The World Cup Discussion Thread (OOC, Version IV)

[San Regada]

>be me
>be confident
>enter bof for first time
>crash out in round of 16
>lose some confidence
>join wc
>is ranked 234th
>regain confidence
>looks at group i get put in
>have 18th place team in your group
>have 35th place team in your group
>have 59th place team in your group
>have have 106th place team in your group
>realise you are basically not qualifying
>lose confidence
>wonder how on earth the group is so rigged

Firstly I'm not complaining because I'm assuming the groups were randomly picked.
Seriously though whats up with Group 13 :/
I'd argue that its the worst but that hands down goes to Group 11.
I feel it for Legatorum.

[Ethane]

For those who missed it, the draw was completed a few hours ago and the groups are now posted.

I will begin updating them with roster links and ranks later tonight.

So, let the anticipation begin! MD1 is Friday night for Americans and early in the Saturday a.m. for Europeans - a little over 3 three full days from now. Still plenty of time to post rosters and first RPs!

So glad for this timetable - my last A-Level exam is on Thursday, so I can actually RP!

[Drawkland]

>be me
>be confident
>enter bof for first time
>crash out in round of 16
>lose some confidence
>join wc
>is ranked 234th
>regain confidence
>looks at group i get put in
>have 18th place team in your group
>have 35th place team in your group
>have 59th place team in your group
>have have 106th place team in your group
>realise you are basically not qualifying
>lose confidence
>wonder how on earth the group is so rigged

Firstly I'm not complaining because I'm assuming the groups were randomly picked.
Seriously though whats up with Group 13 :/
I'd argue that its the worst but that hands down goes to Group 11.
I feel it for Legatorum.

Well, yes, the groups are randomly chosen, but they're randomly chosen one from each Pot. You can see the "Pots" spoiler on the first post of the RP thread. This ensures that you'll have one and only one team from the top 20, 40, and so on (really it should be like Top 15, Top 30, and Top 45, but a lot of Veterans in the top of the ranks called it quits last cycle which opened a lot of space in the Top pots), so really the group is operating normally. In fact, looking at the pots right now, you actually have the 2nd-lowest Pot 1 team and lowest Pot 2 team, as well as Eshan from Pot 3 (who is a total scrub), so honestly you actually have one of the if not the easiest group out there.

And you're in Pot 7, which isn't the easiest place to start, but I'll remind you that I started last cycle, had a semi-easy group, was in Pot 7, and managed to climb all the way to the 2nd place spot and qualify (it did take quite a miracle though). So it is possible! As long as you RP consistently and have a bit of luck with you, you too have a chance at making it for a qualification. If anything, you should be supremely confident at what you have going. So have fun with it!

[Starblaydia]

>is ranked 234th
>regain confidence
>looks at group i get put in
>have 18th place team in your group
>have 35th place team in your group
>have 59th place team in your group
>have have 106th place team in your group
>realise you are basically not qualifying
>lose confidence
>wonder how on earth the group is so rigged

I'm not entirely sure what you're expecting from 234th in the world, to be honest? Literally every single group has a spread like the one you're laying out, you just happen to be near the bottom of it in your first attempt.

Right now you're looking at making as big a splash as possible, getting your style of RPing worked out after a taste of it in the BoF, and working towards any matches that you win or draw giving you ranking points for the next Cup, getting into the Cup of Harmony from your RPing contributions, and generally working your way up the ranks. Then, before you know it, you'll be the 59th-place team in your group, trying not to lose to BoF quarter finalists and hoping to upset the rankings by a place or two and sneak a Qualifying spot.

Acapais 164th rank is a single KPB point above you, and that's from a run to the BoF 3PPO with a couple of extra games than you. That kind of difference can be overcome very quickly with some decent quality RPS, and over the course of qualifying your rank for scorination can, with regular quality RP, get quite a boost to help you knock off the bigger teams. 109th is only 3 KPB points away, and the room for shake-up nearer the bottom of a group is huge and RP really can (and does) make the difference.

For the first few cup cycles of WC and CoH, just enjoy the ride and get to know your players, teams, opponents and the fun of the NSWC in general. If it needs to get 'serious' later on down the line, then you can make that decision when it comes to it.

TL;DR - Winning doesn't mean you're having fun, having fun means you're winning.

[Savojarna]

>is ranked 234th
>regain confidence
>looks at group i get put in
>have 18th place team in your group
>have 35th place team in your group
>have 59th place team in your group
>have have 106th place team in your group
>realise you are basically not qualifying
>lose confidence
>wonder how on earth the group is so rigged

I'm not entirely sure what you're expecting from 234th in the world, to be honest? Literally every single group has a spread like the one you're laying out, you just happen to be near the bottom of it in your first attempt.

