NationStates Jolt Archive

Sign up for the Quidditch World Cup!

Teams:

Spaam
Eris Kallisti
Kaze Progessa
Menelmacar
Ravenspire
Dark Outcasts
Trixia
The Belmore Family
Pedriana (Bedistan)
Haraki
The Never Setting Sun
Cockbill Street
Akbarland
Ancient and Holy Terra
New Montreal States
Zinkoland

Not more Hairy Pothead :roll:

And the Quaffle was BUMPED towards Cho Chang....

Eris Kallisti presents our star Beater!:

Alison Bishop
http://www.cybersluagh.com/lynn/alison23.jpg

http://www.cybersluagh.com/ErisKallisti/janey.jpg
Janey Ravenhurst, KSC
Press Secretary
The Empire of Eris Kallisti (http://www.cybersluagh.com/ErisKallisti)

((OOC: yes, that is actualy a roleplaying character I have *hides*))

Nice, ahem, nipples.... :P

((OOC: LOL I like them :D ))

Can I hear a BUMP?

Kaze Progressa are interested.

Maybe, instead of having the 150pts for getting the Snitch and game over, we could do it in a slightly more subtle way, by having, say, 50pts for the Snitch and a set time, maybe two halves of an hour each? This would ensure increased safety and perhaps a more competitive game with genuine emphasis on every player, not just the Seeker.

However, we accept the traditionalists, especially those who were Seekers themselves, will probably resist a change and we will play under the existing rules also.

Kaze Progressa are interested.

Maybe, instead of having the 150pts for getting the Snitch and game over, we could do it in a slightly more subtle way, by having, say, 50pts for the Snitch and a set time, maybe two halves of an hour each? This would ensure increased safety and perhaps a more competitive game with genuine emphasis on every player, not just the Seeker.

However, we accept the traditionalists, especially those who were Seekers themselves, will probably resist a change and we will play under the existing rules also.

Well, any changes are welcome, though I'm not sure on the two
halves thing.... The whole marathon thing sounds good to me 8)
Also, I'm working out ways on doing the scoring, but i guess we
should work out the rules first ;)

We play it on jetbikes... is that okay?

Also, we support Kaze's suggested change to the rules.

~Siri

Um, I'm a bit worried about the exhaust and noise. But we can point you to a few nations that produce broomsticks.

Also, what say you to 50 points for the Golden Snitch, but no halves (ie, unlimited games)?

Assuming a technological contragravity measure is an acceptable substitute for a magical broomstick, Ravenspire will participate.

Assuming a technological contragravity measure is an acceptable substitute for a magical broomstick, Ravenspire will participate.

By all means! We realise that not all nations have magic, or necessarily believe in it.

I have no idea of what rank I am, but what the hell, I'll join, and as I donno any of you, someone can pick me.

I have no idea of what rank I am, but what the hell, I'll join, and as I donno any of you, someone can pick me.

You are Beauracrat. I prefer nations that have at least some history
of RPing. You can see your rank just above the number of posts you
have.

OOC: Oh, right, I'm newish to these particular forums, you see, I was lead astray by a member of the forum about 2 weeks ago, so here I am ... well, am I in, or do I have 2 spam some other threads first?

IC: So, am I in or what?

OOC: Oh, right, I'm newish to these particular forums, you see, I was lead astray by a member of the forum about 2 weeks ago, so here I am ... well, am I in, or do I have 2 spam some other threads first?

IC: So, am I in or what?

Basically, spam a few hundred more times, and you're in :roll:
If you're interested, and really want to RP, then join the sign up for the Football World Cup
http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=83390

You know, I considered doing that, but then I realised that my ass would be glassified so baddly that real pieces of glass would get stuck there as a lesson.

Um, I'm a bit worried about the exhaust and noise. But we can point you to a few nations that produce broomsticks.

Also, what say you to 50 points for the Golden Snitch, but no halves (ie, unlimited games)?
Yeah, that's the rule change I was referring to.

And the jetbikes don't have exhaust or noise, they're gravitic. The team members aren't big fans of broomsticks - too slow, and not the least bit comfortable - but I'm sure we can whip up something acceptable.

~Siri

Assuming a technological contragravity measure is an acceptable substitute for a magical broomstick, Ravenspire will participate.

By all means! We realise that not all nations have magic, or necessarily believe in it.

