Guns Of Icarus Online

Community => Community Events => Topic started by: Lueosi on January 12, 2016, 01:32:15 pm

Title: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Lueosi on January 12, 2016, 01:32:15 pm
New Titles!
Hi fellow competitive players and also those of you who are interested in joining the scene.
The Sunday Community Skirmish team is proud to offer you, with the support of Muse, some exclusive SCS titles for participating and winning the event. That's right, simply by taking part, you may earn a participation title!

We want to thank you for your awesome participation with over 20 teams competing in the past 6 months, over 50 teams in its lifetime and closing in on the 100th event and the second anniversary of the SCS originally founded by Velvet & Skrimskraw, and organized later by DJ Logicalia & Ayetach as a continuation of the Sunday Rumble by Urz which began way back in August 2013. From our first winner with the Glowwater Thralls over Ryders, SPQR/HRA, Gents, Clan Clan, Predators, Bards, OVW and now the most recent winner Skyborne, we have seen a lot of different teams out of these clans winning the SCS, and plenty more finishing very close at second place!

We saw a lot of great matches, 0:4 turnarounds, favorites winning but also upsets, sniping matches and brawls, we saw the meta changing and all that with your continuous support by participating in the event. Also thanks a lot to all the streamers and casters who filled the event with charm and bypass some slow engagements: Fourth Oracle, imagine42, Rob and Dan, Puppy Fur, Brick Hardcastle, Thomas, Xemko, Tanya, Swallow, Morty, SapphireSage, Mattilald, Heldigris, Rethburn, Beachbum, Logicalia, Kajros, Dementio, Gorgon, nanoduckling, Gibbs, Inkjet, Rex, Sliced, BlackenedPies, Sammy and last but not least Urz (in no particular order and I'm sure I forgot to list half of them, so my apologies).

That's why we want to return the gratitude with some small rewards:
Skirmisher (participation)
Skirmish Champion (win)

And don't worry, all you have to do is to play, the SCS team will make sure you receive your well deserved titles. In case you are curious, the complexity we need to organize is O(n). Also worth mentioning is that the titles are only handed out to the new participants.

Sign up for the upcoming SCS #85 (https://gunsoficarus.com/community/forum/index.php/topic,7211.msg122430.html#msg122430) and be the first one rewarded with these new titles.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: nhbearit on January 13, 2016, 05:45:24 am
I have two simple questions. 1) who thought this was a good idea?  2) why did they think this was a good idea?
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Skrimskraw on January 13, 2016, 06:09:27 am
SCS originally founded by Velvet and Skrimskraw, and continued by DJ Logicalia

corrected that ;)
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Lueosi on January 13, 2016, 06:50:22 am
God damnit, thanks for founding Skrim :) .

@nhbearit: To answer these constructive questions: The SCS team and Keyvias thought this was a good idea and the answer why is in the OP. I'm looking forward to see the Ducks signing up again, but I own Sammy 80 Nickels first :( .
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Skrimskraw on January 13, 2016, 07:41:38 am
the reason why this is a good idea is to get people to signup, since they will get something even though they dont win.

Its not monetary and not costumes which you can farm vs devs anyway. its something you can only get here. Thats how marketing works bearit :)

also its just a title, they are part of this game, if you want it then participate.

 also np lue, just friendly poking you ;)
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: KitKatKitty on January 13, 2016, 10:21:00 am
I'm don't feel this really addresses the over all concern for the players who think SCS has become too serious with the same outcome every week and has gone away from the initial idea of it being a practice event to help teams become better not discourage them from competitive. The rewards will probably have some increase in initial sign ups for people who want to get the title but once they have the title you are left with the same problems of why teams aren't signing up. I feel this is more of a temporary band aid.

I think bearit was trying to express an overall feeling that he doesn't agree with titles in his initial post and even though it wasn't clearly stated that way, I don't feel you should have dismissed him so quickly, instead ask why he thought it wasn't a good idea. 
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Dementio on January 13, 2016, 12:26:55 pm
I get the feeling that people are reading too much into this.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: nhbearit on January 13, 2016, 01:44:24 pm
A couple points to clarify: I have not yet stated an opinion on this matter, only asked for clarification. The answer to my second question is not actually stated in the op unless the answer is "to give back to players that have already participated by giving an award to people who participate in the future" which is logically silly (and that is an opinion.) Last but not least, its rather difficult to look too much into this. It's pretty simple. Now can I please get an honest and clear answer to my second question, so that I can express my opinions later and in an intelligent manner.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Mean Machine on January 13, 2016, 04:18:51 pm
I'm don't feel this really addresses the over all concern for the players who think SCS has become too serious with the same outcome every week and has gone away from the initial idea of it being a practice event to help teams become better not discourage them from competitive. The rewards will probably have some increase in initial sign ups for people who want to get the title but once they have the title you are left with the same problems of why teams aren't signing up. I feel this is more of a temporary band aid.

I think bearit was trying to express an overall feeling that he doesn't agree with titles in his initial post and even though it wasn't clearly stated that way, I don't feel you should have dismissed him so quickly, instead ask why he thought it wasn't a good idea.

Timmy B was not serious tournament and it had rewards as far as I know, so why SCS shouldn't have them too? Why do you think only serious matches should be rewarded?
SCS is as much serious as you make it for yourself. Why do you think it's too serious, because people take sane builds? Meta builds? That's practice as well. Every match is a practice and if one team takes meta build, doesn't mean they are not practicing. They are practicing meta builds, which makes sense, because it's probably good start for most teams.

Everyone wants to win, so they take whatever they think it would bring them to victory. I took meta builds in SCS and I got beaten by Rydrs, but I got practice out of that and experience.
That's why SCS is exactly the best place for practice, because everyone tends to try hard to win and they usually play to their best ability. I know I learned a lot more from single SCS than from couple of skirmishes.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: BlackenedPies on January 13, 2016, 05:26:59 pm
I'm don't feel this really addresses the over all concern for the players who think SCS has become too serious with the same outcome every week and has gone away from the initial idea of it being a practice event to help teams become better not discourage them from competitive.
Timmy B was not serious tournament and it had rewards as far as I know, so why SCS shouldn't have them too? Why do you think only serious matches should be rewarded?

The concern is that these rewards won't accomplish anything and will only benefit the few teams already at the top: including you and Lueosi. SCS isn't very dynamic with the same teams winning every week and few new joiners. It's great to see recent teams like RAWR and Why So Serious but they don't stand a chance against the established winners

You can only use one title and I doubt any players will flaunt "Skirmisher", but the distinguished elite will proudly display their "Skirmish Champion". Therefore it doesn't help SCS and only benefits the already established winners
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: BlackenedPies on January 13, 2016, 06:12:48 pm
Quote
Therefore it doesn't help SCS and only benefits the already established winners

Which is Ok, but don't pretend "Skirmisher" is an award. Intentions aside it sounds like giving yourself a prestigious title Lue
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: nanoduckling on January 13, 2016, 06:24:26 pm
Lets assume good intentions here, if folks are concerned about consequences lets focus on consequences not motive.

