DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 02/17/2005    Duedate: 03/02/2005

VEASTIAN ARENA

DM-43    TURN-446

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

ELLEN SUE GOTLANDER
GIRLS X3 (254)
(43-2598) [10-4-1,111]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

ELLEN SUE GOTLANDER            ROY! ROY! ROY!
GIRLS X3 (254)                 HEADHUNTERS (440)
(43-2598) [10-4-1,111]         (43-4401) [2-2-0,15]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

TIRO CUCKOO                    TIRO CUCKOO
THE FAMILY (116)               THE FAMILY (116)
(43-4329) [20-22-1,84]         (43-4329) [20-22-1,84]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

GIRLS X3 (254)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. GIRLS X3 (254)              30
2. THE FAMILY (116)            29      GIRLS X3 (254)
3. HELL'S PAWNS (104)          27      Unchartered Team
4. BOOGIE NIGHTS (304)          0
5. WIDOWMAKERS (115)           -1      HEADHUNTERS (440)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 2 GIRLS X3 (254)            54  27  3 66.7   1/ 1 GIRLS X3 (254)           10  3 0
 2- 3 BOOGIE NIGHTS (304)      192 111  9 63.4   2/ 4 THE FAMILY (116)          7  8 0
 3/ 4 WIDOWMAKERS (115)        161 139  4 53.7   3/ 2 HELL'S PAWNS (104)        5 10 1
 4/ 1*HEADHUNTERS (440)          2   2  0 50.0   4/ 3 WIDOWMAKERS (115)         3  3 0
 5/ 5 HELL'S PAWNS (104)       160 186 20 46.2   5/ 5*HEADHUNTERS (440)         2  1 0
 6/ 6 THE FAMILY (116)         398 470 10 45.9   6- 6 BOOGIE NIGHTS (304)       1  0 0

    '*'   Unchartered team                       '-'  Team did not fight this turn
   (###)  Avoid teams by their Team Id          ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank

                                      SPY REPORT

     The sages err'd not in their foretelling of a god descending upon VEASTIAN, for 
I, Novgorodny Vir, have returned!  HELL'S PAWNS had cause to celebrate, after GRIEF 
got 27 points by beating WILLBREAKER.  Win some, lose some.  Speaking of which, 
TIRANIAN was winsome, after beating ROY! ROY! ROY! and seeing him lose 9 points.  
What can be a greater victory?  ELLEN SUE GOTLANDER has taken hers place as the top, 
as VEASTIAN's new Duelmaster.  Word has it one team in VEASTIAN is taking speech 
lessons to try to bore their opponent to death.  I'll bet it works.   
     A Zenmaster once told me, 'Does not the spinning wheel turn?  And do not the 
little birds cry out?'  Any ideas?  Like a horde of jackals fleeing from the lion, so 
did the "warriors" in VEASTIAN avoid HELL'S PAWNS.  Like a pup with its tail between 
its legs, HEADHUNTERS scurried away from HELL'S PAWNS.  Oh, the shame!  Is it 
charming personality?  Conversational abilities?  Good oral hygiene?  Whatever it is, 
TIRANIAN is the most challenged warrior.   
     Like the wind whispering among the pines, do hearest I many disquieting rumors.  
Citizens of VEASTIAN, be sure to settle your debts with REMORSE of HELL'S PAWNS.  
He's relocating to the Dark Arena and has other things on his mind!  The warriors at 
GIRLS X3 stable were more sober than usual, after ANGELA MEADORS' demise at the hands 
of RAPTURE.  RAPTURE, don't make any long term plans!  Questions are being raised 
about the disposing of severed body parts in the arena.  A certain tavern in VEASTIAN 
would I avoid!   
     Leave me now, you base fools!  My fingers tire and I fear my incessant prattling 
may cause unfair judgement upon my impeccable character.  VEASTIAN, I leave you now.  
The Duelmaster has agreed to foot my bill at The Swinging Aardvark.  'Til next time-- 
Novgorodny Vir  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ELLEN SUE GOTLANDER 2598     10   4  1   111       GIRLS X3 (254)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 TIRO CUCKOO 4329             20  22  1    84       THE FAMILY (116)
 RAPTURE 4374                 12   8  1    84       HELL'S PAWNS (104)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 WOUNDBRINGER 4376            11  10  0    62       WIDOWMAKERS (115)
 C. ZETA JONES 4393            6   1  0    58       GIRLS X3 (254)
 HEATHER GRAHAM 4395           6   1  0    57       GIRLS X3 (254)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GRIEF 4388                    7   6  2    55       HELL'S PAWNS (104)
 WILLBREAKER 4372             13  10  0    53       WIDOWMAKERS (115)
 VAHNZUR 4373                 11  12  0    47       THE FAMILY (116)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-DIRK DIGGLER 3962             3   2  0    31       BOOGIE NIGHTS (304)
 TIRANIAN 4391                 5   4  0    26       THE FAMILY (116)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 STILJANZ 4409                 2   0  0    18       THE FAMILY (116)
 GRINIAN 4407                  2   1  0    17       THE FAMILY (116)
 ROY! ROY! ROY! 4401           2   2  0    15       HEADHUNTERS (440)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
ANGELA MEADORS 2597    9  5 0 GIRLS X3 254          RAPTURE 4374          446         
REMORSE 4387           5  8 3 HELL'S PAWNS 104      WURM KIN 27           446 NONE    
A REJECTED PAWN 4408   0  2 0 HELL'S PAWNS 104      STONE GOLEM 26        446 NONE    

