                       
                       * The Rules of Engagement *
           * A Warrior's Guidelines To Combat Arena Protocol *
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Normal Combat

     Normal combats are resolved immediately, that is, while on-line. The
results are determined by the skills, training, and equipment of the oppo-
nents. For the most part, these contests are not fatal, although the risk 
of death exists to a small degree. Usually it is the fighter who does not 
admit defeat who ends up losing his life--usually when a Warrior has refused
to surrender and his ability to endure more damage goes to zero. Other 
permanent damage can occur if a winning Warrior refuses to accept another's
surrender--a Warrior attempting to surrender, and then receiving a Coup de
Grace from the victor instead of mercy may suffer permanent damage (the 
odds of which are determined by the attributes of Constitution and Luck).
Warriors and androids who do not readily accept another Warrior's surrender
are recognized by their high Infamy ratings.

A player's Warrior is, for the most part, controlled by the player while
in the Arena. A player can move the Warrior in desired directions and attack
his opponent by moving the Warrior icon into the opponent's icon. A player 
can choose the desired mode of defense for an attack or let his Warrior 
respond according to the strategy chosen in the tactics script file which 
is created from an option in the game's Main Menu. A player also determines
when to Berserk (but the script file determines when to stop Berserking) 
and when to Surrender.

An on-line player's opponent is controlled by the strategy set in the
tactics script file. This script file determines the non-controlled Warrior's
combat strategies and the way he will react to certain opportunities. It is
important to set your own Warrior's strategy wisely so that he will not 
embarrass you while responding to the challenge of another player.

Blood Match Challenging

    A Warrior may issue a blood-match challenge--a battle to the death--to
any other resident Warrior. This is a serious action! The winner may opt 
to slay, maim, or spare the loser. Death is final: the loser will be deleted
from the roll of Warriors! Should the loser opt to reenter the game, he will
do so with a new and undeveloped character. A blood-match challenge is 
resolved in the following two ways.
 
    If the challenging Warrior is ranked lower than the challenged Warrior,
than the challenged Warrior cannot decline the challenge without suffer the 
penalty of suffering ignominious shame and being stripped of all weapons, 
protective equipment, money, and fame! If the challenge is accepted, then 
combat will take place as soon as the challenged Warrior logs on and enters
the Arena.

    If the challenging Warrior is ranked higher than the challenged Warrior,
then the challenged Warrior has the option of declining the challenge without
penalty. However, if accepted, then the match will take place the next time
that the challenged Warrior goes into the Arena. 

Travelling To Other Guilds

    The top three Warriors of each host BBS can journey to distant guilds in
an attempt to spread their fame and intimidate the Warriors of other Guilds.
The results of fights between local and visiting Warriors are displayed in
the MELEE echo if the host BBS (the distant Guild) carries that echo and the
Sysop has the game configured to post messages into that echo. In this way,
players can gauge their Warrior's abilities against other Warriors on other
systems.


