NationStates Jolt Archive

WORLD CUP HOSTING BID

NEW MONTREAL STATES AND THE ARCHREGIMANCY

Welcome. Here at the New Montreal States Ministry of Morale and the Monastic Football Association of the Archregimancy, we're excited to be bringing you a bid to host the World Cup that not only reflects the rich heritage of Nationstates international football, but is also the first ever all-Orthodox World Cup hosting bid. Our mission is to provide world-class footballing facilities in a new footballing context while also celebrating our shared rich international footballing heritage. Which was also the goal of our CoH XVI bid - but you go with what you know.

WORLD CUP HERITAGE
First of all, with the Nationstates World Cup silver jubilee (WC25) and centenary (WC26) tournaments recently behind us, what better way to continue to celebrate our shared footballing history than returning the World Cup to the Dreamed Realm for the first time since World Cup 2? That's right, for the first time since Alasdair I Frosticus hosted the second tournament, nations in ordinary physical reality are being invited to cross over to the Dreamed Realm for the World Cup proper, this time to play in the Holy Monastic Republic of the Archregimancy, an autonomous monastic republic under the overall control of the Holy Empire of Alasdair I Frosticus, for at least part of the tournament.

Thus while the Archregimancy is a comparatively new participant in international football, having narrowly failed to qualify for the finals of the last three tournaments, it has strong links to a nation that hosted one of the first two World Cups and co-founded the original World Cup committee with tournament founders Ariddia. Which is by no means to ignore the rich footballing heritage of our partners and co-hosts New Montreal States! While only recently returning to international action, NMS were prominent in the middle years of the tournament, finishing fourth in World Cup 11, and have recently qualified for the finals of both WC25 and WC26.

PAST HOSTING EXPERIENCE
Leaving aside the Dreamed Realm's experience of hosting WC 2, the Archregimancy and New Montreal States joined together to co-host the highly successful Cup of Harmony XVI, described at the time by Hockey Canada as "the best Cup of Harmony in ages." Those looking to relive the experience - or to gain further insight into our efficient and organised hosting style - can find the original news reports here:
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=444351

QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE
There has been some recent discussion over whether it's better to have large qualifying groups from which more teams qualify (but where upsets are less significant over the course of qualification) or smaller groups where fewer teams progress (but where upsets potentially have more of an impact). Your bidding team propose to use the latter.

The qualification tournament shall consist of 20 groups of 5 teams each. The top team in each group will automatically qualify. The second-placed teams will go into a two leg home and away play-off structure to determine the final 10 qualifying spots. Teams will be seeded for the draw from 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, with one team in each seeding pool placed in each group. Note that seedings will depend on which teams sign up. Thus if two top-20 teams were to fail to enter the tournament, the 20th seed would be the 22nd-ranked team.

SCORINATING
After the, erm, 'intriguing' qualifying results generated by World Cup 26, the Nationstates World Cup community has every right to expect the use of a tried-and-tested scorinator that's been successfully trialled in a previous tournament. We will be using Kaze Progressa's scorinator from World Cup 25. We gratefully acknowledge the Progressan authorities' help and co-operation in this regard - even if we do still regard them as vile heathen excelites on the theological front. The scorinator is built to permit +2 to -2 style modifiers, so these will be permitted.
The mechanics of the RP bonus - as always - must remain a secret, but we will weight towards quality rather than quantity. Listing the result and the table three times between match days won't be as rewarding as a single detailed post on how you wuz robbed by the corrupt referee. In order to encourage roster posting, a small (and we emphasise small) bonus will also be awarded to teams posting a roster.

STADIA AND OTHER DETAILS TO FOLLOW SHORTLY

At the moment, if my math serves me correctly, there are 88 nations signed up for the World Cup. With your very well-defined qualifying structure, how would your bid handle the following situations:

a) if by the end of host voting, there are less than the 102 nations (including the hosts) needed to fill the groups signed up, and a low likelihood of that number being achieved in a reasonable time period?

b) if by the end of host voting, there are more than 102 nations signed up for the tournament. Would the qualifying structure be altered, or would teams be cut? If so, what would determine who is left off?


Also, while your reasoning that a weaker nation might be helped better by an upset in smaller groups, owing to the less fixtures, appears sound, how would you respond to the argument that with a formula that is more rank-weighted than the one used for the current cup resulting in less upsets, a weaker nation is actually hurt by the shorter qualifying season, owing to having fewer chances to earn the points needed to progress in rank?

