2003 LAPUR ARENA DM-29 TURN-453 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS MR. YUCK THE TAKEN (173) (29-3994) [13-3-0,155] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader MR. YUCK POSITION IS EMPTY THE TAKEN (173) (29-3994) [13-3-0,155] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite MR. YUCK HANGMAN THE TAKEN (173) DEATH THREAT (376) (29-3994) [13-3-0,155] (29-4357) [8-4-3,65] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM THE TAKEN (173) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. DEATH THREAT (376) 55 2. CROC FILES (374) 52 SUPERIOR FARCES (344) 3. THE TAKEN (173) 35 Unchartered Team 4. VENUSIANS (321) 26 5. FORCE OF NATURE (312) 24 (153) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 2 SUPERIOR FARCES (344) 18 12 1 60.0 1/ 1 THE TAKEN (173) 9 6 0 2/ 4 CROC FILES (374) 106 81 9 56.7 2/ 6 DEATH THREAT (376) 8 1 2 3/ 5 DEATH THREAT (376) 53 41 7 56.4 3/ 8 THE GUILD (208) 6 4 0 4/ 6 THE TAKEN (173) 579 516 29 52.9 4/ 4 FORCE OF NATURE (312) 5 4 0 5/ 7 VENUSIANS (321) 99 96 6 50.8 5/ 5 CROC FILES (374) 5 10 1 6/ 8 BLACK SAMURAI (166) 219 233 19 48.5 6/ 3 EQUESTORS (158) 5 10 0 7/ 9 EQUESTORS (158) 419 473 31 47.0 7/12 BLACK SAMURAI (166) 4 2 1 8/10 FORCE OF NATURE (312) 132 154 10 46.2 8/ 9 SUPERIOR FARCES (344) 4 2 0 9/11 THE GUILD (208) 499 583 20 46.1 9/10 VENUSIANS (321) 4 6 2 10/12 MEN (356) 94 128 7 42.3 10/ 2 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) 4 8 0 11/13 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) 143 196 5 42.2 11/ 7 MEN (356) 3 6 0 12-14 ECHL-EAST (313) 8 13 0 38.1 12-13 ECHL-EAST (313) 1 0 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 #64 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(< Ibizond, Korga, and in between: The sun was low in the sky, less than an hour from setting, Fist of Kjarran calculated. He glanced at his companions, a hastily assembled group of gladiators from Murska and hunters from Ibizond. They had all heard of the killer that stalked this stretch of road at night--Cadal had insisted on telling them, just to make sure they all knew, which Fist thought was a mistake--and they were nervous. Well, it was time for them to turn back, and their numbers should protect them from attack. Cadal, with Aghatamar and Zilla, were somewhere ahead, waiting in ambush to attack the killer if the killer attacked him, Fist of Kjarran. Not a bad plan, he conceded privately, even if it had come from a Murskan semi-barbarian. The man was almost as good as a true Karnhorn in his thinking.... But Cadal hadn't taken into account the possibility that the killer might take one look at him and sheer off. Fist caressed the hilt of the sword at his side. Even if the killer had never heard of him, the Lord Protector knew that he was an impressive, even daunting, sight. A stir among his companions drew his attention outward again. "About time we turned back," one of the men said. He seemed to be the leader, what was his name...Finn, that was it. "Most of these people aren't Lord Protectors, and if the killer gets them, they're just plain dead." Fist nodded. "Yes, you should have time to get back to Ibizond before dark," he agreed. "And we certainly don't need more deaths along here." They all came to a stop. "Thing is, I don't like leaving you on your own," Finn went on. He looked uncomfortable about the whole situation, but of course he had no belief in Kjarran to sustain him. "I could stay...." "A generous offer," Fist responded, clapping him on the back. It was good to be reminded that even non-believers had courage and honor. "But I'm supposed to be alone, to be tempting bait for the killer. That is the way it's planned, you know. We can't change the plan at this late hour!" "I know," Finn agreed gloomily, "but I don't like it. Well...I guess we turn back now. Good luck!" He