Date: 8/31/97 1:45 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: Bapheloc
Swords Community,
I make this post as a member of the Barons Council, though my words do not represent the Barons Council as a whole. An issue recently came before us and we convened to discuss the issue and possible ways to handle the situation. Fortunatetly, the issue was resolved on it's own within the rules before we had to take action as a collective. However, it raised again an ugly habit that has become more often a problem of late and something that needs to be addressed directly to the communtiy. To
avoid the flame wars, the slander, and negative words that are often flung about with disputes of late in the community, I am purposefully not mentioning specific names or situations, rather simply addressing the problem and trying to educate to prevent further instances.
The issue is the process of challenging a title holder, and with the respect the title deserves. It seems some can not take the time to read the rules of the sport. Specifically the challenge rules. And as well it seems some ignore the basic customs, traditions, and precedense set throughout the history of our beloved sport from practice to written rule. I have earlier last week wrote a short summary of what it means to be a title holder, reference the post title, "To be a Baron". And as
well have commented that reasons are not neccessarily the most important aspects of a challenge. Those of course are simply my personal opinions and feelings. What I am about to write of course is influence by my personal views and feelings, but this is more to educate the community what is considered the unwritten and written unoffical and offical etiquette of challenging for a title within Swords.
This is not to condemn anyone, nor be condescending, or otherwise meant to be taken negatively by any means, rather it is meant to teach and remind the community the process by which things are done within Swords when it comes to challenging for a title. For complete information on the Duel of Swords, go to the FFGF Dueling Center, and select the Duel of Swords folder, in which everything from etiquette, rules, history, and rankings can be found. The following excerp is taken from the DoS
Rules, Challenge Rules, as the first and probably the most important paragraph;
"Where not specifically addressed all challenges are first come - first served. With the exception of challenges to Renegade Barons (see below), only the first challenge is considered vital and all others are void based on Date/Time stamp of EMails received by the Standings Keeper and the duelist challenged. This means there are no queues of challenges. A challenge is not considered complete until the results are posted in the Standings. And where not specifically addressed all challenges must be
answered within one week (by the Date/Time stamp) and dueled within two weeks of the response. Any challenge not responded to within one week, setting a time and place, shall be considered an abdication. The place picked *must* be one of the FFGF sponsored rooms."
This second and third excerp is taking from the recently updated and recently re-released "Dueling Etiquette" found in the Dueling Center;
"*Familiarize yourself with all the rules of the sport before beginning so that play is not interrupted. The RDI on duty is there to answer questions, but education on the procedure and rules of dueling is the responsibility of the player."
((To Be Continued in Response))
Community Issue
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Date: 8/31/97 1:46 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: Bapheloc
((Continued from Orignal Response))
"*If you are in a position to challenge within or above your rank for a higher position, publicly inform the dueling body of the ranks involved via a post in the appropriate folder for that Dueling sport (These folders can be found on the FFGF Message Boards) and e-mail to the dueling officials of your sport. You may wish to collectively e-mail those immediately involved as well. After consulting both your opponent and the dueling referee on a date and time, post and E-mail an update of when and where
the duel has been determined to take place. (The referee will advise you on whether the match should occur on a day that the duels are normally in progress or not.)"
This is what is officaly stated in regards to the general process of making a challenge. There are more complete and lengthy challenge rules that cover all the extraneous certain circumstances one should as well become familiar with. What follows is my basic interpretation based on personal experience within the rings. Based on precedence, traditions, and offical rulings I have witnessed or been apart of. I encourage others to add or offer their own to what I have said to further enhance the
educating of our community to a more respectful way of dealing with challenges.
To be continued...
From: Bapheloc
((Continued from Orignal Response))
"*If you are in a position to challenge within or above your rank for a higher position, publicly inform the dueling body of the ranks involved via a post in the appropriate folder for that Dueling sport (These folders can be found on the FFGF Message Boards) and e-mail to the dueling officials of your sport. You may wish to collectively e-mail those immediately involved as well. After consulting both your opponent and the dueling referee on a date and time, post and E-mail an update of when and where
the duel has been determined to take place. (The referee will advise you on whether the match should occur on a day that the duels are normally in progress or not.)"
This is what is officaly stated in regards to the general process of making a challenge. There are more complete and lengthy challenge rules that cover all the extraneous certain circumstances one should as well become familiar with. What follows is my basic interpretation based on personal experience within the rings. Based on precedence, traditions, and offical rulings I have witnessed or been apart of. I encourage others to add or offer their own to what I have said to further enhance the
educating of our community to a more respectful way of dealing with challenges.
To be continued...
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Date: 8/31/97 1:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: Bapheloc
Challenge 101, by Baphelocutis est Lathadoscia.