I commend both you and NMS on the well thought-out bid, and eagerly await your response.

NMS Stadia for World Cup 27

http://www.kmov.com/sports/images/edwardjonesdome.jpg

Stade Ville-Marie, Ville-Marie - The Virgin City’s 85,447-seat stadium, here shown from across route 250, is normally the home of the Ville-Marie Metropolitaines. It will be used in the round of 16 and the quarterfinals as well as the group stage.

http://stadiumsofnfl.com/afc/cmgi730.jpg


Stade Guillaume Bédard, Acadie. Named after the coach who took FC Acadie from being an obscure minor-league club to the central football power it is today, this 81,024-seat stadium was recently renovated and will be used in the group stage.

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/afc/cleve800.jpg


Colisée Unité, Chateauguay - This 74,143-seat stadium is still under construction, but will be completed within six months. Chateauguay Unité will play here. Group stage matches will be hosted here.

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/afc/paul107.jpg


Coyote Stadium, Moncton Sands - The Bigtopian Colonies will receive a share of the action, with this 87,210-seat stadium slated to host games in the round of 16 as well as the group stage. The Moncton Sands Coyotes, current NMSFL champions, play here.

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/nfc/georgiamain2.jpg


St. James Municipal Dome, St. James - The second host site in the Colonies will be this 77,142-seat dome in scenic St. James, currently the home of both FC St. James of the NMSFL, and the St. James Nanakans, a minor league side. Group Stage matches will be hosted here.

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/nfc/seahawksstadium725.jpg


Mariner Pitch, Philemon - Group stage and round of 16 matches will be held here in this 82,350-seat stadium, the oldest stadium that will host World Cup matches (aside from the evergreen Paladin Dome)

http://www.kenn.com/images/gillette_stadium01.jpg


Dragon’s Lair, Sorel - After being flooded during a war with the berserk government of Intelligent Neighbors, the 73,466-seat Lair has finally been restored and will help showcase the reconstruction of this previously war-torn city during the group stage. Both the NMSFL's Sorel Black Dragons and the Gridiron League's Sorel Raiders play here.

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/nfc/metromain2.jpg


The Paladin Dome, New Montreal - The last stadium presented here is certainly not the least. Built as a home for the national team before World Cup 10, the Dome was reconstructed for the Paladins return to action in WC24, and is a world-class facility. The ceiling is specially designed to amplify sound, and the 115,760 people this stadium holds can sound like twice as much. The Paladin Dome will host group stage, round of 16, quarter- and semi-finals, and the championship match.

Legalese: an answer will come for your questions once the Archregimancy gets on NS. It's good to see that people are taking an interest in our bid, and we hope to answer any concerns you might have.

I commend both you and NMS on the well thought-out bid, and eagerly await your response.

Thank you for your important questions which provide us with an opportunity to address a couple of points in our bid which are perhaps implied rather than explicit. Before joining NMS in posting my stadia, I'll respond quickly to your query, though in reverse order...

A) The smaller groups are designed for two reasons. Firstly just to provide a change of pace that participants will hopefully enjoy - it'll be a faster-paced qualifying tournament. Secondly to test whether smaller groups have any impact on qualifying; note that in the bid I'm not claiming they do, and in fact I have no evidence that they do. The only way to provide the relevant evidence either way is to test this empirically, which is what we hope to do here. Whether they do have any impact or not on qualifying, future hosts will be able to use our experience in this world cup to help decide whether to use larger or smaller groups.

It's precisely because some might see this smaller group size as somehow experimental that we're using a known and trusted scorinator that places more emphasis on rank than with the current World Cup. While upsets are certainly possible with KP's scorinator (I've been endlessly re-running test results), it doesn't have anywhere near the volatility of the WC27 scorinator. Top-ranked nations should therefore feel confident that the scorinator will be fair.

However, it seems likely that smaller groups will have an impact on the distribution of ranking points, as opposed to qualifying. If a high-ranked team goes undefeated through a five-team group of 8 qualifying matches - and then gets the 5 point qualifying bonus - they will presumably gain less of a ranking point advantage over the lower-ranked teams than had they gone undefeated through a ten-team group of 18 qualifying matches. I concede that most teams will gain fewer ranking points than in a larger group, but the gap between the ranking points gained will be smaller.