Having lent Logic a hand from time-to-time I had a similar idea a while back, in my case I suggested something simple like a dye for every participant. I'd spoken to a few players and while most were pretty appreciative of the work Logic and the refs and casters did organizing the SCS, I felt as though they didn't realize that they, the participants, were also contributing to the community. Without teams the casters have nothing to cast, the refs have nothing to ref, and the organizers have nothing to organize, this is a symbiotic relationship in which everyone contributes, and everyone benefits. I wanted to find some way to acknowledge this. I'm certain this was put together in that spirit. In the end we didn't go with that idea because it seemed somewhat tawdry and we were concerned about having prizes associated with the SCS.

As to these titles, I appreciate Lue's and the teams efforts here convincing Muse to direct some effort towards supporting the competitive community. If I was going to suggest anything it would be to lose the winners title since the SCS really is about fun, practice and community above winning. I'm not going to be that bothered either way though.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Urz on January 13, 2016, 06:50:20 pm
Considering that SCS is the only competitive 2v2 event currently running, the idea that it's "too serious" and "should be a practice event" betrays a cluelessness which would be funny, if not for the fact that there are people holding that opinion who have been tasked with "building the competitive scene".

KitKatKitty: Given the massive failure of your event (Blood and Brass), you're not really in a place to be criticizing other organizers. In fact, before the winter break, SCS ran four tournaments with equal or greater participation than Blood and Brass. Maybe you should be asking Lueosi for advice?

nhbearit: Your vendetta against Lueosi and continued attempts to break down his efforts is no secret. If you continue to contribute nothing but whining, you will continue to be irrelevant.

They're fucking titles, guys. This is a dumb thing to throw a hissy fit over.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Mean Machine on January 13, 2016, 07:00:58 pm
I'm don't feel this really addresses the over all concern for the players who think SCS has become too serious with the same outcome every week and has gone away from the initial idea of it being a practice event to help teams become better not discourage them from competitive.
Timmy B was not serious tournament and it had rewards as far as I know, so why SCS shouldn't have them too? Why do you think only serious matches should be rewarded?

The concern is that these rewards won't accomplish anything and will only benefit the few teams already at the top: including you and Lueosi. SCS isn't very dynamic with the same teams winning every week and few new joiners. It's great to see recent teams like RAWR and Why So Serious but they don't stand a chance against the established winners

You can only use one title and I doubt any players will flaunt "Skirmisher", but the distinguished elite will proudly display their "Skirmish Champion". Therefore it doesn't help SCS and only benefits the already established winners

How is that different than any competitive game out there? Of course best teams will get rewards. Every single top team or player had to practice and earn their place where they are now. If anyone wants rewards, then work for it. I played tournaments even though I knew Rydrs would take golden badge, but so what? At least I know I tried. Should we just drop rewards just because it wouldn't be fair for weaker teams? If they really care that much for rewards, maybe they can be motivated by them to get better.

I don't know about anyone else, but if I was in their places (new players/team) I would be motivated and would feel great accomplishment once I would finally get that reward.
It's same as MMOs for example. You just gotta deal with it, some stuff is hard to get, if you're not willing to put enough work or you don't have time or whatever, you might never get it, it's that simple. Not everyone can have everything. You won't see me complaining about guild wars 2 and legendary weapons for example "Hey, I'm too lazy to grind for hundreds of hours to get that legendary weapon, that's not fair, I don't have as much time as hardcore players".  It's good that games have some hard to achieve goals, that's what many people keeps playing.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: nhbearit on January 13, 2016, 07:03:56 pm
It has been over twelve hours so I'll ask this again, and if I don't have a response in the next few hours then I'll take my best guess: What is the reasoning behind this? Why make it a thing? For the love of GoIO, stop talking in circles and just answer me honestly.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: BlackenedPies on January 13, 2016, 07:17:20 pm
Quote from: T Machine
How is that different than any competitive game out there? Of course best teams will get rewards. Every single top team or player had to practice and earn their place where they are now. If anyone wants rewards, then work for it. I played tournaments even though I knew Rydrs would take golden badge, but so what? At least I know I tried. Should we just drop rewards just because it wouldn't be fair for weaker teams? If they really care that much for rewards, maybe they can be motivated by them to get better.
Yes it's ok to give a "Skirmish Champion" award, but "Skirmisher" isn't a reward. I don't believe a winners title will have any affect on new teams' motivation. Here's a solution instead of complaints: a real reward for participation, or even better, dynamic rewards for playing SCS
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Solidusbucket on January 13, 2016, 07:35:45 pm
It has been over twelve hours so I'll ask this again, and if I don't have a response in the next few hours then I'll take my best guess: What is the reasoning behind this? Why make it a thing? For the love of GoIO, stop talking in circles and just answer me honestly.

Maybe I am reading your posts wrong. I feel like you have animosity towards this subject. If I had to guess (which I will) I would say the purpose / reasoning is to get more people to sign up to SCS. Last week only had two teams (SkBo and Ryder) and that's not good for the competition. Furthermore, it is probably to see the community's reaction towards SCS participants being given rewards.

As for the posts that are bashing the "Skirmisher" title:

I am personally happy to be able to earn this title. I will proudly put it before my name. Finding the opportunity to compete in an SCS was a challenge for me. I had to find a clan. I had to play with that clan. Eventually I was able to participate.

Likewise, knowing that I participated in an event that required refs, streamers, and other teams makes me feel part of something. To me it is the feeling akin to running a 5k where my "reward" would be a shirt. It isn't anything special or unique, though I may be proud. However, I may wear it for the next event - say - a 20K; or randomly throughout the house.




Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: KitKatKitty on January 13, 2016, 07:48:48 pm
Considering that SCS is the only competitive 2v2 event currently running, the idea that it's "too serious" and "should be a practice event" betrays a cluelessness which would be funny, if not for the fact that there are people holding that opinion who have been tasked with "building the competitive scene".

KitKatKitty: Given the massive failure of your event (Blood and Brass), you're not really in a place to be criticizing other organizers. In fact, before the winter break, SCS ran four tournaments with equal or greater participation than Blood and Brass. Maybe you should be asking Lueosi for advice?

Your opinions are always so insightful.

First, the SCS is the only 8-player event currently running. But we've had Aero 3 (4-player), Blood and Brass (8-player) and now Cronus (4-player) which at the current state of competitive is a good mix for all teams to play in event they enjoy. Seeing as most clans can not field 8-player teams you can't fault organizers for putting on 4-player competitions.

Just because SCS is the only 8-player event doesn't mean it should be serious. The SCS was created as a practice event. For teams to come together to practice on a reliable basis. If the organizers of SCS would like to create a serious 8-player event they can but that doesn't mean they should change the intent of the SCS. My comment doesn't portray cluelessness yet quite the opposite. I've actually spent time talking to people of the community and having members fill out surveys. Which if you would like to you can fill one out too. RIGHT HERE (https://gunsoficarus.com/community/forum/index.php/topic,7120.0.html) because I don't have a large enough ego to think that I know everything that the community thinks and will change the event based on what the communities feedback is.

Which comes to your last comment...just because the SCS has, at 1 point in time, a higher turn out than the Blood and Brass does not mean that the Blood and Brass was a failure. Not only has quite a lot of the participants personally told me they thought it was a success but 100% of the responses from the survey said they enjoyed playing in the event. The lack of turn out comes from the lack of teams able to field 8-players than it was about the event itself.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: nhbearit on January 13, 2016, 07:57:44 pm
Maybe I am reading your posts wrong. I feel like you have animosity towards this subject. If I had to guess (which I will) I would say the purpose / reasoning is to get more people to sign up to SCS...

