The World Cup Discussion Thread (OOC, Version IV)

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

OK, me. I'm going to be short for a change
Yes RPing Qualifying for 9 straight days is a bitch.
I've been here for a year & a half and I've seen a lot of people have to cut back b/c RL got real for them.
I'm trying in the WLC to build in more gap days while not stretching the thing out. Maybe it won't work. But I do think an extra day or two during the WCQ isn't a terrible idea. We don't need to hold signups open once the host has been chosen, we've had plenty of time to get in if we choose.

OK, not short.

[Apox]

One of the reasons behind adding in the rest days in the WCQs was due to the burnout that people had from RPing every day with one day off for about 2.5 weeks. This was having an effect on the pacing of the World Cups, as it felt a bit like everyone needed two months off after World Cups to recover for the next one. Spreading this out will hopefully help to alleviate these problems.

One argument against doing this is that it extends the entire World Cup cycle, which is a fair point. However, if people have been able to spread out their RPing efforts a bit more then hopefully they won't be so tired and burnt out post World Cup and so the start of the next World Cup cycle could roll around a bit quicker with more enthusiam to get things underway. In recent World Cups the time-period between opening signups and MD1 of WCQs has been somewhere on the order of 2-4 months so it's not as if there isn't time built into the whole process.

Another good argument is that this takes more attention away from every other sport / domestic leagues on NS. However, this will hopefully be mitigated by an increased number of rest days during the WCQs. This allows people time to RP during the World Cup and also RP other sports/not get burnout/have a rest on days where no scorination occurs. This might actually help with a common complaint over the years that "the whole forums shuts down for anything non football when the World Cup is one" and everyone has to cram everything else into the World Cup offseason. Hopefully a change to more off-days in the WC might help with finally allowing other sports calendars to become decoupled from the World Cup.

These are just my thoughts and outline my support for this sort of bid wholeheartedly.

[Farfadillis]

Small groups + play-offs sounds like a recipee for disaster, in my opinion. Both things increase randomness considerably.

Regarding the taking breaks thing: I'm initially in favour of it, but has anybody considered scorinating more than one match per non-off-day? It would mitigate the need for smaller groups whilst allowing more breaks than having smaller groups would. Timewise, it's almost the same thing as cutting down the group size in half.

[Free Republics]

Small groups + play-offs sounds like a recipee for disaster, in my opinion. Both things increase randomness considerably.

Regarding the taking breaks thing: I'm initially in favour of it, but has anybody considered scorinating more than one match per non-off-day? It would mitigate the need for smaller groups whilst allowing more breaks than having smaller groups would. Timewise, it's almost the same thing as cutting down the group size in half.

I remember that idea coming up in a discussion about 20 cycles ago and its been floating around ever since. Its just that nobody's ever run with it for a WC bid.

It would also enable 15 groups of 12 to be completed in just 11 scorinations or 15 groups of 14 in just 13 so playoffs could be avoided without an extremely long qualifying even if we saw a return to the larger WCQ fields of the past.

[Kelssek]

has anybody considered scorinating more than one match per non-off-day?

I would not be in favour of it, but it's not a bad idea if it helps psychologically to address something I find a bit disturbing:

the burnout that people had from RPing every day with one day off for about 2.5 weeks.

Yes RPing Qualifying for 9 straight days is a bitch.

To which I say: Yikes. You shouldn't feel like you have to do that. If this is normal now, it is not healthy for participants or for the community.

[Valanora]

I'm sort of okay with the idea of 2 matchdays per scorination for qualifiers, since most "international weekends" have 2 qualifiers for most associations.

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

has anybody considered scorinating more than one match per non-off-day?

I would not be in favour of it, but it's not a bad idea if it helps psychologically to address something I find a bit disturbing:

the burnout that people had from RPing every day with one day off for about 2.5 weeks.

Yes RPing Qualifying for 9 straight days is a bitch.

To which I say: Yikes. You shouldn't feel like you have to do that. If this is normal now, it is not healthy for participants or for the community.

I shouldn't have made it sound so negative. If you've got a good narrative or are involved with someone else's storyline, it's a lot easier. NO one should think they have to RP every day.

[NSWC Signups]

Host voting is now open

[Northwest Kalactin]

I am announcing my retirement from NS thanks guys

[Drawkland]

I am announcing my retirement from NS thanks guys

Sorry you've left so soon. Happy trails.

