DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 06/17/2022    Duedate: 06/30/2022

NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA

DM 93    TURN 611

This Week's Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

POSITION IS EMPTY

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

LAUNDRY                        POSITION IS EMPTY
BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846)       
(93-10806) [7-3-0,50]          

Popularity Leader              This Week's Favorite

BIRD DOG                       AIRPORT TAXI
EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)         BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846)
(93-10818) [7-2-0,69]          (93-10808) [8-2-1,38]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. CLOWDER OF KATZ (1840)        33 
2. CRIMSON SCOURGE (1844)        24    BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846)
3. ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)      16    Unchartered Team
4. EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)        13 
                                       EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1*KTEPI'S KOMMANDOS (334)    1   0  0 100.   1/ 1*EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)   11  4 1
 2/ 2*EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)    33  12  1 73.3   2/ 2 BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846) 10  5 1
 3/ 3 BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846)  35  15  1 70.0   3/ 3*ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  8  7 0
 4/ 5*ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  20  15  0 57.1   4- 7*G'S SOCIAL CLUB (1838)    3  2 0
 5- 7*ZOO KEEPERS (1843)        15  19  2 44.1   5- 4*THE VIRULENT (1851)       3  4 1
 6/ 6*CRIMSON SCOURGE (1844)    17  22  2 43.6   6- 5*ZOO KEEPERS (1843)        3  6 0
 7- 8*G'S SOCIAL CLUB (1838)     7  10  0 41.2   7/10*CRIMSON SCOURGE (1844)    2  8 1
 8-10*THE VIRULENT (1851)        6  11  2 35.3   8/ 9*CLOWDER OF KATZ (1840)    2  8 0
 9/11*CLOWDER OF KATZ (1840)    11  34  0 24.4   9-11*KTEPI'S KOMMANDOS (334)   1  0 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

With the Face-To-Face Tournament coming up shortly (July 23 weekend) in Alexandria, VA 
(DC area), it seems only appropriate that I give you all a feeling or understanding of 
what it is all about.

                                          -- Agent Smith

               An FTF Tournament Scenario (And info about tournaments)

     The purpose of this spotlight is to give newcomers to D2 a sense or feeling or 
information about tournaments, in this case a Face-To-Face tournament, held in Tempe 
near the RSI offices. Hence, our friend and Consortium associate warrior Billiken of 
College Mascots and his manager Cheerleader were selected as the guinea-pigs. Rah, 
rah, Billiken!
     So, a tournament. Four times a year RSI holds tournaments. Winter and summer are 
Face-To-Face Tournaments where managers from all arenas compete on-site against each 
other face-to-face and can change strategies each and every fight if they wish. (Note: 
One does not actually have to appear face-to-face, as warriors can be mailed in to 
fight also.) But, there is such fun and excitement looking your fellow manager in the 
eye when you fight. And, it is a wonderful way to meet the many great managers in the 
game, along with the very helpful RSI personnel. The winter Face Site has always been 
in Tempe, AZ, (The RSI Home Site) while the summer event in held in varying cities 
east of the Mississippi. (Recent ones were in New Orleans, LA, and in Kansas  City, 
MO, and Cincinnatti, OH, etc.) The Mail-In Tournaments are done completely via mail 
and managers submit predetermined strategies for their entered warriors. (Each warrior 
is allowed a primary strategy and also a secondary strategy which will be employed 
against selected styles.) Both events cost $7.00 per warrior and are great fun. 
Warriors compete in classes, thereby allowing similarly experienced warriors from all 
arenas to be fairly matched with each other. In tournaments, a warrior's chance to 
learn skills or earn stat increases is half that in normal arenas. Supposedly, the 
chances of dying are also halved.
     Why might I, or any new manager, want to do this? I had four real reasons. (1) 
Tournaments are fun; a real rush, as the warrior and manager gets lots of fights in a 
very short period. -- minimum three fights (2) Seeing one's warrior compete against 
warriors from many other arenas is fun and a good judge of the skill and status of 
one's own warrior. (3) The warrior acquires fights plus skills and/or stat raises that 
are "hidden", meaning that those fights and resultant learnings cannot be seen in the 
arena status listing of the warrior.
     For example, Billiken was 3-0-1 on the Noblish Island newsletter prior to the 
tournament, and despite fighting several fights in the tournament, will be listed at 
3-0-1 after the tournament. (4) The chance to meet other managers, especially 
experienced managers, and possibly to learn from them, is priceless.
     Cheerleader entered Billiken from Noblish Island in the 2017 Winter FTF. Prior to 
fighting him in The FTF, she wanted to give him the best possibility to succeed. She 
prepared to fight him in the Apprentices class. Classes are segregated by FE -- Fight 
Equivalents. What is a fight equivalent? Each arena fight counts as one fight and any 
tournament fights count as a half fight. The Apprentices Class is for warriors with 1-
4 FE. Having no tournament fights prior, Cheerleader wanted to try to "max" Billiken 
for Apprentices. By "max" she wanted him to fight with the maximum FE possible (4 for 
apprentice) in that class. By doing so, she would optimize his chances to succeed. 
Alas, Cheerleader was unable to do so, only getting Billiken three fights prior to the 
Face; hence, he was one fight "light", but that wasn't too bad.
     Pre-Tournament, Billiken looked like this: 

