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The game of Duel of Swords simulates armed combat, with characters typically using some sort of weapon, although not necessarily a sword. There are ten moves which all ranks may use, and only Disengage may be used twice in a row during a duel. As you move up in rank you will earn the right to use Fancy maneuvers.
The moves of Duel of Swords:
1. Thrust - A quick, stabbing attack.
2. Slash - A diagonal slice difficult for an opponent to guard against.
3. Stophit - Uses an opponent's momentum against them to deliver a stunning blow.
4. High Cut - A raised, horizontal swing.
5. Low Cut - A sweeping attack to the lower body.
6. Sidestep - A dodge to one side.
7. Duck - A drop into a crouch.
8. Circular Parry - A deflective maneuver that protects the lower half of the body.
9. Lateral Parry - Intercepts an attack to the upper area of the body.
10. Disengage - A backward movement meant to distance oneself from an opponent.
The first five moves are "offensive", in that they are meant to strike your opponent; when successful they score a full point. The last five moves we consider "defensive", because they are meant to avoid attacks and/or outposition your opponent. Defensive moves earn you only a half-point, unless modified.
Fancies - The Art of Defense
To reflect your character's increasing skill in the ring, he or she will be able to execute a certain number of Fancy maneuvers. Fancies are awarded according to rank as follows:
Rank | Number of Fancy Maneuvers |
| Commoner | 0 |
| Swordsman | 1 |
| Master-at-arms | 2 |
| Grandmaster | 3 |
| Warlord | 4 |
| Baron | 5* |
| Overlord | 6* |
(*During regular dueling only, Barons and the Overlord are restricted to 4 Fancies versus someone ranked Grandmaster or below.)
A Fancy allows you to score a full point when using a defensive move. Using one is easy: Just attach the word "Fancy" to the front of the move you send in private message to the official (example: "1. Fancy Sidestep"). If your move is successful in scoring a half-point, the Fancy will add a bonus half-point to your score, totalling a full point.
How a Fancy scores a full point in role-play can be fairly ambiguous. Some may play it as a defense-riposte, while others may choose to have their character bedazzle the official with an artful display of skill or finesse. In a Fancy Circular Parry versus a Low Cut, for example, one might say "::he parries aside the cut before reversing course of his own sword and slashing it across his opponent's ribs::" while another might say "::he kicks his own legs up and out from under him, and while upside-down mid-air, he deflects his opponent's cut into the sand::". As always, be creative!
Also, remember that the term Fancy, like the game itself, is out-of-character. While it's acceptable for a character to describe a duelist's parry as "fancy", for one to say something like, "That was a good use of a Fancy," can disrupt the role-play illusion.
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