DUELMASTERS NEWSLETTER Date : 11/12/2003 Duedate: 11/25/2003 DAL SHANG ARENA DM-65 TURN-303 This Weeks Top Honors THE DUELMASTER IS KOREEN REFUGEES (377) (65-6490) [13-8-1,90] Chartered Recognition Leader Unchartered Recognition Leader KOREEN POSITION IS EMPTY REFUGEES (377) (65-6490) [13-8-1,90] Popularity Leader This Weeks Favorite JEANINE KOREEN TOO GOOD FOR ME (600) REFUGEES (377) (65-6467) [12-16-1,59] (65-6490) [13-8-1,90] THE CURRENT TOP TEAM DARK TOADS (705) TEAMS ON THE MOVE TOP CAREER HONORS Team Name Point Gain Chartered Team 1. SAND DANCERS (233) 33 2. REFUGEES (377) 26 DARK TOADS (705) 3. THE IMMORTALS (199) 15 Unchartered Team 4. THE NORSK (304) 12 5. FEROCIOUS FELINES (596) 0 JOKER'S WILD X (397) The Top Teams Career Win-Loss Record W L K % Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns W L K 1- 1 FEROCIOUS FELINES (596) 28 14 1 66.7 1/ 1 DARK TOADS (705) 9 4 1 2/ 2 DARK TOADS (705) 63 37 2 63.0 2/ 2 SAND DANCERS (233) 9 6 0 3- 3 CRUSADE (605) 33 24 0 57.9 3/ 3 REFUGEES (377) 5 7 0 4/ 4 TOO GOOD FOR ME (600) 109 82 4 57.1 4/ 4 THE IMMORTALS (199) 3 0 0 5/ 6 THE IMMORTALS (199) 303 270 7 52.9 5- 5 FEROCIOUS FELINES (596) 3 1 1 6/ 7 REFUGEES (377) 279 352 7 44.2 6/ 7 THE NORSK (304) 2 2 1 7/ 8 SAND DANCERS (233) 564 746 12 43.1 7/ 8 TOO GOOD FOR ME (600) 0 3 0 8/ 9 THE NORSK (304) 20 34 1 37.0 8- 9 CRUSADE (605) 0 2 0 '*' Unchartered team '-' Team did not fight this turn (###) Avoid teams by their Team Id ##/## This turn's/Last turn's rank TEAM SPOTLIGHT In one corner of the Norsk guild house, Rand Bresta worked her epee furiously, parrying the repeated thrust of Gar Reoth's long spear. Sweat matted her short brown hair to her head, and her breath came in rapid gasps. Gar Roeth dropped to a roll and came up with a wicked thrust from Rand's weak flank, but she was ready for the ply this time and spun out of the way, the dulled practice blade passing behind her as she smacked Gar with her thin blade. "What do you think of me, that you'd try the same trick twice in one session?" Gar rested on his spear shaft and grinned, taking a moment to catch his breath. "There was a time you would have fallen for it twice in one session. Just a good thing you've got the quickness of youth on your side." On the other mat, Draumr Vefa and Bal Iss circled each other cautiously. Both were skilled fighters, and knew not to take the other's skill too lightly. Bal Iss grinned wickedly, goading Draumr, trying to distract her concentration. "We all know that the only reason Bitulf chose you as our representative to return to the arena is because he has a soft spot for you girls." Draumr smiled, her twin blades whirling about like a threshing machine. Bal Iss fell back slowly, parrying as rapidly as he could, almost regretting his tactic. "And how far did you make it in the last tourney?" she shot back. "Well, if it's tourney success you admire, you should welcome Svipa's return." At the mention of her half-sister's name, Draumr let her iron control slip. She redoubled her effort to break through Bal's defense, and that's when she left herself open. Bal slid his blade behind her leg and tripped her to the ground, spinning around and following through with a slash at her throat. Even though he was only using a fraction of his speed, Draumr barely got her blade up in time to parry the blow. Watching from the doorway, Bitulf shook his head. "Lose your head in a real fight