DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 07/30/2021    Duedate: 08/12/2021

NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA

DM 93    TURN 588

This Week's Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

GREED
BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)
(93-10621) [5-2-0,66]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

POSITION IS EMPTY              GREED
                               BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)
                               (93-10621) [5-2-0,66]

Popularity Leader              This Week's Favorite

BAD FAITH                      THUNDERHAMMER
BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)           PHOENIX FORCE (1811)
(93-10622) [4-3-0,38]          (93-10597) [4-2-0,23]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

POSITION IS EMPTY

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. VICIOUS FISH 2021 (1818)      37 
2. BEER BELLIES (1821)           27    AVENGERS (287)
3. SHAKN-NOT-STIRD (1820)        27    Unchartered Team
4. BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)          25 
5. FLOWERS! (1816)               20    PHOENIX FORCE (1811)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1*PHOENIX FORCE (1811)      10   3  0 76.9   1/ 1*FLOWERS! (1816)          10  5 0
 2/ 3*VICIOUS FISH 2021 (1818)  13   7  0 65.0   2/ 2*VICIOUS FISH 2021 (1818) 10  5 0
 3/ 2*FLOWERS! (1816)           19  11  0 63.3   3/ 3*BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)      8  7 0
 4/ 4*BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)      20  15  0 57.1   4/ 5*THIRD HIGHWAY 3 (1815)    6  9 0
 5/ 5*THIRD HIGHWAY 3 (1815)    16  24  0 40.0   5/ 4*PHOENIX FORCE (1811)      5  1 0
 6/ 6*BEER BELLIES (1821)        3   7  1 30.0   6/ 6*BEER BELLIES (1821)       3  7 1
 7/ 7*SHAKN-NOT-STIRD (1820)     2   9  0 18.2   7/ 7*SHAKN-NOT-STIRD (1820)    2  9 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

                          NOBLISH ISLE GRADUATION FINAL EXAM

                               25 True/False Questions
                                 90% = Passing Grade
                        Special Assist = All answers Are FALSE

 1. D2 is all work and no play or fun.
 2. You may bloodfeud only once.
 3. The WF (war flail aka whiffle) is probably the best weapon available.
 4. Scum warriors are not allowed.
 5. A warriorbs hit points are only determined by CON.
 6. One must challenge warriors by name only on the strategy sheet.
 7. D2 is only for those under age 30.
 8. A warrior must be a designed godling to enter into tournaments.
 9. All warriors are born with the same amount of stats and skills.
10. One cannot use a weapon unsuited to the warriorbs style.
11. A manager may have only one team in D2.
12. Parry riposte (rippers), parry lungers (plungers) and parry strikers (pikers) are 
    the easiest styles to run.
13. Endurance plays no factor in D2.
14. Assur, The Consortium rep, Hammer and Jorja are allied.
15. There are four skill and eight stat types.
16. When a warrior dies, your team is reduced by one.
17. One secret strategy works best for each style of warrior.
18. All Face-To-Face Tournaments are held near the fancy office headquarters in Tempe, 
    AZ.
19. The arena Duelmaster may challenge any other warrior in the arena.
20. Female warriors are better fighters than male or neutral warriors.
21. A warrior must wear armor.
22. In general old-time managers in the game dislike each other and seldom     communicate.
23. There are no luck factors in the game.
24. The RSI Customer Service people are mean and uncaring people.
25. It is impossible for a warrior to have an expert on its initial design roll.

NOTE: Certain of these questions are discussed thoroughly in Noblish Island 
Newsletters. So tune in!

         -- Brought to you by Rose Of Sharon of Flowers  (A Consortium representative)

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                                KNOW YOUR COMPETITION

The best and easiest way to know your competition in any given Duel 2 arena is by 
going online to www.terrablood.com where you will find 5 different categories of 
information when you click on Duel II, plus there are valuable insightful articles and 
links to both the Duel 2 Forums and an informative website hosted by Assur.

For the sake of brevity, it is category #4 that will prove to be the most helpful tool 
in getting to know your competition in any Duel 2 arena.

New Players should find this especially helpful in DM 93, where you have 10 turns of 
training, before transferring your stable to another regular or slow arena, according 
to your particular taste and budget.

Category 4 is the Duel 2 Arena Newsletters link and when you click on a particular 
arena and scroll down to the recognition rankings, you will discover that most, if not 
all, the listed warriors have their style listed in front of their current record.

