Skarlan
Hello French coaches
First of all: Congratulations to Amicale du Push Push for winning the Event
Second, I would like to deeply apologize for the events on Thursday and Friday (details below). I want to express my sincerely apology to the Dark Socks, who have suffered the most of all.
Let me assure you, I have tried to give you the best possible tournament in history, I tried to think about every small detail to make it great, I had one chance only, and I blew it. I feel extremely bad, up to the point where I just want to leave everything behind me and be somewhere in a dark cave so I don't have to speak to no-one.
In order to understand what happened, I wrote this for you to see what we went through during these days.
First of all, despite everybody blaming the Software for all the delays, it probably sounds funny or strange, but the Software worked exactly as expected. But if you feed the software with wrong information it will calculate it wrong. The Software has worked at UKTC without any problems, also at Tilean team Cup and German Team Bowl. Only at Bibali Cup it did not work because the preparation of the file was bad. There were misunderstanding between me and the organizers, which lead to a breakdown in the draws. Nothing we could fix that easily. So 3 out of 4 tries worked without problems, the software works, but we knew we had to be very careful when setting up the file.
The whole mess basically started 3 weeks ago when I found out that the glue on the iron foil will not stick to the markers as we had planned. The manufacturer tried several things, but nothing really improved the problem. So I thought that it would be ok for people to use superglue to getter better contact, but in order to help people I made the decision that everybody gets them pre-ssembled, instead of the players putting them together themselves. This was the worst decision I have ever made. It took 2 weeks, 4-6 people working on them until 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning, including myself. Instead of taking care or proper data-entry I was putting puzzles together. Instead of entering all the line-ups of each squad and making sure the manual draw was properly entered I was putting ironfoil on the puzzles.
So on Wednesday afternoon we started to put the skill markers into the bags for each coach.... and on Thursday until 4pm. This is when we make a second bad call, instead of letting the coaches pick their own markers, we sorted them by ourselves... This is what caused the long delays on Thursday.... In the meantime we registered the squads to see who is missing. At that point I knew about 12 coaches missing. Then another mistake happened, which we still don't know who's fault that is, but it is pointless to argue. There was an Italian group which had two squads, but they only send one person to the registration for both squads. Either they forgot to tell our staff who the second squad is or our staff forgot the put a check mark on it. It's pointless to do fingerpointing now, it just happened. So by midnight, shortly before the hall closed, I was given the lists. I put in on inside of my laptop, but when I left it must have slipped out of it. When I was at the hotel the list was missing. Here is when I started panicking the first time, because at this point I also noticed that the squad order was not in the system and Milo had the list on his computer. So I started entering the infos from our webdata base manually and gave up at 2 a.m. in the morning after I had only done 10% of all squads.
I went with Milo early to the venue on Friday morning where I found the missing coaches list on the floor. I started organizing the drop-outs in the way we had planned it. We had 18 drop-outs plus one team (so we thought). In the meantime Milo started to write a script to enter the lineups. Under pressure and his sickness there were some coding mistakes so he had to do it twice. I had called the single sign up squads to me and told them which team they will be with from now on and we sent them to their new squads. We also had to switch one pairing. Now we are already in two hours delay and I had to to start the opening ceremony, which of course also had a technical problem since the server just broke down shortly before the presentation was about to start. I'm on the stage and was hoping Milo was getting the script done. Usually he is very quick, but with his health condition getting worse his concentration was gone. Every few minutes somebody of our staff came in and asked him how long? how long? And we couldn't give any good info. By the time the draw was out, we had 2.5 hours delay. We thought we were in calm waters now. Then the one squad came back and told us there was already some other squads playing. This is when we found out that the missing squad was indeed not missing. Usually I would have called the captain of that missing squad to see what happened, but due to the other problems I was overloaded with work and did not ask somebody else to do it. So we came up with the idea of them having to play each other (it was a squad of single sign-ups and they did not know each other), which they liked.
