Winter Cycle Updates & Feedback Requested

[PC]

Hi all! I'd like to first start off this post with bringing out some updates to the game beginning this Winter Cycle ( the Winter Cycle begins 1/5/2020 ). First there will be a new cycle-based title and a revision to the current Warden of Lakeside.

Warden of Overlook

• King of the Hill Title.

• Requires at minimum a 2-2-0 Record on the Cycle Rankings to begin. (4 duels, 50% win rate minimum)

• Title will change hands throughout the Cycle on a Week-by-Week basis, depending on who holds the better win percent (above 50%).

• The duelist who still controls the Warden of Overlook title at the end of the cycle will be allowed to request a special achievement.

• Grant of Karnafexx will be transferred to this as end of cycle prize, along with a roleplay location prize (house, cottage, etc. Located mountainside north of RhyDin & overlooking the city).

Because of these changes Lakeside will be revised into an activity-based title.

Revised Warden of Lakeside

• Current Warden of Lakeside Information

• Requirements changed to: Most Duels Fought Per Cycle.

• Awarded at the End of the Cycle.

• Grant of Karnafexx removed from prize (transferred to Overlook). Achievement becomes new prize. 2019 Fall Cycle Winner will still receive the grant.

• Former Lakeside Wardens are grandfathered in and allowed the Achievement.

We hope with the changes to the Warden of Lakeside and the inclusion of Warden of Overlook both duelists who want to focus on precision play based on wins over losses and duelists who simply wish to come out and play the game have something to strive for throughout the cycle.

Dueling Houses

• Dueling Houses will return for the Winter Cycle.

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Feedback Requested

We are looking for feedback from active members of the Duel of Swords community on the following game mechanics.

1. The Overlord Grace.

Overlord Grace

Should an Overlord have a Majority of Loyal Barons then the Overlord will be given a 30 day grace period after successfully defending their title against a Warlord. No other duelist of the Warlord Rank will be able to challenge them*. The grace period will end should there be a change to a Renegade majority.

1. Renegade Barons will still be able to challenge for Overlord, and their challenge will supersede this 30 day grace period.

2. The rules for banished Loyal Barons will be the same as they are written now -- in other words, a challenge made by a banished Loyal Baron will supersede all other challenges.

* Special Cases: Warlords who win an Overlord Challenge Grants from the Warlord Tournament, Madness, or any special events, will supersede wait periods. This will also count as a normal Warlord challenge and the grace period will be rewarded to the Overlord for successfully defending. Should the Overlord have been within grace, and the grant user supersede it, then grace will reset back to 30 days once the challenge process is complete and the Overlord defends.

An Overlords 30 day grace period will begin when the Official Standings are updated to reflect the challenge results (Sunday's at 6 PM EST). Should the Official Standings be late, the 30 day grace period will still begin at 6 PM EST on the Sunday after a successful challenge. Challenges to the Overlord by Renegade Barons or special grant holders will still need to follow the challenge process in those rare times standings are updated late. (aka, a challenge isn't considered officially over until the official standings are updated).

The End of a Cycle: The Overlords Grace against Warlord challenges will continue on into a new cycle.

Should this rule become finalized and added to the game officially or be removed? Currently we've only seen a few cases of it being used, but we are interested in reading the thoughts of those who either like or dislike the idea of the tested rule.

2. The Barony of Cadentia

• We introduced the Barony of Cadentia in 2019 and with two cycles passing we are looking for community feedback. What do you think of the barony?

This thread will remain open throughout the Winter Cycle and no decisions will be made on the two feedback items until the cycle passes. The Overlord Grace Period may continue to be used during the Winter Cycle.

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Most Importantly. Thank you all for participating in the Duel of Swords during 2019! We look forward to seeing what fun we can all make in this new year of 2020!

[PC]

To better describe the Warden of Overlook requirements since a question came to me privately. Think of it like the Ring of Klytus for Duel of Magic.

There's 3 different ranks. 1-3 duels, 4-7 duels, and 8+ duels. The minimum requirement to join/start the Warden of Overlook climb is 4 duels with a 50% win rate (2-2-0), but should a duelist beat that or go into the next rank (8+ duels), they will bypass those below that threshold -- so long as they have a 50%+ winrate. The easiest way to track placement is by looking at the cycle-ranking tab and see who is at the top of the list.

[Strawberry]

A question for the new staff; will this (particularly the Warden of Overlook) be continued this cycle? If so, will there be ongoing updates as to who has Overlook throughout the cycle?

Thanks!

[Conner Reid]

Yes! Both the Warden titles will be continued through the end of the current cycle. We are not going to post weekly results for the Warden of Overlook, but it will have an announced winner at the end of the cycle. Progress can be tracked on the standings each week under Cycle Rankings.

Any future changes to these titles will be announced before the next cycle begins. We'll do our best to never make changes mid-cycle!

[Strawberry]

Thanks for the response!!