Rules Updates and Clarifications (May 2020 -> Present)

[Conner Reid]

Here's where any new rule updates will be posted from this point forward!

For the full list of Official Duel of Swords Rules, please check here
Previous rule updates can be found here

For the DoS Rules prior to July 5th 2020, please check here

[Tippletoe]

Tournaments

We’ve replaced the Warlord/Talon of Redwin Tournaments with the All Ranks Tournament. The spirit of both the Warlord/Talon of Redwin Tournaments have been kept, this update is to bring our rules in line with the recent practice of holding an All Ranks Tournament instead of two separate tournaments.

There is one specific change you should be aware of:

OLD: Inactive Grant Winners
8. Inactive grant winners are required to gain one (1) activity duel during the two week (14 day) period, starting after the Warlord tournament, to become active and use their challenge grants. This activity duel will be verified by way of the Shift Reports and does not have to wait for the Official Standings. If an inactive duelist takes a vacant Baron's ring as a prize they will have until the end of the cycle to become active. If this activity is not gained then the title will be stripped.

NEW: Inactive Grant Winners
2. Inactive grant winners are required to become active on the Official Standings to use their challenge grants. Please remember that the Official Standings are updated on Sundays at 6ET.

What does this mean? All duelists must be active on the standings to challenge, we will no longer verify activity duels using Shift Reports.

Why make this change? This makes activity requirements simpler and consistent across the board. You must be active on the standings to challenge, even if you entered a tournament as an inactive duelist.

**UPDATE June 3rd 2020**

We have made one small tweak to the All Ranks Tournament regarding Challenge Grant recipients.

Original Rules
2. Challenge grants must be issued within two weeks (14 days) of the Tournament's conclusion. These challenges shall follow the "Universal Terms of Challenge" with regard to response and dueling date. The challengers will not lose any normally accumulated challenge rights as a result of the All Ranks Tournament prize grants.
a) If the recipient of the test-free Overlord Challenge Grant is subject to a challenge wait period, such as the wait period from losing a recent challenge, this wait period will be waived for the purpose of issuing the Overlord Challenge.

Updated Rules
2. Challenge Grants must be issued within two weeks (14 days) of the Tournament's conclusion. These challenges shall follow the "Universal Terms of Challenge" with regard to response and dueling date.
a) The challengers will not lose any normally accumulated challenge rights as a result of the All Ranks Tournament prize grants.
b) Challenge Grant recipients are exempt from waiting for the 14-day “Cool Down” period described in the Universal Terms of Challenge in order to issue a challenge with their Grant. They must, however, wait two weeks (14-days) to challenge again if they lose.

What does this mean? All duelists who receive grants must issue them within two weeks. In order to accommodate this, if a duelist was subject to a 14-day “Cool Down” period because they lost a challenge, they are exempt from waiting and may issue their challenge right away. If they lose the challenge, they must begin the 14-day “Cool Down” period again.

Why make this change? There is a slight possibility that someone could receive a grant and be unable to use it because they were subject to a 14-day “Cool Down” from a previous challenge. We want to ensure that all prize winners can use their grant.

[Tippletoe]

July 2020 Duel of Swords Rules Update

The following changelog reflects all significant changes to the Duel of Swords during the 2020 Rules Update. Other changes in language, order, and format do exist —but they are minor and do not affect the spirit or intent of the rule.


The Standings
OLD Rules: Activity Requirements and (NE) Notation
From the Standings Footnotes: Barons/Warlords flagged [NE] have not dueled in 2+ months and, therefore, may not challenge.

Challenge Rights fo Warlords
2. At the time of issuing a challenge, the challenger must have recorded at least ONE regulation duel within the last TWO calendar months (eg: a challenge issued April 9th must have a standings last duel date of no less recent than February 9th). Being awarded WoL as a prize or for any other reason does not take the place of regulation dueling. Tournament duels do not take the place of regulation dueling.

NEW Rules: Activity Requirements and (I) Notation
Standings
4. Duelists must complete at least one (1) regulation duel in the past three months (90 days) to be active on the standings. Inactive duelists will be noted with an ( I ) beside their name.

Universal Terms of Challenge
1. A duelist must be active on the standings, by completing at least one (1) regulation duel within the last three months (90 days), in order to issue a challenge. This includes any special grants issued as tournament prizes, as well as any Overlord Grants.

What does this mean? All duelists, regardless of rank, must complete at least one regulation duel every 3 months (90 days) to be listed as “Active” on the standings. We will no longer list duelists as Not Eligible (NE), rather as Inactive (I). Inactive duelists cannot challenge.

