Strelzik Profile Joined April 2014 United States 189 Posts Last Edited: 2014-07-27 22:28:38 #1

The Essentials

Prismata Cup - prismata.net/cup



Total Prize Pool: $2600



1st $1500 2nd $500 3rd/4th $200 5th/6th $100



Sunday July 27 @ 2pm





Air Date:



Sunday August 3rd @ 6pm



Casters: Hafu and Trump



Total Prize Pool:1st2nd3rd/4th5th/6thSunday July 27 @ 2pmAir Date:Sunday August 3rd @ 6pmCasters: Hafu and Trump Entrants



Gaara - Strifecro - Realz - XIXO - Sjow - Bma - ErA - TidesofTime - Luigezz - Backspace - Puffin - Luffy - Gnimsh - Freshca - Thijsnl - Reynad - Firebat - Dog - Dart - Impact - Brad - Hosty - Kisstafer - Hyped - Trump - Forsen - Chakki - Prodigy - Lifecoach - Strelzik - Kitkatz - Ignite



Gaara - Strifecro - Realz - XIXO - Sjow - Bma - ErA - TidesofTime - Luigezz - Backspace - Puffin - Luffy - Gnimsh - Freshca - Thijsnl - Reynad - Firebat - Dog - Dart - Impact - Brad - Hosty - Kisstafer - Hyped - Trump - Forsen - Chakki - Prodigy - Lifecoach - Strelzik - Kitkatz - Ignite Note from the Tournament Director



From Tournament Director Alex Wice: I wanted to create this tournament because there were a lack of interesting open tournaments out there that could attract a critical mass of the best players. I've seen this sentiment repeated before by many people in the comments on liquidhearth, reddit, and hearthpwn: more and more championships being invite only tournaments.



Hearthstone deserves a "pro tour": a merit-based, monthly tournament with an exclusive field. Since many tournaments are either invitationals, or are open but have no qualifying procedures, the end result is a tournament that is seen as less legitimate: either because the best players were not invited, or because the tournament is a high-variance bo3 single elimination with hundreds of players.



I started with the top 100 NA published results and decided to guarantee 16 spots for those players based on those results. Those players were: Hyped, Firebat, Backspace, Luigezz, Puffin, Strelzik, Bma, Sjow, Forsen, Reynad, ErA, Prodigy, Dog, Realz, Freshca, and Dart. That wasn't a perfect system, but I was trying to get this tournament bootstrapped. Needless to say, I think this is the toughest field ever assembled for a Hearthstone tournament.



The response from the community has been great. Many players that have made the top 20 of the ladder multiple times have still never had a chance to play in a major tournament. I'm happy for all the support I have received by people that want to make this happen.



I hope this becomes a monthly event. As I look forward, I want to work with the community to create rules on exactly who is qualified when, and bring more objectivity to invites. This tournament was NA focused, but I want to extend the scope to include EU more in the next one. Such qualifying rules would have: a certain number of slots for invites based on the ladder; invites based on tournament successes (perhaps with a point system that looks at the result, number of entrants, and prizepool); support for keeping professional teams together (eg. if 2 teammates are qualified, they can bring one too); and an entrant's lock so that players can know they are 100% guaranteed to play.



About the sponsor: From Tournament Director Alex Wice: I wanted to create this tournament because there were a lack of interesting open tournaments out there that could attract a critical mass of the best players. I've seen this sentiment repeated before by many people in the comments on liquidhearth, reddit, and hearthpwn: more and more championships being invite only tournaments.Hearthstone deserves a "pro tour": a merit-based, monthly tournament with an exclusive field. Since many tournaments are either invitationals, or are open but have no qualifying procedures, the end result is a tournament that is seen as less legitimate: either because the best players were not invited, or because the tournament is a high-variance bo3 single elimination with hundreds of players.I started with the top 100 NA published results and decided to guarantee 16 spots for those players based on those results. Those players were: Hyped, Firebat, Backspace, Luigezz, Puffin, Strelzik, Bma, Sjow, Forsen, Reynad, ErA, Prodigy, Dog, Realz, Freshca, and Dart. That wasn't a perfect system, but I was trying to get this tournament bootstrapped. Needless to say, I think this is the toughest field ever assembled for a Hearthstone tournament.The response from the community has been great. Many players that have made the top 20 of the ladder multiple times have still never had a chance to play in a major tournament. I'm happy for all the support I have received by people that want to make this happen.I hope this becomes a monthly event. As I look forward, I want to work with the community to create rules on exactly who is qualified when, and bring more objectivity to invites. This tournament was NA focused, but I want to extend the scope to include EU more in the next one. Such qualifying rules would have: a certain number of slots for invites based on the ladder; invites based on tournament successes (perhaps with a point system that looks at the result, number of entrants, and prizepool); support for keeping professional teams together (eg. if 2 teammates are qualified, they can bring one too); and an entrant's lock so that players can know they are 100% guaranteed to play.About the sponsor: prismata.net / Prismata is a turn-based strategy game currently in development. It features fast time controls, no card draw RNG, and no decks, instead having players play with different units every game.