Then the second game came upon us. Apparently the 7man squads had wildy mixed their team and other people ignored the order we assigned them. This lead to about 10 games to be changed manually, which took time. The next draw was out, but we learned quickly that some pairings had just played in round 1 against each other. So I looked in the Software why this happened. It took a while to locate the error. It was not an error in the code, but a data entry problem. When I did the manual draw during the press conference I have updated the game 1 page with the resultf of the draw, but I forgot to update the center piece of the main window with the pairings, so it still showed a random dummy draw and by accident it only affected a few squads. I'm actually happy that it happened already in game 2 and not later during the tourney. NAF committee came in to see what the hold up is and I explained it to them. Again, Milo wrote a script to extract the data from game 1 and sorting it so I could fit it in my main page. Again that took time of unknown length. So once the draw was out NAF committee and us agreed on dropping the third game especially after the long Thursday.
After game 2, Milo and I went to the hotel and worked until 2 a.m to clean out all remaining mess in the system, except one, but this only affected the two student teams and we were able to enter data manually for them after each draw. We did some tests and we were somewhat confident that it should work now, but we were also confident at game 1 and 2, so we cautioned the NAF committee, that we believe 4 games are feasible, but only if we have more time between games and also reducing the game time back to the original 2.25hours. The 45min in between games was enough to download the results (takes about 5-8min for 1428 coaches), create the ranking (4-6min) and put the next draw up online (5-8min). After each step we have reviewed the data thoroughly to make sure there were no errors. This lead to a perfect Saturday.
On Sunday morning Milo put the 7-man-squad changes on my computer, which I was supposed to put in during the first game. This morning was crazy, so many people needed information and ask question after question and by the time game 7 came to close I still had to put the changes in the system. That caused about 15min delay. Then the 3hour-free-Wifi ran out and in the middle of uploading the data we lost internet connection and it was impossible to get my laptop to do anything. After 15min we finally were able to get the file on a USB stick and put it on Milos computer this was the moment when I ran onto the stage to make the announcement that there will be a delay. In the meantime we had the data uploaded and Milo was running the last checks to see if there are any mistakes left and indeed, he found one. But that was an easy fix, but the upload would take 6min. We still double checked the data again and then we announced the draw. The rest is history
For the award ceremony wanted to look for the best coaches, but this was only possible on Milos database and he missed some tiebreakers in his rankings, which I had in my Excel system. So we cross-checked it while Christian Schwager was writing the award documents. That mismatch between Milos ranking an mine also caused the confusion of some coached believing their squads should not play against each other. Actually, that was partially true, because in my system I accidentally mixed the second and third tiebreaker around after game 6. So games 7 and 8 had indeed the wrong pairing, but only to a small amount. Unfortunatelly it hit Alfea and Masters of Tilea, but at this point of time I did not want to redo the draw and cause more delays. I argued that if you want to become World Champion you need to beat each other at one point, either round 8 or 9.
Water-issue: When we talked to the Caterer the first time (before setting the inscription fee) we agree to a certain price. In April, when we knew the correct numbers of coaches we talked to him a second time and then he said, the price either includes main dish and dessert or main dish and a drink. We chose main dish and dessert because we thought the water price will be around 2 Euros, which we found acceptable. It is a different philosophy in Germany and Austria and Switzerland in regards of meals. Meals rarely are served with the drink included, and so we were not aware of this being a big issue. That the water price was 3 Euros at the end, was also quite shocking to me, but I had little say in this at this point of time. Similar is the case with bread. For only a few meals in Germany or Austria you get served with bread. And I also want to point out, that the Spätzle were all hand-made by the cook, I dare you to look up in the internet to find a video on how Spätzle are made to understand how much effort it takes just to make one small pot of Spätzle. I don't understand the complaints about food, especially after Lucca being hundred times worse on food quality than us. The taste is different for every single person and it varies even more from country to country, that is what makes diversity. If you don't like it, ok, but you don't have to be offensive or insult people.
