Re: ARENA: Where are the rules?

From: ddo@wsun2.larc.nasa.gov (Dale Ohmann)

Date: Thu, 09 Sep 1993 12:03:28 +0000

Steve Gunnell (steveg@eldred.DIALix.oz.au) wrote:

> Has anyone seen the updated rules posted anywhere? I'm at the opposite end
> of the world and they don't seem to have reached here.

Here they are again:

1  Introduction

ARENA is a game of gladiatorial combat.  Two characters face each
other in an arena and fight for ten one-minute rounds.  Each
round has ten combat segments.  Combat ends after ten rounds or
until one characters is unconscious, dead, or surrenders.  If
both characters are standing at the end of ten rounds, a panel of
three judges will vote to select a winner.

2  Characters

Characters have N attributes.  These attributes define the char-
acter's physical and intellectual abilities.  Each attribute has
a scale of 0-9.  The attributes are:

Physical       Notes
  STRENGTH       The heavier a weapon, the more strength is re-
                 quired to wield the weapon.
  SPEED          A fast character will get more attacks than a slow
                 character.
  STAMINA        Characters with low stamina will exhaust them-
                 selves more quickly and recover more slowly.
  CONSTITUTION   Characters with high constitution are able to sus-
                 tain more damage before succumbing.
  AGILITY        An agile character will have more opportunities to
                 attack.

New characters start out with 12 attribute points to distribute
amongst the N attributes.  Every tenth win in the Arena, the
character will receive another attribute point, up to a maximum
of 30 attribute points.

3  Tactics

Character behavior is controlled by three variables:

Variable        Notes
  Combat Style    General fighting style.
  Attack Vigor    How vigorously to attack (0-9).
  Defense Vigor   How vigorously to defend (0-9).

Combat Style controls the character's general fighting style.

Attack Vigor controls how vigorously the character tries to at-
tack.  At a level of 0, the character will almost never launch an
attack.  At a level of 9, the character will expend a large
amount of effort to create attack opportunities.  Every attack
made (whether successful or not) costs the attacker some stamina.

Defensive Vigor controls how vigorously the character works to
defend himself.  At a level of 0, the character does not defend
himself at all.  If his opponent attacks, only lucky chance will
prevent the character from being struck.  At a level of 9, the
character devotes maximum energy to stopping his opponent's blows
from landing.  The higher the level of defense, the more quickly
a character will become exhausted.

Generally, a character should be able to sustain a level of ef-
fort (Attack Vigor + Defensive Vigor) somewhat higher than his
Stamina.  For example, a character with STAMINA=3 should be able
to maintain an average level of effort of 3-5 over the course of
a combat.  Of course, many factors can affect how quickly a char-
acter becomes exhausted.

The combat styles currently available are:

COMBAT STYLES
Name         Notes
Barbarian    The character rushes in to the attack, favoring
             offense over defense.  He increases his chances of
             landing a blow, but at the same time he may open
             himself up for a counterattack.
Elephant     The character follows a slow and steady fighting
             style, hoping to use his strength to gain an ad-
             vantage.
Neutral      The standard duel style.  The character balance
             offense and defense and does not attempt any dan-
             gerous or tricky maneuvers.
Parry        The character uses his weapon as a shield, trying
             to parry away his opponent's blows.
Possum       The character feigns exhaustion, hoping to lure
             his opponent into a hasty and unwise attack.  This
             is a dangerous tactic because an opponent who is
             not fooled by the pretense will gain an advantage.
Rabbit       The character tries to dance away from his oppo-
             nent's blows.  This also reduces his chance to
             land an attack.
Snake        The character bides his time, passing up attack
             opportunities hoping to find a chance to strike a
             more than normally effective blow.
Turtle       The Turtle is a defensive style.  The character
             huddles away from the attack, taking no risks and
             hoping to avoid injury.
Wasp         The character tries to dash in and land a quick
             blow, like the sudden unexpected sting of a wasp.
             If he is unsuccesful, he may open himself up for a
             counterstrike.