     11-13-5-15-21-8-11, a Lunger who was right-handed, intelligent, incredibly quick 
     and elusive, did normal damage, had good endurance, and had an expert in attack 
     on the roll. He earned expert defense after one learn in the arena, so I also 
     knew he was +2 to 4 attack skills and +4 defense. Nice, but not a godling.

     Billiken did o.k. in the tournament, finishing 3-3 (1 a grudge match) against the 
best Apprentices in the land, even though he was only 75% maxed. He also 
learned/trained well, earning 1 stat (CN, moving endurance to great) and 7 skills. 
(Mostly initiative) Perhaps a general fight-by-fight summary would prove of value?
First, let me list for you the one strategy Cheerleader chose:

      8 - 9 - 9 - 7 - 7 - 4 - 4       ASM/S
     10 - 9 - 6 - 3 - 3 - 1 -10       0-13 = SS  + N
      6 - 6 - 6 - 7 - 7 -10 - 4       14+  = LO  + N
      N - L - N - N - N - L - N       b/u  = DA
      D - N - N - N - N - N - D

Strategies, armor, weapons, backups, tactics, training, etc, etc. are all variable, 
and explaining Cheerleader choices or normal Consortium choices would require a much, 
much longer spotlight. Perhaps another day.
As to Billikens's tournament action:

     Fight one against a sz13 scum TP -- Billiken swung 26 times with the LO, 1 crit, 
     but with his only normal damage could not take the scum down and lost in six 
     rounds, earning an init and attack skill.

     Fight two, a sz8 aimer (ale/l sc/-) with a lot of dodging and back and forthing, 
     the aimer was a winner; Blliken was 0/10/0 with the SS earning a riposte and init 
     skill.

     Fight three, which Billiken has to win or he is out! (3 losses and done) another 
     aimer, also sz8, who was ale/l and using fist. The fight was nearly identical to 
     the previous fight except Billiken won, going 0/9/0 with the SS and earning one 
     init skill.

     Fight four, a striker at sz11, naked, and with a scimitar. Billiken dodged his 
     advances in the first round, traded strokes with him in the second, finally 
     getting his best crit of the tourney, knocking him down, and finishing the win in 
     three rounds. He was 1/10/0 with the SS. (one init skill)

     Fight five, another scum, sz8, and Billiken did not know he was fighting a scum. 
     (APM/F SH/ME) Had he known, in the FTF, he could and would have changed his 
     strategy to slow down and hopefully take out the scum.  But instead, although 
     Billiken performed well with the LO, going 4/20/0, he lost in 4 rounds. He 
     finished at 2-3, earning another init. BUT.....

     A final special grudge match is allowed at FTFs, so Billiken brokered a match up 
     with a basher. A sz 11, naked, HL wielding basher. Scary! For the grudge Billiken 
     wanted to test a different strategy. Since he was pretty defensive skilled and 
     not so much of a damaging hitter, 6-6-2 dodge, with ale/l sh/- (low armor, and LO 
     high armor). He learned the basher was going 10-10-7 decise in the first round. 
     Amazingly, Billiken dodged the first two swings of the massive halbard, then 
     jabbed him twice for the win and a decent 3-3 record. He was training for a CON 
     stat and got it, not only adding to hit points, but giving him great endurance.

Billiken says he was glad to get out of the FTF alive! Such is Billiken's Face-To-Face 
tournament saga. He was an OK 3-3. He earned 7 skills, and a stat increase which 
enhanced his hit points and endurance.