I just, I don't understand this, how is me asking for information a bad thing? Am I a bit annoyed, ya. I asked before I went to work and now I just really want to go to bed, but I still haven't gotten what I would qualify as an answer. Is it really too much to ask for an explicit "we felt this would be a good thing because X, Y, and Z"?
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Solidusbucket on January 13, 2016, 08:43:34 pm
Maybe I am reading your posts wrong. I feel like you have animosity towards this subject. If I had to guess (which I will) I would say the purpose / reasoning is to get more people to sign up to SCS...

I just, I don't understand this, how is me asking for information a bad thing? Am I a bit annoyed, ya. I asked before I went to work and now I just really want to go to bed, but I still haven't gotten what I would qualify as an answer. Is it really too much to ask for an explicit "we felt this would be a good thing because X, Y, and Z"?

Your question was answered.

"That's why we want to return the gratitude with some small rewards."

That is your answer. The titles are a symbol of appreciation. There is probably more incentive than what is on the surface but it is still an acceptable answer.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Solidusbucket on January 13, 2016, 09:22:20 pm
I'm don't feel this really addresses the over all concern for the players who think SCS has become too serious with the same outcome every week and has gone away from the initial idea of it being a practice event to help teams become better not discourage them from competitive.
Timmy B was not serious tournament and it had rewards as far as I know, so why SCS shouldn't have them too? Why do you think only serious matches should be rewarded?

The concern is that these rewards won't accomplish anything and will only benefit the few teams already at the top: including you and Lueosi. SCS isn't very dynamic with the same teams winning every week and few new joiners. It's great to see recent teams like RAWR and Why So Serious but they don't stand a chance against the established winners

You can only use one title and I doubt any players will flaunt "Skirmisher", but the distinguished elite will proudly display their "Skirmish Champion". Therefore it doesn't help SCS and only benefits the already established winners

How is that different than any competitive game out there? Of course best teams will get rewards. Every single top team or player had to practice and earn their place where they are now. If anyone wants rewards, then work for it. I played tournaments even though I knew Rydrs would take golden badge, but so what? At least I know I tried. Should we just drop rewards just because it wouldn't be fair for weaker teams? If they really care that much for rewards, maybe they can be motivated by them to get better.

I don't know about anyone else, but if I was in their places (new players/team) I would be motivated and would feel great accomplishment once I would finally get that reward.
It's same as MMOs for example. You just gotta deal with it, some stuff is hard to get, if you're not willing to put enough work or you don't have time or whatever, you might never get it, it's that simple. Not everyone can have everything. You won't see me complaining about guild wars 2 and legendary weapons for example "Hey, I'm too lazy to grind for hundreds of hours to get that legendary weapon, that's not fair, I don't have as much time as hardcore players".  It's good that games have some hard to achieve goals, that's what many people keeps playing.

Quote
I see your point. This is a valid point.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Rareform K. Rozhkov on January 13, 2016, 09:23:08 pm
I'm don't feel this really addresses the over all concern for the players who think SCS has become too serious with the same outcome every week and has gone away from the initial idea of it being a practice event to help teams become better not discourage them from competitive.
Timmy B was not serious tournament and it had rewards as far as I know, so why SCS shouldn't have them too? Why do you think only serious matches should be rewarded?

The concern is that these rewards won't accomplish anything and will only benefit the few teams already at the top: including you and Lueosi. SCS isn't very dynamic with the same teams winning every week and few new joiners. It's great to see recent teams like RAWR and Why So Serious but they don't stand a chance against the established winners

You can only use one title and I doubt any players will flaunt "Skirmisher", but the distinguished elite will proudly display their "Skirmish Champion". Therefore it doesn't help SCS and only benefits the already established winners

How is that different than any competitive game out there? Of course best teams will get rewards. Every single top team or player had to practice and earn their place where they are now. If anyone wants rewards, then work for it. I played tournaments even though I knew Rydrs would take golden badge, but so what? At least I know I tried. Should we just drop rewards just because it wouldn't be fair for weaker teams? If they really care that much for rewards, maybe they can be motivated by them to get better.

I don't know about anyone else, but if I was in their places (new players/team) I would be motivated and would feel great accomplishment once I would finally get that reward.
It's same as MMOs for example. You just gotta deal with it, some stuff is hard to get, if you're not willing to put enough work or you don't have time or whatever, you might never get it, it's that simple. Not everyone can have everything. You won't see me complaining about guild wars 2 and legendary weapons for example "Hey, I'm too lazy to grind for hundreds of hours to get that legendary weapon, that's not fair, I don't have as much time as hardcore players".  It's good that games have some hard to achieve goals, that's what many people keeps playing.

Quote
I see your point. This is a valid point.
Solidus has a great point here. I like titles
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: lolTSM on January 13, 2016, 09:25:11 pm
I'm don't feel this really addresses the over all concern for the players who think SCS has become too serious with the same outcome every week and has gone away from the initial idea of it being a practice event to help teams become better not discourage them from competitive.
Timmy B was not serious tournament and it had rewards as far as I know, so why SCS shouldn't have them too? Why do you think only serious matches should be rewarded?

The concern is that these rewards won't accomplish anything and will only benefit the few teams already at the top: including you and Lueosi. SCS isn't very dynamic with the same teams winning every week and few new joiners. It's great to see recent teams like RAWR and Why So Serious but they don't stand a chance against the established winners

You can only use one title and I doubt any players will flaunt "Skirmisher", but the distinguished elite will proudly display their "Skirmish Champion". Therefore it doesn't help SCS and only benefits the already established winners

How is that different than any competitive game out there? Of course best teams will get rewards. Every single top team or player had to practice and earn their place where they are now. If anyone wants rewards, then work for it. I played tournaments even though I knew Rydrs would take golden badge, but so what? At least I know I tried. Should we just drop rewards just because it wouldn't be fair for weaker teams? If they really care that much for rewards, maybe they can be motivated by them to get better.

I don't know about anyone else, but if I was in their places (new players/team) I would be motivated and would feel great accomplishment once I would finally get that reward.
It's same as MMOs for example. You just gotta deal with it, some stuff is hard to get, if you're not willing to put enough work or you don't have time or whatever, you might never get it, it's that simple. Not everyone can have everything. You won't see me complaining about guild wars 2 and legendary weapons for example "Hey, I'm too lazy to grind for hundreds of hours to get that legendary weapon, that's not fair, I don't have as much time as hardcore players".  It's good that games have some hard to achieve goals, that's what many people keeps playing.

Quote
I see your point. This is a valid point.
Solidus has a great point here. I like titles
Yeah, I think titles are great! Personally I think a title for entry and a sweet badge for winning would be awesome! But I also understand if badges are reserved for larger tournament wins.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Rareform K. Rozhkov on January 13, 2016, 09:28:12 pm
I'm don't feel this really addresses the over all concern for the players who think SCS has become too serious with the same outcome every week and has gone away from the initial idea of it being a practice event to help teams become better not discourage them from competitive.
Timmy B was not serious tournament and it had rewards as far as I know, so why SCS shouldn't have them too? Why do you think only serious matches should be rewarded?

