World Bowl XLII (42) Signup Thread (OPEN!!)

[Cassadaigua]

Due to time constraints, I am personally withdrawing from World Bowl 42.

The VP, Drawkland, will take over the signup process with the World Bowl account.

[Buffalostan]

First, hope everything is OK CDG, and look forward to seeing you come back when things suit you better. :)

Second, BuffaloBid.

BuffaloBid

Format

Group stage: double round robin, teams play home-away at their national arenas. Tiebreakers are record, H2H record, H2H points difference, overall points difference, IC coin flip [OOC scorinated game until a winner is produced]. Specific format is dependent on final numbers but ideal group size is 5-7 as this produces a manageable length of group stage. I am willing to be more specific about group numbers once a clearer picture of the likely final signup number has emerged. If absolutely necessary to get a perfect signup number puppets will be sought/excluded.

Playoffs: top 16 make the playoffs, seeded in a traditional 1v16, 2v15, etc. single elimination bracket based on above tiebreakers except that group winners will automatically come above group runners-up in the seedings. Every group winner and runner-up will advance to the playoffs; depending on exact number of groups 3rd placed sides will enter through play-ins to make the perfect 16, unless there are 8 groups exactly. Playoffs will be in Buffalostan.

If the above sounds complicated, it's really not. I'd anticipate ending up with a format identical to most of the last few WBs, except that I'm unwilling at this stage to commit to an absolute number on group size in case we get, or don't get, a sudden rush of sign-ups between now and when (if elected host) I can take control of signups.

There will not be a 3PPO.

Scorination

Having tried out the "post-WBXXXI" formula, I am satisfied it produces a much more realistic range of scores than SQIS, and therefore will use this formula with ±5 style modifiers enabled. Home advantage switched on for group stages, off for playoffs.

Here's the controversial bit, so much so I may as well bold it as most of the other parts of my bid are pretty vanilla. WB rankings will be used, but they will not be activated until a team has posted a roster. If a team with 18 ranking points signs up but does not roster, they will have each of their matches scorinated as though they had 0 ranking points. My justification for this is that americangridironhandeggball is a sport where an opponent's roster is particularly important, more so than e.g. soccerfootball or ice hockeyball. A team not providing a roster poses a disadvantage to their opponent's RPing.

I will seek a neutral 3rd party scorinator for all my games (and my puppet's, if entered).

RP bonus

RP bonus will be daily and cumulative, plus a roster bonus. I will be providing optional prompts each day in the form of having a different time bubble present each day's results, and inviting participants to reflect on that time in their own national history. These prompts are entirely optional and participants can still earn max RP bonus by ignoring them and doing their own thing.

Experience

As Golgothastan, I hosted Arena Bowl VII. As other nations I have hosted other tournaments in other sports. Buffalostan was last active in the World Bowl ~10? years ago but I did participate in the most recent one (as The Desiccated States). I am currently co-hosting the Cup of Harmony but anticipate no real clash as that tournament will certainly be over by the time this begins. I am willing to consider working with a co-host but consider myself capable of hosting a tournament of this size on my own.

[Chromatika]

BuffaloBid

Scorination

Having tried out the "post-WBXXXI" formula, I am satisfied it produces a much more realistic range of scores than SQIS, and therefore will use this formula with ±5 style modifiers enabled. Home advantage switched on for group stages, off for playoffs.

Here's the controversial bit, so much so I may as well bold it as most of the other parts of my bid are pretty vanilla. WB rankings will be used, but they will not be activated until a team has posted a roster. If a team with 18 ranking points signs up but does not roster, they will have each of their matches scorinated as though they had 0 ranking points. My justification for this is that americangridironhandeggball is a sport where an opponent's roster is particularly important, more so than e.g. soccerfootball or ice hockeyball. A team not providing a roster poses a disadvantage to their opponent's RPing.

A few clarifying questions regarding this:

What efforts would be made to inform everyone that signed up to remind them to post a roster before MD1?
If a nation does post a roster during the tournament, how much of their rank would they get back?

Thanks.

[Buffalostan]

What efforts would be made to inform everyone that signed up to remind them to post a roster before MD1?

I normally send out TGs after posting an IC thread. I'd allow a reasonable run-in from posting the IC thread to MD1 (at least a week).

If a nation does post a roster during the tournament, how much of their rank would they get back?

100%.

[Chromatika]

What efforts would be made to inform everyone that signed up to remind them to post a roster before MD1?

I normally send out TGs after posting an IC thread. I'd allow a reasonable run-in from posting the IC thread to MD1 (at least a week).

If a nation does post a roster during the tournament, how much of their rank would they get back?

100%.

Thanks! No further questions. best of luck with the bid!

[Kohnhead]

Here's the controversial bit, so much so I may as well bold it as most of the other parts of my bid are pretty vanilla. WB rankings will be used, but they will not be activated until a team has posted a roster. If a team with 18 ranking points signs up but does not roster, they will have each of their matches scorinated as though they had 0 ranking points. My justification for this is that americangridironhandeggball is a sport where an opponent's roster is particularly important, more so than e.g. soccerfootball or ice hockeyball. A team not providing a roster poses a disadvantage to their opponent's RPing.

While this is a more personal question I feel it is important given this part of the bid.

What is the current timeline (ie IC Thread opening and Game 1) as I will be afk from the 24th of June through to the 3rd of July and would rather not suffer the above penalty.

If you don't know yet I understand

[Buffalostan]

I don't really know. I assume voting will take a little time yet. I do want to allow a fair chance for everyone to get their rosters (and I know we're entering the alltheeventsthataren'ttheWorldCup window of the NS Sports calendar). So probably not before the 3rd?

