Fresh from the success of the Mcleod Cup for Babbage rules football, Babbage Football International announce an agreement with the Football Association for International Rules (FAIR) to promote an international rules football competition for interested nations. Herewith the details of the Cotswold Trophy.
The game
International rules (also known as inter rules or compromise rules) were designed to provide a compromise between Australian rules and Gaelic football codes, facilitating international play.
Gaelic football players receive the advantage of a round ball and a rectangular field (Australian rules use an oval ball and field).
Australian rules players benefit from the opportunity to tackle between the shoulders and thighs, something banned in Gaelic football. The mark also carries over from Australian rules football, with a free kick awarded for any ball caught on the fly from a kick of over 15 metres.
Details of the game can be found on NSWiki.
The Cotswold Trophy
The Cotswold Trophy will be contested between six NationStates nations over a six-day period, on a Monday through Saturday. The first five days will use a complete round-robin or league, with each team playing each other team once. The Grand Final between the top two teams in the league will be contested on Saturday. All games will be played at the Great Dome in Gernsback, Tesla.
Ties for qualification to the Grand Final will first reference head-to-head result, then net points differential, then total goals scored, then total points scored.
Scorination is anticipated for 1100-1130 UTC on each day.
The scorinator
The scorinator was developed by BFI, and derived from their earlier successful work with the Babbage rules scorinator. It includes both ranking and RP bonuses, produces match totals including goals, overs, behinds and total points, and is implemented as a spreadsheet in .ods Open Document format.
The prizes
All six teams will share in the purse of E:600 000.
Champions -- E:250 000
Runners-up -- E:125 000
Third -- E:100 000
Fourth -- E:70 000
Fifth -- E:35 000
Sixth -- E:20 000
About strategies
A strategy is a three-digit number with no zeroes and no duplicated digits, from 123 to 651 to 987. Higher numbers are somewhat more likely to produce offensive-oriented games, and lower numbers the reverse. But there are no guarantees.
A default strategy is submitted with a club's entry. Strategies can be changed for one game or for more games by posting to the event thread.
About roleplay
Teams have the opportunity to roleplay (RP) before the first game by posting a roster, and after each game by posting to a designated thread. A team's RP posts will be evaluated for bonuses added to the team's chance before randomisation. Length is less important than consistency; all of a team's posts on one match day will be evaluated as a single entity.
RP is not required!
To enter
The Babbage Islands will enter IFC Paris to represent the nation. Nations interested in the other five slots should apply by posting their interest, including a default strategy (necessary) and other desired particulars to this thread. Queries may be posted here.
A roster is not due immediately but will be strongly encouraged before the first match. There is not a standard nomenclature for positions in international rules, aside from goalkeeper. Feel free to use Gaelic, Australian, or your own organisation in your RP.
Yours sincerely,
Julianne Phillips
Commissioner, Babbage Football International