gestured to his group, and they turned back readily, even eagerly, toward Ibizond, sturdy walls, lights, and companionship. With a last salute, Finn followed them, leaving Fist of Kjarran alone on the road. Fist of Kjarran watched them go and smiled to himself as he turned to go toward Korga. That was the best thing about adventures; you made new friends, met good people you would never have encountered in your regular life. Doing this service for the people of the area, ridding the road of its killer, was a good thing, a worthy effort, but making new friends was a warmer pleasure. Whistling, he strode eastward toward the prepared ambush. Near Malcorn: Blackie, Lord Malcorn of Malcorn, stood next to the ancient stone and waited for the moon to rise. It would be full tonight, and he knew, because he knew most of the natural world around Malcorn, that when it reached a certain height above the horizon, it would shine through the hole in a more distant rock and strike squarely onto the face of the rock beside him, revealing carvings that had been old when the first Lord Malcorn came to this land. The records of his ancestors said that the Dregur were accustomed to gathering here when the moon was just so. "I must be insane," Tiljanz muttered behind him. "Courage and a sense of responsibility often looks like madness," Blackie agreed, "even to the people exhibiting it. You didn't have to come here tonight, but you felt it was the right thing to do. I can respect that in a man. A lot." "Will it do any good?" the young Karnhorn asked curiously. "We've turned the Dregur loose, and I'd think it hard if not impossible to rein them back in." "We turned them loose under terms," Blackie said. His voice hardened, becoming the voice of the Lord of Malcorn. "They have not kept those terms. They were to attack only those who came here following Inzolas. That a few innocents might get caught in that net by accident was...almost inevitable. But some of the Dregur have been actively hunting those not indicated by the terms of their release." He was silent for a long moment, then shrugged. "I'm not certain that we can put an end to these...excesses. But I am very certain that if we don't protest, the situation will become worse. A failure to protest will be seen as an admission of weakness." >)]H[(< + -----:----- + >)] The Free Cities #65 [(< + -----:----- + >)]H[(< Near Zukal: Ghenis grimaced at the wave of fear but set himself to defend his shelter, himself, his horse, and Veleks. The fear, he realized after a moment, was something outside himself, something the monstrous hunter was attempting to impose on him. That knowledge did not lessen the icy waves coming at him, but it let him set it away from himself, make a space between fear and thought. It would not find him an easy victim. There was what seemed like a very long silence, with Ghenis in the ruined house beside his fire, and the icy-eyed shadows outside. The shadows seemed to be waiting for something--for him to flee, screaming, probably. And to be disconcerted by his failure to do so. Ghenis reached up to touch his amulet again, then paused before his fingers reached the cool stone. It looked like he could handle this on his own, so better not to invoke the dark powers. But should he speak, demand what this shadow wanted of him, or wait and let it be first to break the silence? Better to wait; in a contest of nerves, the first to break silence lost points. He didn't have any points, whatever they might be in this context, to spare. Sooner than he expected, a voice came out of the night. It was cold, and hollow, and deep as a cave, sounding distant, somehow, or not quite real. Oh, it was real, Ghenis knew that--out of the corner of his eye, he saw his horse flinch at the sound. But it was hard to imagine that any creature of flesh and blood