DUEL 2 NEWSLETTER

Date   : 10/30/2026    Duedate: 11/12/2026

NOBLISH ISLAND ARENA

DM 93    TURN 725

This Week's Top Honors

THE DUELMASTER IS

GRAVITY
PLANETARY FORCES (1974)
(93-11571) [8-2-0,69]

Chartered Recognition Leader   Unchartered Recognition Leader

GRAVITY                        JAINA
PLANETARY FORCES (1974)        ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)
(93-11571) [8-2-0,69]          (93-10838) [4-1-0,51]

Popularity Leader              This Week's Favorite

GRAVITY                        JAINA
PLANETARY FORCES (1974)        ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)
(93-11571) [8-2-0,69]          (93-10838) [4-1-0,51]

THE CURRENT TOP TEAM

ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)

          TEAMS ON THE MOVE            TOP CAREER HONORS
Team Name                  Point Gain  Chartered Team
1. ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)          53 
2. THE LUCKY ONES (1984)         22    PLANETARY FORCES (1974)
3. GLARG'S MISFITS (1986)        18    Unchartered Team
4. AFTERDARK (1988)              1  
5. PLANETARY FORCES (1974)       -20   ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)

The Top Teams

Career Win-Loss Record           W   L  K    %  Win-Loss Record Last 3 Turns    W  L K
 1- 1*BASH BROS SCUMLORD (1989)  5   0  0 100.   1/ 1*ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)     10  5 0
 2/ 2 PLANETARY FORCES (1974)   35  15  1 70.0   2/ 2*THE LUCKY ONES (1984)     7  7 0
 3/ 3*ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)      15  10  0 60.0   3/ 4 PLANETARY FORCES (1974)   7  8 1
 4/ 4*THE LUCKY ONES (1984)     10  18  0 35.7   4- 3*BASH BROS SCUMLORD (1989) 5  0 0
 5- 5*SILVER DRAGONS (1977)      6  13  0 31.6   5- 5*SILVER DRAGONS (1977)     5  5 0
 6/ 6*GLARG'S MISFITS (1986)     2   7  1 22.2   6/ 6*GLARG'S MISFITS (1986)    2  7 1
 7/ 0*AFTERDARK (1988)           0   1  0  0.0   7/ 0*AFTERDARK (1988)          0  1 0

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

                                    TEAM SPOTLIGHT

                           WARRIOR AND TEAM DESIGN CONCEPTS
                            ZOO Team (The Consortium Way)

The purpose of this spotlight is to provide newer/inexperienced D2 managers with 
warrior and team design thoughts and concepts, and to assist new managers by allowing 
observation of the design details of a real-time team who will be competing against 
them in their Noblish Island arena. I will discuss the following:

1. An experienced manager's (over 100,000 warriors designed and fought) general design 
   principles
2. Some thoughts on team balance
3. A real five-warrior design (original team roll-up) just starting to compete on 
   Noblish Island
4. Summary and comments relevant to those designs

First you might ask, "Who is writing this?  And I answer that I am "Zoo Boss", manager 
and agent of ZOO, a member of The Consortium, who is a long, long time (40+ year) 
paying competitor in Duelmasters/D2. I will be overseeing this new team and will be 
offering you advice most rounds in the Noblish Island newsletter too. (Yes; free 
advice!)  Please think nothing of asking me questions in the personal ads, or through 
diplos, or on the RSI and/or Chatzy sites. You will get answers, often very 
interesting answers. Now I have to tell you this. This is a pretty weak, but 
interesting, roll up sheet. Opportunities abound! (Some good; some bad.) Some of the 
fun of D2 is designing a seemingly inadequate/interesting warrior, and strategizing 
them to being a winner! So, let's get at it b" the Consortium way.

