League #4

[Bob]

Fleck - I think you're right. If the team that has won every game loses the final match, then they have a rematch. If it comes to that, we'll have another match, I suppose, with new line-ups (we'll account for Stamina and all that). Could be really interesting in a rematch if both teams go all-out in the last match and need to play their final match with some reserves.

Wyvern - As long as he's able to keep up, I'm totally cool with somebody jumping in. Just make sure he understands all our new rules--I don't think I've updated the rules to reflect things like player types and stuff. And make sure he signs up on this forum, if he hasn't already, so that he can PM me his line-ups (make sure he knows how to do those, too, maybe by sending him a sample?).

Oh, and yes, I'll do a fifth league. These actually take very little time, I just lately haven't had my laptop out. If my laptop is on, it takes 10-20 minutes, including my time making my own line-ups and skimming my games' results.

[Fleck]

Yeah, I was just thinking about it, and it makes sense to have a rematch if the winning team loses. After all, the team from the losing bracket has already lost a game, so it's unfair to kick the winning team down to second place just for losing. With the Double Elimination, everyone can lose one game and still win the tourney.

And I'm cool with a new player as well, just so long as he adheres to the rules and doesn't slow us down. I'll be extra careful with his stamina write-ups to make sure that there's no confusion.

EDIT: Also, speaking of stamina, everyone should be aware that your teams could take 4 to 7 games to win. If you go totally undefeated, you could win the tourney in four games. But if you lose a game, it will take you seven games to win. So there is a severe stamina punishment for losing.

So... don't lose!

[Fleck]

Team Stamina

Grizzly Bears

Forward: Tellah - 4
Forward: Orlandu - 7
Center: Sazh - 4
Defender: Galuf - 4
Defender: Duncan- 4
Goalie: Dr. Kadowaki -9
BENCH: Auron - 10
BENCH: Zangan - 10

Mercenaries

Forward: Rude - 7
Forward: Lani - 5
Center: Elena - 5
Defender: Amarant - 8
Defender: Ba'Gamnan- 4
Goalie: Worker 8- 6
BENCH: Tseng - 10
BENCH: Gafgarion -10

The Mad Experiments - CRIT: THE MASK, ODINE, No. 288

Forward: The Mask -1
Forward: Hojo - 7
Center: Kuja -4
Defender: Mikoto -8
Defender: Odine -0
Goalie: No. 288 -1
BENCH: Julius - 10
BENCH: Deling -10

The Nightshades - CRIT: ALBA, MIRA

Forward: Illua -7
Forward: Blank -7
Center: Alba -2
Defender: Mira -0
Defender: Cissnei -4
Goalie: Frimelda - 8
BENCH: Chime -10
BENCH: Reno - 10

Sublimely Magnificent 7

Forward: Jecht -7
Forward: Edge -7
Center: Laguna -5
Defender: Seifer -4
Defender: Snow -5
Goalie: Edgar -7
BENCH: Balthier -10
BENCH: Cid Highwind -10

The Magic Missiles - CRIT: VANILLE, YUNA

Forward: Rinoa -4
Forward: Rydia - 7
Center: Vanille -1
Defender: Yuna -2
Defender: Aeris -6
Goalie: Lulu -9
BENCH: Selphie -10
BENCH: Garnet -10

Loveless - CRIT: TERRA, SABIN

Forward: Genesis -7
Forward: Marche -7
Center: Terra -2
Defender: Sabin -2
Defender: Cecil -6
Goalie: Vivi -7
BENCH: Hope -10
BENCH: Lightning -10

Guests Who - CRIT: LEBREAU

Forward: Edea -4
Forward: Lebreau -1
Center: Minwu -8
Defender: Leo -6
Defender: Alma -8
Goalie: FuSoYa -5
BENCH: Larsa -10
BENCH: Olan -10

[Bob]

Sorry for the super delay. It's the only one I anticipate for this whole tournament. It was an overlap of family visiting and finals going on, so I didn't have time to sim. But now, the first round is simmed!

