It's time for World Baseball Classic 44. Signups have concluded and there will be 54 competing nations. They are as follows:
1) Cassadaigua
2) Free Republics
3) Scootalove City
4) Equestrian States
5) Ko-oren
6) Shayla
7) The Royal Kingdom of Quebec
8) Lisander
9) Newmanistan
10) Super-Llamaland
11) Hicaña
12) Fungsland
13) Abanhfleft
14) The Sherpa Empire
15) People Who Have Issues
16) Alpine Union
17) West Phoenicia
18) Northwest Kalactin
19) Suryak
20) Schiltzberg
21) Knessniet
22) Filindostan
23) Lycrabon
24) Tjorl
25) Loshos
26) Saint Agnesia
27) Liventia
28) Hampton Island
29) Beepee
30) Maklohi Vai
31) Drawkland
32) Oscioru
33) The Greater Nordics
34) Nova Anglicana
35) Dharoka
36) Cosumar
37) St Saratoga
38) South Covello
39) Gor Kebab
40) Titaniumland
41) Notoria
42) Aureumterra
43) Banija
44) Vangaziland
45) Tierra de Castro
46) Ethane
47) Eraman
48) Wuriya
49) Anthor
50) Melbergia
51) Ranoria
52) Saintland
53) Tenburg
54) New Sportland
Format- Nine Groups of Six, 3 home games and 3 road games against each group mate.
Playoffs- Top two teams per group advance to playoffs. All first place teams, and the five best second place teams will have a bye in the first round. The next four second place teams play in the first round series (15 seed vs 18 seed), (16 seed vs 17 seed). First place teams will be seed 1-9 regardless of record.
Group Draw conducted: Wednesday, September 26 at approximately 9pm EDT
First Scorination Day: Saturday, September 29.
Full schedule will be posted with the group draw.
Begin posting rosters now. Please submit one, while the more detail is better, anything is appreciated. Naturally, the more detailed rosters get a higher roster bonus, but don't let that detract you from posting a basic roster if that is all you have time for. Example rosters are as follows:
Highly Detailed Roster
Detailed Roster
Decent Roster
Basic Roster
Notice that the roster have the RP Permissions Box. This is a summary of what that is all about:
You are pretty much able to do as you please if you are the first one roleplaying a game, but be aware that each nation has a set of rules, called RP Permissions, and they look like this:
Choose my runscorers: Yes/No (Can they choose who scored your runs?)
Choose my lineup: Yes/No (Can they pick a starting lineup at will for you, or must they stick to what you have created?)
Follow my pitching rotation: Yes/No (Can they opponent choose any pitcher, or are they supposed to follow your rotation to a tee? It can be good to check their prior game RP to see if they mentioned their starting pitcher for the next game as well).
Godmod scoring events: Yes/No (This allows the opponent to be very detailed and specific when describing how scoring events transpired).
RP injuries to my players: Yes/No (Is the opponent allowed to say your player got hurt? Some nations will say yes with a disclaimer of only saying they are hurt, and not saying what was hurt or how badly someone was hurt.)
Godmod injuries to my players: Yes/No (Can the opponent completely do whatever they please in regards to injuries)
Eject my players: Yes/No (Is the opponent allowed to eject your players?)
Godmod other events: Yes/No (Other events refer to unusual or crazy things, such as, perhaps, the outfielder's arm was suddenly able to extend 50 feet and they took away your potential HR. Some nations that may be open to crazy things but do not want to be caught off guard may add a disclaimer to TG them any ideas first)).
Use DH at home: Yes/No (Every baseball fan's favorite argument. Is the DH used at your home stadium?)
Other: (Are there nation specific tendencies that you want your opponent to abide by? List it here). An example is: Newmanistan is very aggressive on the basepaths and speedy baserunners are commonly looking to steal both second and third. This is the place to put that information.
Note: If your opponent has roleplayed the game before you, you are expected to roleplay it the same way, although you still can have some flexibility: For example, did your opponent RP a three run double, in one inning.... that really should have been called foul? Did the umpire blow a called strike three on the opponents big slugger before they hit the big homer? Those are things you can still have flexibility with.
The importance of roleplay:
Now, begin roleplaying! Every matchday is a new opportunity to obtain RP bonus. The more RP bonus you get, the better. While a nation's beginning rank is very important to start, RP bonus becomes just as important. It is possible to do well in this tournament in your first try. I made the finals in my first Classic. Schiltzberg won the whole thing in his first. It can happen, but at the same time, it happened because we roleplayed to a high level as often as we were able. It did not just fall in our laps.