Leuni wrote:See, this is where I have a problem. We've got these different duels set up and some really don't adhere to them. Yes it's been done but should it have been? I don't think so. The DoF move, in a duel being scored by DoS rules, should've forfeited the duel.
If a player is stating the character is using their fists in a sword duel.. how does this compute from an OOC stand? The moves are set up with melee weapons in mind to score one against another move... How is score kept when the moves cross dueling types? Where is this at?
We have different duel games, yes, but the moves for each don't cross over. In other words, the person fighing with their fists and feet in DoS still use DoS moves and how they choose to roleplay their fight is up to them. For instance, a Lowcut could be RP'ed as a sweep, a thrust could be RP'ed as a punch, etc. Dueling with no weapon (or gauntlets, or sap gloves, or <insert weapon here>) is perfectly fine from an RP standpoint. Sure, the person wearing gauntlets would be, in theory, at a severe range disadvantage when dueling a person wielding a staff, broadsword, or a whip. But perhaps they use speed and dexterity to get around the slower-swinging weapons, etc.
Leuni wrote:Regardless of OOC scoring... just the RP of a duel should honor the seperation of the duels.
IC, there's a rule in DoF (though I don't believe it's part of the OOC ruleset) that duelers cannot wield weapons like swords, pistols, etc. within the rings (things like brass knuckles, etc. have been used by some characters). I don't believe there is a 'must have a weapon to enter the ring' rule in DoS.
Also, while I do understand the above argument, what happens if a dueler's disarmed in the midst of a DoS match? Let's say they throw their weapon at their opponent, or lose their grip and are left only with their arms and legs as weapons? Should the character automatically forefit the match because they no longer have a weapon and will likely be RP'ed as either trying to get their weapon back or as continuing the duel without it?
Leuni wrote:I can see other melee weapons in a sword duel, even something else's ripped off arm or leg if used like a melee weapon. But their own fists or feet? No... Magic spells? no. Ranged weapons? no. Mixing them unbalances the duel.
If the duels are not kept seperate by the fighting style, what's the point in having the different duels?
While ranged weapons don't make too much OOC sense (at least to me) in DoS, since we're all engaged in cooperative FFRP, the roleplay can accomodate their existence. Maybe the guy with the pistol is an awful shot; maybe the character with a broadsword swings so slowly because of the weapon's weight, the character with no weapon or a very small weapon can strike faster. The duel itself isn't unbalanced from a game perspective since both players are still playing within the specific DoX matrix. It's up to the players, in a spirit of cooperative roleplay, to play together in the circumstances. For instance, if a weapon-wielding character refuses to duel another character because they won't bring a weapon into a DoS ring, that's an entirely plausible IC thing. But game-mechanics wise, regardless of the roleplayed weapon-choice (or lack thereof), each player's just as likely to win the duel as the other.
As far as the point of having the different duels, it's a gameplay thing. Each game brings its own set of moves, strategy, and roleplay options (especially where challengable ranks and title are concerned) that are entirely unique to each game and ruleset. Some people prefer one game over another; some flourish in one matrix and not another. The roleplay possibilities are endless within each of the games, but we as players often have our favorites, or the games we prefer because of comfort level, style, stragtegy options, or a host of other reasons.
The roleplayed choice of weapons, fighting style, etc. is up to the individual player. As another player, it's up to me to choose how my character would react and respond. We're all here to play together, engage in cooperative roleplay, and enjoy the games. Gameplay wise, we're all on the same playing field, playing within the same rules and matrices, regardless of what weapons our characters do or don't bring into the dueling rings.
--Matt