Why make this change? Since it is possible for duelists ranked under Warlord to challenge with the use of a Challenge Grant, we have changed to tracking activity for all duelists instead of Warlord eligibility. The expectation is that any duelist wishing to challenge must be active. DoS Staff have agreed that 3 months (90 days) is a fair requirement. This also brings us in-line with activity requirements for DoF —who share the same cycle rotation as we do, making things more consistent across the sports.

The reason we are using (I) Inactive instead of NE (Not Eligible), is because that way it is consistent with our documentation of activity requirements, which applies to more than just challenge eligibility. For example, becoming inactive also means you are stripped of a title, or can be dismissed as squire. Since it affects more than challenge eligibility, it is more appropriate to change to (I) for Inactive instead. Additionally, there are other reasons why someone may be ineligible to challenge (such as the 14-day "cool down" period after losing a challenge), and it felt incomplete to mark NE for just activity reasons but not for those other cases.


Activity Requirements for Challengers

OLD Rules: Challenge Rights for Warlords
Challenge Rights for Warlords
2. At the time of issuing a challenge, the challenger must have recorded at least ONE regulation duel within the last TWO calendar months (eg: a challenge issued April 9th must have a standings last duel date of no less recent than February 9th). Being awarded WoL as a prize or for any other reason does not take the place of regulation dueling. Tournament duels do not take the place of regulation dueling.

3. Upon return from the inactivity list, a Warlord must wait 14 days following their first duel for eligibility to challenge (provided a longer wait time has not been imposed due to Title Forfeiture, see below).. This duel will be verified by way of the Shift Reports and does not have to wait for the Official Standings.

The Warlord Tournament
8. Inactive grant winners are required to gain one (1) activity duel during the two week (14 day) period, starting after the Warlord tournament, to become active and use their challenge grants. This activity duel will be verified by way of the Shift Reports and does not have to wait for the Official Standings. If an inactive duelist takes a vacant Baron's ring as a prize they will have until the end of the cycle to become active. If this activity is not gained then the title will be stripped.

NEW Rules: Must be Active to Challenge
Universal Terms of Challenge
General Requirements
1. A duelist must be active on the standings, by completing at least one (1) regulation duel within the last three months (90 days), in order to issue a challenge. This includes any special grants issued as tournament prizes, as well as any Overlord Grants.

Grant Recipients
2. Inactive grant winners are required to become active on the Official Standings to use their challenge grants. Please remember that the Official Standings are updated on Sundays at 6ET.

What does this mean? Warlords now have to duel once every three months, instead of once every two months, to challenge. All duelists must be active on the standings to challenge, we will no longer verify activity duels using Shift Reports.

Why make this change? This makes activity requirements simpler and consistent across the board. You must be active on the standings to challenge, even if you received a challenge grant from a tournament as an inactive duelist.


Challenging After You Have Lost Your Title

OLD Rules: 7 and 14 Day Wait Period
Barons
9. Titleholders (Barons/Overlord), should they fail to defend their challenge, must wait 7 days before they can issue a challenge. *7 day count begins when the standings become official on Sunday at 6pm Eastern.

10. Titleholders (Barons/Overlord) who lose their challenge are eligible to issue a challenge for that Title they failed to defend following the 7 day wait. (I.E. The Former Baron of Seaside may challenge to Seaside after 7 days) *7 day count begins when the standings become official on Sunday at 6pm Eastern.

Challenge Rights for Warlords
4. Warlords, should they fail in their challenge, must wait 14 days before they can issue another. *14 day count begins when the standings become official on Sunday at 6 pm Eastern time

NEW Rules: 17 Day Cool Down
Universal Terms of Challenge
Challenger Eligibility
General Requirements
2. When you lose a challenge (either as the Challenger or as the Titleholder) you must wait two weeks (14 days) before you can issue another challenge. This 14-day “Cool Down” begins when the standings are posted on Sunday at 6PM ET. Exception: Recipients of a Challenge Grant prize are exempt from this rule for the purposes of issuing a challenge with their Challenge Grant.

What does this mean? If you lose a challenge, you must wait two weeks (14 days) to challenge again, regardless if you are the challenger or titleholder.

Why make this change? To make the rules consistent and simple.


Barons & Alignment
OLD Rules: Alignment of Higher Ranks
Alignment of Higher Ranks
1. The Overlord shall be set as the Supreme Dueler of the Duel of Swords.