Key things you learned from this article:
     1. 4 RSI tournaments held plus their type and timing
     2. FE = Fight Equivalents
     3. Tournament Prep
     4. Some basic Consortium lunger strategies
     5. The value of tournaments to your warriors (and you)
     6. Stat raising and burning skills

       -- Initially written by: Cheerleader of College Mascots, Consortium affiliated.
          Edited by: Agent Smith of Everly Brothers, Consortium affiliated.
          (June 2022)

***---------*---------*---------*---------**---------*---------*---------*---------***

                              Wall of Steel: Nerdy Style
                                 by Dante Killatroll
          Teams: Nerd Nation (657) in DM 17 and N.E.R.D. Life (872) in DM 47

First and foremost, let me say welcome to all the new managers to Duel2. I have been 
playing this game for around 8 years and have some experience and knowledge. I've had 
6 different teams, yet now I only have 2 active ones. I learned a lot from the Great 
and Wise Ones in Noblish Island (Assur, Hammer, Jorja, and The Consortium) and through 
Terrablood.com. However, I have learned mostly through trial and error. Following in 
the steps of the Great and Wise Ones, I have taken some of the things I have figured 
out and put them on paper. My first article will be on my favorite style to play (not 
seen as the best): the Wall of Steel, or the Waste as some managers call it. Let's 
start by taking a look at what I would call the minimum stats needed to make a decent 
and good Wall of Steel.

STRENGTH: 9-13
You need to at least be able to use the Scimitar. I try to always get an 11 (even if I 
need to train up from 10 to get it) because it opens up the Broadsword and the 
Quarterstaff. If able, without hurting your other stats, I'll go to 13 so I can use 
the Great Axe. I have found that no more is needed here. Spend your extra points 
elsewhere.

CONSTITUTION: 8-12
I try to get at least 21 with ST+CN, mostly for the Endurance and Carry. HP is nice, 
but most of my Wastes will Dodge or Parry. More on that later...

SIZE: 9-14
One reason is I do not like the negative skill points in Defense and Parry. Also pay 
attention to your Damage, aim for Good--it makes a huge difference.

WIT: 15, 17, or 21
A Wall of Steel that cannot learn will lose non-stop. As with most styles, it's all 
about learning skills. I've tried lower; you will notice quickly there will be a gap 
in their Win-Loss record.

WILL: 11, 15, or 17
An 11 is okay if you don't plan on using them in ADM. If you dream of ADM, go for 15 
or 17. Aim for Normal Endurance.

SPEED: Any
I've tried low and high, it is okay but not needed.

DEFTNESS: 11+
You will need at least 11 for the weapon requirements, plus the skill gain here is 
great. Aim to get Normal Coordination if you can. (Normal Coordination is SP+DF=21+.)

Now these are my minimum beliefs, other managers are more than welcome to argue or 
point out flaws at any time, just drop me a Diplo. As you can see these are not hard 
numbers to get and there is room to move points around. If you hit the mimimum and 
still have points to spend (the mimimum point total is 77 out of 84), place them on 
either WT, DF, WL, CN, ST... in that order. Look for those beautiful skill breaks at 
13, 15, 17, and 21.

Here is an example of one of my fighters that is still active. He started out 10-12-9-
15-15-10-13. As you can see, he meets all of my requirements. Using the C.I.C. I got 
from RSI, I was expecting to get four wit statements, one for Initiative (12), Attack 
(10), Parry (7), and Defense (7). Good Damage (-G+), Cannot Carry a lot, Normal
Endurance (330), Normal HPs (60.9), and Normal Coordination.

Once I received his overview, I saw he did get the four wit statements, plus another 
"rarely wastes his endurance needlessly" -- I believe this to be a blessing in 
endurance. Which is evident from his Good Endurance, so I know his endurance is above 
391. With only Normal damage, I know he got hosed. Everything else was just as I 
thought. It took his first two fights training strength to get it to 11, luckily it 
"un-hosed" his damage and improved his carry. As of this writing, he is 14-8-0, has 
learned 35 skills in the arena, and 11 in tourneys. I can also tell his favorite learn 
is parry because out of the 46 skills, 14 are parry. Hopefully he graduates to ADM 
soon.

I have had many other Walls of Steel, but most will look like this. Let's move on to 
how to equip and run them.

WEAPONS: The C.I.C. says the Battleaxe (BA), Broadsword (BS), Great Axe (GA), 
Greatsword (GS), Morning Star (MS), Quarterstaff (QS), Scimitar (SC), and the War 
Flail (WF) are all well-suited for this style. I only use four of them: SC, QS, BS, 
and GA. I usually go (0-6) SC, (7-12) QS, and (13+) BS or GA. Try them out and find 
which your fighter does better with, then keep using it. 

ARMOR: For me it's either APL/L or ARM/S, depending on who I am fighting. I'll go 
lighter and quicker vs. slower styles, or put more on vs. faster ones. Remember to 
always use armor.