As of Saturday [July 24, 2021] the only warrior in DM 93 that is not listed with a 
style verification is Pappy Blue Ribs of Beer Bellies; however, there are 3 style 
possibilities listed in blue to the far right [SL b" ST b" WS].

How did my warrior style get outed?

One of your competing managers in DM 93 went to Category 5 at the terrablood website 
and entered the Warrior Name / Home Arena / ID / Style / Your Manager Name [manager 
submitting the data] to add your warrior style to the data base.

It is important for the integrity of the game to be honest when submitting style 
information. Just ask Consortium about a certain manager who entered false information 
a number of years ago and how it affects your reputation!

On T-586 I utilized the DM 93 warrior rankings listings from the terrablood arena 
newsletters link and decided to down challenge Lockout [1-3-0, 6] of BB CBA Negot. 
with my warrior Great White Shark [1-0-0, 14]. It was a style advantage for me to send 
my Lunger against an Aimer managed by Assur.

It was a 3-minute battle that sent Lockout to the Infirmary! Fortunately, his Aimer 
did not die! My Lunger learned 4 skills in the process!

However, I prepared myself for any repercussions from Assur that would result from my 
down challenge! However, it was a calculated risk that I was willing to take, 
especially after viewing the style listings for DM 93 at the terrablood site!

On T-587 Great White Shark was challenged by a warrior managed by a New Player, so the 
repercussion of my previous down challenge was not targeted at my Lunger, who managed 
to win his third fight and gain 2 more skill learns in the process!

Assur chose instead to down challenge two of my other warriors: Puffer Fish Peril and 
The Alligator Gar.

Lockout [1-4-0, 7] the aforementioned Aimer chose to down challenge my Total Parry, 
which is usually a distinct advantage for the Aimer! Puffer Fish Peril [1-1-0, 4] 
somehow manage to defeat her opponent in the first minute! Unfortunately, she failed 
her stat train!

Assur seemed to bring his wrath upon The Alligator Gar from my previous down 
challenge! This sort of thing is to be expected if you go the down challenge route!

Ugly [3-1-0, 30] a Lunger down challenged The Alligator Gar [1-1-0, 9] in an almost 
perfect scenario for a Lunger to down challenge an Aimer!

I feel fortunate that my Aimer did not go to the Infirmary or die on the DM 93 arena 
battle sands!

My Aimer did get the first attack using his Scimitar that wounded Ugly in the chest, 
but Ugly avoided the second Scimitar blow!

It only took Ugly one shot with his Short Spear to defeat my Aimer with a wound to the 
right biceps!

Ugly learned a Defensive action, while The Alligator Gar learned yet another Attack 
skill, along with a Parry skill, for his first multi-skill learn turn!

New Players should take advantage of the Duel 2 information available at the 
www.terrablood.com website!

Especially the warrior style listings in the arena newsletters!

The information will serve you well here in Noblish Island during your 10 turns of 
training, as well as when you check the various arena newsletters to decide where you 
will choose to send your stable, after your 10 turns of training here are complete!

Enjoy the game and be sure to explore the terrablood site to enhance your Duel 2 
experience!

                                   -- Hammer, Duel 2 Sponsor, mgr of Vicious Fish 2021

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                             PARRY RIPOSTES, ASSUR'S WAY

     The Consortium and I recently reviewed all the articles found at the bottom of 
the newsletter. We were both unhappy with them and so I've decided to start a new set 
of articles which I believe are more up to date with today's game. Note that EVERY 
ARTICLE on how to make a certain style is loaded with biases and opinions. There is no 
absolute right and wrong. But I'll tell you how I've found success with various 
styles. My first undertaking is the Parry Riposte style.
     My focus is how to make a hybrid Parry Riposte. (Scum Rippers are also very 
viable and I just TC'd the Freshman tourney with a classic scum ripper). Ever since I 
started playing I've liked the Parry Riposte style. But I wasn't very good with them 
until I learned what they 'really' need.  I don't run an excess of them, but I believe 
I have a good understanding of them.
     Interestingly, my minimums for a good parry riposte are fairly easy to describe. 
GOOD or better damage and enough Parry/Carry/Hit Points. Sure there are successful 
parry rips with less than good damage. But I don't run them (anymore). Parry Ripostes 
don't try to hold the initiative in general, so you need to make your attacks count. 
You also have a lower skill base than almost every other style. Even more reason to 
make your opportunities count with more damage. Sure I'd love to only run great damage 
and better, but that is too many points to invest in strength and size.
     'Enough' Parry, Carry and Hit Points is harder to quantify. Note that strength 
gives parry and carry (and damage), so strength is a good place to invest points on 
your ripper. The breakpoints for strength that are relevant:

                               9: SS/SC
                              11: LO/LS
                              15: An additional parry skill
                              17: An additional parry skill
                              21: Two additional parry skills

     It is strongly believed that the wording of your encumbrance statement is only a 
marker. So more strength gives more encumbrance, irrespective of your statement. The 
encumbrance formula that many people use for how much weight you can carry is (STR + 
(LESSER OF STR/CON) -- 6).  Note that STR is VERY important in this formula. 
Regardless, the idea of the parry/carry/hp theme is that you need to withstand your 
opponent's attack. I like to have at least two of the three on the higher side. Parry 
comes from STR/WIL/DFT and inverse of SIZ (3 size gives many parry skills, 21 takes 
away). Hit points come from CON, SIZ, and WIL (mostly CON).
     There are many ways to make PR's, but this can get you started:

     STR: 9+
     CON: more is better, hit points are a primary need
     SIZ: 14- (14 or less, you start losing parry at 15)
     WIT: any really, but more is better (see weapons, though)
     WIL: 7+ (lots of variation here. skill breakpoints: 7, 15, 17, 21)
     SPD: less is better (gives more points where you want them)
     DFT: 11+ (Some people say much higher, I am in the 11 deftness camp)

As you see, I have very few stat requirements on my PR's. I'm all about the 4 things I 
mentioned above.
     Weapons: SC & LO are the staple weapons. In case you don't remember or know, the 
stat requirements are: SC (9 str/11 wit/11 dft) and LO (11 str/13 wit/11 dft). SS & LS 
work for low wit Rippers. EP and SH are the only other weapons they are well suited 
too (and they have NO marginally suited weapons).
     Armor: I've never had or tried to run a dodge based Ripper. They start with the 
lowest defense skill in the game, so parry is where it is generally at. So, armor is 
not a bad thing at all. Remember I mentioned you want carry ability?!? It is to wear 
armor! Most of my Rippers wear ASM or APM/APA. I will change it up and use ACM at 
times. And if my carry is low, I suffer with APL or ARM. 
     Strategy: Do NOT, usually, carry/wear too much armor and weapons. The penalties 
for over-encumbering your warrior are harsh, get worse and worse, and are not directly 
shown anywhere in the fight.
     As far as rhythm, I highly, highly recommend running on your warrior's favorite 
rhythm. Unfortunately, you don't find those values until after your warrior graduates. 
So you have to guess. I usually start a warrior at 4-6 at the beginning of his career 
and then experiment until I find where he fights best. Rippers require more TLC that 
most styles. Send a striker out with 10-10 and he runs great. Some rippers do 
fantastic at 4-6 and some do not. You have to find what works for yours. If you aren't 
willing to tinker and optimize, they are not a great style to run and expect success 
with.
     Examples: (these are the last 4 PR's I've graduated -- at time of writing): 

     She is a parry-riposte with ST=17 CN=15 SZ=10 WT=6 WL=21 SP=4 DF=11. (This 
     is my Freshman TC. Really just a scum, but also meets my 'minimums') 

     He is a parry-riposte with ST=10 CN=11 SZ=7 WT=7 WL=21 SP=7 DF=21. (This is 
     the warrior that made me say good damage is a requirement. With two strength 
     trains, he still had normal damage. His basic career was mediocre because of 
     it. He is training for a future bust in Freshmen and those 21's look very, 
     very pretty now)

     He is a parry-riposte with ST=21 CN=8 SZ=11 WT=21 WL=7 SP=3 DF=13. (I love 
     this design and would use it again without hesitation)

     He is a parry-riposte with ST=12 CN=12 SZ=4 WT=15 WL=21 SP=7 DF=13. (An 
     earlier design. I wouldn't make this a ripper today. He did start with 
     normal damage which made him great. But the chance (~40%) for little damage 
     is too much for me to risk this setup on a PR in the future -- especially 
     when I want GOOD damage on PR's)

     AND not my warrior, but... 17-14-4-17-7-8-17 PR (This is Daydream Believer, 
     the best Parry Riposte ever to grace the sands. The numbers alone are not 
     what made DDB great, but it is a fine example of how to make a PR. DDB TC'd 
     Rookies, Adepts, Champions, and Challengers.  Many people have copied DDB, 
     even to some success, but it is unlikely we'll see a repeat, ever)