2. There shall be 7 Barons, each with their own Rhydin District, awarded a Ring as a symbol of their station. (Emphasis Added)

3. There will be any number of Warlords who maintain a record of 15 wins over losses.

4. Overlord and Barons are NOT subject to maintaining a 15 wins over loses record.

5. There are two alignments that may be chosen by a Baron. Loyal and Renegade.

6. Upon obtaining the title, a new Baron must declare alignment to the Overlord within (7) Days from when the standings become official. (Emphasis Added)

7. When a new Overlord is crowned, Barons must declare alignment within (7) days from the standings becoming official. If no declaration is made, the Barons alignment will be set by the new Overlord.

8. Barons challenged while Unaligned shall follow the same challenge rules as a Renegade Baron with exception of having a challenge queue.(Unaligned cannot have a challenge queue.)

AND

Barons
1. Each Baron shall receive a ring as a symbol of their station and are considered equal in title.

2. Barons can either be aligned with the Overlord or not and respectively titled Loyal or Renegade.

3. New Barons must proclaim their alignment within (7) seven days of accepting the ring. If not it is at the discretion of the Overlord. (Emphasis Added)

4. When an Overlord is dethroned all Barons must declare alignment within one week(7 days), to the Standings Keeper, or their alignment shall be set by the new Overlord.

NEW Rules: Baron Rank, Benefits & Alignment
Baron Rank & Benefits

4. There shall be 8 Barons who are awarded a Ring as a symbol of their station, and they are considered equal in title. Each Baron shall be granted liberal use of a Baronial Manor. Barons also enjoy other benefits related to their station, please see this post for more details.

Baron Alignment

1. Barons can either be aligned with the Overlord (Loyal) or against the Overlord (Renegade). The Overlord benefits from a grace period if there is a Loyal Majority. In the case of a tie, the Senior Baron’s alignment will act as the tie-breaker.

2. Barons challenged while Unaligned shall follow the same challenge rules as a Renegade Baron with the exception of having a challenge queue.

3. Upon obtaining the title, a new Baron must declare alignment to the Overlord within one week (7 days) from when the standings become official. This can be declared to the Standings Keeper, the Caller officiating their Challenge Match, or on the Public Notice Board. If they fail to do so, their alignment will be set at the discretion of the Overlord.

4. When an Overlord is dethroned all Barons must declare alignment within one week (7 days) from when the standings become official. This can be declared to the Standings Keeper, the Caller officiating the Overlord Challenge Match, or publicly on the Public Notice Board. If they fail to do so, their alignment will be at the discretion of the Overlord.


What does this mean? We have clarified that new Barons have seven (7) days to declare their alignment from when the Official Standings update, versus the ambiguous ‘when they accept the ring’. We have also updated this to reflect that we have eight baronies, not seven, and that Cadentia is not a RhyDin district.

Why make this change? To incorporate changes made when we added the 8th barony, to reduce redundancy/confusion in the old rules.

Squires
OLD Rules: Squire Appointment
Squires
1. The Overlord and Barons are permitted to appoint any duelist of any rank beneath Warlord as their squire.

6. The Overlord and Barons may only release a Squire on their own in order to name a new Squire Once every other cycle. This does not apply should the Squire achieve the Rank of Warlord. Squires may resign from their post for any reason and being removed from the standings will be viewed as voluntary resignation.

NEW Rules: Squire Appointment
Squire Title and Benefits
1. The Overlord and Barons are permitted to appoint an active duelist of any rank beneath Warlord as their squire.
The Overlord and Barons who wish to appoint a Squire may do so in whichever manner they choose. This means they may outright name a squire, hold a tournament, invite applications etc.
If a Squire reaches Warlord rank, then the Baron/Overlord can appoint a second Squire. A Baron cannot have more than two Squires.
The Overlord and Barons may only release a Squire in order to name a new Squire once every other cycle. This does not apply should the Squire achieve the Rank of Warlord, or fail to maintain active status.

What does this mean? Duelists must be active in order to be appointed as a Squire. You cannot appoint an inactive duelist. If your Squire becomes inactive, you can release them without penalty.

Why make this change? Squires receive both RP and Mod related benefits, similar to titleholders, and so they are expected to be active. However, since Squires are appointed by titleholders we leave it to the titleholder to release their Squire should they become inactive. The incentive here is that only active Squires can participate in a Test of Worthiness, so it benefits a titleholder to keep an active Squire.