First, some solid advice. There is NO one-and-only perfect design for any warrior. 
Believe it! You will often find that when asking for experienced design advice, 
varying opinions and concepts are offered. However, there are some guidelines that 
each manager uses. The Consortium general design principles and guidelines look like 
this:

1.  WT is the first factor examined, followed by WL, which then determines the 
    subsequent point additions, the probable design, and potential style direction. 
    (So review WT/WL options first.)
2.  Then, generally design to strengths/excesses, making high roll numbers higher. 
    (Accentuate the positive.) (In most cases, however, DF above 11 may not be that 
    advantageous.)
3.  Often first one must decide whether first to add points to very low ST or WL or DF 
    as these stats are so necessary for physicals and/or weapon selection.
4.  Design to stat/skill break points to maximize starting skills. (Know what base 
    skills are attached to stat points, and weapon strength requirements. Be sure to 
    ask RSI for the C.I.C. with helpful starting info.)
5.  Offensive-ish warriors usually need high WT to excel. Design to 11 (very minimum, 
    but wanting 15+), needing 11, 13, 15, 17, 21 for skill breaks. (note: Offensives, 
    though, can win in the very short run on physicals only)
6.  21 WT, 21DF, and 21 WL are coveted. The 21DF makes an aimed-blow almost 
    inevitable. Most managers automatically think Aimed-Blow when they can get 21 
    deftness. (Not always, but most probable.) If not an aimer, then 11 DF is really 
    all most designs need, (7 DF is our minimum desire.) and 11 is very desirable. So 
    while DF is very desirable, there is no need to overdo it on designs.
7.  All warriors except AB must have normal damage and really need good. Make certain 
    that ST/SZ allows that, and have high enough WL to bump stats, if not. Aimers can 
    and do succeed with less damage doing.
8.  9 WL is the reasonable min for offensives. (But we really like 17 or 21 WL!) All 
    warriors MUST have some decent WL. Some very few warriors might do OK with 7 or 8. 
    (Maybe.) Defensive warriors and burners need lots of WL.
9.  A warrior has to have some strength; weapon choice and weapon damage is impaired 
    otherwise; 9 is normally minimum,  but 11+ really best. (Note: No real need to 
    exceed 17ST) Only an aimed-blow can get away with "too low" strength.
10. Do not add to CN for pure offensives. (Use all points elsewhere.)
11. Pure defensive style warriors need big WL and CN. And, then, ST, too.
12. Physicals never hurt any warrior. Warriors can win early on with lesser skill, but 
    good physicals.
13. If all else fails, make the design a TP. They can win under almost any 
    circumstance. However, they need a higher combination (total) of CN, WL, and ST. 
    (especially WL and CN). But avoid those aimed-blows!
14. If the warrior is to be long-term (meaning a godling or really, really nice roll, 
    later intended for ADM), do not design a burner. (A burner is one where the 
    manager intends to raise stats and physicals as an intended strategy to enhance 
    winning). Burners require very high WL as stat raises are dependent almost 
    completely on WL.
15. However, there is nothing wrong with making a burner. (10% or so of Consortium 
    warriors are planned burners.) Remember, though, that stat raises are dependent on 
    WL. (5% times WL determines the expected probability of a first raise.
16. Have variation in styles in arenas if at all possible. This allows for better 
    challenging, avoiding, and match-ups. (Adding also fun and learning through 
    variety.)
17. Usually design to the numbers, then choose style, rather than predetermine a 
    style, then design. (At least until you really know what you are doing.)
18. PRIMARY PRINCIPLE: Design each warrior with the idea of winning 60%+ of its 
    fights. Period.

Pretty simple,  it would seem. Well, we will see how I applied these principles to the 
ZOO Team. (Note: While not all of the concepts will be specifically referenced below 
in designing the five warriors, virtually all are truly used in one or more places.) 
But first some comments on team design.

A variety of styles is valuable. Why? 

(a) The more differing styles you experiment with, the more you learn. 
(b) It is more fun to run differing types. 
(c) Certain styles are susceptible to other styles and having a variety allows you to 
    take advantage of (or avoid) some of those susceptibilities. 
(d) Testing multiple styles allows you to more quickly find the style/s that you enjoy 
    most or are best with.

I believe a manager, especially a new manager, should have at least these two warriors 
on his team: an especially fast/quick, decent damage offensive (striker, or maybe 
basher or slasher or even lunger) and a scummy warrior with lots of physicals and who 
wins by wearing down foes while parrying or sucking up hit points. (Total parry or 
maybe wall-of-steel or parry strike.) It is important to learn how to win with both 
types, and the ST (striker) and TP (total parry) are excellent designs to do both: 
teach and win. This combination is invaluable because each tends to challenge and 
avoid different styles, and most importantly, they are both easy to work with. The 
other warriors on the team can/should be different, but I least (meaning, these are 
hardest) recommend the more difficult styles for brand-new managers: AB=aimed blow 
(aimer), PR=parry riposte (ripper), PS=parry strike (piker), PL=parry lunge (plunger), 
and maybe WS=wall of steel (waste). Save those for later; or, if you are truly feeling 
lucky or highly inquisitive b&b&b&..

