VitaNova Tier System

Many members of the community have raised issues about the banlist for the Quas Tier 3 tournament, which is due to be held tomorrow. Hopefully this post will help clear most of your doubts about the VitaNova tier system that is being implemented in Malaysia VitaNova events.

There are basically 3 tiers in this system:

Tier 1 - The top teams

Tier 2 - The standard teams

Tier 3 - The amateur teams

The original VitaNova system used in EU ranks teams in 4 tiers. I'll speculate that it's because they have a huge number of teams there (due to their healthy online based competitions). However, over here in Malaysia, there's been an average of say 16 teams who frequently join tournaments. CIC 7:ME showed an attendance of nearly 20 teams, which is less than adequate to be properly placed into 3 different tiers. In addition, there's the issue of many stand-in players and teams who come in and out of competitions.

The rough definition of a Tier 3 player is an amateur. However, this is most accurately ranked during open LAN competitions like CIC 7. Without the presence of teams from the top to bottom of the tiers, you can't possibly tier them properly.

So, the team in Malaysia has decided to rank based on experience (as we're all competitive/ex-competitive players) and also on a few defining characteristics attributed to each tier.

Here's a small list that should help:

Retiree - Tier 2

Entered competitions within last 6 months and attained good placing - Tier 2

First time entrance to Promod competitions - Tier 3

Individual player from 1st placing team - Tier 2

Stand-in player that outplays any amateur player - Tier 2

The list above is a rough guide on how players are filtered and ranked into the tier system. It is also how teams are placed in the group stages. In group stages, it is best to have a balance of 1:1:2 (Tier 1: Tier 2: Tier 3) teams inside a group. This is to ensure that the level of competition stays on as the teams head into double elimination rounds. It is also to expose teams to different levels of play and provide everyone with more experience.

You'll realize that the Quas Tier 3 tournament has many exceptions. Though, rest assured, every player and team is rated during every tournament. Thus, a team or a player might stand a chance to be ranked up or down within the tiers.

Hmm...I seem to have run out of ink....

More about the tier system when it does come..or when needed.