The other prices were typical restaurant prices....keep in mind on how many catering staff there was to bring you the drinks to the game tables, it is not only the drinks itself, which are included in the price, but the staff must also be paid.
To make one thing clear: 99% of all the mistakes were done by me and I accept full responsibility. But some of the comments on Social media are just cruel.
And I also challenge the French community: you have the World Champion now, you have complaint (rightfully) on how bad the event was run: Next year, the NAF will announce the call for the bid for the next World Cup in 2023. Put a bid together, you are a huge community, you should be able to organize it. I'll give you every support and advise.
Skarlan
je profite du post de Bosk pour faire la synthèse de mes match et des résultats d'équipe Yellow Force à la Melphios:
Round 1
Chainblocks without Blockchain vs. Yellow Force (Germany)
Skarlan vs Captain Shambling Undead 36 match NAF, meilleur rank 141 pas d'experience Mort Vivants
Malgré la fatigue suite à deux nuits trop courtes et hachées plus l'attente frustrante du pairing, je me prend pas mal de blessures en marquant lentement en première mi-temps. J'ai malgré tout l'occasion de faire 2-1 en deuxième mais je me fais rattraper. Bilan 1-1, CAS subies 4, données 2.
Je me sentais un peu au dessus de lui mais pas assez pour faire la différence. Captain était vraiment sympa, ce fut un plaisir de jouer ce premier match, qui annonçait un beau week end de BB. En plus ils m'ont donné une casquette qui me tiendra chaud tout le week end 🙂
résultat Squad : 3V 3N (Doc nul face a l'elfe rk200)
Alea Jacta Grand Est vs. Yellow Force (France) (28 squad ranking final)
Skarlan vs Horiuk en table 6 , chaos 84 match NAF, rk 174 en Chaos, ratio 62% avec 28 match
J'en peux plus de fatigue, avec les annonces disant qu'on va bientot commencer, j'ai pas pu faire de sieste pour compenser le manque de sommeil. J'ai les yeux rougis, mais bon faut aller au feu. Je commence bien le match en isolant le mino et en le pietinant. Mais le mino veut pas sortir..., je l'ai pourtant pietiner 6 fois. en subissant 2 expulsions. Pendant ce temps là, le chaos me fait des sorties sur mes gob. et mon mon blitz ne blesse personne. Quand je me décide à abandonner ma stratégie, il est trop tard. Horiuk marque tranquille et j'ai subi plus de sorties que lui... Je regagne espoir en réussisant le lancer de gob. 1-1 à la mi-temps. Mais je suis trop fatigué, je vois pas la possibilité de blitz sur mon porteur et il me sort skit skit. C'est la galère, je lutte, mais je continue à subir des sorties et que je dois décidé entre retourner en défense pour éviter le contre ou forcer la chance pour gêner le ramassage et espérer la gagne, je fais le mauvais choix. Horiuk sans RR ramasse, transmet, mets le paquet et s'envole vers le TD. Je ne le rattraperai pas. Défaite 2-1, CASsubis 3 (+ les 2 expulsion) CAS données 2. Le match nul était largement à ma portée. A part ça Horiuk ne m'était vraiment pas agréable. J'étais content que le match se termine.
Squad result : 1V, 2N, 3D (Doc bat Galanthil et seule défaite de Alkemy du tournoi)
Après une meilleure nuit de sommeil, le samedi commence sous de meilleurs auspices.
Team Wombat vs. Yellow Force (Australie)
Skarlan vs Nichren , elfes noirs (130 match NAF, rk 131, 21 match EN, win ratio 35%, je le savais pas avant le match, je viens de le voir)
En plus d'être super sympa et chaleureux, le match se passe à merveille, je lui roule dessus en lui sortant une furie tour 2/3 puis sa deuxième furie tour 6... ce qui rend le match encore plus facile. 2-0, CAS subies 0, CAS données 4. Voilà de quoi redonner le sourire, même si j'ai bien vu que mon adversaire n'était pas un crack.