Now on to a real life example. Below are listed the starting statistics (from the 
roll-up sheet) and the design statistics filled out and sent in by me, the Zoo Boss, 
manager of the ZOO team just now started on Noblish Isle.

A quick, initial thought on roll up sheets, in general. It can be hardest to design 
"radical" numbers. Unusually low ST or WL or super big SZ, or very low WT/WL combo, 
usually require the most design manipulation and variance from the design principles 
above. Very high WT and WL and/or sometimes DF, plus very small SZ are treasured! 

One last note. While I recommended that a D2 starting manager make sure to design 1 of 
two specific types, (see above) I was unable to make a reasonable scummy type warrior 
for the ZOO Team. I will suffer for it!

So, with that, let's get on to designing this team. WHOOPS! Guess what? I failed to 
retain a copy of the DM Team Rollup Sheet! I can, however show you the final designs: 
(NOTE: Read back the last 20ish DM93 Newsletters on the RAI site and you will find two 
full and complete further team designs for your perusal.)

     17-8-12-15-9-12-11 BA
     11-9-16-15-9-11-13 ST
     15-5-9-15-15-14-11 SL
     11-10-16-7-17-12-11 LU
     17-4-14-7-15-14-13 BA

The first three are typical arena designed workable warriors. The last two are 
mediocre-at-best due to the low wits which will seriously limit skill learning. I will 
have to work hard to get my team expected 60% W/L!

So there you have it: a new team; insight to warrior and team design concepts; useful 
tidbits from a long-time veteran. May your stay in D2 be long and prosperous, and, 
most of all, fun. (As mine is and has been for many years.)

                                   -- ZOO BOSS, manager of ZOO (Consortium affiliated)

                                      SPY REPORT

     The sages err'd not in their foretelling of a god descending upon NOBLISH 
ISLAND, for I, Novgorodny Vir, have returned!  ETERNAL ABYSS had cause to celebrate, 
after BABY CAT got 17 points by beating WIND.  A certain someone should cut down on 
the drinking and practice more, after losing 14 points to BABY CAT.  (Discrete 
enough, WIND?) Our Duelmaster has lost, folks, lost to KUNG-FU MASTER, BUT GRAVITY is 
still the Duelmaster because she has the most recognition points!  Word has it one 
team in NOBLISH ISLAND is taking speech lessons to try to bore their opponent to 
death.  I'll bet it works.   
     So much to report, so little time!  Like the noble eagle soaring amongst the 
mountaintops, so stand the warriors of ETERNAL ABYSS, alone and unchallenged.  As a 
woman of good breeding scorns the "warriors" of PLANETARY FORCES, so did that sorry 
team shy from ETERNAL ABYSS  
     Ah, the duel!  The roar of the oppenent, the smell of the crowd!  Never one to 
advocate diplomacy and restraint, I was pleased to see ETERNAL ABYSS retaliate 
against PLANETARY FORCES in bloodfeud!  Ask not a spymaster for counsel, for he will 
pontificate long after you have fallen into an unconscious stupor.   
     All good things must come to an end.  My fingers tire and I fear my incessant 
prattling may cause unfair judgement upon my impeccable character.  NOBLISH ISLAND, I 
leave you now.  The Duelmaster has agreed to foot my bill at The Warty Toad.  'Til 
next time-- Novgorodny Vir  

DUELMASTER                     W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GRAVITY 11571             ST  8   2  0  69         PLANETARY FORCES (1974)   

ADEPTS                         W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 JAINA 10838               PS  4   1  0  51         ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)      
 BABY CAT 11650            SL  4   0  0  50         ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)      
 OIL 11574                 TP  9   1  0  48         PLANETARY FORCES (1974)   

CHALLENGER INITIATES           W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 GORILLA MIKE 11623            3   3  0  30         THE LUCKY ONES (1984)                    ???
 WIND 11572                SL  6   4  0  29         PLANETARY FORCES (1974)   
 QUAKE 11570               BA  7   3  1  26         PLANETARY FORCES (1974)   
 ROTATION 11573            BA  5   5  0  24         PLANETARY FORCES (1974)   