Right now you're looking at making as big a splash as possible, getting your style of RPing worked out after a taste of it in the BoF, and working towards any matches that you win or draw giving you ranking points for the next Cup, getting into the Cup of Harmony from your RPing contributions, and generally working your way up the ranks. Then, before you know it, you'll be the 59th-place team in your group, trying not to lose to BoF quarter finalists and hoping to upset the rankings by a place or two and sneak a Qualifying spot.

Acapais 164th rank is a single KPB point above you, and that's from a run to the BoF 3PPO with a couple of extra games than you. That kind of difference can be overcome very quickly with some decent quality RPS, and over the course of qualifying your rank for scorination can, with regular quality RP, get quite a boost to help you knock off the bigger teams. 109th is only 3 KPB points away, and the room for shake-up nearer the bottom of a group is huge and RP really can (and does) make the difference.

For the first few cup cycles of WC and CoH, just enjoy the ride and get to know your players, teams, opponents and the fun of the NSWC in general. If it needs to get 'serious' later on down the line, then you can make that decision when it comes to it.

TL;DR - Winning doesn't mean you're having fun, having fun means you're winning.

This. In my first WC I entered as the BOF runner-up from 150-something and made it to playoffs, and last cycle I have drawn Anglatia away, which was placed about 200 ranks above me (and RP's quite well in my opinion). Randomness always remains a factor as well. I had a rather mediocre qualifying run last cycle, and yet climbed from 250+ (BOF group stage out with only one point) to a top 100 spot. It takes relatively little to climb to the top 100 if you RP consistently, and as soon as you're there, a bit of luck and a bit of good RP is all it takes to go to playoffs.

On the group draw, I'm really looking forward to re-match Brenecia. From my side, that will be regarded as a bit of a rivalry match (even though not nearly as bad as Juvencus, with whom I unfortunately share a pot...) even though I guess it'll be like Switzerland and Germany: for us, they're archrivals, but the Germans barely acknowledge us...
Looking at this, I think being in contention for the playoffs until 2-3 MD's before the end is quite a realistic goal, and that'd be doing quite fine from my perspective. Overall, I'll set the goal of coming one spot higher than the rankings suggest, and that seems doable.

[Bongo Johnson]

Just a quick question about rankings, if this has been answered before just point me in the right direction. In the RP thread under the groups, Bongo Johnson is unranked. This is a little confusing, because I know that I have for sure participated in MULTIPLE previous World Cups. I'm going to guess that the WC rankings reset after inactivity, or that they only take into account a set amount of previous WCs? I anticipated having a super low ranking, but not quite unranked.

Looking through my post history, Bongo Johnson participated in World Cups 73, 71, 65, 64, 63, 62, and 61. I'm not sure how that results in me being an unranked WC nation.

[Super-Llamaland]

Just a quick question about rankings, if this has been answered before just point me in the right direction. In the RP thread under the groups, Bongo Johnson is unranked. This is a little confusing, because I know that I have for sure participated in MULTIPLE previous World Cups. I'm going to guess that the WC rankings reset after inactivity, or that they only take into account a set amount of previous WCs? I anticipated having a super low ranking, but not quite unranked.

Looking through my post history, Bongo Johnson participated in World Cups 73, 71, 65, 64, 63, 62, and 61. I'm not sure how that results in me being an unranked WC nation.

Only the last three cycles are taken into account.

[Astograth]

TL;DR - Winning doesn't mean you're having fun, having fun means you're winning.

This can't be stated enough. Losing can be a blast if you play along and take it in stride - and RPing well means you can still have a strong showing at the Cup of Harmony if you don't make the World Cup finals. Being in pot 8, I'm already planning my excuses for the press.

(I also apologise to my groupmates for the lack of roster and such, I'll be mostly done with exams by the weekend).

[Bongo Johnson]

Just a quick question about rankings, if this has been answered before just point me in the right direction. In the RP thread under the groups, Bongo Johnson is unranked. This is a little confusing, because I know that I have for sure participated in MULTIPLE previous World Cups. I'm going to guess that the WC rankings reset after inactivity, or that they only take into account a set amount of previous WCs? I anticipated having a super low ranking, but not quite unranked.

Looking through my post history, Bongo Johnson participated in World Cups 73, 71, 65, 64, 63, 62, and 61. I'm not sure how that results in me being an unranked WC nation.

Only the last three cycles are taken into account.