B) I accept that our format provides less flexibility in the number of teams participating in the WC.

Recent Cup sign-up threads suggest that having fewer than 100 teams (excluding hosts) sign up won't be a problem. If it is, a quick post to the discussion thread asking for a few ad hoc puppets should do the trick.

If we have more than 100 teams (far more likely to be an issue), then the first-come, first-served principle will be put into effect (so last to sign up would be the first to be dropped). However, rather than force out primary nations from the beginning, we would first have recourse to the established precedent of dropping puppets - also on the first-come, first-served principle - before dropping primary nations.

But note that even a bid that superficially has more flexibility than ours will still be required in many cases to drop out a few teams (probably puppets) since you can always have an odd number of sign-ups not easily divided into groups of equal teams with an equal number of teams qualifying from each group. How would hosts divide 107 teams equally, for example?

I hope this answers Legalese' questions, and I hope that other nations will feel free to ask questions over their concerns - that's what this thread is for.

THE ARCHREGIMANCY STADIA FOR WC 27

The Archregimancy will also provide eight stadia for the tournament.

In the Cup of Harmony, the Archregimancy used Monastic League stadia exclusively. However, given that the maximum capacity of these – even if extended for the World Cup – is typically only 25-30,000, a different approach is necessary for the World Cup.

Using advanced Dreamed Realm Technology ™, four of the eight stadia will be perfect replicas of the 80,000 capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground, dreamed into existence specifically for the World Cup:

http://www.astaonline.com.au/images/MCG%20CAD%20image%5B1%5D.jpg

These will be at Grand Lavra (usual location of the national stadium), Xenophon, Simonopetra, and St. Catherine’s monasteries. Pictures of each of these monasteries, without the accompanying 80,000 seat stadium, follow:

Grand Lavra
http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Athos/MonasteryImages/great_lavra/AERIAL%20VIEW%20(C)%20KEDAK.JPG

Xenophon
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/vakraas/X2.jpg

Simonopetra (stadium to be placed on plateau to rear of monastery)
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/vakraas/Simino2.jpg

St. Catherines
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/vakraas/St_cats.jpg

These will host all second round matches and quarterfinals played in the Archregimancy, with a semi-final and third-place match at the Grand Lavra.


But in order to give visitors a better feel for the Archregimancy’s footballing tradition, we will also be using four more modest Monastic League venues for half of the first round matches in the Archregimancy, three of them returning from the Cup of Harmony.

The first is Pantaleimon:

http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Athos/MonasteryImages/panteleimonos/EXTERNAL%20VIEW.JPG

The exterior of the monastery’s waterfront stadium, with its characteristic green dome over the south stand, can be seen at right foreground. It usually sits 20,000, but capacity will be extended to 30,000 for the tournament.


The second Monastic League stadium is St.Sergius-Holy Trinity:

http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Monasteries_and_Churches/Russian/1.jpg

This exterior shot of what is usually considered to be the most attractive home ground of any Monastic League team shows both the monastery and – at left middle ground – part of the southeastern corner of the south stand and east terrace of this 25,000 seat stadium, including the graceful belltower that rises up above the home supporters.


Our third stadium is in the beautiful far north of the Archregimancy – Solovetsky, home stadium of national team coach Kyrill, Metropolitan of Solovetsky:

http://www.naturalist.ru/Solovki/w100-solovki01.jpg

The red roof of the famous East Terrace of Our Lord Ruler Over All can just be seen behind the monastery walls to the left. The stadium usually sits 18,000, but will be extended to 30,000 for the tournament.


Finally, there’s Borisoglebsk, the only all-wooden stadium in the Archregimancy:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a319/vakraas/borisoglebsk.jpg

This view of this famous ground shows the west stand of St. Alexander Nevsky and the south terrace of The Holy Martyrs Sts Boris and Gleb. The massive corner and centre towers will be converted into luxury boxes and media centres for the duration of the tournament, though the south terrace's church will remain a church. For the purposes of the World Cup, Borisoglebsk will seat 45,000.