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
 SHEEBA THE FIERCE 11624   LU  3   3  0  20         THE LUCKY ONES (1984)     
 TARA THE WISE 11626       PR  2   3  0  18         THE LUCKY ONES (1984)     
-LEENA MORAN 11588         ST  1   3  0  18         SILVER DRAGONS (1977)                    *
 ALEXA 10837                   3   2  0  17         ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)                     ???
 GLARG 11638                   1   1  1  17         GLARG'S MISFITS (1986)                   [AB-BA-PL-SL-WS]
-ANGELA MORAN 11589        ST  1   3  0  17         SILVER DRAGONS (1977)                    *
-LOGAN MORAN 11586             1   2  0  16         SILVER DRAGONS (1977)                    [AB-BA-PL-PS-ST]

INITIATES                      W   L  K POINTS      TEAM NAME                  
-WAITING GAME 11653        PL  1   0  0  15         BASH BROS SCUMLORD (1989)                *
-PRIEST MORAY 11587        PL  2   2  0  12         SILVER DRAGONS (1977)     
-GALIETH MORAN 11590           1   3  0  12         SILVER DRAGONS (1977)                    [BA-PS]
-PARRY POTTER 11654            1   0  0  11         BASH BROS SCUMLORD (1989)                [BA-PL-PR-PS-TP-WS]
 SICKY DUCK 11659              1   0  0  10         ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)                     [AB-BA-PL-SL]
-TURTLE LORD 11656             1   0  0   9         BASH BROS SCUMLORD (1989)                [BA-PL-PR-PS-TP-WS]
 HAMAR THE HORRIBLE 11627  ST  1   5  0   8         THE LUCKY ONES (1984)     
 BART BLACKSKULL 11625         1   4  0   7         THE LUCKY ONES (1984)                    [BA-PL]
-MINIMUS 11634                 1   0  0   7         GLARG'S MISFITS (1986)                   [BA-PL-PR-PS-TP-WS]
-CAPTAIN TURTLE 11655          1   0  0   7         BASH BROS SCUMLORD (1989)                [BA-PL-PR-PS-TP-WS]
-COWARD'S SHIELD 11652         1   0  0   3         BASH BROS SCUMLORD (1989)                [BA-PL-PR-PS-TP-WS]
 BRACCUS 11636                 0   3  0   3         GLARG'S MISFITS (1986)                   [BA-WS]
 SASHA 11635               AB  0   2  0   2         GLARG'S MISFITS (1986)    
 R.A. ANGEL 11647              0   1  0   1         AFTERDARK (1988)                         [BA-PL-PR-WS]
-AVARRA 11637                  0   1  0   1         GLARG'S MISFITS (1986)                   [AB-BA-LU-PL-PS-SL-ST-WS]

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

THE DEAD                W  L K TEAM NAME            SLAIN BY              TURN Revenge?
EMBEZZLING SCRIB        0  0 0                      GLARG 11638            725 NONE
DA3 11660               0  1 0 ETERNAL ABYSS 1852   BANDIT PRINCE          725 NONE
ISABELLA 10839          3  1 0 ETERNAL ABYSS 1852   QUAKE 11570            724 JUST REVENGED

                                     PERSONAL ADS

Eternal Abyss (and all others), per your great diplo of "Please include articles or 
tips in the newsletter, if the more experienced managers don't mind sharing!", 
consider backreading DM93 newsletters on the RSI site for many, many articles with 
tips and info. (And feel free to ask questions right here. Assur or a Consortium Rep 
or both will answer. -- Br. Knowitall of Planetary Forces

With Dr. K and the Planetary Forces leaving us next round, there will be (next 
newsletter) be a spotlight posted on the design thoughts and actuals of the new 
Consortium team. -- The Consortium

Great point gain, Silver Dragons! And kudos also to my HW friends the Lucky Ones. 
Hubba hubba! -- Dr. K.

Eternal Abyss, I apologize for the death caused by Quake. R.I.P. Isabella. I can 
assure you it was not intentional. -- Dr. K.
P.S. May you receive a quite spiffy replacement/recruit.

