[Johnnymac631]

Hey everyone ,

I was wondering what exactly we can do to boost the d2/3 division.
I notice only 3-4 teams showed interest and then saw division 4 which had 20 plus teams.

Few questions I had :

What is holding teams back in D4/5 vs D3?
Prizes are better, less teams meaning more make finals and it's almost the same price for entry .

Why are all the division 3 or high ranked division 4 guys always on the sidelines watching when there are great days to be playing the tournaments and helping the league .

I created the thread to see what everyone thought and where we can improve to see the upper division pick up,

I know - my team EC Rampage would consider 3 man d3 5man d2-d3
As soon as we can run that division ! This also relates back to teams and the leagues push for higher ranked teams !

I understand the first events are around both nationals for nppl and psp
so that may defer teams away but I on behalf of the upper ranked players and many loyal customers for multiple season would like to play this league and not be excluded just due to rank !

Post up your idea's hopefully event two we will catch you guys on the field !

[Stangguy327]

I'm also pretty surprised by the lack of turn out, especially at the first event of the year. I bet that with the MAO being so close, and the field layout being different, it may have turned a team or 2 away that is practicing for the national event. Just an unfortunate coincidence i guess.

Hopefully things rebound for the next event, because when we d4 players rank up I'd like to still be able to play local events.

One thought to try to capture some better d4 teams may be to make the prize pack substantially better. Maybe that would encourage teams that are on the fence to move up. I know that is tough to do with such a low turn out, but maybe do-able if the turnout more closely resembled the turnout for the d4 division.

[Booyahkai]

Lets get some D2/3 teams. I don't want to ride the bench at event 2.

[DeadlyAssasin]

I'm completely guessing here but I would say there are a few reasons that stand out to me and none are directly a result of anything the league has done..This is coming from someone who's team survived off of winning GPL D2/D3 events to play nationals years ago..

1. A lot of the higher level teams in this area seem to be D2 or D1 and are caught in a state of confusion on what exactly they play. Some want to play 7 man national events, some play PSP, and some USPA as well.

2. Most of these teams are focusing solely on National events and making sure they're prepared for those. Why I can't understand. My team always traveled around playing 3-4 NPPL events a year but why anyone would spend that kind of money in this economy with no real prize at the end is confusing to me. I understand playing the local national events but some teams just figure that winning a local event proves nothing, isn't against the best competition, and just won't be as competitive. I personally can't understand any of this because the costs and the prizes of playing MAPL is better. I know several teams like Infamy (original) back in their day refused to play GPLs which made it an even easier decision for our team to play them because the competition was lower and we won most of the events we played and got brand new Egos. As I said we won those prizes and used the money to play Nationals.

3. Economy - This is pretty simple. I think the MAPL is the best league to play in this economy but we must consider that some teams practice more then they actually play events. They're like Gym Class Heros. Some teams also have a store/field sponsorship that gets them cheap or free paint at National events and just can't jump on the bandwagon of paying $55-60 for paint at the local events. I think if there was a local league that had maybe slightly higher entry fees but BYOP more teams would play.. or at least a division. However then its far from worth it for the field owner IMO.

Just some thoughts. I'm also curious what others think.

[dps093]

I think one reason is the fact that the MAPL uses the layout for their tournaments following the national tourney (PSP). If they used the layout for their tournament before the national event, they would most definitely get a better turn-out. I think also some teams are locked in at certain fields or leagues, due to sponsorship or deals. I don't think the cost is too expensive for a local tourney, considering what you get out of it. Great competition, great reffing, fields, prizes, etc. Can't ask for anything better. It sucks because I feel like once some players make it to a D3 ranking, and they only play locals, they stop playing, so they lose their ranking, and get to play D4 again. Then they have a huge advantage compared to new players coming into the league. I think maybe if they made 3 separate divisions, like a D3 division, D4 division, and D5 division, they would have a better turnout. But that's just me spitballing ideas. I think the league is great though.

