This coming Saturday April 14th, BatMUD will have a one-shot event known as
the Battle Royale.

-- What happen?
The Battle Royale will be like the arena events we've had in the past, which
seemed to go over fairly well (hence, this one). The contest will be similar,
in that it will be a single-elimination touranment of one-on-one
fights...mostly. However, while previous combats took place in the relative
safety of the arena, the fights this time will take place somewhere less
predictable. Perhaps you'll duel in the GMT's Iron Maiden, a 1x1 zone with
spiked walls slowly coming together, enforcing a certain, if messy, end to the
fight. Or maybe you'll fight in Tiamat's Breath, a 5-chambered zone of magic,
where energy effects are magnified.

-- What are the rules?
The rules as to who fights who are fairly straightforward. Anyone can
challenge anyeone who has the same number of wins (for example, if you have
won 2 fights, you can challenge anyone else with 2 victories, but not 0 or 5).
You may not refuse a challenge, and it is first-come first-serve (so if
someone challenges you before you can pick on anyone else, you have to deal
with that first). The challengee gets to pick the combat zone, so think
carefully before you pick on someone you think is a wuss.

Once the fight begins, there is basically only one rule left: the first person
to die, loses. You can bring your locblade, your shield of reflections, your
potion of true heal, your wand of golden arrow, your fungi slices, your weapon
poison, your tamed bear, your zap lances, and 20 exploding boxes and a shovel.
Heck, you can bring a purse stuffed with mithril and try to bribe your
opponent if you think that'll work (probably not, but you never know). While
items that deliberately dest or damage eq are Not Cool To Use, they are not
technically illegal in this competition. The usual cheating (multiplaying,
password hacking, etc) is of course still not permitted.

All matches will be overseen by a wizard, except the last one which will be
overseen by arches. Their job as referee is to determine if/when a combatant
is deliberately stalling (note: taking a regen break, or casting shelter to
reprot yourself, is not "stalling", there is a difference). For this day,
wizards will be permitted to snoop mortals in the contest fight rooms to make
sure they see the truth, and to zap players in the contest who have been
warned against stalling and continue to do so anyhow. Come prepared to fight,
not idle.

The last match will be a 4-way fight to the finish, with all four remaining
players beating the living tar out of each other for first place in a randomly
chosen battle zone.

--Will there be prizes?
Of course there will be prizes. I haven't 100% decided what they'll be yet.
Some ideas I've had included potions of instant full heal, scrolls of lossless
pray, and (for the top placers) skillbooks of knowledge you can "aim" at the
skill of your choice when you read. More information about the prizes will
come in one week.

-- Can I watch?
I don't want people in the stands giving out info to the contestants during a
batle, so a complete play-by-play will most likely not be the case. Some other
information might be shown, such as %hps of the two competetors, or who has
just cast what spell.

-- Can I bet on the fights?
Yes! There will be a gambling booth set up where you can bet on any of the
competetors. I plan to have quick bets on the outcome of particular
challenges, and long-term bets where you pick the winner overall. THere will
even be a pirze awarded for the person who wins the most money gambling!

-- How can I enter?
Send an email, NOT a mudmail or tell, to shinarae_lluminus@hotmail.com to
throw your name in the ring. As this is a single-elimination tournament, I
will only take a number of competetors that is a power of 2 (8,, 16, 32, etc)
and will choose based soley on total exp value, not including rebirth exp.
Fights are simply more exciting between powerful players.

More info and details in one week.

Shinarae Lluminus