Re:Dueling Etiquette Policies

[DoS Archive]

Date: 8/15/1997 9:22 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: RDIMimi
MsgId:



Combined with the increased usage prompted by new flat-rate pricing, and the high demand for Dueling, the Free-Form Gaming Forum would like to officially notify duelers of policies which have remained unspoken for years. By entering the Duelers Arena and participating in RDI Duel of Swords, RDI Duel of Magic, and RDI Duel of Fists you are hereby agreeing to follow the following points.

The lines of dueling etiquette for each of the Free-Form Gaming Forum's dueling sports are similar for each sport, though they will vary according to your character's personality. In general, however, these guidelines apply:

*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.

*If you wish to duel, seek out a dueler of an appropriate rank and issue challenge within the dueling room. If the dueler you have challenged is of very high rank, he or she may or may not inform you of this. Either way, it is wise to consult the duel rankings of the sport you are participating in first. Duelers of high rank are generally restricted either by rule or norm from challenging the first ranks directly. In some cases, it is considered poor etiquette to challenge more than a rank below your
current rank. If there is no explicit rule restricting challenges, however, judgement should be determined by the nature and ethics code of your character.

*Once you have procured a duel, IM the referee the Caller or Que-Keeper taking the duel requests. It's important to provide your opponent's complete name. Normally there is one Caller or Que-Keeper taking the duel requests. Please seek out the correct person so that your duel may be handled properly. Patrons are NOT to intentionally call their duel to more than one RDI. Patrons who end up in the queues of more than one RDI may have both duels cancelled. Once you are informed that you are in the
queue of a callers, PLEASE remain patient. Callers may be very busy, handling 4-6 duels at once. It serves no purpose to constantly ask the caller where they are in the queue, as this only slows them down. If you cannot wait any longer, send the caller a single IM asking that your duel be cancelled. Please remember the RDI's are working through the queue as quickly as possible.

*The RDI's strive to create and preserve a pleasurable atmosphere during the duels. This atmosphere must also extend to the RDI's. With this in mind the calling RDI on duty has the right to refuse your duel if proper respect and a courtesy is not shown at all times. Respect and courtesy to the RDI callers is expected at all times. While you are only having to deal with one duel, callers are dealing with several duels, plus any problems that other duelers may be having. Please do not chat with a caller
while they are working, they don't have time. Remember that RDI's do not get paid to call your duel. They are volunteers, serving because they love the sport. Please respect that. Your failure to cooperate may cause your duel to be cancelled. This too is at the discretion of the calling RDI.

*When dueling your opponent, the caller may ask that you number your moves. What this means, is that you number each round sequentially. For example:

Dueler 1: 1. Your move
Dueler 1: 2. Your move
Dueler 1: 3. Your move

Proper numbering of rounds helps the caller to keep track of rounds, and easily see when both duelers are on the same round, or if one is lagging behind. Please be careful in your numbering, so as not to mis-number. Duelers may ask to have a move changed, but are not guaranteed that the changed move will be accepted. Remember, Callers are not required to accept changed moves, but may do so at their own discretion. The decision of a caller on accepting a changed move is final.

Date: 8/15/1997 9:23 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: RDIMimi
MsgId:



*Callers are human, and occasionally make errors in their calls. If an RDI makes an error, please calmly inform them of the error by IM (they may not be monitoring the screen).

*When dueling, please be attentive to the screen. DO NOT go away from your computer for extended periods. Make sure to send your next move to the caller shortly after the previous round is called. If you must leave your computer for a brief time, send your move first, then hurry. If a caller asks where your move is, and you don't remember seeing the previous round, it is very likely that you missed the round. Ask the caller what happened in the previous round. If you did send the move, and the caller
misplaced it, re-supply your move without question.

*It is generally considered polite to salute both opponent and referee before and after the match, though this is a matter of character preference.

*If you find a discrepancy in the scoring of the duel or have a question, IM the referee (in the case of live play) and be patient. The RDI will refer back to his or her logs, but keep in mind the demands of calling any other matches occurring at the moment. In the case of E-mail play, send a query to the RDI referee.

*Carefully gauge the use of special maneuvers you may have gained through rank and skill level. Adhere to any maneuver restrictions placed on your skill level. Within the guideline of rank and skill, however, use of special maneuvers is determined only by the whim and personal ethics of your character.

*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.)

*In the case of E-mail dueling, send a notice via E-mail to the game referee with the name of your partner. Upon approval of the match, both opponents are invited to send a list of fifteen maneuvers to the RDI, which will then be scored and the results returned via e-mail and posted to the standings.

*If you have questions and an RDI is not readily available, ask a more experienced duelist. In some cases duelers of higher ranks are willing to help instruct newer players in the sport.

*Any comments on the duels that you may have or general challenges to other players are welcome in the appropriate message folder.

*It is considered extremely bad form to share your copy of the Dueling Matrix with another duelist. Part of the game is developing your own strategy Matrix of moves to help you compete against your opponents.

Violations of these policies may cause your duel to be cancelled. Repeated violations may have you banned from RDI Dueling Center for a period to be determined by the Dueling coordinator.

RDI Mimi,
FFGF Forum Leader (Dueling Center)

Date: 8/15/1997 11:16 PM Eastern Standard Time
From: RDIMimi
MsgId:



We have received some comment about the nature of these posts, to clarify things the above OOC posts are of an Offical Nature. If you have questions or concerns, please contact RDI Mimi.

Thank you.
RDI Mimi
FFGF Forum Leader (Dueling Center)

Date: 8/16/1997 2:26 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Shadowrun
MsgId:



The old soldier leafed through the posts delicately, breathing in the air of the place for the few moments he could visit today.

Nodding slightly to himself, he drew a quill from the battery of wells to the board's left, and appended, on a small scrap, one sentence:

"Well chosen, well written, well done."

Date: 8/16/1997 9:55 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: Kingphisch
MsgId:



one addition that i feel needs to be address is basically for the newer duelists.... and that is rank ... your rank is what is posted in the standings .. .that rank will remain until the next posting... for example, if a commoner record during a particular friday evening rises to 3-0, he is NOT a swordsman until the next posting, so that dueler is still a commoner for the entire weekend.

on the other hand, if a warlord has a record of 15-0 and loses 3 duels on a friday evening, he is still a warlord until the next posting...

i only mention this as i have seen newer duelists mention that the are NOW 2 WoL's and declare themselves a swordsman. this is entirely incorrect. they are still a commoner until it is posted... i guess the easiest way to say it is that no dueler assigns rank until themselves. rank is given via the standings, and your rank is as posted..

granted, mistakes are made and leeway (sp?) is given under certain circumstances...

if i am in error, please correct me, but i believe what i have stated is true...

KF