The concern is that these rewards won't accomplish anything and will only benefit the few teams already at the top: including you and Lueosi. SCS isn't very dynamic with the same teams winning every week and few new joiners. It's great to see recent teams like RAWR and Why So Serious but they don't stand a chance against the established winners

You can only use one title and I doubt any players will flaunt "Skirmisher", but the distinguished elite will proudly display their "Skirmish Champion". Therefore it doesn't help SCS and only benefits the already established winners

How is that different than any competitive game out there? Of course best teams will get rewards. Every single top team or player had to practice and earn their place where they are now. If anyone wants rewards, then work for it. I played tournaments even though I knew Rydrs would take golden badge, but so what? At least I know I tried. Should we just drop rewards just because it wouldn't be fair for weaker teams? If they really care that much for rewards, maybe they can be motivated by them to get better.

I don't know about anyone else, but if I was in their places (new players/team) I would be motivated and would feel great accomplishment once I would finally get that reward.
It's same as MMOs for example. You just gotta deal with it, some stuff is hard to get, if you're not willing to put enough work or you don't have time or whatever, you might never get it, it's that simple. Not everyone can have everything. You won't see me complaining about guild wars 2 and legendary weapons for example "Hey, I'm too lazy to grind for hundreds of hours to get that legendary weapon, that's not fair, I don't have as much time as hardcore players".  It's good that games have some hard to achieve goals, that's what many people keeps playing.

Quote
I see your point. This is a valid point.
Solidus has a great point here. I like titles
Yeah, I think titles are great! Personally I think a title for entry and a sweet badge for winning would be awesome! But I also understand if badges are reserved for larger tournament wins.
i think that looking back on all the previous tournaments, that badges are cool. I wanna do more scs. yay titles. i want two titles plz. badges are cool thx. nvm

on a side note: how do you quote someone idk how?

P.S. lel titles. relaaax
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Azenkompf on January 13, 2016, 09:30:01 pm
This went downhill really fast.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Dementio on January 13, 2016, 09:35:34 pm
If the titles are supposed to bait more teams into the SCS, then there should probably be titles for multiple participations: "Super Skirmisher", for playing 5 or so times in the SCS, or something.

nhbearit, it may be what Solidusbucket already quoted, or even that adding titles as a reward is now possible and much less effort than creating a badge from scratch and so the SCS organizers thought "Why not?" or maybe both of those things. I really don't think there is a grant scheme behind it, and that is less aimed at you and more at those that act like it is.

I like this though:
They're f***** titles, guys. This is a dumb thing to throw a hissy fit over.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Thomas on January 13, 2016, 10:53:02 pm
Skeptical.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Urz on January 13, 2016, 11:20:57 pm
Your opinions are always so insightful.

First, the SCS is the only 8-player event currently running. But we've had Aero 3 (4-player), Blood and Brass (8-player) and now Cronus (4-player) which at the current state of competitive is a good mix for all teams to play in event they enjoy. Seeing as most clans can not field 8-player teams you can't fault organizers for putting on 4-player competitions.

Just because SCS is the only 8-player event doesn't mean it should be serious. The SCS was created as a practice event. For teams to come together to practice on a reliable basis. If the organizers of SCS would like to create a serious 8-player event they can but that doesn't mean they should change the intent of the SCS. My comment doesn't portray cluelessness yet quite the opposite. I've actually spent time talking to people of the community and having members fill out surveys. Which if you would like to you can fill one out too. RIGHT HERE (https://gunsoficarus.com/community/forum/index.php/topic,7120.0.html) because I don't have a large enough ego to think that I know everything that the community thinks and will change the event based on what the communities feedback is.

Which comes to your last comment...just because the SCS has, at 1 point in time, a higher turn out than the Blood and Brass does not mean that the Blood and Brass was a failure. Not only has quite a lot of the participants personally told me they thought it was a success but 100% of the responses from the survey said they enjoyed playing in the event. The lack of turn out comes from the lack of teams able to field 8-players than it was about the event itself.

Again, there's irony in you criticizing other organizers (me, in this case) for actions which you yourself are more guilty of than anyone else. BoCA (the group for which you are a member) notoriously tried to steal SCS's time slot, with no communication to the SCS organizational team. You ignored concern from the community about the lengthy and complex format your group devised. You hid behind anonymous accounts, so we were never quite sure who was responsible for saying what.

So you want to criticize me for not listening to community feedback?

While I was actively organizing GOIO events, I was constantly reaching out to team leaders and other community members. This is evidenced not only in notes I took from those discussions, or from the threads in which I openly polled the community, but also from the changes in formats and rulesets from event to event. I was constantly learning from the advice and opinions of others, as well as my own mistakes.

(The final tournament I organized, Sky League, remains to date the largest competitive GOIO event.)

You have yet to display such self-reflection, instead choosing to imply fault with those who organize and participate in another event: the Sunday Community Skirmish (an event with which you and your group have no affiliation). You demonstrate this not only in the post I have quoted above, but also in your "survey", which includes the following question:
Quote
For Sunday Community Skirmish: Do you think it has become "too serious" and why or why not?



This sentiment comes up from time to time, with little quantification as to what "too serious" even means, why it shouldn't be so, or how to make it not so. As someone else in this thread brought up: SCS has only been as competitive as the participants want it to be. If anything, SCS's format has become more friendly to less experienced teams, with the change to double-elimination best of one series.

If players want to participate in a "less serious" event, there are such events available to them already. Iron Fork happens every week on Friday. The Dev Games every Tuesday and Thursday. Seasonal events with rolling signups such as Aerodrome and TimmyB fall onto that side of the spectrum as well.

As for 4-player signups vs 8-player signups, it should be obvious that a team of eight practicing together will be more coordinated than single ships paired together. Not to disparage 4-player events (variety is fine), but they are inherently a lower level of competition.

"But Skrimskraw said it was a practice event".

Why do you think we must hold literally to the outdated messaging of the original organizer? The event has been running for almost two years now and has changed hands multiple times. The ruleset has evolved as necessitated by the community. Lueosi has been doing a great job running SCS. Given his commitment to the game and experience in the competitive community, you'd be hard pressed to find someone more well-suited for the task.



You can make whatever justifications you want for the result of Blood and Brass. I will not, however, let the incompetence of you and the other members of BoCA poison the last true bastion of competitive Guns of Icarus.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Ightrril on January 13, 2016, 11:59:31 pm
Keep it friendly please, everyone. This is a topic notifying players about the new rewards for the SCS, not a place to argue about other competitive events and the organisation of them.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Thomas on January 14, 2016, 12:06:03 am
The largest competitive event? Did Hephaestus League not count? As far as I'm aware, not only was it the largest, but the most successful. Other events, such as Aerodrome have also done quite well and are a bit more innovative than a standard bracket. Sky League was about as popular as the R&D Invitational.


For Blood and Brass, there was a lot of miscommunication. Due to this, the event was heavily criticized before it even got off the ground. And even then it was still fairly successful, despite some people's best efforts otherwise.