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Angela Meadors -- Either I've been hit on the head too many times, or there were
really three of you out there.  In either case, it is obviously beyond me to defeat
three determined women at once. -- Vahnzur

Roy!x3 -- Dammit, don't DO that!  I'm still USING my head, thank you very much. --
Tiranian

Dismay -- Okay, I'm dismayed.  Please fight someone else this time. -- Tiro Cuckoo
P.S.  And even better, graduate!
P.P.S.  Ah!  You ARE graduating.  Good.

Dirk Diggler -- Boogie nights?  Does that mean you're one of those boogie men that
hides under the bed or in the closet, waiting for some poor, defenseless kid to go to
sleep, and then jumps out at him, drooling? -- Grinian

A Rejected Pawn -- Did you miss the line for the Dark Arena?  Or is your manager
attempting to get you killed so he can have a bloodfeud to play with?  Or what, eh?
I don't like being cast in the role of killer. -- Stiljanz
P.S.  Of course, you're not of the True Blood, so maybe....

31 January 2005
     My fellow duelists I come before you bearing a sad and unfortunate message.
Several months ago our group, the Vendetta Cartel, had lost contact with one of our
friends.  Since he was in contact or correspondence on an almost daily basis there
was concern amongst us.  With some research two of our members discovered why contact
was lost with him.
     On November 10, 2004, Richard Hammes was taken from us in a senseless act of
violence during a robbery attempt at a friend's store where he sometimes worked.  He
was watching the store so his friend could go home to tend to his son who had taken
ill.  You may have known Rich as Abarsis, The Slaughter Priest ; richh10 on the RT;
or gameogre on the Duel2 messageboard.  You may not have known that he spent 13 years
serving the United States in the Navy.
     Rich dearly loved this game and all it encompassed.  He may not have been the
best or most experienced manager but he loved to interact with others and was quick
to offer advice whenever anyone asked for help.  He was always kind and gracious and
tried to strengthen our game, often by helping new players feel welcome or give them
a chance to compete.  With his prolific posting I know that I am simply speaking the
obvious about what he did for our game.  Many, like me, were drawn to him, perhaps
for his kind nature or his sense of humor, and it appears he lived his life as he
played this game.  Always willing to help or do right by others.
     I realize that he had many friends outside the VC so I will include the link to
the news story in case any of his other friends would like to know more of what
happened.  We're all dealt a hand in life but it's not the strength of the hand
you're dealt but rather how you play it that really matters.  Rich played his hand to
the very best of his human ability and for this I admire him greatly.  I know we all
choose to like or dislike managers but I believe deep down we are all good and
decent, in this game, and will drop party (alliance) lines and will show the proper
respect.
     http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041112/news_7m12clerk.html
     Rich was taken from us all to soon and with so much left to offer the community
around him.  He spoke of a desire to run a contest on the Duel2 site which I hope to
uphold in his name.  Some of the people I have spoken with think it would be a nice
gesture to do one final good act in Rich's name, though it could never match what he
would've done within his community, for his community of San Diego.  I hope that with
this contest we might raise a little money to donate to an appropriate charity within
San Diego in his name.
     In conclusion I send a message to Rich:
     "Rich, though I'm sure you gathered this I never really told you how much I
admired you and what a friend I considered you.  I thank you for being my voice of
reason and always reminding me of why we both loved this game so much!  You have
taught me one final valuable lesson in learning more of you.  There are things far
more valuable in life than material possessions such as character and kindness.  That
nothing going on in your life means that you cannot find a way to be kind and giving
to others.  We always spoke of meeting someday and until we finally do know that you
will live on in with me and the rest of your brothers and sisters in the Cartel:
Master Darque, Kat, Bum, Sensei Jan, Maximillian, Hammer, Fizban, Firehawk, Phat
Phat.  You increased all of our enjoyment of this game, you were a true ambassador of
Duelmasters, and the game will not be quite the same without you.  A farewell battle
cry from the ZalCon:  'Confusion to our enemies'.  May your soul rest in peace, my
friend."
     Should anyone wish to correspond about Rich feel free to contact myself, or
anyone else within the Vendetta Cartel.
     Street Legal
     Jeff Bura
     The Death Squad(63) in Tobir or triumph1971@hotmail.com

