DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER
Date : 03/18/2022 Duedate: 04/14/2022
XOCHITHLAN ARENA
DM-39 TURN-426
This Weeks Top Honors
THE DUELMASTER IS
SICKNESS
BASH BROS BABY (461)
(39-4242) [33-15-0,138]
Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader
SICKNESS POSITION IS EMPTY
BASH BROS BABY (461)
(39-4242) [33-15-0,138]
Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite
APPLE BLOSSOM BLAZE REGICIDE
THE MIDDLE WAY (385) JUSTICE OF STEEL (494)
(39-4109) [21-21-0,129] (39-4329) [14-14-0,101]
THE CURRENT TOP TEAM
BASH BROS BABY (461)
TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team
1. BOOK OF THOMAS (479) 48
2. THE MIDDLE WAY (385) 26 BIONIC MAN (490)
3. BIONIC MAN (490) 6 Unchartered Team
4. JUSTICE OF STEEL (494) 4
5. BASH BROS BABY (461) -2 SAINT-TROPEZ BOY (205)
The Top Teams
Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K
1/ 1 BIONIC MAN (490) 42 18 2 70.0 1/ 1 BASH BROS BABY (461) 10 4 1
2/ 2 BASH BROS BABY (461) 225 177 10 56.0 2/ 2 THE MIDDLE WAY (385) 9 6 0
3/ 3 BOOK OF THOMAS (479) 157 124 14 55.9 3/ 3 BOOK OF THOMAS (479) 5 5 1
4/ 5 THE MIDDLE WAY (385) 550 632 14 46.5 4/ 4 BIONIC MAN (490) 2 3 0
5- 6*ALFREDO'S LADIES (497) 20 24 2 45.5 5/ 6 JUSTICE OF STEEL (494) 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.
Just 3 more turns and I'll be gone. At that point, I will likely have enough PP's to
have graduated 5 times. It is highly likely I'll be at least temporarily retired, but
with immortality and a chaotic manager like Assur, who knows if I might not get the
call to fight again some day.
In the mean time... Hide your children...
I bring...
-- Sickness
SPY REPORT
Greetings warriors! It is I, Zontani Sharp Eyes, here to bring report of the
clash and bustle of the weekly XOCHITHLAN games. My praise to BOOK OF THOMAS for
their 4-1-1 week this time out. Indeed, it was a skillfully fought round deserving
of notice! BASNIVAN caught the eye of many in the gladiatorial commission as it
skillfully bested CAPTURED NOMAD and was awarded 20 points in recognition. In one of
the week's more notable duels, CELIA DUNCAN put down LIFE CHANGES, causing him to
lose 12 points of recognition in the process. As is fitting, the most sought after
warrior on the challenge boards this week was none other than Duelmaster SICKNESS
himself. This time out BLAZE REGICIDE made his bid for the throne as he challenged
SICKNESS in an all out contest of skill for possession of the title! Although BLAZE
REGICIDE made a valiant effort, it did not suffice to topple the reign of victorious
SICKNESS. Informants "close" to the city champion have told me that he never fights
without pantyhose on beneath his armor. Watch out!
I have been in deep conclave with my spies who watched all that has recently
transpired. Indeed there is much I would report. XOCHITHLAN, city of gladiators!
Mighty among the names of thy guilds is BIONIC MAN, a guild shunned and avoided by
many in the weekly duels. Methinks more than a few here could name the guild it was
that spent the better part of last week avoiding BIONIC MAN. Indeed it was BASH BROS
BABY. Give RIGHT HIP (3) credit for his courage. Did you note how he challenged
APPLE BLOSSOM despite the 30 point difference in their rankings? In the end RIGHT
HIP (3) was subdued by APPLE BLOSSOM, a "sharp" reminder that higher recognition is
an indication of greater skill. Still, it was a worthy bout!
Is not Death a warrior's foremost adviser? Warriors, may this counselor stand
ready at your right hand forever! Dark alleys may hide both secrets and assassins.
In the arena there is only the brightness of steel. Keep vigil always!