Peoples concern about the SCS are valid. It's had it's ups and downs, and there's been very few new teams getting into the mix, let alone new players. For a long time it was considered as a good starting place for new teams to get involved in competitive play. There wasn't a huge ruleset, there was no prizes to compete over, no restrictions on ships or playstyles, no long sign up period and no limited amount of teams. Even if you lose one week, you can just play again the next. A nice relatively low stress environment for people to build up their confidence for larger more organized competitive play. Over time, and especially with the most recent organization team, it's been drifting away from that.


This current attempt to give titles for participation and victory seem skewed. It doesn't address concerns about the SCS at all, but rather seeks to bribe people into participating. While it's not a bad idea for getting the SCS to liven up, it's also not a good idea. I have my own ideas of why they're doing it, but at least they're trying.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Urz on January 14, 2016, 12:26:26 am
The largest competitive event? Did Hephaestus League not count? As far as I'm aware, not only was it the largest, but the most successful. Other events, such as Aerodrome have also done quite well and are a bit more innovative than a standard bracket. Sky League was about as popular as the R&D Invitational.

Sky League: 21 teams
Claiming the Fjords: 15 teams
Hephaestus Challenge: 14 teams
Anvalan Conflict: 14 teams
Sky Tournament: 12 teams
R&D Invitational: 8 teams
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: shaelyn on January 14, 2016, 12:29:50 am
hey everybody!

I would like to ask you guys to keep it civil.  we're all here because we're invested in the competitive scene.  I believe some discussion on how we can improve it and what the future holds is in order, rather than looking at the past.

so SCS Rewards - I definitely don't see a downside to the titles, I don't think they'd be detrimental in any way.  perhaps though, the implementation could be tweaked for better appeal.  maybe an additional title for the 2nd place team would be a decent addition?
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: nhbearit on January 14, 2016, 12:31:51 am
With all due respect: Urz has broken the Code of Conduct multiple times today (well... yesterday 'cause midnight) is this really not going to be dealt with?
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: BlackenedPies on January 14, 2016, 01:22:28 am
so SCS Rewards - I definitely don't see a downside to the titles, I don't think they'd be detrimental in any way.  perhaps though, the implementation could be tweaked for better appeal.  maybe an additional title for the 2nd place team would be a decent addition?

Titles aren't detrimental and they could even help advertise SCS. The issue I have, which was poorly stated, is that I wish the participation title sounded cooler. I hope that people will use the new title, but in my opinion "Skirmisher" isn't attractive enough for players to change from their current unlockable ones. If people are happy and want to use the title of Skirmisher then there's no issue

A title for second/third place would be good, and so would one for the organizers/casters/refs, but first there should be a better participation title. Suggestions can be taken and voted on using the forum system or by the SCS organizers (blind vote please). By brainstorming together I'm sure we can come up with good titles that players will gladly replace their old ones for, and help draw interest from prospective teams
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Goldenglade on January 14, 2016, 06:37:19 am
With all due respect: Urz has broken the Code of Conduct multiple times today (well... yesterday 'cause midnight) is this really not going to be dealt with?

@nhbearit, We are constantly aware of things that are reported and actively work to keep things in line with the code of conduct. Every report that comes in is taken seriously and handled. Should you find an issue please report it and we will handle it. Additionally, we're unable to release information based on actions taken against players or groups of players. If you have any questions about the code of conduct please feel free to e-mail MUSE at feedback@musegames

Finally, as shaelyn has stated please keep it civil or I will have to have to start locking threads. Please limit personal attacks on each other and remember that this game is about teamwork not just in game... but also here on the forum.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Mean Machine on January 14, 2016, 06:56:44 am
so SCS Rewards - I definitely don't see a downside to the titles, I don't think they'd be detrimental in any way.  perhaps though, the implementation could be tweaked for better appeal.  maybe an additional title for the 2nd place team would be a decent addition?

Titles aren't detrimental and they could even help advertise SCS. The issue I have, which was poorly stated, is that I wish the participation title sounded cooler. I hope that people will use the new title, but in my opinion "Skirmisher" isn't attractive enough for players to change from their current unlockable ones. If people are happy and want to use the title of Skirmisher then there's no issue

A title for second/third place would be good, and so would one for the organizers/casters/refs, but first there should be a better participation title. Suggestions can be taken and voted on using the forum system or by the SCS organizers (blind vote please). By brainstorming together I'm sure we can come up with good titles that players will gladly replace their old ones for, and help draw interest from prospective teams

While I agree that title "Skirmisher" doesn't sound anything special (which is just your and mine opinion and many players might like it), it does sound fitting. But I wouldn't even give them that to be honest. I don't agree with you that titles or any kind of rewards should be given just for participation. That doesn't make sense to me and it doesn't do anything towards motivating teams to sign up for event more than once and even then, they don't have to play seriously, because they just need to participate. Signing up and getting in a lobby is not really an accomplishment that should be rewarded.

You know, there are a lot of CAs that didn't apply because they have such a good heart and want to help people, they signed up to get a badge and maybe also for yellow name.


Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Thomas on January 14, 2016, 08:03:38 am
The largest competitive event? Did Hephaestus League not count? As far as I'm aware, not only was it the largest, but the most successful. Other events, such as Aerodrome have also done quite well and are a bit more innovative than a standard bracket. Sky League was about as popular as the R&D Invitational.

Sky League: 21 teams
Claiming the Fjords: 15 teams
Hephaestus Challenge: 14 teams
Anvalan Conflict: 14 teams
Sky Tournament: 12 teams
R&D Invitational: 8 teams

Sky League ejected more than half the teams in the first two weeks. The group phase was only a prelim to the main event of 8 teams, very similar to Rob and Dan Invitational. Hephaestus on the other hand kept every team around until it finished, and lasted a lot longer than any other tournament. Fjords isn't even worth mentioning as a tournament.


---------------------------------

Mod bias aside, getting back on topic is ideal.


Do titles mean more to new players or veterans? Was this idea implemented to draw people into competing in SCS? Was it put in place to reward people who already participate in SCS? Will such a reward make the SCS more or less competitive, and is that a good or bad thing? If you start adding in titles for repeatedly participating and winning, will that change how people feel about the SCS? Are the reasons this was put into place important, or are the results more important?

My general pessimism leads me to believe this idea is mainly self-serving and had little to no intention of getting people more involved in the SCS itself.


The title idea itself is fine enough, ulterior motives aside. It may get more people interested, it might not. It might just be to reward people who have already been participating and winning consistently. It very well could make the SCS more competitive, which I wouldn't like to see happen, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. We'd just need a new scene to help introduce teams into competitive in a relaxed atmosphere.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Nat Nyls on January 14, 2016, 10:58:59 am
Titles could bring in more people, like dev game prizes tend to do. On the other hand though, it could make SCS more competitive which I'm not so sure how to feel for an event that's normally an entry point for new teams. SCS has always been a very stress-free sunday activity, but with prizes up for grabs now, it may get a fair bit more tryhard. However, at the end of the day, they're just titles. I'm interested to see if it does bring in more teams, even for the first couple of weeks.

Urz: We understand how upset you were that you weren't picked to stream that event and this is very clearly personal. Blood and Brass was torn apart before the tournament was close to starting due to partially the community scared of the big bad BoCA who they thought would turn the competitive scene into a faceless setup. But I'm going to just put an explanation onto why they use anonymous accounts a lot of the time:

There is always a bias on who's setting up a tournament, subliminal or otherwise. With these accounts, you aren't entirely sure who you're talking to, hoping to eliminate this bias. However, since BoCA are perceived as the big bad wolf, come to blow down your competitive events, any agent account is immediately saw with a glaze of "fuck these guys".