TeamRE Profile Joined June 2014 10 Posts Last Edited: 2014-07-27 02:52:32 #2 This is a great idea!

I love the concept of pro tours in TCGs!

My one suggestion is that for future tournaments instead of only inviting people based off of ladder and other tournament results, that you host something like a PTQ(pro tour qualifier) is to magic, a chance to qualify that's open to anyone!



Obviously if you're keeping the tournament to 32 players it would only be 1 or 2 spots, but still, I think it would be very intersting to have that aspect.

LokiCoder Profile Joined June 2014 United States 37 Posts #3 Added to the Hearthstone calendar at http://hearthstonecalendar.com/events/tournament/370-prismata-cup-tournament-legends

captharlock Profile Joined September 2010 United States 4 Posts #4 I love this concept. You should take a look at how MtG does theirs. It would be nice to get unknowns in as well and with that you got PTQ (Pro Tour Qualifiers) Baneslayer Angel could be hungover, slightly blind, and texting while flying and still win the game

MaSsan Profile Joined June 2009 United States 29 Posts Last Edited: 2014-07-27 10:28:25 #5 Don't want to be salty, but it's 'open tournament' with invite only....?

I do like that HS tournaments are being broadened. @MaSsanSC

lotteryman Profile Joined July 2014 13 Posts #6 On July 27 2014 19:28 MaSsan wrote:

Don't want to be salty, but it's 'open tournament' with invite only....?

I do like that HS tournaments are being broadened.



Yeah, my thoughts were exactly the same...

It's still an improvement versus invite only, but this is not an open tournament.



Plus, as many people have pointed repeatedly, ladder is not the same as tournament play. Hopefully process will improve if the cup has staying power. Would love to see sideboards into play.

Good luck! Yeah, my thoughts were exactly the same...It's still an improvement versus invite only, but this is not an open tournament.Plus, as many people have pointed repeatedly, ladder is not the same as tournament play. Hopefully process will improve if the cup has staying power. Would love to see sideboards into play.Good luck!

akatora13 Profile Joined April 2014 5 Posts #7 So an open tournament, where players are invited, at least partly, because of their popularity, and players who aren't already pretty well known has no possible way of qualifying? seems legit.

ItsJake Profile Joined January 2014 Slovakia 23 Posts #8 And biggest talent is missing..Kolento. And biggest talent is missing..Kolento.

Strelzik Profile Joined April 2014 United States 189 Posts #9 On July 27 2014 23:11 ItsJake wrote:

And biggest talent is missing..Kolento. And biggest talent is missing..Kolento.



Kolento cannot play in this tournament as he is playing in the WEC EU Qualifier. He was however, going to play in it. Kolento cannot play in this tournament as he is playing in the WEC EU Qualifier. He was however, going to play in it.

Strelzik Profile Joined April 2014 United States 189 Posts #10 On July 27 2014 21:19 akatora13 wrote:

So an open tournament, where players are invited, at least partly, because of their popularity, and players who aren't already pretty well known has no possible way of qualifying? seems legit.



The players that are in this tournament have shown results either on the ladder in terms of their legendary placements or in tournaments. I'd be very interested to hear how you think any of these players do not deserve a spot as all of them have shown incredible results.

The players that are in this tournament have shown results either on the ladder in terms of their legendary placements or in tournaments. I'd be very interested to hear how you think any of these players do not deserve a spot as all of them have shown incredible results.

Darthsanta13 Profile Joined July 2011 United States 84 Posts Last Edited: 2014-07-27 15:05:36 #11 On July 27 2014 23:36 Strelzik wrote:

Show nested quote +

On July 27 2014 21:19 akatora13 wrote:

So an open tournament, where players are invited, at least partly, because of their popularity, and players who aren't already pretty well known has no possible way of qualifying? seems legit.



The players that are in this tournament have shown results either on the ladder in terms of their legendary placements or in tournaments. I'd be very interested to hear how you think any of these players do not deserve a spot as all of them have shown incredible results.

The players that are in this tournament have shown results either on the ladder in terms of their legendary placements or in tournaments. I'd be very interested to hear how you think any of these players do not deserve a spot as all of them have shown incredible results.

