Recommended turn order based on play times:

It doesn't seem like everyone will agree, which will make it hard to use for ongoing tournaments. Personally though I plan to be more selective about my future games. Looking for setups that do not rely so heavily on converts, ghoul cursing, and power leveling. I just don't enjoy it that much anymore, looking for different experiences. I will finish out this tournament, but I probably won't join another one like this. Maybe we can setup some other types of tournaments though.

Just a comment regarding the poll. I think that the way you have it set up doesn't really reflect the views of people accurately due to vote-splitting.

For myself, I don't care if we use Zaskow's mod, or if we use a reduced PBEM-version mod, but I was only allowed to vote for one of those two options. I think that we should consider using a mod, and that regardless of the mod selected we should constantly be evaluating whether or not we want to change it.

The way that the tournament is set up, people can't chose the same class twice in a row, right? Does that mean that all the people that won playing as necromancers won't be able to play them in the next round? If the necromancer issue is as big as people say, it will be weird having the winner basically be the person that got lucky with their match-ups and avoided playing against a necromancer on their "off-round."

I'm afraid most people are content with the way it is, since there isn't much noise about it.

I'd love to change anything that converts, but I can see that might be too extreme.

Yes AlX, I fully agree with you. The stats provided by the Battlefield (e.g. here for the 16 players tournament: http://www.the-battlefield.co... can help do that and that's what we would do if the decision was taken to use a "PBEM tournament edition" balance mod. But if we choose this, we should not aim too big, and provide as few modifications as possible, in order to solve the most urgent problems.

So far, we have 12 voters and 58% against using a mod to improve balance. I find it a bit surprising. Does it mean the majority of players think the current balance is satisfactory?
Using a mod is pretty simple and we can limit the fixes to the most urgent issues, so "A reduced, PBEM tournament edition, balance mod fixing or reducing main issues (Necro, XP farming, ...)" clearly seems a the best solution to me.


For those who haven't yet, please vote here: http://www.the-battlefield.co...

Hail to the Theos!


but on the serious note - let's analyze which class/race was selected most throughout the tournament so far. Understand the reasons (necro - fast leveling, ghoul curse, SL, UP; theo - healing effects, resistance, attack buffs, convert, divine justicars), and then debuff all of these classes/races. Buff the underrated ones - and evaluate changes further. I think that' s the only true way to achieve some sort of equilibrium.

And theos ARE OPed

Ok but then it doesn't mean using a balance mod is the wrong answer, it just means the fixes are inappropriate and need refinement. We can definitely improve the fixes with Zaskow.

Round 3 of winner bracket and round 4 of loser bracket of 16 players tournament was 3 Theo (including a mirror match), 3 Necro and 2 other classes, the 3 Necro won. It would be great if we could avoid that.

Ghoul Curse at lvl 11/13/15 is not the greatest of the issues and there is virtually no difference if i get to lvl 11 on turn9 or i get it on turn7 and 9th level. I have done extreme leveling of 2 necromancers to ghoul curses before i get the chance to summon my 1st unit (besides the starting ones). And frankly i already had several tier3 units (; Stiffen Limbs is the real OP thing and even without it there are ways to abuse the dungeons, namely banshees (but it will be on later turns). Anyway - SL lasting 3 turns is an ok fix but not really.. i mean it sounds like a fix but i still manage to abuse it and it continues to be easy ): I can't do this with Slayer's Doubt - hint, hint

@everyone: some issues related to the Necro class and to the way XP is earned (which can lead to abnormal plays in tactical combat, in order to maximize XP) have been reported and are impacting the tournament.
Using a mod that reduces or removes these issues could be a solution for the next round of the tournament. After discussions with the other 2 judges, Fistandantilus and Markymark (who do not all agree that a mod would be a good idea), we submit the following poll to you: http://www.the-battlefield.co...

The question is simple: do you want to play with a mod in the following rounds, in order to solve the most urgent issues?
We could use Zaskow's existing mod. You can find a full changelog here: http://steamcommunity.com/sha...
Or we could use an extract of the modifications of his mod that fix the most pressing issues for PBEM, namely:
General changes
- Nymphs and Nightshade Fairies deleted from reward set on Spring of Life (I hope completely - need volunteers for detailed testing). Blight Tusk Boar and Bleak Warg added to reward set instead.
- Max XP interactions for each tier were changed to 8/8/10/12 for tier 1, tier 2, tier 3, tier 4 accordingly (was 10/10/12/14).
Necromancer
- Necromancer Heroes can gain Inflict Ghoul Curse on level 11 (was 9) for 10 pts (was 7).
- Greater Reanimate Undead – works only on YOUR undeads, restores 75% HP (was 100%).
Other Changes
- Fix for wrong description of Polearm bonus damage (IRL it’s +4, on display was +5).