OLD Rules: Squire Weapons & Fancies
2. Squires receive a weapon as listed below, and with that, one fancy above their normal up until they achieve the rank of Warlord Only Providing They Are Wielding The Squire's Weapon! This means if the Squire is using any weapon that is not the squire's, they do not get the fancy.

NEW Rules: Squire Appointment
1. Squires receive a weapon as listed below, and with that, one fancy above their normal amount up until they achieve the rank of Warlord. While not required, Squires are encouraged to use their squire weapon while dueling.

What does this mean? Squires can benefit from the extra squire fancy (provided they are below Warlord rank) regardless of whether or not they wield the squire weapon.

Why make this change? There are two reasons for making this change. First, the squire weapon was originally designed to justify the extra fancy in a way that is unique to DoS. While we still believe that it is the squireship and the weapon which provides roleplay justification for an extra fancy, the squire weapon is primarily a roleplay feature. We did not want to enforce a rule using an RP mechanic as it becomes difficult to track. Second, in the case that a second squire is appointed, the old rule would mean that the first squire is required to pass on the weapon to the second squire. We want to allow Barons and Squires the opportunity to handle this from an RP perspective as they see fit.

[Tippletoe]

Universal Terms of Challenge

The following clarification has been made to the Universal Terms of Challenge: Issuing a Challenge. The added portion is highlighted in bold.

Issuing a Challenge
1. It is a requirement that when a challenge is issued for a title, that you must place the name of the Barony in the subject line of the post. You must also indicate it is a Challenge.

Example: "Challenge to Dockside!" "I Challenge for New Haven!" or "Marketplace Challenge!" etc.

This is to make it easier for everyone involved to know who is being challenged, as well as for Standings Keepers and any Historians to do research.

2. In the body of the challenge, you must clearly indicate if you are issuing a challenge using a Challenge Grant/Cyclical Prize (such as the King's Decree, a Barony Challenge Grant, a test-free Overlord Challenge Grant etc.) Otherwise, we will assume you are using your Challenge Rights.

3. Challenges issued via rights and grants may be rescinded and the right/grant returned to the duelist to be used in accordance with their original terms. (e.g. a grant for a challenge to be issued within two weeks (14 days), The challenger still only has those same 14 days, so rescinding after 10 have passed leaves 4 to issue a new challenge). Once a challenge duel has begun or the challenge itself has triggered an administrative action in regard to the title (such as a declaration of forfeit against the challenged titleholder), the right or grant is considered spent. Exemption: A right or grant may be rescinded after a challenge is validated.

What does this mean? You must declare if you are using a Challenge Grant or a Cyclical Prize at the time you issue a challenge.

Why make this change? A duelist must decide upon making a challenge if they are using challenge rights or a challenge grant/cyclical prize. Many grants/cyclical prizes have additional conditions, perks, or rules. We want all parties, challenger, caller, and defender, to be aware of these conditions, perks, and rules ahead of time.

This rule comes into effect on October 19th, 2020.

[Tippletoe]

Universal Terms of Challenge
Challenge Procedures
Challenge Acceptance and Scheduling

OLD Rules: Responding and Arranging Challenges
1. A challenge MUST be answered, or it is an abdication of title.

1. All challenges must be answered within one week of validation (by the date and time the validation notice is sent out) and dueled within two weeks of the response.

NEW Rules: Challenge Acceptance and Scheduling
1. A challenge MUST be answered, or it is an abdication of title.

1. All challenges must be answered within five days of validation and dueled within two weeks (14 days) of validation. Both deadlines will be at the end of the day, 11:59pm ET.

What does this mean? Challenges must be fought within two weeks of being validated. Accepting a challenge no longer impacts the timeline for fighting a challenge. Defenders must still accept a challenge, but they only have five days, instead of seven. Deadlines are set for 11:59 pm ET from the date of validation (instead of by the time of validation).

Why make this change? This change was made to reduce the time between a challenge being issued and a challenge being completed, reduce the wait time for challengers, and prevent grace periods from being strategically extended. This rule also smoothes out challenge tracking for DoS Staff. For further details about this change, please see this post HERE.

[Tippletoe]

Universal Terms of Challenge

The following clarification has been made to the Universal Terms of Challenge: Challenge Procedures. The added portion is highlighted in bold.

Challenge Procedures
General Rules
1. All challenges, the waiving of a grace period, and answering challenges must be posted on the Public Notice Board for purposes of notification and validation.

