Important to note that Dan McNeely is immortal and has a "shoot dude as fast as possible" policy. He does that to every enemy he faces in the game with the exception of Dialla because SHE WAS ACTUALLY HIS LOVER.
No but seriously, he kills about 10 dudes in the first part of Trapped because he shoots them so fast they can't explain they are his allies.
Based on that I think we can assume Dan is gonna go for the kill as soon as possible, especially if he knows his opponent is hostile(as the rules in this tournament explain). So...how fast can Richards put up a magic shield? Would he put up one as soon as the fight started?
--
GREEN RANGER
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/4548/signaturedi.jpg