DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 04/09/2007    Duedate: 04/21/2007

ARDIVENT ARENA

DM-46    TURN-498

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

DAVY PRIVETTE
FANDILS (75)
(46-3447) [20-9-0,83]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

DAVY PRIVETTE                  UP FROM THE SEA
FANDILS (75)                   WOE TO WHITECHAPEL (358)
(46-3447) [20-9-0,83]          (46-3979) [3-2-0,21]

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

JUANITA                        EARL
FANDILS (75)                   FANDILS (75)
(46-3926) [12-8-0,69]          (46-3951) [9-5-0,52]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

FANDILS (75)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. SONS OF TULL (360)          43
2. WILD OATS (248)             25      FANDILS (75)
3. FANDILS (75)                20      Unchartered Team
4. INFERNAL LORDS (8)          18
5. BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)     16      SONS OF TULL (360)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 0*SONS OF TULL (360)         4   1  0 80.0   1/ 1 FANDILS (75)              8  5 0
 2- 2 THE BEARS II (355)        17  11  3 60.7   2/ 5 WILD OATS (248)           6  6 0
 3/ 4 FANDILS (75)             836 632 27 56.9   3/ 4 BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)   6  7 0
 4/ 5 INFERNAL LORDS (8)       200 167 12 54.5   4/ 2*WOE TO WHITECHAPEL (358)  6  7 0
 5/ 6 WILD OATS (248)           23  20  0 53.5   5/ 3 INFERNAL LORDS (8)        5  4 1
 6/ 8 BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)  404 648 13 38.4   6/ 0*SONS OF TULL (360)        4  1 0
 7/ 7*WOE TO WHITECHAPEL (358)  10  18  0 35.7   7- 6 THE BEARS II (355)        2  1 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

                                       Aimers

Most managers are aware of low-will Striker designs.  Allow me to offer an
alternative; the low-will Aimer.  Aimers don't need a lot of endurance; 288 points
using the following formula will do:  WL(ST+CN).  Also, if we're talking Basic,
Aimers don't need a 21 Deftness.  Yes, a 17 Deftness will cost your Aimer two bonus
attack skills.  So what?  He will start with a good attack base and quickly add to
it.  Which would you rather have, a low-will Striker who, by virtue of his style
bonuses, should retire upon graduation or a 13 Will, 12 Speed, 17 deftness Aimer?
The Aimer's attack base is better than the Striker's and, unlike the Striker, the
Aimer can get lucky in attack, defense and parry.  With a lot of luck, Primus isn't
out of the question.  Should all those "Striker" rollups we see become Aimers?  Of
course not.  As an aside, if you see something that resembles the following, make it
a Striker:  13-7-11-21-9-12-11.  What about a more modest "Striker" rollup that
produces 11-8-8-15-13-12-17?  Make this an Aimer and, with a little training, you'll
have a solid team member.  Hey, if you're tired of Strikers and Scum, here's your
chance to lower the population of both! -- Cadmus

      * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ *

     "It's infamous!"  Ardane, spy reporter for Andorak, scowled and drew back his
arm to throw his goblet through the window at the crowd outside.  Then paused to
drain the contents before resuming the about-to-throw-it position.
     "Now, now, it isn't THAT bad."  Desiree of Darkholm, always the voice of sweet
reason at these meetings, laid a hand on his, smiled, and guided the goblet back to
the table.  "It's just a little mistake, you know."
     "Ha!"  Debby Tonte of Free Blades stabbed viciously into her drink with an
umbrella.  "That's easy for YOU to say.  The Delarquans aren't complaining."
     "Of course not."  Galen of Talahya looked faintly envious as she pulled a chunk
of pineapple out of her glass and began to nibble it.  "That's because the Delarquans
are THE Masters of Kung-Fu."
     "You think some managers are complaining," Olaf Modeen said, "you should hear
what the GLADIATORS are saying.  All these rumors about the Aimed Blows having
'special enhancements'..." he shook his head.  "I know it isn't true, you know it
isn't true, the top managers know it isn't true--"
     "Of course it isn't true!"  Ketchum, spy reporter for Crysalis, matched scowls
with Ardane and said, "If ANY one style was going to get a special enhancement, it
should be--"
     "Not now, Ketch," Olaf said.  "Nobody gets, nobody has gotten, nobody WILL get,
special enhancements.  That's always been the rule, and we all know how the Greywand
hates changes.  The real problem--"
     "Try telling that to some of the managers," Debby muttered, peering into her
glass for more fruit.  "They don't want to hear it.  Every time I turn around, some
manager is claiming that someone got a special change and, you know, HE didn't and
it's all unfair."
     "The REAL problem," Olaf said firmly, over-riding her voice, "is explaining to
all the second-rate Aimed Blows why they haven't received any of these 'special
enhancements' they keep hearing about."
     "There aren't any special enhancements," Ardane growled.  "None.  Just managers
who noticed that the Kung-Fu Master is a lot more dangerous than anyone expected, and
have put YEARS into the study of Kung-Fu and learned how to really USE it for their
own gladiators."
     "Saved a lot on weapons, too," Ketchum murmured.
     "But people keep complaining," Debby Tonte said.  She fished one last piece of
fruit out of her glass and stared at it dubiously.
     "There WERE no special enhancements," Olaf said.  "There ARE no special
enhancements.  There WILL BE no special enhancements.  It's all a matter of deep
study and skilled management."
     "Like anyone's going to believe that!"
     "They have no choice," Ketchum said.  "If no 'special enhancements' were given
out, then none can be taken back.  It is the way it is.  What's the point in
complaining because the sun rises in the east?"

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

I don't think Davy Privette wants anything more to do with me.  Folks, give him
credit for showing up.  For the curious, my reign is short because I TVed the
Apprentices over eleven years ago.  I was pretty good back then, before a favorite
learn of parry sent my hopes for glory packin'.

I started out at 13-10-7-17-13-3-21.  It was something of a coup getting my name past
the RSI censor.  I have two very nice favorites; MO/MO and lunge.  Sadly, about 80%
of Cadmus' Aimers get cursed with Fist as a favorite weapon.  I'm one of them.  No
big deal for me 'cause I'm retiring--lingerie never forgets!  Still, one would think
the commission would have corrected the Fist problem decades ago.  Why should they?
Sshhh,  quiet now.  Is everybody listening?  Because, IT'S BROKEN!!!

