Amaranth
Moderator
A survey was sent out through the Smogon RBY Discord which polled opinions on the current state of the circuit. It asked numerous questions about the state of the circuit and potential improvements to be made to it in 2023. We received 20 votes.
The survey also differentiated between players who have made circuit top 16 and those who haven't, as a simple way to filter more qualified votes from others.
Survey Results
Average (qualified voters only): 6.86 / 10
This rating is not great, which confirms that our intentions to shake things up a little were well placed and representative of an overall discontentment within the community - though it's obviously not terrible in its current state.
For all subsequent questions, a low average means people disagreed with the statement, and a high number means people agreed. Keep in mind that with a 1-5 scale, the average is 3 (not 2.5).
Average (qualified voters only): 2.5 / 5
People overall don't seem to mind the current double Seasonal + one Global Championship format overall, despite them being fairly lengthy, and expressed a reasonably clear opinion in favor of keeping all three (plus RBY Cup).
Average (qualified voters only): 2.86 / 5
This one is about as close to average as you're going to get; people are overall indifferent with the current amount of shorter tournaments in the circuit.
Average (qualified voters only): 3.64 / 5
Average (qualified voters only): 2.21 / 5
These two questions were asked before I received information that RoA Tour is simply not going to exist in 2023 due to decisions taken by RoA leadership. Though it seems that people mostly liked having the livetours contribute a little, there was still a firm desire to reduce their impact on the overall circuit.
Average (qualified voters only): 3.86 / 5
If we do decide that a long tournament needs to go for timing reasons, then the majority opinion is to keep the Global Championship and axe one of the Seasonals.
Average (qualified voters only): 2.57 / 5
The idea of a ladder tournament seems to be overall unpopular and especially so amongst qualified voters.
Average (qualified voters only): 2.93 / 5
Opinions are pretty much indifferent on a Swiss tournament; it could be introduced to the circuit but doesn't seem to be a necessity.
Average (qualified voters only): 3.5 / 5
RBY Majors however will almost certainly happen as it received consistent approval in this survey.
Average (qualified voters only): 2.5 / 5
The LCQ on the other hand doesn't seem to be very popular at all, even slightly worse than the Ladder Tournament.
Average (qualified voters only): 1.79 / 5
Short, gimmicked tournaments are extremely unpopular and won't make an appearance in the circuit as of now.
Average (qualified voters only): 1.5 / 5
Though this practice is extremely standard in lowtier circuits, it seems like including other RBY formats in the RBY OU circuit is very unpopular with the community.
Average (qualified voters only): 3.71 / 5
With a crushing majority, RBYWC will almost certainly happen in 2023.
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Discussion Points
Here's a tentative schedule that I drew out to give people an idea of the time windows here. Individuals are split loosely into "Type A" for bigger ones, and "Type B" for smaller ones, but the exact amounts of circuit points are TBD. (Cutting a Seasonal and the introduction of Swiss also aren't a given - more discussion will hopefully help us figure out where to go exactly)
Here are some discussion points I care about in particular:
- Are we okay with running a Type B alongside a Type A to cram more individual tournaments into the circuit? Would it be too much? Usually the last month or so of the long tournaments only involve a few players (the top 8 or so), so it's not too bad to start another tournament while the earlier one is ending, especially if it's a less important one. This would allow us to experiment with both Swiss and Majors without cutting any of Seasonal/Cup/Global, pretty much running a type A constantly throughout the whole year, and sprinkling in Swiss and Majors on top. Is this too much?
- With RoA Tour gone, is there interest in a set of RBY live tours standalone? Given that RoA Tours often struggled to even reach 32 I'd lean no, but I'm interested in hearing opinions on this purely because the survey didn't cover it.
- Incorporating lowtiers into the OU circuit is vastly unpopular, but should they have their own circuit? Or is Grand Slam and sporadic solo tours enough for the size of that subcommunity?
Feel free to share anything that you feel hasn't been covered by the survey as well, or your thoughts on everything in case you didn't fill in the survey in time. Your feedback is highly appreciated!
The survey also differentiated between players who have made circuit top 16 and those who haven't, as a simple way to filter more qualified votes from others.
Survey Results
Average: 6.4 / 10Rate your level of satisfaction with the current structure of the circuit.
Average (qualified voters only): 6.86 / 10
This rating is not great, which confirms that our intentions to shake things up a little were well placed and representative of an overall discontentment within the community - though it's obviously not terrible in its current state.
For all subsequent questions, a low average means people disagreed with the statement, and a high number means people agreed. Keep in mind that with a 1-5 scale, the average is 3 (not 2.5).