4  Strategy

The strategy of a character controls what style and levels of
vigor a character uses during each round of combat.  Strategy is
declared using the following format:

For example, the strategy to fight all ten rounds using the neu-
tral style at an effort level of 5 for both attack and defense
would be declared:

1: neutral 5 5
        2: neutral 5 5
        3: neutral 5 5
        4: neutral 5 5
        5: neutral 5 5
        6: neutral 5 5
        7: neutral 5 5
        8: neutral 5 5
        9: neutral 5 5
        10: neutral 5 5

Since it is bothersome to declare all ten rounds individually, a
shorthand is provide for declaring a range of rounds:

1-10: neutral 5 5

This shorthand can be mixed with individual round declarations,
i.e.:

1: neutral 5 2
        2-8: neutral 2 5
        9: snake 5 5
        10: barbarian 9 0

The character may also declare strategies for use during special
battle situations.  These situations are:

BATTLE SITUATIONS
  Situation     Notes
  WINDED        Running out of energy.
  WOUNDED       Halfway dead.
  CRITICAL      Three-quarters or more dead.
  O-EXHAUSTED   Opponent apparently exhausted.
  O-WOUNDED     Opponent apparently wounded.
  O-CRITICAL    Opponent apparently critical.

This table also shows special strategy precedence.  The lower in
the table, the higher the precedence of the special strategy.  So
if a fighter is winded and his opponent is critical, the fighter
will use his O-CRITICAL strategy if he has one, otherwise his

WINDED strategy if he has one, otherwise his normal strategy for
the current round.

To declare a strategy for a special situation, use the strategy
desired in place of the round, i.e.:

1-10: neutral 5 5
        O-EXHAUSTED: barbarian 8 2

To turn off a special strategy, use the keyword ``none'', i.e.,

O-EXHAUSTED: none

removes any O-EXHAUSTED strategy.

5  Commands

ARENA uses a fairly simple orders format.  Each order sheet
starts with a NAME command, followed by any number of other com-
mands.  The available commands are:

COMMAND SUMMARY
  Command                    Notes
  NAME name                  Identifies the character.
  DESCRIPTION description    A string describing a character.
  ATTRIBUTE name value       Sets the value of an attribute for a character.
  CHALLENGE name             Issue a challenge to the named character.
  CLEAR                      Clear all existing challenges.
  BUY item                   Purchase the named item.
  SELL item                  Sell the named item.
  WEAR item                  Wear the named item.
  WIELD item                 Wield the named weapon.
  STRATEGY                   Define the strategy for this character.
      [ strategy lines ] *
  END
  INSULT                     Add an insult.
  RETIRE                     Retire this character from the Arena.

Case and white space are ignored in commands

5.1  NAME

The NAME command is used to identify the character for whom you
are submitting orders.  The NAME command must be the first com-
mand in the order sheet, and only one NAME command can appear in
each order sheet.  (This means you must submit orders for differ-
ent characters separately.)

If the name given is new, a new character will be created.  How-
ever, there is a limit to the number of characters you can run.
If you are at the limit, trying to create a new character will
fail.

Non-printing characters in names will be ignored.

Examples

NAME Dirk

Create a new character named "Dirk".

5.2  DESCRIPTION

The DESCRIPTION command is used to provide a one-line description
of a character.  This description will be used in output from
fights, etc.  The description should be one sentence ending in a
period.

Examples

NAME Dirk
        DESCRIPTION A one-eyed man with a limp.

5.3  ATTRIBUTE

The ATTRIBUTE command is used to set the value for a character
attribute.  Once a character attribute is set, it can only be in-
creased, never decreased.  New characters have 12 points to dis-
tribute amongst the various attributes.

Attribute points not used remain in the character's possession
and can be used at a later time.

