From: hill@norman.VI.RI.CMU.EDU (Robert Hill)
Newsgroups: rec.games.netrek
Subject: New INL scheduling proposal:(long..please read this, however)
Keywords: READ THIS READ THIS READ THIS READ THIS
Date: 23 Nov 92 07:48:11 GMT
Reply-To: hill@norman.vi.ri.cmu.edu
Organization: School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon

Jim Reisman writes
> 
>    FLEE defeated Deep Hurting 14.5 to 5.5 to win their NIT
> bracket.  This was the third straight victory for the FLEE
> team. 

Congradulations, flee.  I was impressed by your finish.

>    In the course of the season, FLEE was genocided only
> once (by #1 seed Side Salad).  Considering our opposition,
> our 3-3 season was an excellent performance for INL first 
> timers. 
> [..]
 
> I wish to thank OTR, IC, SS, FLEW, AA, and DH for playing
> [..]            ^^^^ ^^  ^^  
>   It was a fun season.
> 
> Jim Riesman


Hello.  I thought this thread would be the ideal place to discuss my idea  
for INL scheduling.  

The Problems:

1)  The current INL scheduling provides a random chance of good teams  
always playing bad teams.  Not only does this screw up playoff rankings,  
but this causes much less fun games for all concerned.  Why did FLEE (a  
first time INL team, with no member having tournament experience) play 3  
of the top teams as its INL scheduled games?  Why did TWNN (a number 1-4  
INL pick) play 4 teams that they genocided?

2)  It is sometimes very difficult for some randomly scheduled games to be  
played.  Some teams can only play on weekends, while other teams can never  
play on weekends.  Some school teams can only play late at night, while  
people with "real jobs" can't play that late.

3)  INL playoffs are completely broken.  Why isn't xgolems and gb in the  
playoffs?  Simple...they were hurt by a bad schedule(ie..they both played  
my team...:-) *smile*

4)  Competitive teams WANT to play competitive games.  However, by playing  
these games, they reduce their chances of making the playoffs.  This is  
bad form...no team should be penalized because they had good, high-quality  
games.

5)  Teams can't enter the INL after the scheduling date.  If teams leave  
during the season, the rest of the teams that they are supposed to play  
don't get that game played.

The solution:  change INL scheduling such that there isn't a random  
factor.  Allow provisions for non-competitive teams to play  
non-competitive teams as well as competitive teams (if they like).  Do not  
require team x and team y to play before date z.

Wouldn't it be nice to play who you wanted to play?  Wouldn't it be nice  
if the 4 teams that went to the playoff were the BEST 4 in the INL?   
Wouldn't it be nice if the level of competition of the NIT was that way  
all-year?

This can all happen.

The proposal: a tennis-style ladder.

It would go something like this:

At the beginning of the season, the INL council ranks all teams (kindof  
like the ENPN poll).  Then teams challenge other teams...when a lower  
ranked team beats a higher ranked team, the two teams swap positions in  
the ladder.  Any team can disband at any time, and any team can join at  
any time...joining teams are put at the bottom of the ladder.  Upon  
playoff time, whoever is in the top 6 slots goes to the playoffs.  Teams  
can play as many games as they want, and have no maximum or minimum number  
of games to play.

Teams that are challenged must play the challenger within 3 weeks(inl  
extensions available if reasonable) if the challenger is within 5 ladder  
positions of the challenged unless the challenger has been challenged by  
the team before.  Challengers get home-server advantage.  If a team has  
been challenged by another team, the challenged team must play the team  
who is closest to him on the ladder, unless he has been challenged by
that team before.

The team that plays the most total games gets an automatic bid to the  
playoffs.  The team that has played the most other teams gets an automatic  
bid to the playoffs.

If a team goes three weeks without playing, they automatically drop one  
rank in the ladder.

Advantages:
1)  entering/leaving team provision
2)  true validity of playoffs
3)  more fun games for all teams
4)  teams not as restricted by scheduling deadlines

Disadvantages:
1)  Top ranked teams must play at most (seasonlength/3) games.  They will  
probably have to play alot of games. (I feel the top ranked teams should  
have to defend their "crown").

Comments?

Rob
aka Spaceace!