DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 09/21/2005    Duedate: 10/04/2005

MURSKA ARENA

DM-35    TURN-498

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

LOCO
PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
(35-3677) [13-9-0,88]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

LOCO                           NOREASTER
PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)        DIRT DEVILS (363)
(35-3677) [13-9-0,88]          (35-3896) [8-1-0,64]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

LOCO                           BUMP 'N' JUMP
PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)        FLIPPERS ARCADE (366)
(35-3677) [13-9-0,88]          (35-3929) [6-6-0,54]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)      24
2. FLIPPERS ARCADE (366)       20      PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
3. PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)     17      Unchartered Team
4. BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)         8
5. DIRT DEVILS (363)            4      DIRT DEVILS (363)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1*DIRT DEVILS (363)         12   2  0 85.7   1/ 2 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)   9  6 0
 2- 2 BLITZKRIEG (357)          74  21  9 77.9   2/ 1 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366)     8  7 1
 3/ 5 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)   82  64  4 56.2   3/ 3 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)    7  8 0
 4/ 4 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)      41  33  5 55.4   4- 4 BLITZKRIEG (357)          4  0 0
 5/ 6 FLIPPERS ARCADE (366)     30  32  2 48.4   5/ 5*DIRT DEVILS (363)         3  0 0
 6/ 7 CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)   500 764 20 39.6   6/ 6 BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)      1  4 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[ + ---:--- + ]H[ The Mountains of Night #4 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ +

Murska and vicinity:

     In the fashion typical of so many of the Bad Guys, the demons and their minions
were throwing their weight around, making a splash and attracting everyone's
attention in Murska.  Their first appearance had been accompanied by spectacular
displays of black lightning, causing landslides and setting fire to some buildings in
and around the town.  As Tankesh and Huw worked their way down the mountainside to
the bridge that would take them across to Murska they could hear people shrieking.
Fire bells were barely audible above the shouts and screams, and the roar of the
river as it tore at the rocks newly fallen into its bed.
     "Showy and wasteful," Huw growled.
     Tankesh glanced over his shoulder at the Murskan.  The man wore his disapproval
as a breastplate and shield.  Well, it was his home town that was being smashed up,
so the elf could make allowances.  "It isn't a bad plan," he said mildly.
"Intimidate the population to begin with, and they won't fight back.  Saves time and
effort, and I suppose even demons have to think about that sometimes."
     Huw grunted.  After a moment, he said, "I was right about the dwarves.  There
aren't more than half a dozen in sight, and those are probably gladiators.  The doors
to the Undercity are shut."
     "It won't save them, if the demons decide to go underground," Tankesh said.
     Huw grunted again, a more cheerful sound this time.  "True," he said.  "The
dwarves are making a mistake.  It'd be worse to fight demons in the tunnels than
above-ground."
     "Limited front of attack," Tankesh said.  "No demons taking to the air and
coming at you from behind."
     "Limited lines of retreat, if the roof comes down," Huw countered.
     "A point," the elf admitted.  They had reached the approach to the bridge, and
he paused, looking at the span critically.  It was of stone, good dwarven work, wide
enough to take a wagon and with a waist-high parapet on either side, but...it was
narrow--two wagons couldn't pass on it, and if a person fell off, well, the fall to
the river would be a long one.
     There were people on the bridge now, maybe twenty or so, running from the town
toward the bare mountainside behind the two gladiators.  They were each running as
though alone, no one covering their retreat, no one helping if someone tripped and
staggered against the parapet.  They were in a state of blind panic, and Tankesh
distrusted them automatically.  Panic was contagious, not that he thought either he
himself or Huw would succumb.  And it was blind; the fleeing people would run down
anyone in their path, and not only would they not give help if asked, they wouldn't
know enough to accept it if offered.  Crossing the bridge against this current would
be--
     His eyes focused on the far end of the bridge as a woman screamed.  Part of his
mind flashed back to the black altar in Kurukar and the woman he had been unable to
save there.  The scream was a high, thin sound, compounded of terror, pain, and
despair, and it cut off sharply as a creature that looked like an upright lizard ten
feet tall reached down and plucked her from the crowd.  He held her by the knees and
swung her body horizontally, using her as a club to knock other refugees from the
span.
     Tankesh was just marginally aware that this was not the woman he had lost in
Kurukar as fury hazed his vision with red.  He roared a wordless challenge and lunged
forward onto the bridge.