might produce such a voice. "Why do you not flee?" "Flee? You think I should run away?" The gladiator put as much surprise in his voice as he could. "Why? I've got a fine location here, shelter from the wind and rain, a fire for light and warmth. Why should I leave before morning?" "Do you not fear me? You should." The voice dropped to a deeper, darker tone. "I could rip life and soul from your puny mortal flesh--" "Sounds unpleasant," Ghenis agreed. "But I'm a Lord Protector, and the Greywand has a deal with Ahringol--he doesn't get to keep us Lord Protectors. We get resurrected on a regular--" "Ahringol!" The name crackled like thunder in the darkness. Scornful thunder. "That foolish child? These young gods have no sense of dignity, trafficking with wizards as though they were mortal merchants! Ahringol and Greywand are nothing to me, what I take, I keep." "If you say so," the gladiator responded. The statement that Ahringol, who had a deal concerning gladiators, was not involved was disconcerting, but this was not the time to show it. "But if you could come here and get me, you'd already have done it. What's stopping you?" he added curiously. "The fire, the steel, the fact that I'm not afraid?" "Why should I tell you anything?" The voice sounded annoyed now. Almost sulky. "You think too much." It dropped to a note of menace. "But one night you will be without shelter, and then we will see what your brave words really mean." There was a stir in the shadows, a rushing wind of movement, and then Ghenis had the night to himself. * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * ---===FREE BLADES REGIONAL NEWS===--- Duelmasters ----------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 468): TREMERE of DARK TOADS (TigToad, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 466): LIFE SENTANCE of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 462): DIRT KNAP of UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.) DM 16 WILLAF (turn 463): MANAGER TC'S of IT'S JUST WRONG (LHI, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 461): COL SALOMON of 82ND ILLINOIS (Otto X. Frothingslosh) DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 460): STEERFORTH of GO TO THE DICKENS! (Reverend Boz, acting mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 229): SHAWINIGAN SMURF of CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 452): MR. YUCK of THE TAKEN (Stillgard, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): GRIFFIN of MYTH (Lightbringer, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 448): LIGHTNING of HARBINGERS (High Lord Bosk, mgr.) DM 33 ANASAZI (turn 446): SLUGWORTH of WILLY WONKA INC. (Distorted, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 439): FINN of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 403): SUNGOD DESIGNED ME of WENSINWASIN (Youngblood, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 205): DEBBIE DAHMER of MORDRED'S MADMEN (Abraxis, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 199): JUMBO MUMBO of SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 186): CLOUDS AWAY of OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 327): HAIRY TUB of MY BATHROOM (Nuln, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 307): VLADIMIR TALTOS of BLACK PEARL (Dr. Guts, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 134): PUNCH DRUNK of WAY TO GO! II (Spawn, mgr.) ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 353): GNU WORLD ORDER of HELPLESS ANIMALS from WILLAF ( Top Teams --------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 468): none DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 466): ARENA FELINES II (Garfield, mgr.) DM 15 MALCORN (turn 462): UNKNOWNS XX (Dark Spirit, mgr.) DM 16 WILLAF (turn 463): WAY OF THE BLADE 1 (Vhagar, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 461): HEROESANDFOUNDONES (The Judge, mgr.) DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 460): CARNIVAL (Carny, mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 229): IDIOTIC ICCERS (THawk, mgr.) DM 29 LAPUR (turn 452): THE TAKEN (Stillgard, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): THE STORMGUARDS (The Icelord, mgr.) DM 32 ARVAT (turn 448): THE STORMLORDS (The Icelord, mgr.) DM 33 ANASAZI (turn 446): WHEN DOGMA FAILS (Prophet, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 439): CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.) DM 43 VEASTIAN (turn 403): MEDS (Berylstar, mgr.) DM 45 STORMCROWE (turn 204): DARQUE FORCES (Master Darque, mgr.) DM 47 NORTH FORK (turn 199): SPOONERTIKS (Spawn, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 186): OPEN SESAME (Crip, mgr.) DM 56 ROCANIS (turn 327): GENERAL SURGERY (Darkfist, mgr.) DM 61 JURINE (turn 307): BLACK PEARL (Dr. Guts, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 134): none ADM 103 FREE BLADES (turn 353): MEOW MIX, etc. (Ultraist, mgr.) Recent Graduates ----------------- DM 9 ZUKAL (turn 468): INDIGO of BLUE MOON (Jorja, mgr.) DM 12 RIZTAB (turn 465): WILD BILL of THE LAWMEN (?, mgr.) DM 16 WILLAF (turn 462): IMA MAROON of COLOR ME (Ghoti, mgr.) GINGER BROWN of COLOR ME (Ghoti, mgr.) DM 17 ALJAFIR (turn 461): TY BRINSON of LO' DOWN (Cayl Reed, mgr.) DM 19 ZUWAYZA (turn 460): STEERFORTH of GO TO THE DICKENS! (Reverend Boz, acting mgr.) DM 28 MORYA (turn 229): SHAWINIGAN SMURF of CANADIAN BACON (Firehawk, mgr.) BILLY LILLY of DODGE BULLETS (Uncle Wolf, mgr.) (turn 228): NIGHTSHADE of CRYPT KNIGHTS (?, mgr.) DM 31 CHIMLEVTAL (turn 227): GRIFFIN of MYTH (Lightbringer, mgr.) DM 33 ANASAZI (turn 446): SLUGWORTH of WILLY WONKA INC. (Distorted, mgr.) (turn 445): DRY KEG of JOYS OF BOOZE (Berylstar, mgr.) DM 35 MURSKA (turn 439): FINN of CHILDREN OF LLYR (Jorja, mgr.) DM 50 SNOWBOUND (turn 185): DR. NO-NOOKIE of MASTER BLASTERS (Tripwire, mgr.) DM 73 ERINIKA (turn 133): KAMIKAZE of WAY TO GO! II (Spawn, mgr.) SPY REPORT You elder fighters surely remember me. The younger ones may call me Olaf Modeen. I return to LAPUR once again! Hmmmph! I always thought CARDOW HUNTERS was an over-rated team and they proved it with a 0-4-0! Up 'n down. Up 'n down. Rankings always change. Up 'n down. I think I'm gonna be... Well, THE GUILD's 3rd moved them up to 3-2-0 place. It seems so recently people were saying DEATH THREAT was washed up, finished. But 5-0-1 moved them up 4. I guess they're washed no more... Laughs were big at EQUESTORS while they watched SCORPUS clobber GERBIL MASTER. He lost 14 points and got bruised from objects thrown from the stands. CROC FILES' hatred of THE TAKEN surfaced again as BLUEY challenged LAPUR's top dog. Try as he might, BLUEY wasn't good enough at persuading MR. YUCK to step down from the Duelmaster's throne... Wouldn't it be nice to have live subjects to practice on? I hear some team is looking into the uses of convicted prisoners. If at first you don't succeed, avoid. That'll get you in the Spyreports. LAPUR thinks EQUESTORS and their 419-473-31 is too much! If at first you don't succeed, give up... Management must be dealin', as the boys at BLACK SAMURAI ain't reelin'! EQUESTORS' mad! What do people see in HOPE? Hers 11-6-0? THE TAKEN ain't talkin', but she's got 58 points. PAUL didn't quite know what to make of a challenge he received from MONTY of CROC FILES, who is 20 points below him. MONTY perhaps got his just desserts, seeing as he slew PAUL and ended up with 124 recognition points. Warriors of LAPUR unite. You have only your games to lose! Hmm... More surprises must remain in store for me, if HANGMAN can return from the Dark Arena. PAUL of MEN didn't know when to quit. When you've got a 19-16-0, that's a good sign. Now he's dead. Is it my imagination, or are fighters getting younger every day? To die so young, so gloriously! Well, I'm pretty much through. You guys need to get back practicing. LAPUR is a nice place to live, but I don't like to live in nice places. Time for my medication, so I'll leave now. Practice, practice, practice!