Interesting.

I'm actually a free-form role-play dueller by nature (as opposed to using RPG mechanics), since that's where most of my history involving fighting-based role-play has come from, but I'm not entirely against the idea of using stat systems and game mechanics during such duels as well (so long as the system works for the particularly role-play in question; honestly my main story project's setting is far too diverse and complex for a conventional RPG set of mechanics to work in the battles, which is why my associates usually suggest I stick with my free-form style). I've run my own Tabletop RPG in the past, and implemented stat systems into some of my unique text-based role-plays before (including my own class systems and skill lists), so I understand where your appeal for this is (it helps to balance out combat if the setting doesn't require more imagination than dice and stats can handle).

On my own end, however, I have very little personal experience with D&D, so I would probably need to research D&D a bit in order to become informed enough to properly role-play using this sort of system, or formulate a strategy around it. One of my associates had me under the impression that it was standard procedure for people to use some sort of stat system in the Arena forum here, rather than play free-form, but you suggesting using dice is making me wonder if that was misinformation. Though I don't see myself getting involved in my free-form duelling on this site, for a few reasons I won't go into since they're not related to this thread's purpose.

Either way, I think it's a good idea; just uncertain if it would be something I could work with personally.