[Discuss] Laws and Duels

[Anthony Anderson]

>
> I would find it wrongul to place such laws against dueling, as a duel
> involves one honor and should come first and foremost among any combat
> situations.
>
> To the death, how can you make that illegal if I may ask, this is
> between two players, no two nobles who feel one needs to die so the
> other can live.
>
> Myself personally would put dueling and tournaments about at the same
> level, more pedigree to a tournament as a winner can gain much honor,
> prestige, and fame.
>
> So can a duelist.


Uhm. Duels have a history of pretty much always being illegal, at least in a
more modern sense. (I can't say from, oh, pre-1600's.) Doesn't mean people
didn't do them. But think about it- the idea of a duel was not simply a spar
to see who is better. Duels were fought most often to defend someone's
honor, and it was done with the sole intent of kill-or-be-killed.
Coldblooded murder, especially that of a noble, is usually frowned upon.

Maybe the term "duel" here in BM is a bit too broad. If it's not, and is to
be used in a proper historical manner, I would say they can be forbidden as
much as looting regions without permission or any other myriad of laws
issued in most realms. Characters are able to break the law if they value
their honor over the laws of the land. But I can't see issuing a blanket
protection for doing so.

Also, your comparison to a tournament doesn't hold water. Tournament wins
bring great honor and prestige to you, and to some degree, your realm.
Fighting a duel is a selfish endeavor and really can't be construed as
anything but that. There's prestigious value to a selfish act.
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