Duel Clarification and FAQ

**Pontifex Maximus** · April 13, 2012, 02:05 PM

**All rules for duels found in the official game rules still apply**

Is the "Blatero" (babbling) spell effective in duels?

No! It is absolutely worthless! Non-verbal spells are just as effective as verbal spells.

What is the order for spell casting?

The attacker will be able to cast an offensive spell.

The Defender will be given the opportunity to cast a defensive spell and then counterattack with a different spell.

The initial Attacker, then, will be given an opportunity to defend and attack in turn.

Nota Bene: Offensive spells may cancel out other offensive spells if of similar power.

Must I wait for a moderator before spamming nine hundred spells in the same duel?

Yes. Every turn of spells you make, you must wait for a moderator to determine the outcome. This might take a few hours so be patient. Any other spell casting you do directed towards the same person before a moderator has had a look will be ignored.

**Pontifex Maximus** · April 13, 2012, 02:06 PM

Any questions?

**Bladvak** · April 14, 2012, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by Severus Snape

Any questions?

Errr, I have one. Who do we, who can we, the professors, fight with? I mean, *actual* adversaries, not students' inabilities.

**Pontifex Maximus** · April 14, 2012, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by Bladvak

Errr, I have one. Who do we, who can we, the professors, fight with? I mean, *actual* adversaries, not students' inabilities.

There may be a Hogwarts event where the professors will have to fight, but there is nothing stopping professors from lending a hand in open event battles, like the fight we had last year that was designated an open RP. For example, Sonke would have been able to follow the students that wandered off in the forest and battled some spiders.

**Clagius** · April 13, 2012, 02:13 PM

I succesfully hitted MD with my spell, he hasn't responsed with a defensive spell yet. Can I cast another spell towards him already, or do I have to wait for him first?

**Pontifex Maximus** · April 13, 2012, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Clagius

I succesfully hitted MD with my spell, he hasn't responsed with a defensive spell yet. Can I cast another spell towards him already, or do I have to wait for him first?

You haven't successfully hit him if he hasn't had a chance to defend himself, unless his defense failed. If you've hit him for sure and he hasn't been disarmed or incapacitated, you can begin more offensive spells

**Master Necromancer** · April 13, 2012, 02:31 PM

I have a question, I for one seem to be from a very different time zone than the moderators, when the mods get online it's usually pass 10 PM like it is now, and since mods have other business than to watch over the spells they usually make about 2 rolls before I go to bead or disconnect, so that's 2 spells. And duels always take more than 2 spells and there are days that I can't manage to be online. So is there some solution for me except "don't do duels"?

**Pontifex Maximus** · April 13, 2012, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Master Necromancer

I have a question, I for one seem to be from a very different time zone than the moderators, when the mods get online it's usually pass 10 PM like it is now, and since mods have other business than to watch over the spells they usually make about 2 rolls before I go to bead or disconnect, so that's 2 spells. And duels always take more than 2 spells and there are days that I can't manage to be online. So is there some solution for me except "don't do duels"?

In all honesty it might take days to complete a duel. Its not really a problem as long as people are patient. My main issue is that I'm running two RPGs and participating in three. I don't want to say that this sort of daily operation like modding duels is above me, but I usually am very busy otherwise (especially this time of the year)

**Master Necromancer** · April 13, 2012, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Severus Snape

In all honesty it might take days to complete a duel. Its not really a problem as long as people are patient. My main issue is that I'm running two RPGs and participating in three. I don't want to say that this sort of daily operation like modding duels is above me, but I usually am very busy otherwise (especially this time of the year)

Than how about making the year last two weeks so that duels don't go into the next year?

**Pontifex Maximus** · April 13, 2012, 02:58 PM

The year does last two weeks

See how much fun you're having? Even lost track of time!

**Master Necromancer** · April 13, 2012, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Severus Snape

The year does last two weeks

See how much fun you're having? Even lost track of time!

LOL! Somehow it looked like the last one lasted a week.

**Narf** · April 13, 2012, 03:30 PM

Severus I think you should scrap anything else and focus on this ! xD

**Pontifex Maximus** · April 13, 2012, 05:32 PM

Were it not for my obsession with Roman history, that would be possible.

**m_1512** · April 15, 2012, 12:21 AM

What is the standard amount of spells that can be fired in one post?

**Clagius** · April 15, 2012, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by m_1512

What is the standard amount of spells that can be fired in one post?

One usually.

**molonthegreat** · April 15, 2012, 12:23 AM

It would be nice to have some standardization of what willpower really contributes to duels since right now it's kinda fussy.

**Kip** · April 15, 2012, 12:39 AM

Originally Posted by m_1512

What is the standard amount of spells that can be fired in one post?

Originally Posted by Clagius

One usually.

In the practice duel in the Ministry I've been asking one spell per post, but I started that before Sev outlined the rules here. I'm continuing with one spell per post in that thread rather than change it up mid-duel, but it looks like in the future we'll be allowed one spell to counter an attack, and then one spell to attack back.

Originally Posted by molonthegreat

It would be nice to have some standardization of what willpower really contributes to duels since right now it's kinda fussy.

So far I've used it as a moderator's discretionary tool to help decide the outcomes of ties and the like.

**Pontifex Maximus** · April 15, 2012, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by m_1512

What is the standard amount of spells that can be fired in one post?

Generally two, unless you get creative and formulate a single attack with a combination of spells. Voldemort's duel with Dumbledore in the ministry comes to mind.

Originally Posted by molonthegreat

It would be nice to have some standardization of what willpower really contributes to duels since right now it's kinda fussy.

Willpower generally refers to the potency of the magic you perform. It would be the tiebreaker in a stalemate, it would allow you to perform magic to save yourself you normally would be unable to perform if you are absolutely in a position where it is very likely you could die, it is a catchall really. Let's assume someone became a legilimens, and were able to read minds. It would follow that willpower would contribute to the effectiveness of the legilimency. Willpower is kind of an odd man atm because it is still early on in the game. Nobody has really broken free from the pack in terms of magical prowess, but some are beginning to.

**Pontifex Maximus** · April 15, 2012, 01:26 AM

I want to ask a follow up question to all the players:

Are duels/events/anything requiring a moderator happening fast enough for your satisfaction?

**Clagius** · April 15, 2012, 01:28 AM

Yes, by moderators. But some players take a long time to answer, and of course it's reasonable since all of us have real lives. (Though, Lucius once forgot to reply to my event before I reminded him.)