                                                          Bob the Knob

                                      SPY REPORT

     Busy, busy, busy, lots of things happening in ARDIVENT this turn, and let's 
start with a look at some of the teams.  WILD OATS stable has parlayed this turn's 
2-1-0 into a 3 space move up the rankings.  This brings them up to 2nd place.  Good 
work, guys!  On their very first turn, SONS OF TULL had a 4-1-0, and with this kind 
of luck or skill, should do well.  Welcome to ARDIVENT.  And let's see, MEMNOCK 
fought WISP IN DARKNESS and gained 18 points and contributed to INFERNAL LORDS' 
2-1-1.  FEAR VECTOR has lost to BERNICE, falling 15 points, while helping make WOE TO 
WHITECHAPEL a 1-4-0 turn.  Defending his title for another turn, BOB THE KNOB kept 
FANDILS' warrior, DAVY PRIVETTE, from claiming the throne.  Can someone confirm a 
rumor for me?  I hear the top team makes their losing fighters do dishes at The 
Victory Tavern until they win.  Maybe?   
     I tell you, a green quarterstaff lasts longer than a seasoned sapling.  A basher 
friend of mine assures me this is true.  I also notice that the INFERNAL LORDS stable 
was the most avoided team this turn.  Come on ARDIVENT, what are you afraid of?  And 
guess who avoided INFERNAL LORDS stable the most?  Believe it or not, it was FANDILS. 
Anyone surprised?  The most challenged warrior this turn was WOE TO WHITECHAPEL's 
warrior FEAR VECTOR.  More fighters challenged him than challenged the Duelmaster!   
     A coward dies a thousand deaths, a brave man only once.  Wise men know this to 
be true.  Is it really true that ARDIVENT has more dishwashers per capita that 
fighters?  Just thought I'd ask...   
     Thought for the day, a new sword shines bright, but the notched sword sings the 
sweetest.  Always good to rest in ARDIVENT, but never good to wear out my welcome.  
Look for me in future turns.  Until the sun next rises and my pen sets to paper-- 
Alarond the Scribe  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 DAVY PRIVETTE 3447           20   9  0    83       FANDILS (75)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-DR STEINBURGER 3442          29   9  0   106       FANDILS (75)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-TEMPTATION 3314               9   5  0    89       INFERNAL LORDS (8)
 JUANITA 3926                 12   8  0    69       FANDILS (75)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-BROQUS 3947                   8   3  1    65       INFERNAL LORDS (8)
 LIBERTINE 2597                6   4  0    65       WILD OATS (248)
-HAIRY BEAR 3939               5   2  0    65       THE BEARS II (355)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 EUROQ 3901                    8   7  0    53       INFERNAL LORDS (8)
 EARL 3951                     9   5  0    52       FANDILS (75)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JACINTHE 3892                 6  27  0    51       BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)
 DEBRA CONKLIN 3890            7  28  0    49       BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)
-IRONWOLF 274                  5   1  0    42       BARBARIAN HORDE (47)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-UNBEATABLE 3949               2   0  1    33       THE BEARS II (355)
 BERNICE 3996                  2   0  0    33       FANDILS (75)
 CADDO SCOT 3975               6   2  0    24       BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)
 NIVIX 3986                    2   1  0    24       INFERNAL LORDS (8)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 MEMNOCK 3982                  2   2  1    23       INFERNAL LORDS (8)
 UP FROM THE SEA 3979          3   2  0    21       WOE TO WHITECHAPEL (358)
-UG 271                        4   2  1    19       BARBARIAN HORDE (47)
-KROKUS 272                    4   2  0    19       BARBARIAN HORDE (47)
-TARAMON 270                   3   3  0    18       BARBARIAN HORDE (47)
 BANNIR PARK 3981              5   2  0    17       BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)
 FEAR VECTOR 3978              2   3  0    17       WOE TO WHITECHAPEL (358)
-WEASEL 273                    4   2  0    15       BARBARIAN HORDE (47)
 DOANE 3997                    1   0  0    15       SONS OF TULL (360)
 CROSSEYED MARY 3999           1   0  0    15       SONS OF TULL (360)
 BONE MILL 3977                3   3  0    12       WOE TO WHITECHAPEL (358)
-GODZILLA 3969                 1   0  1    12       THE BEARS II (355)
-MOMMA BEAR 3983               1   0  0    12       THE BEARS II (355)
 PERCHED THING 3976            1   5  0     8       WOE TO WHITECHAPEL (358)
 CORNICK 4000                  1   0  0     7       SONS OF TULL (360)
 DEAD DUCK 2598                1   2  0     5       WILD OATS (248)
 BARRE 4001                    1   0  0     5       SONS OF TULL (360)
 ANDERSON 3998                 0   1  0     1       SONS OF TULL (360)
 DECKER COBB 3992              0   1  0     1       BLUVALLEY WARRIORS (74)

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

THE DEAD               W  L K TEAM NAME             SLAIN BY             TURN Revenge?
WISP IN DARKNESS 3984  1  4 0 WOE TO WHITECHAPE 358 MEMNOCK 3982          498         

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Bob The Knob and Cadmus -- A salute to the Duelmaster!  For a mode, parry-fave Lord
Protector aimer, you da man!  Sing us a song, Champ! -- Fandil The Wise

Dead Duck -- I don't usually like dead ducks, but I like you now! -- Bernice

Bob The Knob -- You were too much to me, Sir.  I bow to The Champion of The Red
Sands. -- Davy Privette

