DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 07/29/2022    Duedate: 08/11/2022

NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA

DM 93    TURN 614

This Week's Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

ROSEBUD BLOOMING
ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)
(93-10827) [7-3-0,56]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

ROSEBUD BLOOMING               SIMPLEX
ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)       THE VIRULENT (1851)
(93-10827) [7-3-0,56]          (93-10836) [3-4-2,32]

Popularity Leader              This Week's Favorite

VIOLET VISIONARY               COBRA
ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)       SNAKE IN THE GRASS (1855)
(93-10830) [5-5-0,20]          (93-10870) [0-2-0,2]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

POSITION IS EMPTY

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. THE VIRULENT (1851)           48 
2. SNAKE IN THE GRASS (1855)     38    ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)
3. ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)      20    Unchartered Team
4. BB AIR TRAVEL 2 (1854)        -9 
                                       BB AIR TRAVEL 2 (1854)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1/ 1*BB AIR TRAVEL 2 (1854)     9   6  0 60.0   1/ 1 ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  9  6 0
 2/ 3*SNAKE IN THE GRASS (1855)  6   4  0 60.0   2/ 2*BB AIR TRAVEL 2 (1854)    9  6 0
 3/ 2 ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  29  21  0 58.0   3/ 3*SNAKE IN THE GRASS (1855) 6  4 0
 4/ 5*THE VIRULENT (1851)       11  21  2 34.4   4/ 5*THE VIRULENT (1851)       5 10 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

LETTER FROM LAPUR T-946

The clock is ticking steadily forward towards the transfer of Anew Flower Power from 
their 10 Turns of Training in DM 93 to their arrival here in the DM 29 Lapur Arena!

Hammer has already filled out his newest DM 93 stable creation stats for the DM 93 
Gladiatorial Commission and rumor has it that our Veteran Manager had been toying with 
the idea of naming his newest stable Snake In The Sands as a parody of the newest 
Consortium stable!

However, in spite of the rumors, a stable name had already been selected by Hammer 
many months in advance of what Consortium recently sent out onto the DM 93 sands!

Fright Ride still has not received a Graduation Notice and is still the reigning DM in 
the DM 29 Lapur Arena! Fright Ride also managed to prod Assur into writing another DM 
Column!

Spy Reporter Eoghan McGrimm has resumed his spy reporting scribblings!

The Bloke is still his cheerful self, pontificating with much gusto in the Personal 
Ads!

We had 11 active stables in the DM 29 Lapur Arena this cycle!

The Bloke sent Uninterested to challenge my friend Queen of Hearts! Heart Queen won 
the battle!

As The Crow Dies of Almost Exactly challenged my friend Jack Of Diamonds! Diamond Jack 
defeated his foe!

Look At My Spear of Almost Exactly challenged my friend Queen Of Clubs! Club Queen 
survived the Infirmary!

A Crime A Dozen of Almost Exactly matched up against Yours Truly! His 6-1-0, 41 record 
against my 5-20-0, 35 record of futility! 4 minutes later, the audience was screaming 
its approval as I somehow managed to notch my previously elusive win number six!

I leap-frogged Club Queen in the Adepts rankings! Diamond Jack is in the Champions! 
Heart Queen is in the Challenger Champions standings!

We should have only one more fight left on the DM 29 Lapur Arena battle-arena sands! 
That is, unless the Gladiatorial Commission allows us to remain here when Anew Flower 
Power arrives! If not, then we will return to the DM 71 arena!

I have enjoyed keeping all the New Players posted regarding our less-than-stellar 
progress here in the DM 29 Lapur Arena! This is a great place to fight your warriors, 
so 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

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

                               ASSUR'S GUIDE TO KILLING

    Part of arena fighting is the fact that warriors will die.  Last time I told you 
how to optimize your chances to keep your own warriors alive.  This time I give you 
the 'best practices' if you want to KILL your opponent.  It should be obvious that 
winning fights is a requirement to kill.  Some of the suggestions do not help your 
warrior win.  But when you do win, I believe the list below are things that will help 
you get more kills (listed in the order that I believe makes a difference).

    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 even if you do try and want to kill, don't 'expect' 
to kill more than about 10%.  It might be possible to sacrifice winning and design for 
killing to increase the expected number above 10%, but this is not something I can 
speak to.

