DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 03/10/2022    Duedate: 03/23/2022

DAYLA KIV ARENA

DM-74    TURN-735

This Weeks Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

GOSHAWK
FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)
(74-4843) [13-3-0,104]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

GOSHAWK                        POSITION IS EMPTY
FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)        
(74-4843) [13-3-0,104]         

Popularity Leader              This Weeks Favorite

LORIS TEN JOLE                 LORIS TEN JOLE
SAND DANCERS (251)             SAND DANCERS (251)
(74-4828) [16-12-1,85]         (74-4828) [16-12-1,85]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)     27
2. SAND DANCERS (251)          12      FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)
3. SPROUT OF MY WAY! (555)      0      Unchartered Team
4. JESS SAYS (576)              0
5. SATAN'S SINGLES 2 (575)      0       (-1)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1*JESS SAYS (576)            2   0  0  100   1/ 1 FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)   5  3 0
 2- 2*SATAN'S SINGLES 2 (575)    6   2  0 75.0   2/ 2 SAND DANCERS (251)        5 10 0
 3- 3 SPROUT OF MY WAY! (555)  191  68 10 73.7   3- 3 SPROUT OF MY WAY! (555)   4  0 1
 4/ 4 FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)   35  17  1 67.3   4- 5*JESS SAYS (576)           1  0 0
 5/ 5 SAND DANCERS (251)       %1650 %1885 54 46.7   5- 4*SATAN'S SINGLES 2 (575)   1  1 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.

I can fly. Can you? I have long sharp talons. Do you? I eat only meat. Do you? I am 
Duelmaster. Are you?

                                          -- Goshawk, DMIV

                                      SPY REPORT

     If you were disturbed from your beauty rest only to have to watch a bunch of 
DAYLA KIV brutes like you, you'd be grouchy, too.  Of course, we're all terribly 
impressed to see BULL win a fight and gain 21 points, terribly.  Tsk, tsk, DANGEROUS 
BON LOKAR beat HALO GREEN and HALO GREEN lost 9 points.  You're breakin' my heart.  
And if variety is the spice of life, DAYLA KIV may be getting bland, as GOSHAWK stays 
top dog in the city.  I'm not in a very good mood today, but why am I telling you 
this?  You want to know what's new, don't you, DAYLA KIV?   
     Well, let's take a look at some more misdeeds of you miserable sword-boys.  
DAYLA KIV, I am losing what little hope I had in you.  SPROUT OF MY WAY! the most 
avoided team?  What insult will suffice, I cannot say.  And it looks like FEROCIOUS 
ANIMALS avoided them the most this turn.  What a pack of would be losers, if you ask 
me.  Hmph.   
     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.  Phlllt!  Just had to do that before 
I leave the fine city of DAYLA KIV.  I feel much better now.  Paste this one in your 
scrapbooks, you'll need the kindling come this winter-- Snide Clemens  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GOSHAWK 4843                 13   3  0   104       FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)

CHALLENGER CHAMPIONS           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-WHISKERS N' STRIPES 4822     12   0  0   117       SPROUT OF MY WAY! (555)

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LORIS TEN JOLE 4828          16  12  1    85       SAND DANCERS (251)
 TARAN TEN SALTH 4811         17  19  0    81       SAND DANCERS (251)
-DIRTY WATER 4862              6   2  0    70       SATAN'S SINGLES 2 (575)

CHALLENGER ADEPTS              W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ALDEN DENNY 4812             13  23  1    63       SAND DANCERS (251)
 BULL 4859                     5   1  0    61       FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)
-MONGOOSE 4847                 5   4  0    58       FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-JANKY 4868                    2   0  0    55       JESS SAYS (576)
-ROSIE 4841                    5   1  0    52       SPROUT OF MY WAY! (555)
-EVIL MASCHA 4753              2   1  1    48       SPROUT OF MY WAY! (555)
 HALO GREEN 4842               6  11  1    39       SAND DANCERS (251)
-SKUNK 4845                    5   4  1    36       FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-REMY 4873                     3   0  0    23       SPROUT OF MY WAY! (555)
 FELTER THE LAME 4886          1   1  0    16       SAND DANCERS (251)
-RABID RAT 4879                0   1  0     1       FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
SHREW 4844              4  3 0 FEROCIOUS ANIMAL 572 HALO GREEN 4842       731  NOT REVENGED
FIELDER 4871            1  4 0 SAND DANCERS 251     EVIL MASCHA 4753      733   

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Goshawk -- Glad you won that. -- Loris ten Jole

Dirty Water -- With all those skills, you should be able to clean it up. Do it now!  
No delay. -- Taran ten Salth

Throw the Dirty Ruffian into the Dirty Water.  He deserves it. -- Alden Denny

Alden is such a wuss.  The dirty ruffian wasn't so hard. -- Halo Green

That damned nomad tried to bury me in the sands.  It shouldn't be allowed. -- Felter 
the Lame

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

GOSHAWK devastated TARAN TEN SALTH in a 1 minute mismatched Title fight.
LORIS TEN JOLE won victory over MADAME U-TANA in a 2 minute expert's battle.
ALDEN DENNY was demolished by BULL in a 1 minute uneven fight.
HALO GREEN was devastated by DANGEROUS BON LOKAR in a 1 minute one-sided contest.
FELTER THE LAME overpowered SHAMELESS BEGGAR in a 1 minute mismatched match.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|WALL OF STEEL                    3         STRIKING ATTACK   19 -   7 -  1      73  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         SLASHING ATTACK   11 -   6 -  0      65  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  1         PARRY-RIPOSTE      5 -   5 -  1      50  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    1         BASHING ATTACK     1 -   1 -  0      50  |
|AIMED BLOW                       0         LUNGING ATTACK     2 -   2 -  0      50  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         AIMED BLOW         5 -   6 -  1      45  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         WALL OF STEEL     14 -  21 -  0      40  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   0         TOTAL PARRY        0 -   0 -  0       0  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   0         PARRY-STRIKE       0 -   1 -  0       0  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      0         PARRY-LUNGE        0 -   0 -  0       0  |

Turn 735 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:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
SLASHING ATTACK  GOSHAWK 4843               13   3  0  104 FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)
WALL OF STEEL    LORIS TEN JOLE 4828        16  12  1   85 SAND DANCERS (251)
STRIKING ATTACK  BULL 4859                   5   1  0   61 FEROCIOUS ANIMALS (572)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is LORIS TEN JOLE 4828.  The most popular warrior this 
turn was LORIS TEN JOLE 4828.  The ten other most popular fighters were GOSHAWK 4843, 
BULL 4859, HALO GREEN 4842, FELTER THE LAME 4886, TARAN TEN SALTH 4811, ALDEN DENNY 
4812,  0,  0,  0, and  0.

The least popular fighter this week was ALDEN DENNY 4812.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were TARAN TEN SALTH 4811, FELTER THE LAME 4886, HALO GREEN 4842, 
BULL 4859, GOSHAWK 4843, LORIS TEN JOLE 4828,  0,  0,  0, and  0.

                                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