We have the opposite, in fact. But thank you.

To address Menelmacar's point, we feel it is necessary for the sake of fairness to provide an equally-unbalanced method of transport -- it is more difficult to be knocked from a gravbike than a broomstick, so this would provide an unfair advantage. In the interests of sportsmanship, we will be using a broomstick-shaped contragravity device.

Might but might not......hmmmmmmmm......

Points for entering:

1) could be interesting
2) .....
3) I am a minister
4) Like the concept
5)wants world domintion (hmmm joking)

Points against:

1) Hate Harry Potter
2) Do i have enough time?
3) FWC more important
4) No ranking
5) :roll:

..........help!...........................i dunno......when's the closing date for entries?

Go on! You know you want to! :D

As for scoring: I suggest this formula for the number of goals scored (multiply the whole thing by 10, as it's 10pts for each goal):

(random number between 1 and 30-ranking)-(random number between 1 and 20-opposition ranking)

where ranking is between 1 and 30.

Example: match between rank 6 and 20:

(random number-6)-(random number-20)
eg: (24-6)-(22-20)=18-2=16
(random number-20)-(random number-6)
eg: (19-20)-(2-6)=(-1)-(-4)=3

160-30. If the rank 20 side got the Snitch they could sneak it if the original 150pts rule operated, but not if the KP alternative was used.

To determine which team got the snitch:

(random number between 1 and 50)-(ranking)
Highest number got it.

This will need tweaking, but just getting some ideas going :D

Well, it might be fun if people chose their own Attack and Defense and
Seeker rankings, but thats just an idea. And I was thinking that each
round we work out if the snitch was found. If not, we work out who
scores. Working out who scores would be a formula modified by the
Attack and Defense rankings of the two teams, and the probability of
finding the snitch has to do with the ability of the Seeker. This kinda
means that its better to have the snitch at 50 points.

And I think we'll close when we have 16 teams, and then work it out
from there.

*coughBUMPcough*

*coughNOTSOBUMPcough*

All right then, I'll just sit on the sidelines, waiting for the day that I get loads of posts, then I can join QWC3, or something. Until then, I'll just should completely unnessasery slogans, like' Go, chaser, go' or ' You dropped the quaffle, hah!'

We're up for it, although not that many posts we are reasonably experienced rpers.

Could somebody possibly lend us some enchanted brooms? We are competent flyers but have no experience on brooms.

By my math, you are about 25 posts away from being eligible... get posting :D

Still, once the requirements are met, you will surely be welcomed.

And Spaam has a neat idea with the scoring. I knew I'd inspire someone.

*coughBUMPcough*

*coughNOTSOBUMPcough*

All right then, I'll just sit on the sidelines, waiting for the day that I get loads of posts, then I can join QWC3, or something. Until then, I'll just should completely unnessasery slogans, like' Go, chaser, go' or ' You dropped the quaffle, hah!'

You could sign up for ice hocky or field hockey, both are still small enough to give you a chance even with no rank....

blasted muggles-made forums

evil, nasty, despicable forums

Tsk tsk Tanah BurUng.... you Made a triple post.... and you're not signing uP! :P

I'll apply.

(This is Trixia, and i'm a senator, just tagging this thread)

Trix

*Runs back*

Here i am! I'd like to apply please :D

Done :D

Done :D

Thankyou :D

Can we post team colours? Or shall we wait?

(This is actually a really good idead :D and i havn't even seen it done before on here!)

Done :D

Thankyou :D

Can we post team colours? Or shall we wait?

(This is actually a really good idead :D and i havn't even seen it done before on here!)

Go ahead, post as much as you want :)

Still just getting enough teams....

Also on the topic of the rankings, if we give each nation say, 30 points for their team, they can distribute it among their positions as they want, so they can be strong in the areas they want.

i.e.

Seeking - 10
Defence - 15
Attack - 5

And as one team attacks the others defence comes into play. Seeing whos is higher/lower in a formula to see who scores.

And we can have kinda like a 'finding setting' for the snitch, to determine if the snitch is found on each turn. We'd have to work out a formula for that aswell tho...

It's all sooo complicated :wink:

Also on the topic of the rankings, if we give each nation say, 30 points for their team, they can distribute it among their positions as they want, so they can be strong in the areas they want.

i.e.

