Elimination Teams [poll]

So it's been suggested I create an un-biased poll on this issue to gauge majority feeling on this issue..

Before I start - I'm aware that it's not a huge issue, and I'm aware that most of you won't have had to deal with it and perhaps therefore won't care. Please try and consider the entire Torn population when voting. 

Currently 12 teams are pre-selected for Elimination. Four of these are assigned to every player, with a capacity of 1,000. You get a choice in which of these four teams you're given. Once all four teams are full, you may not enter the competition if you have not selected one of these teams, even if other teams are not yet full. In the past this has lead to unbalanced rosters (e.g. Knitting Circle in '16 who had ~750 members sign up).

It also means that the first-come-first-serve policy becomes slightly broken - if you're not able to log in for any reason before your choices get filled, you cannot participate even if you're free for the rest of the month. Someone who has not been able to log in for the same duration, and then logs in after you to try and join could end up being able to participate. I.e. Player 10,000 can not join a team, but Player 10,050 can. I don't personally think this is fair, which is why I suggested the following..

At the beginning of the sign up period, there is simply a 'join' button. You are randomised into a team. This could happen at the end of the sign up period, or once each team is full (12,000 people sign up), but actually it would be nicer to have it immediately as the initial 5 days are a fun time for socialising with team mates, which is the entire point of the competition imo. 

The facts:

- You would not get any choice in the Team, which means you cannot choose which friends you get to play with

- You would still have an incredibly high chance of being in a team with some of your friends unless you live in an extremely closed circle. Again, imo the best part of this competition is meeting people who you wouldn't otherwise.

- All teams would have the same number of bodies (maximum difference of 1)

- Full randomisation like this is objectively more fair, there are no two ways about it.

So, which would you prefer for next year?

Full randomisation just seems to make the most sense. Absolutely no way of manipulating the competition and getting organised groups into the same team on purpose, which is what people seem to want to avoid.

The argument for team choice about being in a team theme that you like or suits you doesn't really hold up when you're limited to a random four. For example see here

https://www.torn.com/forums.php#/p=threads&f=2&t=16059130&b=0&a=0

What happens if you're favourite team isn't in your random 4? You're screwed anyway.

Only other thing I can think of is maybe get to see the list of team names and select a preferred amount (6?) and then you get randomly placed in one of your preferred. 

I'd love random thing. Picking in four may be random but it can be coordinated. Total randomness is a fair point here, I assume. I'd read the bug & issues post and still thinking that you made the point. Just my opinion, cheers!

Ched: "... create an unbiased poll..."

 

... then only mention shit things about the current system, while praising your idea. You rock, Proxima! :D :D :D

Reminds me of the Spanish waiter!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOaZYhTd2BU

 

I don't see why it isn't full randomization, wouldn't that make the most sense? If this is supposed to be a social competition, wouldn't you want to meet new people rather than all trying to get into the same team?

Either way, the competition doesn't even work.

I like the four choices, makes you feel that you're somehow in control even if you in reality have almost no idea who else will be on the team.

Regardless your team will 'mostly' be random.

edit: Given you have the ability to chose, if ever it sucks, for whatever reason (ex: getting teamed up Dude xD, had to make it) it is on you.

You cannot blame ched's and his dark lord of tempting with the competition pool.

You can't really justify a thread of the sort on forums.

I would say I would play in the competition either way, so either way would not be bad in my opinion. However, if I had to pick between the 2, I would choose having the player pick the team. I personally like having the ownership of picking the team, so the 4 options and choosing the 1 of those 4 works for me. However, if there really is no other decent way to get fair team balance and the ability to allow all that want to play to play, then the randomization seems the way to go. With the random team placing, a portion of the players that like the way it is now will just complain about the team they get put on if it turns out unfavorable, especially since they didn't have a choice in the team. If the player has the control of team choice, then they cannot really complain about that part.

Either way.... there will be complaints from some. And either way... it'll be fun for those that just enjoy the competition and the change of normal game play.

why bother, I cant even get on to play with the team I have been assigned too

 

Totally random is the way to go.

Honestly, I most prefer option C (which Ched brought up).

You get four choices and a random button. You can join any of the four teams like regular or (if you don't like your options or they're all full) you can press the random button to be placed in any of the 12 teams ignoring the player cap.

1 click entry Total random is my choice.

Personally being able to play this competition with my close friends is the only thing that makes it enjoyable for me.  I probably wouldn't have bothered signing up this year unless I knew I was going to be on a team with them, especially since I've already got the merits.

Prefer it being random 

Cant there be a pool of say 60 team names in the system and a random 12 get selected every year?

Adds to the randomness then as its not the same 12 teams thrashing it out every year (regardless if the 12 are randomly offered each year).

This thread isnt about team names. There are currently like 30 something team names, and all the teams this year have never been used. The whole point of this thread is to determine if having people placed on a team as they opt-in to the competition or not.

I personally like having a choice.  I think choosing the team that speaks to you (for whatever reason) helps to get invested in the competition.  Plus a little bit of TORN drama keeps things interesting, so if things are imbalanced that's okay by me (although all the teams are full this year).

I just stated facts. I did have to explain problems with the current system as explanation for my suggestion in the first place - that doesn't make the poll biased I don't think.

(and not everything I said was praise - you can't choose to be with your friends with full randomisation)

Happy to reword though if you have suggestions!

Yeah, I do get that if you have the merits. I do understand about people wanting to play with their friends, it just happens to be the opposite that I prefer. 

Not really sure what you're trying to say, but Ched specifically said I should make this thread.