[Recuecn]

[Chromatika]

Been stalking for a while. Only missed one cycle? Not bad for a yearlong break. Probably won't do as much as before, but I missed writing.

If you had a Chromatik, I will be re-using a few of them, but probably not the League.

Missed you all!

[Ethane]

Been stalking for a while. Only missed one cycle? Not bad for a yearlong break. Probably won't do as much as before, but I missed writing.

If you had a Chromatik, I will be re-using a few of them, but probably not the League.

Missed you all!

Chromatika, we missed you loads too! Glad you are back even if in a reduced capacity.

My take on the WC stuff: EQS' bid is fine; breaks are good. So are many of the other suggestions for the WC. (I kinda really wanna vote for Drawkland's bid but I won't)

[Savojarna]

I'm sort of okay with the idea of 2 matchdays per scorination for qualifiers, since most "international weekends" have 2 qualifiers for most associations.

I already run things like that IC'ly (the Savojar IC rhythm is basically WCQ happens Thursday/Sunday every three to four weeks), so I wouldn't mind. Although I'm not sure if it matters, because I don't think that there was a major pressure to RP every day.

[Equestrian States]

This is a friendly reminder for those (E)WCC members who have not yet voted that you have just over 24 hours before voting ends for the WC and BoF.

[Cosumar]

Been stalking for a while. Only missed one cycle? Not bad for a yearlong break. Probably won't do as much as before, but I missed writing.

If you had a Chromatik, I will be re-using a few of them, but probably not the League.

Missed you all!

Welcome back, Chrom!

Your presence was missed as well, at least in the far northeast - it was getting a little quiet up here

You've come back at a good time with a new World Cup cycle and [presumably] UICA transfer window both imminent

[Ethane]

Congratulations Drawkland EQS and Banija, can't wait for the WC.

Speaking of which, Ethane are looking for a new manager for the world cup. If you have anyone who would want to manage Ethane, please TG Mr with their name, experience, and why you think they'd be a great manager of Ethane. We'd like to have them in place ready for the world cup.

[The Archregimancy]

It looks like I've missed the host voting.

My apologies.

I've been a bit ill recently (food poisoning; be very careful about raw tomatoes in Cairo), so haven't logged on to NS very much at all in the last couple of weeks. Fingers crossed I can be a bit more engaged again in the coming weeks.

[The Authoritarian Republic of Lochario]

What does CTE on the sign up thread mean?

[Hapilopper]

What does CTE on the sign up thread mean?

Ceased to exist.

[Free Republics]

The Baptism of Fire 70 Everything Thread is up. Reminder TGs will be going out today to all 37 eligible nations that signed up for the BoF. If you believe your BoF signup has been missed, please contact me ASAP.

[The Archregimancy]

has anybody considered scorinating more than one match per non-off-day?

I would not be in favour of it, but it's not a bad idea if it helps psychologically to address something I find a bit disturbing:

the burnout that people had from RPing every day with one day off for about 2.5 weeks.

Yes RPing Qualifying for 9 straight days is a bitch.

To which I say: Yikes. You shouldn't feel like you have to do that. If this is normal now, it is not healthy for participants or for the community.

Just catching up on some recent posts now that I'm no longer prostrate and being force-fed antibiotics...

RPing should of course be done because we enjoy it, not because we feel obligated to, or because we think it's the only way to boost your RP bonus enough to improve your qualification chances. Participating in the NSWC should be fun, not a duty. Really, that can't be stressed enough.

That said, I'm really not too keen on the 'two matches per scorination' idea. I'm not so opposed that I'm going to actively campaign against it, but I'm really not sure it's a good precedent to set.

I just don't think anything's really broken with the current format.

[Aurevbush]

What makes a good starting roster?

[Darmen]

What makes a good starting roster?

At the bare minimum, the names and positions of your players are nice to know. Be sure to also include your RP permissions. Beyond that, things like age, club, caps and goals can also be nice to know, and any other information you think your opponents will find useful when RPing your team can be included as well.

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

What makes a good starting roster?

Exactly what Darmen said--the more info, the better. But some people throw up 15 names with a position and that's it.
Depending on how much time and skill you have, you might choose to do a lot graphic work, or maybe you just want to stick to player bios.
Skim through the 1st page of the threads for the Copa Rushmori, Campianato de Esportiva the AOCAF or the Independents Cup to get a feel how different nations approach it.

Good Luck!