like that, girl, and you'll lose your head for real." He walked over and helped her to her feet, smirking at Bal Iss. "So, you disagree with my choice for our first fight back? Think you'd have done better? The girl won, got us recognized...isn't that what's important?" Bal Iss leaned forward on his blade and shrugged. He knew that Bitulf was right, but he wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of admitting it. Bitulf grinned. "No matter. You'll get your chance on the sands soon enough. For now, I've got a project for you," Bitulf motioned toward the door. "Come in, Magn." At six feet tall, the albino Bal Iss was no small man, if somewhat slender, but the man who walked into the guild was nearly a giant, half a foot again as tall, and rippling with rock hard muscle. He carried his maul over one shoulder as casually as he would a garden tool. "Bal Iss, this is Magn Gandr. You and he will be fighting this turn. He's green, so I figure you're a good one to school him on the tricks he's liable to face in the arena." Bitulf grinned as he noted Bal Iss's inward groan. Bal Iss might have far more experience than the young goliath, but Bitulf knew that Bal Iss would feel each parried blow to his heels. He turned his attention to Rand and Gar, and as he walked away, he heard Bal bait the bigger man. "Come on, then, tiny. I'll go easy on you." * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * }%|[-----+O+-----]|%{ * *--=== LIRITH KAI REGIONAL NEWS ===--* Duelmasters ------------------- DM 65 DAL SHANG (turn 302): MASOOD of DARK TOADS (TigToad, mgr.) DM 74 DAIYLA KIV (turn 275): <COOKIE JONES> of SUPERIOR FORCES ZC (Manager, mgr.) DM 75 JADE MOUNTAIN (turn 270): MARIANNE KIND of THE JUG O'NAUGHTS (Still, mgr.) DM 78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 257): MOONSTONE of ROCK-ETTS II (Pie-Rite, mgr.) ADM 107 LIRIN KIV (turn 234): STILE of SPLIT INFINITY 2 from DAL SHANG (TigToad) Top Teams -------- DM 65 DAL SHANG (turn 302): DARK TOADS (TigToad, mgr.) DM 74 DAIYLA KIV (turn 275): FORCE OF FIVE (Marshal D, mgr.) DM 75 JADE MOUNTAIN (turn 270): DARK TOADS (TigToad, mgr.) DM 78 LIN TIRIAN (turn 257): ROCK-ETTS II (Pie-Rite, mgr.) ADM 107 LIRIN KIV (turn 234): SLYTHERIN HOUSE (Rillion, mgr.) Recent Graduates ----------------- DM 74 DAIYLA KIV (turn 274): VINCENT CRABBE of SLYTHERIN HOUSE (Salazar Slytherin) DUELMASTER'S COLUMN Notes from the arena champ. Oy. I really had meant to defend my title to the best of my ability. I did not, however, expect that ability to be so fatal for Churro the Hook. I am quite afraid that my position as Duelmaster precludes a bloodfeud challenge as well. Since I cannot simply step down as the highest ranked warrior in the arena, I hope the Refugees can make do with an apology. It was not my intention to kill your fine warrior and I am sorry to see him go. TigToad has, in the past, DA'd warriors who killed when they were not trying to, but in my case he has said he cannot do that. I think he still expects good things out of me before my career can come to an end. My condolences and I wish whoever fights me for the throne this turn has better luck. -- Masood SPY REPORT The sages err'd not in their foretelling of a god descending upon DAL SHANG, for I, Novgorodny Vir, have returned! SAND DANCERS posted a nice gain, to come in 2nd. Everybody loves a winner... REFUGEES had cause to celebrate, after KOREEN got 24 points