-- Olaf Modeen DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME MR. YUCK 3994 13 3 0 155 THE TAKEN (173) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME MONTY 4391 10 8 3 124 CROC FILES (374) JUVENAL 4351 20 10 3 110 EQUESTORS (158) BLUEY 4317 24 19 0 97 CROC FILES (374) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ENOSHIMA 4349 17 3 0 85 BLACK SAMURAI (166) BUZZARD 3995 13 3 0 83 THE TAKEN (173) COBRA 4355 9 5 0 83 DEATH THREAT (376) -MATSURI 4256 14 10 0 79 BLACK SAMURAI (166) -FURY 3872 7 3 0 70 ECHL-EAST (313) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BINDI 4422 4 2 0 66 CROC FILES (374) HANGMAN 4357 8 4 3 65 DEATH THREAT (376) GOLDIE 4395 9 7 0 61 CROC FILES (374) -SAMPO 3897 8 5 1 60 DEEP 13 (334) SCORPUS 4393 12 5 2 58 EQUESTORS (158) HOPE 3988 11 6 0 58 THE TAKEN (173) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SCRAPPA 4411 6 1 1 56 CROC FILES (374) GALBA 4389 11 8 0 54 EQUESTORS (158) SUE NAMI 4097 6 13 0 48 FORCE OF NATURE (312) LEMMING LEADER 3981 5 1 0 47 SUPERIOR FARCES (344) HOPE'S END 4031 6 5 0 42 THE GUILD (208) CHUBON 4381 3 3 0 42 BLACK SAMURAI (166) HILARUS 4387 10 10 1 41 EQUESTORS (158) KINSORROW 4051 6 2 0 41 THE GUILD (208) GERBIL MASTER 3983 6 4 0 37 SUPERIOR FARCES (344) DARK ABYSS 4417 4 1 1 35 DEATH THREAT (376) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME TALL TREE 4380 6 16 0 34 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME ALAN 4397 7 9 0 33 MEN (356) -OTARU 4245 5 4 1 33 BLACK SAMURAI (166) MISTY WATERS 4428 2 1 0 33 FORCE OF NATURE (312) TYE FOON 4433 2 0 0 33 FORCE OF NATURE (312) LUCIUS 4406 7 4 2 31 EQUESTORS (158) DONKEY DICTATOR 3982 5 2 1 28 SUPERIOR FARCES (344) SHAWN 4405 6 6 1 25 MEN (356) FREE FALL 4400 1 1 0 25 DEATH THREAT (376) RAGING FIRE 4407 3 0 0 24 DEATH THREAT (376) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME VAGAN 4082 3 4 0 23 THE GUILD (208) LYRA 4320 5 6 0 21 VENUSIANS (321) -TEMMURO 4237 5 4 1 20 BLACK SAMURAI (166) RAVAGE 4444 1 0 0 20 THE TAKEN (173) -DOWN POUR 4323 2 5 0 16 FORCE OF NATURE (312) SOLAR FLARE 4427 2 1 0 16 VENUSIANS (321) ZARGAS 4425 2 2 0 15 THE GUILD (208) JUMPING SPIDER 4431 2 1 0 13 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) MENSA 4442 1 0 1 13 VENUSIANS (321) ASTRIAL 4328 3 2 0 11 VENUSIANS (321) WHIRLWIND 4325 2 5 0 11 FORCE OF NATURE (312) SUGARPLUM 4432 2 1 0 7 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) DELPHINA 4434 1 1 1 7 VENUSIANS (321) BLACK TIGER 4436 0 2 0 2 CARDOW HUNTERS (359) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? BADGER 4410 3 4 1 CARDOW HUNTERS 359 OTARU 4245 451 BLACK ORC 385 0 1 0 DARK ARENA 0 HANGMAN 4357 453 NONE STARRY NITE 4014 11 14 1 FORCE OF NATURE 312 SCORPUS 4393 450 REVENGED CINA 4426 1 3 0 THE GUILD 208 MENSA 4442 453 PAUL 4342 19 16 0 MEN 356 MONTY 4391 453 FOOK 4443 0 1 0 THE TAKEN 173 DELPHINA 4434 453 PERSONAL ADS Equestors -- When I avoid your team, I end up fighting one of them. And when I don't avoid, the opposite occurs. Go figure! Isn't it supposed to work the other way around?? -- Black Samurai Lucius -- Got a couple blows on you, but that armor you were wearing must have been reinforced with some expensive mithril. Then you come back and stick me in the 'groin' with that long spear. Geez! No wonder it was a terrific blow! You'd wince with great pain, too, if the family jewels were cut! Guess I won't be having any children in this life cycle. -- Temmuro There's always adoption. -- Ed. Hope -- Oh yeah, pal!! Couldn't be because of twice the FE and 