AC IX

[Pickles]

Sign-ups will be opening on the 22nd - in just 2 days - so I figured I might'swell start a topic. Is this really the 9th year? Eessh.

Currently the Staff Tournament Prize Shop and
last year's AC Prize Shop are open until the 22nd.

Low Res Links:
Yooyuball
Make Some Noise
Slushie Slinger
Shoot Out Show Down

Will edit this post as more information is available.
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So who is everyone thinking of joining this year? I'm inclined to stick with the Rooligans, just because they've always been my team. I know there's probably going to be some ASG's out there again this year (both legitimately playing and not, as was obviously evidenced last year), and they most likely won't back Roo again, but I'm OK with that. Someone will have to really give me lots of good reasons to change teams.

[Blue]

Oh wow. Year nine already? I'm not sure who I'll go with this year. I usually go with Brightvale. Then again, I originally went with them because they were the only team with a Lupe. I recall that they changed it up and didn't for a while, so who knows... I doubt that I'll go with past winners, though.

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[Siniri]

I've been reviewing the records from previous years. While I loved being a Rooligan, last year a lot of them kind of gave up, and it was the ASG that was helping us (I forget which one it was) who were motivating me on the boards. Looking back, some of the smaller teams kept up their spirits despite the unfairness of the brackets, playing really hard no matter what, even going against the cheating groups.

One I remember in particular was Virtupets, whose supporters never wavered even though they kept getting crushed, often taking YYB (including a surprise upset over RI -- after which their supporters were very gracious). Since I'm a side-game specialist, I could maybe help them win some of the other games in addition to YYB.

But I don't know.

[Daze]

I haven't decided yet. I pick a different team each year, so I will wait until sign up and see if I can decide then.

Although I do seem to pick the 'smaller teams' and even if we haven't won, the atmosphere was really good.

[Pickles]

I figure the ASG's will lean towards a team that hasn't won yet this time, since in the recent past, they've been trying to break the winner's curse, and not trying to break the curse would be what no one would expect of them (and thus not swamp their chances). Maybe they'll even side with one that has bombed every year (Moltara or Faerieland, maybe) just because they can. I mean, poor Moltara has been dead last since they came into play...taking Faerieland's place in that respect.

Of course, who knows, they might go with a team that has won before and continue to try and break the winner's curse. But with almost half of the teams now having won once...that leaves it pretty wide open. I guess we'll see as the results start coming in once the cup has started.

I'd almost hate to be on a different team than everyone else here, though, so y'all are gonna make it tough on me if you all jump on a bandwagon, and it's not Roo!

[Chivewarrior]

Even though I've played, I've stayed out of the community for the most part, so someone enlighten me-- what's ASG stand for?

I'm sticking with the Rooligans based not on performance but on pet characterization; my Neohome is in Roo Island, so that's presumably the "home team" from my pets' point of view. And Shiriana's whole personality shtick is being kind of sport-mad, so she'd be a really enthusiastic supporter. (I've been vaguely contemplating writing an NT story about pickup yooyuball in the backyard with her Christmas yooyu, now that we're getting near the AC.)

[Pickles]

ASG= All Star Group

Basically, they're legit players who team together to try and win (kinda like the groups that do so for the obelisk battles). The big two are SOTAC and Stealth. They are NOT to be confused with the people that cheat (who use bots to rack up crazy numbers of wins).

ETA: The more I thought about it, the more I decided I can't abandon the Rooligans. Ain't changing my mind regardless...especially since I just got all my pets dressed up in Rooligan support gear.

[Daze]

Wow, TNT implemented a cap on scoring!!

FAQs
Neopets > The Altador Cup >
How many scores can I submit?

New caps on the number of times you can submit your scores have been instituted for this year's tournament. Everyone will still be able to strive to achieve their desired rankings and do the utmost to benefit their teams, only now they'll be able to do so without feeling like they have to spend all day playing. So, if you max out: take a deep breath, feel a sense of satisfaction, and maybe go for a walk around the block or make a tasty sandwich?

I assume this is to combat the cheater groups that so badly affected last years game.

Now we just need to find out what the cap is!!

[Blue]

Now we just need to find out what the cap is!!

One?

[Siniri]

They've always had caps, but they may have lowered them. I don't know if this will hurt the cheaters, since a lot of them have multiple accounts. It will hurt those triple-/quad- All Stars, but I think it's a good thing. The caps were way too high. Honestly, I think the caps across all games should be set so that no one has to play more than... I don't know, 4 hours a day to reach them. 25% of someone's waking hours is more time than should be spent gaming, especially since these games are stressful on the hands and wrists.

The bracket system might be back, too -- but apparently the FAQs have last year's date, so no one's really sure what's for this year and what's not.

[Chivewarrior]

I joined Roo Island! And I got a book as a prize for staying loyal to the team I played on last year.

Also, there's an NC part of the tournament called "Hidden Compasses." I don't NC so I won't be partaking of that one, but I don't remember it being around last year.

[Pickles]

I'm officially part of the Rooligans again, too! Woot!

I'll update the first post once we're sure the FAQ's are up to date.

[Blue]

Hmm... team loyalty bonus? I will probably go with the same team I played on last year. Besides, I still have a bunch of wearables, and I have 150NC expiring tomorrow. Looks like I'll be buying a team jersey

Then again, I may follow "Squeaky"

[Siniri]

I heard you get a "bunting" for having played in all AC's. What's the team loyalty bonus? Is it a special item, or a random book?

[Pickles]

There's no special team loyalty bonus. It's more of a "played how many years" bonus. At least, there shouldn't be. Goodness knows, I've been on the same team enough years in a row, that I should know...