[Johnnymac631]

These are all good points I think mapl should consider a challengers division similar to psp , meaning the top 3 teams who placed at event 1 (d4)can have the option to move up to d3 with either discounted paint or entry ,
Thus, mapl can run two division theyre not taking teams from any of tournament series and at the same time trying to add balance between the two d/3 and d/4 divisions .
This is beneficial all on sides because the top three teams from what I saw could easily play d3 and it wouldn't sky ticket their rank until they play enough to increase their player points on appa . We should all take the time to help the league grow and with that means change , all in all I can name 4-5 5 man d3 teams who could play mapl- my team being one of them and on top of that I can count multiple d4 teams with players so close to the ranking fence but refuse move up - it's creating a major block for the d2/3 division because it's not growing the teams are just recycling players and creating different lines with the same players and leaving the higher ranked teams with not many options to play locally. If mapl does consider to do a some what merg or challengers bracket it could help introduce the lower ranked guys and keep the system running .

Also on a side note the prize package for d3 is awesome with only paying 300 total and having the chance of pro reffing and be able to win a luxe ? Idk another league national or regional that does that specifically .

Long live mapl long live division 3

[DeadlyAssasin]

I will add that my team would be more likely to play D3 if it weren't for the fact that the division will be flooded with D1, D2 NPPL guys who aren't ranked in APPA as high. There have been teams in the past basically built of arsenal kids, avalanche, other high ranked NPPL teams playing in a d3 basically on a loop hole. Now in that same token my team is ranked d4 mainly due to the same reasons and people not playing paintball for several years so I'm no hypocrite but if I'm going to spend money on a tournament I want to know I have a good chance to place. I'm not playing just to be competitive and that's just honesty.. I've done enough of that traveling to play nationals for nothing in return.

People are making some really good points though.

[Johnnymac631]

Rampage has two lines signed up for d3 along with no limit

Enough said we are playing ! Get the d3 teams out

[Doo-Na$ty]

I will play when we get enough teams to sign up. Till then, I ride the pine!

[xFM88x]

I do have a couple of former d2/d3 players on my team who got demoted into d4 for taking a break. I guess while people have the opportunity to play d4, people take that chance to. Some players/teams are not in a hurry to rank up due to lack of local events with rankings past d4 (with good prizes, etc.).

Also, like what others have said, if the MAPL (had the upcoming psp layout) before the actual PSP event then maybe more teams would come out. The MAPL has enough talents for teams to get ready for a National Event.. so it's not like the MAPL is lacking the talent.

[bigntastyeclipse08]

Originally Posted by Doo-Na$ty

I will play when we get enough teams to sign up. Till then, I ride the pine!

My old man aint scared of nobody. Bring on the nppl pro's he said. 5 on 1 he said. No gun against all of them he said. GET SOME......he said.

[njpballer3]

I can try and get a team together.....

[Doo-Na$ty]

Originally Posted by bigntastyeclipse08

My old man aint scared of nobody. Bring on the nppl pro's he said. 5 on 1 he said. No gun against all of them he said. GET SOME......he said.

Originally Posted by njpballer3

I can try and get a team together.....

We got 3 right here! Let's go!

[Johnnymac631]

Hey whatever works we just want to play some tournament ball that's all !

[EliteDM9Assassin]

I know we want to play D3 but the lack of teams in it for event 1 made us go to d4/5 plus we have a lot of newer players with little or no tournament experience so it was a great experience for them but you can def look for united to be signed up for D3 in upcoming events

[bigntastyeclipse08]

Originally Posted by Doo-Na$ty

We got 3 right here! Let's go!

Doo vs ALL. They aint ready

[Doo-Na$ty]

Originally Posted by bigntastyeclipse08

Doo vs ALL. They aint ready

That's right...Doo3 Division

[andyschein]

I think its more d2/3 teams would prefer to play xball leagues to practice for PSP

[MOSSYGHILLIEDSNIPER]

if all of d4/d5 would sack up everybody would have a chance at better prizes.

[bigntastyeclipse08]

Originally Posted by Doo-Na$ty

That's right...Doo3 Division

Originally Posted by MOSSYGHILLIEDSNIPER

if all of d4/d5 would sack up everybody would have a chance at better prizes.

Back when my dad played "doo nasty", they only had pro. So everyone played everyone. He won every event.

[tonymontona]

revo d2 wanted to play 1st event but needed to play the mao layout so we didnt sign up. we are talking bout entering 2 teams event 2