First, become a Warlord and collect the appropriate number of peer wins. In the case of Baron, 10, and for Overlord, 15. Make sure you record your own peer wins. The RDIs, Standings Keeper, any other related officals, or your fellow duelers do not keep track for you and are not required to assist you in finding peer wins of the past, except to confirm them when challenge is made. Peer wins are Warlords, Barons, and the Overlord. A good way to record your peer wins to make everyone's job
easier and make the process better and efficeint is the following;
#(peer win). screenname def. screenname, # - #(score) in # rounds. RDI name - date(of duel)
I.E. = 4. Bapheloc def. Ecore X, 5 - 3.5 in 9 rounds. RDI Clo - 8/17
Second, insure that the one you wish to challenge is availible for challenge within the rules. Meaning make sure they are not currently involved in a challenge. Wait until the Standings are posted to reflect that a challenge has been completed before issueing challenge. In the case of Loyal Barons, only once per calendar month they can be challenged regardless of how long the actual process takes or the date it is completed. In the case of Renegade Barons, at any and all times, however be
advised if you are in a Que of Challenges to a Renegade Baron and someone defeats the Renegade Baron before your oppurtunity, your challenge is thus completed unsuccessfullly. In the case of the Overlord, as soon as their current challenge has been completed and announced in the Standings. You as well must wait for a Loyal Baron's completed challenge to be announced in the Standings. As well make sure you yourself are availible to challenge. A Warlord can only challenge for Baron once per cycle, and
for Overlord once per cycle, meaning they could challenge for both once each per cycle if so inclined. A Baron can only challenge for Overlord once per cycle, except in bizarre circumstances of alignment changes, results of other challenges, etc extraneous circumstances. As well a Warlord can make similiar challenges, refer to the challenge rules for more particulars for odd situations.
In summary of the first and second parts for review, make sure your a qualified challenger and that the person your challenging is availible for challenge within the rules of the sport.
Third, is the insuring everyone who needs to be informed is indeed informed with all the proper credentials and qualifications for challenge being made. With peer wins attached, a challenger must email the Standings Keeper and the person they are challenging, the title holder, Baron or Overlord. That is a must and essential otherwise regardless it is not a valid challenge. It is a tradition and a courtesy to as well include all the other title holders on the email, "Issue of Challenge", and
as well make a public announcement to the Swords community via the DoS folder on the message boards. Simply making an announcement on the message board alone does not constitute a valid challenge. In the case of a Baron or Warlord making a challenge with extraneous circumstances, they should cite or quote the challenge rules they are basing thier challenge on. And a Warlord's Tourney winner should as well.
((Continued in my 3rd response to this orginal post))
From: Bapheloc
Challenge 101, by Baphelocutis est Lathadoscia.
First, become a Warlord and collect the appropriate number of peer wins. In the case of Baron, 10, and for Overlord, 15. Make sure you record your own peer wins. The RDIs, Standings Keeper, any other related officals, or your fellow duelers do not keep track for you and are not required to assist you in finding peer wins of the past, except to confirm them when challenge is made. Peer wins are Warlords, Barons, and the Overlord. A good way to record your peer wins to make everyone's job
easier and make the process better and efficeint is the following;
#(peer win). screenname def. screenname, # - #(score) in # rounds. RDI name - date(of duel)
I.E. = 4. Bapheloc def. Ecore X, 5 - 3.5 in 9 rounds. RDI Clo - 8/17
Second, insure that the one you wish to challenge is availible for challenge within the rules. Meaning make sure they are not currently involved in a challenge. Wait until the Standings are posted to reflect that a challenge has been completed before issueing challenge. In the case of Loyal Barons, only once per calendar month they can be challenged regardless of how long the actual process takes or the date it is completed. In the case of Renegade Barons, at any and all times, however be
advised if you are in a Que of Challenges to a Renegade Baron and someone defeats the Renegade Baron before your oppurtunity, your challenge is thus completed unsuccessfullly. In the case of the Overlord, as soon as their current challenge has been completed and announced in the Standings. You as well must wait for a Loyal Baron's completed challenge to be announced in the Standings. As well make sure you yourself are availible to challenge. A Warlord can only challenge for Baron once per cycle, and
for Overlord once per cycle, meaning they could challenge for both once each per cycle if so inclined. A Baron can only challenge for Overlord once per cycle, except in bizarre circumstances of alignment changes, results of other challenges, etc extraneous circumstances. As well a Warlord can make similiar challenges, refer to the challenge rules for more particulars for odd situations.
In summary of the first and second parts for review, make sure your a qualified challenger and that the person your challenging is availible for challenge within the rules of the sport.
