DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER Date : 03/17/2005 Duedate: 03/30/2005 CLIFFHOME ARENA DM-38 TURN-469 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS FUGAZI TEAM FLOYD (99) (38-3565) [9-3-2,99] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader FUGAZI POSITION IS EMPTY TEAM FLOYD (99) (38-3565) [9-3-2,99] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite RUNABOUT TORCHICK JINDA-BAN (198) FIRE DECK (394) (38-4458) [18-18-0,75] (38-4514) [3-2-0,43] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM TEAM FLOYD (99) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. TEAM FLOYD (99) 16 2. FIRE DECK (394) 9 ARENA FELINES (374) 3. JINDA-BAN (198) 7 Unchartered Team 4. ARENA FELINES (374) 3 5. BOY O'S (388) 0 IBM II (122) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 1 ARENA FELINES (374) 115 44 10 72.3 1/ 3 TEAM FLOYD (99) 9 1 1 2- 2 BOY O'S (388) 25 17 3 59.5 2/ 1 JINDA-BAN (198) 7 8 0 3/ 5 TEAM FLOYD (99) 303 261 18 53.7 3/ 2 FIRE DECK (394) 4 8 0 4/ 6 FIRE DECK (394) 20 26 0 43.5 4/ 4 ARENA FELINES (374) 3 0 0 5/ 7 JINDA-BAN (198) 313 427 7 42.3 5- 6 BOY O'S (388) 0 2 0 '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank SPY REPORT Greetings, Warriors of CLIFFHOME. Allow this humble servant Novgorodny Vir to give you a respite from the fights in the form of this Spyreport. The boys at JINDA-BAN left the arena dejected, after being kicked out of the top spot by TEAM FLOYD. Good show! Practice pays for DINGIL BILL, who pummelled VETERAN MERCENARY, to pocket 14 points. A certain someone should cut down on the drinking and practice more, after losing 14 points to KUNG-FU MASTER. (Discrete enough, HARANDUR?) A certain someone saw DARK TYPHLOSION at The Choking Ogre with the shakes, and now he fails to show up to defend his throne. What a pathetic slob! Now I can't insult FUGAZI, as he has gloriously dueled to the top. Oh great new Duelmaster!!! (Stop me if I lay it on too thick) So who's the team that's been walking into taverns last week and ordering milk? Sounds like a PR stunt to me. So much to report, so little time! Is it charming personality? Conversational abilities? Good oral hygiene? Whatever it is, SIR LICKSALOT is the most challenged warrior. Them's the breaks, RUNABOUT. Expecting fair challenges from TEAM FLOYD is evidently too much to ask. Warriors of CLIFFHOME! Do you wish your reputations tainted by the base challenge of FUGAZI? Is there life after death? Pragmatics (and warriors) know there is death after life! Questions are being raised about the disposing of severed body parts in the arena. A certain tavern in CLIFFHOME would I avoid! Do not think spyreporting in CLIFFHOME is the highlight of my life. As if buffeted by forces of nature beyond my control, I must take my leave of this place. Can anything compare to the pleasure of writing Spyreports for CLIFFHOME? On that giddy note I take my leave-- Novgorodny Vir DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME FUGAZI 3565 9 3 2 99 TEAM FLOYD (99) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -DARK TYPHLOSION 4414 9 0 0 123 FIRE DECK (394) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME DINGIL BILL 4428 17 25 0 87 JINDA-BAN (198) -FIGARO 4340 7 3 0 76 BOY O'S (388) RUNABOUT 4458 18 18 0 75 JINDA-BAN (198) HARANDUR 4484 9 15 0 73 JINDA-BAN (198) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -PAWS 4342 7 3 0 59 ARENA FELINES (374) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SIR LICKSALOT 4341 11 2 0 53 ARENA FELINES (374) EAGLE'S CLAW 4345 6 1 1 53 TEAM FLOYD (99) TORCHICK 4514 3 2 0 43 FIRE DECK (394) -WALDO 4336 6 2 1 35 BOY O'S (388) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME WHAT'S A VOLKSIE? 4563 2 0 0 33 TEAM FLOYD (99) -PUSS IN BOOTS 4358 2 1 0 25 ARENA FELINES (374) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BALLOU YS 4539 4 9 0 21 JINDA-BAN (198) -FRANKEN FELINE 4399 1 0 0 20 ARENA FELINES (374) GUHULONG 4565 2 4 0 19 JINDA-BAN (198) STABBING EASTWARD 4562 2 0 1 18 TEAM FLOYD (99) -ROLLO 4544 2 1 0 13 BOY O'S (388) MELLOW LEDBETTER 4561 1 1 0 8 TEAM FLOYD (99) RAPIDASH 4577 0 1 0 1 FIRE DECK (394) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? GROWLITHE 4559 2 2 0 FIRE DECK 394 SPYMASTER 22 469 NONE ARCANINE 4576 0 1 0 FIRE DECK 394 BLACK ORC 20 469 NONE PERSONAL ADS Dark Typhlosion -- Well, I suppose it's better hold the title by fighting me than by