SPOILERS:

Those were some dang good matches. All close, none closer than MAG vs NS though, who needed three dang rounds to declare a winner! With the same score, too! 7-7, 7-7, and finally 7-5.

TME vs SM7 was quite thrilling, too. TME took an early lead and SM7 worked the whole time to bridge the gap. Finally, they tied it all up, but then Hojo squeaked a final shot in to seal the deal.

Poor Larsa. He shot over and over, but was struggling against Kadowaki. She put up quite the defense, otherwise GW might've done better against GB. Still a close game!

Finally, LO vs MRC. LO had it the whole time, really. Tseng got a shot off like, two seconds into the game, but they couldn't stand up to Loveless. I wish I understood though how Amarant and Cecil kept getting into fights over the ball. They're BOTH right defense. There is no way they should ever meet, and yet, they did that twice.

And with that, we ALL have one team in the top bracket and one in the bottom. Look at that, Count, you would've survived this round anyway! Only downer: we're all still playing our respective players. Count vs Wyvern, me vs Fleck. Bring it...again!

[Fleck]

Team Stamina

Grizzly Bears - CRIT: SAZH, GALUF

Forward: Zangan - 7
Forward: Orlandu - 4
Center: Sazh - 2
Defender: Galuf - 2
Defender: Auron - 8
Goalie: Dr. Kadowaki -8
BENCH: Duncan- 10
BENCH: Tellah - 10

Mercenaries

Forward: Rude - 4
Forward: Gafgarion -7
Center: Tseng - 8
Defender: Amarant - 6
Defender: Lani - 3
Goalie: Worker 8- 5
BENCH: Ba'Gamnan- 10
BENCH: Elena - 10

The Mad Experiments - CRIT: KUJA, No. 288

Forward: Deling -7
Forward: Hojo - 4
Center: Julius - 8
Defender: Mikoto -6
Defender: Kuja -2
Goalie: No. 288 -0
BENCH: The Mask -10
BENCH: Odine -10

The Nightshades - CRIT: CISSNEI, ALBA

Forward: Illua -4
Forward: Blank -4
Center: Cissnei -2
Defender: Chime -8
Defender: Alba -0
Goalie: Frimelda - 7
BENCH: Mira -10
BENCH: Reno - 10

Sublimely Magnificent 7 - CRIT: LAGUNA, SEIFER

Forward: Jecht -4
Forward: Laguna -2
Center: Edge -5
Defender: Seifer -2
Defender: Cid Highwind -8
Goalie: Edgar -6
BENCH: Balthier -10
BENCH: Snow -10

The Magic Missiles - CRIT: YUNA

Forward: Rydia - 4
Forward: Selphie -7
Center: Garnet -8
Defender: Yuna -0
Defender: Aeris -4
Goalie: Lulu -8
BENCH: Rinoa -10
BENCH: Vanille -10

Loveless - CRIT: TERRA

Forward: Genesis -4
Forward: Lightning -7
Center: Terra -0
Defender: Hope -8
Defender: Cecil -4
Goalie: Vivi -6
BENCH: Sabin -10
BENCH: Marche -10

Guests Who - CRIT: EDEA

Forward: Edea -1
Forward: Minwu -5
Center: Larsa -8
Defender: Leo -4
Defender: Alma -6
Goalie: Olan -9
BENCH: FuSoYa -10
BENCH: Lebreau -10

[countlieberkuhn]

Oo, things could be dangerous for TME here, only 2 teams were able to secure victory against them in the League, and they're playing one of them next round, and potentially the other next round if they win that.

Also, Loveless were one of the only teams that could stand up to the Grizzlies in the League too, so that could be an exciting rematch!

It's nice that we all have 1 winning team and 1 losing team, even if it is strictly Me vs Wyvern & Bob vs Fleck so far


Edit: Also, I think there's an error with the stamina for MAG - Rinoa was benched last game, not Rydia. So by my understanding, Rydia should have 4 points left, and Rinoa should be on 10. They're easy to mix up though, similar names and both forwards

Edit 2: Remember Gaf's 123 shot in the early couple of rounds? I was just looking through the results of SM7's final League game against the Nightshades in more depth to try and figure out a strategy, and noticed that Jecht actually managed a shot of 136 to score the second goal! He's happy about that, and challenges anyone to have a better shot in the League/Tournament (he's too lazy to check other peoples' scores).