     Advantages of the Parry Riposte Style: Very common to get LO & SC faves, rhythms 
are usually very runnable. Their natural learning is perfect. Good Rippers can be made 
from otherwise low value setups (think of low will setups)
     Disadvantages of the Parry Riposte Style: Low skill base. You usually can't just 
give them a single strategy at the beginning and let them run forever on it. Often 
misunderstood.
     Best Matchups: Rippers were intended to be the anti-striker style. That said, 
strikers are so good that while it is a good matchup, it isn't an auto-win by any 
means. Some Parry Ripostes are also good scum hunters.
     Worst Matchups: Aimed Blows are the bane to almost every hybrid and defensive 
style in the game. Parry Ripostes are not exception to this. Slashers are also pretty 
tough, but nothing like Aimed Blows.

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

Looks like the lose and advance thing is going to stop soon.  Omni is getting very 
close to my recognition level.  It is also possible I'll face Omni or Iris.  I have 
never understood why sometimes the DM faces champ level stand ins and sometimes the 
arena resets and the duelmaster faces one of the top challengers.  Oh well, 
regardless, I am likely approaching a time when I have to win to keep the throne.

But for now...  I am the Duelmaster!  And I will enjoy all the benefits it affords me.

                                          -- Greed

                                      SPY REPORT

     Much has changed in NOBLISH ISLAND since last I was here.  Never fear, Olaf 
Modeen adapts to many situations, as do all successful fighters.  It seems so 
recently people were saying VICIOUS FISH 2021 was washed up, finished.  But 4-1-0 
moved them up 0.  I guess they're washed no more...  What's with GREAT WHITE SHARK?  
He actually beat FLOWERS!'s IRIS, and walked away with 17 more points from the fight. 
Laughs were big at VICIOUS FISH 2021 while they watched GREAT WHITE SHARK clobber 
IRIS.  She lost 14 points and got bruised from objects thrown from the stands.  Try 
as he might, KHALHUMS DWARF wasn't good enough at persuading GREED to step down from 
the Duelmaster's throne...  I suppose you want to hear some rumors and dirty gossip 
about your fellow fighters?  Tough!   
     Speaking of cowardly avoiders and unfair challenges...  The most avoided team 
was VICIOUS FISH 2021.  Management must be dealin', as the boys at FLOWERS! ain't 
reelin'!  VICIOUS FISH 2021's mad!  How well I know the feeling of being the most 
challenged warrior, LOCKOUT!  Don't make idle boasts, they may come back to haunt 
you.   
     Warriors of NOBLISH ISLAND unite.  You have only your games to lose!  Here's 
some advice:  study your opponent, master many skills, fight dirty.   
     Well, I'm pretty much through.  You guys need to get back practicing.  Are you 
as tired of reading this as I am of writing it?  Actually, I guess I'm writing it 
before you read it.  Oh, well.  Remember--a good fighter needs both good skills and 
good luck.  Until next time,-- Olaf Modeen  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GREED 10621                   5   2  0  66         BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)      

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 OMNI 10596                    6   0  0  45         PHOENIX FORCE (1811)      
 GREAT WHITE SHARK 10648       4   0  0  42         VICIOUS FISH 2021 (1818)  
 BAD FAITH 10622               4   3  0  38         BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)      

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LILY 10632                    5   1  0  33         FLOWERS! (1816)           
 UGLY 10639                    4   2  0  31         BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)      
 POPPY 10633                   5   1  0  30         FLOWERS! (1816)           
 BRUTAL BARRACUDA 10650        3   1  0  27         VICIOUS FISH 2021 (1818)  

