World Bowl XXXI Signup Thread (CLOSED)

[Thereisnogodistan]

The world's number one will attempt to actually win it this time.

We are the puppets of the masters quoted above.

[Cumhact]

Cumhact are in!

[World Bowl]

Signups updated through Cumhact.

[West Angola]

We're in.

[The Fair Republic]

In

[Free Republics]

Signing up as a puppet of West Saintland, with Falatulu's rank (as they will be part of the FFR again before the World Bowl begins).

[Republic Of Rawn]

The Republic of Rawn will join

[OIsINiSTAn]

Oisinistan sign up.

Also, I'd like to invite my puppet Youhavenorightsistan.

[Youhavenorightsistan]

Oisinistan sign up.

Also, I'd like to invite my puppet Youhavenorightsistan.

Aye. Confirming that I'm the puppet of the above.

[World Bowl]

Signups updated.

[Vettrera]

signing up

[Somersville]

I am the People's Republic of Somersville. I have a population of about 77 million, I have wrote to NationStatesCollegeFootball 15 cup.

[Kep]

In possible joint bid with another nation pending reply.
Pre-confirming Silver Rainbow Fumes

[Somersville]

I am joining

[Kep]

Actually, I'm out

[Schottia]

In.

[World Bowl]

Signups updated.

[World Bowl]

With the host bid deadline a little over 3 days away, we're still looking for our first host bid.

[Jeckland]

Eggs!

[Main Nation Ministry]

Can I be in?

[Christian Isles]

In

[Korizland]

Hail Hydra!

Korizland joins.

[Equatorial Zeldaen]

I shall compete.

[CoraSpia]

signing up as greater vakolicci haven

[Free Republics]

OOC: Since there are still no host bids a little over 24 hours before the bidding deadline (which is 4 weeks after the original opening of this thread), I figured I might as well post one of my own:

The Free Republics bid for World Bowl XXXI
A Return to Remember

In the interest of reestablishing themselves on the world stage, the Federation Government of the Free Republics presents the following bid for the consideration of the World Bowl Assembly:

About the Free Republics

The Free Republics are a vast federation of Republics, spanning 3 continents, that pride themselves on being, from their perspective, the freest nation in the multiverse. In most of the Free Republics, you are free to do almost anything, so long as you have the money to pay your own way. Laws do very greatly between Republics, so be sure to read up on the local laws before entering a Republic. Republics are forbidden from restricting a number of basic freedoms, such as the absolute freedom of speech, the right to carry open or concealed firearms in public and the right to due process. Laws do exist against crimes such as theft and murder and there are laws against non-consensual assault, but one should keep in mind that the Free Republics defines consent in a broad manner. The Free Republics has faced political turmoil in recent years, with two administrations coming to power that ignored the federation's Constitution and violated many fundamental rights but under the leadership of Consul Nicholls, most of their laws have been repealed and the Free Republics is in the process of returning to normalcy.

In the past, the Republicans have fielded a team in a number of editions of the World Bowl, which has been respectable but which has proven consistently unable to reach the playoffs. However, due to political turmoil, the Free Republics has gone unrepresented at the past several World Bowls (though their former National Team did represent the then-independent island Republic of Falatulu at the 29th World Bowl), but now that Consul O'Reilly has resigned, the FFR has re-entered the World Bowl and will be returning at this edition.

The user behind the Free Republics has hosted or co-hosted almost every major tournament in NS Sports including the World Cup, BoF, CoH, 3 WBCs, World Bowl XXII, an IBC, a WCoH, the X Winter Olympics, other multi-sport events, a CR and a CE as well as many other tournaments over the years.

Format/Tiebreakers

The last World Bowl that was (co-)hosted by the Free Republics used an unconventional format so, in honor of that tradition, we have elected to propose a new unconventional format for this World Bowl. The field for World Bowl XXXI will be divided into conferences and divisions. Teams will face their divisional opponents twice (home and away) and will play each of their conference opponents. The team with the best overall record in each division will advance to the playoffs and will be joined by wild card(s) from their conference. As there are currently 40 teams signed up for this World Bowl (by my current, informal, count), potential formats are as follows:

40 teams - 4 conferences of 2 divisions each, 5 teams per division. Teams will play a 13 game season, with each team playing one interdivisional game at a neutral site. Two wild card teams per conference.
48 teams - 4 conferences of 3 divisions each, 4 teams per division. Teams will play a 14 game season. One wild card team per conference.
54 teams - 6 conferences of 3 divisions each, 3 teams per division. Teams will play a 10 game season. One wild card team per conference.
60 teams - 6 conferences of 2 divisions each, 5 teams per division. Teams will play a 13 game season, with each team playing one interdivisional game at a neutral site. Two wild card teams per conference.
64 teams - 8 conferences of 2 divisions each, 4 teams per division. Teams will play a 10 game season. One wild card team per conference.

For the playoffs, teams will be seeded based upon: A) whether they won their division or are a wild card team and B) their record. In subsequent rounds, the playoffs would be re-seeded much like the NFL playoffs are re-seeded in RL though all playoff games will be held in the Free Republics.

Ties will be broken by HTH record, HTH point differential, Divisional Record (for teams in the same division), Point differential and Points For (in that order). If still tied, it'll either be broken randomly (if a spot in the playoffs is not at stake) or we'll do a play-in game (or play-in games) between the tied team(s).

Scorination & RP Bonus

Xkoranate will be used, with the same modified version of SQIS-IFAF that was used in World Bowl XXII (and many World Bowls since then). Xkoranate style modifiers will be used. RP bonus will be purely cumulative. Should a Round of 24 be used, bonuses for Round of 24 RPs would be cumulative, but Round of 16 bonuses would be doubled for those that receive byes. I will not be revealing the bonus scale, though it will be relatively generous and fair to all styles of RP. In the event that either West Saintland or the Free Republics advance to the playoffs, third party scorination would be requested.

If you have any questions, comments or if I forgot anything, feel free to post them.