The World Cup Discussion Thread (OOC, version III)

[Jeruselem]

Well, I'd had me and puppet Jeru FC in the same finals group ... that's worse than having them in the same qualifying group

[Starblaydia]

Dang it, WC rolls around and I'm visiting Europe for 2 months. Sigh, see ya later acceptable KPB ranking...

[Kitsunia-Deesse]

Dang it, WC rolls around and I'm visiting Europe for 2 months. Sigh, see ya later acceptable KPB ranking...

Vous voir bientôt, Starblaydia.

[Northern Sunrise Islands]

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Also, NSI go ahead and try we know how that one ends!

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Love you folks.

[McKleigh]

Group 23
Equestrian States
McKleigh

Group H
Equestrian States
McKleigh

Group 21
Equestrian States
McKleigh

It's a small world after all...

Hey hey......You can throw Runner Cup 2 McKleigh and Crystal Empire in there too. Maybe even NSCAA 6 Harmony Conference co-hosting.

[United Eastedge]

Just curious, why is necessary two hosts for the World Cup?

[Gregoryisgodistan]

This ...
Sometimes I wish I knew my opponents as well as my puppets when trying match reports. Also, when everything you're RPing about is encapsulated in a single group it allows you to focus your RP more ... in my opinion anyway.

I know I'm biased, but I'm relaxed about it.

I've had the Holy Empire and the Archregimancy play each other before, and it always creates interesting RP opportunities.

And I'm not sure how anyone thinks they would go about trying to win or lose games with one nation in order to favour the other given the way scorination works; but I suppose people are welcome to try.

Really, I think it's a non-issue.

I think it depends on the puppet. For instance, GSAZ didn't provide as compelling storylines as I thought it would, which is why I barely RP'd it in the BoF. I would have considered withdrawing it for the WC but I didn't think that was allowed after participating in the BoF. On the other hand, I could see a lot of interesting interaction between my seldom-RP'd puppet Gregory Llama Land (libertarian free land founded by another Gregory) and Gregoryisgodistan, plus more things to RP about GLL in general, so I'd consider entering that puppet instead next cycle and in the future.

But ultimately, there wasn't much I could do with GSAZ as it's not as much a country as it is an exclave for government VIPs to do stuff that would be illegal for commoners (like saying "coconut") without interference or distraction. Plus its population is way too small for it to make any kind of sense. I don't regret entering a puppet this cycle, but I do regret entering GSAZ instead of GLL. If you're going to enter a puppet, do one that offers additional RP opportunities.

Edit since I don't want to double post and UEE posted his question as I was making this post:

Just curious, why is necessary two hosts for the World Cup?

Short answer: Because the Constitution says so. (Technically it says "at least two.")

Longer answer: Several factors. First of all, it would (according to some people) be far too much work for one person to host all of qualifying. I personally don't buy this argument, since only one person handles qualifying at a time, typically, and then they switch off midway through. I've always wondered why they didn't split up the groups and each of them do half all the time like they do for the World Cup proper. That would seem to be easier. Second, it means hosts don't scorinate any of their own matches, since the other co-host handles it. This way we don't have to rely on unelected third-party scorinators to scorinate host games. That's fine for lesser tournaments (as is allowing them to scorinate their own matches in early stages, provided they're a trusted user) but for the biggest tournament in NS Sports this is the way it should be done.

[Taeshan]

Just curious, why is necessary two hosts for the World Cup?

It's a large process putting together everything. Making sure none of the nation cte's and you don't have to delve out their punishments at the end, or have to replace them before the draw. Drawing 180+ teams, potting 180+ teams. Scorinating and keeping in line 10-30 groups. Making sure the scorinating is set up correctly. Doing the same when it comes to the finals.

It's not as necessary for the two smaller tournaments, but its now traditional. Honestly most of the more senior members of the ns world could do it alone, but those tournaments are seen as ways to help newer members of the ns world get into hosting after a few tournaments around and learn from a more experienced hosting team.

Also it aids in fairness, as to allow each host to not be scorinating themselves, nor have to find someone outside their own groups to scorinate for them and helps split the gargantuan effort.

As for the other tourneys (WBC, WB, WLC, WHC yada yada) you tend not to get as many teams, and therefore it's not as big of an undertaking and one person can easily do a 30-60 team tournament. Whereas here in the footballing sect we tend to need to develop the skills through COH and BOF hosting to host the bigger WC tournament, the other tourneys are also useful in learning the ropes and such as solo experience.

[Equestrian States]

I've always wondered why they didn't split up the groups and each of them do half all the time like they do for the World Cup proper. That would seem to be easier.

That has been done before in the past, such as at WC58 (my first cycle). However, it really comes down to preference and the hosts' RL schedules. Cass and I considered splitting the WC67 qualifying groups, but as I had university finals at about the same time, we decided against it. It's a lot easier to guarantee that one of the hosts will be available for a week than it is to guarantee both hosts will be available for two weeks.

[Legalese]

I've always wondered why they didn't split up the groups and each of them do half all the time like they do for the World Cup proper. That would seem to be easier.

That has been done before in the past, such as at WC58 (my first cycle). However, it really comes down to preference and the hosts' RL schedules. Cass and I considered splitting the WC67 qualifying groups, but as I had university finals at about the same time, we decided against it. It's a lot easier to guarantee that one of the hosts will be available for a week than it is to guarantee both hosts will be available for two weeks.