The girls are as pretty in XOCHITHLAN as ever I remembered them....and the
fighters as ugly! Don't let your reputation slip! 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
SICKNESS 4242 33 15 0 138 BASH BROS BABY (461)
CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
APPLE BLOSSOM 4109 21 21 0 129 THE MIDDLE WAY (385)
MITRAL VALVE 4287 16 4 0 110 BIONIC MAN (490)
ZENAKU 4280 9 3 0 104 BOOK OF THOMAS (479)
BLAZE REGICIDE 4329 14 14 0 101 JUSTICE OF STEEL (494)
CELIA DUNCAN 4299 12 7 0 96 THE MIDDLE WAY (385)
DROOL BABY 4243 19 29 0 92 BASH BROS BABY (461)
CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
RIGHT HIP (3) 4289 11 5 1 89 BIONIC MAN (490)
ZEB ARN 4257 14 27 0 83 THE MIDDLE WAY (385)
LIFE CHANGES 4273 18 18 1 76 BASH BROS BABY (461)
-LASIC SURGERY 4290 6 6 0 75 BIONIC MAN (490)
FORTIFIED 4274 12 3 0 70 BOOK OF THOMAS (479)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
EXPENSES 4294 12 9 0 59 BASH BROS BABY (461)
ZOE ALBETA 4296 11 14 0 59 THE MIDDLE WAY (385)
ASCENSION 4293 5 3 1 59 BOOK OF THOMAS (479)
CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-IMPLANTS 4288 5 1 0 59 BIONIC MAN (490)
ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-LAURA DERN 4367 6 2 1 55 ALFREDO'S LADIES (497)
TAKIDOR 4314 5 4 2 53 BOOK OF THOMAS (479)
-HEARING AID 4291 4 2 1 49 BIONIC MAN (490)
-3000 MILES AWAY 4345 4 1 1 47 BASH BROS BABY (461)
BASNIVAN 4344 6 2 1 45 BOOK OF THOMAS (479)
YENTAL ZEEVE 4298 7 16 0 38 THE MIDDLE WAY (385)
CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-KHARATEESKA 4323 4 5 2 33 JUSTICE OF STEEL (494)
INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME
-OLGA KORBUT 4371 4 5 0 23 ALFREDO'S LADIES (497)
-BRITNEY SPEARS 4366 4 3 0 17 ALFREDO'S LADIES (497)
-ROMIR THE SECOND 4322 2 2 0 11 JUSTICE OF STEEL (494)
-HAELDEN 4324 1 3 0 6 JUSTICE OF STEEL (494)
'-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn.
THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge?
CAPTURED NOMAD 0 0 0 BASNIVAN 4344 426 NONE
PERSONAL ADS
Sickness, I've had enough of you! I want your spot. (But maybe not your valve.) --
Mitral Valve
Go bionic! -- Smitty
We salute the tourney participant. -- we who walk the Middle Way
Right Hip (3) -- You're on your third right hip? How many legs have you got? -- Apple
Blossom
Mitral Valve -- You are an amazing pumper. Good gaskets, too. -- Celia Duncan
Drool Bably -- You're just a big baby. Suck it up. -- Zeb Arn
Ascension -- Shouldn't you be, I dunno, more advanced in some way, if you're ascended?
-- Zoe Albeta
The Hidden Archer was hiding in the stands. I didn't think I was going to get him,
but I did. -- Yental Zeeve
LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS
RIGHT HIP (3) was viciously subdued by APPLE BLOSSOM in a 2 minute Challenge fight.
BLAZE REGICIDE lost to SICKNESS in a 6 minute expert's Challenge Title battle.
ZENAKU overpowered ELITE ASSASSIN in a 3 minute mismatched duel.
MITRAL VALVE devastated FORTIFIED in a exciting 1 minute bloody one-sided fight.
LIFE CHANGES was devastated by CELIA DUNCAN in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
ZEB ARN was unbelievably bested by DROOL BABY in a 3 minute master's match.
EXPENSES was overcome by ZOE ALBETA in a 2 minute gruesome expert's melee.
TAKIDOR vanquished NATIVE LOOTER in a 1 minute uneven fight.
