JJ2WC III: Tournament Announcements
 

Good evening everyone.

As we all know and have seen, the last two seasons of the Jazz Jackrabbit World Championships (JJ2WC) have been very successful, thanks to a very well coordinated organization and a wide spread enthusiasm among the participating clans. Thanks to this success, we were able to organize a third edition of this precious tournament. It might be a little early to announce this third edition already, but I get loads of PM’s, MSN messages and e-mails almost every day so I decided to clear things up a bit already.

First, the date. Last season of JJ2WC was played during April and May of 2005, and was won by CC. Because it’s fair to have one world champion each year (like sports do) it’s logical that the next season of JJ2WC would take place in another year. The tournament is planned for January 2006, and it’s to be expected that all the upcoming JJ2WC’s will also be held in January of each year. Therefore, the winning clan can call itself JJ2’s 2006 World Champion. In advance of the third edition of this tournament, there will be another JJ2WC Duellist Tournament (formerly known as Pre-JJ2WC-duel-tournament) which will be held during November 2005.

The construction of the tournament won’t be changed much, but there will be some changes compared to the other two JJ2WC’s seasons. For the first time, JJ2WC will have, besides the original CTF tournament, a TeamBattle Cup. The rules of this new form of tournament are yet to be made, but it’s almost sure that the matches will be played with 3 players for each team, and that it will consist out of two rounds (like the CTF matches) which will last for 20 minutes, or 50 roasts.
Besides this new form of organization, there will be some other additions as well. From now on, all scores by each individual will be counted, as well as the number of roasts the player makes. At the end of the tournament, individuals can win awards for these things. Hopefully, we could use a modified version of ChatlogJJ2 which works under Windows XP to help us monitoring these statistics (it’s quite easy to extract scores and kills from a log file, but it’s extremely hard to do this from the game) About the rules system, it is not likely that much things will be changed. Same thing goes for the structure of the JJ2WC Duellist Tournament, which will be about the same as it was last time.

However, to get all these things started, I need cooperation from the rest of the community. It’s very difficult to organize such a tournament by myself, so I will need some active players who can help me during the tournament, as Officials (formerly known as Cupadmins). Officials will have a few duties during the tournament:
- Hosting games. It is not necessary for players to own a good server, as the hosting can be done by someone else. But it’s strongly recommended.
- Make sure that the games are played fair. I’ve seen it a few times last year that a fight broke out between members in a clan or between clans. It’s up for a Official to check that no fights are started, and that the players don’t use cheats, flame other players, move during a time-out situation etc.
- Log the matches and report scores. This can be done best by just sending the log to me (ChippieBW), and I will convert the raw stuff and insert it into the database.
- Write match logs and comment on IRC #JJ2WC will be used again as a public place where players will be informed during matches and stuff, and Officials can be assigned to do this.
The things above are the main tasks of a JJ2WC Official, here are some other requirements:
- Officials need to have a fast and stable internet connection. It should never happen that an Official drops out during a match or a comment because of an unstable internet connection, or a lack of speed. That’s why a good internet connection (i.e. Cable or ADSL) is required.
- Officials need to be ABSOLUTELY UNBIASED towards any clan. It’s a fact that some clans don’t like each other, and sadly that’s a thing we cannot easily change. To not let this affect the tournament, we won’t accept any people who have a reputation of hating special clans. Not many people are like this, but I will surely inspect it.
- Officials need to have certain experience in the game, be respected among the community and know the rules. This is the main rule, and I guess everything speaks for itself. Also, good knowledge of the English language will come in handy.
- Each clan can only represent 1 Official. This is to prevent that a certain clan influences the game too much. Most likely there will be an Official for each participating clan (unless the clan does not wish to send a representative), so the total will be around 10. At least I hope.
NOTE: I’ve had many people asking if they could be my co-Supervisor during this tournament, but I’ll have to disappoint them – I will do the supervising job alone. You can still try to become an Official.