Examples

NAME Dirk
        ATTRIBUTE STRENGTH 6
        ATTRIBUTE STAMINA 3

ATTRIBUTE CONSTITUTION 3

This creates a new character named Dirk and gives him the follow-
ing attributes:

Name: Dirk
        STRENGTH: 6        SPEED: 0
        STAMINA: 3         CONSTITUTION: 3
        AGILITY: 0

Supposing that Dirk won 10 fights in the Arena and earned another
attribute point, the following commands:

NAME Dirk
        ATTRIBUTE STRENGTH 7

would raise Dirk's strength to 7:

Name: Dirk
        STRENGTH: 7        SPEED: 0
        STAMINA: 3         CONSTITUTION: 3
        AGILITY: 0

5.4  CHALLENGE

The CHALLENGE command is used to issue a challenge to another
character.  If the character accepts the challenge (by issuing a
challenge to your character) the two characters will immediately
proceed to the Arena and fight each other.

You may issue up to ten CHALLENGES per character.  Any additional
challenges will replace previous challenges on a first-in, first-
out basis.  (See also CLEAR.)

Note that your characters may not challenge one another.

You may challenge a character who does not yet exist.  This is
convenient for setting up an immediate fight between new charac-
ters.

As a special case, you may issue an open challenge.  When you is-
sue an open challenge, the Arena organizers will attempt to match
your character against another open challenge of roughly similar
skills.  To issue an open challenge, use ``CHALLENGE *''.

Examples

NAME Dirk
        CHALLENGE Dr. Pain

This causes Dirk to challenge Dr. Pain.  If Dr. Pain replies with
a challenge to Dirk:

NAME Dr. Pain
        CHALLENGE Dirk

the two will meet in the Arena.

NAME Dr. Pain
        CHALLENGE *

This causes Dr. Pain to issue an open challenge.  Upon seeing
this, the Arena organizers will look for another character with
an open challenge with roughly the same record as Dr. Pain.  If
they can find someone, the two will fight.  If not, the open
challenge will stay on the record until someone suitable is
found.

5.5  CLEAR

The CLEAR command clears all of a character's existing chal-
lenges.

Examples

CHALLENGE Dirk
        CHALLENGE Dr. Pain
        CLEAR
        CHALLENGE Bert

The CLEAR command wipes out the earlier challenges to Dirk and
Dr.  Pain.  The following challenge to Bert is not affected.

5.6  BUY

The BUY command is used to purchase an item from the Arena store.
Each character starts with 75 gold and can earn additional money
in the Arena.  The Arena pays 10 gold to each combat winner and
the crowd, if impressed by a fight, may throw money.

Currently the only items available for purchase are weapons and
armor.  See Appendices A and B for listings of armor and weapons.

Examples

BUY misercorde

A misercorde is a type of sword.

5.7  SELL

The SELL command is used to sell an item back to the Arena store.
Naturally, the Arena store makes a profit on these transactions;
typically this is 20%, but may be slightly higher or lower.

Examples

NAME Dirk
        SELL misercorde

Dirk sells his misercorde back to the Arena store for about 80%
of what he paid for it.

5.8  WEAR

The WEAR command is used to wear an item.  If the item is armor,
the character will put on the armor after first removing any ar-
mor he is currently wearing.  If the item is a weapon, the char-
acter will hang the weapon on his belt, where it will be avail-
able should his first weapon break.

A character may wear only one weapon at a time.  Trying to wear a
second weapon replaces the first weapon with the second weapon.

A character may wear only one armor at a time, unless the second
armor is a shield.

Note that anything worn (or wielded) burdens the character, and
may affect how fast he reacts and how quickly he tires.

``WEAR nothing'' can be used to remove all worn items.

Examples

NAME Dirk
        WEAR augment mail
        WEAR small shield
        WEAR dagger
        WEAR bullwhip

Dirk puts on a suit of augment mail (normal mail with strips of
leather put through the links) puts a small shield on his shield
arm, and puts a dagger in his belt.  Then he changes his mind and
replaces the dagger with a bullwhip.