[South Americanastan]

In

[Equestrian States]

Equestria in.

[Kohnhead]

I don't really know. I assume voting will take a little time yet. I do want to allow a fair chance for everyone to get their rosters (and I know we're entering the alltheeventsthataren'ttheWorldCup window of the NS Sports calendar). So probably not before the 3rd?

Alright thanks I understand

[Karditan]

oh yeah

[Allamunnic States]

(Still alive!)
Allamunnic States in.

[Squidroidia]

In!

[New Gesem]

In.

[Bongo Johnson]

Bongo Johnson is in for the World Bowl! Looking forward to going 18-1

[World Bowl]

It is now time to determine who will host World Bowl XLII, without any further ado. There is one bid, and it is from Buffalostan.

If you are a member of the World Bowl Assembly (member list below), then it is time for you to vote. You have three options,

ACCEPT the bid
REJECT the bid (Re-open Bids)
Formally Abstain

When you are ready to vote, please send that vote to this account, World Bowl, by Sunday, July 11th, 2021 at Midnight EST. Thank you!

It doesn't look like this was updated for post WBXLI, so I've taken it upon myself to update it real quickly just now.

Abanhfleft(Pridnestrovia)
Allamunnic States
Anthor
Banija
Cassadaigua
Chromatika
Drawkland
Geektopia
HUElavia
Inner AginanaUsordia
Karditan
Ko-oren
Kohnhead
Kriegiersien
Main Nation Ministry
Newmanistan
Northwest Kalactin
Ranoria
Saint Kanye
Sarzonia
Squidroidia
Terre Septentrionale
TJUN-ia
Transmondian Commonwealth of New England
Xanneria

New: Chrom, Kriegier
Ejected: Greater Nordics, SNT/FFR, South Covello, Taeshan, The Sarian

Also, we're sitting at 31 signups. It'll be the eventual host's decision what to do about numbers, but it would probably do us good to find one more signup soonish.

[World Bowl]

World Bowl XLII Host Voting:

Accept Buffalostan's Bid: 4
Re-open Bids: 1
Abstain: 0

With that, Buffalostan will be the host of the upcoming World Bowl. We wish them the best. All decisions regarding the competition now belong to them!

[Buffalostan]

Thank you.

We are at 31 signups and I'll admit I don't have a format that works for 31 teams. My preference is for groups of 5-7 in size, which means the next easily workable number is 35. (32, giving groups of 4, is not ideal as I think that leads to a group stage that is too short.) But there is a number nearer than 35: 30.

On account of this, I'm considering doing what I did when I hosted the 11th World Cup of Hockey: withdrawing. I will still host the tournament, whose finals will still take place in Buffalostan. But my team will not enter. There are some obvious advantages to my withdrawing over anyone else. It simplifies the perennial issue of finding someone else to scorinate all my games and assigning myself RP bonus. More importantly, I am unranked. I lose no ranking points by not taking part this cycle.

Therefore: anyone currently signed up who is not comfortable with me hosting or otherwise changed their mind about taking part has 48 hours to withdraw. Anyone who has a strong objection to me withdrawing myself but continuing to host, given I did not mention this in my bid, has 48 hours to object. Anyone else signing up within the next 48 hours will be waitlisted and only entered should we unexpectedly jump up to 35 or 36 entrants. Otherwise, in 48 hours signups will close, I will withdraw, and we will proceed to a 30 team WB. Cheers.

[Sarzonia]

I understand that you may have precedent for not hosting an event you're not competing in, but I find it a troublesome practice. It just doesn't seem right to have an event hosted by a country that isn't competing in it.

If someone submitted a numbers puppet that could easily be taken out to improve numbers, I'd much prefer taking said puppet out first.

That said, I definitely see your point about not having to grade your own RPs, as that probably bedevils more hosts than who might admit to it.

I share your concern about 32 teams creating a short group stage if we go with eight groups of four. Even a double-round robin only would give six matchdays to work with, and sometimes, events even like the World Bowl get away from us in our daily lives. But taking yourself out of the tournament isn't something I want to see become a standard practice.

TL;DR: I object to your removing yourself.

[Quebec and Shingoryeo]

Due to time constraints, Quebec and Shingoryeo will be withdrawing from the World Bowl.

[Xanneria]

yo, heard ya'll were looking for some additional teams

[Banija]

Buffalo's decision to withdraw himself to get better numbers for the tournament is commendable, I will admit.

I certainly would not do it myself, but there's nothing wrong with the decision per say. If that's what he wants to do, I think his logic is sound and he should be allowed to do it.

[Buffalostan]

With that little hokey-cokey above we're still at 31. I will give it the remainder of the 48 hours before deciding how to proceed.

The IC thread is here.

If you are a WB entrant, please fill out this form, which asks you for your preferred cutoff time in EDT.

[Buffalostan]

Dolanius has CTEd and is therefore excluded. Xanneria is accepted. Quebec's withdrawal is noted.

Signups are closed. The president is requested to edit the title of this thread to reflect that.

The confirmed signups are:

Buffalostan
South Newlandia
TJUN-ia
Chromatika
Ranoria
Tumbra
Saint Kanye
Ko-oren
Bollonich
Sarzonia
Kriegiersien
Banija
HUElavia
Kohnhead
Drawkland
Lisander
Mertagne
Abanhfleft
Malandrin
Newmanistan
Delaclava
Arjunnagar
South Americanastan
Equestria
Karditan
Allamunnic States
Squidroidia
New Gesem
Bongo Johnson
Xanneria

The World Bowl will proceed with a 6×5 group stage format, and a play-in round before the Round of 16. The draw will be conducted shortly.

As a reminder, please consider filling out the form on preferred cutoff time.