The World Cup Discussion Thread (OOC, Version IV)

[Free Republics]

When's the next World Cup? I'd like to sign up for the World Cup 86 if that's possible...

Nobody knows for sure but the last page or so of this thread has been a discussion about when the signups for World Cup 86 should open. I suspect they'll open sometime this month.

Historically, the signup thread is open for about 2 months before World Cup qualifying starts (and probably about 6 weeks before the Baptism of Fire starts). Even if the pace were somewhat faster, World Cup signups still run for a long time compared to pretty much any other event (with the possible exception of the Olympics).

Between World Cups, we hold the 4 major regional tournaments (AOCAF for Atlantian Oceania, CR for Rushmore, CE for Esportiva and IAC for "Independents" meaning everybody not affiliated with the big 3 sports regions), the under 21 tournament (Di Bradini Cup) and the under 18 tournament (Sporting World Cup). These tournaments will all happen before World Cup 86 starts even if their signup threads open after World Cup 86 signups.

Edit: Looks like Sporting World Cup signups are already open.

[Sylestone]

Congratulations to Free Republics for winning, commiserations to Nephara.
Thank you to everyone who participated and making this tournament such an enjoyable one.
And finally, thank you to Delaclava, Xanneria, Ethane, Kelssek, Zwangzug, Mriin and Farfadillis for hosting this cycle.

[Equestrian States]

Post-WC85 SRS rankings update* is now available

(* - Active Nations List not yet updated)

Key: 7 points for winning the World Cup. 6 points for second place. 5 points for third place. 4 points for fourth place. 3 points for elimination in the quarterfinals. 2 points for elimination in the second round. 1 point for elimination in the group stage.

The nation with the most points not yet in the World Cup Nations' Hall of Fame following World Cup 85 is Sargossa, an active nation with 23 points from 17 finals appearances. As such, Sargossa joins the Hall of Fame as the WC85 inductee.

Congratulations, Sargossa!

As always, if you catch any potential errors, please shoot me a TG or PM so I can fix them.

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

Congratulations are in order for many nations:
--to Free Republics on the their first World Cup title
--and to Sargossa for the HOF!
--to the BoF class who have excelled through qualifying and during the CoH
--to Banija for another strong showing and rising to #1

Thanks to our hosts, and the CoH hosts too for their hard work. Greatest WC ever? Not for me to say, but surely best one since I've a part of NS.

[Twicetagram and JYPe]

Congratulations are in order for many nations:
--to Free Republics on the their first World Cup title
--and to Sargossa for the HOF!
--to the BoF class who have excelled through qualifying and during the CoH
--to Banija for another strong showing and rising to #1

Thanks to our hosts, and the CoH hosts too for their hard work. Greatest WC ever? Not for me to say, but surely best one since I've a part of NS.

^^

[Blouman Empire]

Speaking of which are DBC signups open yet?

[Starblaydia]

Speaking of which are DBC signups open yet?

Recently they've tended to open a little later, after the regional tournaments, as the SWC has taken up the post-WC baton.

[Equestrian States]

Alright, given the responses I've gotten here and via a handful of PMs/TGs, I'm inclined to open signups for WC86 roughly two weeks from now. Should there be a bid posted before then, I'd be fine with opening signups earlier. In the meantime, if anyone is interested in hosting the WC or BoF next cycle, I recommend that you start looking for partners and crafting your bids, because at the end of the day an earlier start to signups will mean nothing if we don't have anyone prepared to host the thing in a timely manner.

[Terre Septentrionale]

I forgot to give my thoughts about the World Cup but I'm fine with the signups opening in 2 weeks from now.

Speaking of which are DBC signups open yet?

I believe they will open soon. Like Star said, we have the Sporting World Cup (U18) first.
Also, Val usually opens signups for both the DBC and World Cup of Hockey at the same time, and she said in the hockey thread WCoH signups will open soon.

[Valanora]

DBC signups are open. A reminder that it is first come, first served, so the first thirty-one people to sign up are those who participate. As such, please do not sign up a main and a puppet, the puppet will be denied entry to accommodate the limited capacity.

[Kandorith]

I am sorry for my very short roleplay in the Cup of Harmony, my girlfriend has an anxiety attack because of a huge ass spider and I am tasked with clearing out the room xD

[Filindostan]

As you may already have noticed, my RP activity in NS continued to dwindle during the previous month.

This is due to the anxiety I currently have as a result of various personal events that I don't want to share to the community as of this moment. To cool things off for my side, I am announcing a hiatus from NS-related activity from the start of next week, with the exception of giving periodic mupdates in Esportiva. No certainties when i can return to the community but I'm assuming a return in early or end of September.

Rest assured that I can complete the upcoming activities I am currently responsible for, including the IUBC XX and the pending orders from NNS.

Thanks for your understanding.

[Jeckland]

Take care of yourself. RL always comes first, and I hope everything there works out for you.

[Geektopia]

I'd like to give a congratulations to Kandorith and Free Republics for their first-ever dubs and a thank you to this cycle's selection of hosts that made me write more and look back less in anger at my M*S*R-making past-self as well as improving other users under their wing.

Expect more crazily-worded roleplay ramblings in the future!

[Northwest Kalactin]

Congrats to Kandorith on the COH win, and to FFR on the WC win!

This is my favorite cycle I have been a part of so far, and there was great RP environment for it!

[Twicetagram and JYPe]

As you may already have noticed, my RP activity in NS continued to dwindle during the previous month.

This is due to the anxiety I currently have as a result of various personal events that I don't want to share to the community as of this moment. To cool things off for my side, I am announcing a hiatus from NS-related activity from the start of next week, with the exception of giving periodic mupdates in Esportiva. No certainties when i can return to the community but I'm assuming a return in early or end of September.