NAME Dirk
        WEAR nothing

Dirk removes his armor, shield and backup weapon.  Use ``WIELD

nothing'' to remove the wielded weapon.

5.9  WIELD

The WIELD command selects a weapon.  The weapon selected will be
used as the primary weapon in the character's next Arena battle.
Note that a character may drop or break his primary weapon.  If
he has a secondary weapon available, he will draw that weapon and
WIELD it.

``WIELD nothing'' can be used to remove the primary weapon.

Examples

NAME Dirk
        WIELD Bec-de-corbin

Dirk wields his Bec-de-corbin, a type of polearm.

NAME Dirk
        WIELD nothing

Dirk unwields his Bec-de-corbin.

5.10  STRATEGY

The STRATEGY command is used to describe a character's fight
strategy.  See the Strategy section above for more details.

Examples

NAME Dirk
        STRATEGY
         1-10: neutral 5 5
         O-EXHAUSTED: barbarian 8 2
        END

Dirk prepares to play it safe unless his opponent becomes ex-
hausted.

5.11  INSULT

Each character maintains a list of ten favorite insults to use
during combat.  The INSULT command adds an insult to this list.
If the list already contains ten insults, the oldest is dropped.

Examples

NAME Dirk
        INSULT Your mother was a hamster!
        INSULT If I had a face like that I'd wear a full helm.

Dirk will use these two insults at appropriate times in his next
battle.

5.12  RETIRE

This command retires a character, dropping him from the Arena and
making his slot available for the creation of a new character.

Examples

NAME Dirk
        RETIRE

Dirk, his career as an example over, retires.

6  Submitting a Turn

ARENA is completely automated.  It is handled by a mail server at

arena@sun-dimas.aero.org

All mail to this address will be treated as ARENA order sheets.
To begin playing ARENA, send in an order sheet with a NAME com-
mand to create a new character.  You will automatically be sent a
turn report.  Errors in your orders will be noted.

For problems with ARENA, send mail to:

srt@sun-dimas.aero.org

7  Miscellaneous Notes

o ARENA has facilities for banning players.  If you are discov-
ered cheating or abusing ARENA, you will be banned from play.
Excessive play could be considered abusive; please do not send
more than one order sheet per day to the ARENA.

o ARENA enforces certain rules of conduct amongst the gladiators.
In particular, gladiators will not be permitted to take part in
obviously one-sided battles.

o ARENA news, rumors, and standings will be posted sporadically
to rec.games.pbm.

APPENDIX  A
                             Weapons

The following weapons are available for purchase from the Arena
store:

