DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 03/04/2022    Duedate: 03/31/2022

TROCAR ARENA

DM-54    TURN-407

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

SYNTH
PLANET 9 (354)
(54-3398) [10-3-1,105]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

SYNTH                          POSITION IS EMPTY
PLANET 9 (354)                 
(54-3398) [10-3-1,105]         

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

LARKIN SAND                    DILIAN HALLIE
TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)        TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
(54-3344) [21-14-0,93]         (54-3328) [22-19-0,94]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

BASH BROS BATHROOM (331)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. BASH BROS BATHROOM (331)    57
2. PLANET 9 (354)              13      PLANET 9 (354)
3. BOOK OF THOMAS (341)         7      Unchartered Team
4. CRUX (352)                   0
5. TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)    -14GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS (210)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 2 PLANET 9 (354)            25  16  1 61.0   1/ 5 BASH BROS BATHROOM (331)  7  4 0
 2- 1 CRUX (352)                20  13  1 60.6   2/ 1 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)   6  9 0
 3/ 3 BOOK OF THOMAS (341)      86  63  4 57.7   3- 2 CRUX (352)                4  0 1
 4/ 5 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)  570 517 16 52.4   4/ 4 BOOK OF THOMAS (341)      4  2 0
 5/ 6 BASH BROS BATHROOM (331) 144 168  7 46.2   5/ 3 PLANET 9 (354)            2  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.

We couldn't have a Venomous Concubine for duelmaster, she's a loose woman, which is 
how she became a concubine in the first place.

                                          -- Larkin Sand

                                      SPY REPORT

     If you were disturbed from your beauty rest only to have to watch a bunch of 
TROCAR brutes like you, you'd be grouchy, too.  Later days, TRADERS OF TROCAR, since 
BASH BROS BATHROOM took top team from you this turn, you guys are old news.  BASH 
BROS BATHROOM turned their 4-0-0 turn into a 1st place rank in the listings this 
turn.  Any better than this, and you get put on hit lists.  Of course, we're all 
terribly impressed to see CLOGGED DRAIN win a fight and gain 16 points, terribly.  
Tsk, tsk, CLOGGED DRAIN beat WHIMSICAL and WHIMSICAL lost 9 points.  You're breakin' 
my heart.  And it's out with the old, in with the new, as SYNTH takes the Title and 
last week's bar tab from the old Duelmaster.  Heh, heh.  Kickbacks and bribes, 
kickbacks and bribes, how else do you think some of these guys win their fights?  
Skill?  Ha!   
     Well, let's take a look at some more misdeeds of you miserable sword-boys.  
What's the big D?  BOOK OF THOMAS was the most avoided team?  Bunch of lily 
livered... grumble... mumble... curse...  And it looks like BASH BROS BATHROOM 
avoided them the most this turn.  What a pack of would be losers, if you ask me.  
Hmph.  Ooh, I'm frightfully impressed, KORILL SAI was this turn's most challenged 
warrior.  Watch that ego swell, sports fans.  I guess I can give a little credit to 
FALLEN TOWEL RACK of BASH BROS BATHROOM for challenging up by 24 to KORILL SAI.  
FALLEN TOWEL RACK won to get 94 points of recognition.   
     Some people like volunteer work in the hospitals.  I volunteer for TROCAR's 
morgue.  More variety.  Titanium shields and bamboo daggers, guess what brave team is 
developing these kinds of weapons?   
     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.  Just wait 'till next time I show up 
here, I won't be so nice!  So nyaaah!  Glad to see the back of this place-- Snide 
Clemens  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SYNTH 3398                   10   3  1   105       PLANET 9 (354)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 KORILL SAI 3154              17  46  0    97       TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
 DILIAN HALLIE 3328           22  19  0    94       TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
 FALLEN TOWEL RACK 3319       16  23  0    94       BASH BROS BATHROOM (331)
 LARKIN SAND 3344             21  14  0    93       TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-CHINA WHITE 3214             16   9  1    78       BOOK OF THOMAS (341)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-ZOLOR 3399                    8   2  0    62       PLANET 9 (354)
-MAGIC POTION 3321             5   1  0    60       BOOK OF THOMAS (341)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-MIMOSA 3393                   5   0  1    52       CRUX (352)
 HAPPY HUNTING 3376            8   3  0    35       BOOK OF THOMAS (341)

