DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER Date : 09/16/2003 Duedate: 10/13/2003 FRATSFA ARENA DM-52 TURN-183 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS SQUASH BUTT OTTO'S PARTS (150) (52-3269) [15-12-1,121] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader SQUASH BUTT SOUTHPOINT OTTO'S PARTS (150) OHIO (350) (52-3269) [15-12-1,121] (52-3492) [1-0-0,33] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite SINISTER SAINT SQUASH BUTT IRON CATHEDRAL (159) OTTO'S PARTS (150) (52-1690) [15-12-1,87] (52-3269) [15-12-1,121] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. OHIO (350) 77 2. MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) 35 KING AND COUNTRY (345) 3. OTTO'S PARTS (150) 19 Unchartered Team 4. IRON CATHEDRAL (159) 14 5. THEY MIGHT BE ORCS (352) 5 OHIO (350) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1/ 0*OHIO (350) 5 0 0 100 1/ 0 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) 11 4 0 2/ 1*KIWI CONNECTION (337) 2 0 0 100 2/ 2 IRON CATHEDRAL (159) 9 6 0 3/ 2 KING AND COUNTRY (345) 36 23 0 61.0 3/ 1 OTTO'S PARTS (150) 7 4 2 4/ 0 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) 33 22 0 60.0 4/ 0*OHIO (350) 5 0 0 5- 3*PHOBIC PHENOMS (346) 10 10 1 50.0 5- 3*PHOBIC PHENOMS (346) 5 5 0 6/ 4 OTTO'S PARTS (150) 198 209 12 48.6 6/ 6*KIWI CONNECTION (337) 2 0 0 7/ 6 IRON CATHEDRAL (159) 101 114 15 47.0 7/ 5 KING AND COUNTRY (345) 2 9 0 8/ 0*THEY MIGHT BE ORCS (352) 0 5 0 0.0 8/ 0*THEY MIGHT BE ORCS (352) 0 5 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[ Andorians Abroad #14 ]H[ + ---:--- + ]H[ + Not in Zuwayza: The change from the sunlit courtyard to the shuttered interior of the house was abrupt and extreme enough to blind Tankesh temporarily. He blinked impatiently, trying to clear his vision, and blundered after the old man as soon as he could see vague outlines. Furniture seemed to leap out and bite him in the shins. When his eyes finally adjusted to the shadowed interior of the building, he saw that he was in a long hallway with arches opening off both sides. The old man was just disappearing through one half way down on the left. Tankesh hurried after him. The room was bare and dark, lit only by a single candle, although the whitewashed walls made it seem brighter than it actually was. The old man was kneeling on the floor, which was of tile, white tile with black and red and gold ones inlaid in a series of concentric circles. It looked too much like a target for Tankesh's comfort; he supposed that was just his imagination. He hoped that's all it was. He squinted at the symbols the old man was drawing in some of the rings, but they meant nothing to him. Well, he didn't expect they would. Adie would probably recognize them, though. Could he remember enough detail to describe them to here when he got back? The old man stood up cautiously, one hand on the small of his back. He pointed with his stick of chalk to a spot in one of the outer rings. "Stand there, young man, and ask no questions. Pay attention and watch for the proper place to get off. This is simple, but not easy." The elf stood where he had been directed and watched the old man take his place in the center of the circle. "Proper place to get off?" "When the rim of the circle passes through your world," the old man said. Sliding his sleeves back on arms like withered sticks, he began to chant. It was, or it felt like, several minutes before he saw the arch to the hallway pass in front of him and realized that the circle was rotating. He glanced down, but there seemed to be no change in the tiles under his feet. Back up, as a corner of the room slid by, quickly followed by the next one. Definitely rotating, and picking up speed, too. "When the rim of the circle passes through my world," he muttered. "How will I know that, unless there happen to be landmarks in sight?" The old man didn't answer. Tankesh hadn't really expected him to. The walls blurred and vanished, to be replaced by a seascape with waves breaking on a beach of white sand and on rocks farther out. A wave sliding inward at the end of its course dampened the toe of one boot. Pleasant looking, but nothing familiar. Another blur. A forest of standing stones