dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

Something I've wanted to do for a very, very long time- I present to you "The Vanilla Challenge". In short, this is a tournament in season format (aka, everyone plays to the end) and the top prize is $1,000 CASH--well, technically a check and free admission for next season's CEVO-M (which will be seeing some major changes); second prize is $600 and admission to CEVO-M for free; third prize is $320 and admission to CEVO-M for free. If you're doing the math that's about $2,000 in prizes given directly to the players.

The tournament is funded by the players (myself included), is $5 per player, and any leftover money goes directly into a prize pot for next season.

As the name suggests, this is a vanilla tournament. Maps will be announced at a later date but will consist solely of maps that are well-known for 6v6 play (aka badlands, granary, gullywash, etc.) and the only weapon unlocks allowed will be for the Medic.

For more details, check the formal announcement. Registration is open immediately and will remain open until February 2nd at midnight CST (1 am EST).

http://www.cevo.com/index.php?page=f...2576&forumID=2

steelfirez

Points: 798, Level: 15

Activity: 99.6%

Interesting. Very interesting. So you guys are expecting at least 400 people to sign up?

dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

We are capped at 64 teams under the assumption that each team will bring at least 6 players. We are also open to Non-North American teams.

b4nny

Points: 1,850, Level: 26

Activity: 16.7%

Sounds great. Wouldn't want to be a soldier though :)

Free

Points: 4,384, Level: 44

Activity: 41.7%

CEVO's website is at present borked, at least for me. It says it's getting too many re-directs on a lovely error 310.

dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

When the website gets screwy sometimes changing browsers helps. We're working on a new website.

steelfirez

Points: 798, Level: 15

Activity: 99.6%

I would fail miserably without my gunboats or equalizer...
Demomen shouldn't be effected much, default is best except for melee(which doesn't impact much)
Scouts aren't really impacted either, as the boston basher is really the only thing that ESEA scouts change. The Boston Basher isn't game changing either.
Snipers shouldn't be effected too much, but jarate and bushwacka slightly hurt the sniper. (That kill from an Experiment sniper on -CB and B4nny was epic.)
Pyros are even more useless than normal.
Heavies shouldn't be impacted much, as all the weapons that could have radically changed his playstyle( GRU and Buffalo Steak Sandvich), are already banned.
Engineers shouldn't be impacted much, as, once again, wrangler, short circuit, and gunslinger, are banned.
Spies are worse than before, as they could at least go for an ambassador headshot before.

mustardoverlord

Points: 3,784, Level: 40

Activity: 8.3%

I don't like the cloak and dagger, flare gun, or axtinguisher being banned but whatever

TMP

Points: 1,804, Level: 26

Activity: 16.7%

Why care? I want to play TF2 like it was designed to be played: with only 4 of the 9 classes viable!


Jokes aside it's nice that you're doing this Dubel. Finally instead of complaining about having no vanilla NA finally just has a vanilla. Woooo! I'd play in it but NO MARKET GARDENER AUUUGH VANILLA SUCKS.

Irie

Points: 1,484, Level: 22

Activity: 16.7%

Has time to organize an entire tournament
Doesn't have time to play 6s with my old team >:(
Their Med drops EVERY FUCKING UBER.

__________________
DickkingDicksDicksDicks : You're a good medic irie. A bloody weaboo, but a good medic

dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

I'd love to see more European involvement, too :)

steelfirez

Points: 798, Level: 15

Activity: 99.6%

Europe? Won't they have... around 200 ping?

Free

Points: 4,384, Level: 44

Activity: 41.7%

Likely, but Gameservers might be able to coordinate some EU servers.

Tikcus

Points: 612, Level: 12

Activity: 8.3%

TBH I doubt there will be much interest from EU, maybe from one or 2 top teams, that stand a chance at winning some prize money.

The majority of Europe are unlikely to pay to play in a competition that offers nothing that can't be got from ETF2L/WP for free.

Personally i'd be more inclined to pay to play in a euro division with esea rules & unlocks

infinite-

Points: 1,678, Level: 24

Activity: 33.3%

It is always good to see new TF2 tournaments being started. I help run UGC and know how much work something like this can be so my hats off to dubel for organizing it. I played in the first ever CEVO tournament and am proud to say my team DJedi was the first-ever steam-roll of the week on teamfortress TV. Good times.

I must ask dubel the organizer though, who is your target audience?

This is a perfect tournament for established veteran 6v6 teams, but what about players new to TF2? Do you think this will grow your player base?