I don't think people have an issue with any of the players exactly, it's more that in the introduction for the tournament it's billed multiple times as an open tournament, despite the fact that it's invite only. It's cool that there's a new tournament that does contain quite a few players that we don't see very often, and since it sounds like this is intended to be a pretty consistent thing in the future I'm cool with it not really being open the first time around, but I see why people are annoyed with how the tournament is portraying itself right now.



EDIT: Honestly I don't know how far in advance this was planned, but I feel like a lot of the backlash about it not necessarily being open could've been avoided if the tournament itself was announced in such a way that it would give players time to try to qualify, for example, with a week to go before the end of the season, or even before one of those mid-month ranking updates that Blizzard does sometimes (although I don't know if those happen on a set schedule so that might be hard to do), announce this and say that the top X players will also be invited to compete for 2600 dollars. I don't think people have an issue with any of the players exactly, it's more that in the introduction for the tournament it's billed multiple times as an open tournament, despite the fact that it's invite only. It's cool that there's a new tournament that does contain quite a few players that we don't see very often, and since it sounds like this is intended to be a pretty consistent thing in the future I'm cool with it not really being open the first time around, but I see why people are annoyed with how the tournament is portraying itself right now.EDIT: Honestly I don't know how far in advance this was planned, but I feel like a lot of the backlash about it not necessarily being open could've been avoided if the tournament itself was announced in such a way that it would give players time to try to qualify, for example, with a week to go before the end of the season, or even before one of those mid-month ranking updates that Blizzard does sometimes (although I don't know if those happen on a set schedule so that might be hard to do), announce this and say that the top X players will also be invited to compete for 2600 dollars.

Strelzik Profile Joined April 2014 United States 189 Posts #12 On July 27 2014 23:58 Darthsanta13 wrote:

Show nested quote +

On July 27 2014 23:36 Strelzik wrote:

On July 27 2014 21:19 akatora13 wrote:

So an open tournament, where players are invited, at least partly, because of their popularity, and players who aren't already pretty well known has no possible way of qualifying? seems legit.



The players that are in this tournament have shown results either on the ladder in terms of their legendary placements or in tournaments. I'd be very interested to hear how you think any of these players do not deserve a spot as all of them have shown incredible results.

The players that are in this tournament have shown results either on the ladder in terms of their legendary placements or in tournaments. I'd be very interested to hear how you think any of these players do not deserve a spot as all of them have shown incredible results.

I don't think people have an issue with any of the players exactly, it's more that in the introduction for the tournament it's billed multiple times as an open tournament, despite the fact that it's invite only. It's cool that there's a new tournament that does contain quite a few players that we don't see very often, and since it sounds like this is intended to be a pretty consistent thing in the future I'm cool with it not really being open the first time around, but I see why people are annoyed with how the tournament is portraying itself right now.



EDIT: Honestly I don't know how far in advance this was planned, but I feel like a lot of the backlash about it not necessarily being open could've been avoided if the tournament itself was announced in such a way that it would give players time to try to qualify, for example, with a week to go before the end of the season, or even before one of those mid-month ranking updates that Blizzard does sometimes (although I don't know if those happen on a set schedule so that might be hard to do), announce this and say that the top X players will also be invited to compete for 2600 dollars. I don't think people have an issue with any of the players exactly, it's more that in the introduction for the tournament it's billed multiple times as an open tournament, despite the fact that it's invite only. It's cool that there's a new tournament that does contain quite a few players that we don't see very often, and since it sounds like this is intended to be a pretty consistent thing in the future I'm cool with it not really being open the first time around, but I see why people are annoyed with how the tournament is portraying itself right now.EDIT: Honestly I don't know how far in advance this was planned, but I feel like a lot of the backlash about it not necessarily being open could've been avoided if the tournament itself was announced in such a way that it would give players time to try to qualify, for example, with a week to go before the end of the season, or even before one of those mid-month ranking updates that Blizzard does sometimes (although I don't know if those happen on a set schedule so that might be hard to do), announce this and say that the top X players will also be invited to compete for 2600 dollars.



The problem is though, that qualifying through getting top 100 for a period of time right now, is not as good as finishing top 100 or top 16. I think everyone should keep in mind that ~100 players showed interest yet only 32 could play. The problem is though, that qualifying through getting top 100 for a period of time right now, is not as good as finishing top 100 or top 16. I think everyone should keep in mind that ~100 players showed interest yet only 32 could play.

akatora13 Profile Joined April 2014 5 Posts #13 On July 27 2014 23:36 Strelzik wrote:

Show nested quote +

On July 27 2014 21:19 akatora13 wrote:

So an open tournament, where players are invited, at least partly, because of their popularity, and players who aren't already pretty well known has no possible way of qualifying? seems legit.



