[Mezza]

Tentative Date: 27th Dec, Monday, 6pm - 11pm
Q: Due the weekends taken up by Christmas (Sat) and New Years (also Sat), I am considering holding it on a weekday night. What do you think?

Consider Sunday the 19th? Might be abit rushed for qualifiers but otherwise 27th is a perfectly logical day to hold it, downsides would be that weekdays might just be harder

Improvements/Suggestions for December
Q: We did the live casting outside the shop. What did you feel about that?

Unfortunately wasn't there to witness it, but generally in an open area, as long as sound quality can be sorted out, it should be good! and casting without the need to worry about giving away strats would be possible

Q: I am considering changing the tournament format to double elimination.

Definitely a fairer format, and could make for some awesome comebacks

Q: I am considering changing the map picking format to map elimination. Standard pool of 7 maps chosen, players get to eliminate 2 each for Bo3 and 1 each for Bo5 finals. Coin flip for first map of choice, then loser's choice. Yes/No/Counter suggestions?

That'll be sorta like GSL style, could make for more strategic play. Alternatively I've got the Xelnaga/Shakuras/LT, ban one map, then loser picks system for the team sg qualifiers, that'll be relatively fair too.

Q: I am considering changing the qualification system. Tournament will start with 64 slots, single elimination, Bo3, ONLINE. The final 16 will then be invited to come down to Raygun to play for SSL Dec. SSL will remain as a LAN event as I strongly wish to encourage offline tournament experience for our local players. Online 64 slot qualification? Yes/No/Counter suggestions

Qualification and seeding would be fairer imho. the ladder rating system has some serious loopholes, unless you can use blizzard's ELO but even then, there's issues with that too. online qualifiers is a good idea.

Q: What else would you like to see at SSL Dec

I second the cowbells. For shure.

p.s. and who are the generous sponsors this time around? awesome stuff man!

[Xeen]

Originally Posted by mezza

Q: I am considering changing the qualification system. Tournament will start with 64 slots, single elimination, Bo3, ONLINE. The final 16 will then be invited to come down to Raygun to play for SSL Dec. SSL will remain as a LAN event as I strongly wish to encourage offline tournament experience for our local players. Online 64 slot qualification? Yes/No/Counter suggestions

Qualification and seeding would be fairer imho. the ladder rating system has some serious loopholes, unless you can use blizzard's ELO but even then, there's issues with that too. online qualifiers is a good idea.

Blizzard's ELO ranking is pretty much solved to be completely based on ladder points (with division variance), so that's barely any better, really. Agreed that qualifiers are the better option.