ASCENSION vanquished YENTAL ZEEVE in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
BASNIVAN executed CAPTURED NOMAD in a 2 minute gory one-sided melee.
BATTLE REPORT
MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS
|FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT|
|WALL OF STEEL 4 PARRY-LUNGE 1 - 0 - 0 100 |
|AIMED BLOW 2 TOTAL PARRY 15 - 4 - 0 79 |
|PARRY-STRIKE 2 PARRY-RIPOSTE 6 - 4 - 0 60 |
|LUNGING ATTACK 2 PARRY-STRIKE 14 - 10 - 1 58 |
|STRIKING ATTACK 2 SLASHING ATTACK 8 - 7 - 2 53 |
|TOTAL PARRY 2 AIMED BLOW 10 - 9 - 0 53 |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 STRIKING ATTACK 13 - 15 - 0 46 |
|SLASHING ATTACK 1 BASHING ATTACK 6 - 7 - 0 46 |
|BASHING ATTACK 1 WALL OF STEEL 17 - 23 - 0 43 |
|PARRY-LUNGE 0 LUNGING ATTACK 10 - 14 - 1 42 |
Turn 426 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:
AIMED BLOW 2 - 0 WALL OF STEEL 1 - 3 3 STRIKING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 0 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 2 AIMED BLOW
SLASHING ATTACK 1 - 0 2 WALL OF STEEL
BASHING ATTACK 1 - 0 1 TOTAL PARRY
PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 1 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE
LUNGING ATTACK 1 - 1 1 BASHING ATTACK
STRIKING ATTACK 1 - 1 1 LUNGING ATTACK
TOTAL PARRY 1 - 1
TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE
FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME
TOTAL PARRY SICKNESS 4242 33 15 0 138 BASH BROS BABY (461)
AIMED BLOW MITRAL VALVE 4287 16 4 0 110 BIONIC MAN (490)
PARRY-RIPOSTE ZENAKU 4280 9 3 0 104 BOOK OF THOMAS (479)
STRIKING ATTACK RIGHT HIP (3) 4289 11 5 1 89 BIONIC MAN (490)
PARRY-STRIKE EXPENSES 4294 12 9 0 59 BASH BROS BABY (461)
LUNGING ATTACK ASCENSION 4293 5 3 1 59 BOOK OF THOMAS (479)
SLASHING ATTACK TAKIDOR 4314 5 4 2 53 BOOK OF THOMAS (479)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.
The overall popularity leader is APPLE BLOSSOM 4109. The most popular warrior this
turn was BLAZE REGICIDE 4329. The ten other most popular fighters were ZEB ARN 4257,
APPLE BLOSSOM 4109, MITRAL VALVE 4287, ZOE ALBETA 4296, BASNIVAN 4344, RIGHT HIP (3)
4289, ZENAKU 4280, DROOL BABY 4243, ASCENSION 4293, and CELIA DUNCAN 4299.
The least popular fighter this week was SICKNESS 4242. The other ten least popular
fighters were YENTAL ZEEVE 4298, LIFE CHANGES 4273, EXPENSES 4294, FORTIFIED 4274,
TAKIDOR 4314, CELIA DUNCAN 4299, ASCENSION 4293, DROOL BABY 4243, ZENAKU 4280, and
RIGHT HIP (3) 4289.
The following warriors will travel to AD after next turn:
APPLE BLOSSOM (39-4109) THE MIDDLE WAY (385)
NAME CHANGE-O-RAMA
Algernon, who had NOT gotten the name change he'd asked for, looked at the latest
petitioner. This was a typical gladiator, big, muscular, and scarred, with a frown.
"Ah, what can I do for you?"
"Name change. I heard we can do that. I'm tired of being Jane Doe."
"I'd think you would be," Algernon said faintly. "The Commission has actually
been thinking about this. It isn't FREE, mind you! It takes money to run our office,
you know, and we want to buy some goats--"
"I don't care about goats!" He made a crude suggestion about goats.
"Or maybe chickens. Or bees--" Algernon took a quick step back at the look on the
rough warrior's face. "Yes, a name change. Right away, sir. We can do that.