                                      SPY REPORT

     Much has changed in MURSKA since last I was here.  Never fear, Olaf Modeen 
adapts to many situations, as do all successful fighters.  Bein' on top is great 
while it lasts, FLIPPERS ARCADE.  But how many friends do you have now?  What's with 
MORPETH?  She actually beat PHILANTHROPISTS 3's MOZART, and walked away with 24 more 
points from the fight.  Major screwup at PHILANTHROPISTS 3.  MOZART lost 17 points to 
MORPETH.  Some new strategies, perhaps?  Maybe MOZART will provide more easy wins...  
Har har har!  Did RAZZLE DAZZLE wimp out, or just get lazy?  Anyway, he's not 
Duelmaster anymore.  I'm sure MURSKA is excited about LOCO, the new Duelmaster from 
PHILANTHROPISTS 3.  (remember?)  But when you've seen as many as I have...  I suppose 
you want to hear some rumors and dirty gossip about your fellow fighters?  Tough!   
     If at first you don't succeed, avoid.  That'll get you in the Spyreports.  How 
well I know the feeling of being in the most avoided team!  Don't fall out of 
practive, DIRT DEVILS!  Management must be dealin', as the boys at PHILANTHROPISTS 3 
ain't reelin'!  DIRT DEVILS' mad!  What do people see in KAI?  His 13-14-0?  CHILDREN 
OF LLYR ain't talkin', but he's got 53 points.  Fighting is a better craft than 
farming, PADDY, but you have to pay your dues.  Being challenged by OH OHLISH OMINAH, 
28 points above you, is dues.  I have to get this off my chest.  What a low dog, OH 
OHLISH OMINAH!  He can't set himself up in a real match.  I was sorry to see PADDY 
lose.  I hate going to the effort of writing about the kind of fights that GARTH THE 
SEAMITE gets in.  He fights people like PITFALL HARRY, 8 points below.  I thought 
GARTH THE SEAMITE showed great skill and promise when he subdued PITFALL HARRY.  All 
right, so I slept through it!  Big deal!   
     A fighter's lot is filled with strife, revenge, and killing.  Some fighters 
don't accept this.  The best do.  Here's some advice:  study your opponent, master 
many skills, fight dirty.   
     Who knows what the future holds for a warrior.  More fights, there's no doubt.  
All work and no play makes Olaf a dull fighter.  Work and play no fighter dull Olaf.  
Olaffighterwork and no play.  Remember--a good fighter needs both good skills and 
good luck.  Until next time,-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LOCO 3677                    13   9  0    88       PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-RAZZLE DAZZLE 3863           13   2  1   124       BLITZKRIEG (357)
-O'MALLEY 3816                14   6  1   117       BLITZKRIEG (357)
-KAMA KAZI 3859               14   1  1   105       BLITZKRIEG (357)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MORPETH 3862                 14  20  0    83       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
-DARLING NIKKI 3842           13   3  2    83       BLITZKRIEG (357)
-HUCKLE CAT 3874               9   5  0    78       BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
-FATHER CAT 3875               7   1  1    72       BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
-DINGO DOG 3878                8   2  3    71       BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
 MOZART 3756                  12   4  0    67       PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
 OH OHLISH OMINAH 3912         8   6  2    67       PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 PARALLEL UNIVERSE 3925        9   1  0    65       PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
 NOREASTER 3896                8   1  0    64       DIRT DEVILS (363)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 DALLOW 3872                  12  15  1    56       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
 BUMP 'N' JUMP 3929            6   6  0    54       FLIPPERS ARCADE (366)
 KAI 3873                     13  14  0    53       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
-TYPHOON 3895                  4   1  0    53       DIRT DEVILS (363)
 GARTH THE SEAMITE 3748       11   9  1    51       PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
 CADAL COONTZ 3901             7  12  0    41       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
 PADDY 3898                    9  11  0    40       CHILDREN OF LLYR (141)
 DIG DUG 3926                  7   7  0    39       FLIPPERS ARCADE (366)
 PITFALL HARRY 3927            5   5  0    36       FLIPPERS ARCADE (366)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 Q*BERT 3928                   7   6  2    30       FLIPPERS ARCADE (366)
 MR. FIXIT 3905                3  11  0    28       BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)
 JUNGLE KING 3930              5   8  0    25       FLIPPERS ARCADE (366)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TOURNEY SCUM 3943             1   0  0     7       BUSY, BUSYTOWN (360)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
OSKSI NOBLE 3          0  1 0   1                   Q*BERT 3928           498 NONE    

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
BANANNAS GORILLA 3876  9  9 1 BUSY, BUSYTOWN 360    GARTH THE SEAMIT 3748 494 NOT REVE

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Pfui.

Okay, okay, a little more than that.  But we got so excited reading the personals by
other teams that we just didn't have the energy left to do any ourselves. -- Children
of Llyr

     That would be sarcasm, no? -- Ed.