Seeking - 10
Defence - 15
Attack - 5

And as one team attacks the others defence comes into play. Seeing whos is higher/lower in a formula to see who scores.

And we can have kinda like a 'finding setting' for the snitch, to determine if the snitch is found on each turn. We'd have to work out a formula for that aswell tho...

It's all sooo complicated :wink:

Well thats pretty much exactly what I was thinking of.... except maybe less points, like 10 or something....

OK then.

*still debating*

~still BUMPing~

We'll be there :D
(Once we have found a nation willing to supply the team with broomsticks.)

Da BUMP went the little green frog one day!

Ohh go on then *feels the shame (i dispise HP)*.

This post is also disguised as a friendly BUMPO

Hehe.... excellent.... :twisted:

C'mon guys, half way there! We need 8 more teams before this gets under way!

BUMP for me baby!

Hmm, I might try this out. If so, though, could I use Pedriana (my puppet) instead of this nation? While Pedriana has a total of 3 posts that I can remember, I could more easily fit a Quidditch team in Pedriana than in Bedistan. ;)

Done :P

7 to go....

*getting a little impatient.....*rememBers masters' words - patience is a vertUe*....watches as a sMall Pig passes the window*

Hi.

Could help you guys out here...seeing as you have problems with designing a match engine for quidditch. I have a good one - works in Excel and you can have teams on any number of different levels (this needs some tweaking though). It gives the scores as match progresses, i.e. you can get scores on the hour, on the day etc., and also the time the snitch is caught. Very basic, but it is well tested and works OK (I've simulated over 1500 games with it...that's what I do with my time). Average length of games is about a day or so, although I have had a game that went on for 140 hours, and one that was finished after a couple of seconds.

Come on, by the time the tournament staryts i'll have enough points. Add us to the list.

I'm on the list now (I hope). Translation: I want in. Do you want a team list of my people?

((OOC - not exactly sure if I qualify for minister satus? But interested in sending a team))

Please consider our Quidich team from Foo-Free Prep School in the capital of the free lands, Foo-Free.

Ambassador Koo
The Free Lands of Freedom for All Beings

Ya'll have no life Harry Potter Sucks!

The requirement for Minister is 200 posts... so long way to go yet, FfAB.

Neat idea CS - am interested in seeing the spreadsheet for it :)

QUIDITCH IS ABSOLUTLY PANTS! :arrow:

OK. This is very basic, but it is easy for me to add features for, say, best Attack, best Defense and best Seeker.

Spreadsheet (http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads5/SimpleQuidditch1.zip)

The spreadsheet works like this:

You have to enter the team name of the home team in H1, and the name of the away team in H2. These are by default set to Kongkuduke Killers (CHN) and Ma'rib Mashers (YEM). You then edit the home and away team levels: Home team level of play in K1, away team level of play in K2. Beware though - the gaps between the levels are big!

The score is shown in the E column, updated every two minutes or so. The time is shown in the F column. You scroll down to find whether the Snitch is caught or not. The spreadsheet has a time limit of 16 hours - if this is reached, put the score of the home team after 16 hours into H3 and the away team into H4. Once you have put the home team's score in, you can not go back to check the away team's score because the whole spreadsheet is recalculated.

I can also make a feature which stores the data (Att, Def, See) for each team so you don't have to input them each time, only the name of the team.

If I may also propose a scoring system, to make games less boring in the event of a team breaking the magic limit (150 points, of course - then there is no chance for the other team of winning if they catch the Snitch):

Four points for a win
Two points for a draw (extremely unlikely - it has happened twice with me in over 1000 games)
No points for a loss
Two bonus points for each 500 game points you win by (i.e. if you win by 1100 points, you score four bonus points (1100/500 = 2.2), so a total of eight points.)
One bonus point lost for each 500 game points you lose by (i.e. if you lose by 1100 points you score -2 bonus points, and a total of -2 points).

Although Magic is a major part of my country, Harry Potter has been banned from my nation. :D

I'm almost a minister!!!

Thank you to all those who choose to enlighten this thread with their views on Harry Potter - you are helping to keep the thread high up on the page.

And only 5 places left! Sign up NOW!

finally, i'm up there :D

There must be some unbelievable hatred of the amazing sport of Quidditch (or maybe just HP) for only 11 teams to be in this when the International Cricket Championship has at least 3 (maybe 5, depending on whether I let in sub-Minister nations) in already...

