CYBERFIGHT DOS DONTS AND BASIC ETIQUETTE

The basics - Cyber wrestling differs from real wrestling only in that you and your opponent are battling over a computer and not face to face, and therefore you must use your imagination, knowledge of wrestling holds and moves, and your constant attention to the progress of the match to wrestle effectively.  You should follow a few simple rules to make the whole thing work well and you will only be good at it with practice.  Also, remember that no one is too good to learn from every opponent and every match.

Rule 1.  No one is 10 feet tall and bullet proof!  You are flesh and bone and not indestructible. 
You have limits and you have weaknesses in real life and you must be realistic in cyber wrestling matches even if the tide of battle is going against you.  Learn to accept defeat if it comes your way and learn to take your lumps.  You wouldn't want to wrestle someone that refused to lose, so don't be that person.  Nobody likes doing a match with a so-called “superman”.

Rule 2.  You must make your moves realistically based on many factors such as your current health, stamina, your current position in relation to your opponent, and your body's realistic range of movement and flexibility.  You cannot throw a clothesline on your opponent if your opponent's last move placed you on your backside on the mat.  You cannot put your opponent in a Boston Crab submission hold if you are in one yourself.  You cannot escape a submission hold if you have been pummeled into a barely conscious state by your opponent's constant barrage of attacks.  Be reasonable and play fair and above all read your opponent's last move and know where you are now and what just happened to you.  Also, people should "attempt" or "try" their moves.  When you just DO things, you don't give the other person a chance to reverse it or somehow get away from it.  Also, if you don’t understand what the other person has responded with or if the move is not realistic, there is nothing wrong with asking them to explain what they’ve done so you understand it, i.e., understanding where his moves are taking you or telling them that their moves aren’t realistic or they’re confusing.  Bottom line, try and give your opponent a point of reference to go by so they know how to react and respond.

Also, don’t make the other person’s moves for them.  This ruins it for them and makes the match very one-sided.

Definitely moves that could really do some damage should be tried.  "I get you in a camel clutch" doesn't really leave the victim much choice in the matter.  Either a) you accept it and you end up losing or b) you have to ignore his move to break free.  

If you're going to just "do" things, you should be able to cancel out a person's move if you can explain why they wouldn't be able to do it.  (This is why ATTEMPTING and TRYING are so much better, so we don't run into confrontations which are not fun.) 

Rule 3.  Keep your moves down to a realistic and reasonable move.  Don't run the pool table on your opponent, so to speak, in one long move that is a combination of several short moves.  You must play the game like a tennis match, serve and defend, volley and defend, and so on.  Be fair and give your opponent their opportunity to work on you. 

Rule 4.  Always signify your move is finished by adding "yt" at the end of the move to signify "Your Turn" to your opponent.  Don't forget.  They will be looking for it.  Matches last forever when no one knows to move because they think the other person is still playing out his turn. 

Rule 5.  Always give these bits of information to help paint the picture of what is going on: 

An exclamation of some sort, pain, evil glee, or trash talk.  If you have been hurt by a slam to the mat then say so: ex.  "Aaaaggghhh!!!  My Back!!" or "Hahahaha, you are a worthless little weakling, I am enjoying this!" 

Your current health.  Tell the audience how you feel:  "I am dazed and winded by his constant barrage of elbow drops to my body". 

Your thoughts: "I don't know how much more I can take, my knee is almost gone and he is wearing me out" or "He is quick but let's see how good he is on sore legs" 

The use of italics throws hints of upcoming plot twists to your opponent and the audience so he can make plans to play along. 

Your Position or Move: "I grab your arm and take you for a three step run before launching you into the ropes and catching you with a clothesline as you bounce off of them". 

Hints: "I wonder if he noticed the chair someone slid into the ring on the far corner" or "I can't believe he didn't react to that last remark I made where I called him a fat cow".  Try to guide the match to a colorful conclusion if you think your opponent is missing something you wanted them to react to or see. 

Rule 6.  Take your time and type your move carefully and correctly.  No one is rushing you.  You can even use several lines for dramatic effect if you move quickly so your opponent doesn't get the impression that your move is over. 

Example:  (note:  "yt" = your turn to signify that it's now your opponent's turn to respond)

Wrestler 1: I straddle your body sitting on your chest and holding your head down to the mat by the hair as I deliver closed fist blows to your face, once!

Wrestler 1: Twice!

Wrestler 1: Three Times!

Wrestler 1: yt

You can see how this adds to the drama.  The opponent needs to respond the same way in his reply showing the pain of the three blows: 

Wrestler 2: Ooomph!

Wrestler 2: Owwww!

Wrestler 2: Stopppp!  Please!!!

Wrestler 2: You have dazed me and closed my right eye completely with that barrage of cheap shots.  "You stinking bitch, you will pay for that when I get up".  I struggle to try and rock you off of my body but I am too weak to move you. 

Wrestler 2: yt 

All the elements are here.  Pain, physical condition, trash talk, and a move or current position.  The picture in your mind is very vivid and the drama continues to attract the interest of all spectators. 

