I can see it both ways. On the one hand, if there were such a death match and I didn't think I could win by fair play I would definitely want to take someone down with me. On the other hand, I can see the Arena Death Match Fairness Committee
prohibiting the use of certain items - and so much the better if they did because then you might actually dare to try to win. I think it's a shame when no-one except the AI sends someone they think might win - makes it all a bit futile in MP.
If
I was in charge of the Arena Death Match Improvement Committee I would outlaw the use of certain items - a short list of items officially considered to be 'cheats'. Ideally I would outlaw the use of certain spells too (like 'curse'), but that would be harder to control. I think I would also change the prize to a choice of a couple of different items, or failing that, an item more neutral - i.e. applicable to both mages and fighters, if such an item could be found (perhaps something like the Ankh, Nethgul, Alchemist's stone, The Magic Lamp, Gate Stone, or Flying Ship). Definitely I would make the item removeable, so that it could be put in a display case in the capital of the winner [though I realise that this is how the Last victor is found, in order to compete in the next arena death match].
Furthermore, I might subdivide the contest into different events - one for fighters with weapons, etc., one for fighters without special weapons, one for mages, one for archers, etc. But that would depend on popularity and funding, etc.
*edit - I think it would be pretty hard to implement, allowing certain items but not others. The only way I can think of would be flag the 'cheating' items somehow, and then have the program only offer the 'compete in arena death match' to people who were clean. Either that or have a dialogue come up saying that you have to unequip certain unlawful items, etc. when you try to compete while in the possession of Banned items
*further edit - Another thing I would outlaw were I in charge of the Improvement Committee is the entrance of pretenders - I think it ought to be non-divine commanders only. This would make it more competitive, rather than your knight commander having to face down a huge flaming skull, or undead manticore, or something like that.
[ October 09, 2003, 15:23: Message edited by: st.patrik ]