I Believe that Uunder these circuMstances I am Partialy confused by the above post, the circumstances beings that i'm a confused, tired ,stressed person....well at the moment anyway

BUMP

U know i must be really bored to keep BUMPing this thread. But here is another one anyway

Da BUMP

C'mon, only 5 places remaning!

More publicity is needed, but to do this by not annoying millions (ie spamming) then i'll have do give this thread a huge BUMP

[subtle hint]Or possibly by admitting nations that are not Ministers...[/subtle hint]

Eh fine.... as long as you RP, you're in Cockbill....

4 places remaining!

The Trixian Qudditch Team are nearly ready. Training has been hard, especially for our new seeker, Kris Froster. But we are now well on our way to making this world cup one to remember!

Our Team Scarf:
http://atypically.net/hp/scarves/mer-raven01-small.jpg
Showing are team colours, White and Blue.

Our Team Brooms:
http://www.broadwaycostumes.com/images/sales/a-broom-zoom.jpg Nation made. The Triximp 600. Just a tad under in speed to the Nimbus 3000. But better handling, especially in the hands of veteren quidditch riders.

And Finally, our Team Logo and Name.
We are the Trixian Blue Dragons !!
http://www.vietnamesebusiness.com/vnbd/flash/dragon-75dpi-250.jpg

Idea with the entry requirements... a test RP might be a better idea...

*BUMP... watch that Bludger!*

Very nice Trixia!

Just 4 places to go people!

*coughFootballWorldCupcough*

The FOX Network would like to tell the Participants, and Administrators of the First Quidditch match of Nation States, that the FOX Sports Channel (http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=93290) has advertised your Sports Event.

I will sign up.

Only 3 places to go!

Ancient Terra would like to join the Quidditch Cup, with our national team:

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/AndyRocket/terranshadowhawks.jpg

The Shadowhawks would be honored to join this league. Our team colors are Black and Green, and our Captain (and Seeker) is Taichi Kamiya. We are considering a number of Firebolts as our brooms, which Emperor El' Jonson vows to pay for, even out of his own pockets.

(ooc: I'm a resurrected May nation...:D)

Its ok, I knows ya :)

2 places left folks!

Finally things are moving! YAY!

And then they stop.

Either BUMP, or change the structure to incorporate the existing number of teams... what the hell, BUMP it anyway, that's the spirit of the Beaters...

Edit: 14 teams. Two groups of seven, playing each other once, top four from each group to quarter-finals.

That would be... (calculates) 49 matches though. That's perhaps a bit excessive. Comparison: 16 teams, four groups of four, top two to quarter-finals, is 31 matches.

I'm sure we can get just two more teams.

SIGN UP NOW!

Ladies And Gentlemen Of Nationstates!

I urge you to sign up for this truly brilliant World Cup, not only will it bring us together and closer as national friends, but it will show that quidditch is just as good, if not better, than any other world cup sport!

Sign Up Now!

ONLY TWO PLACES LEFT!

MASSIVE BUMP getting bored now

Bump again...must be someone else who wants to join surely!

TWO MORE PLACES LEFT!

GET THEM WHILE THEY'RE HOT!

Maybe take the two groups of seven idea I mentioned earlier, because these last two teams are proving harder to get than the Golden Snitch itself...

Kaze Progressa's idea is seconded by Cockbill Street

I'll give it till Dec 14th.

We still have to work out the scoring system, so this should give up plenty of time.

So two more teams needed NOW!!!!

In that case *bump* it then :)

And again...and again...and again...

PS - I proposed a scoring system a bit back in the thread...

---Post deleted by NationStates Moderators---

We'll sign up, this looks to be hilarious.

Dragofellatio.... that is too good.... ;)
Well, if you promise to RP, you're in.
And so are you Montreal :)


So now we just have to work out the scoring system :D

Ah good, we're off the ground. :D

Well, we need one more team now.... :?

ONE MORE SPOT! GET IT WHILE ITS HOT!

BUMP! Dang nabit this thing is too good to die!

Or we could take the (15?) teams we have right now, split them into 3 groups of 5, give the winner from each group plus the best of the 2nd place teams a pass to the semis. Then the consolation match and the championship. Boom!

