Kinitaria and Kazamatsuri bid for Cup of Harmony 60

[Kinitaria]

What's going on?
Kinitaria and Kazamatsuri, two nations currently establishing themselves in the world of NS sports, are seeking your approval to host the 60th edition of the Cup of Harmony.

Who?
Kinitaria is a single-party state in Atlantian Oceania, and the Kinitar national football team is very proud of their sole World Cup qualification to date, mainly owing to a lack of other recent achievements. The nation has historically been isolated from much of the world, until an increase in liberalisation and openness about 30 years ago, leading to a fiercely independent and nationalistic fervour that forms part of the national consciousness. However, behind the economic facade, Kinitaria has suffered from political and social turmoil over the past few decades. It's hard for a government to support itself for very long, and the current regime is facing mass unrest from its citizens.

Kazamatsuri, a protectorate of Mizuyuki, is a nation of scattered islands located in Esportiva. The nation possesses a great passion for football, but have had to watch their colonial overlords take the stage in recent World Cups, something which rankles with the inhabitants. They're determined to make their mark on the world stage, and become recognised as a significant force in their own right. Their history is tightly bound with that of Mizuyuki, but with the passage of a treaty granting them a high degree of autonomy, the Kazamatsurians are hopeful of a bright future ahead in which they can forge their own path.

So how are you going to do this?
Our ideal tournament would include the same 32-team format we all know and love, with a group stage followed by a 16-team knockout round leading up to the final. If the quality of RP in the World Cup qualifiers turns out to be exceptionally high, and/or a lot of high-RP sides aren't making the finals, we're completely open to expanding the field to 40 (8 groups of 5).

We are aware that, owing to the format of the World Cup qualifiers, a higher than usual proportion of nations will still be in contention for qualification coming up to the playoffs. With this in mind, we intend to send out invites as soon as possible during and immediately after the playoffs, so that we can get our field filled in before the start of the World Cup finals. The plan is currently to have the CoH MD1 played the day before the WC MD1.

Tiebreakers in the group stage would be: H2H points, H2H goal difference, overall goal difference, RP bonus (explained as drawing of lots ICly).

Scorination will be done using the latest version of xkoranate using the SQIS formula. If either host nation takes part in the competition, their games will be scorinated by the other host.

There will be a cumulative RP bonus that will not degrade. One matchday worth of RP bonus will be awarded for roster posts. The hosts will not be releasing the exact criteria used for grading RPs (or inviting nations to the tournament), but we will be looking for originality and initiative from participants.

With this in mind, we will be providing information about the host nations during the tournament. This information would serve to act as a RP prompt only, participants will not be obliged to make use of it, and choosing to use or not use it would have no impact on RP bonus.

Any previous experience?
Kinitaria has been an active member of the community for the past two years, and has successfully hosted a Baptism of Fire tournament along with Legalese, and an AOCAF solo.

Kazamatsuri, under the label of Mizuyuki, is an active and upcoming user on NS Sports, and has previously hosted the International FireStorm Cup, and now looks to move onto something bigger.

The floor is now open for questions from the community.

[Cassadaigua]

Strong bid, both are great RPers and ready to host in my opinion.

[Free Republics]

I'm glad to see a CoH bid and it is always good to see a first-time WCC bidder. I would have no reservations whatsoever voting for your bid.

[Patistan]

Digging the logo,you have my support For now

[Liventia]

Digging the logo,you have my support For now

I would sure as hell hope your vote is based on their bid specifics and not the niceness of the logo.

[San Jose Guayabal]

This bid seems pretty solid, and it's interesting to see a pair of users who tend to do excellent RPing and the good inspiration from Kaza.

[Super-Llamaland]

This bid seems pretty solid, and it's interesting to see a pair of users who tend to do excellent RPing and the good inspiration from Kaza.

This.

LLAMA'S STAMP OF APPROVAL

[Qazox]

Though I will decline participating; I have to ask: why limit it to 32 teams again? Seems to be making it less inclusive when traditionally the CoH has been a inclusive tourney, provided nations meet the minimum requirements.

[Vilita]

Isn't the idea of suggesting that repeating something that previous hosts have done is in contradiction with what the tournament has traditionally done, in itself, a contradiction?

Do you have statistics that show the number of entrants in each CoH, dating back to the inaugural CoH? I mean, I remember CoH's with like 8-12 teams in them


not to mention the fact that the host bid states they will expand to 40 if they feel its warranted, so i really don't know the point of your comment qazox

[Gregoryisgodistan]

Though I will decline participating; I have to ask: why limit it to 32 teams again? Seems to be making it less inclusive when traditionally the CoH has been a inclusive tourney, provided nations meet the minimum requirements.

They said they would be willing to expand it to 40.

[New Sideburn]

Though I will decline participating; I have to ask: why limit it to 32 teams again? Seems to be making it less inclusive when traditionally the CoH has been a inclusive tourney, provided nations meet the minimum requirements.

The CoH is a reward for good writing. It isn't a universal consolation prize, and shouldn't be stretched purely for the sake of not leaving anyout out.

[Qazox]

Isn't the idea of suggesting that repeating something that previous hosts have done is in contradiction with what the tournament has traditionally done, in itself, a contradiction?

Do you have statistics that show the number of entrants in each CoH, dating back to the inaugural CoH? I mean, I remember CoH's with like 8-12 teams in them

not to mention the fact that the host bid states they will expand to 40 if they feel its warranted, so i really don't know the point of your comment qazox

Just was wondering why there was a cap originally, that's all.

