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: Certainly the issue of online fighting is a contentious one (pun intended). : From a pure logical standpoint, there should be no online fighting. If you really sit back and think about it for a moment, v/t duel is absurd. The entire idea of two individuals "fighting" each other by typing in a few paragraphs seems idiotic. : Of course, so does the idea of sitting in a v/t tavern and drinking wine or paga; or watching a kajira cut and paste a "dance"; or (my favorite) whipping a slave at a v/t post. All of these things require "role-playing", that dreaded word that so many people do not like to use, on the assumption that if they utter it they will be called a Gamer. : Guess what? The minute you "enter" a tavern and type anything other than pure communication, ie: you type an "entrance", you are role-playing. Role-playing is as much a part of online Gor as anything. If you think "role-playing" is the mark of a Gamer, then don't bother coming to Gorean Shores. Go to a forum room, and simply talk to the other people there. : Where the line blurs between role-playing and gaming is not so easy to distinguish. I've written elsewhere that I believe the Gorean will engage in role-playing with an underlying respect for the Gorean philosophy and ethos, and will utilize a methodology for interacting within the Gorean context. The Gamer does not bother with such subleties. The Gamer merely uses online Gor as a vehicle for his or her own personal gratification. : What does this have to do with Online-fighting, you might ask? Everything. : Online combat only truly works when you have two true Goreans, and they both agree to the rules and consequences of a duel. If the expectations or intergity of the two combatants is different, then you are either making a mockery of online fighting, or putting the one true Gorean at a serious disadvantage. The true Gorean does not look at online fighting as merely a game, but rather an element of online Gor to be taken as seriously as other online elements, such as taking a slave, or naming one Brother. There should be profound effects to such action. The Gamer, however, has no such restrictions. : So, should there be online fighting at all? I say "Yes" and then qualify that. Yes if both the combatants are true Goreans, and both have the same expectations from the fight. If Warrior A goes into a duel thinking that if he is killed he'll simply come back to online Gor under a different name, but Warrior B intends his possible death to mark the end of his time in online Gor, then there is clearly a disparity which is both dishonorable and unfair. : Now, to address the points raised by Rollo. : 1) Rules of Fights. Each site has its own rules, and the combatants frankly can decide whether to utilize these rules or not. Personally, I believe a "race" type of fight, where the faster typist and computer server wins, is absurd. A system which allows a combatant to draft his actions, respond to others, and has a clear system of judging criteria is better. Is it perfect? Of course not. There are so many elements to combat which cannot be duplicated online. : 2. Location. The location of a fight is indeed a consideration. I would be foolish to assume that people do not sometimes let their personal feelings affect their judgment, even on a sub-conscious level. If two combatants wish to fight, they had better both be comfortable with not only the rules, but the locale of the duel. : 3. Weapons. Of course every Warrior is an expert with his chosen weapons. Have you ever seen one online who was not? LOL!!! While we are on the topic, isn't it peculiar how many Warriors we see in online Gor, and how few peasants and leather workers we see? The way that Gorean Shores deals with this issue is two-fold. First, the challenged party chooses the weapon for the duel. Second, the criteria of Realism will be used to judge the fight. That 8 foot long sword axe you use like a razor isn't going to buy you many points. : 4. Judging. No one seems to understand that usually the real loser in a duel is the Judges. No matter which way they vote, someone is going to think they were wrong, or favored somebody. I've judged fights, and I've tried to be impartial. Indeed, I have also judged friends more harshly than strangers, as I wish to avoid being seen as a biased Judge. : 5. Death. Read my earlier message about online Death. If you are not willing to set aside Gor if you are killed, then don't bother to "fight to the death". You'll only look like a Gamer when you show up a week later under a new name. And if you are willing to honor your v/t death, by the Priest-Kings, don't accept challenges from Gamers or Strangers. They won't honor your kill, why should you honor theirs?

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