by beating LEPAR. Win some, lose some. Speaking of which, KOREEN was winsome, after beating LEPAR and seeing him lose 21 points. What can be a greater victory? KOREEN has taken hers place as the top, as DAL SHANG's new Duelmaster. So who was the warrior seen charging into immovable walls and challenging dead trees? Someone's got a basic problem... A Zenmaster once told me, 'Does not the spinning wheel turn? And do not the little birds cry out?' Any ideas? To quell some nasty rumors, the guys in REFUGEES are not carrying any incurable diseases. No need to avoid 'em. As a woman of good breeding scorns the "warriors" of DARK TOADS, so did that sorry team shy from REFUGEES Is it charming personality? Conversational abilities? Good oral hygiene? Whatever it is, MARDEN VOSS is the most challenged warrior. The moving sword slashes, and having slashed, moves on... Alas, poor HUMAN. We all know DARK TOADS' retirement plan isn't the best in the world. HELVAN QUICKHAND, may you be as missed when your time comes. Ask not for whom the sword slashes; it slashes for thee. All good things must come to an end. As if buffeted by forces of nature beyond my control, I must take my leave of this place. DAL SHANG, I leave you now. The Duelmaster has agreed to foot my bill at The Blazing Unicorn. 'Til next time-- Novgorodny Vir DUELMASTER W L K POINTS TEAM NAME KOREEN 6490 13 8 1 90 REFUGEES (377) CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -AMPLITUR 6440 13 3 0 154 DARK TOADS (705) -DUREENA 5509 14 7 0 106 CRUSADE (605) -LION 5464 10 1 0 91 FEROCIOUS FELINES (596) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -JAGUAR 5462 10 5 0 89 FEROCIOUS FELINES (596) MARDEN VOSS 6397 19 23 0 80 SAND DANCERS (233) MAY-LING SHEN 6485 10 11 0 77 THE IMMORTALS (199) DURVAN 6491 12 9 1 75 SAND DANCERS (233) WAIS 6447 12 13 0 70 DARK TOADS (705) CHAMPIONS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME LEPAR 6512 10 2 0 69 DARK TOADS (705) CHALLENGER ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME JESSE TAVAN 6514 9 4 0 61 SAND DANCERS (233) -TIGER 5460 7 7 0 60 FEROCIOUS FELINES (596) JEANINE 6467 12 16 1 59 TOO GOOD FOR ME (600) ADEPTS W L K POINTS TEAM NAME MING THE TERRIBLE 6482 11 12 0 51 SAND DANCERS (233) MURGON 6477 9 17 0 45 REFUGEES (377) -JOHN MATHESON 5506 9 8 0 45 CRUSADE (605) -DRAUMR VEFA 2778 5 3 0 39 THE NORSK (304) DILYS TYL KOGAN 6515 6 5 0 38 SAND DANCERS (233) CHALLENGER INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME -RAND BRESTA 2442 4 6 0 33 THE NORSK (304) KONGA DILLI 6519 4 6 0 25 REFUGEES (377) INITIATES W L K POINTS TEAM NAME BAL ISS 2438 3 7 0 16 THE NORSK (304) -LEOPARD 5461 1 1 1 14 FEROCIOUS FELINES (596) MAGN GANDR 6545 1 0 1 11 THE NORSK (304) -GAR ROETH 2847 1 1 0 10 THE NORSK (304) '-' denotes a warrior who did not fight this turn. THE DEAD W L K TEAM NAME SLAIN BY TURN Revenge? HIVATSHAM 6543 0 1 0 DARK TOADS 705 STONESHATTER 18 303 NONE HUMAN 6471 12 8 0 DARK TOADS 705 HELVAN QUICKHAND 12 303 NONE CHURRO THE HOOK 6544 0 1 0 REFUGEES 377 MAGN GANDR 6545 303 CHURRO THE HOOK 6335 15 40 1 REFUGEES 377 MASOOD 6476 302 NONE PERSONAL ADS Marden Voss -- That was VERY amphibian of me. Really. If you want to learn our ways, you need to understand that lesson first. -- Human Li Dan -- Woo hoo. Big parties sound like fun. I hope the expectant hangover doesn't keep us from fighting to our fullest. -- The Dark Toad Gang Koreen -- I seem