16 Points more than me that you win so handily. Will see if I can return the favor to one of yours soon. -- Otaru Raging Fire -- Whoa, no fair! I got burnt to a crisp and was so busy choking on smoke I couldn't learn anything. -- Delphina Tye Foon -- I know I have nice legs but you should try caressing them instead skinning them. -- Solar Flare Misty Waters -- Well I did not think you could get your weapon quite that high, next time I will wear better headgear. -- Lyra Black Tigar -- I believe one fight with you is enough. Please don't look me up later, I am afraid the outcome might not be in my favor. -- Astrial Lyra -- Learn to duck. -- Misty Waters Scorpus -- While I must admit my victory was unexpected, I have to brag a little about taking a few good shots from you and giving enough back to revenge Starry. -- Sue Nami Scorpus -- Scorpus got beat by a girl. -- Storm Front ( in a sing-song voice), mgr. of Force of Nature And what's wrong with that? -- Ed. Donkey Dictator -- Don't just stand there! Do something! -- Down Pour Jumping Spider -- Pick, pick, pick. That's all you ever do. Although, I must admit, your desperation strategy seems to work better than your normal strategy. -- Whirlwind Solar Fire -- Bring on your sisters. I will wash over them as well. I fear no little girls from Venus! -- Tye Foon Lapur -- Good luck to any and all who have warriors in the FtF. -- Storm Front Gerbil Master -- Are you that mean with your gerbils? If so, I pity them. -- Tall Tree Whirlwind -- You may leap to the left like a fast breeze, but NO ONE can out-leap the...Jumping Spider! Whirlwind -- You could sure give it another effort. The guy's insufferable. -- Tall Tree Astral -- You're too ethereal for me. I don't know how to approach a delicate little thing like you. -- Black Tiger P.S. Actually, I'm taller and not a Dwarf. I don't know the Commission messed this up. I'm nearly six feet tall. Maybe even an inch over. Free Fall -- (wink) What did you expect for free, eh? -- Sugarplum Ed. -- A BUBBLING sound? Euwh! -- Ghost of Badger Maybe so, but how do YOU think it would have sounded? -- Ed., just trying to be accurate 26 June 2003 All -- Would you be willing to proxy my lunger Ganglare at the Face-to-Face? He's fighting in the champions tourney. Thanks. Write: Michael Rogers #25335-013, PO Box 6000, Florence, Co 81226 -- Skullagrim STOP THINKING TOGS!!!!! It's here. Well, almost here anyway. We're looking at a start date of the first turn in Aradi (DM 60) following the Fall Mail-In. This should give everyone sufficient time to study the new ultra-improved T#%S IV rules and prep accordingly. So without further ado, here is your handy-dandy guide to winning your very own Golden Scrod (and some other very cool prizes to be announced officially before the start of the tourney that must not be named): 1. Each T#%S team consists of two managers. After the tourney starts, there will be no switching partners whatsoever, so choose your partners wisely. T#%S IV will last for 13 turns, so pick a partner you can stand for 6 months or so. The only team I know of so far is last TOGS winners: Ganolus Oakleaf/Hombre of Blood Related/Thieves Guild. Hey, this is fun! 2. The T#%S entry fee is 2 team setups per manager. This means 4 setups per T#%S team. This entry fee is required before the start of the tourney with no exceptions being made. This is to ensure that nobody gets screwed if a team or manager decides to back out early. To pay the entry fee either: a) send $10 cash/check/money order/ or whatever to me personally at: Andy Salveson 6812 Romanzo Way Elk Grove, CA 95758 b) get RSI to send me 2 team setup gift certificates. Sorry, no credit cards and no old teams you have lying around will be accepted. 3. T#%S point system: 10 points for winning on your up-challenge against another T#%S warrior. 