STRATEGY: I start them out with 6-4-6 in minute 1, then move the offense and activity 
up or down by 1 until I found out where they parry the best. A Wall of Steel will 
attack when he sees an opening and a lot of the times even get the jump. What you wish 
to see is them parry those fast offensive styles. Nothing brings me greater joy than 
watching those Bashers, Slashers, and Lungers getting nowhere with all their attacks.

Well, I hope this brings some insight or new ideas about my favorite style. I welcome 
any and all comments and questions; I can only help this helps someone in the future. 
Enjoy your time on the sands and hope to see you in the arena.!

***---------*---------*---------*---------**---------*---------*---------*---------***

LETTER FROM LAPUR T-943

I am suffering such unexpected humiliation in the DM 29 Lapur Arena!

Last cycle I was Challenged by a 1-0-0, 19 warrior who was 13 recognition points below 
me!

I have no clue if he had any tourney experience!

I was defeated in the first minute without an opportunity to swing at my opponent with 
my weapon!

My 5-18-0, 32 record would cause most other managers to have sent me to the Dark Arena 
long ago!

I am most fortunate that Hammer is my manager!

My other 3 stable mates also lost their fights as our stable went 0-4-0 once again!

No wonder Hammer is sending Anew Flower Power to replace us in a couple of months!

Fright Ride still sits atop the DM 29 DM Throne!

Fright Ride even wrote a DM Column!

Eoghan McGrimm improved upon his Spy Reporting!

The Bloke is looking for more competitors to test his stable on the battle arena 
sands!

Eleven stables were active last cycle!

Darkathias transferred his stable here after their 10 turns of training in the DM 93 
Noblish Island Arena!

There is still plenty of room for You to send a stable here!

"May You New Players Fare Better Than I Do!"

                  -- Wild Card Joker of 5 Card Draw in DM 29 and former loser in DM 93

***---------*---------*---------*---------**---------*---------*---------*---------***

                                    Staying Alive

     Death is part of dueling.  This sport is dangerous!  But there are things that a 
manager can do to help keep his warriors alive.  Nothing is a sure thing, and a 
warrior with maximum hit points (21 con/siz/will) can still die.  There is some luck 
involved regardless, and luck can run both ways.  But here are the experiences of 
Assur with keeping warriors alive.

     One interesting stat is kill %.  Note that I use a kill % that is kills/wins. 
Some people prefer kills/fights, but since you can't kill if you don't win, losses are 
irrelevant to killing.  In the same way, deaths/losses would measure mortality. I can 
say with certainty that a manager who runs a 10% kill ratio over a lot of fights is 
trying to kill his opponents.  In the one arena where I try to kill, I have been able 
to keep my kill % just over 10% (without a lot of augmentation from killing in the 
Dark Arena).  At the time of this writing, my other arenas have a 3.95% kill ratio 
(which includes sending most of my lord protectors to the DA when they graduate).  In 
that one arena, I don't run scum and all my warriors run 10 kill desire in every 
minute and desperation.  They also aim for HE, CH, or AB every minute.  Contrast that 
where I will run scum and every warrior uses 5 (usually) or less kill desire in every 
minute and always attacks limbs.  These numbers (and similar in other teams/managers) 
are what makes me conclude that 5% is on the low side while 10% is on the high side.  
Why do I share all this?  Because if you lose 10 times in the arena (for example, a 
20-10 warrior), you can expect your warriors to die somewhere between 34% and 65% of 
the time.  (1-.96^10 to 1-.90^10 -- using a range from 4% to 10% chance of dying with 
every loss, 10 losses)

     1) WIN!  It is impossible to die unless you lose a fight.  In fact, some of the 
     suggestions later on may hinder your ability to win somewhat, so this should be 
     the first and highest priority in keeping your warriors alive.

     2) Wear armor.  Any armor.  Especially a helm.  It is Assur's experience that 
     warriors with NO armor die way more often than warriors who wear armor.  On the 
     other side of that, Assur has no conclusive proof that APA gives any additional 
     protection against death than ALE.  It likely does (damage mitigation is damage 
     mitigation), but the benefit from none to ALE is much greater than ALE to higher 
     armors.  SO...  ALE/L at minimum.

     3) Lower your KD, especially in desperation.  There are tons of theories about 
     what different KD does, but nobody is completely sure.  Assur has found that is 
     does change your ability to kill and be killed.  Want to live? Go low, really 
     low. Want to die?  Go high, really high.  Assur guesses that it changes your 
     desire to keep fighting (both winning and losing) and the arenamaster respects 
     that and lets the fight continue or ends it sooner. 