Another very important thing, perhaps even the most crucial thing about the tournament, are the levels that are going to be played. I know this point caused a large discussion last year, and I think we’re probably going to have the same thing this year. As JJ2WC is meant to be a tournament of progress in the sometimes rusty JJ2 scene, it’s our aim to include as many new levels as possible. By new, I mean everything that has been produced since last JJ2WC (after May 2005, that is). A problem is that not much good CTF levels have been produced since then, and the same thing goes for TeamBattle. That’s why I summon every active and experienced level creator in the scene to get his butt moving and make a good CTF/TeamBattle level for JJ2WC III! Of course, if it turns out there’s a lack of decent levels a while before the tournament, we will consider playing with older levels. But that’s not what everyone wants, and to prevent that I get flamed afterwards for not announcing a level design contest, I decided it to announce it now already.
The levels need to have some certain requirements:
- The maps need to big enough to play a 3 vs. 3 match in (no actual size requirements, but 130x70 should be around the minimum, depending on the playable area)
- The maps need to be balanced (symmetry is a good idea, although it’s not required – balance is mostly needed for CTF maps but it could also come in handy for certain TeamBattle maps)
- The maps need to have a certain level of originality, look good, and have a well distributed amount of ammo, pickups and powerups.

That’s about all for now, I hope everyone will read this post carefully before asking any questions. If you still have questions, you can post them here, or send them to me in an email, the address is chippiebw@ncmv.net (also my MSN). If you want to be an Official or you made a nice TeamBattle/CTF level which you would like to see during the tournament, you can do the same. For now, I’ll inform you all later.

Regards,
ChippieBW

I agree with most of what's been posted, but I wouldn't count on getting a good version ChatLog for XP (I'm being a little pessimistic, but useful programs tend to not get made these days). Also, I don't think too much emphasis should be placed on how original or how good a level should be, although innovations and great eye candy would be a definite plus.

As for the Team Battle levels, I'm hoping the levels are well-made, seeing as it would be a shame if the gametype couldn't be played because of glitches. Personally, I think the method I created (see Team Battle in my signature, and thanks to FireSworD for his find) is the best overall method for creating TB levels since I haven't seen any major problems with it so far and it allows the warp targets in the playing area to be placed anywhere with no problem. The method could be simplified for certain levels, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you knew what you were doing doing. I might post a clearer version of my method if anyone asks. I wouldn't mind helping with the TB levels by the way.

From what I can tell, the next JJ2WC looks great already. Good luck with the tournaments!

Wee, I have a stabile connetion now =D (Actually it was fixed a while before CC holidays) so I guess I can sign up as an official, however I'll have to talk to the other CCers about it.

Great idea with haveing a teambattle-cup too. I hope we will decide to participate.

You've mentioned nothing about clans choosing what levels they are going to play in. Is that then not going to be allowed in the tournament?

Like last year, clans don't have the choice in which level they're going to play in. In that case, clans would train only in ONE certain level which they'd become unbeatable in after a while. Besides, clans would only pick overplayed and chewed-out levels like DW or Semi. Or they would pick one certain level for the entire tournament. Therefore, we will do the same thing as last year: there will be a number of rounds, and each round features a certain level. This is also a matter to prevent fights between clans about which map to choose.

Wow, sounds promising. Teambattle matches should be limited to 100 roasts in my opinion though. As for maps, we could use the JDC ones.

And please do NOT pick more than one new level. BBLAIR, DW, JE and Semi must be in.

NOOOOOO. >O
Let's do all-new levels. :p

(@ gry about teambattle... we'll probably will ;-P)

"And please do NOT pick more than one new level. BBLAIR, DW, JE and Semi must be in." - R3ptile.

I kind of agree.. well, lets say.. 50/50%? ;-P

The only new good level I can think of is Divide and Conquer, except it's probably way too big for 3on3's.

Edit: When I think about it, Sancutary is actually not a bad choice at all. :p

And whose idea it was to make a tournament with all brand new maps? \o/

This installment will be probably awesome. However I'm looking forward for the pre-tourney duel ladder (which will probably own too) because it's fun.

Chip: As for the TeamBattle cup, are you going to make people play with 3 hearts (default) or set the health level to 5 hearts using a program or another? Myself I'd prefer it to be set to 5, but I don't know what's your opinion on this and thus I'm waiting for your response.

Now that my concept appeared not to be usable outside JTF, I have to think of something else for my CTF level. Curse you, JJ2 limitations.

I am not going to play in the next edition, so I don't care that much about JJ2WC, but I hope it will be well organized. Don't count on me as cupadmin/official this time.
Good luck and have fun to everyone, bye.

