Challenging 101

[DUEL Deluthan]

[size=0]CHALLENGING 101 -- a quick-reference guide to challenging.

I. Making the Challenge

The challenger needs only email his or her challenge to the Baron/Overlord being challenged (the "defending Baron") and the standings keeper. This has been made easy with the "Issue Challenge" option under the Duel of Swords menu bar.

Peer wins. If you are using the Overlord Grant or a tournament prize, or are a renegade Baron challenging the Overlord, you do NOT need to provide peer wins. Otherwise, a Warlord must provide 10 peer wins when challenging a Baron, 15 for Overlord. You must include the name of the opponent, caller and date for each peer win, and may not list the same opponent twice. You must note a WLT next to each peer win earned in a Warlord tournament. (All these details are important in order for the standings keeper to more quickly locate the duels among the many shift reports.)

Note: The "Issue Challenge" option will send an email to the entire DoS staff and Barons Council. While not required, it is encouraged to copy your challenge email to parties outside of just the defending Baron and standings keeper as well as posting the challenge letter on the DoS board in order to increase roleplay involvement.
code NOTE: Section I is made obsolete by the fact that You need only post the challenge on the message boards, and that peer wins are no longer required. (See the Unlimited Challenges thread.)/code
II. Accepting and Conducting the Challenge

You must respond within exactly one week via email to the challenger and standings keeper offering a date and time. If you respond within the week but have not begun discussing scheduling the challenge by the end of the week, it will be considered an invalid response.

The challenge must be dueled within two weeks of the acceptance. (This is why it is important to begin discussing date and time options in your official acceptance email.) Any extensions will need to be approved by the standings keeper prior to the end of the two weeks. It is recommended that the standings keeper be copied on any emails discussing scheduling so that the date and time can be announced on the standings and so that the DoS staff is kept informed in case of any scheduling problems or no shows.

The defending Baron reserves the right to choose the format, place and caller for the challenge, although he or she may defer any of these choices to the challenger. It is the defending Baron's responsibility to secure a caller for the challenge. The challenger may refuse a specific caller so long as he or she has reasonable cause.

III. Using the Overlord Grant or a Tournament Prize

The Overlord Grant and free challenges earned in the Warlord Tournament must be used within one week of their being earned, otherwise they are considered forfeited. Other players are waiting for these prizes to be used before they carry out their own plans, so it's only fair that they not be kept waiting for too long.

Should you challenge using the Overlord Grant or tournament prize and lose, you will still be allowed to challenge again in the same cycle and use any peer wins you collected prior to the challenge.

IV. Notes for the Overlord on Giving the Grant

The Overlord officially gives the Grant by posting his or her choice on the DoS message board.

Use of the Overlord Grant is "refreshed" at the beginning of each cycle, however it may not be given until the intercession-free challenge earned in the Warlord Tournament (which takes place at the beginning of each cycle) is either dueled or forfeited.

Once a challenge is made using the Grant, the Grant may not be given again for the cycle.

If the recipient of the Grant forfeits the Grant, another Grant may be given within the same cycle, BUT it must be given by a new Overlord. (The reasoning for this rule is to provide some accountability so that the Overlord chooses the recipient wisely.) For example, Rena could not give another Grant this cycle, but Anubis can.

The Grant may not be given within the two weeks leading up to the Warlord Tournament (which also happens to be the Overlord's grace period).

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If you ever have any questions about challenging, or if you're about to challenge for the first time and want to make sure you're doing it right, the DoS staff is always willing to assist--just drop one of us an email or IM. As for rules regarding intercessions, that's covered in the advanced course.[/size]

[DUEL Deluthan]

[size=0]CHALLENGING 202 -- INTERCESSIONS

Definition-- An intercession is said to occur when a duelist (the "champion") steps in for the defending Baron or Overlord, in which case the challenger must first defeat the champion before going on to duel the defending Baron or Overlord. Under certain circumstances another duelist may step in for the challenger: If this duelist defeats the champion, the challenger may go on to face the defending Baron or Overlord; if not, the challenger must first face the champion.

Note: The best-of-three format cannot be used if an intercession occurs.

There are three different types of scenarios in which intercessions can take place.

I. A Warlord Challenging a Loyal Baron

The Overlord may intercede on behalf of the Baron without consent from the Baron. Only a Renegade Baron may step in for the Warlord, and may do so without the Warlord’s consent. The first Renegade Baron to express intent to intercede takes priority.

II. A Warlord Challenging the Overlord

The Overlord may choose as their champion in the "Test of Worthiness" any duelist regardless of rank, with the exception of Renegade Barons. Only a Renegade Baron may step in on behalf of the Warlord, and may do so without the Warlord’s consent. The first Renegade Baron to express intent to intercede takes priority.

III. A Renegade Baron Challenging the Overlord

The Overlord may choose as their champion in the "Test of Worthiness" any duelist without regard to rank, except for a Renegade Baron. A Renegade Baron may step in on behalf of the challenging Baron, and may do so without the challenging Baron’s consent. The first Renegade Baron to express intent to intercede takes priority. A Warlord may step in for the challenging Baron with the Baron’s consent, so long as no Renegade Baron has expressed intent to intercede.

A. If the Overlord’s champion is NOT a Loyal Baron and is successful in defeating the challenging Baron, the Overlord’s champion may immediately challenge the Baron for his (or her) Barony.

B. If the challenging Baron’s champion is a Warlord and is successful in defeating the Overlord’s champion in the "Test of Worthiness," and the Baron goes on to defeat the Overlord:

i. If there are any vacant Baronies, the Baron may award one to his champion.

ii. Only if there are no vacant Baronies:
- The Baron may award his own Barony to the champion, which he would otherwise relinquish to the defeated Overlord. The defeated Overlord would then fall to Warlord.
- If the Overlord’s champion was a Loyal Baron, the Baron may strip the Overlord champion’s Barony and award it to his champion.[/size]