     4) Protect HE and/or BD.  If it is a warrior that Assur really wants to live, 
     he'll often protect one of these areas during minutes 1-6, and another in 
     desperation.

     5) Hit Points, especially Size and Will.  Smaller warriors seems to die more 
     often.  it is also believed that Will is directly related to the stat the is 
     checked when your warrior enters the infirmary.

     6) Stay away from known killers.  See that 3rd number in your opponent's record? 
     It means something.  If that number is anything greater than 0, it means your 
     opponent has killed before.  When that number is 2 or higher, it suggests that 
     you may not want to fight that warrior (or if you do, make sure you win).

     7) Look for managers that aren't killers.  You will definitely see patterns over 
     time.  Divide kills by wins for a team's career record.  That is a great 
     indicator as to how bloodthirsty a manager is.  .10 is a very high kill ratio.  
     .05 is a manager who probably tries NOT to kill.

     8) Stay away from huge mismatches.  For whatever reason, it happens over and over 
     again.  Young upstart challenges or is matched against very old veteran.  The end 
     is an early demise for the arrogant young upstart. (Dinosaurs are dangerous)

     9) Fight warriors that aren't going to kill.  The opposite of #6, but this goes 
     one further.  Pure scum Total Parries that let a warrior run himself to 
     exhaustion don't kill very often (since they don't attack very often).  However, 
     see the next item.

     10) Stay out of exhaustion.  Warriors seem to die much more often when they are 
     completely exhausted.  Your opponent starts hammering down the blows and your 
     warrior takes blow after blow.

     11) Higher total fights.  As your warrior gets older (more fight experience) and 
     will mitigate damage better from his experience.  This has a side effect of 
     lowering death.  I really notice this around 25 fight equivalent (arena wins + 
     arena losses + roughly half of tourney fights).  Again, something that don't 
     really control other than by continuing to fight warriors.  The good thing is 
     that this means warriors you invest time and money into don't die as often.

As I began, you can't ensure your warriors will never die, but you can do everything 
in your power to prevent it.  If you can't handle the death of your favorite warriors, 
I recommend you find another pastime.  Death happens, sometimes to your favorites. 
Even if you do everything on this list, you sometimes can't prevent the worst. 

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

     Back again. Four (4) time Duelmaster. But I didn't really earn it this time. That 
Kung-Fu Master, who is one tough cookie, put it to me. It took him three rounds, and 
even though I had him hurt, his defensive skills were just too much for me, li'l ole 
Bird Dog, with only seven fights of experience. I hope I don't draw him again. I would 
rather fight something easier, like one of those BB Bachelor Again fellows. (wink) 
(Yes, that was a snipe at Assur, one of the finest fellows in all of D2.)
     For all you newbies, one of the finest ways to learn the ropes and to meet fellow 
D2 managers is to attend an FTF. (Face-To-Face) The next one is coming up in late July 
in the Washington DC area. All of the old time managers -- like Hammer and Assur and 
The Consortium -- would greatly enjoy meeting the up-and-comers of the game.
     Meanwhile, keep those blades sharp, those strategies smart and those wins will 
start.

                                          -- Bird Dog, DMIV

                                      SPY REPORT

     If you were disturbed from your beauty rest only to have to watch a bunch of 
NOBLISH ISLAND brutes like you, you'd be grouchy, too.  G'S SOCIAL CLUB turned their 
0-0-0 turn into a 4th 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 
LIGHTNING ROD win a fight and gain 20 points, terribly.  Tsk, tsk, LAUNDRY beat 
ROSEBUD BLOOMING and ROSEBUD BLOOMING lost 6 points.  You're breakin' my heart.  Our 
last turn's Duelmaster has lost, folks, lost to VETERAN MERCENARY, and BIRD DOG has 
made the way for a new Duelmaster!  The Warty Toad, humph!  I've tasted better ale at 
mortuaries.  Where do they get this stuff?  From NOBLISH ISLAND's trash dumps?   
     He who fights and runs away will live to fight another day, the coward.  NOBLISH 
ISLAND, I am losing what little hope I had in you.  EVERLY BROTHERS the most avoided 
team?  What insult will suffice, I cannot say.  And it looks like BB BACHELOR AGAIN 
avoided them the most this turn.  What a pack of would be losers, if you ask me.  
Hmph.  Looks like time for laurels or hemlock, AIRPORT TAXI was challenged by KATE 
KATZ, who was ranked 31 points below him.  And The Warty Toad has banned AIRPORT TAXI 
from service until next turn for losing to KATE KATZ and giving her 25 points in the 
process!  Ha!  Now here's guts and stupidity all rolled into one, CATACLYSIM KATZ 
challenged up 27 to take on CLEANING of BB BACHELOR AGAIN.  And sure, CATACLYSIM KATZ 
lost alright, but gained 1 recognition for hers pains.  And pains they may indeed be! 
I suspect either a 21 will or a 21 ego on this one, but CATA KATZ has challenged up 
by 29 in an attempt against LONELY.  But here's a pretty tale--CATA KATZ did lose the 
fight, but gained 1 worth of recognition.  Some long shots can pay off, I guess.   
     Some people like volunteer work in the hospitals.  I volunteer for NOBLISH 
ISLAND's morgue.  More variety.  And what a stunning loss we have here, boys and 
girls, BOWLING GREEN of EVERLY BROTHERS has added the final loss to its 5-3-0.  Tee 
hee!  Honor is like a chainmail shirt, it only shines through use.  Certain nameless 
cowards will doubtless rebuke me on this one.   
     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                  
 PROBLEMS 10826                8   0  0  69         EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)    