Rest assured that I can complete the upcoming activities I am currently responsible for, including the IUBC XX and the pending orders from NNS.

Thanks for your understanding.

We understand. RL duties are a priority to NS. But I hope you will feel better. The whole NSS community will be here to support you!

On another note, congrats Kandorith for winning the CoH! It was a well deserved win because you have ROed so consistently well. Commiserations to Geektopia for not being able to win, but you've earned a place in the finals, which is good.

Also, this may be late, but congrats Free Republics on your maiden win! Who said you would be going?

[Legalese]

Now that I have my vote back after returning, time to formally propose the following -- amendment in quotes, reasoning below

Amend 2.2.1 to read as follows (update underlined):

2.2.1 Entry
The conditions for entry into the BoF are:
i) A nation must not have previously participated in a WCC-sanctioned Baptism of Fire
ii) A nation must have zero KPB points at the beginning of the World Cup cycle
iii) A nation must have signed up for the World Cup in the appropriate Signup Thread and also indicated a wish to enter the Baptism of Fire. A nation not eligible for the World Cup (see 2.3.1) will not count as having signed up for this purpose.
iv) Only one nation may be permitted per user -- no user may enter two nations in the same Baptism of Fire.

Amend 2.3.1 as follows (changes underlined):

2.3.1 Entry
The conditions for entry into the World Cup are:
i) A nation must have signed up for the World Cup in the appropriate Signup Thread
ii) A user may only sign one nation they control up for the World Cup. If they sign up a nation that participated in the immediately preceding World Cup, they may sign up a second nation, referred to as a puppet. This puppet must be declared as one by the user signing up the main nation to be eligible for the World Cup.
iii)"A nation that participated in the immediately preceding World Cup" shall also include successor nations - i.e., a nation where the user changes the name/way it is referenced during or between cycles, and is accepted as inheriting the KPB ranking of the previous nation.

Reasoning: With a number of old nations back and some wheels spinning, it was realized that as written, returning users would be allowed to enter two nations in their first cup back, and could in theory enter both in the Baptism of Fire if otherwise eligible. These amendments ensure that can't happen, both by limiting users to only one nation in the BoF. This also clarifies puppet rules to affirm that a user can only enter a second nation when entering a nation that participated previously.

[Sargossa]

The nation with the most points not yet in the World Cup Nations' Hall of Fame following World Cup 85 is Sargossa, an active nation with 23 points from 17 finals appearances. As such, Sargossa joins the Hall of Fame as the WC85 inductee.

Congratulations, Sargossa!

Wait... what?!

Well this feels a tad awkward, as I haven't really offered a whole lot to this forum in the last decade or so. Except for relatively consistently answering the clarion call of the World Cup and just generally lurking. But this place has, on far too many occasions to list, provided an outlet or distraction from the dubious delights of adult life. So to all the hosts and organisers and to the fantastic RPers who fuel this forum and allow those of us who don't particularly like to stick their head above the parapet to enjoy it too, this particular long-time lurker thanks you.

[Valanora]

Sorry for disappearing the last few days, I took ill early in the week and am just now starting to get around to the other side. I'll be finalizing what to do with the DBC tonight, or at the latest tomorrow night.

[Graintfjall]

Reasoning: With a number of old nations back and some wheels spinning, it was realized that as written, returning users would be allowed to enter two nations in their first cup back, and could in theory enter both in the Baptism of Fire if otherwise eligible. These amendments ensure that can't happen, both by limiting users to only one nation in the BoF. This also clarifies puppet rules to affirm that a user can only enter a second nation when entering a nation that participated previously.

I do not have a WCC vote so obviously this counts for nought, but:

I understand and agree with the objective of preventing a user from entering two nations in the same BoF. I don't understand the other part of the restriction, though. Why not allow a returning user to enter two nations, so long as they enter only one, if any, of them in the BoF?

[Kelssek]

I have to say I don't really see why this amendment is necessary. Simply put, I don't see that this is a problem that needs to be solved.

I also see a lot of issues with the drafting that make it unclear and confusing. In principle there's no such thing as a nation ineligible for the World Cup, and "a nation not eligible for the World Cup" is not defined in the section being referenced.

When you start the sentence with "A user may only sign one nation they control up for the World Cup", the sensible reading is that this is the general principle. But in fact and in practice, the general principle is that a user can have up to two nations unless it is their first time entering the World Cup. The existing wording is much clearer and preferable.

[Sarzonia]

I'm not 100 percent sure if the "problem" this proposal seeks to solve is necessarily a problem to begin with.

Owners of a brand new nation who have never roleplayed in the World Cup can participate in the Baptism of Fire. A country that returns after a long absence isn't eligible to unless they for some reason opted not to compete in the BoF the first time. Additionally, and more central to the issue, new players can only compete with one nation.

Are we trying to close the loophole that would allow an experienced player to participate in the Baptism of Fire Cup with a returning nation with zero KPB points that didn't previously compete in one? Are we trying to prevent returning players from sending in puppets?

Let's be clear about what we want and why it's necessary.

[Starblaydia]

Firstly, ESF I hope you're feeling better.

Secondly, instead of all this legislation, we could just say "come on, first Cup back and you can't have two BoF nations at once" as a case of RAW vs RAI.

[Krytenia]

World Cup 86 officially has a bid.

[Zwangzug]

Not sure if any BoF bids are in the works, but if you're a junior host looking for someone to team up with, feel free to contact me by TG or friend Zwangzug#8977 on Discord. Not a guarantee, just willing and probably-able.