Average: 2.7 / 5The current circuit has too many long tournaments.
Average (qualified voters only): 2.5 / 5
People overall don't seem to mind the current double Seasonal + one Global Championship format overall, despite them being fairly lengthy, and expressed a reasonably clear opinion in favor of keeping all three (plus RBY Cup).
Average: 2.95 / 5The current circuit doesn't have enough short tournaments.
Average (qualified voters only): 2.86 / 5
This one is about as close to average as you're going to get; people are overall indifferent with the current amount of shorter tournaments in the circuit.
Average: 3.65 / 5Live Tournaments give too many points in the current circuit.
Average (qualified voters only): 3.64 / 5
Average: 2.8 / 5Live Tournaments should not contribute any points to the circuit, ideally.
Average (qualified voters only): 2.21 / 5
These two questions were asked before I received information that RoA Tour is simply not going to exist in 2023 due to decisions taken by RoA leadership. Though it seems that people mostly liked having the livetours contribute a little, there was still a firm desire to reduce their impact on the overall circuit.
Average: 3.5 / 5If a long tournament is removed from the schedule, I'd prefer to remove a Seasonal rather than the Global Championship.
Average (qualified voters only): 3.86 / 5
If we do decide that a long tournament needs to go for timing reasons, then the majority opinion is to keep the Global Championship and axe one of the Seasonals.
Average: 2.75 / 5An RBY Ladder Tournament should be created and added to the circuit.
Average (qualified voters only): 2.57 / 5
The idea of a ladder tournament seems to be overall unpopular and especially so amongst qualified voters.
Average: 3.35 / 5A Swiss Tournament should be created and added to the circuit.
Average (qualified voters only): 2.93 / 5
Opinions are pretty much indifferent on a Swiss tournament; it could be introduced to the circuit but doesn't seem to be a necessity.
Average: 3.65 / 5A 'Majors' Tournament, with a pools stage followed by a playoff, should be created and added to the circuit.
Average (qualified voters only): 3.5 / 5
RBY Majors however will almost certainly happen as it received consistent approval in this survey.
Average: 2.75 / 5A Last Chance Qualifier, with single elimination and short (3-4 day) deadlines, before the Circuit playoffs, should be created and added to the circuit.
Average (qualified voters only): 2.5 / 5
The LCQ on the other hand doesn't seem to be very popular at all, even slightly worse than the Ladder Tournament.
Average: 2.3 / 5Short tournaments with even more creative / gimmicky formats than the ones in the above four questions should be introduced to the circuit.
Average (qualified voters only): 1.79 / 5
Short, gimmicked tournaments are extremely unpopular and won't make an appearance in the circuit as of now.
Average: 2.05 / 5RBY Lowtier Tournaments (Grand Slam, or other potential formats that include them) should give points towards the 2023 RBY Circuit.
Average (qualified voters only): 1.5 / 5
Though this practice is extremely standard in lowtier circuits, it seems like including other RBY formats in the RBY OU circuit is very unpopular with the community.
Average: 3.7 / 5Efforts should be made to host an RBY World Cup in 2023 (not related to the individual Circuit.)
Average (qualified voters only): 3.71 / 5
With a crushing majority, RBYWC will almost certainly happen in 2023.
-----
Discussion Points
Here's a tentative schedule that I drew out to give people an idea of the time windows here. Individuals are split loosely into "Type A" for bigger ones, and "Type B" for smaller ones, but the exact amounts of circuit points are TBD. (Cutting a Seasonal and the introduction of Swiss also aren't a given - more discussion will hopefully help us figure out where to go exactly)
Here are some discussion points I care about in particular:
- Are we okay with running a Type B alongside a Type A to cram more individual tournaments into the circuit? Would it be too much? Usually the last month or so of the long tournaments only involve a few players (the top 8 or so), so it's not too bad to start another tournament while the earlier one is ending, especially if it's a less important one. This would allow us to experiment with both Swiss and Majors without cutting any of Seasonal/Cup/Global, pretty much running a type A constantly throughout the whole year, and sprinkling in Swiss and Majors on top. Is this too much?
- With RoA Tour gone, is there interest in a set of RBY live tours standalone? Given that RoA Tours often struggled to even reach 32 I'd lean no, but I'm interested in hearing opinions on this purely because the survey didn't cover it.
- Incorporating lowtiers into the OU circuit is vastly unpopular, but should they have their own circuit? Or is Grand Slam and sporadic solo tours enough for the size of that subcommunity?
Feel free to share anything that you feel hasn't been covered by the survey as well, or your thoughts on everything in case you didn't fill in the survey in time. Your feedback is highly appreciated!