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 THUNDERHAMMER 10597           4   2  0  23         PHOENIX FORCE (1811)      
 DRINK EM UP 10664             2   0  0  23         BEER BELLIES (1821)       
 IRIS 10635                    4   2  0  21         FLOWERS! (1816)           
 STRIKE 10623                  6   1  0  20         BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)      
 THE ALLIGATOR GAR 10649       2   2  0  18         VICIOUS FISH 2021 (1818)  
 CHUCK BYWAY 10628             4   4  0  16         THIRD HIGHWAY 3 (1815)    
 DAISY 10636                   3   3  0  15         FLOWERS! (1816)           
 DON CRESCENT 10629            3   5  0  14         THIRD HIGHWAY 3 (1815)    
 FAREN END 10631               3   5  0  14         THIRD HIGHWAY 3 (1815)    
 EDGAR DETOUR 10630            3   5  0  14         THIRD HIGHWAY 3 (1815)    
 PERILOUS PIRANHA 10647        2   2  0  14         VICIOUS FISH 2021 (1818)  
 CROCUS 10634                  2   4  0  14         FLOWERS! (1816)           
 BOOZIE SOOZIE 10693           1   0  1  14         BEER BELLIES (1821)       
 CASEY BOONE 10638             3   4  0  13         THIRD HIGHWAY 3 (1815)    
 ROGER MOORE 10657             1   0  0  13         SHAKN-NOT-STIRD (1820)    
 LOCKOUT 10625                 1   6  0   9         BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)      
 DANIEL CRAIG 10659            0   1  0   9         SHAKN-NOT-STIRD (1820)    
 PUFFER FISH PERIL 10646       2   2  0   8         VICIOUS FISH 2021 (1818)  
 PIERCE BROSNAN 10658          0   3  0   7         SHAKN-NOT-STIRD (1820)    
 TIMOTHY DALTON 10660          1   2  0   5         SHAKN-NOT-STIRD (1820)    

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SEAN CONNERY 10656            0   3  0   3         SHAKN-NOT-STIRD (1820)    
 PAPPY BLUE RIBS 10666         0   2  0   2         BEER BELLIES (1821)       
 XXX 10662                     0   2  0   2         BEER BELLIES (1821)       
 BUD THE WISER 10692           0   1  0   1         BEER BELLIES (1821)       

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
MORDANT DESERTER        0  0 0                      BOOZIE SOOZIE 10693   588  NONE

                                     PERSONAL ADS

[from last time:]

Perilous Piranha -- For once, it appears the fish had me for dinner... well played, 
old sport. -- Timothy Dalton

Lily -- Traditionally you send lilies to someone's funeral. While I applaud the effort 
it seems flowers were premature. Care for another dance? -- Sean Connery

All -- I must apologize for my agents' failures. My estimation of their talents was 
dramatically in error. You win this time S.P.E.C.T.E.R. -- M

Casey Boone -- Thanks for the lesson, you are a wonderful teacher and unfortunately 
for me, quite a good fighter as well. Until next time. -- Pierce Brosnan

All -- I noticed in the tournament papers something called "bloodgames." What are 
they? Also, what does D.Y.O. stand for? -- M

     The bloodgames are a special arena where each manager starts with a team of 
     warriors, all DYOs ("design your own" so you can allocate their 84 points however 
     you choose!), one warrior of each fighting style.  The bloodgames is ten rounds. 
     Battles are vicious and warriors fight with an increased kill desire. No 
     replacement warriors are issued, so when a warrior dies, he dies.  The warriors 
     with the top three kills are resurrected and invited to Advanced Duelmasters; the 
     remainder of the warriors are released from duty.  We have a few different 
     formats for bloodgames and generally offer them a couple of times each year, 
     usually paired with a face-to-face tournament, but occasionally we offer them as 
     a mailed-in arena too.  Watch the newsletters for announcements of future 
     bloodgames. -- RSI

Rose of Sharon -- In your tournament article, when talking about your fighter's 
fights, you wrote that he went 0/10/0.  What did that mean -- M

[and now from this turn:]

Greed! Unworthy! Isn't that one of the seven deadly sins? -- Rose Of Sharon, Mgr 
Flowers

Assur, with that godling-like BB team of yours, how come you don't have the best w/l 
record? The answer would make for a nice spotlight. -- Rose Of Sharon

Jorja, Hammer, Assur, great spotlights last round. Valuable info indeed. -- Rose Of 
Sharon
P.S. Go ahead and roast the slacker.

Welcome Beer Bellies! What a great way to enjoy life -- beer and D2. life is sweet. 
Glad to have you here on Noblish Isle. -- Rose Of Sharon

Sean Connery, that was a fine attempt at a pay-back. Keep up the good work. Smell the 
flowers. -- Lily
P.S. Luckily I am bonused in damage-doing and rolled great damage. Otherwise ...