lit by bluish light from two moons, both near full, and a smell of fresh-spilled blood. A blur. A true forest, trees like columns reaching into a green darkness overhead, mist, and a smell of things growing and dying. It called to something in his elven heritage, but it was not where he needed to be. A blur that seemed to last longer than the others, there was a hesitation and a pulsing red light half way through it. Something they weren't going to stop for. Just as well, that light looked like it might be fire. A large vaulted chamber, the image wavering slightly and indistinct at any distance from his apparent location. Voices speaking akhadic. He tried to step out of the circle, but it was like moving through cold tar. The view began to blur, and he forced himself outward, throwing himself to the floor outside the circle in a dive. It seemed to take forever to fall, his motion slowed to the point where he wasn't even sure he was moving at all. And then there was a sort of soundless click, and the floor came up fast and hard, knocking the breath out of him as he hit and rolled. DUELMASTER'S COLUMN Notes from the arena champ. Fratsfa, It is with a sad and bitter heart that I re-take the Duelmaster's Throne. While I would have liked to continue this interesting contest with Squash Butt, I have more pressing business as an instrument of retribution. We will miss Clarry.... May downchallengers never prosper. Meradi SPY REPORT If you were disturbed from your beauty rest only to have to watch a bunch of FRATSFA brutes like you, you'd be grouchy, too. Later days, OTTO'S PARTS, since MIDDLE WAY 8 took top team from you this turn, you guys are old news. I can just hear all the boasts coming in OHIO's next personal ads. Their first turn they went 5-0-0. Of all teams I'd ever have any sympathy for, it's the new ones like THEY MIGHT BE ORCS, going 0-5-0 on their first turn. Don't let it get out. Of course, we're all terribly impressed to see SOUTHPOINT win a fight and gain 33 points, terribly. Tsk, tsk, SINISTER SAINT beat COLLAPSED LUNG and COLLAPSED LUNG lost 3 points. You're breakin' my heart. And it's out with the old, in with the new, as SQUASH BUTT takes the Title and last week's bar tab from the old Duelmaster. Heh, heh. The Victory Tavern, humph! I've tasted better ale at mortuaries. Where do they get this stuff? From FRATSFA's trash dumps? My mother always told me, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, start talking.' I loved that woman. What's the big D? OTTO'S PARTS was the most avoided team? Bunch of lily livered... grumble... mumble... curse... And who led the way in this mass act of cowardice? Let's see, well, whatcha know? It was KING AND COUNTRY. Ha ha ha ha! Ooh, I'm frightfully impressed, TEMPER was this turn's most challenged warrior. Watch that ego swell, sports fans. Death and Taxes. The less death I see, the more it taxes my patience. Let's see if anyone's dead or dying. We're all going to die in the end, so why worry if the fate catches up with you sooner that later? I was about to buy a new quill pen the other day, but some fighter took it for an epee. Forgive me for writing with a dagger. Well, I've had enough of this drivel, and I'm sure you have too. Off like a dirty shirt of padded leather. Paste this one in your scrapbooks, you'll need the kindling come this winter-- Snide Clemens DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SQUASH BUTT 3269 15 12 1 121 OTTO'S PARTS (150) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -BLOODY NOSE 3175 18 15 1 134 OTTO'S PARTS (150) MERADI 3437 19 4 0 91 KING AND COUNTRY (345) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME SINISTER SAINT 1690 15 12 1 87 IRON CATHEDRAL (159) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME COLLAPSED LUNG 3380 5 7 2 55 OTTO'S PARTS (150) TEMPER 3373 10 5 0 48 IRON CATHEDRAL (159) RENDOR QUIL 3497 7 4 0 43 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) TEALIN SALI 3496 7 4 0 40 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME LENA KORIL 3495 7 4 0 33 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) CAULIFLOWER EARS 3424 5 5 0 33 OTTO'S PARTS (150) -THAASOPHOBE 3454 2 2 0 33 PHOBIC PHENOMS (346) SOUTHPOINT 