Well, here are the rules, from start to finish. If you're looking for something specific, remember that control+F is a huge help :p.

1. Introduction
So. What are we here to do? Well in shot, we're here to show who's the best writer among us all in a seemingly infinite series of battles between whatever heroes (or Villains!) our minds can bring forth. As far as the actual battles go, there's really no rules at all, short of not killing your opponent outright without their consent. Everything else is fair game, the studio audience knew when they bought the tickets that they might be vaporized by fires from the underworld, and it's a chance hey were willing to take.

2. Characters
First of all, despite the name, you are not relegated to only choosing heroes for this game. In fact, some special events I'll throw up might only be playable with villains (Hint, hint).
So, from the top. Each player creates a Wiki page with their character information on it and sends the link to me, as well as posting it on the Character information wiki.
Each player chooses first chooses an Arena Name. That's the rough equivalent to your username in this game, since with the ease of username swapping on Elftown, keeping accurate rankings would get FAR too confusing for me too quickly. thus you must choose a name. This name must be at the top of the wiki in which you post your characters.
Second, each person chooses a continuity, or a storyline, from which they will pull their characters. Each storyline may only be selected bu one player, but if you have your heart set on playing a particular character from something already chosen, shoot me a message, maybe we can work something out. The selected continuity shall be posted just beneath the Arena Name.
Thirdly, actual character creation. Each player has three character slots by default. Each time you move up a rank, you earn an additional character slot. Each tier champion ears the right to one character slot for a character completely unrelated to their chosen storyline. As for the actual character sheet, there is no set organization required. Basic information such as name, weapon information, and appearance must be present, but beyond that, it's completely up to the creators purview, though It is completely within my right to reject your application based on too little information in your character sheets.

3. Dueling
This is, after all, the reason we're here. Challenges can be issued on the chats on any of the wikis pertaining to this game, or through private message. Hell, spoken agreement works for me, whatever. Once the challenge has been accepted, the duelists must find three judges to judge their match, as well as sending me an e-mail with a link to the duel wiki (And a judging request, if you so desire. I am always available to judge.). The Duelists must also decide upon a certain number of posts that will be allowed per duelist for the duel. A "post" is anytime someone edits the wiki, posting their part of combat. Once the judges are assembled and the post count decided, the battle begins. First, each player gets an introduction post, which does NOT count a battle post. This may detail anything from their grand entrance to the arena, roaring fans and all, to the combatant eating breakfast in the morning. Again up to your own purview, but remember the goal is to write the best, not the longest. If Kronos the Spartan's glorious entry into the arena, where he proceeds to throw insults at the opponents mother and lead the crowd in chants bespeaking his glory is better written than say, Gandalf the White's introspective musings over pancakes and sausage, Kronos will take cake, despite Gandalf's obviously more "deep" dialogue.
To clear up some confusion that you might have up to this point, whenever a player edits the Wiki to put in their post, they must put a LARGE AND OBVIOUS dash, symbol, big bolded line beneath their writing, SOMETHING that denotes their turn is ended. You are NOT allowed to edit posts, and you put your entire post up at once, so write it beforehand in word or whatever you use. Your post is considered from your opponent dash, marking, etc. to your own. Direct questions about this matter to me, but treat the wiki more like a forum, and you'll be fine. If you DO have to ask how this works, I reserve the right to be a total jerk about it, since it's not that hard of a concept.
Eh hem, back to what you care about. After the introduction posts are the Battle posts. Here is where your two characters begin to kick the living tar out of each other. Seems simple, right? Well, first of all, you are going to HAVE to control your opponents actions on your own turn if you want to obtain any sort of length or style. There is none of this power-playing, god-moding, or whatever bullshit you call it on here. That's part of the game. Got a problem with it? Learn. There only restrictions are that you are NOT permitted to kill your opponent during the battle posts. If player 1 ends his post with having wrapped Kronos in a long magical chain Gandalf conjured from the palm of his hand, all the more of an opportunity for player 2 to show his creativity in how Kronos manages to get himself out of his dire predicament. Don't complain about it. It's just how it works. You'll get the hang of it, I promise.
After the prescribed number of battle posts have passed, one of the duelists must send a message to each of the judges, telling them that the duel is complete and ready for judging. The judges then come read the entire duel, from intro posts to the last battle post. Then they declare who, in their opinion was the winner. You win by being the most creative, the most in character, and just the overall better writer. I can't emphasize this enough. This is not about who is playing the most deep character. If Player 2 can't write well, then Gandalf is more then capable of losing to the over-sized Spartan who only knows blood, death, and women. There is no exact judging criteria (For instance, one judge might heavily weigh spelling and grammar, while another might find such things trivial to the overall duel). Judges must then edit in their verdict at the bottom of all the battle posts. They are free to include an explanation, or not, as they choose, though an explanation is GREATLY preferred.
Once the judges have issued their decision, the winner may then begin a Victory post. This is not mandatory, it is perfectly within the winner's rights to eschew this altogether. In it, they are completely free to do what they please INCLUDING killing their opponents character. If they do this, that character is considered removed from reality and cannot again be selected as a character. The player who's character has died may then create a new one to fill that space. The dead character must remain on the character sheet, however it must be noted on the character description somewhere that he is dead.
The winner then scores three points towards their ranking, the loser earns one point, and each judge earns one point. I must be IMMEDIATELY PMed with the outcome.

4. Champions
At the top of each tier is a champion. Now ,champions are permitted to engage in normal duels, but while in a normal duel their characters CANNOT be killed, and defeating the champion in a normal duel does not result in becoming the champion (Though you do score 5 points instead of the normal 3). When a player has earned enough points (15 for beginner tier, 35 for intermediate, 60 for master) they may challenge the champion of the tier. A champion challenge works exactly like a normal duel, except there are ALWAYS five battle posts, and the other two tier champions are automatically two of the three judges. Victory in the challenge will earn the challenger no point (A victorious champion earns points as usual), but does allow the challenger the choice between becoming the champion themselves or moving on to the next tier. Defeated champions join whatever tier their point value allows them to. Champions count as a member a tier above the tier they're champion of for the purpose for number of characters, but other then that earn few rewards (and many responsibilities).

5. Events
From time to time, I may run events for the players. You'll receive information about these as they appear.

6. FAQ's
As questions get asked, I will post them here. Until then, direct questions either to the chat of this wiki, or ask them in a private message to myself.

Other then that, Have fun, and may the Best Man Win!

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