fighting, say, the Khalhums Dwarf (nasty fellows, Khalhums Dwarves, and THEY never write columns, either). But still, I wish somebody else would show up here to help fill out the fights, don't you? -- Harandur the melancholy Nobody told me I would have to do Kung-Fu. I just can't seem to get my wheels on that style. -- Runabout Fugazi -- I don't know what Harandur's talking about; I'd rather fight a standby ANY day. -- Dingil Bill Indeed, I didn't mind defeating the Osksi Noble (who is a Dwarf, and possibly from Khalhums). -- Ballou Ys Mellow Ledbetter -- What mellow? Alla time you hit me. -- Guhulong Stimpy -- I agree that the internet has been hard on the pbm games, and the freebies have CERTAINLY been hard. Dm hasn't gone up in price in all the years I've been involved with it (how anybody could afford to run several teams back when twenty a month would go a lot farther, I cannot imagine!), but it has gone up in production costs, and this, too, has been hard on the game. I don't know what the answer might be. There has been a small but growing shift in our player base toward people who, for various reasons, don't have internet access. Is that the answer, to go entirely for non-email players? Or should we try to find some way to alter and/or enhance the game to make it worth that money every month? Of course, if you mention altering in the hearing of most long-time supporters (most of them number-crunchers), they go bananas. And as to enhancing...? The only way I can think of to enhance without altering involves making the newsletters themselves more interesting, and since they're up on the website, you don't actually have to pay to read 'em. Not that there's all that much to read in most. -- Nick, Jinda-Ban P.S. If you DO think of anything good, let us know at once! I can be reached directly at LiviaATreality.com 1 March 2005 The Contract [as retold by Hammer the WordSmith] What had begun as a contract for swords and armor between a well known name in the DM community and the former VC Captain/WordSmith and WeaponSmith of the Vendetta Cartel Tarantula Tribe was destined to impact and altar the landscape of the dueling community for years to come. The following is but a condensed retelling of history in the making. Hammer continued sipping his tankard of Elven Tonic as the mysterious hooded figure quietly seated himself across the table from the Veteran Manager whose back was against the wall; allowing for a subtle, but effective surveillance of the dimly lit tavern. Recent events in both Illis and North Fork/SCOMSS Swamp Arena had stunned the DM managerial world with the announcement that Hammer had resigned from his position as a well respected member of the Vendetta Cartel Alliance. Those managers and associates closest to Hammer were shocked and dismayed that there seemed to be NO Rational Explanation for Hammer making such a seemingly irrational, hasty and extremely illogical decision; by what seemed to be a spur of the moment reaction following the Declaration of War by Hammer in the DM 47 P-ads. This is what stirred the mysterious hooded figure to seek Hammer with a request that would change the managerial course of both men; ultimately Rocking the Managerial World of Alastari as a result of the forthcoming decisions reached by the two Veterans. Time passed swiftly as both Veteran Managers discussed how the landscape of the DM game on the sands of Alastari had changed over the years both in Basic and Tourney play; producing a new breed of managers who would of necessity band together in an alliance with a common goal; waging war against antagonists while improving the managerial skills of each participating member in their glorious quest for DM excellence. Hammer listened intently as his unexpected guest inquired about the situation in North Fork/SCOMSS Swamp Arena; revealing his desire to participate in the upcoming Turf War 4 contest in DM 47 with an alliance that would accept him on a more permanent basis other than for just fighting together as a TW4 alliance to win fame and Gift Certs. Here was a Veteran Manager, seeking the advice of Hammer regarding an alliance to join on a permanent basis; plus extending a sword arm of friendship and requesting that Hammer join him as an alliance mate with those who would welcome their membership. The Iron in the Words of Hammer had produced this opportunity as a result of the recent