CHAMPIONS                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 BIRD DOG 10818                7   2  0  69         EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)    

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 LIGHTNING ROD 10844           4   0  1  56         CRIMSON SCOURGE (1844)    
 LAUNDRY 10806                 7   3  0  50         BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846)  
 KATE KATZ 10774               3   6  0  50         CLOWDER OF KATZ (1840)    
 BYE BYE LOVE 10843            6   0  1  47         EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)    
 AIRPORT TAXI 10808            8   2  1  38         BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846)  
 LONELY 10807                  6   4  0  35         BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846)  
 COOKING 10809                 7   3  0  34         BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846)  

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 CLEANING 10810                7   3  0  32         BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846)  
 POPPY POPULARITY 10831        6   1  0  32         ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  
-SQUIRE 10763                  3   0  0  29         G'S SOCIAL CLUB (1838)    
-DON JUAN 10791                4   3  0  26         ZOO KEEPERS (1843)        
 WALK RIGHT BACK 10859         2   0  0  25         EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)    
 DANDELION DENIAL 10829        5   2  0  24         ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ROSEBUD BLOOMING 10827        4   3  0  23         ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  
-MICHAEL M. 10794              3   3  0  23         ZOO KEEPERS (1843)        
 POPPY POPOVINSKI 10828        1   6  0  23         ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  
 MELON SMASHER 10798           5   3  0  22         CRIMSON SCOURGE (1844)    

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 VIOLET VISIONARY 10830        4   3  0  21         ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  
-JASON V 10793                 4   3  2  19         ZOO KEEPERS (1843)        
 GRASSHOPPER 10800             3   5  1  19         CRIMSON SCOURGE (1844)    
 RAINSTORM 10797               2   6  0  16         CRIMSON SCOURGE (1844)    
 CATHERINE KATZ 10777          3   6  0  15         CLOWDER OF KATZ (1840)    
-TWEEDLE DUM 10766             2   2  0  14         G'S SOCIAL CLUB (1838)    
 CATAMOUNT KATZ 10848          1   2  0  12         CLOWDER OF KATZ (1840)    
-FREDDY K. 10795               2   5  0  11         ZOO KEEPERS (1843)        
-GOTHCA 10792                  2   5  0  11         ZOO KEEPERS (1843)        
-SHIGELLA 10833                2   2  0  11         THE VIRULENT (1851)       
-BLIZZARD 1854                 1   0  0  11         KTEPI'S KOMMANDOS (334)   
-SIMPLEX 10836                 2   2  2  10         THE VIRULENT (1851)       
-THUG 11 10764                 1   2  0   8         G'S SOCIAL CLUB (1838)    
-TWEEDLE DEE 10765             1   3  0   6         G'S SOCIAL CLUB (1838)    
-ATROX 10832                   1   3  0   6         THE VIRULENT (1851)       
 CATA KATZ 10846               0   3  0   3         CLOWDER OF KATZ (1840)    
 CATACLYSIM KATZ 10847         0   3  0   3         CLOWDER OF KATZ (1840)    
-HENCHMAN 11 10767             0   3  0   3         G'S SOCIAL CLUB (1838)    