31 January 2005
     Be it known throughout Alastari that Hammer is no longer a member of the
Vendetta Cartel alliance.
     A difference of opinion with another highly respected member of the VC due to my
recent vocal actions in DM 47 can only be resolved by my resignation from the VC as
of January 29, 2005.
     I leave of my own accord, in good standing with all members and with no hard
feelings towards anyone in the Vendetta Cartel.
     There was a time when I felt that my membership in the VC made the alliance
stronger.  I know that my resignation today makes the Vendetta Cartel a stronger
alliance with my absence. -- Hammer

1 February 2005
                           St. Valentine's Massacre update
My apologies, the Kill Contest starting on turn 476 in Jhans will run for 10 (ten)
turns ending on turn number 486.
                                                                   Azrael

5 February 2005
On behalf of the ILLUMINATI Confederation of Alliances (The kLk, CHAOS, Inc. and The
Company of Brothers) I would like to express our sympathies concerning the tragic
loss of Rich Hammes to both the DM community and to the real life world.  Surely our
loss has been Heaven's gain. -- Talon Darkhart, deeply sorrowful
                                kLk God of War, Illuminati Alliance, Puppetmaster

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

REMORSE was unbelievably slain by WURM KIN in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
A REJECTED PAWN was dispatched by STONE GOLEM in a 2 minute Dark Arena battle.
DISMAY was handily defeated by ELLEN SUE GOTLANDER in a 1 minute Title match.
ANGELA MEADORS was dispatched by RAPTURE in a 1 minute brawl.
TIRO CUCKOO bested WOUNDBRINGER in a 2 minute veteran's fight.
C. ZETA JONES savagely defeated VAHNZUR in a crowd pleasing 1 minute competition.
HEATHER GRAHAM overpowered CAPTURED ORC in a 1 minute bloody one-sided struggle.
WILLBREAKER was handily defeated by GRIEF in a 1 minute uneven fight.
ROY! ROY! ROY! lost to TIRANIAN in a 1 minute duel.
GRINIAN vanquished PERSISTENT BEGGAR in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
STILJANZ won victory over EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a 1 minute novice's duel.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   4         PARRY-STRIKE       6 -   2 -  0      75  |
|AIMED BLOW                       3         SLASHING ATTACK    8 -   3 -  0      73  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         STRIKING ATTACK   12 -   6 -  0      67  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    2         TOTAL PARRY        9 -   5 -  0      64  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         PARRY-LUNGE        5 -   3 -  0      63  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         LUNGING ATTACK    29 -  18 -  1      62  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      2 -   2 -  0      50  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   1         BASHING ATTACK     8 -   8 -  0      50  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         AIMED BLOW        11 -  20 -  4      35  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      1         WALL OF STEEL      6 -  14 -  0      30  |

Turn 446 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        1 -  0     AIMED BLOW         1 -  2         3  STRIKING ATTACK
PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  0     LUNGING ATTACK     1 -  3         2  WALL OF STEEL  
SLASHING ATTACK    1 -  0     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  1         2  LUNGING ATTACK 
STRIKING ATTACK    2 -  0     TOTAL PARRY        0 -  1         1  BASHING ATTACK 
BASHING ATTACK     1 -  0                                       1  SLASHING ATTACK
WALL OF STEEL      1 -  1                                       1  AIMED BLOW     
                                                                1  TOTAL PARRY    