Please vote! Judges will then see what to do according to the results.

@16 players tournament: start date of round 5: 3 March 2016, so until 3 May 2016 more or less.
Reminder of warnings given:
gabthegab 1 reload justified with screenshot during round 3 Hiliadan (not officially given) 1 Reload without proof (screenshot, etc.) during round 2 AlXStormrage 1 reload with screenshot during round 4 cbower 1 Slightly strange reload, without proof (screenshot, etc.) during round 2
Please report any reloads which occurred during round 4.
So far, I think judges have received no class / race but mine.

@2nd 8 players tournament:
We still need the class / race from gladis and EarL. Start date of round 1: 29 February 2016, end date 29 April 2016 more or less

@16 players tournament:
Round 4 just finished. There is currently a bug in the roster but the matches are:

Lightform vs gabthegab

Eskild vs Hiliadan

AlX vs cbower

Please send your class / race to the judges (Eskild, don't send to me obviously) and prepare for round 5.

The roster will be fixed soon.

We've got our 32nd player! ehall20 has joined.

rrrookie
Fistandantilus
Tussel
EarL1893
mauvebutterfly
gladis
hatifnat
ehall20

Please get ready! You can read the rule here: http://www.the-battlefield.co...
Your matchs has veen generated, you can see them here: http://www.the-battlefield.co... (menu 3. PBEM Duel Tournament 2015 / Cup Roster) Please send by private message your class / race for round 1 to at least of the judge (Markymark, Fistandantilus and me).
Then the host (first player on the game's page or player on top in the roster) will have to send screenshots of the setting as required in the rules, preferably in windowed mode.
Then you can start!

Good luck!

ehall20 joined !!

No Life quitted!

@1st 8 players tournament: round 3 is about to start. There is currently a bug in the xlnt vs Kwibus report. Kwibus won, so will play against Jonny Thunder.
All survivors: please send your class / race to judges and prepare for next round!

@2nd 8 players tournament: rrrrookie and gladis still need to join there: http://www.the-battlefield.co...

@16 players tournament: Lightform eventually beat me as he said he would. Necro vs Theo. I didn't play very well this game but Necro is clearly very very strong, and surely too strong now. It would be nice if you guys voted in the poll so that we can get a better balance mod and maybe use it in the tournament later on!
The poll: http://www.the-battlefield.co... (multiple answers possible)
The news to provide additional comments on the poll: http://www.the-battlefield.co...

@2nd 8 player tournament:
rrrookie
Fistandantilus
Tussel
EarL1893
mauvebutterfly
gladis
hatifnat
Please join the tournament here: http://www.the-battlefield.co... It has been created! So you need to go there and click on "Join event". Then you'll be officially registered for the tournament.
We still one player and we can start!

hatifnat joined !!

gladis joined !!

mauvebutterfly joined !!

@16 players tournament: ok round 4 is starting today! Start date: 17 February 2016.

Eskild and Warlord Keldon are hosting. (Markymark randomly chose it, it will be displayed in the tournament ladder as soon as round 3 ends)
Eskild and Olop both sent their class / race and can start (Eskild, please provide the screenshots of the settings).
Warlord and AlX need to send them.

@all: please check the latest news http://www.the-battlefield.co... it talks about balance fixes for the game and your opinion is very welcome through the poll opened on the site

@16 players tournament: there is only one match left, me vs Lightform. It will take some time I think so round 4 may take some time before it starts.
HOWEVER, we may manually assign who hosts in the loser bracket. I need to discuss with Markymark. That would allow a quick start, as neither Lightform nor me will play round 4, we go directly to round 5.
So please, send your class / race to a judge (Markymark, Fistandantilus or me) for your round 4 match. You can find the roster here: http://www.the-battlefield.co...


For the 2nd "8 players tournament", stand by player list:
rrrookie
Fistandantilus
Tussel
EarL1893

+ bonus list (not sure they still want to participate):
masterboja (said he was not available any more but to reconfirm)
Ix329
Lck (did not show up to host last time he had to)