Debra -- Another good one for me.  I surely don't know where they come from. --
Juanita

Broqus -- Harumpp!  You whupped me good! -- Earl

Debra -- Interestingly enough, in real life Earl was names after the boss's cat who
was named after his father.  Sure enough, Earl The Cat is called Earl The Pearl, and
often just "Pearl". -- The Fandil Scribe

Degotti -- Thanks.  What a nice thing to say! -- WOF
P.S.  That trip to Europe of which you speak wouldn't include a trip to Spain, now,
would it? (wink)

Bob The Knob -- I like your thoughts on the Mary Catherine scenario.  Cool!  However,
Mary Catherine was names after someone who came along a little before Julia Andrew's
time.  (amazing, huh?)  Mary Catherine was the boss's aunt, who was only a few years
older than him, and an often youth playmate. -- The Fandil Scribe

Cadmus -- It would, indeed, be a "catch" if you were to be able to get Pappa Bear to
write a personal here.  It is , as you say, truly great to see the "old codger" at
The Faces.  He was lookin good in Tempe last January.  May he reign supreme as our
elderly statesman, and the only one in the game older than me. -- Wise Old Fandil

Bob -- We give you credit--great DM Column.  Good luck in The Big Time or retirement.
(Don't eat the oats! -- wink) -- The Fandils

Caddo Scot -- The boss decided to stop the "I have never seen this before" and give
it a try with something more reasonable. -- Fear Vector 

Bannir Park -- A win...A win... my god a win... -- Perched Thing

Bannir Park -- OK then...can't blame the strategy... hmmm... Curse that tree stump
you have for a right arm...  -- Bone Mill 

WOF (Wise Old Fandil) -- We shall see... Beat everyone in the "supposed to beat"
category this time.  I have a goal in mind, win percentage is not first priority
(sadly the results reflect that so far) -- Woe To Whitechapel

What luck!  Two TP's fight last turn and I run into both of them! -- DeGotti

Cadmus -- Good to know you are the manager behind the Wild Oats team.  I wasn't here
when you were previously but it's always good to see you back. -- DeGotti

Cadmus -- I'm afraid I haven't seen Papa Bear write a PA in years it seems. --
DeGotti

WoF -- I would love to see many scantly clad ladies running around in drunken
celebration of Ardivent's 500th turn.  Maybe I will even hit the 200 win mark by that
time? -- DeGotti

Fandil, Adie, & DeGotti -- Thanks for the tip o' the cap. -- Cadmus

DeGotti -- No, I don't have any <quacking> tourney experience.  If you think I'm
fast, check out <quacking> Bernice. -- Dead Duck

Bernice -- Life is short.  Slow down and smell the <quacking> roses. -- Dead Duck

Jacinthe -- A war flail?  Now I know you're kidding! -- Libertine

Davy P. -- Not a good match up for you.  Chances are we'll do it again. -- Bob the
Knob

Libertine -- Ah, you do INDEED take liberties! -- Jacinthe
P.S.  Not that I'm exactly complaining....
P.P.S.  (frowning)  How came I to be using this weapon?

Memnock -- I think your problem is that you're just too tall to be a dwarf.  It
confuses your reflexes or something.  Eh? -- Bannir Park

Juanita -- Oh... go eat a huarache!  Cucaracha!  Whatever. -- Debra Conklin, not
having a good day

Nivix -- Ah, and do you fix furnaces?  I have heard it said that ours is definitely
"infernal." -- Caddo Scot

Earl -- Well, it's out now, right?  Whatever it was. -- Debra

Cadmus -- Bluvalley Warriors: managed by Leeta, or possibly these days Jorja.