7 points for winning on your even challenge of another T#%S warrior. 7 points for winning on another T#%S warriors challenge. 7 points for winning a random matchup against another T#%S warrior. 4 points for winning on your down-challenge of another T#%S warrior. 4 points for winning a random matchup against a non-T#%S warrior. Do not fight your team mate, you will not get any points. Also, you will not get any points if you challenge or get challenged by a non-T#%S team, so use your avoids wisely if you think someone is out to get you. 10 points for being the Duelmaster. This is in addition to all points listed above and will begin turn 1, so prep accordingly. 5 points for every spotlight written by any team member, 1 per manager per turn. The minimum length of a spotlight to receive points is 1/2 column in the newsletter (that's 31 lines-each line 85 characters across) and I will be completely firm on this. In addition to the length criteria, spotlights will not be given points if they are in any way plagiarized or if they are not Duelmasters or fantasy related. I will be the sole judge of this. If you're unsure if I will judge something to be Duelmasters or fantasy related, then e-mail me before you write the spotlight and ask me. I reserve the right to take points away from a spotlight after they are given if I judge at a later time that the spotlight has been plagiarized. -5 points per manager per turn every time a manager does not at least write one personal ad. -5 points for being the team that avoided the most. If you participated in TOGS III, you'll notice some slight changes in the points structure. The main things are points for random match ups against non T#%S warriors, bonus points for being the Duelmaster, new spotlight criteria, and no points given for being the most avoided team. 4. I already mentioned this, but T#%S IV will start the first turn in arena 60 after the Fall Mail-In runs and it will last for 13 turns. There will not be a Survivor format this time around, meaning no eliminations. I will still be doing the multipliers at the end, however. This means that all points accumulated by a team on turns 10 and 11 will be multiplied by 1.5 and all points accumulated by each team on turns 12 and 13 will be multiplied by 2. 5. Prizes are yet to be determined, but I'll tell you what I know. There will be prizes given out each turn to whichever team scores the most combined points on a given turn. Tie breakers will go to the team with the most wins on that turn and then to the team with most overall points. I have asked RSI for the same prizes as last TOGS which were transferring any warrior to arena 60 and renaming Aradi for approximately 6 months, but we'll see what they come back with. I haven't decided how to split the prizes up, partly because I don't know how many teams will be entering yet, but I do know the prizes will be split among the top 3 teams at the end. I will announce the exact breakdown of everything when I know more. 6. And just like TOGS III, Death Stud and I will be the sole arbiters of any dispute that may arise. Whine all you like, but as Nuln told you last time, that's how it is. 7. M & RR Clause (go ahead, read between the capitals): I reserve the right to disallow entry to this tourney if you have a previous history of being a big fat mouth about everything. I think that pretty much covers it. I will be accepting team entries as of now and then posting them in the newsletters as I receive entry fees. Please feel free to e-mail me regarding any questions or comments at Ganolus@aol.com. So everyone don your best pair of leg warmers, hop on your favorite farm animal, and ride to Aradi for the 4th kinda-annual Tournament that must not be named for no apparent reason whatsoever, or T#%S IV, for short. See ya'll there! -- Ganolus Oakleaf, T#%S