Gladiators, teams, it will cost you two dollars to make a change--"
"I had a talk with my manager. He'll find the money. I want to change my name
to Jane Ralph. I'm no doe!" He thumped a fist on the counter.
"Er, yes. Jane Ralph. Fill out this form, please." He pushed the paper across
the counter. "The changes start on the 15th of April--that's the Ides, you know, and
can be submitted through the end of May. With the payment. No change without the
goat, ah, the gold."
* * * * *
Warrior and team name changes will be accepted beginning April 15 and continuing
throughout the month of May. The cost will be $2 per name change. All proceeds will
be used to buy goats via Heifer International and will be matched up to $500.
If you have names you want to change, please contact Customer Service. -- RSI
WINTER BLOODGAMES 2022
Back by popular demand, we will be hosting a new slow Bloodgames mailed arena
beginning in late April. We also plan our usual Bloodgames arenas at the summer Face-
to-Face.
For those of you who always wanted the chance to manage the
last warrior standing alive upon the arena sands, your day has come. At the end of
the ten turns, even though several warriors, bruised and scarred, MAY yet live, only
one will be crowned Champion of the Bloodgames. And in this game mere survival counts
for little. A great general once said, "The object of battle is not to die for your
cause, but to make your enemy die for his." This general would have greatly enjoyed
the Duelmasters Bloodgames. Here are the particulars:
Slow Bloodgames (DM 95): Turn 1 is due Weds April 27
Turns process every 28 days
Strategy changes allowed, bloodfeud challenges only
Gameplay proceeds according to standard DM rules, except for a few notable exceptions:
BLOODGAMES ROLLUP -- Your Bloodgames team is ten warriors, one of each fighting
style, each warrior designed from scratch! (All are DYOs (design your owns) with 84
points, 3-21, as usual.) To submit your rollup, just write/type them up and send them
in. We'll mail or email your overviews and you can write up your strategies.
DEATH -- As the name implies, the Bloodgames will leave the arena sands somewhat
darker before they're over. It's a dangerous sport intended only for the tough and
spirited. The Arenamaster will be less likely to intercede on behalf of a dying
warrior. Even at a 1 kill desire, kill attempts will occur.
REPLACEMENTS AND ROLLUPS -- There will be no replacement characters.
CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES -- In this turn-based bloodgames, there are no regular
challenges, only bloodfeuds. There will be no DA challenges in either arena.
TURN PROCESSING AND DUE DATES -- DM 95 is due April 27 and will process on a 28-day
schedule.
MISSED TURNS -- All warriors fight each round. Only the dead may rest.
ERRORS -- If we make an input error, that warrior will be awarded a win and kill.
Errors must be reported before the next turn processes.
NEWSLETTER -- Warriors are ranked according to their number of kills. Champions of
Bloodgames may write a column for the newsletter at the end of the games.
FEES -- A Bloodgames rollup costs a $10 set-up fee. Managers may roll up more than
one team but may run only one team in each arena. The fee for all ten rounds is $49.
AWARDS -- The Bloodgames last ten rounds. Only warriors who survive to the end of
Turn 10 will be eligible for an award. However, a consolation award of a Bloodgames
T-shirt will be awarded to the dead warrior with the most kills.
The living warrior with the greatest number of kills will be the Bloodgames Champion.
Bloodgames Victor titles, 2nd and 3rd place, and Bloodgames Runner-up titles, 4th
through 6th place, will be awarded to those living warriors with the greatest number
of kills at the end of Turn 10, with one other important consideration: Each of these
six warriors must be of a different fighting style. Win/loss records and, if
necessary, recognition points will only be used to determine awards if there is a tie.
A Bloodgames T-shirts will be awarded to the manager of the team with the most kills.
The Bloodgames Champion fights for free in Advanced Duelmasters, and all Champions and
Victors earn Tournament Victor status, which allows them to challenge once per turn
with increased priority. These awards last for six months. The manager of the
Bloodgames Champion, Victors, and Runners-up will receive Bloodgames T-shirts.