15 September 2005
                             HAMMER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

     Be it known from the highest mountains to the darkest alleys of Alastari that
the veteran manager known far and wide as Hammer has now officially retired from
sponsoring contests as of September 15, 2005.
     What a long time ago was a fun motivated activity to help promote our common
DM/D2 gaming interest in an effort to promote the growth and competitiveness of
selected arenas has become a far from fun experience.
     In other words Hammer has had it!
     The combination of real life situations interfering with the time needed to
effectively sponsor a contest, plus the attitudes expressed during such sponsorship
interference has led to Hammer closing his personal coin coffers and retiring from
his planned sponsorship of any future contests.
     There are others in our close knit gaming community who are well able to step up
to the plate and continue sponsoring contests that make the basic game a fun
experience for all those who choose to compete and interact in such future endeavors.
     Hammer thanks all managers both active and inactive who helped to make the
Hammer sponsored contests a historical and entertaining experience well worth the
time, effort and money spent over the past several years.
     May the Cheers and the Jeers of future contests build upon the legacies of those
who have paved the way in years gone by to help make this game what it is today.
     Hammer has no regrets for the part he has played in that history.

19 September 2005
I'd like to say hello to everyone I know that is still around after my being gone for
five years.  Hope to see you all on the sands, and may your weapons strike true and
your shields protect you (except, of course, against MY warriors *grin*)!! -- Lord
Xiang, D2-101

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

NOREASTER bested DALLOW in a 1 minute Challenge fight.
OH OHLISH OMINAH bested PADDY in a 3 minute Challenge duel.
GARTH THE SEAMITE savagely defeated PITFALL HARRY in a 2 minute Challenge melee.
PARALLEL UNIVERSE overpowered KAI in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge duel.
MOZART slimly lost to MORPETH in a 2 minute gory fight.
LOCO demolished VETERAN MERCENARY in a 1 minute mismatched Title competition.
CADAL COONTZ viciously subdued JUNGLE KING in a 2 minute bloody fight.
BUMP 'N' JUMP savagely defeated THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a 2 minute brawl.
Q*BERT put to death OSKSI NOBLE in a 1 minute melee.
MR. FIXIT was outwaited by THE USEROUS MERCHANT in a 7 minute gruesome duel.
DIG DUG defeated AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 3 minute gruesome duel.
TOURNEY SCUM outlasted CONVICTED THIEF in a dull 7 minute novice's fight.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   4         PARRY-STRIKE       5 -   2 -  0      71  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    3         STRIKING ATTACK   13 -   6 -  1      68  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      3         AIMED BLOW        13 -   7 -  0      65  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         LUNGING ATTACK    32 -  20 -  1      62  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         WALL OF STEEL     13 -   9 -  2      59  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  1         TOTAL PARRY        1 -   1 -  0      50  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         PARRY-RIPOSTE     10 -  10 -  1      50  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      1         PARRY-LUNGE       14 -  15 -  0      48  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         BASHING ATTACK     6 -   8 -  1      43  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  0         SLASHING ATTACK    3 -   6 -  0      33  |

Turn 498 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:

STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  0     PARRY-LUNGE        1 -  2         6  LUNGING ATTACK 
BASHING ATTACK     1 -  0     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  1         1  PARRY-LUNGE    
TOTAL PARRY        1 -  0     SLASHING ATTACK    0 -  0         1  STRIKING ATTACK
LUNGING ATTACK     3 -  1                                       1  WALL OF STEEL  
WALL OF STEEL      2 -  1                                       1  SLASHING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW         1 -  1                                       1  PARRY-RIPOSTE  
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  1     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
PARRY-LUNGE      LOCO 3677                  13   9  0   88 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
LUNGING ATTACK   MOZART 3756                12   4  0   67 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    OH OHLISH OMINAH 3912       8   6  2   67 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
AIMED BLOW       PARALLEL UNIVERSE 3925      9   1  0   65 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
STRIKING ATTACK  GARTH THE SEAMITE 3748     11   9  1   51 PHILANTHROPISTS 3 (347)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is LOCO 3677.  The most popular warrior this turn was 
BUMP 'N' JUMP 3929.  The ten other most popular fighters were OH OHLISH OMINAH 3912, 
GARTH THE SEAMITE 3748, MOZART 3756, MORPETH 3862, CADAL COONTZ 3901, MR. FIXIT 3905, 
PARALLEL UNIVERSE 3925, DIG DUG 3926, NOREASTER 3896, and LOCO 3677.

The least popular fighter this week was TOURNEY SCUM 3943.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were JUNGLE KING 3930, KAI 3873, PITFALL HARRY 3927, PADDY 3898, 
DALLOW 3872, Q*BERT 3928, LOCO 3677, NOREASTER 3896, DIG DUG 3926, and PARALLEL 
UNIVERSE 3925.