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
MYSTIC RAIN 10796       3  5 0 CRIMSON SCOURGE 1844 HIGH ELF              611  NONE
BOWLING GREEN 10820     5  4 0 EVERLY BROTHERS 1848 LIGHTNING ROD 10844   611   
EBONY EYES 10816        3  4 0 EVERLY BROTHERS 1848 AIRPORT TAXI 10808    609   
AVONLIA SARROW 10853    0  1 0 THE VALKYRIE 1853    JASON V 10793         608   
SHYA SILVERBANE 10851   0  1 0 THE VALKYRIE 1853    SIMPLEX 10836         608   
CERCARIA 10834          0  3 0 THE VIRULENT 1851    BYE BYE LOVE 10843    609   
ZOSTER II 10835         1  1 0 THE VIRULENT 1851    VEATOS 10850          608   

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Palinc Kalverus, that was a fine spotlight on rippers. Well done. -- Agent Smith 
P.S. While unconfirmed, we Consortium managers find that 15/15/15/ (WT/WL/DF) often 
just seem to have the "knack".

Assur, my friend, you are falling away? -- Agent Smith

Hammer, ophers don't last. Your words are great and needed in Lapur and Noblish. They 
don't call you Hammer The Wordsmith for nothing! -- Agent Smith

Laundry, perhaps you needed a double wash? Or maybe that Assur doesn't know how to do 
laundry? Whatever, it was my pleasure putting you down on the sands, and hence, 
needing another failed wash. -- Problems

What? What? Kung-Fu Master, you tried to steal my girl? You dog! -- Bird Dog

Cleaning, yeah, that is necessary even way down in Kentucky. But you need to learn how 
to do it better. Practice! -- Bowling Green

Don Jian, all I can say is......... -- Bye Bye Love

Atrox, thank you for making my coming out party a success. -- Walk Right Back

Assur, great spots (all of them) on hybrids, the most difficult of all warriors to run 
well and win with. -- Agent Smith

Health. Humility. Honor. -- Agent Smith (quoting the Consortium motto)

New Players -- Real Life obligations have crowded out my time for writing my usual 
personals! Remember that the DM 29 Lapur Arena is still a great choice for your stable 
transfer! -- Hammer / Minister of War, Duel 2 Sponsor, mgr of Anew Flower Power

***---------*---------*---------*---------**---------*---------*---------*---------***

BOTTLES OF BEER III!!! (+100) CONTEST: NEWS FROM THE GLADITORIAL COMMISSION: ALL 
PARTICIPANTS WIN A PRIZE! Plus contest clarifications:

You heard right my friends: ALL 99 Bottles participants who do not miss more than 1 
turn during the entire contest (including the warm-up phase) will receive a "Pick of 
the Litter" replacement. A PotL replacement will be 10 ordinary random replacements: 
you pick the one you wish to keep, and the other 9 are discarded. Naturally, this 
replacement must be placed in DM 20.

What's new:

Your CotS "status symbol": O^O (capital O, shift-6, capital O) must appear somewhere 
in it's name. However, it may appear anywhere. It need not be in the beginning as was 
originally stated. So names such as MO^ONSHOT or THRU THE O^O will be quite 
acceptable.. 

Some clarifications:

* Do not forget to write a personal ad for the Turn 184 newsletter. In other words, 
  assuming you do start on turn 184, you need to send in a personal ad with your very 
  first turn.

  The requirement to write a personal ad is discontinued once the Arena Achievement 
  stage starts on turn 199.

* This should not be an issue, but Bottles for Arena Awards will be awarded for 
  chartered teams only.

* If you win one or more of the CotS replacements, they/it MUST be used in DM 20.

* Note that the NO AVOIDS policy will be STRICLY ENFORCED!! If you are caught 
  avoiding, you will be disqualified from the contest! HOWEVER--this does not start 
  until turn 199; no one including myself or the Gladitorial Commission will give a 
  hoot about avoids until turn 199. But be sure you get it out of your system prior: 
  if you are caught avoiding on turn 199 (or after), you WILL be disqualified!!

* On the other hand, fielding a partial team is a no-no RIGHT FROM THE START on turn 
  184. You will receive a 3-bottle penalty for any inactive warrior, or 1-bottle 
  penalty for any inactive rookie. And your Bottle total can and will go negative if 
  necessary.

  It is highly recommended that you place your team "on maintenance" to avoid any 
  complications caused due to slow mail or any other unforeseen catastrophy. In case 
  you are not familiar with the term: a team on maintenance will automatically run 
  again with its previous turn's strategies (without the challenges) even if none are 
  sent in or are not received in time, Just send your request to be put on maintenance 
  to CSR@reality.com.