Third, is the insuring everyone who needs to be informed is indeed informed with all the proper credentials and qualifications for challenge being made. With peer wins attached, a challenger must email the Standings Keeper and the person they are challenging, the title holder, Baron or Overlord. That is a must and essential otherwise regardless it is not a valid challenge. It is a tradition and a courtesy to as well include all the other title holders on the email, "Issue of Challenge", and
as well make a public announcement to the Swords community via the DoS folder on the message boards. Simply making an announcement on the message board alone does not constitute a valid challenge. In the case of a Baron or Warlord making a challenge with extraneous circumstances, they should cite or quote the challenge rules they are basing thier challenge on. And a Warlord's Tourney winner should as well.
((Continued in my 3rd response to this orginal post))
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Date: 8/31/97 1:48 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: Bapheloc
Fourth, the challenged title holder has up to a full 7 day week to respond to the challenge from the point in which the Standings Keeper has confirmed the validity of the challenge, not from the point the challenge was issued. The challenged title holder will work with the challenger to determine a date and time that is within the two weeks of the challenged title holder's response to the "Issue of Challenge" to set the challenge match for the title. The challenger and the challenged work out
who will take care of what, but preference is usually left to the title holder, and the majority of the work left to the challenger. An offical must be secured to call the match and confirmed, the Standings Keeper must be updated and informed of the particulars, and when it is all organized, a public announcement post to the message board to the community so that they may be apart of the history of the sport is again a tradition and a courtesy.
In summary to third and fourth parts for review, prepare an Issue of Challenge correctly with your qalufications listed and make sure everyone who needs to be informed is indeed informed, and then proceed to resolve the challenge within the rules and with respect to the title.
Fifth, and this is not something in the rules but something that needs to be addressed. Respect for the title. For a complete synopsis of my views of being a title holder, read my post made last week in this same folder titled, "To be a Baron". Regardless of your reasons for challenging, or your views and opinions of the title holder, respect the title your are challenging. And respect the fact that despite the personality and character of the title holder, they did achieve and earned the
right to be that title holder. And as such through the rules, traditions, and precedence deserve a certain type of respect from a challenger as far as the process of actual challenge is concerned. And if successful in being a title holder, carry out the written and unwritten responsiblities the title holder position expects. Be apart of the ceremony, pagentry, and the community that makes our beloved sport so grand.
To end I offer a simple numerical chronological breakdown of Challenging 101.
1. Became a challenge able rank, either Warlord or Baron.
2. Become a qualified able challenger, either by collecting the correct number of peer wins, or falling into a category where special circumstance is allowed to make a challenge otherwise.
3. Make sure the title holder you wish to challenge is availible for challenge.
4. Write an "Issue of Challenge" email, that is addressed to the Standings Keeper, the title holder your challenging, and the other title holders, that details your qualifications for making the challenge, either listed peer wins or the challenge rule that otherwise qualifys you to challenge. Then post a public announcement to the DoS folder message board.
5. Work out the details to make the challenge complete, dates, times, places, and officals involved. The basic who, what, where, when, why, and how of the challenge and inform the community and the officals.
6. Maintain the traditions, ceremony, and pagentry of challenges and the duels at the upmost especially during challenges.
7. Assume the responsiblity and position of the title, and when trying for the title remember to treat the title and the title holder with the respect you would want if you were the title holder being challenged by you.
((Continued in my 4th response to this orginal post))
From: Bapheloc
Fourth, the challenged title holder has up to a full 7 day week to respond to the challenge from the point in which the Standings Keeper has confirmed the validity of the challenge, not from the point the challenge was issued. The challenged title holder will work with the challenger to determine a date and time that is within the two weeks of the challenged title holder's response to the "Issue of Challenge" to set the challenge match for the title. The challenger and the challenged work out
who will take care of what, but preference is usually left to the title holder, and the majority of the work left to the challenger. An offical must be secured to call the match and confirmed, the Standings Keeper must be updated and informed of the particulars, and when it is all organized, a public announcement post to the message board to the community so that they may be apart of the history of the sport is again a tradition and a courtesy.
In summary to third and fourth parts for review, prepare an Issue of Challenge correctly with your qalufications listed and make sure everyone who needs to be informed is indeed informed, and then proceed to resolve the challenge within the rules and with respect to the title.
Fifth, and this is not something in the rules but something that needs to be addressed. Respect for the title. For a complete synopsis of my views of being a title holder, read my post made last week in this same folder titled, "To be a Baron". Regardless of your reasons for challenging, or your views and opinions of the title holder, respect the title your are challenging. And respect the fact that despite the personality and character of the title holder, they did achieve and earned the
right to be that title holder. And as such through the rules, traditions, and precedence deserve a certain type of respect from a challenger as far as the process of actual challenge is concerned. And if successful in being a title holder, carry out the written and unwritten responsiblities the title holder position expects. Be apart of the ceremony, pagentry, and the community that makes our beloved sport so grand.
