“Champions of the Arena, Monster Trainers extraordinaires, esteemed guests - the Fixture Window is now open…”
- Host
The tides of the Ultimate Monster Battle Arena are underpinned by the all-important League Conferences. Held in the secure Vault, Conferences are meetings of all important parties in the Ultimate Monster Battle Arena to pick Matches for the upcoming portion of the Season, to declare their loyalties, to vie for sponsorship deals, and to make bets on the upcoming bouts. Given the calibre of guests, the Conferences are also a prime time to socialise, make connections, and even play a few games of cards…
“Can I help you, Stakeholder?”
- Host
Host is a member of the Network responsible for administration and the running of League Conference meetings. They will always be available to query, and all administrative matters that are decided upon during the Conference should be reported to them, including but not limited to: Fight Declarations, Bets, Payments, Odds for publishing, and any other issue for announcement, recording or publishing. All issues should be brought to them.
OC: Host will usually be played by the Head GM and you can bring all IC and OC issues to them.
“I, VOID, trainer of INDESTRUCTOSPHERE, challenge YOU, DYNAMITE, trainer of KNIGHT-MARE - do you accept!?”
“OF COURSE I ACCEPT! BRING. IT. ON.”
- Exchange from a Season XXXIV Conference
During each League Conference, competitors in the Ultimate Monster Battle Arena can declare fights for the upcoming section of the Season. A challenge should be leveled against a competitor who is present, and in almost every case the competitor is expected to accept. The only exception to this rule are Champions (who by convention are allowed to dismiss challenges from competitors of substantially lower rank) and those who are already scheduled to fight. Once accepted, a challenge should then be reported to Host, who will schedule the fight.
According to the Official Rules of Ultimate Monster Battle Arena1), all Monsters on the Season Ladder must be declared for at least one League Fight by the end of each League Conference. Any Monster that is not declared will be randomly assigned an opponent by Network Officials.
League Fights for the upcoming portion of the Season will be announced to the best of the Network's ability 30 minutes before the end of the Conference.
“Trainers! Competitors! Fans! I bring you THE BEST odds you can possibly want on the GIGAZAUR VERSUS OMNISQUID battle - 3:1 on Omnisquid, 5:1 on Gigazaur, and 10:1 on Omnisquid hatching a child and THAT winning instead! PLACE YOUR BETS NOW!”
- Stack, Licensed Bookie
See also Bookies
The League Conference is a prime time for many to place bets on upcoming fights. The declaration of fights allows odds to be generated on the fly, and many enjoy the thrill of placing wagers on the outcomes of the upcoming fights live in the Conference. Indeed, odds that are published via Host during a Conference receive a reward of additional Riel from the Network.
Bets that are made on Network-Published odds should be made through Host, reporting exactly who is making the bet, and who is keeping the book. Bets made on other odds are the responsibility of that book-keeper to recall.
OC Note: If you wish to play a Bookie you will have to maintain your own odds and books
Some have seen the nature of the League Conferences as the perfect environment for high stakes games of cards. The rules vary from game to game, and the Network has provided no official endorsement of such games, but playing for money or for favours is a sight increasingly seen at Conferences. Notable wins or losses should, as ever, be reported to Host. 2)
“Oi, dickhead!”
“AHEM.”
“Sorry. Respected dickhead!”
- Short exchange from a Season XXXIII Conference
League Conferences of Ultimate Monster Battle Arena are meetings of some of the most respected contenders on the scene. As such, a strict code of etiquette is observed:
While breaks in etiquette do occur from time to time, the stern eyes of the Network see normality restored quickly - though if a breach of etiquette is reported but not observed by a Network Official, it is likely that the Official will take no further action than keeping a slightly closer eye on the offending party.
Repeat offenders generally find themselves invited to leave the premises, and serious offenders will find themselves in a grave situation: it's one thing to trash-talk your rivals, but physical violence and failure to follow instructions from Host are unforgivable during a Conference.
OC: If you intend to seriously break etiquette, please tell a GM beforehand. Serious etiquette breaks are possible, but will result in your character becoming unplayable afterward.