YAY! QUIDDITCH!

I'll play!

Finally some action!

*Bump*

What's going on on the scoring side?

I don't know. I proposed that we didn't have a 'first to get the Snitch gets 150 points and ends the game' - probably hated by Quidditch purists, but it makes it more of a team game (let's face it, the whole game was designed to be a showcase for Harry...)

We have sixteen now, anyway. :)

oh oh let us in

Yay! Ok, I'll add you in Zinko....

Yeah, if we can just work out a nice method of scoring....
I think the Snitch should be worth 100 or 50 or something like that.

And perhaps, have the match last a certain length of time, not until the Snitch is caught. That way, if one team gets a big lead, the opposition can get back into the game with a Snitch capture, rather than have a situation where they can't get the Snitch unless the Chasers reduce the lead - which would be remote. (For those of you who've read it, think the Quidditch World Cup final in Goblet of Fire.)

IC: Pedriana's team roster for the Quidditch World Cup:

Chasers:
Vepodi Samin
Ngreve Fidata
Guri Podime

Keeper:
Vellid Botero

Beaters:
Des Dihegu
Aruar Deshoq

Seeker:
Rehume Dhe

Substitutes:
Mundiu Dh (Chaser)
Metimi Frasht (Chaser)
Sepodi Shprap (Keeper)
Desik Perape (Beater)
Pamira Pe (Seeker)

OOC: Now, as to the mechanics of the thing...

I'd say reduce the Snitch to 50 points and not make it game-ending. The overall match time should probably be 60, 90, or 120 minutes (I prefer 90 myself).

Now...should scoring be based on "attacks" a la the Football World Cup, or should there instead be basically a chance of scoring at any particular time? (Looking back at that, it sounds confusing, so I'll clarify if necessary.)

EDIT: Actually, Cockbill Street's spreadsheet back on page 3 seems to do the job nicely...I think that might be a good starting point.

Ankh-Morpork C-mail
Cockbill Street Department
Quidditch World Cup Extra

Quidditch Team Goes International
Squad of Fourteen Named for World Cup

The Eagles kick off from the ground and fly to Spaam for the inaugural Quidditch World Cup this week. As such, the C-mail has this exclusive coverage of the whole World Cup squad:

Ted Colon
Chaser, 38 years, 1.74 m, 84 kg, male human
86 caps, 2816 goals

An aging Chaser, Colon has served the national team for many a game. His skills as scorer are still unquestionable, but he tends to be a bit slow on the uptake nowadays. Perhaps it is time to let new forces in?

William Gleam
Chaser, 26 years, 1.88 m, 94 kg, male human
4 caps, 79 goals

One of the new forces in Cockbill Street quidditch, Gleam makes up in passing and tackling what he lacks in routine. Making his debut as a replacement for injured 37-year-old Andrew McKenzie, Gleam scored an impressive 15 goals in the 380-190 drubbing of neighbours Chakana, and has since cemented his place in the squad.

Polly Leigh
Chaser, 31 years, 1.70 m, 71 kg, female human
29 caps, 811 goals

An established Chaser, both in the domestic league and internationally, Leigh has poured in goals for the national team. However, she's most known as the playmaker, with some fantastic moves known to send defenders well into the next galaxy. She is very brave - to the point of lunacy some might say - and is usually the girl to fly right between two bludgers and get through safely. As a result of this bravery, however, she is also the most frequently injured player in the Eagles squad.

Silicate
Captain, Keeper, 40 years, 2.29 m, 294 kg, male troll
109 caps, 8 goals

Silicate is the captain of the team, and our keeper. Not very agile, but when you can cover one ring completely with your body, that's OK. He's made some amazing saves, among them one that saved a point in the local league competition, where he used his feet to kick the quaffle out of the danger area, across the pitch, and into the opposing ring. He has a mighty arm, and his seven other goals has come from throws from his own half.

Egil Hammerhock
Beater, 31 years, 1.11 m, 66 kg, dwarf
44 caps

The most experienced of the mighty Cockbill Street beater pair, Hammerhock is feared throughout the quidditch-playing world for his strong arm, trained up when he was an apprentice with the local blacksmith. A scout for the Vimesbairn Vanquishers saw his immense strength when looking for a reserve beater, and Hammerhock was immediately contracted. He has played for the Vanquishers ever since, and made the national team at 24 - the youngest beater ever to play for the Eagles. Since then, he has been a bit in and out, but when Bjorn Burleigh arrived three years ago, the two immediately found a partnership that has lasted ever since.