[Fleck]

I figured I'd screw those two up one of these days. AND TODAY IS THAT DAY! The error is fixed (hopefully). Also, congrats to Count for getting a team through the first round! Kick TME's ass for me, because I don't want to play them next round after Loveless trounces the Girly Bears. Yeah, that's right, SEXIST INSULTS ABOUND! What are you gonna do about it, Bob? Auron's collar obscures his face to HIDE HIS LIPSTICK! Orlandu isn't actually going gray, HE DYES HIS HAIR SILVER TO LOOK DISTINGUISHED! Galuf wears a bra! Zangan writes poetry! Sazh has a baby chocobo for a friend! Dr. K wears army boots!

I cannot be stopped! TASTE MY WRATH!

[Bob]

THOSE ARE ALL LIES! ....Except about Galuf's bra. That, unfortunately, is true.

[wyvernxk7]

I shall have my lineups to you this afternoon - I have them half-way, but that's just conjecture - I want a chance to get on my computer to confirm that I actually want my players where I have them on my tentative lineup. Sorry for the delay!

[Bob]

Sorry for the delays, all! Holiday season is taking my free time away! ...Okay, that's a lie. I actually played through Bioshock. But it was mostly because I was too lazy to get out my laptop!

Get me line-ups by Wednesday or Thursday. Heck, I might sim a game on Christmas if I have the line-ups, but I'll understand if you can't get them to me until after. That said, spoiler time!

SPOILERS:

Match #1: Mads vs Missiles. When it started, I thought we'd see an upset. Missiles were up 2-0 and things were looking good! Looked like the Missiles might repeat when they met in the league and dominated 9-2! Then, Hojo pulled his head out of his ass (knowing Hojo, that might've been literally) and dominated. Great match with the Missiles's two uncontested goals, but they were no match for Mad's FOUR uncontested goals. And with that, the Missiles are in the losers bracket and the Mads move moreward! Err, forward. Sorry. Lots of m's.

Match #2: Grizzlies vs Loveless. Basically a total repeat of the league game. Both teams stayed neck-and-neck, but it doesn't help that the first half turned into a big brawl. Lightning scored in like, 0 seconds to lead the game, then a fight broke out and the first half ended. The return was a point-for-point battle, but Lightning's point in the first half was the dealbreaker. And so, the Grizzlies are toppled by Loveless once again and move to the loser's bracket, while Loveless advances to face the Mad Experiments in the semi-finals.

Match #3: SM7 vs NS. The first true elimination match, as both lost their first round. Jecht, tired of having his formation stolen, decided to steal a different formation to throw off his opponents. NS used Jecht's formation against them and a grudge match began. In the end, it seemed Nightshades showed up to play, while on the Submags, only Jecht really cared to do...y'know...anything. He tried to do it all, but with no support, he fell and was the first team eliminated from the tournament. Nightshades move on to face the Grizzly Bears in the next round of the loser's bracket.

Match #4: Guests vs Mercs. To be honest, this was the only match that wasn't a nail biter. With Tseng in the Center spot, he basically scored every time the Guests scored, so with the Mercenaries' other points they made that weren't in direct response to the Guests' points (see: Larsa's points), the Mercs led through pretty much the whole thing. So Mercs move on to face the Missiles in the next round, while the Guests go gome. Err, home. Sorry. Lots of g's.

Fun facts for next round:

In the league,
TME beat LO 5-3.
NS beat GB 9-8.
MAG beat MRC 5-3.
However, GB and MRC have the best tournament records.
However however, NS has the third best record.
Missiles and Mads are a couple of the biggest wild cards here though, as they've both done well this season, especially TME, who were nearly undefeated.

Great matches, everybody! Can't wait for the next round. Ho ho ho, hoes!