[Legalese]

I won't speak to the tradition, but I share Qazox's concern, in one way - the level of inclusion. I appreciate the inclination to expand to 40 if needed, but looking at the numbers now, there's as many as eighty teams that have a legitimate case for a CoH bid. Even if all thirty of the World Cup participants come from that group (no way I'm speculating on the actual count there), that's still ten teams or more left out, and that number doesn't count teams that have done the minimum for consideration (a single RP, that is).

I have nothing but praise for Kinitaria's hosting ability - I gave him a challenging situation with our BoF round, and he performed exceptionally - but I am wondering why the limit is in place, and if so, what factors will play into who to keep, and who to cut.

[Kazamatsuri]

First off, I would like to thank everyone for their kind words of support - they are much appreciated, to be sure.

And secondly, in response to this -

Though I will decline participating; I have to ask: why limit it to 32 teams again? Seems to be making it less inclusive when traditionally the CoH has been a inclusive tourney, provided nations meet the minimum requirements.

Qaz, we're not explicitly committing to a field of 32; as stated in the OP, we're more than happy to tweak the format in order to accommodate as many deserving RPers as possible. If we feel that there is enough quality to warrant an expansion, rest assured that we will make every effort to do so; by the same token, we're not averse to cutting down on the 32 if there aren't enough nations that meet our criteria.

I would also posit that there is no minimum requirement per se, other than the 1 RP requirement set out in the WCC constitution - quality, by its very nature, is a purely subjective criterion. As has been the norm in previous CoHs, we're not going to commit to a hard-and-fast rule for invitation to the CoH.

I won't speak to the tradition, but I share Qazox's concern, in one way - the level of inclusion. I appreciate the inclination to expand to 40 if needed, but looking at the numbers now, there's as many as eighty teams that have a legitimate case for a CoH bid. Even if all thirty of the World Cup participants come from that group (no way I'm speculating on the actual count there), that's still ten teams or more left out, and that number doesn't count teams that have done the minimum for consideration (a single RP, that is).

I have nothing but praise for Kinitaria's hosting ability - I gave him a challenging situation with our BoF round, and he performed exceptionally - but I am wondering why the limit is in place, and if so, what factors will play into who to keep, and who to cut.

Legal, I have yet to discuss the specifics with Kinitaria, but from my conversations with him over TG I was given to understand that we would attempt to maintain a high level of inclusion, in keeping with the spirit of the CoH. The choice of 32, as explained earlier, is in no way set in stone; I will reiterate that should we deem there to be enough RPers whose efforts clearly merit a CoH invite, we will try our damnedest to include them, within reason. Of course, as the senior half of this bid, Kinitaria will have the final say on this matter.

[Super-Llamaland]

What will be your policy concerning high-RP puppets?

[Astograth]

Seems like a solid bid to me, no real objections - not even the tiebreakers, which often don't match my personal preferences. I also have a preference for the CoH as a 32-team tournament for the best non-qualified RPers rather than one for any non-qualified RPer that meets certain criteria, but I appreciate that I am a minority opinion on this.

[Kazamatsuri]

What will be your policy concerning high-RP puppets?

My inclination is to prioritise unique users over puppets; since the CoH is supposed to be a RPing tournament, I'd like to see more quality instead of quantity, and I think I'm justified in my reasoning due to the fact that RPers will have to split their energies between two nations should both of them be invited. I'm not flat out discounting the possibility of both a puppet and a main nation receiving invites, but I would say that a nation controlled by a unique user would be given priority compared to a puppet nation RPing at a similar level.

To wit; puppet nations can receive invites to the CoH, but they will be lower down on our invite list than a unique user RPing at a similar level should the main nation also receive an invite.

the CoH as a 32-team tournament for the best non-qualified RPers rather than one for any non-qualified RPer that meets certain criteria

Concisely put, and precisely what we're aiming for. I can assure you that I share similar sentiments. As mentioned before, there is no clearly defined, objective criteria for an invite such as number of RPs; it is the subjective criterion of quality which is the main consideration. What we're looking for is the best of the rest, so to speak.

[Patistan]

Digging the logo,you have my support For now

I would sure as hell hope your vote is based on their bid specifics and not the niceness of the logo.

I was just telling that their logo was cool,it has my support because of the bid specifications.

[Equestrian States]

Even if there is another bid, I fully intend to support this one as I believe both nations involved are more than capable hosts and members of the community.

[Kazamatsuri]

Now that the CoH host vote has concluded, I'd like to offer a round of thanks - thanks to the voters who trusted Kinitaria and I with the job, and thanks to the community at large - we'll make sure your faith isn't misplaced. Commiserations to our worthy competitors Taeshan and Eastfield Lodge, who I'm sure would have done a great job otherwise.

We'll try our best to make a bloody good go of it!

[Taeshan]

Now that the CoH host vote has concluded, I'd like to offer a round of thanks - thanks to the voters who trusted Kinitaria and I with the job, and thanks to the community at large - we'll make sure your faith isn't misplaced. Commiserations to our worthy competitors Taeshan and Eastfield Lodge, who I'm sure would have done a great job otherwise.

We'll try our best to make a bloody good go of it!

Speaking of which i congratulate you guys on your win, and have full belief in you as you embark on hosting the event. Good luck.

[Kinitaria]

I'd just like to echo the words of my co-host: thanks to the community for trusting us with the running of the event, and we'll be sure to deliver for you.