AFTERMATH -- Warriors from the Bloodgames may not transfer to any other arena. Once
the games are over, the arena and teams will be disbanded. The fighters have won
their freedom and will never more be seen in the gladiatorial games. A special bonus
will, however, be awarded to the 1st through 3rd place warriors. Lady Sheila
Greywand, of the Isle of the Eye, has consented to allow the top three gladiators in
each Bloodgames admission to the Advanced Duelmasters games. Any special training
required to qualify those three warriors for Advanced Duelmasters combat will be
conducted before transfer into ADM. Astute managers will note that this means that
three warriors that are designed from scratch will survive the Bloodgames, win one of
the top three places, and go on to immortal glory! One of those warriors could be
yours!
The challenge is yours to take. The final plans are yours to make.
When the dust settles, remember: To the victor goes the spoils!
MY TAKE ON THE PARRY SLASH
I'm sure I'm not covering any new ground with my insights on the Wall of Steel. It is
my best fighting style and a favorite. I have currently 3 in ADM, and about a half
dozen active in the arenas with one currently undefeated and Duelmaster in DM 41.
So a bit about my observations. Like most defensive styles it seems to work best to
run these guys offensively while they are young so I outfit them and run them like a
slasher. They favor the initiative, parry and attack skills which sucks a bit in ADM
because they lack in defense skill and since defense is king in the late game, Walls
of Steel fall back into the pack quite a bit. It stinks but done right they can hold
their own vs anyone except end game lungers and aimed blows who seem to be way OP at
that level.
Anyway, stats are important of course. Strength should at least be 9+ to get slashing
weapons. Con can be lower; I have gotten away with a con of 7 because I run them fast
and furious anyway so if they get out jumped or crit dodged and ripped then they go
down easy. Most fights are over in minute 1 anyway. Size is a thing; smaller sizes
would be nice but you have issues with damage if you go low size and strength less
than 11. I have an upper limit of around 14 size and a lower one of 5 in my current
crew. Wit is a no brainer: 15+ is almost mandatory but I am running one with a 13 that
is doing ok but learning slows down to a crawl if you have less than 15. Will is super
necessary so I try not to go below 15 here with a build. Speed isn't really a
priority, so I often go as low as 3 here and they still do very well. More speed would
be nice, but speed is a luxury and not a necessity. Deftness is nice, I won't run a
WOS with less than a 13 here; my highest is 21 with a current ADM build.
Now how to run them. Well, minute one is offensive so I typically run 10-10-6 and then
taper off to a high offensive effort and a low or moderate activity level. It seems
that the majority of my ADM builds prefer a high-low pace.
So a couple of current warrior builds to show off the style.
Midnight, currently in ADM -- 9-11(2)-10-17-15-3-21, about to start stat raises
but currently has ad masters in attack and initiative.
Ishmail currently in Home Guard -- 12-9-6-15-17-9-15, currently at 93 skills and
wont be stat raising for a minute.
Average Joe in Mordant -- 11-11-14-13-13-9-13, painfully bad at learning and
definitely not recommended for the faint of heart.
Beowulf in Seam -- 11-12-9-15-17-3-17, currently at 54 skills and near the top of
the arena. Has fallen on hard times of late because of diminishing returns on
skill learns.
Broken in Shadowspire -- 9-14-9-17-17-5-13, very new and probably going to be a
.500 warrior when it's all said and done because of the low speed and deftness
combo.
Bender in DM 41 -- 9-7-14-17-17-3-17, currently undefeated and duelmaster, won't
last long but he started out as a tourney warrior and has gone at best 6-3 and
went 4-3 in this past mail-in as an adept.
So for anyone who doesn't know, a speed and deftness of 21 total is needed to get
normal coordination and a combo of 28 is needed to get the "fights well with either
hand" tag on your roll up. So not really relevant to the topic but just thought I'd
throw that out there. I like to keep this total at the very least 18 to get slightly
uncoordinated on all my builds because coordination is vital to defense and attack.
Okay, that's my take on this fun style. If I have enlightened anyone then you are
welcome, I hope I at least entertained everyone. Take it easy.
-- Eli