Bjorn Burleigh
Beater, 28 years, 1.22 m, 54 kg, dwarf
21 caps

Support beater, Burleigh can do amazing things with the bat. His greatest achievement came in a friendly against Adariben, when he single-handedly knocked out three opposing chasers with one bludger and caused a triple substitution as they all needed treatment. This feat, would it be repeated, has been known over Cockbill Street as the Burleigh Turkey.

Christine Lancre
Seeker, 20 years, 1.59 m, 61 kg, female human
18 caps, 12 snitches

Young and small as most seekers, Christine is a promising talent that could well beat the record for most caps earned by a seeker. She is by far the best seeker in the domestic league, having an over 70 % catch record, and despite only playing for four years, she is playing with a confidence that has never been seen since the great Alan Green, who had a catch record of 84 % at international level.

Substitutes:

Joanna Thatcher (Chaser, 28 yrs, 1.64 m, 68 kg, female human. 11 caps, 87 goals)

Phil Catt (Beater, 34 yrs, 1.81 m, 75 kg, male human, 14 caps)

Rolf Thighbiter (Keeper, 31 yrs, 1.22 m, 59 kg, dwarf, 8 caps)

Aluminate (Beater, 37 yrs, 2.29 m, 158 kg, male troll, 22 caps)

Lisa Chapman (Seeker, 22 yrs, 1.59 m, 49 kg, female human, 6 caps, 3 snitches).

OOC: I think Pedriana's idea is good, but matches should be a little longer than 90 minutes - after all, I don't think it's the sitting on a broomstick that's tiring and physical, it's the thought of the match lasting say a day or so. Say three or four hours, that will be adequate for a good game.

Unfortunately, 1-2-3 didn't like that spreadsheet... sometimes the Excel files convert fine, sometimes not. That one didn't.

However, I wholeheartedly agree with the Snitch not being a game-ending event.

Oh. Well try this version then - it should be cleansed of all 1-2-3 problems...it's saved as a 1-2-3 file :)

1-2-3 friendly version of quidditch (http://www.freewebs.com/hattrickladder/quidditch.zip)

IPA announces Quidditch World Cup team

The New Montreal States Quidditch tourneys have concluded, and as a result the best High Schoolers have been chosen to form a national team. With no professional Quidditch League (something that will no doubt change after this tourney) High Schoolers will have to foot the burden of playing on the International Field - something the soccer players have proven that they can do.

Without Further Ado, the team (* - denotes starter, C - denotes captain):

Seekers:

Ama Dahoe* (C) - 34 years - half elf - Senior, New Antioch Grandevue (1st place in tourney)

Benny Lang - 15 years - human - Freshman, Etiennebourg United co-op (5th place)

Keepers:

Maurice Regault* - 18 years - human - Senior, New Antioch Grandevue (1st place)

Sebastien Brimaud - 17 years - human - Junior - Albert Nhan High (4th place)

Chasers:

Ange Citron* - 16 years - human - Junior - Albert Nhan High (4th place)

Marc Massé* - 16 years - human - Sophmore - Apresbourg High (2nd place)

Jeanne St-Marie* - 33 years - half elf - Senior - Frog's Academy (3rd place)

Wolfgang Tours - 18 years old - human - Senior - New Antioch Grandevue (1st place)

Robert Grospierre - 17 years old - human - Junior - Maurice Boise Academy (8th place)

Stephanie Medille - 14 years old - human - Freshman - Apresbourg High (2nd place)

Beaters:

Victor Rachislav* - 17 years old - human - Senior - Frog's Academy (3rd place)

Hylen Mented* - 34 years old - half elf - Senior - Etiennebourg United co-op (5th place)

Leonard Dubois - 18 years old - human - Senior - New Antioch Bellevue (1st place)

Andre Poulin - 16 years old - human - Sophmore - Frog's Academy (3rd place)

Agnosticium would like to enter if it's still possible.

Hmm...perhaps this could stand a bump...

Is it EVER going to get underway?!?

Probably not in our lifetime, though we may hope.

jeez! I've been offline all the christmas holidays and this still isn't underway?