NAME        Type   Length   Mass    Dex   Parry   Attack   Damage   Price
Broad Axe        H       0.60     2.20   1     2       C        3        58
Battle Axe       H       0.80     2.10   1     2       C        3        60
Bearded Axe      H       1.40     2.30   1     2       C        3        57
Pole Axe         P       2.10     2.40   1     2       C        3        56
Beaked Axe       P       2.30     2.90   1     2       T        3        51
Main Gauche      K       0.50     0.50   1     2       T        1        24
Club             H       0.60     1.30   0     2       I        2        41
Bec-de-Corbin    H       0.60     1.50   0     2       C        2        38
Mace             H       0.70     2.00   0     2       I        3        61
Cat-o-9-tails    H       0.80     0.50   0     1       I        1        24
Cudgel           H       0.80     1.00   0     3       I        2        48
Morningstar      H       0.80     2.30   1     2       I        3        57
Pick             H       1.10     2.60   2     2       C        3        54
Flail            H       1.60     2.50   1     2       I        3        55
War Hammer       H       0.70     2.10   1     2       I        3        60
Lucerne Hammer   P       2.90     2.40   1     3       T        3        56
2 Headed Axe     H       0.80     2.80   1     2       C        3        52
Dirk             K       0.20     0.40   0     1       T        1        27
Poignard         K       0.30     0.30   0     1       T        1        33
Stilleto         K       0.30     0.30   0     1       T        1        33
Cleaver          K       0.30     1.30   1     1       C        2        41
Misercorde       K       0.40     0.30   0     1       T        1        33
Machete          K       0.60     0.90   1     1       C        2        51
Aclys            M       0.30     0.30   0     1       I        1        33
Trident          M       1.80     2.10   1     2       T        3        60
Bullwhip         M       2.50     1.40   2     2       I        2        40
Staff            M       2.80     1.40   1     2       I        2        40
Voulge           P       2.10     2.40   1     3       C        3        56
Fauchard         P       2.10     2.90   1     3       T        3        51
Halberd          P       2.20     2.80   1     3       T        3        52
Spetum           P       2.30     2.30   1     3       T        3        57
Glaive           P       2.30     2.90   1     3       T        3        51
Scythe           P       2.40     2.40   1     2       C        3        56
Guisarme         P       2.50     2.60   1     3       T        3        54
Awl-Pike         P       3.20     2.70   1     2       T        3        53
Pike             P       5.50     3.50   3     2       T        2        28
BoarSpear        Sp      1.50     2.00   0     2       T        2        34

Pilum            Sp      1.90     2.10   1     3       T        2        33
Javelin          Sp      2.10     1.70   0     2       T        2        36
Harpoon          Sp      2.10     1.90   0     2       T        2        34
Lance            Sp      4.00     3.70   2     2       T        3        47
Baselard         Sw      0.50     0.90   0     2       T        2        51
Badelaire        Sw      0.50     1.40   1     2       C        2        40
Backsword        Sw      0.60     1.30   0     2       C        2        41
Cutlass          Sw      0.60     1.40   1     2       C        2        40
Epee             Sw      0.80     0.90   0     2       T        2        51
Foil             Sw      0.80     1.00   0     2       T        2        48
Broadsword       Sw      0.80     2.00   1     3       C        3        61
Longsword        Sw      0.80     2.80   0     3       C        3        52
Scimitar         Sw      0.90     2.00   1     3       C        3        61
Rapier           Sw      1.00     1.00   1     2       T        2        48
Small Sword      Sw      0.70     0.90   0     2       T        2        51
Bastard Sword    Sw      1.00     2.10   1     3       C        3        60
2-Handed Sword   Sw      2.00     4.30   2     3       C        4        66

KEY
Type         Hafted (H), Knives (K), Miscellaneous (M),
             Polearms (P), spears (Sp), and Swords (Sw)
Length       In meters.
Mass         In kilograms.
Dex          Relative indication of quickness of weapon.
Parry        How useful for parrying.
Attack       I = impact, C = chop, T = thrust
Damage       Relative amount of damage.

APPENDIX  B
                              Armor

The following armors are available from the Arena store:

