Hello everyone, now that the new year is upon us, I feel like it's a good time to reopen the discussion on potential rule changes for CDM 2020. While I'd like to start by focusing on the TT format and point coefficient, a number of other issues have been brought up that should be addressed (hence the more general topic title). Such issues include (but aren't necessarily limited to):
- high level of fatigue for top players at the end of CDM. -> Reduce length of matches in KO stage (especially Top 4)?
- group stage placements for 2P modes hinge on a very small number of matches/rounds, whereas the majority are inconsequential. -> Shift towards fewer but longer matches in group stage and/or make Shakedown shorter (or even disappear completely)?
- players on the verge of qualifying can get shafted in the final matchday(s) by matchmaking. -> Rework how Belgian system assigns matches (at least towards the end of group stage)?
- players cannot tell exactly how well they are doing during the competition (be it within a group stage or for the overall ranking), and mistakes slip through due to restricted access to information. -> Make all competitive information transparent to all participants throughout the event?
With that in mind, I'll start with the biggest topic (i.e. the one most discussed up to this point): Time Trial. As a reminder, the main point of contention is whether TT should count the same as each of the 2P modes towards the overall ranking, as opposed to the existing ruleset where TT is worth the same number of points for group stage, but half the amount for KO stage bonuses. Given how well-received the LKS system was at CDM 2019, I see four options for CDM 2020 (in order of magnitude of change relative to CDM 2019):
1. Everything stays the same as 2019.
2. Same format as 2019, but TT is worth the same as every other mode.
3. TT is worth the same as every other mode, and the (KO stage) format is lengthened to account for the mode's increased value.
4. TT is removed from CDM.
My personal preference would be for either option 2 or 3. The major question surrounding option 3 is what the new format would entail. The best proposal for a longer format that I've been able to come up with (after a brainstorming session in the SMK WhatsApp group last September, and again given the overall success of LKS) is as follows.
Group stage remains the same (all players go through all 20 tracks, and GS rankings are based on AF). The KO stage would then be a longer and slightly modified version of the 2019 LKS. The start of the KO stage (8 tracks) would be a "moving window", where the first track would be played by the 16 players ranked 9th-24th in GS. The last player on that track would be eliminated, and the player ranked 8th in GS would then join for the second track. Continue this process, eliminating one player and adding the next player from the GS rankings in ascending order. After 8 tracks, the player ranked 1st from GS joins and all remaining players form the Top 16. The next 8 tracks play out in the same way as in 2019. Once there are 8 players remaining, each remaining player receives an extra life (so they now have two each). The LKS continues, with the last player of each track losing one life (and getting eliminated if they are out of lives) until 4 players remain. Once there are 4 players remaining, each remaining player receives a second extra life (so they now have two or three each). The LKS continues again until there is only one Last Karter Standing.
I believe that this format achieves the objective of a longer TT KO format while maintaining the core values of the TT event (and the benefits of the LKS system). For reference, the number of tracks played in this KO stage format is 33-35 (depending on how many lives the winner ends up with), with the #1 from GS playing 25-27 if they reach Top 2. Compare to the existing formats, where someone who reaches all finals has to play 15 tracks in TT KO stage, 39-72 in BM/MR (32-60 without barrages), and 70-110 in GP (60-100 without barrages). This format also incorporates an equivalent for 2P barrages, which allows for bonuses to be allocated for ranks 17-24 (just like in 2P modes), and accounts for the increasingly tough competition between players in that range.
As an aside, while I think that it's perfectly reasonable for anyone to express their opinion on these topics (while remaining civil, etc.), I also think that the only people who should be given a vote in these matters (since that is likely how these decisions will ultimately be made) are those who have participated in a recent CDM. I'd say that the last two years is a good cutoff for recency, especially if we return to Alphen in 2020.