The players that are in this tournament have shown results either on the ladder in terms of their legendary placements or in tournaments. I'd be very interested to hear how you think any of these players do not deserve a spot as all of them have shown incredible results.

The players that are in this tournament have shown results either on the ladder in terms of their legendary placements or in tournaments. I'd be very interested to hear how you think any of these players do not deserve a spot as all of them have shown incredible results.





Seems like you completely missed the point. The point is, that it is advertised as an open tournament, while in reality, it is yet another invitational tournament. Not that there's anything wrong with that, they just shouldn't call it something, that it clearly isn't.



The rules of the tournament even clearly states, that the players popularity is part of choosing who gets to play. So it is a tournament, where they are inviting very popular high ranked players, exactly like every other invitational tournament ever run. Seems like you completely missed the point. The point is, that it is advertised as an open tournament, while in reality, it is yet another invitational tournament. Not that there's anything wrong with that, they just shouldn't call it something, that it clearly isn't.The rules of the tournament even clearly states, that the players popularity is part of choosing who gets to play. So it is a tournament, where they are inviting very popular high ranked players, exactly like every other invitational tournament ever run.

KillerSOS Profile Joined July 2010 United States 286 Posts #14 How is this open?



It's an invite tourney.

Darthsanta13 Profile Joined July 2011 United States 84 Posts #15 On July 28 2014 00:32 Strelzik wrote:

Show nested quote +

On July 27 2014 23:58 Darthsanta13 wrote:

On July 27 2014 23:36 Strelzik wrote:

On July 27 2014 21:19 akatora13 wrote:

So an open tournament, where players are invited, at least partly, because of their popularity, and players who aren't already pretty well known has no possible way of qualifying? seems legit.



The players that are in this tournament have shown results either on the ladder in terms of their legendary placements or in tournaments. I'd be very interested to hear how you think any of these players do not deserve a spot as all of them have shown incredible results.

The players that are in this tournament have shown results either on the ladder in terms of their legendary placements or in tournaments. I'd be very interested to hear how you think any of these players do not deserve a spot as all of them have shown incredible results.

I don't think people have an issue with any of the players exactly, it's more that in the introduction for the tournament it's billed multiple times as an open tournament, despite the fact that it's invite only. It's cool that there's a new tournament that does contain quite a few players that we don't see very often, and since it sounds like this is intended to be a pretty consistent thing in the future I'm cool with it not really being open the first time around, but I see why people are annoyed with how the tournament is portraying itself right now.



EDIT: Honestly I don't know how far in advance this was planned, but I feel like a lot of the backlash about it not necessarily being open could've been avoided if the tournament itself was announced in such a way that it would give players time to try to qualify, for example, with a week to go before the end of the season, or even before one of those mid-month ranking updates that Blizzard does sometimes (although I don't know if those happen on a set schedule so that might be hard to do), announce this and say that the top X players will also be invited to compete for 2600 dollars. I don't think people have an issue with any of the players exactly, it's more that in the introduction for the tournament it's billed multiple times as an open tournament, despite the fact that it's invite only. It's cool that there's a new tournament that does contain quite a few players that we don't see very often, and since it sounds like this is intended to be a pretty consistent thing in the future I'm cool with it not really being open the first time around, but I see why people are annoyed with how the tournament is portraying itself right now.EDIT: Honestly I don't know how far in advance this was planned, but I feel like a lot of the backlash about it not necessarily being open could've been avoided if the tournament itself was announced in such a way that it would give players time to try to qualify, for example, with a week to go before the end of the season, or even before one of those mid-month ranking updates that Blizzard does sometimes (although I don't know if those happen on a set schedule so that might be hard to do), announce this and say that the top X players will also be invited to compete for 2600 dollars.



The problem is though, that qualifying through getting top 100 for a period of time right now, is not as good as finishing top 100 or top 16. I think everyone should keep in mind that ~100 players showed interest yet only 32 could play. The problem is though, that qualifying through getting top 100 for a period of time right now, is not as good as finishing top 100 or top 16. I think everyone should keep in mind that ~100 players showed interest yet only 32 could play.



I was just throwing out a hypothetical that you could use to determine the players you invite. The reason people are upset is that a so-called open tournament was announced after you determined how to invite the players to the tournament. I'm saying that if you had announced the tournament and the qualifying procedure prior to determining who would be qualifying, you would have less of a backlash. Top 16 or whatever based on one of the mid season lists Blizzard puts out is one way you could do that.



