Dueling 101

Duels are a fun, competitive way for two players to pit their creativity and wits against each other in battle. Sometimes, players oocly agree to resolve ic conflict through a duel. A silly example, Brunhilde and Wagner both want the last cookie in the cookie jar. Their players agree to duel. They follow the duel format below (or mutually agree to modifications) then submit the duel to judges who will read battle and declare a winner. The winner wins the cookie. The loser cries icly, but oocly enjoys the process.

The Basics

Each player will write three attacks and three defenses in the following order:

1. Player 1: Initial Attack.
2. Player 2: Defense/Attack
3. Player 1: Defense/Attack
4. Player 2: Defense/Attack
5. Player 1: Defense/Attack
6. Player 2: Defense/Attack
7. Player 1: Final Defense

Each writer has a time limit of 15 minutes per post. Or, for those who are dueling over hmail, a word limit of 450 words.

Traditionally, each duelist picks one judge, then mutually agree to a mid-judge (a third judge who functions as a tie-breaker). Either duelist can veto a potential mid judge for any reason. Traditionalists also prefer to have judges present during the duel to time-keep and deliver a verdict shortly after the duel's conclusion.

Duels with only two judges are growing in popularity, because it encourages the two judges to discuss closely contested duels and arrive at the best winner through healthy analysis.

Guidelines and Stakes

• Duels typically take place for IC reasons which have been properly RPed out.

• Terms of the duel (time limit, stakes, post order, judges) should be stated and agreed upon by both parties and sent to all judges prior to beginning.

• OOC commenting from spectators about the duel itself should be restricted to tells to not distract or influence the duelists. Judges are free to privately communicate with each other about the duel in its midst should they elect to do so.

• Duelists should not be receiving outside aid during their duel. Their posts must be 100% their own. A duelist caught using outside help may be disqualified.

• Do not auto-hit, which means assume that your attack succeeded. All attacks are open ended, and your opponent decides whether or not to take damage. For more on auto-hitting, read the section below.

• The judging decision is final. Judges are encouraged to share their personal viewpoint on the duel with both duelists after the outcome is revealed, but are by no means obligated to do so.

Typical Dueling Considerations

Below is a general list of the things judges look for when reviewing a duel. The Judging Guide and Gevurah's Duel Judging Guide provide additional information about judging duels, and go into more depth, but are only recommendations.

Attacks and Defenses

• Originality - Attacks should not replicate themselves over the course of a duel, nor should they be mundane and boring. However, they should reflect the character's RP past, race, class, and/orsetting. The goal of a duel is to beat the opponent, but it is not a contest to see who can create the most interesting attacks at random. Logic and flow are key.

• Clarity - The attacks should be well thought out and executed. Description should be concise, yet clear. Paint a picture in the judges' minds, make it easy to see what the intent is. Be specific and descriptive, but not overly technical or verbose.

• Realism - Battle wears combatants down. Showing wear and tear, taking damage, occasionally missing with an attack, help add a level of realism that judges appreciate.

Writing and Conduct

• Continuity - It is crucial that a duelist not contradict themselves in a duel. Damage taken in the first defense should still be exhibited in subsequent posts as well. Nothing looks more foolish than a character attacking with a right-arm blade when that arm was shattered in the prior post. Oops! Remember what happened.

• Conduct - Nothing irks judges more than a duelist insulting their intelligence. Pointing out a fault of the opponent IC or OOC is considered poor sportsmanship.

• Separating of IC/OOC - This might seem a minor trifle, but the judges are there out-of-character. Don't address them in a first or last post, as they are really not ICly there, they are only OOCly deciding the outcome of the battle.

• Spelling and grammar - Poor spelling and grammar can hinder a judge's ability to decipher exactly what it is the duelist is intending to do, and a reduction in clarity can cost dearly (hint: Type the posts in a word-processor with spelling and grammar check. It's a life-saver!).