Similar situation with 68. Neither FR or I had the schedule to do two full weeks on a consistent basis, especially at the numbers we have now. It can take two hours or more a night during qualifying to read RPs and put everything together, and even with you only having to worry about half the teams, that's still a lot to cover for 5/6 nights/week for multiple weeks. I do agree that taking half the groups has some benefits (esp. for hosts who also have a puppet in the field), but the number of days that locks you in for can be a real impediment to it.

One thing that I think those who haven't hosted a World Cup (or another massive event like the Olympics) may not realize is just how time consuming this whole thing can be, even in just the preparation. I'll even admit to forgetting that, as my last WC before 68 was 37, with a much smaller field. I was blown away by just how long it actually took to get through all of the RPs in a way that gave everyone a fair reading and assessment, as well as deaing with the setup and adjustments I had to make to the scorination file each night; if anything the easiest part is the scorination - credit on that going to the folks who've programmed various versions that took us from dice to Leagion to NSFS, to xkoranate. And none of this even includes the bells, whistles, and flourishes a host may choose to provide in terms of their own RP environment and presentation. It's definitely enough for me to take ideas like Vilita's four-host plan seriously, for sure.

[Starblaydia]

Everyone has missed the most important reason, which is that the biggest and oldest tournament on the forums isn't reliant upon the varying fortune of one person's schedule, real life crises, emergencies, internet connection, etc. There's a safety net inherent in a two-host bid.

[Greater Watford]

Damn, not going to be able to roleplay my last few games, unless i can come up with some ingenious method of posting on my phone in Wales

On the issue of puppets, if it affects people so much, what is to stop a member of the WCC proposing a change? Isn't that why we have a WCC.

[Audioslavia]

Everyone has missed the most important reason, which is that the biggest and oldest tournament on the forums isn't reliant upon the varying fortune of one person's schedule, real life crises, emergencies, internet connection, etc. There's a safety net inherent in a two-host bid.

Although, that said, the first cup to have two hosts saw both disappear.

[Jeckland]

I'd just like to make one thing clear about this puppet thing, where I seem to have sparked a rather large debate. I do not intend to attempt to use my puppet to my advantage, nor am I complaining about the fact that it is in my group.

[United Gordonopia]

Don't know if anyone really misses me, but I disappeared with no explanation a bit ago so I figured I may as well post something.

Long story short RL got busy, needed a break, etc. etc. I'm getting active again, though I'll probably lay off sports for the time being so as not to heap on too much. Hopefully I'll get a chance to RP with y'all again soon!

[Yttribia]

Don't know if anyone really misses me, but I disappeared with no explanation a bit ago so I figured I may as well post something.

Long story short RL got busy, needed a break, etc. etc. I'm getting active again, though I'll probably lay off sports for the time being so as not to heap on too much. Hopefully I'll get a chance to RP with y'all again soon!

Welcome back! It's great that you didn't vanish into thin air.

[Nephara]

Of course I noticed you left. You were my BoF host, after all. Good to see you return.

[Maklohi Vai]

Don't know if anyone really misses me, but I disappeared with no explanation a bit ago so I figured I may as well post something.

Long story short RL got busy, needed a break, etc. etc. I'm getting active again, though I'll probably lay off sports for the time being so as not to heap on too much. Hopefully I'll get a chance to RP with y'all again soon!

Good to hear you're still around!

[Patistan]

Don't know if anyone really misses me, but I disappeared with no explanation a bit ago so I figured I may as well post something.

Long story short RL got busy, needed a break, etc. etc. I'm getting active again, though I'll probably lay off sports for the time being so as not to heap on too much. Hopefully I'll get a chance to RP with y'all again soon!

Of course i remember you,you were my BOF host

[San Jose Guayabal]

Don't know if anyone really misses me, but I disappeared with no explanation a bit ago so I figured I may as well post something.

Long story short RL got busy, needed a break, etc. etc. I'm getting active again, though I'll probably lay off sports for the time being so as not to heap on too much. Hopefully I'll get a chance to RP with y'all again soon!

Obviously, you were my BoF host in the 53rd edition with Astograth.

Also with the WC Dates and cutoffs for our dear hostsChaps I have the following question.

At what time of tuesday will be the WC Cutoff?

Beforehand, thanks for your patience.

[German American States]

Well, I'm back and ready to go.

Group 16
Patistan
Rüntenbach
Notsofreeland
Mamaroneck
The Inevitable Syndicate
Brenecia
Dainer
The Channel 4 News Team

Now, I don't typically comment on groups in the WCDT, but this one looks to be very, very, interesting indeed...

Ya don't say.

[Felix]

Don't know if anyone really misses me, but I disappeared with no explanation a bit ago so I figured I may as well post something.

Long story short RL got busy, needed a break, etc. etc. I'm getting active again, though I'll probably lay off sports for the time being so as not to heap on too much. Hopefully I'll get a chance to RP with y'all again soon!

Nah man, I missed ya.

Welcome back. c:

[Gregoryisgodistan]

Is the schedule still tentative or did the co-hosts discuss it and forget to remove the thingy that said they hadn't? Also when will cutoff be and will you post cool memes with it?

[Boring Paradise]

I am busy until sunday with family stuff so I will apologize to my group mates about not RPing, I would hope to loads when I get back.

[Jeckland]

I'll be on holiday in the US for most of qualifying and will likely either not be able to post or be able to post limited RP's, apologies.