I talk to a lot of new players often and it's hard for me to believe they would have any interest participating in a tournament that bans just about every weapon released since 2008. The 5$ entrance fee is also a hindrance but I understand the need for cash when you offer monetary prizes for performance.

I'm sure we all can agree much more needs to be done within the entire TF2 competitive community to bring NEW players into TF2.

The public TF2 community dwarfs the competitive community and I question if tournaments like this are really going to make a dent in solving this problem.

dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

There is no target audience, per say, besides those who are tired of the the same thing every season (i.e. "just-another-CEVO/ESEA/UGC/TWL/ESL/ETF2L/etc" season). That includes myself.

This is a challenge of skill but also to have teams and players try something new. I realize that by no means is vanilla TF2 a "new" thing but with the near oversupport of TF2 from Valve I felt it was time to make a change. By removing the "crutches" that players have become accustomed to we are able to see how the class was meant to be played and it provides a new challenge for players used to the same old thing.

Charging for the tournament is an unfortunate byproduct of offering cash prizes. I can't make money appear for prizes and even I am going to pay for entrance to my own tournament. Each player paying $5, a reasonable fee compared to most (every) subscription-based service, will help the prize pot grow. CEVO is not taking a single cent out of the prize pot; it goes right back to the players in CASH (well, technically an e-check). The tournament being in a seasonal format will ensure that everyone gets their money's worth. Everyone gets to play the duration of the season.

I'm happy to answer any more questions.

steelfirez

Points: 798, Level: 15

Activity: 99.6%

Hey, infinite-. Me and somebody else already have plans for making a tournament. Currently, I'm waiting for Free to reply... Well, this tournament failed last time, but we have plans of starting it up. It should be much more friendly to pub players wanting to get into comp.

dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

Still open for teams! This is going to be a good one :)

Graham

Points: 87,431, Level: 100

Activity: 8.3%

My team is playin' in it!

dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

It's gonna be AWESOME

steelfirez

Points: 798, Level: 15

Activity: 99.6%

I played in a pug yesterday which was completely vanilla. HOW DO YOU PLAY ROAMER WITHOUT GUNBOATS AND EQUALIZER?

dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

You'll have to find out ;)

It's not a toolset to play roamer, it's a mindset and a skillset

Zigzter

Points: 2,563, Level: 32

Activity: 0%

Watch a lot of demos of Darn.

__________________
Player coL.PYYYOUR left the game (Kicked by Console)
coL.carnage : just kicked him from col
coL.carnage : hate that guy

ydyufyffy

Points: 1,873, Level: 26

Activity: 8.3%

You might want to be more explicit about the tournament being played in season format on CEVO's website. It seems like it would be an important selling point when Quantic and Mixup are signed up for the event.

waxpax

Points: 2,304, Level: 31

Activity: 33.3%

Is the medieval medic set going to be allowed? If it isn't, I think you should ban the amputator so that we don't have to worry about using it accidentally or anything.

dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

The Medic set will not be allowed as of now. I won't ban the Amputator because that taunt does occasionally have its uses.

dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

Just a heads up: the CEVO website is undergoing some major upgrading so there might be some wonkiness over the next few days. If wonkiness continues I'll extend the event registration date to accommodate for those who may have missed the opportunity.

waxpax

Points: 2,304, Level: 31

Activity: 33.3%

You honestly should just pick either the crossbow or the amputator to ban (I'd ban the amputator) if you're not going to allow the set. Since cevo doesn't provide servers and stv demos of matches, checking for that extra +1 regen could be problematic, and it does make quite a bit of difference to the game. If you have the ability to ban the set with a whitelist, you should do it. I know there was at least one team in esea that thought the set was legal because the whitelist allowed them to run it since neither weapon in the set is banned in esea while the set was illegal; they lost the matches they ran the set in but if they hadn't, every match they ran it in could've been overturned.

dubel_07

Points: 3,305, Level: 37

Activity: 91.7%

CEVO does provide servers to use but, unlike ESEA, we allow you to use your own. STV demos are not mandatory but POV demos are and in the event of a dispute the POV demos of all concerned players are requested and if the accused player cannot provide a demo they are automatically assumed to be in violation of whatever rules they are accused of breaking. This is in the rules. On top of that, I personally go through all disputes, including screenshots, demos, and written reports.

I don't want to ban either item since I'm going to get flack from somebody for banning one.

If you really want me to ban the Amputator or Crossbow since the set is not allowed at this time now is the time to speak up. Otherwise, I'll assume that players will be responsible enough to not violate the rules and to report anyone who is breaking them.

Free

Points: 4,384, Level: 44

Activity: 41.7%

We're there as well!