TRAVEL AND TOURISM FACILITIES
Part 1 - the Archregimancy


VISITING THE ARCHREGIMANCY:

Travel to the Dreamed Realm is difficult, but conditions will be eased for the World Cup. Our monks will build five portals in each qualifying nation, and up to 30,000 supporters of each team will be permitted to travel to the Archregimancy. Portals will also be built to allow for direct travel between NMS and the Archregimancy. Once in our nation, tourists will have a choice of accommodation, whether in the guest quarters of our scenic monasteries:

http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Athos/MonasteryImages/simonos_petra/m13.jpg

Or perhaps in a bed and breakfast in the farming villages around the Grand Lavra:

http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Athos/MonasteryImages/karyes/karyes_from_koutloumousi.jpg

For the first time since the Cup of Harmony, these B&Bs will also be made available to the female supporters of visiting teams. We do ask, however, that female supporters not enter the monasteries except during the football matches.


The more adventurous guest might like to stay in one of our famous mountain hermitages – an experience unlikely to be quickly forgotten:

http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Monasteries_and_Churches/Meteora/Rousanou/5.jpg


While the Holy Synod of the Archregimancy promises not to actively seek to convert visiting fans to the Orthodox faith (though equally, we won’t not talk to anyone who asks for more information), tourists will also have the opportunity to visit many of our most Holy Sites, such as the Archregimand’s private chapel:

http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Athos/MonasteryImages/karyes/PROTATON%20INTERNAL%20VIEW.jpg


Surely even the most militant atheistic communist or heathen Excelite cannot remain unmoved when faced with such beauty!


Archregimancy Bid Partners:
The Monastic Football Association of the Archregimancy
The Holy Empire of Alasdair I Frosticus
The Holy Synod of the Archregimancy
The respective host monasteries

The city of New Montreal is a fairly unpleasant place during the winter months, as natives and visitors alike are all too willing to admit. However, even this meteorological curse has yielded blessing, in this case the Underground City:

http://www.specker.li/albums/montreal/dscn2493.sized.jpg

Here is the center of the city, which connects over 200 different buildings, and contains well over 1200 different shopping and dining facilities ranging in size from massive department stores to smaller, trendy boutiques and cafés. Another view, this one under 333 rue Université:

http://www.hotel-montreal.net/images/montcity09.jpg

The city also has direct links to major museums and concert halls, where visitors can explore art and music traditional to the States, or imported from around the world. Subway and ground rail links provide access to all points of the city in a matter of minutes, and it is possible to see all the city’s major indoor landmarks without ever stepping outside.

http://www.globe-netter.com/photo/canada/montreal/27.JPG

Although when it’s this nice out, who would want to? A promenade on one of the islands in the St-Laurent makes for a pleasant afternoon, and each of the islands offers its own special attraction, such as the Biodome:

http://www.lilotux.net/galbumsdir/album31/aar.sized.jpg

The Biodome contains a variety of ecosystems from around the world, contained in miniature within the same building. An enthralling experience for those who care to step from jungle to pole in the same day.

http://www.winfos.com/or/montreal2/nynight.jpg

And there’s absolutely nothing monastic about the city after dark, either. From classy, dignified restaurants to wild, swinging nightclubs that would drive a monk up a wall, New Montreal is a place that knows how to party.

We’d mention other places in the nation - from the giant college town that is Philemon to the rural scenery outside St. James - but why go on when (thanks to clever manipulation of portals to and from the Dreamed Realm) they’re all within walking distance? Each city will have a portal erected in some large, public place, and the monks of the Dreamed Realm will undertake to make sure everyone gets from point A to point be just fine.

NMS Bid Co-Sponsors

NMS Ministry of Morale
NMSoft
The Patriarchate of the New Montreal States
NMSFL (New Montreal States Football League)
And the various municipal authorities and private concerns who own and operate the various stadia

OOC: These pictures and descriptions are expanded on those of the actual Montreal. The real Underground city is only a bit smaller, but does connect most of downtown. The Biodome is a real place.

Not a serious query but out of interest will the Archregimancy put any restrictions on Catholics (mainly Cataduano) fans during the tournament ;) :)

OOC: I have to say I find the structure of 20 groups of five teams each a bit troubling in the sense that in my own squalid opinion, the chances are great that a deserving team could be left out of the final 32.

Having said that, I like the emphasis on maintaining close adherence to the style modifier system (hopefully meaning no +22 or -4 modifiers in the next World Cup). I also really like your proposal for quality over quantity; having said that, I must acknowledge that one person's quality may not be another's. Perhaps some people like newspaper-styled match reports while other folks (*cough* Starblaydia *cough*) consider my normal style boring. How would you approach the issue of "quality" in that regard? And would you impose a "grammar" penalty?