to have picked up this learning thing finally. I started ever so slowly in my learning. I'm thinking I am just making up for lost time. -- Wais Amplitur -- I dunno about the "formidable foes" thing. I mean, sure, anything could be hiding under those mounds of bubbles, but could anything stand that heavy floral scent? -- Marden Voss May-Leng Shen -- We spend too much time in each other's company. People are starting to talk. -- Ming the Terrible John Matheson -- Wow, you are a real gentleman--the win AND most of the skills! Great, thanks. -- Jesse Tavan Amplitur -- Well...if I should have a title, how about "Sir"? -- Marden Voss Wais -- I'll risk it. -- Jesse Tavan The Norsk -- Good to see you back! -- Lani, acting manager of the Sand Dancers Masood -- Damn, I never guessed you were one of those poisonous toads. -- Ghost of Churro the Hook Human -- I'm not the teacher some of my teammates are. I don't have TIME for that stuff. -- Koreen Wais -- We really need other people to fight around here. -- Murgon P.S. People that are easier to beat. Draumr Vefa -- Well, you're different, right enough, but I somehow don't think you're an improvement. -- Konga Dilli Konga Dilli -- The match up went in my favor, but I appreciate the tune up. It's been a long time. -- Draumr Vefa All -- Heilsa, fellow warriors and managers of Dal Shang. I am Bitulf, once the Biting Wolf, now just a grey wolf trying to make his way in this violent world we live in. I've taken on the duties of managing a band who go by the name the Norsk. Some of you were here when we fought here some years ago (a nod to Li Dan--a whole new stable, eh?). Just for the record, I'm not a mega-manager; I don't purposely go for the kills, and I don't downchallenge if I can help it. I won't avoid a fair fight, but I'm not so stupid as to let myself become a target. Any who wish can contact me directly at bitulf@insight.rr.com, and I'm at the yahoo group Duel. See you on the sands. -- Bitulf, manager of the Norsk 31 October 2003 Come one, come all, to the greatest contest in Alastari! The Third Annual Turf War will be in North Fork (DM 47) starting in about 6-7 turns.... C'mon and get your team some experience, and get declared! More info available in North Fork's newsletter. Bloody Sands. -- Asmo Dius, TCB LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS HIVATSHAM was butchered by STONESHATTER in a 1 minute Dark Arena fight. HUMAN was butchered by HELVAN QUICKHAND in a 1 minute one-sided duel. LEPAR was handily defeated by KOREEN in a 2 minute gruesome one-sided Title match. JEANINE was devastated by DURVAN in a 1 minute one-sided contest. MARDEN VOSS was savagely defeated by MAY-LING SHEN in a 2 minute master's match. WAIS vanquished MURGON in a 1 minute mismatched fight. JESSE TAVAN beat SAGAT OF PAIDAN in a crowd pleasing 1 minute brawl. MING THE TERRIBLE overpowered KORKA THE HAIRY in a 4 minute gruesome uneven melee. DILYS TYL KOGAN vanquished BAL ISS in a 1 minute one-sided duel. KONGA DILLI vanquished FELTAR OF ILLIS in a 1 minute one-sided duel. CHURRO THE HOOK was assassinated by MAGN GANDR in a 1 minute gory uneven match. BATTLE REPORT MOST POPULAR RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS |FIGHTING STYLE FIGHTS FIGHTING STYLE W - L - K PERCENT| |BASHING ATTACK 4 PARRY-LUNGE 14 - 5 - 0 74 | |AIMED BLOW 2 WALL OF STEEL 10 - 5 - 1 67 | |PARRY-RIPOSTE 2 LUNGING ATTACK 23 - 13 - 0 64 | |LUNGING