I still don't quite understand what I'm doing in the duels though, it says Draw! then is click markers all over the other bloke the press shoot. Whats the little bars on the right mean?
Ok, I can help you here.
In my experience it's always better to draw AFTER your opponent as it gives you more Dead Eye time (more accuracy) to place your shots. When it says 'DRAW!' on the screen your opponent is drawing his weapon, so draw as soon as you see this. You can draw first, but as I said it reduces Dead Eye time!
The two bars to the side are hard to incorporate fully into your duel but are pretty important if you want to be the best.
One bar is your opponents (red IIRC) and one is yours (blue) - The aim being to fill your meter up quicker than your opponent, as whoevers bar is fullest when Dead Eye runs out will shoot first (and usually win).
Filling the bar is done by placing shots. You may have noticed the target reticle pulses from large and red to small and white.
Red reticles are less accurate and fill your bar slower (often requiring the full 6 shots to kill) meaning sloppy shooting and a better chance for your opponent to end you.
White reticles are what you ideally want - they are deadly accurate and fill your bar like nobodies business, you can easily and consistantly finish duels with one shot (both lethally and non-lethally) so try and get the timing right to pin a whitey on his hide.
A little guide to respect ratings for individual/combo shots (1 being best possible):
1. Two shot (+200 respect IIRC) - First white reticle shot to opponents gunslinging hand (non-lethal disarm shot) second white reticle shot to opponents hat (non-lethal i-don't-like-your-headwear shot).
2. Two shot (+??? respect) - First white reticle shot to opponents gunslinging hand (non-lethal disarm shot) second white reticle shot to opponents head (lethal headshot).
>>> The above shots are very luck dependant. The second shot of the first combo (double non-lethal) often either misses their hat completely or smashes into their skull. The first disarms shots will unsettle your opponent and so they may move anatomy into your line of fire.
3. Single shot (+100 respect IIRC) - White reticle shot to opponents gunslinging hand (non-lethal disarm shot). Have fun lassoing them after the duel and dragging them behind your horse until they die!
4. Single shot (+100 respect IIRC) - White reticle shot to opponents head (lethal headshot). This can be hard as your barrel has a long way to climb before you can get your shot away.
5. Triple shot (+??? respect) - First shot (white or red reticle) to leg, second shot (white or red) to chest, third shot (white or red) to head.
6. Barrage shot (+??? respect) - All 6 shots (white or red reticle) placed up the opponents body, with 3 or so centre-mass. The 'n00b' tactic, pretty random whether you win or lose.