It's time for World Baseball Classic 49. Signups have concluded and there will be 48 competing nations. They are as follows:
Group 1:
South Covello (22)
TJUN-ia (43)
Newmanistan (5)
Marigred (UR)
Se Vende Skooma (UR)
Chromatika (26)
Group 2:
Kohnhead (UR)
Sarzonia (28)
Daskel (42)
The Jovannic (UR)
Banija (2)
Liventia (10)
Group 3:
Hampton Island (8)
Torisakia (UR)
South Newlandia (31)
Drunk People at the Local Tavern (45)
Quebecois Acadiana (UR)
The Greater Nordics (11)
Group 4:
Northwest Kalactin (37)
Lovisa (UR)
Ethane (30)
Drawkland (12)
The Fair Republic (UR)
Cassadaigua (1)
Group 5:
Ihilthracna (UR)
Hapilopper (15)
Zwangzug (UR)
Equestrian States (25)
Jeckland (UR)
Nova Anglicana (3)
Group 6:
Free Republics (7)
Delaclava (UR)
HUElavia (36)
Nagore (UR)
Abanhfleft (9)
Ranoria (UR)
Group 7:
Royal Kingdom of Quebec (32)
Tikariot (UR)
Ko-oren (4)
Falisiand (UR)
Mathuvan Union (UR)
The Sarian (24)
Group 8:
Terre Septentrionale (19)
The Sherpa Empire (6)
Super-Llamaland (UR)
Devonta (27)
Megistos (UR)
Pripet Socialist Republic (49)
Schedule: (Each Series is three games, so Series 1 is MD 1-3, Series 2 is MD 4-6, etc)- Home teams are on left per NS Sport Convention
Friday, 7/17: Series 1- 6 v 1, 5 v 2, 4 v 3
Saturday, 7/18: Series 2- 4 v 6, 3 v 5, 2 v 1
Sunday, 7/19: Series 3- 6 v 2, 1 v 3, 5 v 4
Monday, 7/20: Series 4- 5 v 6, 4 v 1, 3 v 2
Tuesday, 7/21: Series 5- 6 v 3, 2 v 4, 1 v 5
7/22- Midway break
Thursday, 7/23: Series 6- 1 v 6, 2 v 5, 3 v 4
Friday, 7/24: Series 7- 6 v 4, 5 v 3, 1 v 2
Saturday, 7/25: Series 8- 2 v 6, 3 v 1, 4 v 5
Sunday, 7/26: Series 9- 6 v 5, 1 v 4, 2 v 3
Monday, 7/27: Series 10- 3 v 6, 4 v 2, 5 v 1
7/28- Break, playoff teams travel to Newmanistan
Wednes, 7/29: R16, G 1-2
Thurs, 7/30: R16, G 3-4
Fri, 7/31: R16, G5 (if/when necessary)
Sat, 8/1: QF, G 1-2
Sun, 8/2: QF, G 3-4
Mon, 8/3: QF G5 (if/when necessary)
(No cutoff on 8/4 due to RL Tropical Storm Isaias)
Wed, 8/5: SF, G 1-2
Thus, 8/6: SF, G 3-4
Fri, 8/7: SF G5 (if/when necessary)
Sat, 8/8: Finals & 3rd Pl, G1
Sun, 8/9: Finals & 3rd Pl, G2
Mon, 8/10: Finals & 3rd Pl, G3
Tues, 8/11: Finals & 3rd Pl, G4 (If G4 necessary for 3rd Place series. If Final ends in sweep, and 3rd place needs a 5th game, 3rd place G5 will also be scorinated on 8/10)
Wed, 8/12: Finals & 3rd Pl, G5 (if necessary)
Thurs, 8/13: Finals G6 (if necessary)
Fri, 8/14, Finals G7 (if necessary)
Scorination Time: 10-11 PM, Eastern USA Time
Format- Eight Groups of Six, 3 home games and 3 road games against each group mate.
Playoffs- Top two teams per group advance to playoffs. First place teams will be seeded 1-8 regardless of record. Adjustments to seeding will take place to avoid group stage rematches in the first round, if and when that is necessary. There will be NO re-seeding as the tournament progresses. Every series, except for the championship series, will be a best-of-five. The championship series will be a best-of-seven.
Tiebreakers
1) H2H Record
2) Overall Run Differential
3) Overall Run Differential/9 (essentially this eliminates runs scored or given up in extra innings)
4) Tiebreaker game
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.