[Fleck]

Team Stamina

Grizzly Bears - CRIT: SAZH

Forward: Zangan - 4
Forward: Tellah - 7
Center: Sazh - 0
Defender: Duncan- 8
Defender: Auron - 6
Goalie: Dr. Kadowaki -7
BENCH: Galuf - 10
BENCH: Orlandu - 10

Mercenaries

Forward: Amarant - 3
Forward: Gafgarion -4
Center: Tseng - 6
Defender: Ba'Gamnan- 8
Defender: Elena - 8
Goalie: Worker 8- 4
BENCH: Lani - 10
BENCH: Rude - 10

The Mad Experiments - CRIT: HOJO, KUJA

Forward: The Mask -7
Forward: Hojo - 1
Center: Kuja -0
Defender: Mikoto -4
Defender: Odine -8
Goalie: Julius - 7
BENCH: Deling -10
BENCH: No. 288 -10

The Nightshades - CRIT: ILLUA, BLANK, CISSNEI

Forward: Illua -1
Forward: Blank -1
Center: Cissnei -1
Defender: Chime -6
Defender: Mira -8
Goalie: Frimelda - 6
BENCH: Alba -10
BENCH: Reno - 10


The Magic Missiles - CRIT: RYDIA, AERIS

Forward: Rydia - 1
Forward: Rinoa -7
Center: Garnet -6
Defender: Vanille -8
Defender: Aeris -2
Goalie: Lulu -7
BENCH: Selphie -10
BENCH: Yuna -10

Loveless - CRIT: GENESIS

Forward: Genesis -1
Forward: Marche -7
Center: Lightning -5
Defender: Hope -6
Defender: Sabin -8
Goalie: Vivi -5
BENCH: Terra -10
BENCH: Cecil -10

Comments:

Gabe is LIVING ON THE EDGE with Nightshades here. Illua, Blank, and Cissnei are in such peril that I went back through NS's backlog of games in order to make sure I didn't make a mistake. Of course, I did (because mistakes are my thing), but that only adjusts Cissnei to +1 instead of 0 like I originally thought. But still, NS has three critical players at only 1 stamina. And Cissnei hasn't gotten a rest since Round 6 of the league. Give the girl a break, man! In any case, my money is on the Grizzlies for that game, since NS has no choice but to play a secondary goalie, not because Frimelda needs a rest, but because the Bench is overflowing.

As for the upcoming rounds, I have a suggestion. As you can see, the Winner's Bracket and the Loser's Bracket are out of synch by one game. Now, we can play all available games (which would be the Semifinal Round and Losers Round 2), but then that would mean that the winner of the Semifinals would have to sit idly and wait for two individual games to play out (Losers Round 3 and Semifinals). Not that it makes much of a difference, but I think we should hold off on the TME/LO game for now and play LR2 for now. That way we have 2 games, then 2 games, 1 game, and the final, rather than 3 games, 1 game, 1 game, and the final.

[wyvernxk7]

I agree with Fleck's suggestion. In other news, TME used a secondary goalie in this game, and managed to pull it off... so you never know! My secondary goalies tend to come with bonuses that offset their slightly weaker CA.

[countlieberkuhn]

Wyvern was playing in the short term there! The lack of Illua in their match against the Grizzlies may cost them heavily, but at least his team wasn't the first to go out

Time to put all my hopes into the Magic Missiles and hope they can pull through, although against the Mercs it can really go either way. Especially since MAG pulled out by far the League's most convincing victory against TME, yet lost to them in Round 2 here, despite me trying to match the conditions of the previous match as best I could. Also, the Mercs are masters of causing upsets, so who knows if they can get revenge against MAG in their typical fashion!

[wyvernxk7]

I'm more worried about the lack of Blank, actually. He's been really awesome in the support slot.

Also, I tried to avoid the original conditions of MAG's rout of TME, hence I ran screaming from the Relay formation (which killed both TME and MRC against MAG's Wide) and went for the more solid Center.

I'd better stop talking before I give away all my strategies!

[Bob]

I'm for Fleck's proposal, too. I was going to propose it, too, but didn't. I figured for the first couple rounds, it works, but now that we're down to the nitty gritty, we can play our couple loser brackets on Xmas, then the two games will line up better for the future.