Fat In The Middle

[ChrisMcJunkin]

Concerning the idea of the WILDCARD match...can you or one of the other commissioners lay this out for me to understand? There have been other similar special tournaments in the past that I didn't take part in because I didn't have a clear understanding of what they were. The one where Bovey was the only one to show up for his match...I read some bit about it at one point, was unclear of the reward, and never looked back at the thread. I didn't get what Thunderbrawl was exactly until I started seeing the various rounds of character matches but had already decided I didn't have the extra time for it (but really wish I had had the time to take part now seeing how much fun it's been).

The main reason I'm asking here is because I'm in the number 2 spot in the LHW right now. I need to understand how this will effect me come next month if it is greenlit. What would I have to do in order to compete in this special tournament, who would I be competing against, and what would be the reward (I'm assuming advancement to the HW)?

[AceOfHearts]

when i saw fat in the middle. I thought it was a commentary on the lifestyle of artists. especailly when i saw Armstrong posting. :P

[ArmstrongArts]

ya the lightweights will take care of themselves. kinda. they can always challenge a middle of light heavy if they are looking to expand their horizons and take on someone different.

[turnbolt]

Dropping folks into light won't work simply because they will advance back to middle again...

Lightweight is an entry division for a reason. The lights come in new and raw and get polished and shined and go to middle.

Moving a few light heavies to heavy will work because they can't go anywhere else... but the light thing... we just have to come up with a way to encourage more participation and keep growing PUMMEL.

[spidey976]

Right now the problem is that the heavies and lightweights are under populated, and if I was being honest I think that the Heavies are the real issue right now.

The heavy weight division is the jewel in the PUMMEL crown, or at least it should be. However, we have ALWAYS had trouble keeping guys in it for any length of time because ... well ... many of the guys who have been in the TOP tier are professional who have to come and go because of work and family commitments. A lot of the time it ends up being a commitment to their own work as artists that pulls them away. Whether it is Alex with Brace Falcon or Dave with Dust, guys go and chase the dream, and I respect that. What we also have had is a lot of guys who weigh in Heavy, compete for a month or two, and then NEVER come back. The same thing has happened to some guys that faught their way up, but with much less regularity. Lets face it ... the Heavyweight division should NOT be easy to get into. If it is then we have dropped our standards.

Now I will say this. As the Heavyweight commissioner I have NOT been cracking the damn whip here, but I shouldn't have to. We are adults here, and if you are going to compete you SHOULD be able to police yourself. With that also said I think that ANY movement up should be done by someone EARNING it with a victory, not because we hand it to them. SO where does that leave us ...

I think that if the PUMMEL community thinks it is necessary that we do something about the HeavyWeights then the WILDCARD matches should come back at LEAST between the LHW and HW division. Now if we do that I would consider doing it for NEXT month, BUT if we are I think that the ranked matches for the top 4 LHW and the 4 HW that are STILL in the division should be CANCELLED and the WILDCARDS should take their place. Now to ANYONE who complains that "Oh the ranked matches should still happen because if you can't draw two pieces ... blah blah blah" ... Honestly, I think you need to pull you head out of your butt. EVERY time we suggest something like this tonnes of guys whine that the ranked matches NEED to happen ... and in the end the SPECIAL event doesn't fly. I also think that we need to have ONE topic in case someone doesn't bring it that month. That way we get at least a few matches in.

Now I agree with ArmStrong ... either we do this ... or we stop bi&^hing about it. However, I WON'T keep doing the same mistakes over and over. It is frustrating and useless.

[scmarooney]

The quick solution he is to take the top 3 people from the light heavy and put them in the heavies. End of problem, the LH doesn't have an issue getting use people into it. The top 3 LH have worked hard to get to that level and could hold their own against the heavies.

I agree completely with this solution to the original question posed. I think I suggested something similar over in the Heavyweight thread a few days ago . In fact, if the mods think this is a good idea, they ought to just move up the top two Light Heavy matches and call them Heavyweight matches. You could either keep all 4 in the Heavies, or move the winners, permanently to Heavy and have the match-losers as 1 and 2 in the Lightheavy division the following month, with the winner of that match moving up (then you get three moving up, plus it looks pretty certain Morganza is going to be a heavyweight starting next month too.) That should flesh out the heavies a little more.

I also think that Oscar would be a great mod in any division and should definitely be kept in mind for that position should one of the other mods need a break. He's done a great job with the Thunderbrawl2 matches, and I think he could light a fire under some of the competitors from month to month.

[Juggertha]

I'm curious what Pop was going to say too.

Perhaps we can have a competition to finish Pop's sentance?

[ChrisMcJunkin]

I agree with this. The top 3 in the LHW division are all primed and ready for the heavyweight division, especially considering that...well, I'll be quiet about that.

Considering what...? I'm missing something.

Fine if you all really REALLY want to move the top 3 LHW up to HW right now I wouldn't argue against it.

[ArmstrongArts]

Lol, I know where you are going with that Pop.

[Popninja]

The quick solution he is to take the [top] 3 people from the light heavy and put them in the heavies. End of problem, the LH doesn't have an issue getting use people into it. The top 3 LH have worked hard to get to that level and could hold their own against the heavies.

I agree with this. The top 3 in the LHW division are all primed and ready for the heavyweight division, especially considering that...well, I'll be quiet about that.

[ArmstrongArts]

As an adendum (damn I wish I had spell check of my phone)

This kinda plays off of what Dann said. Since the top three this month and the tops three next month are not neccecarily going to be the same 3, we could have a draw off with the guys that were top this and next (it would be 5 guys tops) and the top 3 get bumped up.

[ArmstrongArts]

We are gonna talk this to death again and deside to do the same thing we desided to do the last three times we talked about it.....nothing. and nothing is the right thing to do. Some of you are arguing that we make it harder to move up in class, you are missing the point. The heavies are too small not too big. and if the heavywieght class gets big.....so what. That just means we have a lot of people that have played for a long time and have gotten better. The quick solution he is to take the to 3 people from the light heavy and put them in the heavies. End of problem, the LH doesn't have an issue getting use people into it. The top 3 LH have worked hard to get to that level and could hold their own against the heavies.

[technological]

I think you need to use the results as a way of ranking ppl up and down in the system. This ensures that people are in the classes that they belong in. Its not about being mean or anything it is about people competing in a group they actually can compete in.

It also would push a person to get better and do their best.

I believe people are here to get better not to be falsely placed in a ranking they don't belong.

But that is just my humble opinion. take it or leave it. :-D My class is below the lowest, I just enjoy looking at all the art. I did start sketching again today for the first time in years.

[Dan 3000]

We could also have a Ranking Tournement, erveryone who is in Pummel fights the the postion they are going to be in. The first who are eliminated would be at the bottom and the winners at the top.

[Juggertha]

Honestly... there isn't. The big deal, if there is really one, is the Heavyweight class being so light.