OOC replies:

I also really like your proposal for quality over quantity; having said that, I must acknowledge that one person's quality may not be another's. Perhaps some people like newspaper-styled match reports while other folks (*cough* Starblaydia *cough*) consider my normal style boring. How would you approach the issue of "quality" in that regard? And would you impose a "grammar" penalty?

Judging quality is by necessity subjective. But I can reassure you on your specific point over newspaper-styled match reports... 'Quality' doesn't necessarily mean 'stunning originality'. Some nations prefer to use newspaper-style reports. That's entirely appropriate, and those nations won't suffer an RP penalty for sticking to that style; not every nation wants to write a long theologically consistent match report satirically (but affectionately) describing aspects of Orthodox monasticism, after all!

Without giving away too much, people simply listing their score, a couple of goal-scorers, and nothing else in the course of a single sentence won't get much of a bonus. Someone like Milchama, however, who often sticks to reporting basic match/tournament events, but elaborates on them in newspaper report style, will be fine.

In sum, while again acknowledging the subjectivity of judging quality, your putative hosts also recognise the need to allow for differences in RP style.

Given that English isn't always the first language of NS members, and that not all NS members have the same level of education, grammar and spelling shouldn't really be something we'd penalise people over unless the post is point-blank nonsensical. In RL I have a PhD in archaeology - I assure you that I won't be judging people to that standard ;)

I have to say I find the structure of 20 groups of five teams each a bit troubling in the sense that in my own squalid opinion, the chances are great that a deserving team could be left out of the final 32.

I appreciate your concern. However, could you define 'deserving team'? No qualifying tournament can or should guarantee that all of the top 32 teams will qualify. Upsets are part and parcel of any sport, and should also be part of any sporting simulation - though not necessarily to the extent of the madness of WC27. Recognition of rank is also important. I hope and expect that our cup would find a happy medium between a closed system where only the top 32 qualify, and the insanity of the current tournament.

And besides, if we hosted a cup where too many 'deserving teams' suffered, we'd never be allowed anywhere near a WCC event again, would we? It's in our own best interest to make sure things don't get out of hand.


IC Reply:
will the Archregimancy put any restrictions on Catholics (mainly Cataduano) fans during the tournament

The Holy Synod of the Archregimancy wishes to assure all heretics, schismatics, heathens, pagans, freemasons, communists and atheists that people of all faiths - and none - will be treated equally during the World Cup. Just don't expect a warm welcome from the home supporters.

However, note only Orthodox worship facilities are permitted in the territory of the Archregimancy. Nonetheless, what you do in the privacy of your own accommodation is between you and your god(s).

Exception: if the Anathematic Republics qualify for the World Cup proper, they will be forced to play any and all matches in the New Montreal States.

Besides, I usually RP as a newspaper, with no color, size or anything else than straight story. So no worries there. It's the content that matters - originality, creativity, dramatic effect. I can't grammar my way out of a paper bag.

And even point-blank nonsense will be taken in context before judgment is passed. I believe World Cup 24 had several posts that were little more than

DK KD DK KD etc.

Another note on context - if you do matches one by one (as opposed to having some kind of theme or storyline), some situations are difficult to be original in. There are only so many ways to package 0-0 draws or long losing or winning streaks, especially early on in a nation's footballing career, when they might not have characters or rivalries to fall back on. We will try and do our best to consider these factors before handing out points.

So my little blurbs (a little story about the game, then another random story), accompanied my multiple tables and charts would be acceptable in your RP judgement?

(See World Cup 26 RP Thread)

So my little blurbs (a little story about the game, then another random story), accompanied my multiple tables and charts would be acceptable in your RP judgement?

(See World Cup 26 RP Thread)

I don't want to get too bogged down in the minutiae of a bonus that by necessity has to remain secret, but from what I've read the Kazoo Peoples would have nothing to worry about.

I appreciate your concern. However, could you define 'deserving team'? No qualifying tournament can or should guarantee that all of the top 32 teams will qualify. Upsets are part and parcel of any sport, and should also be part of any sporting simulation - though not necessarily to the extent of the madness of WC27. Recognition of rank is also important. I hope and expect that our cup would find a happy medium between a closed system where only the top 32 qualify, and the insanity of the current tournament.

