Introductions

Hello, everyone! I hope you are all having a fantastic day wherever you are. I'd like to thank you all for tuning into my first report as the new Combat Master. I would have had this out sooner, but do you have any idea how hard it is to get the stink of Mandalorian out of a room?

Terrible jokes aside, I'd like to take a moment to introduce myself. Most of you know me as Anders, and that's how I go by on the site, but you'll also see people call me Appius (former character), Appy, Zappy, Mandaboo etc etc. In real life, my name is Adam. I'm a husband to a loving wife, and father to four amazing children. I've been a member of the club since June 9th 2019 and have been in a number of positions including various staff positions and Taldryan Consul.

My first ACC battle was following GJW XIII shortly after I reached Knighthood and I've been hooked since. As it stands, I've been a part of 94 ACC battles in the last few years. It's probably, hands down, my favourite activity in the club, and I hope to share that passion with all of you.

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A Thank You

I just want to take the opportunity to thank Bubba, Atra, and Idris for giving me a chance as Combat Master. I'd especially like to thank Idris, who under his guidance, has made the ACC more streamlined and accessible than it has ever been. The tournament he ran, Singularity, was a lot of fun. I hope to maintain that standard and build upon the fantastic foundation that has been left for me.

I'd like to briefly go over the points I made in my application and the points that Idris made in his previous report on what he was looking for in a Combat Master.

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Running and Managing Occasional Tournaments

Singularity was a resounding success with 46 different members participating over three preliminary rounds and of course, the final 16 members entering the brackets. This proves to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that the ACC has a place in the Brotherhood's future.

That said, as Idris himself has said, ACC burnout is a thing, so I will not be running a tournament until next year. Plus, with Halloween and then Christmas fast approaching, I know a lot of us are going to be incredibly busy during the holiday season.

I do, however, have plans to run a Co-operative ACC event of some description. Stay tuned for more information on that as we get closer to the time!

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Maintaining The Venue List

We have a wide variety of venues to select for battles in the ACC, including specific Scenario Hall ventures. When I looked at the list, I couldn't help but notice that there are some Clans that have several venues dedicated to their territories and others don't.

Once I'm settled in and have played around with all the fancy new buttons at my disposal, I intend to contact the Clan Leadership to thoroughly pester ask if any updates are required to any existing venues, as well as ask if they are interested in new venues for their Clan.

In terms of canon locations, I will be constantly looking to add to, remove if necessary, and update the existing list. To that end, I'd like to announce the first of my newest competitions!

ACC Venue Creation: A Galaxy Far, Far Away…

It runs from the 1st of November until the 30th of November. The winning entries have the potential to be uploaded on the site! I look forward to seeing what you all come up with!

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Facilitate Halls For Clan Events

Using the ACC for Clan Events is something I want to encourage wherever possible. I want to aid Clan Leadership by setting up the creation of the event and offering assistance wherever necessary. Please do not hesitate to get in contact with me.

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Judging Times

I intend to maintain the standard set by Idris. The current rules state that once a battle is claimed, the assigned judges have 48 hours to get their judgements in and submitted. As the deadline approaches, I will attempt to reach out to judges who have yet to submit and offer any assistance if needed.

Worst case scenario is that I will take over any necessary judging, though I would ideally like to avoid that as much as possible. Thankfully, that hasn't been required yet since the new system has been put in place.

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Promote Healthy ACC Usage

The ACC is never going to be for everyone, but that's the beautiful thing about this club. There's something for everyone! However, when it comes to the ACC, it is more accessible now than it has ever been.

I want to encourage everyone who is interested to give it a try! You may find you enjoy it more than you initially thought.

As part of this, I'd like to introduce you all to my other newest competition;

ACC: Let's Get Down To Business

The competition starts on the 1st of November and runs all the way through to the end of the year! Details will become available once the competition starts. 😉

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Battle Highlight

This is the part of my report where I highlight a battle that has occurred. Given that Singularity just finished, I'm not exactly short on battles to highlight here.

• Marick vs Sivall

• Aiden vs Zuza

• Alaisy vs Kael

• Halcyon vs Alaris

Though, I don't think anyone can argue that Lucine vs Selika round 2. It is an absolute masterclass of not just writing in the ACC, but writing in general. I encourage everyone to give it a read. Lucine, Slagar, if you are reading this, very well done to you both. You should be really proud.

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A New Venue

Those who took part in the Pro Bowl will know that the event took place on Jedah. The winning entry from the week 1 ACC Venue Creation Competition was from none other than Veil Arcana!

I liked it so much that I asked for permission to turn it into an actual venue on the site.

In the distant past, the Catacombs of Cadera were a series of ancient structures located beneath the surface of the sacred moon of Jedha. Hidden within was a monastery, serving as a burial ground for an Order of NiJedha Monks. In the wake of tbe Death Star's attack, however, the moon's surface was sundered, all but annihilating the Catacombs and the monastery hidden within.

You have fallen into darkness. Deep below Jedha's devastated surface, you find yourself lost within the remnants of the Catacombs—only ruins now remain. As your eyes adjust, you realize only a few shafts of hazy, pale green light are all you have to see by. Every step, every breath you take echoes off of the cavern-like walls. You run a hand over a hand over one of the pillars adorning the ruins and feel the carved stone flake at your touch. That they still hold the ceiling in place above your head is a miracle.

You must tread cautiously. Taking careful steps forward, you feel the sickening crunch of skeletal remains beneath your feet. The hollow sound of shattering bones rings throughout the catacombs. Announcing your presence to whoever or whatever may reside here. The air is fetid and clouded with dust you stir up with every movement.

As you wander you realize these ruins are labyrinthine—a tangled maze of broken and collapsed tunnels crisscrossing haphazardly leading to who knows where. Each path you take is fraught with hazards or dead ends. From deep within the darkness, you begin to hear whispers—a constant buzzing in the back of your mind that quickly puts you on edge. The spirits of the dead slumber restlessly here. You must escape this place, but, before you can begin to search for an exit, you hear footsteps methodically moving toward you.

Tread lightly in the Ruins of Cadera... for you are not alone.

The Venue is now available to be selected and can be viewed in the Venue Database along with all our other wonderful venues!

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Closing Thoughts

That was quite a mouthful for a report, but in my experience, first reports always are, so hopefully, future ones will be considerably shorter. (Probably not, but we can hope, right?)

I'd like to conclude on a point made in the Fiction Chat recently. The ACC might seem daunting, especially on your first time round. I'd like to reassure anyone that has any kind of doubt that it is not frightening at all. Once you dip your toes in, you might find you really enjoy it.

What I would recommend is pairing up with someone you trust and/or write with regularly and give it a go! I wasn't sure what I would think when I first got into it, but it ended up being my favourite activity in the club and who knows? It might be yours too. The ACC is not supposed to be more intense than any other fiction activity in the club.

On that note, I am your;

And until next time!

‐ Combat Master “Aequitas” Anderson

(Ps. Someone remind me to get some custom graphics sorted, please.)