Squad result 4V 2N (avec un beau 3-0 de Ank!)
Yellow Force vs. TANA DEI BIDONI (italie)
Skarlan vs Bidone (Union elfique 529 match NAF, rk 222 elves, 33 match, win ratio 74%)
le mec insupportable, il hurle à la mort à chacune de mes réussites et jurant en italien. C'est vrai que je lui roule dessus en première mi-temps marquant tranquillle tour8. Et même en deuxième où j'ai le surnombre, mais il arrive à marquer tour8 avec 2 joueurs sur lettrain grâce à une action samba elfique sans RR (blitz 2Dcontre, esquive dans zdt, ramassagae dans zdt, esquive dans 2zdt, esquive dans zdt, esquive, GFI, GFI). Je me place pour le one turn, mais face aux blitzer glissade contrôlé,ça va être chaud, surtout qu'il fait un kick long qui m'empeche de tenter le lancer de gob. Et Glart senior couche son adversaire sur le premier push... résultat 1-1, CAS subis 3, CAS donnes 4. Je sors de ce match avec des oreilles bourdonnantes. Mais j'ai été meilleur que lui, ce qui me gonfle à block pour la suite.
Squad result 2V, 3N, 1D (Ank arrive a sauver un nul malgré les blessures subies)
Yellow Force vs. Unqualified (Squad n°3 mondial on l'apprendra après) Allemand
Skarlan vs Claymore (underworld avec quasi la même compo que moi 🙂 )147 match NAF rk UW 163 via 9 match, win ratio 66%
Il est meilleur que moi, et je le vois bien en plus, j'obtiens des ko, il obtient des sorties, je marque dans la douleur avec de la chance. en tour 8 il choisit la bash. Deuxième mi-temps il score tranquille et mes gob KO ne reviennent pas, étant en sous nombre le one turn avec skit est quasi impossible, je le rate évidemment. 1-1 CAS subies 1 (+ dague, + pietinement+ esquive ratée) CAS données 0
Je me contente agréablement de ce match nul vu comme la première mi-temps s'est déroulée
Squad result 1V, 2N, 3D
Yellow Force vs. Waterbowl
Skarlan vs Nippylongskar (elfes sylvain) 363 match NAF, 42 match elfe sylvain, rk 186, win ratio 62%
je suis remonté table 4 et je suis gonflé à block,j'ai enfin de la chataigne sur mon blitz et je compte bien l'utiliser.
Mais le début de la première mi-temps est difficile, je me prends un rocher à l'engagement qui me sort mon blitzeur garde 🙁 du coup difficile d'avoir le deux contre l'homme arbre. Donc je passe d'un coté puis de l'autre en contournant l'arbre, les elfes se replacant facilement en opposition et double rideau. Voyant les tours passer et les sorties n'arrivant pas assez vite. je suis obligé de tenter un blitz 1D sur un danseur de guerre et là, ça change tout le match. Je le sors avec mon lbitzeur block tacle chataigne. ça m'ouvre le block 2D sur lhomme arbre avec glart et la griffe sort aussi l'homme arbre. ET là c'est bizance, je fonce et je le défonce. Je score facile tour 8 et je l'empeche de one turn facilement. la deuxième mi-temps, je le blesse encore plus et avec quelques joueurs sur le terrain, il ne peut que marquer vite. J'en profite pour le défoncer encore et a 3 sur le terrain, il ne peut m'empecher de scorer malgré 2 ramassage ratés d'affilée sur ma ligne de TD. 2-1 CAS subis :0, CAS données 3.
yummy!
Squad résult 1V, 2N, 3D
la journée se termine je suis épuisé, mais content. Le mal de gorge que m'a refilé généreusement Bosk ne me facilite pas le sommeil, mais demain c'est le dernier jour, je dois tenir.
