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 hotsauceman1 wrote:
Isnt that part of the game? where occasionaly your team needs someone to fall on the sword?

Given how the pairings work at ATC/ETC, yes, this is absolutely part of the strategy. There are positions that are more likely to get favorable matchups and positions that are more likely to get poor matchups, and sometimes you've got to throw someone into a matchup you'll probably lose 2-8 if it gives you another matchup that you'll probably win 10-0.

ATC is much simpler in this regard--the lists you put down first (what Greg was referring to as 'defenders') will generally get worse matchups because the opponent gets to immediately counter them with any of their lists.

ETC's more complicated system definitely lessens the impact of "defender vs. attacker" archetypes, though--you'll generally end up with more even matchups in their system than you would at ATC.

MVBrandt wrote:
Knowing a little inside about the selection process, the attempt to create east west negativity is sickening. Those saying the east coasters engage in petty closed door politics sound foolish, and are only hurting both the future health of the team and the health of 40k in the US in general.

Mad props to the east and west coasters who've been criss crossing the country to build bridges and attend as many big events as possible while sharing brews and good times with their fellow Americans, though.

Yeah I don't know why some people have to insist it must be a conspiracy if someone didn't make it the system seems fairly transparent to me.

Those boys who made it all earned it, good luck out there guys!

Wow, the things said in this thread are comical...

I think USA players should do 5, 5man teams East Vs. West.
"Biggie Vs. 2pac 40k Champs".

We could have some turn coats and espionage also!

Like my east coast team can recruit Julio from NWO (I mean everyone knows ' NWO ' are the key players in any conflict from 2 opposing entities trying to prove dominance. )

Lol. That would be badass Todd.

If the people play the same, and we do generally as well as we do every year here are the numbers I have:
Our mean place is 8th (8 1/3rd so we will say 8th)
Now here is the real kicker are Sample Standard Deviation is 5.92 which while you can not give the chance of getting anyone one result when doing confidence entverals I can say this.
Team USA has a 66 percent chance of place between 14th and 2nd.
Of course here in America we go for broke so I expect only first place and for old glory to raise high above everyone else in the world.

 Inquisitor_Malice wrote:

 Blackmoor wrote:
ATC team tournament experience is irrelevant for anyone other than the captain of the team. He is the only one doing the pairings, an everyone else is just playing a singles game against the guy who is put in front of them. Adepticon has such a different team tournament format that the experience does not translate to anything usable in the ETC.

Actually, based on my experience at both the ATC and ETC, I disagree with you. The skills developed as either an attacker, a defender or a generalist directly translate to high level ETC play. These are corner stones to building a team and not just having a mix of good solid singles players. I have seen plenty of top singles players perform well in US singles events and then perform poorly (sometimes down right terrible) in team play at the ETC. And I stress team play. Having a player who understands their role on the team and is willing to perform that role (no matter how crappy/boring the play style may be) is extremely valuable in the ETC.

 Blackmoor wrote:
Adepticon has such a different team tournament format that the experience does not translate to anything usable in the ETC.

While the AdeptiCon team tournament is not as technical from a pairings and specific team roles concept, the team work required to succeed and win the tactician award is quite demanding. Again, solid team work is a corner stone to high level ETC play and you don't win AdeptiCon's Best Tactician without solid teamwork.

First I would just like to thank everyone for participating in this thread. I was kind of at a point where I was feeling there just was not enough good drama like the old days. Though this does pale in comparison to some of the old threads

On a serious note. Inquisitor -you know you cannot compare travel distances with the Germans and the Poles. Many of those guys have been playing together in their small groups for forever and a day to the point they really dont need to hit to many games together. Now there is something to be said on how the French used to and probably still do the qualification. Where as they used to hold a team event and the team that wins attends. But end of the day I think the current US system is pretty fair. Heck most of the people complaining probably would not even be able to pull the time and money to go to the ETC.

2nd- I only semi agree with your thoughts on the ATC. In the mind set of attack and defend. Never understood why the ATC does not use the same rule structure for army lists that ETC uses and therefore market in addition as prep for the US team to go to the ETC. But I am guessing the ATC just feels the US base is wanting more "toys" to play with and would not be interested.

The US team really needs to step it up and finish in the top three this year.