2. Before issuing a challenge, please check to see if the titleholder is entitled to a grace period (this applies to Loyal Barons and the Overlord). Note: All grace periods end at 6PM ET on the appropriate date.

The following clarification has been made to the All Ranks Tournament: Overlord Grace Period & Challenge Grants. The added portion is highlighted in bold.

Overlord Grace Period & Challenge Grants
1. Overlord Grace Period: The Overlord receives a grace period during which no challenge may be issued to the Overlord, excepting the test-free Overlord Challenge Grant prize, and from banished loyal barons.

1. The grace period starts two weeks (14 days) prior to the All Rank’s Tournament and extends until two weeks (14 days) from the day after the All Rank’s Tournament. Grace periods begin and end at 6PM ET on the appropriate dates.
2. If the test-free Overlord Challenge Grant is not awarded, the Overlord has the option to waive the post All Rank’s Tournament grace of two weeks (14 days).

The following clarification has been made to the Overlord Challenge Terms. The added portion is highlighted in bold.

Overlord Grace Period
1. If an Overlord has a Majority of Loyal Barons (see Alignment above), then the Overlord will be given a 30 day grace period after successfully defending their title. No other duelist of the Warlord Rank will be able to challenge them (Please see special cases below).

1. The Overlord’s 30 day grace period will begin when the Official Standings are updated to reflect the challenge results (Sunday at 6PM ET). Should the Official Standings be late, the 30 day grace period will still begin at 6PM ET on the Sunday after a successful challenge.
   
   Example: If a challenge is completed on Sunday, October 13th the standings would be updated on Sunday, October 20th at 6PM ET, so the 30-day grace period lasts until Tuesday, November 19th at 6PM ET
   
   
2. The grace period will end should there be a change to a Renegade Majority. This happens at 6PM ET when the Standings are updated.

What does this mean? All grace periods end at 6PM ET on the appropriate date. For Overlords, their grace periods begin when a challenge is officially completed (the following Sunday at 6PM ET) and end 30 days after on a Tuesday at 6PM ET.

Why make this change? No change has been made, this is just a clarification of the rules since we've had questions about what time a grace period ends.

This rule comes into effect on October 19th, 2020.

[Tippletoe]

Changes are highlighted in blue

The Standings

OLD Rules: Standings - Benefits of Rank
2. Title changes are not considered official until they are listed in the standings. This means should a challenge take place on a Friday, and the Baron or Overlord lose their defense, they still gain the benefits of that rank until the new standings are posted on Sunday. (Fancies, Grants, Testing, etc.)

NEW Rules: Standings - Benefits of Rank
2. Title changes are not considered official until they are listed in the standings. This means should a challenge take place on a Friday, and the Baron or Overlord lose their defense, they still gain the benefits of the pre-existing rank and alignment until the new standings are posted on Sunday (i.e. fancies, bestowing grants, and participating in tests of worthiness).

Baron Rank, Benefits, Alignment & Council

OLD Rules: Baron Alignment
5. Renegades may petition for Loyal alignment pending approval of the Overlord. The Overlord may refuse the realignment for any given reason. This is not the same as a banishment.

6. Loyal Barons may change their alignment at any time, in writing on the Public Notice Board.

1. This alignment change becomes official immediately and is not restricted to the standings being official.
2. A Loyal Baron who switches their alignment to Renegade in this way is unable to petition for Loyalty for a minimum of two weeks (14 days) after the standings (with their Renegade alignment) are considered official.

NEW Rules: Baron Alignment
5. Renegades may petition in writing on the Public Notice Board for Loyal alignment pending approval of the Overlord.

1. This alignment change becomes official immediately after the Overlord approves the petition in writing on the Public Notice Board and is not restricted to the standings being official.
2. The Overlord may refuse the realignment for any given reason. This is not the same as a banishment.

6. Loyal Barons may change their alignment at any time, in writing on the Public Notice Board.

1. This alignment change becomes official immediately and is not restricted to the standings being official.
2. A Loyal Baron who switches their alignment to Renegade in this way is unable to petition for Loyalty for a minimum of two weeks (14 days) after the standings (with their Renegade alignment) are considered official.

7. A Baron who loses their title in a challenge maintains the benefits of their current alignment until the challenge is considered complete (when the official standings are updated). An outgoing Baron cannot change their alignment.

8. When an Overlord is defeated, all Barons maintain their current alignment to the outgoing Overlord until the Official Standings are updated. Barons may not change their alignment to Renegade or petition for Loyalty to an outgoing Overlord.