    1) Aim for HE, AB, or CH.  There is nothing that will increase your kills more 
than aiming for the areas that are the most important areas of the body.  Arms and 
Legs are for not killing.  Head, Abdomen and Chest are for killing.
    2) Use High KD!  High KD tells the arenamaster you want the fight to keep going 
longer.  He is less likely to end the fight early if one or both warriors are using a 
high kill desire.  I recommend 8+.  (Note that 9 and 10 KD have clear adverse effects 
on the overall fighting ability of your warriors, but it will get you more kill intent 
messages).
    3) Good or Great damage.  Over the years, it has become very evident that killing 
with good or great damage is far easier than killing with little, normal, or 
tremendous damage.  Tremendous damage warriors make opponents give up faster.  Little 
and Normal damage warriors can't do the kind of damage that causes wounds that kill. I 
do not have enough experience to say anything about higher damage ratings than 
Tremendous.  I suspect they are more like tremendous damage, but I'm not sure. Since 
the original printing, I've found that tremendous damage on bashers works like great 
damage on other warrior styles.  Bashing weapons do less damage naturally, so this 
makes sense.
    4) Some warriors appear to have a higher blood lust than others.  Nobody can prove 
this for sure, but you see some warriors go after the kill much more often than 
others.  This works both ways.  You'll have warriors that kill more often than other 
warriors (and try to kill more often).  I also believe that this same stat makes 
warriors more vulnerable to dying.  If true, these warriors are easier to kill.
    5) Use higher damage weapons.  The easiest way to judge weapon damage is to look 
at the weapon weights.  Weapons that do slash or piercing damage are better than 
bashing weapons.  Be careful, though, of selecting a high damage weapon that is really 
slow (HL comes immediately to mind).
    6) Look for warriors that don't wear any armor.
    7) Young fighters die much more often than experienced fighters.  The number of 
deaths in the first 5 fights is much greater than warriors in the Champion and 
Challenger Champion classes.
    8) Challenge warriors with fewer fights than you.

    Realize that killing requires a bit of luck, but these things can help you have a 
high kill percentage.  Anything over 10% (Kills/Wins) is a fairly high kill 
percentage.
    Finally, realize that most managers want to keep their warriors alive.  By trying 
to kill someone's warriors, you may be taking away from their enjoyment of the game.  
I'm not saying you should not try to kill, but realize what you are doing.  We all 
know death is part of Duel2.  But some managers like it less than others.  Incurring 
the enmity/wrath of a manager might not be in your long term best interest.

                                 DUELMASTER'S COLUMN
                             Notes from the arena champ.

A simple win over Simplex has me Enjoying the View from the Top!

Before she died, we all thought that Poppy Popularity would be here instead of me!

If the Crimson Scourge does not reactivate their stable and I somehow manage to retain 
the DM 93 Throne, then I will assume writing the LETTERS FROM LAPUR articles, unless 
of course I die!

We have been looking forward to transferring to the DM 29 Lapur Arena ever since we 
arrived here on the DM 93 Noblish Island battle-arena sands!

Perhaps some of you New Players will send a stable over to the DM 29 Lapur Arena!

Enjoying the View from the Top!

                    -- Rosebud Blooming of Anew Flower Power 
                         who is packing to transfer to the DM 29 Lapur Arena

                                      SPY REPORT

     I was going on vacation, see?  Surf, sun...  But what do those bums say?  "Hit 
the road, Debby Tonte.  NOBLISH ISLAND needs a spyreport."  Oh, well.  MVP award for 
SIMPLEX?  THE VIRULENT's proud of him after beating DANDELION DENIAL and getting 20 
points.  Talk about yer major upsets!  RUDE STAFF's match with FER-DE-LANCE cost him 
a loss of 14 points!  Don't you think the Duelmaster is being unfair?  I think 
ROSEBUD BLOOMING should let VETERAN MERCENARY be Duelmaster for a while, without 
fighting about it.  Who was the wiseguy that said NOBLISH ISLAND's Duelmaster was 
paying for drinks at The Swinging Aardvark?  Don't look at me!   
     So just why would someone becomes a warrior anyway?  It can't be for these 
really neat Spyreports can it?  The warriors of BB AIR TRAVEL 2 must be getting 
lonely.  They were the most avoided team.  Do you guys know something that I don't?  
I don't know what SNAKE IN THE GRASS' been doing.  They certainly haven't been 
accepting many fights from BB AIR TRAVEL 2, that's fer sher.  Can BB AIR TRAVEL 2's 
MISSED CONNECTION be more popular than me?  He was challenged the most, but is that 
really the same?   
     Challenges, revenges, Bloodfeuds.  All NOBLISH ISLAND ever talks about is 
fighting!  Me, I'm more laid back.  What if they had a fight and nobody showed up?  
I'd be out of a job, that's what!!!   
     Remember, blood on a purple robe may stain.  Soak it in cold water, and hand 
wash.  I'm getting tired of writing this stuff, so I'm calling it quits.  I had a fun 
time, see you later-- Debby Tonte  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 ROSEBUD BLOOMING 10827        7   3  0  56         ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SIMPLEX 10836                 3   4  2  32         THE VIRULENT (1851)       
 FER-DE-LANCE 10871            2   0  0  30         SNAKE IN THE GRASS (1855) 
 SHIGELLA 10833                3   4  0  25         THE VIRULENT (1851)       
 ASP 10867                     2   0  0  25         SNAKE IN THE GRASS (1855) 

