Exploiting is not an issue if the rate you gain xp and gold is very slow...
If one guy wants to just agree to getting killed for 1 hour - so the other one can get gold - its just better to play battle anyway...
Alternatively - you can create a system:
1) If you kill an opponent of a higher level you gain more xp/gold
Note: This will make it more likely that you want to fight someone better than you.
Level difference (just an example)
- 8>16 = 10 gold, 40 xp
- 3>8 = 20 gold, 60 xp
- 1>2 = 40 gold, 80 xp
0 (same) = 80 gold, 100xp
1>2 = 120 gold, 200 xp
3>4 = 140 gold, 300 xp
5>7 = 180 gold, 400 xp
8>10 = 200 gold, 500 xp
11>13 = 220 gold, 600 xp
14>16 = 240 gold, 700 xp
2) Penalty for loosing duels:
As in battle, there is a chance for equipment damage.
If you continue to loose duels - you end up paying more fixing your weapons than gaining gold/xp.
This is a good counter for cheats (if one keeps letting him self get killed - for the other to earn gold he ends up having to pay for weapons repairs thus loosing money helping his friend getting money.)
I think duel server is the best spot to learn new tactics, etc. and sometime I get horrible K/D, by having your penalty for loosing, I'd have to go back to what I know and not improve.
I agree tho, we would need something to counter exploiting and all, in my opinion, if the reward you get is almost the same as x1, why would they lose their time leeching on duel?
A very low reward will make the duelers happy anyway, because they are already dueling without any reward and will probably bring new players in it.