ConceptThe Promotion/Relegation League is a seasonal group of round-robin Warlight tournaments, always on the classic “strategic middle earth” map and settings with 0% weighted random luck. (This is not the same as the template currently used for the 1v1 ladder.) Players are grouped into 7 player groups, each group sorted into a tier. At the end of each season, the top players of each tier are promoted to the next tier above. Bottom players are relegated to the next tier below. Middle players remain in the same tier.
The league is meant to appeal to players who want to see, over the course of several seasons, where their natural level of competition might take them. For new, skilled participants, this means patience in getting to the levels where they will be challenged. Hopefully, that is part of the fun. The idea is to see how quickly you can progress, how long you can stay high, or how long it takes to stop a skid.
RulesThe league is run with a balance of predictability and flexibility. Final decisions are made by the league administrator with an attempt to consider input of league players.
For season 22, the following model is employed:
A (1 group): 2 demote
B (1 group): 2 promote, 3 demote
C (2 groups): 3 promote (1 each group plus 2nd place playoff between C1 and C2), 4 demote (2 each group)
D (2 groups): 4 promote (2 each group), 6 demote (3 each group)
E (3 groups): 6 promote (2 each group), 6 demote (2 each group)
F (3 groups): 6 promote (2 each group), 9 demote (3 each group)
G (6 groups): 9 promote (1 each group plus 2nd place playoff between pairs of groups)
There are exceptions to this model. Where there is default – a player becoming inactive or asking to bow out of the league – there can be more promotions to fill in the vacancy. The principle, though, is to usually have at least one player from each group relegated. Several retirements mean fewer relegations and more promotions to keep the groups filled.
Any player inactive in any three games of any tournament is deemed to be out of the league and can only return as a new player in an expansion or bottom group.
Placements in a round-robin are determined by number of wins. In the event of a tie, placements are determined by head-to-head results among the tied. Occasionally, there are loops of ties that cannot be resolved by the head-to-head rule. A tie-breaking tournament then takes place unless all the players involved agree to otherwise settle the tie.
If players are still tied after the tiebreaker tournament, or a tiebreaker tournament is not made, ratios of Fizzer's metric will be used to break the tie. Fizzer's metric is calculated in the final turn of the game, and is equal to a player's controlled armies plus income times two (A + 2*I). The ratio then is the metric for one player divided by the sum of metrics for both players. I will cap the metric to be a minimum of 0.51 for the winner and a maximum of 0.49 for the loser. The tie will then be broken according to the sum of ratios of Fizzer's metric among games involved in the tie. (If still tied, I will disregard the 0.51/0.49 limits)
Anyone can join the league, members and non-members alike, simply by request in the most recent “Promotion/Relegation League” forum thread. New players begin in the bottom group or in an expansion group. Promotions from expansion groups depend on numbers within the new groups.
For players with multiple accounts, only one account may be used in this league, and placement in the league can't be switched around with other accounts. What this means is that if you want to switch accounts, you must start again from the bottom tier. It's recommended that all new players use an account they plan to use long term.
Before the beginning of each season, a summary of the movements will be announced to allow for questions or corrections. The league works most smoothly if those who wish to bow out of it let the administrator know before the new season begins instead of simply declining to play after the groups have been determined and tournaments begun.
The history of the last season can be reviewed from links in the season 21 thread:
https://www.warlight.net/Forum/242100-promotionrelegation-league-season-21
