New Rule Notice

[Conner Reid]

Hey everyone! We want to draw your attention to some important new changes to the rules regarding challenge timelines.

The new challenge acceptance/completion timeline for DoS will be as follows:

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.

Example:
Michelle Montoya challenges for the New Haven Barony, and it is validated on July 12th, 2021. The defender must accept the challenge by July 17th, 2021 at 11:59pm ET. The challenge must be fought by July 26th, 2021 at 11:59pm ET.

The reason for this change is two-fold. First, the current challenge timeline was designed for an earlier era where internet connectivity was less reliable and people needed time to sign-in and check for challenges. The timeline was intended to protect good-faith participants who found themselves disconnected through no fault of their own. These days, those situations are exceptionally rare.

Second, the new rule provides a more consistent timeline for challenges with less waiting time for challengers. By having the acceptance/completion timelines run concurrently, the new rule eliminates a full week from the challenge process. This will stop grace periods from being strategically extended through the maxing-out of the current timeline (which can tack on three full weeks to the challenge process). Additionally, the new rule eliminates the multi-timeline tracking element for DoS staff. If three baronies are challenged and validated on July 10, their deadline for duel completion will now all be on the same day -- July 24. The prior rule created variable duel-completion deadlines based on when the barons accepted challenge instead of validation.

The new rule provides 14 days from validation to challenge-completion. That means the challenger and titleholder still have two weekends to schedule their duel. The new rule brings DoS challenges in line with the scheduling provided for some of RoD’s marquee dueling events like Madness and IFL that have all run smoothly in recent years.

We recognize that there may be exceptional circumstances where a participant will need some extra time to complete a challenge (e.g. vacations, emergencies, etc.). In those situations we encourage the participant to contact DoS staff and we’d be happy to address it.

This change goes into effect at the beginning of the new cycle July 4th at 6 PM. For a one month period ending July 31st at 6 PM, title holders will be issued one warning if they miss the five day acceptance deadline. If title holders miss the old seven day deadline, or the five day deadline a second time, they will be stripped of their title.

Thereafter, the rules will be enforced as per the Universal Terms of Challenge.

We think this is a good change that will benefit all of the players of the sport. If you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to a member of our DoS Staff.