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
BASHING ATTACK   ELLEN SUE GOTLANDER 2598   10   4  1  111 GIRLS X3 (254)
LUNGING ATTACK   RAPTURE 4374               12   8  1   84 HELL'S PAWNS (104)
SLASHING ATTACK  C. ZETA JONES 4393          6   1  0   58 GIRLS X3 (254)
STRIKING ATTACK  HEATHER GRAHAM 4395         6   1  0   57 GIRLS X3 (254)
AIMED BLOW       GRIEF 4388                  7   6  2   55 HELL'S PAWNS (104)
TOTAL PARRY      WILLBREAKER 4372           13  10  0   53 WIDOWMAKERS (115)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is TIRO CUCKOO 4329.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was REMORSE 4387.  The ten other most popular fighters were A REJECTED PAWN 
4408, TIRO CUCKOO 4329, RAPTURE 4374, WOUNDBRINGER 4376, C. ZETA JONES 4393, HEATHER 
GRAHAM 4395, GRIEF 4388, ELLEN SUE GOTLANDER 2598, STILJANZ 4409, and VAHNZUR 4373.

The least popular fighter this week was WILLBREAKER 4372.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were ANGELA MEADORS 2597, GRINIAN 4407, TIRANIAN 4391, ROY! ROY! 
ROY! 4401, VAHNZUR 4373, STILJANZ 4409, ELLEN SUE GOTLANDER 2598, GRIEF 4388, HEATHER 
GRAHAM 4395, and C. ZETA JONES 4393.

The following warriors have traveled to AD after fighting this turn:

DISMAY (43-1906) HELL'S PAWNS (104)

                                  Name-Change-O-Rama

     The winter tourney brought a lot of people to the Isle who didn't appear there 
normally.  This included Commission employees.  Half a dozen arenamasters regarded 
each other warily in the mirror behind the bar at the Pig in a Haystack.  The Pig was 
obscure and mediocre, drawing few gladiators, which is what they had all been looking 
for.  They saw gladiators every day.  Most arenamaster were convinced that this was 
some kind of punishment.
     You could always pick out the arenamasters in a crowd.  There were superficial 
differences:  One of these had clearly Adantri features, one wore an eye-patch, two 
were female.  But there were, in significant ways, alike.  The same size, the same 
hair-trigger alertness, the same deadliness.
     The one-eyed man broke the ice, raising his beer mug in salute.  "I'm Zrof One-
Eye from Zukal.  Sugar of Arvat--"  One of the women bowed slightly.  "I know Sugar.  
The rest of you...?"
     The Adantri matched his salute.  "Dernal of Dayla Kiv."
     "Daiyla Kiv?  Ah...."
     "No, without the 'I' in it.  These damned bureaucrats can't spell, and they 
thought adding an unnecessary vowel was exotic."  Disgust dripped from his voice.
     "Tell me about it!" another man growled in agreement.  "Khagal of Niatoli, and 
what they do to the spelling of THAT simple word--!"
     "I thought Daiyla, I mean Dayla Kiv had a different name right now," 
Arenamistress Sugar said.  "The arena, at least, because of a contest?"
     "Chavez Ravine."  Dernal's tone was the one that substituted in polite company 
for spitting on the floor.
     Zrof blinked, taken aback by the bitterness.  He wouldn't have minded a contest 
in Zukal, and damn what they called the place.  "It's only temporary, though."
     "Temporary, shmiperary," another man muttered.  He seemed well into his drinking, 
although, like all arenamasters, he carried his liquor well.  "They do it all the time 
in Aradi.  No reshpect.  Go around changing thish, changing that.  I wish I could 
change shome thingsh."  He signalled the bartender for a refill.
     The second woman put her hand over his mug.  "You've had enough, Harkon.  Try the 
coffee, instead."
     "You should be mad, too, Ripplesh," Harkon said.  "They're going to do shtuff 
like that in Jahnsh, aren't they?"
     Ripples Dorrigan shrugged.  All the men paused, some with glasses half raised, to 
watch.  "It's the way things are," she said.  "Not much we can do about it."
     "You know," Khagal of Niatoli said, "maybe we could make a few changes.  Fix the 
spelling of Arena 33, for one, change a few standby titles--"
     "The Commission hates changes."  Dernal of Dayla Kiv topped up his glass and 
drained it gloomily.
     "Yes, but if we disguise it," Sugar of Arvat said, excited, "make it... maybe a 
general Name-Change-O-Rama!  Then we could slip OUR changes through and no one would 
notice or mind."

                  *-------*-------*-------*-------*-------*-------* 

     By popular demand, we are holding a Name-Change-o-Rama during the month of March.
If you wish to change the name of your warriors or teams, please contact RSI Customer 
Service.  The charge for a name change is $1, unless you're in DOOMCorps, in which 
case you take your chances.  (Just kidding, guys! *snicker*)