3492 1 0 0 33 OHIO (350) NEFAN MURH 3499 6 5 0 28 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) POL OLVAN 3498 6 5 0 27 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) MALICE 3447 4 3 0 26 IRON CATHEDRAL (159) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -PHOBOPHOBE 3452 3 1 1 21 PHOBIC PHENOMS (346) MURRAY 3341 2 0 0 21 KIWI CONNECTION (337) -BLENNOPHOBE 3470 2 1 0 19 PHOBIC PHENOMS (346) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME STEUBENVILLE 3487 1 0 0 19 OHIO (350) FAT FRIAR 3455 3 3 0 12 IRON CATHEDRAL (159) VICAR GENERAL 3474 2 1 0 11 IRON CATHEDRAL (159) TOLEDO 3482 1 0 0 11 OHIO (350) CLEO 3433 1 2 0 11 KING AND COUNTRY (345) CHARLEY 3444 0 3 0 10 KING AND COUNTRY (345) JAMESTOWN 3491 1 0 0 8 OHIO (350) BEXLEY 3486 1 0 0 6 OHIO (350) LEVIATHAN 3506 0 1 0 1 THEY MIGHT BE ORCS (352) TROLL 3505 0 1 0 1 THEY MIGHT BE ORCS (352) TROGLODYTE 3504 0 1 0 1 THEY MIGHT BE ORCS (352) NEANDERTHAL 3507 0 1 0 1 THEY MIGHT BE ORCS (352) ORCA 3503 0 1 0 1 THEY MIGHT BE ORCS (352) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? CARDINAL CYN 2556 6 8 0 IRON CATHEDRAL 159 PHOBOPHOBE 3452 180 CLARRY 3434 8 4 0 KING AND COUNTRY 345 BLOODY NOSE 3175 182 PERSONAL ADS King & Country -- I know you are peeved with the challenge to Clarry, but he was the highest ranked warrior that the DM wasn't already challenging, and 6-4-6 attacking the legs is hardly a "killer" strat. But the nose is now at 16 political points, and will be taking an indefinite leave from arena action. -- Otto's Parts Meradi -- Consider myself untweaked. -- Squash Butt Temper -- A year's fine tuning should produce a bout with a more favourable result. -- Cauliflower Ears (Yes, I like a little cheese with my whine.) Charley -- Well, it seems I hit you much harder than I thought, or rather that your brain is in some strange location. Could it be in your right arm? Perhaps your abdominal region? It must be one of the two as I only hit you in those areas, twice each.... -- Malice Crip -- It is difficult to fathom what would possess you to allow your warrior to make such a pitiful down challenge! You should be ashamed. Know that the gesture cuts me deeply, from one manager to another. It is like you have decided that, rather than allowing your warriors to compete with mine, you are willing to let them steal wins like common thieves. Prepare for a very long bloodfeud. -- Generalissimo Puerco Ko Tenne -- Chanla fared better than Clarry, it seems.... -- Generalissimo Puerco For our last farewells-- Thaasophobe -- Think of that win as my going-away gift to you. -- Ringan P.S. Or as a sign of my basic mediocrity, of course. Cleo -- A bold challenge. I would have visited you in the Infirmary as a not-so- secret friend, but I had to rush off to Miroi T'Chi-Chang, where I won't know ANYBODY. Darn. -- Lesinj, already homesick Charley -- Should I plume myself on the defeat of a warrior with only one fight to my five? I don't think so.... -- Lenj d'Len Phobophobe -- You have nothing to fear but fear itself. You certainly don't have ME to fear. -- S'jonsin the unfearsome Kalkin -- Re triple fifteens, I have heard people say they tend to be cursed, but my own warriors tend to be so seriously cursed by the lack of management attention that I really couldn't speak to that from direct experience. I will say that it is my feeling and experience that a lot of the so-called "curses" that I've heard of tend to be superstition based on too small a pool of data. And that the "numbers consciousness" resulting from the wide dissemination of the researches of such people as Pagan has tended to do as much harm as good, since there is a chance factor in many situations (not a "curse" or a "blessing" but just chance) that young number- crunchers forget or don't know to allow for. And, of course, my underlying belief that the ability of the manager is THE most important factor in a warrior's success or lack of it. -- Ko Tenne, Sand Dancers, now probably Leeta, Middle Way P.S. You should get a couple of newsletters free after going inactive, but if something comes up on the trip-15 issue after that, and you haven't returned to active play, I'll see about getting a copy to you. Heck, I might even