stages in tournaments

how are stages handled in tournaments

random stage to start, loser gets to change? does loser get to pick a certain stage or does loser get to change but only to another random stage?

 

Loser gets to change stage, but it's a random stage again. That's how they did it in Evo.

 

This topic does warrant discussion though. In japan they have the 1 and done format, and they allow someone to pick the stage they fight on.

Now I think the first fight in our tournament setup should be random, no question. However if the loser wants to change that stage, I think they should be able to choose the stage they want. Even if someone is losing, they'll have the opportunity to pick a stage they think will be more difficult for their opponent to deal with. But if the fights end up going back and forth, the person who won first will still win the set.

 

Eh...I don't agree with that. Actually selecting the exact stage after a loss is hardly used as conventional format in most fgs. Even the 2D ones which have no bearings on the actual fight itself. Then other 3D fgs which contain stages that can, and do affect the fight, like SC, and Tekken, allow the losing player to change stages by random select, not picking it themselves. If it ends back up on same stage they lost on, then oh well. Luck of the draw.

Personally, I feel being able to select the actual stage is kinda scrubby. Then you have some people who won't ever willingly play on Lion and Lei Fei's stage. That's just dumb. True, you might have some things that benefit your specific situation or personal style as a player. Or even certain characters who thrive off space to create. But if you can't deal or adapt, you probably shouldn't be competing anyway.

 

I prefer how we had it at EVO. Random all the way. As you're already allowed to change character after you lose. But you get to change the stage as well?

 

I hear what you guys are saying, but then what would you have to say about japan's pick your stage 1 and done set-up? Are you calling them scrubs for that?

 

Uh, yeah, that would sort of be the point of having a stage select rule. That you can choose stages you want to play on and not choose the ones you don't want.

Personally I think random is the way to go and I wish fighting games would implement random player side as well.

 

if player side is an issue it should be decided by rock paper scissors

 

Having it set as random from the start would make it a non-issue from the start. Plus, it would be unfair to Bob since he never wins at rock-paper-scissors. Ever.

 

hahaha

 

Is majority of Japan doing this? Or just one tourney you saw?

Why are you stating the obvious? Games give you the option to change, select, tweak, and modify a number of things. But we're talking about in a competitive setting. I don't care what other guys personal preference for CASUALS are. But in my city, even for FT5s, you have to random select after each match. We don't tolerate whining or bitching about specific stages that aren't even banned. Because you may not have that luxury if you enter a tourney. But for the guys who don't play for those reasons and only want to have fun, this isn't about them. And they should should customize options and settings to their liking and just have fun.

 

Yeah I am with the random comment and the ability to change the stage randomly like what was done in EVO. There is one exception only and that is if there is a stage that conflicts with a disability. I remember there being a Street Fighter IV player that could not play on a stage because it conflicted with his colorblindness and he couldn't see the characters well within the stage. Something like that, I can understand a stage change, but again, it would still be a random selection.

 

@ Flymyke: every japan tournament works this way. If someone chose random stage select it's because they wanted to, not because they had to.

I'm a proponent of loser gets to choose stage, mainly because that's how japan has been doing it (kind of).

 

Really? Wow. Eww, but understood. So now the question is will other tournaments follow Japan standard or Evo rules. Interested to see what MLG and Summer Jam does.

 

Well I'm down for trying it at the next few events. If it really feels like it's wrong then we can just have the worldwide (except japan) standard of random everything.

The only reason EVO used random stage select is because we had a brief discussion about this topic before evo and decided random was good. But we really were going to need to test it out to see how well it works in practice. I like the idea of trying to integrate the US/EU and Japan conventions.

 

The Japan method makes sense, because certain stages (Lei Fei) are "specialty stages" where certain characters have an advantage over others. No game can be perfectly balanced between all characters on all stages.

This is why RTS games have a similar setup, because not all armies/factions are created equal for all maps.

So some stages/maps become ignored and are never played. So what? This is a tournament not an exhibition.

 

T6 and SCV. In T6, a Steve vs Lei match in tomatoe stage, forest, or anywhere with close walls could be terror. Steve is straight crippling on.walls, and his combos naturally carry to wall. So on a small stage this is hell. Meanwhile Lei doesn't compare to Steve walljuice wise. Ok, Alisa vs Kuma in manji valley. Alisa accels in infinite stages because of her ability to create with space and is always deadly when approaching from range. Meanwhile, Kuma needs to mostly remain inside to profit and he doesn't have the best movement. So him trying to run up on an Alisa in an infinite stage is stressful. In SCV, Maxi does a fuckton of damage on walls. Nightmare on stages with close edges is auto ringout asap if he guesses right. But both T6 and SCV is random select stage for loser. Has been for years. Understood. If the gods aren't on your side for the random select then you better make due and play to win. Or get the L.

This original question was a good one, and discussion is interesting, but too much emphasis is being placed on stages favoring players and characters. It is what it is. But since Japs use it then it may end up being gospel and the national standard too.I'd just hate for people to lose and say it was because of the stage rather than the opponent. Harsh and unfair? This isn't Smash Bros. where certain stages are banned. But under this system you guys are saying that the player who lost had unfair advantage. So they pick stage next match and give the winner unfair advantage? I don't believe stages are "unfair" in the first place. For any character. More beneficial to some, but not to the extent that some of you are saying. Loser picking stage is to better their odds right? Next, you'll have guys wanting to pick their next opponent on the brackets because fighting GT or LA Akira first or second round is just too unfair. Some things in tournaments should remain uncertain imo It's ridiculously silly to me but it is what it is. If it's regulated that's what it'll be. Japs do it for a reason. But please don't put a ton of weight or bearing on stages. And I already know guys will start using this as a crutch in due time. Sigh...

 

If it helps you flygamer, it's not just that some characters do better one some stages. More importantly some players do better on one stage over another. If I lost and I noticed my opponent sucks on walled stages, I'm going to pick a walled stage to punish their lack of ability. I personally am fine with playing on whatever stage I get, but if I lose, and know my opponent has a weakness with a particular type of stage, not because of the character they're using, but because of the player i'm fighting, then damnit I want to pick that stage.