And besides, if we hosted a cup where too many 'deserving teams' suffered, we'd never be allowed anywhere near a WCC event again, would we? It's in our own best interest to make sure things don't get out of hand.That's a term I deliberately left somewhat open-ended for similar reasons to those a prospective host would use not to divulge the RP bonus system. Essentially, however, my definition gives leeway for a 72nd ranked team making its World Cup debut, RPing consistently, and leading its group for much of the qualifying session as well as the teams that are highly ranked and do well in the qualifiers (which I also include RPing consistently).

In other words, the Sarzonia of World Cup XVI might be considered a "deserving" team (as I recall, Tanah even said I deserved to go through more than he did even though the scorinator didn't agree with his assessment) in addition to the Starblaydias of the world -- high-ranking teams who usually RP regularly and well.

So in my own convoluted way, that's my definition of a "deserving" team.

The Holy Synod of the Archregimancy wishes to assure all heretics, schismatics, heathens, pagans, freemasons, communists and atheists that people of all faiths - and none - will be treated equally during the World Cup. Just don't expect a warm welcome from the home supporters.
However, note only Orthodox worship facilities are permitted in the territory of the Archregimancy. Nonetheless, what you do in the privacy of your own accommodation is between you and your god(s). (snip)

What no cathedral for the true faith?? in that case the cuisine better be up to scratch;)

The Holy Synod of the Archregimancy wishes to assure all heretics, schismatics, heathens, pagans, freemasons, communists and atheists that people of all faiths - and none - will be treated equally during the World Cup. Just don't expect a warm welcome from the home supporters.

However, note only Orthodox worship facilities are permitted in the territory of the Archregimancy. Nonetheless, what you do in the privacy of your own accommodation is between you and your god(s).

Exception: if the Anathematic Republics qualify for the World Cup proper, they will be forced to play any and all matches in the New Montreal States

If the Most Serene Republic of Qazox does qualify and plays any game in the Holy Synod of the Archregimancy, would having our most sacred Holy Oxen be a religious problem for you? (something about Fanatics and Golden Calves don't really mix?) we will ensure that the Most Holy Oxen will keep their manure piles as small as possible.

The Obsidianus Athletic Commission would like to take this opportunity to reassure any and all of our potential hosts that Pikkusaukko the Shaming Otter is a completely secular mascot.

The Obsidianus Athletic Commission would like to take this opportunity to reassure any and all of our potential hosts that Pikkusaukko the Shaming Otter is a completely secular mascot.

As opposed to Bettia's "Tiddles", which is completely psychotic.

Question to the hosts: Will you have a publicised schedule (cf WCXXIV)? It does often pay, especially to us IRCers, to know who's scorinating and what day.

OOC replies:


So in my own convoluted way, that's my definition of a "deserving" team.

I think we can safely say that your definition of deserving team is entirely consistent with our definition of deserving team.

I'm currently running yet another test of the scorinator, this time using my nation's league (the Monastic Football League) as the test. The idea is to test to 8 matches (the same number of matches as in a 5 team qualifying group). For the purposes of this simulation, it's an 18 team league where the top 5 teams have 40 ranking points, the next 6 teams have 20 ranking points, and the bottom 7 teams have 10 ranking points. Home and away bonuses apply, but no style modifiers or RP bonuses apply for this simulation. I'm only 5 games in, but I'd be happy to discuss the results in this thread if people would find that helpful once I reach 8 matches if people would find that helpful.

Will you have a publicised schedule (cf WCXXIV)? It does often pay, especially to us IRCers, to know who's scorinating and what day.

I imagine we'll use the same system as we did when we hosted the Cup of Harmony: A published match schedule on the first page of the thread, with the hosts taking turns to scorinate and post results for the qualifying tournament. Once we reach the tournament proper, we'll scorinate each other's sections, send the results to each other, and take turns posting the results. So if I scorinate and post MD1, NMS will do MD2, I'll do MD3, etc (unless RL intervenes, in which case we'll hand over to the co-host).

However, given that I live in Australia and NMS lives in North America, we can't necessarily promise to post results at precisely the same time each day.


IC reply

The Holy Synod of the Archregimancy and the Monastic Football Association of the Archregimancy wish to reassure all teams that any squad playing matches in the Holy Monastic Republic of the Archregimancy will be permitted to bring in whatever mascots, idols, otters and oxen they deem fit so long as the rules for visitors outlined in our bid are followed.