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 DANDELION DENIAL 10829        6   4  0  22         ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  
 SALVIA SPLENDENS 10866        2   0  0  22         ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  
 VIOLET VISIONARY 10830        5   5  0  20         ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  
 DEALY 10861                   3   0  0  20         BB AIR TRAVEL 2 (1854)    
 POPPY POPOVINSKI 10828        3   7  0  16         ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)  
 MISSED CONNECTION 10862       2   1  0  16         BB AIR TRAVEL 2 (1854)    
 LOST LUGGAGE 10860            2   1  0  12         BB AIR TRAVEL 2 (1854)    
 CLOSTRIDIUM 10854             2   1  0  11         THE VIRULENT (1851)       
 PYTHON 10869                  2   0  0  11         SNAKE IN THE GRASS (1855) 
 RUDE STAFF 10864              2   1  0   9         BB AIR TRAVEL 2 (1854)    
 ATROX 10832                   1   6  0   9         THE VIRULENT (1851)       
 SAL MONELLA 10858             1   2  0   7         THE VIRULENT (1851)       
 BAD FOOD 10863                0   3  0   3         BB AIR TRAVEL 2 (1854)    
 COBRA 10870                   0   2  0   2         SNAKE IN THE GRASS (1855) 

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 RATTLER 10868                 0   2  0   2         SNAKE IN THE GRASS (1855) 

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
BOWLING GREEN 10820     5  4 0 EVERLY BROTHERS 1848 LIGHTNING ROD 10844   611   

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Well, shucks. Went to that Alexandria FTF in hopes to see that Hammer and that Assur 
to see what they looked like. Were they snakes-in-the-grass or funny folk or composite 
nerds, or whatever? But, nope! They didn't show! Just me watching from the sidelines 
with a few other Consortium managers trying to envision what they could be like. Lots 
of other managers there. Nice guys. Couldn't find many snakes for my team either. 
Should have stayed home. -- Snake Charmer

But an adequate start for my slitherers at 3-2. But look at that mighty Hammer on top 
with the Duelmaster and the top past three-turn. Hard to beat! -- Snake Charmer

Missed Connection, that's what you get for messing with a constricter! -- Python, 
Snake-In-the-Grass

And, you, Bad Food? I hardly eat anything, you know. But I chomped on you and spit you 
out! -- Asp, Snake-In-The-Grass

Salvia Splendens? Hammer's guys were hiding in the grass just waiting to smack me! The 
cretins! -- Rattler Snake-In-The-Grass

Clostridium, that was fun! -- Fer-De-Lance, Snake-In-The-Grass

Loved your spots, Mr. Wordsmith! -- Snake Charmer

Yours, too, Assur. (wink) -- Snake Charmer

Snake Charmer -- Wonderful article on creating warriors! -- Hammer / Minister of War, 
Duel 2 Sponsor, current mgr of Anew Flower Power and soon-to-be mgr of an-as-yet-
unannounced new stable

Consortium -- I toyed with the idea of naming my new stable Snake In The Sands to 
parody your new Snake In The Grass stable, but I had already pre-determined months ago 
a name for my unannounced stable! --Hammer

New Players -- I have a busy week prior to the DM 93 due date, so I will not be 
writing an article about my new stable before they debut on the Noblish Island battle-
arena sands! -- Hammer
 
Agent Smith and Everly Brothers -- Enjoy your transfer! We enjoyed crossing blades 
with your warriors from time to time! -- Hammer and his 
Anew Flower Power stable that transfers to the DM 29 Lapur Arena after 
fighting this cycle!