conflicts witnessed first hand by the manager seated across the table from Hammer. This Veteran Manager had been secretly searching and scouting around Alastari for someone worth his mettle to fight alongside; someone who would know where to find the perfect gang of rebels who were unafraid of waging war against anyone. Hammer knew exactly where to look and in a matter of days the two newcomers were welcomed into the ranks of a group of managers who received them as war waging equals in an alliance that had joined a Confederation of Alliances for the TW4 contest. Fighting under the banner of The Illuminati Confederation of Alliances alongside members of Chaos Inc, kLk and The Company of Brothers during the TW4 was more than either of the two Veteran Managers had envisioned a few months ago. Hammer was now entering a new journey with a new attitude. Perhaps you readers may have noticed that new attitude by now since this announcement by Hammer is uncharacteristically Exclamation Point Free. Except for the famous quote by Hammer at the end of this announcement. Now that Hammer and the Mysterious Hooded Figure have agreed to join forces with an alliance whose members have welcomed them enthusiastically; let those who desire to be antagonistic be forewarned as to the identities of these newly welcomed wagers of war: Tripwire kLk Bringer of Pain Hammer kLk WordSmith and WeaponSmith Minister of War Illuminati Idealist "May Your Blades Be Sharp and Your Wits Sharper!" LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS GROWLITHE was butchered by SPYMASTER in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. ARCANINE was butchered by BLACK ORC in a 1 minute brutal Dark Arena duel. FUGAZI viciously subdued RUNABOUT in a 1 minute veteran's Challenge Title match. TORCHICK was unbelievably bested by SIR LICKSALOT in a 6 minute Challenge fight. WHAT'S A VOLKSIE? devastated BALLOU YS in a 1 minute uneven Challenge brawl. MELLOW LEDBETTER was savagely defeated by GUHULONG in a 3 minute Challenge struggle. DINGIL BILL handily defeated VETERAN MERCENARY in a 1 minute uneven fight. HARANDUR slimly lost to KUNG-FU MASTER in a action packed 1 minute duel. EAGLE'S CLAW viciously subdued AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 2 minute gruesome fight. STABBING EASTWARD won victory over RAPIDASH in a exciting 1 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 3 TOTAL PARRY 11 - 6 - 0 65 | |SLASHING ATTACK 3 AIMED BLOW 10 - 6 - 0 63 | |AIMED BLOW 2 LUNGING ATTACK 25 - 19 - 1 57 | |WALL OF STEEL 2 PARRY-STRIKE 6 - 6 - 0 50 | |BASHING ATTACK 2 STRIKING ATTACK 7 - 8 - 0 47 | |TOTAL PARRY 1 WALL OF STEEL 4 - 6 - 0 40 | |PARRY-STRIKE 1 BASHING ATTACK 6 - 9 - 0 40 | |STRIKING ATTACK 1 SLASHING ATTACK 6 - 11 - 0 35 | |PARRY-LUNGE 0 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0 - 0 0 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 - 0 0 | Turn 469 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: LUNGING ATTACK 3 - 0 SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 2 5 LUNGING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 2 STRIKING ATTACK AIMED BLOW 1 - 1 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 1 1 PARRY-STRIKE WALL OF STEEL 1 - 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 0 - 0 1 TOTAL PARRY STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 WALL OF STEEL BASHING ATTACK 0 - 2 1 SLASHING ATTACK TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME LUNGING ATTACK FUGAZI 3565 9 3 2 99 TEAM FLOYD (99) TOTAL PARRY SIR LICKSALOT 4341 11 2 0 53 ARENA FELINES (374) WALL OF STEEL EAGLE'S CLAW 4345 6 1 1 53 TEAM FLOYD (99) SLASHING ATTACK TORCHICK 4514 3 2 0 43 FIRE DECK (394) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is RUNABOUT 4458. The most popular warrior this turn was TORCHICK 4514. The ten other most popular fighters were GUHULONG 4565, FUGAZI 3565, WHAT'S A VOLKSIE? 4563, EAGLE'S CLAW 4345, STABBING EASTWARD 4562, DINGIL BILL 4428, HARANDUR 4484, RUNABOUT 4458, SIR LICKSALOT 4341, and MELLOW LEDBETTER 4561. The least popular fighter this week was BALLOU YS 4539. The other ten least popular fighters were ARCANINE 4576, GROWLITHE 4559, RAPIDASH 4577, MELLOW LEDBETTER 4561, SIR LICKSALOT 4341, RUNABOUT 4458, HARANDUR 4484, DINGIL BILL 4428, STABBING EASTWARD 4562, and EAGLE'S CLAW 4345. The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn: FUGAZI (38-3565) TEAM FLOYD (99)