Trainingslager Hamburg, 2. Herren vs. Yellow Force (Allemagne
Skarlan vs Herroster, nain du chaos (Gloups!) 46 match NAF, 22 match NdC rk 175, win ratio 59%
Il joue avec un mino et vachement en retrait et plein de garde. Du coup j'y vais doucement, enfin doucement, je lui sonne 4 nain de chaos à l'engagement histoire de montrer qui est le patron ici. Je fais l'essuie glace 4 ou 5 fois pour finalement marquer tour 7 sous pression suite à un blitz de troll stupide au tour 6. Heureusement je subis pas trop de blessure, car il blitz finalement peu avec son mino sa seule chataigne. Il rugit de plaisir quand il fait une sortie 🙂 A coté de ça il oublie de relever des hobgob, il me remercie quand je lui fait remarquer Sur son attaque, je peux pas faire grand chose et je subis. J'ssaie de faire des sorties mais en sousnombre, je n'y arrive pas. Je tenterai un blitz a 2D contre son porteur en ligne de touche, mais n'obtiendrai pas deux push... Je tente le one turn, le blitz couche direct ce qui m'empeche de one turner avec skit, donc je me rabat sur le lancer de gob, mais après une animosité raté consommant ma dernière RR, le gob rate la reception de transmission... 1-1 cas subis 2 CAS infligées 2
Squad result: 2V, 2N, 1D (Alkemy bat le meilleur homme lezard du tournoi)
Yellow Force vs. Finnish Faeries (finlande)
Skarlan vs Simolekyyli (nurgle avec une terrain magnifique et une tour à dé en forme de chiotte, il me dira à la fin, "normal de faire des jet de merde en les jetant dans le chiottes"...) 51 match NAF, 12 match rotter, rk 162, win ratio 62
la bière et le yaourt du midi ne se marrient pas très bien mais deux blessures sur des bloaters, me redonne confiance, je le déborde facilement puis je change plus fois tranquille de coté tout en dodgeant traqnuille avec mes gob 2 tetes. C'est tranquille que je marque tour 8.
En deuxième mi-temps je lui mets la pression il passera jamais sa LOS et s'enfuira meme sur sa ligne de TD. mouvement habile je trouve.Je décide de le faire tomber sur sa ligne de TD plutot dans publi mais la balle raprt a 11 cases pas loin de sa bête. Je fonce et après un peu de lutte je récupère la balle et je score. 2-0 CAS subi 2 (mais j'ai 2 banc) CAS infligées 3 (et il a 0 banc)
et une victoire de plus!
Squad result : 5V 1N (José rencontre Beerbeer et le bat!)
Yellow Force vs. Thistle Hurt
Skarlan vs LordGarlack necro (248 match, 42 match necro, rk 189, win ratio 62%
on joue sur petit terrain, avec mes grande figurines et les skills ring, tout se chevauche, j'arrive pas à lire le terrain et je me prends 3 blitz sur mon porteur. Je lui demande de changer pour passer à un grand terrain en deuxième mi-temps. Je sais pas comment je fais mais j'arrive à scorer de justesse tour 8 grâce à un gob. Les gob 2 tetes m'ont sauvé la vie sur ce match. En deuxième mi-temps sur grand terrain, je le quadrille et je lui fais 4 sorties. Mais le temps passe et sous le pression du chrono je laisse un trou de souris. Il manque de marquer sans RR après une esquive 4+, 3+ et finalement rate le GFI), ouf! Je récupère la balle et je fonce. J'arrviera a marquer un deuxième TD grace a un gob envoyé devant tour7.
2-0, CAS subies 1, CAS infligées 4 (plus pietinement)
Squad result : 4V, 1N, 1D
Quel final, je suis content de ma dernière journée. et content que ce soit fini. Je suis sur les genoux.
J'espérais un win ratio de 60%, et avec 4/4/1, je suis au delà! En voyant certaines victoires contre de bon joueur (je viens de découvrir leur stat aujourd'hui), ça fait plaisir