Rule 7.  Try to make it easy for the audience to follow the moves by setting up your font choices carefully before the match.  Use larger fonts and ones that are colored differently for each wrestler (important for tag team matches) so the audience has an easier time seeing who is doing the talking. 

Wrestler 1: I grab your arm and twist it backward applying pressure and delivering a painful arm bar.  How do you like that you little bitch?  yt 

Wrestler 2: Ooowwww!  That hurts, let go you cow!  I lean back moving with you to minimize the effect of the hold but cannot free my arm.  yt 

Rule 8.  If you are in a chat room match in front of an audience and you need to send a private message to your opponent like: 

"We have to hurry this along, wrap it up by knocking me down, using a matchbook pin and pinning me for the three count, I have company who just stopped in to see me, I gotta go." 

“That last move didn’t make sense or was not realistic.  Redo it please.”

You can send this message by IM'ing them directly outside the chat and "whispering" 
the message. 

Rule 9.  Just have fun! 

Rule 10.  When in doubt refer to rule 9. 

Rule 11.  Octagon Fights.  In this specialised type of fight, remember that for the most part, only holds and moves should be used.  Closed fist blows can be used but only as a last resort.  Kicks are allowable as well as are elbows.  As with all matches, agreeing beforehand what will and won’t be allowed should be a joint decision between both opponents and neither one should violate that agreement at ANY time.

Rule 12.  Conference Matches.  These are invite only chats initiated by one person and then others are invited to join, usually as audience members to observe 2 or more wrestlers in “live” matches.  This basically works the same as one on one or “private” match chats with the exception that you have other people watching the match action.  Participation from the “audience” is encouraged and expected.  The biggest thing to remember is that if a friend is in a match in a conference to please try and refrain from sending them private chats as this can and has thrown off their concentration and can ruin a match for both wrestlers.  Also, using private chats to coach and possibly alter the outcome of the match would be considered dishonorable.  Use common sense when in conferences and show respect for the wrestlers as well as each other, aside, of course, from trash talking one another.

A few last things: 

Remember to go into your yahoo messenger and turn the archive on because you may be so proud of the job you did in the match that you want to save it to show to your friends or post it to your favorite cyber group!  There are several good posting groups out there that encourage active participation and posting the posted matches continue to be entertaining and fun to read.  Also, if you do post your matches, it's much more fun for the reader if you DON'T give the result in the title...most times, matches that reveal how the match ends in the title are seldom read by the members, so keep this in mind as well.

When scheduling matches, try to make sure that you don’t have multiple matches scheduled for the same day and time.  This is not only difficult to keep up with if you’re doing more than one match at a time, but it is very rude to the other wrestlers as well.  If you get challenged while you’re in a match, let the other person know that you’re busy and that you’ll get with them later.  Also, if you've agreed to meet someone for a match at a specific day and time and as soon as you log on, you get an offer of a match with someone else, don't cancel your scheduled match with your opponent just because the other offer might seem better to you.  Again, common courtesy and respect for your opponent plays into it in a major way.

Remember, if you schedule a match and can’t make it for whatever reason, be courteous enough to send an email or offline message to your opponent letting them know so they don’t sit there waiting on you and wondering why you aren’t there.  As well, if you’re in the middle of a match and have to leave, it’s considered good manners to let your opponent know rather than just “disappearing” leaving them to wonder what happened.  Just leaving without explanation not only damages your rep with that one person, but word of mouth will keep others from wanting to take their time with you if you have the reputation for leaving in the middle of a match.

One other thing that was touched on above…and that is one-sided matches.  While this may be fun for some of you and there’s nothing wrong with it if you’re into that, but remember that not everyone enjoys this, so if you see or realize that your opponent is not responding like he was at the beginning, it may be because they don’t like one-sided squash jobs.  Just be respectful of your opponent and if you realize this, ask your opponent if they’re OK with what’s happening.  If not, it’s best to either restart the match or agree to do it some other time.  As well, don't tell your opponent what they should do or try next...they may have something they want to try and surprise you with and, besides, if you tell them what to do, it takes away from the fun of it from them and then you might as well just write the whole match yourself.

This final item is something that occurs all too often and it deals with erotic matches.  Remember that if you and your opponent agree to a match with “stakes”, i.e., erotic action either during or after the match, keep in mind that part of that agreement must include that BOTH you and your opponent get off by the end.  Far too often, it happens that one or the other of the two gets off and then disappears, leaving his opponent hanging, sexually that is.  This is not only rude and inexcusable, but it shows a major lack of respect for your opponent.  The only exception to this would be that if you agree beforehand that only the winner gets off.  So, please if you’re going to do this, be respectful of your opponent and make sure that both of you get off.

Finally, and this is really the most important thing to remember, guys.  If you plan on posting your match to any cyber groups you’re on, make sure that your opponent agrees to it as well.  Remember that you should always respect your opponent’s privacy, so if they choose not to have it posted, do NOT post the match just because YOU want to.