Overlord Rank & Benefits

OLD Rules: Banishing Loyal Barons
The Overlord can, at any time, switch the alignment of a Loyal Baron with reason given in writing on the Public Notice Board provided they have 15 Wins or a 15 WoL record is maintained.

NEW Rules: Banishing Loyal Barons
The Overlord can, at any time, switch the alignment of a Loyal Baron with reason given in writing on the Public Notice Board provided they have 15 Wins or a 15 WoL record is maintained. Exception: An outgoing Overlord cannot banish a Loyal Baron.

Squire Title & Benefits

OLD Rules: Squire Appointment
1. The Overlord and Barons are permitted to appoint an active duelist of any rank beneath Warlord as their squire.

NEW Rules: Squire Appointment
1. The Overlord and Barons are permitted to appoint an active duelist of any rank beneath Warlord as their squire. A duelist is not considered a squire until they are officially listed as such on the Standings.

Universal Terms of Challenge
Challenger Eligibility

OLD Rules: General Requirements
1. A duelist must be active on the standings, by completing at least one (1) regulation duel within the last three months (90 days), in order to issue a challenge. This includes any special grants issued as tournament prizes, as well as any Overlord Grants.

2. When you lose a challenge (either as the Challenger or as the Titleholder) you must wait two weeks (14 days) before you can issue another challenge. This 14-day “Cool Down” begins when the standings are posted on Sunday at 6PM ET. Exception: Recipients of a Challenge Grant prize are exempt from this rule for the purposes of issuing a challenge with their Challenge Grant.

NEW Rules: General Requirements
1. A duelist must be active on the standings, by completing at least one (1) regulation duel within the last three months (90 days), in order to issue a challenge. This includes any special grants issued as tournament prizes, as well as any Overlord Grants.

2. A duelist can only participate in one challenge process at a time as a challenger or defender. A challenge process begins with validation and ends when the Official Standings are updated. Exception: Renegade barons may be under challenge by multiple challengers at a time. See Renegade Barons, item 2.

3. When you lose a challenge (either as the Challenger or as the Titleholder) you must wait two weeks (14 days) before you can issue another challenge. This 14-day “Cool Down” begins when the standings are posted on Sunday at 6pm ET. Exception: Recipients of a Challenge Grant prize are exempt from this rule for the purposes of issuing a challenge with their Challenge Grant.

What does this mean? We have clarified that a duelist can only be part of one challenge process at a time, and that the process begins with validating and ends when the Official Standings are updated. For current title-holders, alignment changes are effective immediately. Outgoing title-holders maintain the benefits of their outgoing rank and alignment, but cannot change alignments. A duelist receives the benefits of being a squire when they are listed as such on the Official Standings.

Why make this change? These adjustments were made to provide internal consistency to our rules and in response to public feedback and discussion here. Some of these adjustments also close up potential loop-holes and add clarity to the challenge process.

[Tippletoe]

Changes are highlighted in blue

Retirements, Vacancies, and Forfeitures

OLD Rules: General Terms
Any duelist who forfeits a title, either voluntarily via retirement or abdication, or involuntarily as a ruled forfeit, shall be ineligible to exercise warlord challenge rights for one month from the date of occurrence. Should a second title forfeiture occur within a calendar year the duelist shall also become ineligible to participate in any event that may award a title or challenge grant (eg: All Ranks Tournaments, Right to Challenge fights where the challenger is a baron, etc.).

NEW Rules: General Terms
Any duelist who forfeits a title, either voluntarily via retirement or abdication, or involuntarily as a ruled forfeit, shall be ineligible to exercise warlord challenge rights for one month from the date of occurrence.

Should a second title forfeiture occur within twelve months of the first occurrence the duelist shall also become ineligible to utilize challenge rights or participate in any event that may award a title or challenge grant (eg: All Ranks Tournaments, March Madness, Right to Challenge fights where the challenger is a baron, etc.) for a period of three months from the date of the second occurrence.

Any duelist who forfeits a title a third time, regardless of the time from the second forfeiture, may have further restrictions placed upon them at the discretion of the Duel of Swords staff.

What does this mean? After the first forfeiture of a title a character cannot use challenge rights for one month. If a second forfeiture occurs within a year (twelve months) then the penalty increases where the character cannot use challenge rights for three months and cannot enter events that may award a title or challenge grant.

Why make this change? Clarification that within a calendar year means twelve months. Added a time limit to the ineligibility after the second forfeiture for clarity and consistency. Added a saving clause for repeat forfeitures.