Dueling Guide

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The Basics:

A traditional duel in Karchan is three rounds.

Round One
Player A - Attacks
Player B - Defends/Attacks

Round Two
Player A - Defends/Attacks
Player B - Defends/Attacks

Round Three
Player A - Defends/Attacks
Player B - Defends/Attacks
Player A - Final Defense

Some duels have extra processes, like status effects determined at the beginning of the duel that have to be taken into account, or scenery changes. Some duels, very little changes.

Duels tend to be more in-depth than spars, the latter of which tend to be shorter and not as serious.

Some duels have stakes, which are determined ahead of time by the two combatants.

In some situations, a time limit may be imposed upon the duelists. This is usually 15-20 minutes, as determined ahead of the duel itself. This ensures that things move in a timely manner.

In rare instances, two characters may engage in what is called a Death Duel, which means that the loser's character dies (usually) permanently. The only way to come back from a death duel is with permission by the winner. Having a viable way to return to life is usually necessary from an in-character perspective. Death duels tend to only be agreed upon in extreme circumstances, and just because someone issues a challenge does not mean the other player has to accept.

In Arenas, the command flip a coin is available to determine who goes first. Player A will ask Player B "Heads or Tails?" If Player B guesses right, they determine who goes first. If they guess wrong, Player A determines who goes first. If not dueling in an arena, the small gold coin item, when wielded, allows people to flip a coin as well.

Dueling No-Nos:

There are some things that are considered bad form in a duel. Some fall in line with most roleplay etiquette in general, while others are different.

Autohits: Autohits can be described as directly doing something to someone else's character without their permission, typically in a way that they cannot avoid if they choose. Autohits in general are bad in regular roleplay, and the same goes for duels. You may make an attempt to do something, but that doesn't mean that the other person has to let the intended hit land.

Cheating: Any duel post must be written by the Player posting it alone. Outside help is not permitted and could lead to disqualification or forfeiture if caught.

Godmoding: Godmoding (as applies to Karchan) falls along the same line as autohitting, but usually involves a character being so OP (overpowered) that they can seem on the same level as a god (from where it derives its name). It can also mean that your character is powerful to the point of having an unfair advantage. While some characters do have abilities that are innate or specially crafted for them and are fine, making them almighty powerful is frowned upon and will usually mean your character is viewed unfavorably or not taken seriously.

Mind Control: This is old school Karchan, but it used to be off limits to try and mind control someone. Things now are more flexible unless you autohit someone, but this can still be considered taboo in certain circles.

Judging Guide

When selecting judges for a duel, unless judged by The Assembly of Judges, it is customary for Player A to chose one judge, Player B to chose one judge, and for the third to be agreed upon.

There are some things that judges tend to look for that should be noted.

Autohits: If you autohit your opponent, judges will likely take that into account when casting their vote.

Clarity: Though typos and misspellings do occasionally happen, if your post is unclear or so full of mistakes that the judges cannot understand what you intended to do, they may take that into account when casting their vote. This also includes posts where everything may be properly spelled with correct grammar, but your post was confusing or hard to follow/easily misunderstood.

Creativity: Most judges tend to look for attacks and defenses that they haven't seen a million times. If your post is original and creative, it is likely to be looked upon favorably.

Environment: Environment and scenery is often looked at by judges, with most looking for making good use of one's surroundings and keeping the scenery in mind when posting.

Godmoding: If your character seems too overpowered or takes no damage, most judges will look down on this and keep it in mind when they vote.

Realism: It is important to keep in mind your injuries and other factors when dueling, as injuries do usually roll over to your next post. Except in certain circumstances, most people are made weary as battles progress. If there is a scenery change, ignoring it would not be realistic. Things like this can be important to judges, so pay attention to the details of the duel.

Judges decisions are considered final. After a winner has been announced, that is it. No appeals can be made.

OOC Conduct

Harassment: Harassment or bullying of judges is considered poor sportsmanship. This includes complaining to judges about the outcome of a duel in a way that makes them uncomfortable or upset, pressuring them to vote a certain way, or being unpleasant to your opponent and/or judges following a loss.

Spectating: Though some players like to watch duels, posts outside of the duel posts should be kept to a minimum. It is okay if your character is there in character to maybe post small things, but huge roleplay posts in the middle of someone's duel is frowned upon. Also, if judges are there, don't assume they are actually there in character, as judges cast their votes as a player rather than a character (out of character). Don't assume a character is actually there unless they claim to be.
Most arena bots have a command where players can remove someone if they are being distracting or spamming the screen. The command is bounce name, and only intended to be used if the player is disruptive during the duel.

Related Pages

Roleplay Etiquette
Duels and Tournaments

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Last modified on November 7, 2024, 08:44:14