Another note: There has been organisers who've received so much shit from Blood and Brass that they avoid playing whenever they can due to people saying horrible things to them, with severe harassment problems added in there. This is another reason agents accounts are preferred to be used.

And finally, the Sky League was done during a proper golden age of competitive. Along with pissing off Rob and Dan, the most professional streamers we have ever had, during that event and chasing them off, I remember the team I was with not enjoying the event in the slightest. You are not a nice person to work with.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: BlackenedPies on January 14, 2016, 10:59:37 am
Here's a simple survey
http://goo.gl/forms/FmlCEmSDHh

Quote from: T Machine
I don't agree with you that titles or any kind of rewards should be given just for participation.
Signing up and getting in a lobby is not really an accomplishment that should be rewarded.
Signing up is an accomplishment because few teams do. We want more players to join, and titles are a good way to show that you've participated in SCS. The title doesn't have to be flashy but it should be attractive enough for people to switch from their current titles. If everyone used the title then it would help advertise SCS. There should be future additional titles to show further accomplishments. Will you change your title to Skirmisher?
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Skrimskraw on January 14, 2016, 11:00:12 am
are we really arguing over some titles?

Like really?

They are titles.

stop speculating about wether it makes it more competitive or not, if it does then the organizers can change it again, if it doesnt then win/win?

Everytime something is suggested people make up doomsday profecies, instead of just calmly wait and then give feedback, after it has been tested.
And this is not only for competitive events, but also why the dev app testing is so goddamn terrible. Goio players just arent willing to test and learn, instead of becoming angry and base knowledge on theories.

I imidiately think about science discussions.
In order to learn, you have to test and watch the results, not just theorize and accept the plausible solution.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Mezhu on January 14, 2016, 11:55:21 am
(http://www.healthline.com/hlcmsresource/images/diabetesmine/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/popcorn.jpg)
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Dutch Vanya on January 14, 2016, 01:46:28 pm
I am gonna agree with skrim. I don't even understand why there is controversy here.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: DJ Logicalia on January 14, 2016, 02:37:53 pm
I get the feeling that people are reading too much into this.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: -Rydr- ToraTsuki on January 15, 2016, 04:41:35 am
In my opinion, it wont make the scs more competitive, well maybe in the first 2 weeks but then, once some teams have that title, they wont have to compete that much and it'll all calm down. After that, it'll just be some nice advertisement. Plus once a team has the winner titel, they will probably back off a bit and then the other Teams who will probably still be wanting that title will have an easier time. It should all sort out well
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Thomas on January 15, 2016, 08:52:11 am
In my opinion, it wont make the scs more competitive, well maybe in the first 2 weeks but then, once some teams have that title, they wont have to compete that much and it'll all calm down. After that, it'll just be some nice advertisement. Plus once a team has the winner titel, they will probably back off a bit and then the other Teams who will probably still be wanting that title will have an easier time. It should all sort out well

They could back off, or they could keep tryharding their best to prevent any other team from getting the title.

If everyone gets the title, it's a pretty empty and meaningless title. If only a few people have it, it can be something to take pride in. The Skirmisher title is already pointless before it's been released. The Skirmish Champion is another story. Teams could easily win it, and then sit back and let other teams win it (showing an incredible level of arrogance). This means that less people would participate or try in SCS. I have my title, why bother competing again (or why bother tryharding again)? On the other hand, a few teams could win it, and then keep fighting over every Sunday to prevent as many teams as possible from getting it. This makes the title more valuable in a way, but would also cause the SCS to become increasingly more tryhard competitive.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Skrimskraw on January 15, 2016, 10:53:55 am
They could back off, or they could keep tryharding their best to prevent any other team from getting the title.

If everyone gets the title, it's a pretty empty and meaningless title. If only a few people have it, it can be something to take pride in. The Skirmisher title is already pointless before it's been released. The Skirmish Champion is another story. Teams could easily win it, and then sit back and let other teams win it (showing an incredible level of arrogance). This means that less people would participate or try in SCS. I have my title, why bother competing again (or why bother tryharding again)? On the other hand, a few teams could win it, and then keep fighting over every Sunday to prevent as many teams as possible from getting it. This makes the title more valuable in a way, but would also cause the SCS to become increasingly more tryhard competitive.

it is also plausible that everyone participating in "SCS with titles" will start playing ari buccaneers isntead, but hey its just a theory and i dont have to test it because i already gave you the scenario :)
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Dementio on January 15, 2016, 11:37:54 am
The Skirmish Champion is another story. Teams could easily win it, and then sit back and let other teams win it (showing an incredible level of arrogance).

I don't think any team that wins it can do anything to prevent people from thinking that they are arrogant and it is soo nice to hear that a team that participates in an event that just so happens to give titles as reward is automatically associated with tryharding.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: GurasOguras on January 15, 2016, 11:59:57 am
Someone might like it. And that's all what we can say about it. I would recommend to lock this thread to prevent some more unnecessary offtopic flamewars. We all got the announcement.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: nhbearit on January 15, 2016, 12:24:27 pm
Someone might like it. And that's all what we can say about it. I would recommend to lock this thread to prevent some more unnecessary offtopic flamewars. We all got the announcement.

Ya, don't do this. I haven't even gotten to state my opinion on the matter due to internet problems (typing this from my phone). Those "flame wars" are really just one guy that the moderators don't seem to be taking action against e.g. censoring obscene language. There's no reason we can't have an intelligent conversation about it.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Fynx on January 15, 2016, 02:57:03 pm
BlackenedPies: You make a good point there. Title 'Skirmisher' is pretty fitting though and it would be a little bit meaningless if there were no title for winning like T Machine mentioned. Also I'm pretty sure Rydr and Predators are not the only candidates for that title.

KitKatKitty: The problem is that SCS is pretty much the only regular competitive event for the time being, so making it less competitive removes the only regular multi-team practice there is. Especially regarding preparation for the actual tournaments, be it Sky League, Hepheastus or B&B.

Urz: Calling Blood & Brass a failure is excessive. Except for initial organisation issues that were solved, the biggest problem by far was the number of teams playing that made it awfully repetitive. And if teams just don't want to play there's little that can be done about it.

Thomas: Last time I heard 21 was a number greater than 14 and group stages were invented for splitting larger events into manageable chunks.

nhbearit: Would you be so kind to stop insulting intelligent people already... I apologise, but at this point it's just silly.