To end I offer a simple numerical chronological breakdown of Challenging 101.
1. Became a challenge able rank, either Warlord or Baron.
2. Become a qualified able challenger, either by collecting the correct number of peer wins, or falling into a category where special circumstance is allowed to make a challenge otherwise.
3. Make sure the title holder you wish to challenge is availible for challenge.
4. Write an "Issue of Challenge" email, that is addressed to the Standings Keeper, the title holder your challenging, and the other title holders, that details your qualifications for making the challenge, either listed peer wins or the challenge rule that otherwise qualifys you to challenge. Then post a public announcement to the DoS folder message board.
5. Work out the details to make the challenge complete, dates, times, places, and officals involved. The basic who, what, where, when, why, and how of the challenge and inform the community and the officals.
6. Maintain the traditions, ceremony, and pagentry of challenges and the duels at the upmost especially during challenges.
7. Assume the responsiblity and position of the title, and when trying for the title remember to treat the title and the title holder with the respect you would want if you were the title holder being challenged by you.
((Continued in my 4th response to this orginal post))
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Date: 8/31/97 1:49 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: Bapheloc
Again, I encourage comment and additions to the very basics of what I supplied here. I've tried to be as unbiased as possible, but obviously that is impossible to some degree. I've tried to avoid the preferences of reasons of challenge, the types of pagentry, and what is considered honorable or respectful in regards to personal moral ethics. That is more of a debate thing I am trying to avoid of personal opnions of events of the Swords Community. What I am trying to do is in the best way I
can positively inform the Swords Community the standards by which the whole community is answerable to regardless of your personality or character of views and ethics. The reasons I have presented this is as follows.
During the convening of the Barons Council, one solution was stripping the right of someone who fails to follow the basic precepts of the rules themselves the ability to challenge for at least the rest of the cycle. In effect similpy ignoring challenges and challengers who do not take the time to learn the rules and follow them. While some might be motivated to ignore challenges and challengers who do as well make challenges disrespectively to the title and the title holder in at least
attitude, that is not against the written rules. The Barons Council can not exercise its power to instill a code of ethics and morals upon the community at large. However, we can use the rules, and our power to exercise against those who can not follow the rules to make examples of them. The written rules, that even the officals of the sport could base such decisions upon. This may be taken as a threat, or simply a foreshadowed warning of what may happen if people further to continue to make
challenges incorrectly. There is enough who feel as I do that it has gone on far too long and too much and the problem must be resolved and fixed, and unfortunatetly it may require drastic measures. So please if you are not interested in atleast the ceremony, pagentry, and traditions of our beloved sport, atleast learn the rules completetly is you wish to become more involved and place yourself in a position of power in the public eye.
Baphelocutis est Lathadoscia
Holder of the 1st Baron Ring of DoS.
From: Bapheloc
Again, I encourage comment and additions to the very basics of what I supplied here. I've tried to be as unbiased as possible, but obviously that is impossible to some degree. I've tried to avoid the preferences of reasons of challenge, the types of pagentry, and what is considered honorable or respectful in regards to personal moral ethics. That is more of a debate thing I am trying to avoid of personal opnions of events of the Swords Community. What I am trying to do is in the best way I
can positively inform the Swords Community the standards by which the whole community is answerable to regardless of your personality or character of views and ethics. The reasons I have presented this is as follows.
During the convening of the Barons Council, one solution was stripping the right of someone who fails to follow the basic precepts of the rules themselves the ability to challenge for at least the rest of the cycle. In effect similpy ignoring challenges and challengers who do not take the time to learn the rules and follow them. While some might be motivated to ignore challenges and challengers who do as well make challenges disrespectively to the title and the title holder in at least
attitude, that is not against the written rules. The Barons Council can not exercise its power to instill a code of ethics and morals upon the community at large. However, we can use the rules, and our power to exercise against those who can not follow the rules to make examples of them. The written rules, that even the officals of the sport could base such decisions upon. This may be taken as a threat, or simply a foreshadowed warning of what may happen if people further to continue to make
challenges incorrectly. There is enough who feel as I do that it has gone on far too long and too much and the problem must be resolved and fixed, and unfortunatetly it may require drastic measures. So please if you are not interested in atleast the ceremony, pagentry, and traditions of our beloved sport, atleast learn the rules completetly is you wish to become more involved and place yourself in a position of power in the public eye.
Baphelocutis est Lathadoscia
Holder of the 1st Baron Ring of DoS.