Name            Chop   Thrust   Impact   Dex   Mass (kg)   Price
Small Shield             -      -        -        -     2.00        15
Large Shield             -      -        -        -     4.00        25
Thin cloth               0      0        0        0      1.30       2
Medium cloth             0      0        0        0      2.50       6
Heavy cloth              1      1        1        1      3.70       21
Soft leather             1      1        1        1      3.70       16
Hard leather             2      3        1        1      5.00       32
Cuir-bouilli             3      5        1        1      5.00       59
Quilt                    1      2        2        1      5.00       28
Padded                   1      2        3        1      5.00       37
Woven cord               2      3        2        2      5.00       42
Cloth ring               3      3        1        1      7.50       42
Soft Leather ring        3      3        1        1      7.50       37
Hard Leather ring        4      5        1        2     10.00       51
Quilt ring               3      4        2        2     10.00       47
Studded cloth            1      1        1        1      6.00       18
Stud Soft Leather        1      1        1        1      6.00       18
Stud Hard Leather        2      3        1        2      7.50       33
Soft Leather Bezainted   5      3        1        2      7.50       56
Hard Leather Bezainted   6      5        1        2     10.00       70
Cuir-bouilli Bezainted   7      7        1        2     10.00       90
Quilt Bezainted          5      4        2        2     10.00       60
Hard Leather Jazeraint   6      4        1        2     10.00       65
Cuir-bouilli Jazeraint   7      7        1        2     10.00       90
Wood Jazeraint           5      4        1        2     10.00       56
Bone Jazeraint           7      6        1        2     15.00       75
Metal Jazeraint          8      8        1        2     20.00       86
Mail                     6      2        1        1     20.00       48
Double Mail              7      4        1        2     22.00       65
Augment Mail             7      5        1        2     22.00       68
Bar Mail                 6      3        1        2     20.00       55
Combined Mail            7      5        1        2     22.00       65
Wood brigandine          6      5        2        3     13.00       64
Bone brigandine          8      7        2        3     15.00       88
Metal brigandine         9      8        2        3     22.00       92
Laminated                9      9        1        2     20.00       94
Cuir-bouilli lamellar    7      7        1        3     10.00       90
Wood lamellar            6      5        1        3     10.00       65
Bone lamellar            7      7        1        3     13.00       82

Metal lamellar           9      8        1        3     18.00       92
Plate                    11     11       1        2     25.00       113
Ribbed Plate             12     12       1        2     25.00       126

KEY
Cut      Relative indication of protection from cut attacks.
Chop     Relative indication of protection from chop attacks.
Thrust   Relative indication of protection from thrust attacks.
Impact   Relative indication of protection from impact attacks.
Dex      How much a suit of armour inhibits movement.
Mass     Mass for a typical full suit.

Notes

o Thin cloth is equivalent to linen, medium cloth is equivalent
to denim, and heavy cloth is equivalent to two or three thick-
nesses of medium cloth.

o Soft leather is equivalent to a modern day leather jacket.
Hard leather is approximately equal to five millimeters of
leather.

o Cuir-bouilli is leather which has been boiled in oil.  In this
condition it can be moulded into the desired shape and upon dry-
ing becomes very hard.

o Quilt armour consists of two layers of cloth between which cot-
ton or some other such material is sandwiched.  Padded armour
usually consists of a heavy layer of felt from four to eight cen-
timeters thick.

o Woven cord armour bears a resemblance to modern macrame.

o Ring mail is simply metal rings sewn onto suitable backing.

o Studded armour, sometimes called pourpoint, consists of metal
studs fastened to a suitable backing.

o Bezainted armour, named because of its resemblance to a type of
medieval coin, consists of metal discs secured with studs to a
suitable backing.

o Jazeraint armour, also known as scale armour, consists of
scales of various sizes sewn or riveted onto a suitable backing.

o Mail consists of small interlocking rings of metal each of
which are individually made and riveted together.

o Double mail is a variation of normal mail only the rings are
thicker and closer together.

o Augmentened mail consists of normal mail with strips of leather

put through the links.

o Bar mail is similar to augmented mail only that small bars are
put through the links.

o Combined mail consists of small plates of metal interspaced
with sections of normal mail.

o Brigandine armour consists of scales riveted inside a leather
garmet and then backed by another layer of leather.

o Laminated armour consists of metal strips which are overlapped
and articulate on each other.

o Lamellar armour, also known as splint armour, consists of a se-
rious of splints or scales laced together.  The size of the
splints depend upon the portion of the body it is to cover.

o Plate armour consists of large pieces of metal which are either
worn over other armour or are attached to on another by a series
of straps, lacing, buckles or screws.  Ribbed plate is a variant
of plate but with many artistic ribs which serve to deflect
blows.

References

ARENA: Where are the rules?
steveg@eldred.DIALix.oz.au (Steve Gunnell)
Thu, 09 Sep 1993 10:00:23 +0000