That makes sense. Thanks for the quick reply!

[Bonesea]

World Cup 78 Host Update

Following what we believe is a genuine mistake over puppet rules, Bape-Supreme has had to be removed from the present tournament. With no team on the wait-list, I will send a replacement puppet, Makongo, to make up the numbers. As another unranked team, Makongo will be a direct replacement for Bape-Supreme in group 12. My intention is to provide a roster for the benefit of the group participants, but I will not contribute to RP. Cosumar & I feel this is the most sensible and least disruptive way of continuing at this point, a few hours before the first round of results.

EDIT: Cosumar will update the Roleplay OP later on today.

[San Regada]

Quick question;

There's 9 teams per group, but only 8 are shown on the results thread.
Is this because 1 team per group isn't playing (bye) and thus are in 9th place?

[Barunia]

Quick question;

There's 9 teams per group, but only 8 are shown on the results thread.
Is this because 1 team per group isn't playing (bye) and thus are in 9th place?

The bye is the reason why, yes. Technically, because they haven't played yet, they don't actually have a place on the standings, hence why they're not reflected in the lists. They'll appear next game.

[Starblaydia]

Quick question;

There's 9 teams per group, but only 8 are shown on the results thread.
Is this because 1 team per group isn't playing (bye) and thus are in 9th place?

It looks like Cosumar has only generated the tables from the included teams, as A team not playing a game means there's no result to input. A 0-point team wouldn't be in 9th place automatically, as teams with one loss and a negative goal difference would be below them.

Tables aren't usually posted on MD1 when there are byes involved, but each to their own

[Jeckland]

Just a note to my group - I'm now finished with A Levels and so have time to RP. However, on the 30th I have to give this laptop back to my school, and idk when I'll get a new one. I'll try to keep RPing by desktop/phone, but that may not be possible. Apologies in advance.

[Bonesea]

Just a thought, shouldn't we be seeing a Cup of Harmony bid or two by now? WC finals is under three weeks away and it's nice to see them run side by side.

[Apox]

Well, I'm feeling strangely bold and would probably be up for bidding if anyone was looking for a partner... checked the constitution and it appears I am allowed to bid despite being technically unranked so no problems there.

[-Anthor-]

Well, I'm feeling strangely bold and would probably be up for bidding if anyone was looking for a partner... checked the constitution and it appears I am allowed to bid despite being technically unranked so no problems there.

I'm down to partner up if you are.

[Jeruselem]

No RPs, been a bit busy !!!

End of financial year reporting sucks

[Spaam]

Just a thought, shouldn't we be seeing a Cup of Harmony bid or two by now? WC finals is under three weeks away and it's nice to see them run side by side.

QAAM is coming!

[Kep]

So I signed up to play in the World Cup and its Matchday 5 and I have yet to play a match.
Perhaps I have gone mad?

[Super-Llamaland]

We also have a CTE among entered nations. Kep/Kebec will be replaced in the draw by Poggers, who signed up after the waitlist announcement.

[Eastfield Lodge]

So I signed up to play in the World Cup and its Matchday 5 and I have yet to play a match.
Perhaps I have gone mad?

You ceased to exist before the World Cup started, and were thus removed from the entry list.

[Union of Socialist Alpine Republics]

I just want to clarify something for newbies. When your opponent RPed first, you can't change how the game happened. You have to stick to what I've RPed and add more things that I didn't talk about if you want. My team was never leading 3-1, your team was.

[Cosumar]

I just want to clarify something for newbies. When your opponent RPed first, you can't change how the game happened. You have to stick to what I've RPed and add more things that I didn't talk about if you want. My team was never leading 3-1, your team was.

Yes, I think it's a good time to clarify this point to everybody. Collaboration and attention to detail are at the heart of pretty much everything we do on NS Sports!

USAR (or anyone else who this happens to), I also recommend you follow up with the other RPer via telegram to ensure that they are aware of what happened and that they correct it.

[Union of Socialist Alpine Republics]

I just want to clarify something for newbies. When your opponent RPed first, you can't change how the game happened. You have to stick to what I've RPed and add more things that I didn't talk about if you want. My team was never leading 3-1, your team was.

Yes, I think it's a good time to clarify this point to everybody. Collaboration and attention to detail are at the heart of pretty much everything we do on NS Sports!

USAR (or anyone else who this happens to), I also recommend you follow up with the other RPer via telegram to ensure that they are aware of what happened and that they correct it.

I just sent him a TG.

by the way my team isn't looking good. After drawing with an unranked team, I lost to Jeruselem and then Electrum crushed me 6-2.