Really, I don't think titles like that will change much for good or bad, so why not. Thank you guys for initiative.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Sliced And Diced on January 15, 2016, 03:17:24 pm
Its like watching children complain about Christmas presents.   Seriously tho there is no point on arguing about tittles, they are completely cosmetic, they are just for show.  SO STOP IT!!!  GO COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY affects game-play.  like the flamer being terrible or something.  If you want to improve the competitive scene, you have to expand our tiny community first!
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: nhbearit on January 15, 2016, 06:57:14 pm
Borrowed a laptop and a wifi signal just for this community. Right, well, here's my opinion on the matter:

Titles are gaudy. That's about it. I don't like the idea of giving out titles because I don't want to have to see them. Won't use them myself either. Would've greatly preferred paint for my ships or something.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: nhbearit on January 15, 2016, 07:07:24 pm
Oh, and given the nature of some of the comments on this thread, I'd like to ask everyone to please review this: http://gunsoficarus.com/community-standards/

It was kinda supposed to help regulate the community and make sure the forum is a safe place to float ideas.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Thomas on January 15, 2016, 08:30:16 pm
@Skrim: I never said don't test it. I just said this is what might happen. It could be good, it could be bad, it could be neither.




@Dem: I think you're misunderstanding what I was saying. A team that thinks that they have to let other teams win the title is arrogant.

For example, lets pretend your clan wins the first SCS with titles. Then in the next round, they feel the need to sit out and let another clan. That would be arrogant. They'd be assuming that by participating, they're going to win. And the only way to pass on the title is to not participate.

Another fun fact is that the best way to win a tournament (let alone a title) is to tryhard. If people want the champion title, they're very likely going to have to try hard. That's just how tournaments work. Prizes just give players move motivation to win, encouraging them to try harder (you're keeping up, right?). SCS hasn't had prizes before and didn't have much to encourage teams to win, so it has generally been a relatively tryhard free environment.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Ayetach on January 15, 2016, 11:03:34 pm
Alright people.

I've gotten quite a few reports from this thread. Let's keep the conversations civil, we are looking into each of these reports so don't worry for those that are. We've had two moderators already drop in to so I'm going to repeat what they have said already: Keep this thread constructive and on-topic.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: BlackenedPies on January 16, 2016, 12:10:22 am
Quote from: Sliced And Diced
like the flamer being terrible or something.

The flame is the most balanced it's ever been. In the "nerf" they removed the broken feature of full penetration and buffed it by 22.2%. I refused to use it before but it's so good and fair now that I use it on 3 loadouts

Quote from: Ayetach
Keep this thread constructive and on-topic.

I was wrong and in the wrong mindset. Most aren't gonna use the title and it doesn't really matter what it is. "Skirmisher" is simple and fitting, and although I know there's a better alternative, I have nothing perfect to replace it. I don't agree with everything but that's the end. To clarify my point one last time: I wish people would use the participation title

It was disconcerting to see people attack Bearit because he didn't even say anything. I was the one spouting vitriol, he just asked a couple questions and people jumped to assumptions
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: DJ Logicalia on January 16, 2016, 12:35:53 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DmYLrxR0Y8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DmYLrxR0Y8)
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: -Anakin- on January 16, 2016, 08:31:05 am
I feel "skirmisher" should be awarded for a single match victory in the SCS at any point in the bracket, rather than just awarded for participation.

This would keep the barrier for obtaining it relatively low while still rewarding teams for playing well and make the title actually mean something.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Dementio on January 16, 2016, 08:55:50 am
@Dem: I think you're misunderstanding what I was saying. A team that thinks that they have to let other teams win the title is arrogant.

For example, lets pretend your clan wins the first SCS with titles. Then in the next round, they feel the need to sit out and let another clan. That would be arrogant. They'd be assuming that by participating, they're going to win. And the only way to pass on the title is to not participate.

That is exactly what I was refering to here
I don't think any team that wins it can do anything to prevent people from thinking that they are arrogant...

If we keep going with your example of my clan winning the first SCS with titles, then what? If we say "we already have the title, now we have no reason to play anymore", people may assume, as you mentioned, "they feel the need to sit out and let another clan win, because they think no other clan, or team, can win the titles with them participating". So my clan, in order to avoid appearing arrogant is now forced to participate in every SCS.

But SCS is not always to be thought of as a super serious competitive event, so teams formed from my clan may be trying some new or just unconventional builds and combinations and then people may assume "they are not trying hard, they may be handicapping themselves on purpose so others can win the titles too" or better yet "they are just giving up so others can win the title too, so arrogant". So not only is my clan forced to participate in every SCS in order to avoid every single member of ours to be accused of being arrogant, we now have to try hard and go super meta on every team we fight, every week, negating the purpose of why, at least I, used the SCS for when participating in it.

And then how to avoid the issue when we don't sign up, because people are busy with life or not everybody wants to play SCS every week? Do we have to write an excuse about why we didn't sign up, so we are not thought of as an arrogant clan?

Do you see now why I think the team that wins the SCS can't prevent people from thinking that they are arrogant? No matter what is going to happen, people will think what they want to think and use even the most abstract reasons as an excuse to think so. Unless you have the one solution that keeps everybody happy, because I would really like to hear that one.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Thomas on January 16, 2016, 09:38:48 am
You could not have titles. B)
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Dementio on January 16, 2016, 10:02:25 am
Who knew
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: xedeon on January 16, 2016, 01:37:28 pm
I like the idea of the title skirmisher being for any win in the scs and skirmisher champion being for, well, the champions. Maybe a few others such as veteran skirmisher for a win in 5 different weeks, and veteran skirmisher champion for being the champion 5 times. There might be some other title that works better out there, but the event is the Sunday Community SKIRMISH, so skirmisher is quite fitting in my opinion. Having titles for the scs might help or it might not, but it defiantly wont do anything bad.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: lolTSM on January 16, 2016, 05:14:22 pm
Is there the ability to take titles away? If the champion title would only last a week; i.e. you had to rewin or 'defend' the title or risk losing it, I think could be kinda cool. But who knows what sort of uproar that could send the community into.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Solidusbucket on January 16, 2016, 06:21:09 pm
I do disagree with this, loltsm.

Everyone around here is saying that the SCS is not supposed to be competitive.

I think that the SCS should be competetive.

So, I actually do agree with you, loltsm. But everyone around this thread doesn't.



Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: BlackenedPies on January 16, 2016, 10:32:23 pm
I never had the impression that SCS was anything less than tryhard at the upper level

Refresh my memory: when was the last unorthodox match up successful?
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Solidusbucket on January 16, 2016, 10:35:53 pm
My thought was that two ships of 4 players each showing up at the same time to play a game despite differences in time zones and life schedules with the expectation to remain playing the game for upwards 2 hours warrants serious play.

Kinda like a raid in them MMORPGs.

Seems like there should be something dedicated to silly builds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEiyBbP28g8
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Dementio on January 16, 2016, 11:13:14 pm
Refresh my memory: when was the last unorthodox match up successful?

You haven't watched a lot of my matches, have you? Practically every build of mine except the basic Hades, double Art, double Carro Mobula screams unorthodoxism.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: BlackenedPies on January 16, 2016, 11:42:45 pm
You haven't watched a lot of my matches, have you? Practically every build of mine except the basic Hades, double Art, double Carro Mobula screams unorthodoxism.

I try to watch every match. Mobula is the most versatile ship and you, probably the most confident mob pilot in the game, like to bring custom builds to counter the other team. Correct me, but the only mob loadout I'd call unorthodox is the piercing nightmare one. Maybe orthodox isn't the right word because otherwise almost all of my ships would be unorthodox. They're unique but most use orthodox strategy, so correct me if it's not the same for you. What unorthodox build do you regularly use? When did you last bring out the Great VGS?

