[EclecticPB]

This has been the craziest offseason... I think this is a great idea and I think we can all agree it will take some fine tuning. The PSP will figure it out and provide and excellent product for fans.

[Kazer]

Originally Posted by shock2k3

Teams(by WC standings to keep it relevant)
Heat
Damage
XFactor
Ironmen
Infamous
Legion
Vicious
Dynasty
XSV
Shock
187
Impact
Thunder
CEP
Also Ton Tons in the up and coming season

Maybe they should just start it right out of the gate; Top 10 teams from 2012 World Cup make Champions League for Dallas 2013 and let teams fight for a top 10 standing.

[ThatGuy86]

Originally Posted by Word?

So it's like a tournament within a tournament. I actually love this idea, and I have to think all these off season erratic moves were a sign that most of the pro/d1 teams knew about this.

At least a couple pro players have posted in this thread suggesting differently.

[**GP**]

Top 6 only would make this even better!!

[Skipperdawg]

I hope to God that two things happen.

1. The teams play more than four matches in Dallas in order to truly see who the top 10 teams are, not just who got the "easy" and bracket.

2. The top 10 teams from the season rankings get to play Cup in the upper division.

[VPB-ChristianW]

Really really exciting idea. One area (of many) where you gotta give credit to the PSP is they are always willing to tweak their format/concepts from year to year. I know some people don't like change but I think it shows they are willing to admit they don't get it perfect on first try and are more interested in progress overall.

The only worry I have is potential for game fixing. Imagine a top seeded team on Saturday being in a position to relegate a rival/enemy team by losing their final game to another bottom team (giving that team an edge over the rival in the standings). I don't know how often it would happen but we've all seen what happens on Saturday when teams are on the bubble. Could get ugly - and regardless of truth we know the accusations will fly!

Still, there is no incentive to fix in the first place unless the stakes are high and all this does is raise the stakes every event. Nothing wrong with that.

So tell us whose idea was this?

[John]

Originally Posted by VPB-ChristianW

So tell us whose idea was this?

100% of the PSP Staff I have talked to claimed credit. :nododgy:

[OhIoCoNtRActKilLa]

So then Lane came up with it.

[applegoat]

To me its like fantasy football - you end up watching more games than usual cause there is more at stake. Some people might not tune in to watch two 1-2 teams go at it, but now this adds something to that match-up, especially at the tourney before cup. Very cool.

[DI*killa]

Originally Posted by JohnSherman

You mean that after Dallas I won't have to listen to people call CEP a pro team? THERE IS A GOD!!!!

Always good for a few e-giggles.

[raehl]

Originally Posted by VPB-ChristianW

The only worry I have is potential for game fixing. Imagine a top seeded team on Saturday being in a position to relegate a rival/enemy team by losing their final game to another bottom team (giving that team an edge over the rival in the standings).

Giving up a win would either knock you out of advancing or at best put you playing the top-seeded team in the other breacket instead of the 2nd seeded team.

Originally Posted by Kazer

Not entirely, they will still be pro, but might not make it to the champions league. If they end up in the challenger league they will not make the webcast or play on the main pro field.
I wrote something up on page 5, post is here;

I would expect top-4 in Challenger league to play on the Webcast field on Sunday.


- Chris

[Simon]

So did we get a solid answer on how many teams will play Sunday in Dallas?

And what about in the Champions and Challenger brackets once they are formed for the second event.

How many in the finals, just four from each?

[**GP**]

Originally Posted by Simon

So did we get a solid answer on how many teams will play Sunday in Dallas?

And what about in the Champions and Challenger brackets once they are formed for the second event.

How many in the finals, just four from each?

With 10 in each you would think it would be 6 but man it would be awesome to see it be just 4.

[shock2k3]

He might mean if say Dynasty has a bad event, Damage is about to play Vicious who can't make finals but Damage is already guarenteed finals. Damage throws the game and Dynasty gets nocked down next event while Vicious stays.

IDK if I got that right but it seems possible

[VPB-ChristianW]

Originally Posted by raehl

Giving up a win would either knock you out of advancing or at best put you playing the top-seeded team in the other breacket instead of the 2nd seeded team.

- Chris

I've never been good with all the "what ifs" in the advancement club on Saturday.... For that I just ask Joey Blute.

Maybe the area for mischief will be in a mid ranked team losing to a bubble team? But like I said all it does is raise the stakes. What paintball lacks is interest in the "lesser known" teams - the "why should I care" factor. This makes us even care about those games where we otherwise wouldn't and elegantly solves the scheduling difficulties of a huge pro division (at the cost of another field...ouch!). So I'd give Raehl credit for the idea. But the "I don't care who plays just make them fight it out with broken bottles in the parking lot to see" sounds redneck enough to be Lane. On the other hand the story telling potential sounds like Matty... All in all a good compromise.

[robs45]

so excited for the new format. My only problem is how to watch two fields at the same time after the first event

[casnoid]

i kinda like the idea but, this is going to be interesting no doubt.

[Splatkid10]

A thought for another season and since paint costs are a major issue...

KEE and GI sponsor the PSP, why not have some sort of deal setup with the PSP so that the Pro teams pay an upfront fee at the beginning of the year for event paint. (And the fee could be paid back by sponsor to the team owner if the paint is normally free). Make the cost of playing more standardized so a lower ranked pro team with less backing can be like ok we need $15k for event paint this year. Seems like that would help with the lower challenger teams and the D1 teams wanting to make a bump to Rto7.

[Shootingropes]

I know it's a kids arguement that Champions and Challengers sounds just dumb... but seriously?

Call it Semi-Pro.

[Chicken_Little]

This is all very interesting to read, with everyone trying to figure out some still "fill in the blanks"...

I'll wait til more is announced by the PSP with the rules and regulations regarding the Champions and Challengers Divisions.

Although it looks like another step in the right direction. First back to old field length (for hopefully faster matches) and now a system for high level competition.

[Lane Wright]

It was entirely my idea.

Until I read the posts on another social sight that were all negative, then it was mostly my idea.

Then I went through my Facebook responses and it became my idea again. But then I went through the PSP Facebook responses and decided that maybe this was a group decision after all.

So, I will wait until after the 3rd event to let you know exactly the appropriate breakdown of percentage input from various people who may or may not have contributed to this idea that depending on the outcome could have been all mine or a collaborative.

There's also a small possibility that I was forced to do it this way by the government and have been against it the whole time.