Curse

Clinically Proven · Oct 25, 2006, 10:47 PM // 22:47

No fierce blow, no blight ninja monks

Does knida defeat the point of buying factions if the skills will be excluded from the playoffs.

Clamatius · Oct 25, 2006, 10:48 PM // 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom Bangalter

what does this do for the game? It's not like the top 16 isn't going to be the same 20 or so teams that generally get it, so basically you're just making THEM play new things, not the whole ladder.

I'm guessing the point is to test the flexibility of the top teams, i.e. they won't just be able to dig out one of their ladder builds and have at it. Note that it's not just no Factions, it's only Core + Nightfall - so, e.g., no Ether Prodigy, no Eviscerate, etc. Pretty different environment, should be interesting to see what the best players come up with.

romO · Oct 25, 2006, 11:00 PM // 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thom Bangalter

p.s. To Any of the members of DeeR, QQ, or iQ that post here:

Please give me a candy cane weapon. I'll be your best friend. (pretty please Tommy?)

Yeah, what kind do you want? I'm going to keep the highest level we win for myself (I WANT THAT BOW), but if you have a preference, let me know.

P.s. I think this is going to be awesome with 32 skills and NF only.

Teh Mighty Warrior · Oct 25, 2006, 11:10 PM // 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by romO

Yeah, what kind do you want? I'm going to keep the highest level we win for myself (I WANT THAT BOW), but if you have a preference, let me know.

P.s. I think this is going to be awesome with 32 skills and NF only.

While it will mix things up a bit, 32 skills and NF will severly limit your options to what you can and cant run, thus creating overused builds. For example, if there are only a certain combo for an assasin that would be effective, that is the only bar you will see being run. Would be interesting for the first couple matches, but would become stale very quickly.

Burton2000 · Oct 25, 2006, 11:37 PM // 23:37

Well if the candy weapons are like last years ones damage wise then im not too bothered about it. Besides the daggers,sythe and spear of course.

Thom Bangalter · Oct 26, 2006, 12:07 AM // 00:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teh Mighty Warrior

While it will mix things up a bit, 32 skills and NF will severly limit your options to what you can and cant run, thus creating overused builds. For example, if there are only a certain combo for an assasin that would be effective, that is the only bar you will see being run. Would be interesting for the first couple matches, but would become stale very quickly.

again, it's not the whole ladder, just the playoffs. Also, no meteor shower for ensign (it's not core) so we don't have to worry about anyone arguing about that. I think it's going to shake things up quite a bit, and I think that a lot of top guilds are going to come up with some creative stuff in this limited enviornment.

also, @Tommy: I'd prefer the spear, if possible. My paragon would be pleased. <3 tommy

Thom · Oct 26, 2006, 06:31 AM // 06:31

Nice move by Anet:
A fun season that has 32 tournement slots will be more competitive than a 16 ladder season with 6 cash prizes. Instead of having 30 to 40 teams seriously contending, you'll have 60 odd teams who feel that they have a realistic shot at winning. That many teams more teams really playing to the next level could make for a very competitive ladder for everyone. Sure the #50 team won't play like a #20 team, but they'll be trying harder than the #50 team last season.

A 32 team Swiss format is an excellent test run for the Nightfall Championship. The Swiss format was largely a success in that it basically provides a random seeding double elimination tournement, with 2 two-lose teams advancing. I quickly worked out the math and the tournement structure will give you 1 (5-0) team, 5 (4-1) teams and 10 (3-2) teams. Further more, the random two (3-2) teams means that 22 teams will still be in contention going into the final round. If this format were used for the championships, I would see that cut off at the top 6.

Another fun season will allow Anet to work out some of the inevidable kinks before a real season begins. The Nightfall emphasis is a balancing (and sales) mechanism. Top teams will be tinkering with Nightfall skills, which will inevidably trickle down and ferret out some of the bugs. Often a build only really needs exposure for it to become significant in the metagame.

Faction skills really didn't bloom until this last season after the "fix factions" balance. This is really an attempt to speed things up that integration.

I would really like one of the 200 green candycane spears.

Lews · Oct 27, 2006, 04:28 AM // 04:28

It's gonna be intresting.

Why is is 1-32 though? 0.o

Guillaume De Sonoma · Oct 27, 2006, 05:27 AM // 05:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lews

It's gonna be intresting.

Why is is 1-32 though? 0.o

New faces, and maybe so everyone can see different styles of play from around the world.