Australia kicked QuakeWorld Duel League off this summer, quickly followed by North America. Finally Europe came along with the biggest signup so far: 63 players divided into 3 divisions. 85 players are now playing duels in 5 divisions, some of them in multiple divisions. A total of 861 fixtures/events have been generated and 157 of those have already been played. Australia is half way through the season and playoff is awating in the sunset.

There is some start challenges regarding map rules so it will probably take this 1st season to get acquainted with that. In short, the “Favorite Map” rule gives you the option to select a map that is not in the map pool and you can swap that map with one of the maps that got voted in. As the rules state; you can not touch TB5 (dm2, dm4, dm6, aerowalk, ztndm3), but you can swap one of the voted maps.

With this feature you can cycle the “kenyas” (the voted maps). WHY? …some players will ask. Well, who decided that we can only play 3-4 fixed maps outside TB5? And who decided that those were the only maps we could select? There are 1000s of maps out there and duel is a mode you can learn a map faster than any other modes. Also when you look at the number of Favorite Maps voted in this 1st season, it is clear that players want to play on something else as well. And with short Bo3 games you will always get to play your best map and a decider will be a map you know.

In our estimation this system gives you an excellent way to include “all maps” and at the same time stay with the classic maps of quake1/quakeworld.

I big shoutout to all the players in all divisions!