From: bcranton@wpi.WPI.EDU (Brian W. Cranton)
Subject: NEW NETREK LEAGUE
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 00:13:46 GMT

A while ago I posted a suggestion that another "league" might be in order for
people not up to INL league standards.  I requested all replies be sent to
myself so as not to bog down the newsgroup with many repeditory messages
and got a rather good response.  The arguments went as follows (I think I
included them all, sorry if I missed a couple):

FOR:

     The INL is too formal, a less formal arrangement would be more attractive
     to regular players (one where people are not as touchy about winning or 
     losing or about "acts of gods" like bad lag).

     There is an inherent inequality in at-large teams competing with teams
     consisting of people who a) know each other, b) can all sit in the
     same room together while playing, and c) have a local server for zero-lag 
     at-home games.  A new league would provide an even-footing playing ground
     for the at-large people which reflects better on ability "given the
     circumstances of being at-large".

     Organization of scrimages, practices, strategy sessions, etc; is far more
     difficult for at-large teams.  Players in at-large teams usually play
     on a wide variety of servers and hence do not know or use the same playing
     styles (i.e. a fact with makes practice sessions all that much more 
     useful and critical to good team play).

     The INL has succeeded in creating "high-clue" games.  The problem is that
     these "high-clue" games are getting even "higher-clued" especially when
     it comes to team strategy.  This makes it more difficult for a high-clue,
     individualistic player to join a highly-clued-in-team-strategy team.
     This argument is more orientated towards the need for a lower level
     "intermural league" and implies that a high-clue player can more easily
     be absorbed by a local team than by an at-large team.

     Some colleges do not have the X-terminal capacity to field a full team.
     So no matter how much they want to have a college team, they will not
     be able to do so until they get more equipment.  As a result they are
     automatically relagated to at-large status.

     Would provide a more even playing field for people who work instead of
     going to college.  This assumes that people who work are far less likely
     to organize a full netrek team within a company.

     Some people are just not as good at video games than others.  These
     players could use a league of lower level play where they stand a
     chance at even games on a regular basis and don't have to play the best
     teams (where the lack of enjoyment in getting squashed gets real old real
     quick).

     The new league would not have to be playoff orientated.  It could simply
     exist of a number of teams.  After a few games, they could be ranked and
     from then on teams could be pitted against similar caliber teams (i.e.
     not have the best team play the worst team, unless of course they request
     it).  A new league could be ongoing, with some teams perhaps reforming or
     dropping out during the summer.

Cons:

     The best way to become a better team player is to watch good teams in
     action.  The best way to do this is to play better teams.  The new team
     will lose, but will learn valuable lessons in the process.  If you
     separate the lesser teams, they will not rise as quickly to the high-
     caliber levels of the best teams.

     Divides the player base.  Now rather than having a unified all-netrek-
     player league, a division will be made between the INL and the ALNL (at
     large netrek league) which could result in animosity, reduction in
     support for netrek, etc;.

     Would intensify the competitive college orientated "win at all costs"
     competition which is allready at high levels in the current INL.  Having
     at-large players waters down the intense feelings somewhat.

     Some players simply might not be able to play against each other within
     a league.  Sure an ALNL team could play an INL team, but it would be for
     fun only and hence missing some of the competitive drive or a league
     game.  It would be but a scrimmage.

     Two sets of rules would likely emerge, one favoring all-in-one-place play,
     one favoring at-large play.  This would make things a bit more confusing
     and complicated than already.  Additionally, the two leagues could become
     so alienated that it would be impossible for teams to switch from one
     league to another fairly.  i.e.  INL rules would revert to favoring
     teams with all players in one place, while ALNL rules would favor teams
     with only at-large members.

     Catagorizing a group as "at-large" is a difficult thing to do.

     The at-large league could be easily unbalance by good players from
     a number of schools forming an "all-star team".  [personal side-note:  
     this one already exists in the INL with CMU dominating the INL league 
     lopsidedly]


My overall impression from the messages I received:

     It seems people at colleges with strong netrek populations believe that
     with time at-large play will improve drastically and become cometative
     in the near future.  Hence, there is not need for a new league.  Most
     at-large people seemed to indicate that they did not feel up to the
     challenge of the INL and felt somewhat excluded by its emphasis on
     college association (CMU, berkeley, etc;).  These people liked the
     idea both of a less formal at-large league and that of a league more
     orientated to the level of play of normal people (as opposed to superstar
     level).

     Overall, people at places with strong netrek populations disliked or
     argued against the idea, people at-large liked the idea and would like
     to perhaps join such a league.

At this point I open the debate to the floor (for vigerous, well thought out, 
intelligent discussion).

                                   Brian
                                   bcranton@wpi.wpi.edu
                                  (DiodeLaser)