research it myself among my pool of graduated warriors; there are bound to be a bunch of trip-15s among 'em. 19 August 2003 Citizens of Ghea (only the ignorant fail to note Lirith Kai is not in Alastari), no new day is rising, but the sun is setting on just another beautiful evening. While you were sleeping, an irksome rabble has entered the always fair Aruak City. Of course they fought alongside our warriors, most not so treasured, as all gladiators do. They drank with themselves, and slept with themselves. Whether they had masks, who cares. Warriors, don't be afraid. For years Aruak has been one of the safest cities in Ghea, and that custom has been continually cultivated, and will continue to be by those who have called it home for years and those who live, fight, and die by the same ethics. There is no contest, nor has there ever needed to be one for many years. A conflict of personalities has arisen, and the city has been 'invaded' by pests. Any rules that are annouced will be purely for the joy of the lemmings' own little world. Those who are being targeted have no interest in participating except to defend the integrity of an arena that is different from others. Whether you choose to come to Aruak, do it for your own reasons, not theirs. Competing in Aruak City has never been for the faint of heart or the weak willed. Combat is combat, wherever you go. Blood will flow as always, and now many innocents will be caught in the middle, but those who defend Aruak's traditions never target those who bring respect of Aruaki customs with them to our home. So ignore the private ranting announcement brought by the stuporous Frothingsloshers. If you choose Aruak City, do not choose it for an unsanctioned and bogus 'contest', choose it for the tradition. Choose it because Aruak is different. Defenders of Aruak 25 August 2003 To any that care -- The CDC is back; our current roster is: Malaquar -- Minion of Guardian Pip the Troll -- Burly Enforcer Type mouse -- Official Sneaky Bastard Papa Bear -- Elder Statesmen The Sealer says, "Hi, I'm the dealer." Papa Bear says, "It's not my f****n fault." Guardian -- Paper Figurehead 9 September 2003 WE'RE LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MANAGERS! If you think you have what it takes to match wits and blades with some of the best managers in Alastari, then WE WANT YOU! The Tournament Of The Golden Scrod #4 will begin in Aradi (DM 60) the turn after the Fall Mail-In. It's not too late for you to sign up. I realize that many of you may be hesitant after seeing that myself and Hombre have teamed up again, but we'll try to take it easy on you guys a little bit. For more information on T#%S IV, please contact me at ganolus@aol.com. We're looking for a few good managers...the few, the proud, the TOGS! -- Ganolus Oakleaf, T#%S IV Commish 15 September 2003 An Announcement Concerning the Brotherhood of the Blade Alliance: I have chosen to withdraw my membership from the Brotherhood of the Blade alliance. The years I have spent in the alliance have been the best of my DM career. I leave the alliance with many great friends and will always remain close to my former brethren. The Brotherhood of the Blade will not skip a beat without my membership. It remains in very capable hands and its roster is among the strongest in the game. With the return on some of its founding members to DM, I know the BOB will continue to grow in strength and prestige in the years to come. -- The Sandman LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS CAULIFLOWER EARS was unbelievably bested by TEMPER in a 3 minute Challenge fight. MERADI was demolished by SQUASH BUTT in a popular 4 minute one-sided Title melee. SINISTER SAINT devastated COLLAPSED LUNG in a 1 minute one-sided contest. TEALIN SALI narrowly defeated MALICE in a 2 minute bloody match. LENA KORIL viciously subdued CHARLEY in a 3 minute gory duel. RENDOR QUIL bested THE HONEST MERCHANT in a 2 minute match. NEFAN MURH devastated CLEO in a 1 minute one-sided competition. POL OLVAN overcame FAT FRIAR in a action packed 4 minute melee. VICAR GENERAL viciously subdued TROGLODYTE in a action packed 3 minute novice's duel. MURRAY defeated ORCA in a 1 minute novice's fight. SOUTHPOINT handily defeated POLITE BEGGAR in a 1 minute one-sided bout. STEUBENVILLE demolished POLITE BEGGAR in a 1 minute mismatched match. TOLEDO handily defeated NEANDERTHAL in a 2 minute brutal one-sided contest. JAMESTOWN slimly won victory over LEVIATHAN in a 3 minute amateur's bout. BEXLEY viciously subdued TROLL in a action packed 3 minute gruesome amateur's bout. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |LUNGING ATTACK 6 BASHING ATTACK 14 - 6 - 1 70 | |BASHING ATTACK 4 PARRY-STRIKE 19 - 10 - 0 66 | |AIMED BLOW 4 WALL OF STEEL 12 - 8 - 3 60 | |STRIKING ATTACK 3 LUNGING ATTACK 22 - 20 - 2 52 | |PARRY-STRIKE 3 TOTAL PARRY 13 - 13 - 0 50 | |WALL OF STEEL 2 SLASHING ATTACK 9 - 9 - 1 50 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 AIMED BLOW 6 - 7 - 1 46 | |TOTAL PARRY 2 STRIKING ATTACK 10 - 13 - 1 43 | |SLASHING ATTACK 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 6 - 9 - 0 40 | |PARRY-LUNGE 0 PARRY-LUNGE 4 - 6 - 1 40 | Turn 183 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: WALL OF STEEL 2 - 0 PARRY-STRIKE 1 - 2 2 PARRY-STRIKE BASHING ATTACK 3 - 1 PARRY-LUNGE 0 - 0 2 BASHING ATTACK STRIKING ATTACK 2 - 1 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 1 2 LUNGING ATTACK AIMED BLOW 2 - 2 1 PARRY-LUNGE PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 1 1 STRIKING ATTACK LUNGING ATTACK 3 - 3 1 TOTAL PARRY TOTAL PARRY 1 - 1 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 WALL OF STEEL TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME PARRY-STRIKE SQUASH BUTT 3269 15 12 1 121 OTTO'S PARTS (150) STRIKING ATTACK SINISTER SAINT 1690 15 12 1 87 IRON CATHEDRAL (159) TOTAL PARRY TEMPER 3373 10 5 0 48 IRON CATHEDRAL (159) BASHING ATTACK RENDOR QUIL 3497 7 4 0 43 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) PARRY-RIPOSTE TEALIN SALI 3496 7 4 0 40 MIDDLE WAY 8 (351) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is SINISTER SAINT 1690. The most popular warrior this turn was SQUASH BUTT 3269. The ten other most popular fighters were LEVIATHAN 3506, VICAR GENERAL 3474, CAULIFLOWER EARS 3424, TROLL 3505, POL OLVAN 3498, JAMESTOWN 3491, LENA KORIL 3495, RENDOR QUIL 3497, TOLEDO 3482, and BEXLEY 3486. The least popular fighter this week was ORCA 3503. The other ten least popular fighters were CLEO 3433, COLLAPSED LUNG 3380, NEANDERTHAL 3507, STEUBENVILLE 3487, CHARLEY 3444, TROGLODYTE 3504, SINISTER SAINT 1690, MERADI 3437, TEMPER 3373, and SOUTHPOINT 3492. FACE-TO-FACE TOURNEY XXXI GATEWAY TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME SIROCCO 1789 (93-75-0) 2 3 0 ELEMENTAL FORCE ADM TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME SHAFT 3348 (9-3-1) 1 3 0 PIMPS FRESHMEN TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME BRAIN TUMOR 2584 (31-16-0) 4 3 0 OTTO'S PARTS CHAMPIONS TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME UNKNOWN QUANTITY 2133 (5-6-0) 1 3 0 CAUSE AND PURPOSE BLOODY NOSE 3175 (17-15-0) 0 3 0 OTTO'S PARTS APPRENTICES TOURNEY W L K TEAM NAME CAULIFLOWER EARS 3424 (4-3-0) 7 3 1 OTTO'S PARTS FACE-TO-FACE XXXII Our next Winter Face-to-Face will be held on Martin Luther King weekend, Friday through Sunday, 16-18 January 2004, at the Embassy Suites in Tempe, Arizona (4400 S Rural Rd). Room rates are $119.00 per night, 1-2 occupancy, which includes breakfast. The rooms are blocked. The reservations number is 480-897-7444; tell them you're with the "Reality Simulations Face to Face Convention" block. Our room block will be released in mid-December, so please make sure you reserve your room before then. There is a free shuttle to the airport, as well as free parking. The hotel is located down the freeway in Tempe. All rooms have high speed internet (for an extra charge). There is a fitness center, jacuzzi, and pool, and of course a bar and restaurant inside the hotel. And there's Denny's right across the street. Look for transportation info in the tournament information sheet. The tournament information sheet/strategy sheet should be out sometime in late November/early December. If you haven't been to a Face-to-Face before, you're overdue. If you have, you'll be back. Don't miss this one, it'll be a blast! See you there! -- Green Eyes and the RSI Staff