1) Dr. Rec
2) Argentinian
3) kaner
4) Leif
5) bozo
6) Amby
7) RUFF
8) Mapu
9) Eki83
10) Hirnsaege
11) CoXBoT
12) Utom
13) mouse
14) mapleleaf
15) The Desert Fox

Reserves:
16) ScubaSteve
17) Ashaka
18) DogsRule

Based on sign-up order and filtered through reliability (and with eliwhitney removed per request), this is the list.

I'm creating one unrated game:
2-day phase
Random country assignment
Anon
Gunboat
Hidden draw votes

We will use SoS scoring to distribute points for the tournament.

I'm creating the game with myself as moderator as I did for previous tournaments, solely to make it easy to deal with minor issues such as phase extensions and CDs, etc. I will take no action without explanation and consensus, and will have no inside information or advantage over other players, including knowledge of player identity. Certain things may require actual mod assistance. I really only want to play, but I'm taking on a greater role solely in the interest of getting this tournament to actually happen.

Once this first game begins, I'll be relying on formulas/macros discussed upthread by Leif, Cox, etc., likely with help from a non-playing mod, because I have no idea how to distribute nations correctly for the rest of the games. Game 2 should begin as soon as possible after Game 1 starts. We'll stick to two games for now, but I'll ask that over time we revisit the number of concurrent games. I'd like to complete the tournament before I'm a grandfather, and I have some concern about players being inactive for several months as they wait for games to finish.

I'm creating Game 1 now and PMing passwords, so if there are objections or other ideas, speak up now please.

Thanks and let's have a great tournament!

2 day phases Desert Fox.

PMs sent. Do me a favor and shoot me a PM when you join, so I can keep track of who remains absent.

I am interested. If there's a spot, I'll snap it up.

If any of the first 15 drop out or do not sign up within a reasonable time frame, you are first on the list Scuba. I'd say your chances are decent. If you don't make it into the first game, are you willing to be first alternate?

Just signed up for game 1. hadn't been on much lately to check the message board. Are we planning on starting multiple games? I'll randomize positions now based on the above number. If someone is replaced, the alternate will assume their number.

Thanks. We're going with 2 games at a time until and unless we agree to add.

Cool, confirming I'm in based on that.

9 in, 8 of those accounted for...

I'll jump in a game if you need be to because some weasel CDs.

I'm in to game 1.

I'll need to know who is each country in game 1 somehow in order to randomize the remainder of the games.

When was it decided that the games be anon, anyway? Not disputing it, it just makes a lot of the organisation a fair bit more annoying...

I think I like Anon overall, as you get to know other player tendencies and may hold a grudge carrying over into other games. Basically - each game should be more pure in theory. That said, perhaps Anon can be removed from game 1 and then re-applied to the other 14?

I suggest making a list for each country using the country in the first game as an identifier. For example:

India:
1. India
2. Russia
3. Egypt
etc.

From this, the player who draws India in the first game knows to sign up to play Russia in the second game, Egypt in the third game, etc. If someone makes a mistake and signs up for the wrong country in a game, we can get a Mod to check the game to see who signed up for the wrong country.

That works too...as then it will truly be anon. I guess myself and whomever I share the schedule with will know who every country is in every game.

It's always tough to maintain anonymity through such a long tournament, especially if there is a fixed schedule which allows people to figure out who is who once the first game ends, but I like to at least make them work for it. Personally, I won't try to figure out who is who and usually I can remain blissfully ignorant when I want to -- just ask my wife -- but I know that if it's possible then some will work that angle.

I've heard from all but three, and all but two have joined. One of Leif or leaf has joined and the other still needs to, while RUFF has been away from the site for the last couple of weeks. I'm sure he'll check in soon, he's probably hunting vegetarians in the Blue Ridge Mountains. We should be underway relatively soon.

I've been on vacation in North Carolina. As surmised above I bagged a couple of vegetarians, clubbed some baby seals, and ran some trannies out of the restrooms. I've got my Trump shirt on and I'm ready to go.If I need to offend anyone else before we start, let me know. Otherwise, let's go. I'm signed up for Game #1

Thanks for your flexibility on the ratings stuff, Gav! I think that setting a precedent for using unrated game for tournaments and special games will creat an healthier play environment for everyone. Welcome back, Foxy! I guess with the Vikings all but cooked your free time this fall opened up wide.

Did we keep the gentleman's agreement to ready up orders?

CoXBoT, do you have what you need and a mod to work with to populate Game 2?

I don't. I need to know who each of the players are in this game in order to set the program to randomize the rest of the games. Not sure how I could get that info until this game is over...

If there's a rotation, would you be able to publish it and get everyone to join what they should based on what they are in this game?

CoXBoT, you don't need to know who is who here. Your rotation should seed all subsequent games based on nation assigned now. All your algorithm needs to say is who each of the nations should be next.

For instance, from my list:


1 Germany
2 Turan
3 Khazaria
4 Denmark
5 Egypt
6 China
7 Arabia
8 France
9 Byzantium
10 Spain
11 India
12 Srivijaya
13 Axum
14 Wagadu
15 Russia

So, Germany should be Turan in next game and so on.

If we can get a Mod to set this up for us, that will be best. Note also that we shouldn't publicize the rotation either (ideally we should give the algorithm to the Mod running this for us), because otherwise whoever knows the rotation can figure out who everyone is from game 3 on.

I'll make an official mod request.

Ah - makes sense Yes - i can do that. Dr. Rec, should i PM you the output?

better if you can get the algorithm to whoever Dr. Rec arranges with on the Mod team.

Yes, I've asked for a mod to look at this and I'll put you in touch accordingly.