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

MYSTIC RAIN was butchered by HIGH ELF in a 1 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
KATE KATZ unbelievably bested AIRPORT TAXI in a 4 minute Challenge battle.
CATHERINE KATZ was defeated by POPPY POPULARITY in a 1 minute Challenge duel.
CATACLYSIM KATZ was devastated by CLEANING in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge contest.
CATAMOUNT KATZ was subdued by COOKING in a 6 minute Challenge competition.
CATA KATZ was overpowered by LONELY in a 1 minute one-sided Challenge struggle.
BIRD DOG was unbelievably bested by VETERAN MERCENARY in a 2 minute competition.
PROBLEMS vanquished AMBITIOUS GUARD in a 1 minute uneven duel.
BYE BYE LOVE vanquished VIOLET VISIONARY in a 1 minute uneven fight.
BOWLING GREEN was slaughtered by LIGHTNING ROD in a 1 minute one-sided fight.
LAUNDRY overpowered ROSEBUD BLOOMING in a popular 1 minute brutal one-sided melee.
RAINSTORM was demolished by WALK RIGHT BACK in a 2 minute mismatched competition.
POPPY POPOVINSKI devastated GRASSHOPPER in a 1 minute one-sided battle.
DANDELION DENIAL unbelievably bested MELON SMASHER in a 6 minute bloody bout.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    4         PARRY-LUNGE        3 -   1 -  0      75  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  4         STRIKING ATTACK   31 -  21 -  1      60  |
|BASHING ATTACK                   4         LUNGING ATTACK    24 -  18 -  2      57  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   3         BASHING ATTACK    41 -  33 -  7      55  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    3         TOTAL PARRY       17 -  16 -  0      52  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      2         SLASHING ATTACK   13 -  16 -  0      45  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         WALL OF STEEL     17 -  21 -  0      45  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         AIMED BLOW        15 -  22 -  1      41  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         PARRY-RIPOSTE     27 -  41 -  0      40  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      0         PARRY-STRIKE       4 -   9 -  1      31  |

Turn 611 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:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  PROBLEMS 10826              8   0  0   69 EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)
BASHING ATTACK   BIRD DOG 10818              7   2  0   69 EVERLY BROTHERS (1848)
LUNGING ATTACK   LIGHTNING ROD 10844         4   0  1   56 CRIMSON SCOURGE (1844)
PARRY-RIPOSTE    COOKING 10809               7   3  0   34 BB BACHELOR AGAIN (1846)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is BIRD DOG 10818.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was AIRPORT TAXI 10808.  The ten other most popular fighters were CATAMOUNT KATZ 
10848, BIRD DOG 10818, MELON SMASHER 10798, WALK RIGHT BACK 10859, COOKING 10809, 
LONELY 10807, LAUNDRY 10806, CLEANING 10810, PROBLEMS 10826, and BYE BYE LOVE 10843.

The least popular fighter this week was DANDELION DENIAL 10829.  The other ten least 
popular fighters were GRASSHOPPER 10800, BOWLING GREEN 10820, CATA KATZ 10846, 
CATACLYSIM KATZ 10847, MYSTIC RAIN 10796, RAINSTORM 10797, ROSEBUD BLOOMING 10827, 
VIOLET VISIONARY 10830, POPPY POPULARITY 10831, and CATHERINE KATZ 10777.

                          Name Change-o-Rama -- Final Update

      The gladiators looked around at the Commission's administrative office on the 
Isle of the Eye.  They'd been here before.  The standard boxy building, the scurrying 
clerks, the... goats browsing on the landscaping.  Not as many goats this time as 
before, only three.  One came over to Zeke (not his arena name) and nuzzled his 
pockets.  He scratched at the base of its floppy ears, lacking a snack to offer.  He 
looked at one of the clerks.  "I thought you got rid of the goats last year," Zeke 
said.
      "These are new goats," the clerk said with a sigh.  "They're going to be shipped 
out next week."  He looked hopeful.  "They like you, could you stay until then?"
      Zeke sighed.  Minding three goats sounded more enjoyable than fighting in the 
arena.  "I'd have to ask my manager."  

                                       * * * * 

      Snatching his parchment away from a very determined goat, who apparently thought 
it was a tasty snack, Rodney quickly dipped his pen in ink and began to write.  "It is 
our pleasure and honor to note that sixty-seven gladiators and teams have elected to 
change their names, supporting the contribution of goats to deserving people.  With 
the Commission's matching funds, this has purchased three goats--a good goat can't be 
purchased for a copper, you know.  The goats are already en route to their new homes, 
where they will be--"  He paused and thought about it.  "--very welcome.  We wish all 
the best to the goats and their new owners."