Snake Charmer -- Glad you enjoy my WordSmithing! -- Hammer the WordSmith

Atrox -- My third-straight-win after losing my first six fights! Salute! 
-- Poppy Popovinski

Simplex -- Enjoying the View from the Top at your expense! Salute! -- 
Rosebud Blooming

Ambitious Guard -- My loss! At least I am the Popularity Leader! Salute! 
-- Violet Visionary

Rattler -- Welcome to the DM 93 arena! My first win! Your first loss! 
Salute! -- Salvia Splendens

Shigella -- I won our dance marathon! Salute! -- Dandelion Denial

New Players -- Anew Flower Power is now transferring to the DM 29 Lapur 
Arena! Hope to cross blades with one of your stables over there! -- 
Hammer / Minister of War, Duel 2 Sponsor, mgr of Anew Flower Power who are 
on their way to DM 29 to make way here in DM 93 for my as-yet-unannounced 
new stable

I'm ranked above Snake Charmer!!! (I'll enjoy it while it lasts -- probably already 
over) -- Assur

Snake Charmer -- Some interesting warriors and designs! My comments:
- The two bashers looks fine. A little light on endurance. Attack is on the average 
  side.
- If I were wishing you good luck, I'd hope for positive damage rolls, but as my 
  opponent, I can't wish that for you.
- The striker looks solid, though I'm a bit scared of 3 speed strikers. I'm sure it'll 
  perform solidly for you. (Next turn I'll write an article about luck factor and 
  starting stats)
- The aimed blow is frail, but otherwise looks fantastic. Sometimes those do great for 
  me, sometimes not so great.
- The total parry, however... Please challenge Hammer's guys!
-- Assur

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

FER-DE-LANCE devastated RUDE STAFF in a 2 minute mismatched Challenge fight.
ROSEBUD BLOOMING viciously subdued VETERAN MERCENARY in a 2 minute Title battle.
DANDELION DENIAL was demolished by SIMPLEX in a 2 minute uneven fight.
POPPY POPOVINSKI was bested by SHIGELLA in a 1 minute contest.
ATROX was outlasted by PYTHON in a monotonous 10 minute fight.
VIOLET VISIONARY was devastated by ASP in a 1 minute uneven brawl.
CLOSTRIDIUM savagely defeated BAD FOOD in a crowd pleasing 4 minute novice's struggle.
SAL MONELLA luckily beat COBRA in a action packed 4 minute gruesome beginner's melee.
LOST LUGGAGE lost to SALVIA SPLENDENS in a 1 minute beginner's fight.
DEALY won victory over RATTLER in a 2 minute novice's fight.
MISSED CONNECTION overpowered CONVICTED THIEF in a 2 minute one-sided melee.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|BASHING ATTACK                   5         LUNGING ATTACK    23 -  14 -  2      62  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      4         STRIKING ATTACK   26 -  17 -  1      60  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         TOTAL PARRY       18 -  13 -  0      58  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   2         BASHING ATTACK    34 -  28 -  6      55  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         WALL OF STEEL     13 -  16 -  1      45  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         PARRY-LUNGE        3 -   4 -  0      43  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         PARRY-STRIKE       4 -   6 -  1      40  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      1         AIMED BLOW        12 -  18 -  1      40  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  1         SLASHING ATTACK   10 -  15 -  0      40  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    0         PARRY-RIPOSTE     20 -  31 -  0      39  |

Turn 614 was great if you     Not so great if you used      The fighting styles of the
used the fighting styles:     the fighting styles:          top eleven warriors are:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
LUNGING ATTACK   ROSEBUD BLOOMING 10827      7   3  0   56 ANEW FLOWER POWER (1850)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is VIOLET VISIONARY 10830.  The most popular warrior 
this turn was COBRA 10870.  The ten other most popular fighters were CLOSTRIDIUM 
10854, ROSEBUD BLOOMING 10827, MISSED CONNECTION 10862, SIMPLEX 10836, FER-DE-LANCE 
10871, SHIGELLA 10833, ASP 10867, BAD FOOD 10863, SALVIA SPLENDENS 10866, and DEALY 
10861.

The least popular fighter this week was PYTHON 10869.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were ATROX 10832, VIOLET VISIONARY 10830, DANDELION DENIAL 10829, RUDE STAFF 
10864, RATTLER 10868, LOST LUGGAGE 10860, SAL MONELLA 10858, POPPY POPOVINSKI 10828, 
DEALY 10861, and SALVIA SPLENDENS 10866.