ATTACK 2 AIMED BLOW 14 - 8 - 1 64 | |TOTAL PARRY 2 PARRY-STRIKE 3 - 2 - 0 60 | |SLASHING ATTACK 2 TOTAL PARRY 11 - 9 - 0 55 | |PARRY-LUNGE 1 BASHING ATTACK 11 - 11 - 1 50 | |WALL OF STEEL 1 STRIKING ATTACK 17 - 18 - 1 49 | |STRIKING ATTACK 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE 9 - 13 - 0 41 | |PARRY-STRIKE 0 SLASHING ATTACK 4 - 6 - 0 40 | Turn 303 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 PARRY-STRIKE 0 - 0 4 LUNGING ATTACK WALL OF STEEL 1 - 0 SLASHING ATTACK 0 - 2 2 TOTAL PARRY BASHING ATTACK 3 - 1 STRIKING ATTACK 0 - 1 1 AIMED BLOW AIMED BLOW 1 - 1 1 PARRY-RIPOSTE PARRY-RIPOSTE 1 - 1 1 PARRY-LUNGE LUNGING ATTACK 1 - 1 1 BASHING ATTACK TOTAL PARRY 1 - 1 1 WALL OF STEEL TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE FIGHTING STYLE WARRIOR W L K PNTS TEAM NAME AIMED BLOW KOREEN 6490 13 8 1 90 REFUGEES (377) BASHING ATTACK DURVAN 6491 12 9 1 75 SAND DANCERS (233) TOTAL PARRY LEPAR 6512 10 2 0 69 DARK TOADS (705) WALL OF STEEL JESSE TAVAN 6514 9 4 0 61 SAND DANCERS (233) Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above. The overall popularity leader is JEANINE 6467. The most popular warrior this turn was KOREEN 6490. The ten other most popular fighters were MAY-LING SHEN 6485, JESSE TAVAN 6514, DURVAN 6491, MARDEN VOSS 6397, WAIS 6447, DILYS TYL KOGAN 6515, KONGA DILLI 6519, LEPAR 6512, MAGN GANDR 6545, and HIVATSHAM 6543. The least popular fighter this week was CHURRO THE HOOK 6544. The other ten least popular fighters were BAL ISS 2438, MING THE TERRIBLE 6482, MURGON 6477, JEANINE 6467, HUMAN 6471, HIVATSHAM 6543, MAGN GANDR 6545, LEPAR 6512, KONGA DILLI 6519, and DILYS TYL KOGAN 6515. The following warriors will travel to ADVANCED DUELMASTERS after next turn: AMPLITUR (65-6440) DARK TOADS (705) CORAL SNAKE (65-5017) ALL THAT SLITHERS (552) TOURNEY FREEZE CHANGE -- ADVANCE NOTICE Beginning at the Winter Face-to-Face in Tempe (January 2004), we will implement several changes affecting tournaments. The tournament announcement for the upcoming FTF and future tourneys will reflect these changes. First, we will eliminate the tourney freeze for all regular DM warrior classes. Regular DM warriors will not be classed ahead of the tournament, but instead will fight according to their FE on the date of the tourney. There will still be a freeze for the ADM classes, occurring on the same timeline as before, approximately 6 weeks before the tournament. In addition to the above change, the warrior classes will be slightly altered. The new tourney classes will be as follows: DM Tourney Classes ADM Tourney Classes ====================== ====================== 0 FE: Rookies Freshmen 1-4 FE: Apprentices ADM 5-10 FE: Initiates Eligibles 11-20 FE: Adepts ---induction--- 21-30 FE: Champions Contenders 31+ FE: Challengers Primus All regular DM tourney classes will remain solely FE based. All ADM classes will now be based on warrior characteristics (i.e., the ADM split algorithm), including the Freshmen class. The Gateway and Primus arenas will be merging before the FTF to form one top arena. These warriors will be split into two tournament classes, the Contenders and the Primus classes, again based upon their characteristics. More information on this will be published in the newsletters for those arenas. If you have any questions about the above changes, please contact Customer Service. Good luck in your games. -- Green Eyes and the RSI staff