IV Commish LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS HANGMAN viciously butchered BLACK ORC in a crowd pleasing 2 minute Dark Arena fight. BLUEY was demolished by MR. YUCK in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge Title melee. MONTY butchered PAUL in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge contest. GOLDIE was overpowered by COBRA in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge match. BINDI viciously subdued GALBA in a 2 minute gory Challenge duel. SUE NAMI was bested by HOPE in a crowd pleasing 1 minute Challenge match. WHIRLWIND was overcome by RAGING FIRE in a 1 minute Challenge fight. MISTY WATERS handily defeated JUMPING SPIDER in a 1 minute uneven Challenge melee. TYE FOON vanquished DONKEY DICTATOR in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight. JUVENAL overpowered BUZZARD in a 1 minute uneven match. ENOSHIMA luckily beat VENOMOUS CONCUBINE in a exciting 5 minute brutal fight. SCRAPPA viciously subdued LUCIUS in a crowd pleasing 1 minute brutal conflict. GERBIL MASTER was demolished by SCORPUS in a 1 minute one-sided brawl. LEMMING LEADER handily defeated SHAWN in a 1 minute one-sided conflict. ALAN lost to KINSORROW in a crowd pleasing 1 minute bout. HILARUS lost to HOPE'S END in a 2 minute fray. DARK ABYSS savagely defeated VAGAN in a crowd pleasing 2 minute bloody brawl. TALL TREE was overpowered by CHUBON in a 2 minute one-sided bout. FREE FALL overpowered LYRA in a 1 minute one-sided bout. ASTRIAL was overpowered by RAVAGE in a 1 minute mismatched conflict. ZARGAS devastated BLACK TIGER in a 1 minute one-sided bout. CINA was dispatched by MENSA in a 3 minute novice's match. SOLAR FLARE overcame SUGARPLUM in a 1 minute beginner's duel. DELPHINA delivered the death blow upon FOOK in a 1 minute novice's bout. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 12 TOTAL PARRY 22 - 15 - 1 59 | |STRIKING ATTACK 7 PARRY-LUNGE 4 - 3 - 0 57 | |TOTAL PARRY 7 LUNGING ATTACK 47 - 40 - 9 54 | |BASHING ATTACK 5 BASHING ATTACK 27 - 24 - 2 53 | |SLASHING ATTACK 4 PARRY-STRIKE 4 - 4 - 1 50 | |WALL OF STEEL 4 STRIKING ATTACK 21 - 22 - 1 49 | |AIMED BLOW 3 AIMED BLOW 8 - 9 - 0 47 | |PARRY-LUNGE 2 SLASHING ATTACK 15 - 17 - 2 47 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 4 - 7 - 0 36 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 WALL OF STEEL 5 - 11 - 0 31 | Turn 453 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-LUNGE 2 - 0 TOTAL PARRY 3 - 4 3 STRIKING ATTACK PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 1 3 TOTAL PARRY AIMED BLOW 2 - 1 WALL OF STEEL 0 - 4 2 LUNGING ATTACK BASHING ATTACK 3 - 2 1 BASHING ATTACK LUNGING ATTACK 7 - 5 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE STRIKING ATTACK 4 - 3 1 PARRY-LUNGE SLASHING ATTACK 2 - 2 TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME STRIKING ATTACK MR. YUCK 3994 13 3 0 155 THE TAKEN (173) BASHING ATTACK JUVENAL 4351 20 10 3 110 EQUESTORS (158) TOTAL PARRY BLUEY 4317 24 19 0 97 CROC FILES (374) LUNGING ATTACK COBRA 4355 9 5 0 83 DEATH THREAT (376) AIMED BLOW HOPE 3988 11 6 0 58 THE TAKEN (173) PARRY-LUNGE HOPE'S END 4031 6 5 0 42 THE GUILD (208) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is MR. YUCK 3994. The most popular warrior this turn was HANGMAN 4357. The ten other most popular fighters were DARK ABYSS 4417, BINDI 4422, CINA 4426, MR. YUCK 3994, HOPE 3988, TYE FOON 4433, SCRAPPA 4411, ALAN 4397, CHUBON 4381, and COBRA 4355. The least popular fighter this week was SUGARPLUM 4432. The other ten least popular fighters were BLACK TIGER 4436, ASTRIAL 4328, LYRA 4320, TALL TREE 4380, SHAWN 4405, GERBIL MASTER 3983, LUCIUS 4406, BUZZARD 3995, DONKEY DICTATOR 3982, and JUMPING SPIDER 4431. The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn: JUVENAL (29-4351) EQUESTORS (158) BLUEY (29-4317) CROC FILES (374)