I deeply regret Isabella was slain.  She was a fine friend. -- Tara the Wise

Dr. Knowitall -- Much thanks for the newbie welcome! -- Eternal Abyss

Tara the Wise -- You are much faster than I expected.  I was lucky to dodge that. -- 
Baby Cat

Planetary Forces -- You seem to really love bashers! -- Jaina

Gorilla Mike -- A well deserved win! -- Alexa

Veteran Managers -- What would you consider the best advantage and worse disadvantage 
of each fighting style, in your opinion?  As they apply in the Basic arena -- J.M.

Quake -- A good, furious battle, despite the death. -- Eternal Abyss

                                  LAST WEEK'S FIGHTS

DA3 was butchered by BANDIT PRINCE in a 2 minute bloody Dark Arena fight.
JAINA vanquished QUAKE in a 2 minute brutal uneven Bloodfeud battle.
GRAVITY was defeated by KUNG-FU MASTER in a 2 minute Title duel.
OIL unbelievably bested GORILLA MIKE in a 5 minute gory contest.
WIND was overpowered by BABY CAT in a 1 minute mismatched match.
HAMAR THE HORRIBLE was devastated by ROTATION in a 1 minute one-sided duel.
SHEEBA THE FIERCE devastated BRACCUS in a 1 minute bloody mismatched match.
BART BLACKSKULL was savagely defeated by SICKY DUCK in a 3 minute beginner's melee.
TARA THE WISE vanquished SASHA in a 2 minute one-sided duel.
GLARG dispatched EMBEZZLING SCRIBE in a popular 4 minute brutal novice's duel.
ALEXA handily defeated R.A. ANGEL in a 2 minute one-sided bout.

                                    BATTLE REPORT

             MOST POPULAR                        RECORD DURING THE LAST 10 TURNS     
|FIGHTING STYLE               FIGHTS        FIGHTING STYLE     W -   L -  K   PERCENT|
|BASHING ATTACK                   5         TOTAL PARRY       18 -   4 -  0      82  |
|AIMED BLOW                       2         SLASHING ATTACK   21 -  13 -  1      62  |
|PARRY-LUNGE                      2         PARRY-RIPOSTE     14 -   9 -  0      61  |
|PARRY-RIPOSTE                    2         LUNGING ATTACK     7 -   6 -  0      54  |
|SLASHING ATTACK                  2         PARRY-STRIKE      11 -  10 -  0      52  |
|STRIKING ATTACK                  2         AIMED BLOW        10 -  10 -  0      50  |
|PARRY-STRIKE                     1         STRIKING ATTACK   16 -  19 -  0      46  |
|LUNGING ATTACK                   1         BASHING ATTACK    22 -  27 -  2      45  |
|TOTAL PARRY                      1         WALL OF STEEL      9 -  12 -  0      43  |
|WALL OF STEEL                    1         PARRY-LUNGE        9 -  13 -  0      41  |

Turn 725 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:

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

                               TOP WARRIOR OF EACH STYLE

FIGHTING STYLE   WARRIOR                     W   L  K PNTS TEAM NAME                  
STRIKING ATTACK  GRAVITY 11571               8   2  0   69 PLANETARY FORCES (1974)
PARRY-STRIKE     JAINA 10838                 4   1  0   51 ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)
SLASHING ATTACK  BABY CAT 11650              4   0  0   50 ETERNAL ABYSS (1852)
TOTAL PARRY      OIL 11574                   9   1  0   48 PLANETARY FORCES (1974)
Note: Warriors have a winning record and are an Adept or Above.

The overall popularity leader is GRAVITY 11571.  The most popular warrior this turn 
was JAINA 10838.  The ten other most popular fighters were GORILLA MIKE 11623, SICKY 
DUCK 11659, GRAVITY 11571, TARA THE WISE 11626, SHEEBA THE FIERCE 11624, ALEXA 10837, 
DA3 11660, BABY CAT 11650, ROTATION 11573, and SASHA 11635.

The least popular fighter this week was OIL 11574.  The other ten least popular 
fighters were R.A. ANGEL 11647, BART BLACKSKULL 11625, BRACCUS 11636, HAMAR THE 
HORRIBLE 11627, WIND 11572, QUAKE 11570, GLARG 11638, SASHA 11635, ROTATION 11573, 
and BABY CAT 11650.