I'm asking for the last unorthodox matchup. If a team or both teams had an unusual pairing of ships. I've seen plenty in other tournaments and vet matches, and Clan Clan comes to mind for SCS, but I have nothing in recent memory
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Thomas on January 16, 2016, 11:56:26 pm
Odd ship loadouts and tactics pop up pretty commonly in SCS, it's a great field for experimenting in. They generally don't do that well, but once in a very blue moon there's an interesting outcome. Some people take it more seriously than others of course, and they're generally going to win. But because there isn't a lot of incentive or pressure to win, not as many teams go full tryhard.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: BlackenedPies on January 17, 2016, 12:17:16 am
Yes there often are odd ships in the lower brackets. I like watching those matches and seeing new teams, but they don't make it far when the metas come in. Some teams feel more pressure to win

I agree with Solidus
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My thought was that two ships of 4 players each showing up at the same time to play a game despite differences in time zones and life schedules with the expectation to remain playing the game for upwards 2 hours warrants serious play.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Fynx on January 17, 2016, 09:48:20 am
What do you mean by an unorthodox match Pies? Does it require creative loadouts or creative tactics or combinations of these both?

We have few regular functions that ships have (+ combinations):
- disable/piercing
- piercing/explosive
- mines as chaos inducer or support
- blending
(Unless I forgot something)

I included mines here simply because many teams have been using mines more or less effectively for a long time now. Also one of mobulas that Daniel likes, that was not mentioned by you in the 'unorthodox' category uses a minelauncher as a primary weapon.

Ship loadouts can be
1. Meta
2. Not meta but utilising functions above
3. Original loadouts with potential (few and far in between)
4. Original loadouts without potential (those are more popular)

I'm quite amazed you put the piercing mobula that Daniel created into the 3. category. Other than having more piercing than other ships it would be a perfectly normal ship, if not for the non-trivial tactics included.

Other than that, people that don't bring meta loadouts almost always bring either ships from 2. category (and win or lose) or 4. category (that requires to be carried by the other ship).

Loadouts from 3. category are also usually very difficult to implement. I've experimented with a certain merc squid that required better pilot/crew coordination than one we had to make it a regular competitive loadout (possibly more practice). I myself attempted to use Daniel's piercing mobula, succeeding only to some extend, lacking the loadout understanding that Daniel has.
Sometimes these loadouts work only with a specific ally ship and require flawless coordination. A question arises: 'Then why not put them against some less meta loadouts so they can practice?'
It's an invalid question. If those ships don't work against meta initially, only practice against meta can make it so.

I do not know what to think of ships utilising minotaur, I consider them to be in any category outside meta.

In my opinion, far more interesting than specific loadouts are tactics employed. Watching a perfectly valid ship (meta or not) that does weird things together with his ally is much more entertaining than watching a non-standard ship pretending to be meta and doing the exactly same thing a meta ship would do, just not as effectively.

Also, there's plenty of loadouts that could work against meta, but opponents see that they can hardcounter those ships and they bring the hardest hardcounter possible, proudly proving their knowledge of hardcounters. And that's not the issue with the event being more or less competitive, but competely hopeless notion that the lobby is a place to gain advantage over the enemy at any cost rather than negotiate match-up teams are comfortable with. No, I will not agree that it's a problem with the event being competitive, it happens all the time in pubs. And meta ships can also be countered.

That's quite a long post I produced here, I hope it explains some aspects of what Thomas wrote:

Odd ship loadouts and tactics pop up pretty commonly in SCS, it's a great field for experimenting in. They generally don't do that well, but once in a very blue moon there's an interesting outcome. Some people take it more seriously than others of course, and they're generally going to win.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: BlackenedPies on January 17, 2016, 02:12:25 pm
You expect Daniel to bring a mine mob on Paritan against brawl ships, but not against double meta junker (which he has done). The piercing mob is unorthodox because it has little disable (merc), low explosive (banshee), and restrictive arcs. There's no meta that uses a similar tactic, and few could tell you how to use it. I believe it's called the Fancy Fairy and I haven't seen it in a long time. One of my go-to brawl mobs is hades, greased banshee gat left, burst flak and top flame right. It's not a meta but you know exactly how it works. You might say it's a bit unorthodox to put a buff greased engi on the top
There was another Daniel mob more recently, I now recall, that used two gats and rammed a lot. I don't remember the other guns but I'd probably call it unorthodox

The minotaur is unorthodox only because people don't use it. Fish are the most vulnerable ship against the taur and spire is the best platform for it against fish. It wouldn't be strange to see a taur spire against a fish, except for the fact that people don't bring it. The one time I remember seeing a taur spire was from the Predators who were promptly stomped by meta ships

It's not just about seeing non-standard builds, but about the ships on both teams. I rarely see it at the upper level. The Predators have tried experimenting, but I don't remember being very successful because the opponents went meta. I won't argue semantics because I'm probably wrong, but I am genuinely asking when the last unorthodox matchup was (I wanna watch it). I see it more often in other tournaments and I assume that's because SCS is more competitive

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In my opinion, far more interesting than specific loadouts are tactics employed. Watching a perfectly valid ship (meta or not) that does weird things together with his ally is much more entertaining than watching a non-standard ship pretending to be meta and doing the exactly same thing a meta ship would do, just not as effectively.
Can you give an example?
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: Fynx on January 17, 2016, 03:22:48 pm
Can you give an example?

Just take two ships that are both useful in competitive, but it doesn't look like they fit each other.

I remember taking a squid (artemis gatling, but that could be a simple kill squid just as well) together with Daniel's long range galleon against Muse (that was actually a pretty mixed team) in B&B (Dunes). It was a hwachafish/lumberfish team so there were three fast and manouverable ships and one slow that had to position before engaging. That galleon was actually pretty unorthodox itself, but it's the idea of long range galleon and close range squid trying to coordinate effectively that you won't see very often in meta games.

Something about June or July we teamed up with Bards for the SCS. We took a blendersquid / blenderfish (nanoduckling) setup against Skyborne with hwachafish and hwachagalleon. Double blender setup is sort of interesting, but valid for close range maps. It's not really valid for long range maps against ships with lots of firepower, but the match-up itself was very entertaining and the result was 3-3 after a long fight.

At some point, being a little bit bored with competitive with not too many teams playing, I started taking mine squids in close range maps as chaos generators. Pairing that ship with a hwachafish resulted in aggressive matches that were quite different from any others. But I guess using mines offensively in close range maps is a popular idea nowadays, so maybe it's not worth mentioning.


I'm afraid I won't be able to say much about matches I did not participate in those last few months. Connection issues do not let me watch much during the competitive events, it's also the reason why I don't fly competitively anymore. I'm pretty sure that some unorthodox matches happen occasionally though. And there's still more variety than what was happening in the pyramidion era, back when Skrimskraw and Velvet were the organisers. There were at least 2 pyras per match on the average.
Title: Re: New Sunday Community Skirmish Rewards
Post by: nhbearit on January 17, 2016, 03:30:22 pm
Skies will define unorthodox setups as he sees fit. No reason to attack him for it. If you feel your builds are "unorthodox" then good for you. If you want to discuss the meta, start a new thread for it. Or revive an old one, either way. Until then:

I get the feeling that people are reading too much into this.