There have been many suggestions about what we could do for duelling club, so this thread is partly to provide information about it, and also to finalise ideas about what we could do in future.

First, Gracie is now the co-leader of duelling club, so she helps Alex come up with ideas for what to do, and assists in running the sessions. "Drill" sessions- so doing target practice, practicing specific spells, discussing tactics, etc. will take place, but unless people would like to, I'm not going to start a thread specifically for them.

The member list for Duelling club, to my knowledge, is as follows (Please reply/PM/whatever if you have a character who you'd like to be a member):

The ideas suggested thus far:

Double Battles:
To me, they seem like a good idea, as they've got an element of cooperation without having so many Rpers that it becomes difficult to manage. However, there are still four people who need to be able to post, which is quite a lot considering they're going to be duelling each other and that's quite intense anyway. It was suggested that post order is introduced, and I know that it isn't ideal, but it seems like a way of making sure that nobody ends up left behind. Alternatively, we could just let everyone do what they want. It's up to you.

Team Events:
Team events are the most suggested idea, BUT I have concerns about them. It's hard to respond to a thread with lots of people, and since it'll be action, I think it would be complete chaos. I think that a team event is a really great idea, though, so I'd like some suggestions about how to keep it from being too chaotic. Taking it in turns to post is the current suggestion, (potentially using double battles as a trial round) but I think that with larger numbers, it isn't an ideal solution. But if you think it would work, or have any other ideas, please share them!
Anyway, here are some optional questions:
What kind of team event would you like to see? (Capture the flag, defenders/attackers, etc. Made up ones or additional rules to try and make everything easy or just because they're fun are also appreciated)
Have you got any alternative suggestions for limiting chaos?
Do you think I'm being a control freak and that the best option is just to let everyone do whatever?
Any other contributions?

Inviting a teacher along:
Alex would likely ask a teacher to come along at some point, in order to offer further advice or something. But Alex could also petition for an Auror to come along, or someone similar. Any suggestions about this are of course welcome, and if anyone has a character who would be able to do that, then I'd love to hear. If this did take place, I think that the session would operate more like a seminar, in order that the students receive the full benefit of said teacher's wisdom. Or they could have a normal session.

Blowing up stuff in corridors for target practice:
Obviously duelling club isn't all duelling! Some sessions will be dedicated to less interesting tasks designed to improve specific skills needed in duelling, and blowing stuff up seemed like the most interesting one. Anyone with alternative suggestions about training exercises please share!

All ideas are welcome!

I think Double Battles would be a lot of fun. Especially if people have to pair up with those they usually don't get along with and have to fight together to win. Some bonding thing. Those are always amusing to write and read.

I think Atash would be interested in sitting in on the dueling club at some point, either to teach or to snoop a little.  He's taught dueling/defensive casting both at Durmstrang and at his prior school before that.

If you want to invite an outside guest, Adon Eleor is the dueling prodigy in the Auror Corps!  I'm not sure how much time Melissa has, but he would be a fun guest teacher too.

I'd like to add Dione to the Beginners list please.  With the note that she'll be joining the club late in-character too, since she's been building up her non-verbal hex and jinx repertoire on her own to give her a more even standing with the other first-years.

Honestly, I really like the idea of team events -- capture the flag sounds especially fun. I can see it playing out kind of like a Quidditch match, maybe with one of the teachers volunteering to take Hooch's role as referee. But you're right, it would be rather chaotic. In that respect, doubles matches seem more manageable to me.

Eha would also like to tag along if you get an Auror to come. She's no dueling prodigy, but she's got a passion for it. Plus, she needs something to do.

Katy would most certainly like to attend the next session of the dueling club.  And that would make 4 for the intermediate group.

Rico would LOVE to be in dueling Club!! Sign me up!

I haven't had time to get Figaro involved in Dueling Club, but I hope to be able to soon!  I voted that Doubles and Special Guests would be the most fun.  I think adults would have their own style and stances and spells to share, maybe even stories from past Dueling competitions or real-life dueling.

Oh, and it'd be cool to compete for Hogwarts Dueling Champion.

Okay, I have updated the member list- Fig's not there because I'm not sure which ability group he would be in.

Sparky, I would love for either character to be involved, I'll PM you about that later?

And I think that a Hogwarts Duelling competition would be a lot of fun!

(Anyone who would like to move their character- bearing in mind that spellcasting is not the most important factor in duelling ability- please tell me, I assumed that NEWT characters would be in advanced but I can move them)

Ooh, sounds like fun!  Silvia Bog-Goyle would certainly be up for a dueling club (she's a second year with an interest in hexes and curses). 

As for the dueling itself--what about one-on-one?  We saw it a lot in the books, and there were usually seconds picked in case someone fell.  In the RP, seconds wouldn't have to be active unless they wanted to/someone was knocked unconscious or incapacitated.  It could be an alternative to two-on-two fights so that members wouldn't always have to find four active participants. 

Melees can probably be split up by minilocation (if they're fighting by the lake, you can have Fight by the Tree, Fight by the Dock, Fight by the Path and so on), with three or four people fighting in the same thread at once, possibly advertising the current number of participants in the title to that duelers who flee one battle can join in a different one.  To ensure that some sort of chronological order can be maintained, maybe include a header to each post (ex. Minutes 27-29 of Melee).  Maybe limit Melees to 45 Minutes or Until 50% KO or something like that?

Depending on when the first thread takes place, Sasha may consider observing though may be a little reluctant to actually participate.  Eventually, I think he'll get there - and potentially in the first session.  But - yes - I think he could/should be added to the list.  I assume, given how the abilities are grouped he'd be in the advanced gang - just based on year and past experiences.

Think this discussion is perhaps worth reviving, given that there's an IC thread between Alexander Carstairs and Professor Storm regarding the possibility of a competition in the spring term (that's now, IC)

Might be worth checking and setting up a set of ideas for International rules vs Hogwarts Rules etc, just an idea.

Would be super to see the duelling club going, but I know first hand how tricky these things can be to write!

I love the idea that proper dueling has different stances that support different kinds of wand movements.  We saw it a little bit when Snape and Lockhart dueled in the second movie - they each took a different posture at the outset of the duel.  There's even a little formal ritual to begin the match. 

And is that the phases of the moon on the dueling platform? It'd be cool if those were important and not just decorative. 

But yes, still interested in Dueling Club. 

I'm defiantly having Remi join.

Thales would like to join too!

Lucas is in!