Our congratulations to the non-expendable Bob the Knob. -- the Bluvalley Warriors

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

EARL bested DEBRA CONKLIN in a 1 minute bloody Challenge fight.
NIVIX vanquished PERCHED THING in a 1 minute uneven Challenge battle.
MEMNOCK murdered WISP IN DARKNESS in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
BERNICE devastated FEAR VECTOR in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge contest.
BOB THE KNOB savagely defeated DAVY PRIVETTE in a 4 minute master's Title match.
JUANITA was luckily beaten by VETERAN MERCENARY in a 2 minute brutal struggle.
EUROQ was bested by LIBERTINE in a popular 1 minute competition.
JACINTHE overcame RUTHLESS JAYWALKER in a 1 minute uneven melee.
BANNIR PARK won victory over FRIENDLY CONSTABLE in a 3 minute duel.
CADDO SCOT defeated BONE MILL in a 5 minute duel.
DEAD DUCK was unbelievably bested by CORNICK in a exciting 1 minute novice's fight.
UP FROM THE SEA beat ANDERSON in a 6 minute novice's fight.
DECKER COBB was subdued by BARRE in a 2 minute amateur's competition.
DOANE devastated POLITE BEGGAR in a 1 minute one-sided battle.
CROSSEYED MARY bested TRUSTWORTHY SCRIBE in a 1 minute amateur's bout.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|LUNGING ATTACK                   5         TOTAL PARRY       28 -   8 -  1      78  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  5         LUNGING ATTACK    16 -   7 -  1      70  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    4         BASHING ATTACK    16 -   9 -  2      64  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      3         STRIKING ATTACK   19 -  13 -  2      59  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    3         SLASHING ATTACK   15 -  11 -  2      58  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         AIMED BLOW         6 -  11 -  0      35  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         WALL OF STEEL     10 -  19 -  0      34  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         PARRY-STRIKE       1 -   3 -  0      25  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         PARRY-LUNGE        2 -   6 -  0      25  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   0         PARRY-RIPOSTE      5 -  16 -  0      24  |

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:

TOTAL PARRY        3 -  0     PARRY-RIPOSTE      1 -  2         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
LUNGING ATTACK     4 -  1     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  1         2  WALL OF STEEL  
STRIKING ATTACK    3 -  2     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         2  STRIKING ATTACK
AIMED BLOW         1 -  1     SLASHING ATTACK    0 -  2         1  TOTAL PARRY    
WALL OF STEEL      2 -  2     BASHING ATTACK     0 -  0         1  SLASHING ATTACK
                                                                1  BASHING ATTACK 
                                                                1  PARRY-RIPOSTE  

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
WALL OF STEEL    DAVY PRIVETTE 3447         20   9  0   83 FANDILS (75)
SLASHING ATTACK  JUANITA 3926               12   8  0   69 FANDILS (75)
LUNGING ATTACK   LIBERTINE 2597              6   4  0   65 WILD OATS (248)
STRIKING ATTACK  EUROQ 3901                  8   7  0   53 INFERNAL LORDS (8)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is JUANITA 3926.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was EARL 3951.  The ten other most popular fighters were JUANITA 3926, LIBERTINE 
2597, ANDERSON 3998, NIVIX 3986, BERNICE 3996, EUROQ 3901, JACINTHE 3892, DEAD DUCK 
2598, CORNICK 4000, and UP FROM THE SEA 3979.

The least popular fighter this week was CADDO SCOT 3975.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were BONE MILL 3977, FEAR VECTOR 3978, WISP IN DARKNESS 3984, PERCHED THING 
3976, DEBRA CONKLIN 3890, BARRE 4001, BANNIR PARK 3981, DAVY PRIVETTE 3447, MEMNOCK 
3982, and CROSSEYED MARY 3999.

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

BOB THE KNOB (46-2596) WILD OATS (248)

               NEW TEAMS IN THE TEMPORARY TOURNAMENT ARENAS (DM 81/83)

Please note that all new teams created at the Face-to-Face were temporarily placed 
in a temporary Tournament Arena, DM 81 or DM 83.  If you requested that your team be 
placed in a specific arena, it has already transferred to that arena.  Any teams not 
transferred out of DM 81 and DM 83 by May 1 will be deleted.  If you have questions 
about any of your teams, please contact Customer Service. -- RSI