Damage dealt in a single hit by sword.

[Alfonso Knaf]

As I consent that it is only a game and things shouldn't be taken so personal I have to correct/complete the statement about the gladius.
It was a short sword, but definitly longer than a dagger (~50-60cm) and they had really huge shields to parry (about 120cm in height and 60cm width).
One more thing: The shown videos are training videos and as I know out of RL experience you almost always train given moves, so you know what to do cause you know what your "enemy" will do.

[Peacer]

to asnwer the thread title in one single reply
what happens
duel
duellists run around (can be seen as they try to hit each other by standing close and fighting)
one hit the other in a single hit/his head falls off
dead
done
goodnight

I don't see how that answers anything.

Ok I'll be nice and reply just for you even though I should have been to bed :p
you start the duel, and the duelists run around trying to hit each other. If it was real life it would be parrays, hits, slashes and such. They wouldn't run but they would stand still trying to hit each other. I see the running in ps as the swordfencing. one will hit the other. In ps  you (got lucky and) hit your opponent. In real life you got a succesful hit through. this could be through the heart or the throat.
And I'm ending my post like before goodnight

[zanzibar]

The hit and run thing is actually pretty new to PS.... people didn't do it when I first started playing.  Personally, I see it as OOC.  It's cheating because you're exploiting the mechanics of the game in order to gain an advantage over another player.  So when I duel people now, I send a tell asking if they'll agree to not using potions and not hitting and running.

[bilbous]

Part of the problem with this is that if you leave out the maneuvering then it is "toe to toe" which is boring. You might as well flip a coin to see who swings first and hope you win. In a real fight there would be a lot of footwork involved infinding an opening in your opponents defense. I am just talking theoretically as I don't, as a rule, PVP so it really makes little difference to me how you duel.

[zanzibar]

Part of the problem with this is that if you leave out the maneuvering then it is "toe to toe" which is boring. You might as well flip a coin to see who swings first and hope you win. In a real fight there would be a lot of footwork involved infinding an opening in your opponents defense. I am just talking theoretically as I don't, as a rule, PVP so it really makes little difference to me how you duel.

I'd rather depend on a coin flip than who has the better internet connection.  Even then, the ability for your character to do footwork has nothing to do with your ability to work a mouse and keyboard.  That is, unless you want PS to turn into an arcade game.

[bilbous]

Well then compare stats and skill and weapons calculate the odds and then /roll your result. Why bother fighting at all?