Don Crescent, you were there, and we are both still here. -- Daisy

Chuck Btway, that is grossly unfair that you won the last out of three. We had a fine 
streak going, you know? Meanie! -- Poppy

Strike, uh, up your nose with a rubber hose! -- Crocus, Flowers

Edgar Detour, all I can say is I am quite the surprise. -- Iris

All, I wish I could say that, like Hammer, I had a team I was excited about and 
already had future thoughts of which future arena the warriors were headed. Instead, I 
look forward to getting these next five turns over with and ending my host manager 
role with a bunch of worthless rum-dum bottom-end-designed flowers, and passing the 
torch to some other hired Consortium manager. These flowers will not be seen again 
after their stint in Noblish. Until then, good luck to you all, and don't make the 
mistake that because I don't like these warriors, they will be easy. That would be 
"your bad". -- Rose Of Sharon

"These flowers are like the pleasures of the world...." -- William Shakespeare 
Yup, The Bard said that. I didn't. -- Rose Of Sharon

My time in Noblish Island is halfway done and I've learned quite a bit from some of 
the articles. Thank you all. However, none of the questions that I asked were answered 
so I'll try again. Thanks. -- Shawn

1.  What are political points? How are they earned? How do they affect the warrior?

2.  I've seen articles that said to use one weapon with lunger or striker. What 
    style(s) work well with two weapons, or weapon and shield?

3.  Which styles work well with a low strength number (3-6)?

Assur -- Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll do my best to dethrone you. -- Omni

I like the "How to make a loser win" article.  It seemed as if you were speaking 
directly to me. -- Shawn

Jorja -- Your Spots have value! I also remember reading the Questions of the Week 
years ago that were filled with nuggets of wisdom! You should go ahead and post one or 
more of those QOTW oldies! New Players should be able to glean some goodies from 
reading those oldies! -- Hammer
P.S. Thanks for the 'interesting information' compliment and I do still enjoy reading 
some of your fiction!

Assur -- Thanks for posting the Weapon Requirement Chart (without the inaccuracies) 
last cycle! Timely for any newcomers to the training arena! -- Hammer

Consortium -- Looking forward to your next article after you recuperate from the Cincy 
Facer! -- Hammer

Ugly -- Your ugly down challenge! My ugly loss! Thanks for the skills! Salute! -- The 
Alligator Gar

XXX -- Welcome to the arena! Thanks for the win! Salute! -- Brutal Barracuda

Lockout -- Your not-so surprising down challenge! My surprising win! Salute! -- Puffer 
Fish Peril

Pierce Brosnan -- Your challenge! My victory! Thanks for the skills! Salute! -- Great 
White Shark

Thunderhammer -- Your random matchup victory! My aching loss! Salute! -- Perilous 
Piranha

New Players -- Welcome to the training arena! Take heed to what you read in the 
articles! Enjoy the game and do not be shy about asking questions! -- Hammer, Duel 2 
Sponsor, mgr of Vicious Fish 2021

All -- Cany anyone help me by answering the following questions.
1.  I know 16 is expert & 20 is adv expert, what are the other skill breaks?
2.  What are blood games?
3.  When reading a fight report, are there any statements that will reveal anything 
    extra about a fighter?
-- MI6

Great White Shark -- Well it appears the fish had me for dinner.  Well played old 
sport. -- Pierce Brosnan

Pappy Blue Ribs -- Like my drinks, I prefer my opponents shakn no stired. -- Timothy 
Dalton

Lily -- Normally you send lillies to a funeral, while I applaud the effort I'm not in 
the grave just yet. -- Sean Connery

Daisy -- That's the first time I've met a daisy tall enough to sit under it and take 
shelter from the rain. -- Don Crescent

Iris -- You didn't have to beat me over the head with your bulbs! -- Edgar de'Tour
P.S.  I didn't GIVE you the edge, you up and TOOK it.

Poppy -- Sorry about that.  Sorta sorry.  But your teammates have been beating up mine 
today, and I wanted to get ahead of you. -- Chuck Byway

The embezzler was useless.  Worthless and weak, and he didn't belong here. -- Faren 
End
P.S.  Do we import them from the mainland?