Not pick more than one new level? My, I wonder what made you change your mind so fast... Last year, you tried everything you could to add as much new maps as possible and now you're doing the opposite? Well, I don't exactly know already which maps I will use, but as I said, I will try to add as many new maps as possible. At least if there are made enough in the upcoming months to be used in the tournament...
Anyway, I think it's unlikely that the big three (BBlair, DW and Semi) will be added, for it will surely cause a wave of disrespect and unbelief. However, if a whole lot of people agree with you on this point, I might consider adding a few of those inside the mappool. But I'm not sure at all.

I already replied to you on MSN, but I think it might be useful to repost it here so everyone knows what we're talking about. You already showed me a program called "Death Controller", which makes it possible for players to have 5 hearts during CTF matches. This seems extremely useful and I think it's a good idea to use 5 instead of 3 hearts in TeamBattle, for it will add an extra strategical dimension to the gameplay. Instead of blind killing, people will have a higher chance to stay alive this time and the gameplay will be more team-based. I'm not really sure if I'm going to use it, but I'm really thinking of it.

I vote all new. Maybe one old but I say all new would attract more JCS inspiration

I vote for lots of olds and some new

maybe a poll would be in order? with say 3 options, all new(meaning: all new, with maybe an excpetion of 1 level)
all old(with an exception of a new level)
and fifty fifty (pick a number of levels that can be divided by 2, and start a jj2wc3 levelmaking competition)

BTW how are those numbers that can be divided by 2 called in english??

I guess you mean even numbers, Urbs.

From what I quickly tested, Death Controller doesn't really work with 3+ hearts in CTF. And even if it did, players wouldn't always be able to be see how many hearts they really had or be able to get more carrots when they see they have 3 hearts. The best alternative to using a program like Death Controller is to include levels with no powerups and at least 3 carrots.

>O 

3 hearts are enough. ;P

I think that somebody should go create a teambattle level with some more tactical layout and a shield.

Lvl with shield is fine with me. =)

15 second shield that respawns every 30 seconds.

Someone could also go for overcomplexity and make a 5 second shield. Not that it would be useful in any way though... ;P

Go ahead! :)

Do actual whole clans enter in this or single people?

Depends on which tournament you want to particpate in. If you want to join the JJ2WC DUellist Tournament during November, it's not necessary to be in a clan. But if you also want to play during the JJ2WC Main Tournament during January 2006, you'll have to find/start a clan and gather enough skill to become member of the warteam.

A poll on JCF wouldn't be the best idea. There is no point in people voting that wont play anyways. Personally I dont care about what levels there are at all, except I'd hate to see levels with jails in the CTF-tournament, as long as the mappool is announced way ahead in time (1-2 months) - if not pick levels that everyone knows.

Coming to think of it, when will the hall of fame be updated? =/

For the interested; there is a thread discussing mappool at 8D's forums - http://8d.ncmv.net.

So, can I enter both?

Not as long as your not in a clan..

He is in RR (;

good luck with winning JJ2WC3 then. ;p

Did you really write all that, Chippie?
I'm amazed I read through all of it. :lol:

actually, for levels, i vote all new + few good old ones like BBLAIR/SBv2/JE =)

All those new levels are bad and boring

Your opinions seem to be changing a lot. :rolleyes:

Why do you say that? Read this thread carefully and find out they don't.

Know what would be fun?

To anounce every level on the day itself, and having people be oblivious on what levels will be played beforehand.

YES!!!!
I VOTE FOR THAT.
CELL u is genius!!!

I will have to admit that this would work better than my mappool plan, where the maps would be released exactly one month before the tourney so the clans could make up their tactics.

I dont like the CelL way.. :P
Since Im used to train in the level beforehand;l

I personally think CelL's idea is great. It would be even better if all the levels were new and created by unbiased and reliable sources (I possibly could be one) who aren't participating in JJ2WC3, but a bunch of people are bound to not like this idea. Nevertheless, it would be interesting to see how well clans do with spontaneity, and it would add another aspect for judging how good clans are.

It would however be a logistical nightmare if more than one person made levels. To ensure fairness no one other than the creater and his most trusted confederates who are not participating in the tournament should see the level until it's played in a match.