Once again, I get that this is hopefully a first iteration of a recurring tournament, and that in the future, qualifying procedures will be more clear and more open. And I'm excited to see more people putting money into the scene. I just think the initial announcement did a really poor job of conveying the intentions of the tournament. I was just throwing out a hypothetical that you could use to determine the players you invite. The reason people are upset is that a so-called open tournament was announcedyou determined how to invite the players to the tournament. I'm saying that if you had announced the tournament and the qualifying procedure prior to determining who would be qualifying, you would have less of a backlash. Top 16 or whatever based on one of the mid season lists Blizzard puts out is one way youdo that.Once again, I get that this is hopefully a first iteration of a recurring tournament, and that in the future, qualifying procedures will be more clear and more open. And I'm excited to see more people putting money into the scene. I just think the initial announcement did a really poor job of conveying the intentions of the tournament.

kckkryptonite Profile Joined July 2010 8 Posts #16 No stream? RIP avilo, qxc keyboard 2013, RIP Nathanis keyboard 2014

lock203 Profile Joined March 2011 United States 49 Posts Last Edited: 2014-07-27 19:23:58 #17 Trump is streaming his matches now kckkryptonite.

edit: looks like lifecoach is also streaming. Where do whores go?

lpmkonji12345 Profile Joined July 2014 United States 1 Post #18 This is nothing like a Pro Tour and nothing of an Open tournament. Not sure why you would bill it as one. Doesn't look like a deck, doesn't smell like a duck...probably isn't a duck. Yet you told us it was a duck. Not backlash, just don't act like this tournament is different from other ones. I think the demand for an actual Open Tournament similar to that of the SCG Open Series in MTG is high and something ACTUALLY like the Pro Tour (with PTQs as well as other invites) is probably in demand as well. This is not either.

weeA Profile Joined October 2010 India 29 Posts #19 y u no invite Reckful? Lim Yo Hwan I love U

Cygnus9 Profile Joined July 2014 United States 34 Posts Last Edited: 2014-07-28 14:23:57 #20 On July 28 2014 04:39 lpmkonji12345 wrote:

Doesn't look like a deck, doesn't smell like a duck...probably isn't a duck.



This made me realize - Hearthstone would be infinitely better if all the decks were ducks!



Quack. =D



As for this - I don't understand - how is it an open tournament if it's invite only? Is it like, open bracket, but with seeded players?



Finally, I noticed the Prismata devs have been marketing their game heavily towards the Hearthstone/Liquidhearth community (I believe the lead developer also made the "Is QQing about luck a sign of a healthy com.." thread that was at the top of Hearthstone General for a while now). It's not a problem in my opinion - I think it's nice for them to market their game towards a community that is likely going to be interested in it. Furthermore, if you go to the developer's blog, he's actually written some fairly interesting articles on Hearthstone, the nature of RNG in games, etc. I don't agree with all of it, but they are interesting reads.



However, I think this is a better way to go about raising awareness of their game. It gives back to us (the HS community), so it's not like they're making what amount to advertisement posts on the forums. However, it is very interesting that a developer would use a competing card game to promote their own. You'd never see say, Riot hosting a Dota 2 tournament to bring attention to League. Very interesting.



For what its worth, I'll check out Prismata. HS is my first card game, so I'm definitely interested in checking other ones out (especially newer ones, where there aren't thousands of cards/rules/mechanics/sets/expansions I'd need to learn). This made me realize - Hearthstone would be infinitely better if all the decks were ducks!Quack. =DAs for this - I don't understand - how is it an open tournament if it's invite only? Is it like, open bracket, but with seeded players?Finally, I noticed the Prismata devs have been marketing their game heavily towards the Hearthstone/Liquidhearth community (I believe the lead developer also made the "Is QQing about luck a sign of a healthy com.." thread that was at the top of Hearthstone General for a while now). It's not a problem in my opinion - I think it's nice for them to market their game towards a community that is likely going to be interested in it. Furthermore, if you go to the developer's blog, he's actually written some fairly interesting articles on Hearthstone, the nature of RNG in games, etc. I don't agree with all of it, but they are interesting reads.However, I think this is a better way to go about raising awareness of their game. It gives back to us (the HS community), so it's not like they're making what amount to advertisement posts on the forums.Very interesting.For what its worth, I'll check out Prismata. HS is my first card game, so I'm definitely interested in checking other ones out (especially newer ones, where there aren't thousands of cards/rules/mechanics/sets/expansions I'd need to learn).

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