Gosh!  The cult member actually taught me a skill. -- Casey Boone

Omni -- Not sure what your your numbers look like.  Short Sword is not considered one 
of the best weapons in the game, mostly because it does not do much damage.  
Fortunately, your size gives you damage to make up for an otherwise fine weapon.  But 
for future reference, most lungers 'want' to have access to the LO.  But for warriors 
that do lots of damage, SH is a fine weapon. -- Assur

Hammer -- Amusing mistake by me...  Laziness rules!!!
For new managers, writing "SAME" on your strategy sheet uses the same strategy as last 
time and you only have to write out the top two lines of the strategy. Good for 
laziness, but not good for your aimed blow making sure he has weapons against a Total 
Parry. -- Assur

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

POPPY devastated CASEY BOONE in a action packed 1 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
CROCUS subdued LOCKOUT in a 2 minute Challenge melee.
LILY demolished CHUCK BYWAY in a 1 minute uneven Challenge fight.
TIMOTHY DALTON was viciously subdued by STRIKE in a slow 6 minute Challenge contest.
XXX was luckily beaten by DAISY in a crowd pleasing 4 minute Challenge competition.
PAPPY BLUE RIBS lost to DON CRESCENT in a crowd pleasing 1 minute Challenge fight.
GREED overpowered KHALHUMS DWARF in a popular 1 minute mismatched Title brawl.
OMNI won victory over UGLY in a 1 minute duel.
IRIS was vanquished by GREAT WHITE SHARK in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
BAD FAITH vanquished FAREN END in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
EDGAR DETOUR was overpowered by DRINK EM UP in a 1 minute uneven match.
THUNDERHAMMER savagely defeated SEAN CONNERY in a exciting 2 minute brutal fight.
PERILOUS PIRANHA devastated BUD THE WISER in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
THE ALLIGATOR GAR demolished PIERCE BROSNAN in a 1 minute mismatched match.
BRUTAL BARRACUDA overpowered DANIEL CRAIG in a 1 minute mismatched conflict.
PUFFER FISH PERIL was defeated by ROGER MOORE in a 2 minute novice's duel.
BOOZIE SOOZIE butchered MORDANT DESERTER in a 1 minute uneven duel.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|STRIKING ATTACK                  6         LUNGING ATTACK    23 -  16 -  0      59  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   6         TOTAL PARRY       20 -  14 -  0      59  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   5         BASHING ATTACK    29 -  21 -  0      58  |
|AIMED BLOW                       4         SLASHING ATTACK   13 -  11 -  1      54  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  4         STRIKING ATTACK   29 -  26 -  1      53  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      4         AIMED BLOW        20 -  21 -  3      49  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    3         WALL OF STEEL      8 -  15 -  0      35  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         PARRY-RIPOSTE      2 -   9 -  0      18  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     0         PARRY-STRIKE       0 -   0 -  0       0  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    0         PARRY-LUNGE        0 -   2 -  0       0  |

Turn 588 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:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  GREED 10621                 5   2  0   66 BB CBA NEGOT. (1814)
LUNGING ATTACK   OMNI 10596                  6   0  0   45 PHOENIX FORCE (1811)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is BAD FAITH 10622.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was THUNDERHAMMER 10597.  The ten other most popular fighters were XXX 10662, CROCUS 
10634, PAPPY BLUE RIBS 10666, GREED 10621, ROGER MOORE 10657, POPPY 10633, BRUTAL 
BARRACUDA 10650, LOCKOUT 10625, LILY 10632, and DON CRESCENT 10629.

The least popular fighter this week was STRIKE 10623.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were PUFFER FISH PERIL 10646, DANIEL CRAIG 10659, PIERCE BROSNAN 10658, BUD 
THE WISER 10692, EDGAR DETOUR 10630, FAREN END 10631, IRIS 10635, DAISY 10636, 
TIMOTHY DALTON 10660, and CHUCK BYWAY 10628.

                 FACE-TO-FACE TOURNEY LXV

APPRENTICES TOURNEY                    W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
PIERCE BROSNAN 10658 (0-2-0)           1  3  0         SHAKN-NOT-STIRD      

ROOKIES TOURNEY                        W  L  K         TEAM NAME            
SHREDDER 10667 (0-0-0)                 7  3  0         TMNT                 
DANIEL CRAIG 10659 (0-0-0)             4  3  0         SHAKN-NOT-STIRD      
ROGER MOORE 10657 (0-0-0)              2  3  0         SHAKN-NOT-STIRD      
TIFA LOCKHART 10652 (0-0-0)            1  3  0         FINAL FANTASY        
BARRET WALLACE 10655 (0-0-0)           0  3  0         FINAL FANTASY        
CLOUD STRIFE 10651 (0-0-0)             0  3  0         FINAL FANTASY        
YUFFIE KISARAGI 10653 (0-0-0)          0  3  0         FINAL FANTASY