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CLOGGED DRAIN 3436            2   0  0    33       BASH BROS BATHROOM (331)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-VOID 3397                     2   3  0    23       PLANET 9 (354)
 WET FLOOR 3425                3   2  0    22       BASH BROS BATHROOM (331)
 MOLD 3426                     2   0  0    21       BASH BROS BATHROOM (331)
 WHIMSICAL 3411                5   3  0    18       BOOK OF THOMAS (341)
-KLYN 3395                     2   6  0    15       PLANET 9 (354)
-MORTAS 3396                   3   2  0    11       PLANET 9 (354)
 DARRIN HORROCKS 2 3418        1   8  0    11       TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
 ERLANG SHEN 3440              1   0  0    11       BOOK OF THOMAS (341)
 KAI LUNG 3439                 0   2  0     2       TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?

                                     PERSONAL ADS

We salute the tourney participants, with a special cheer for Imai, tourney victor in 
Champions, and Clogged Drain, victor in Rookie. -- Traders of Trocar

Imai -- No way I could match you, but thanks for not killing me.  A bunch of skills 
would've been good. -- Korill Sai, lacking those

What do Gurtargan Monks believe in? -- Dillian Hallie
P.S.  Besides fighting without armor or weapons.

Whimsical -- I blinked and the fight was over.  No time to win or to learn. -- Darrin 
Horrocks

Mold -- You're disgusting and unhealthy.  What else is there to say? -- Kai Lung
P.S.  I'm not feeling eloquent today.

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

FALLEN TOWEL RACK devastated KORILL SAI in a 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
LARKIN SAND lost to SYNTH in a 2 minute Title battle.
DILIAN HALLIE overcame GURTARGAN MONK in a action packed 2 minute one-sided match.
WHIMSICAL was devastated by CLOGGED DRAIN in a 1 minute one-sided contest.
HAPPY HUNTING overpowered DARRIN HORROCKS 2 in a 1 minute mismatched match.
WET FLOOR devastated PRETTY LERONA in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
MOLD bested MAGE'S APPRENTICE in a 1 minute amateur's match.
KAI LUNG was handily defeated by ERLANG SHEN in a 1 minute uneven fight.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|AIMED BLOW                       5         STRIKING ATTACK   15 -   4 -  2      79  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   2         LUNGING ATTACK    23 -  16 -  0      59  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         AIMED BLOW        28 -  23 -  2      55  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   2         PARRY-LUNGE        3 -   3 -  0      50  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         TOTAL PARRY        4 -   5 -  0      44  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         BASHING ATTACK    12 -  15 -  0      44  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         WALL OF STEEL      7 -  11 -  0      39  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         SLASHING ATTACK    1 -   5 -  0      17  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  0         PARRY-STRIKE       0 -   0 -  0       0  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      0         PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -   3 -  0       0  |

Turn 407 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         5 -  0     PARRY-LUNGE        0 -  0         5  AIMED BLOW     
BASHING ATTACK     2 -  0     PARRY-STRIKE       0 -  0         3  LUNGING ATTACK 
STRIKING ATTACK    1 -  1     PARRY-RIPOSTE      0 -  1         2  STRIKING ATTACK
                              LUNGING ATTACK     0 -  2         1  BASHING ATTACK 
                              SLASHING ATTACK    0 -  0     
                              TOTAL PARRY        0 -  0     
                              WALL OF STEEL      0 -  1     

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
AIMED BLOW       SYNTH 3398                 10   3  1  105 PLANET 9 (354)
STRIKING ATTACK  LARKIN SAND 3344           21  14  0   93 TRADERS OF TROCAR (252)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
The overall popularity leader is LARKIN SAND 3344.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was DILIAN HALLIE 3328.  The ten other most popular fighters were FALLEN TOWEL 
RACK 3319, LARKIN SAND 3344, SYNTH 3398, CLOGGED DRAIN 3436, MOLD 3426, HAPPY HUNTING 
3376, WET FLOOR 3425, ERLANG SHEN 3440, KORILL SAI 3154, and WHIMSICAL 3411.

The least popular fighter this week was KAI LUNG 3439.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were DARRIN HORROCKS 2 3418, WHIMSICAL 3411, KORILL SAI 3154, ERLANG SHEN 
3440, WET FLOOR 3425, HAPPY HUNTING 3376, MOLD 3426, CLOGGED DRAIN 3436, SYNTH 3398, 
and LARKIN SAND 3344.

                                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