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Power Rankings & Discussions
Preseason:
Boogy’s Rankings (Preseason)
1.) wK
2.) TMW
3.) KoA
4.) Balion/HB
5.) Wappaw
6.) TSP/SF
7.) DoF
8.) WTTM
9.) MoB
10.) tK
11.) TFM
12.) VL
13.) PoN
Ranker Rationale
Hello and welcome to the first edition of ranker rationale! Here is where I will do my best to explain why your team still has hope to climb the rankings! I will also try to explain why I placed each team where they are and why. This is a large task that may step on some people's backs, but hopefully I don't hurt too many feelings along the way.
The Top Five
First and foremost, let's talk about the constants, the top five.
1.) wK takes my award as the top team in this tournament. Although they did not finish with the gold last year, losing a very close match to KoA in the semi-finals, they have a history of success and have top players at each key position. This along with a chip on their shoulder for not finishing first last season, puts wK on top and the team to beat coming into this tournament.
2.) Coming in at #2 is the reigning champs, TMW. They too have a history of success, placing 3rd, 2nd, and now 1st in our UNAC tournaments. They have solidified themselves as one of the top-tier teams in the NA scene and have the talent to back it up. In previous tournaments, they have been an infantry juggernaut, relying on closed maps to pull ahead and secure their wins. However, since season 3, TMW has become a much more balanced team as they have recruited talent from overseas to fill in their gaps. Although losing some of their infantry prowess in key players, TMW has gained in other areas and it showed last season, giving them a highly valued championship win.
3.) Now onto the surprise of last season, KoA. KoA has always been mentioned as one of the most talented teams in the scene, but never making that extra step to enter in as one of the top teams. Last season, they showed to us all that with some new roster changes, they have taken that next step. KoA has taken on the top two teams in wK and TMW and have shown they can play alongside and sometimes beat them. With the addition of some new star players from the now defunct Rebels and what looks like a more proactive team, KoA is shaping into the team we all expected them to be in seasons past.
4.) In the 4th spot, I’ve put the Balion/HB combination team. Although Balion and HB were not apart of Season 3, they have earned this spot from their performances in Season 1 and Season 2 which cannot be overlooked. Balion was one of the most dominant teams in season 1 and HB dominated Division B in Season 2 as well as their promotion match. However, questions still need to be asked as the team is not bringing in any of their key cav players from those tournaments; Missing from Balion is Scott Ray and Blak and missing from HB is dman and, now wK, VinnyPooh. There is also the question of calling. Will the HB players take to the Balion way of calling or will it be a tougher transition than they expect? The main question though is will this team be the dominant force they were in S1 and S2 or will they end up as a team filled with amazing talent but can never capitalize on it like the Canucks team in BIT?
5.) Finishing out the constants of success in the top five is Wappaw. Wappaw reminds me a lot of how KoA looked at the beginning of Season 3 but without the new additions. They have a lot of great talent, but not enough great talent to field a full seven-man team every week. Their team is a mixture of highly competitive players that want to make that next step and semi-competitive players that just want to have fun and hang with their gaming brothers each week. For most of the members, the latter is what makes Wappaw great. Unfortunately, that also makes it hard to compete against the clans above them who can field 7 players that have taken that extra step. Until they can figure that out, Wappaw will be carried by a few individuals and hindered by the rest and will be perennially at the bottom end of the top five teams each season.
The Up-And-Comers
These are the teams that have moments of talent, but are missing those few elite players and that extra bit of edge to push them into the upper echelon.
6.) TSB/SF – A team that looks like it is on the verge of challenging the teams above them, but is just missing a few things. TSB/SF has had a mixture of leadership throughout its creation causing some instability in the calling department. Originally, this was another clan created and ran by Tesla, but since then it has been adopted and changed names and leadership. Once the leadership in the clan gets some experience calling, get some members that can play cavalry better, and work more cohesively as an infantry unit they will knocking on the doors of the teams above them. We’ll see if this is the season where that happens for them.
7.) DoF – They have improved and surprised a lot of us in the last two seasons of UNAC. Always a team that a lot of other teams looked past, DoF has now become one of the mid-tier teams that will have to be worried about for other teams in that skill range. Although they have had a change in members from another DoF-schism, the leadership of DoF has stayed constant, as well as a few key contributors. I have high hopes that they will continue to improve upon their past success.
8.) WTTM – A very intriguing group as it seems to be a mainly European team with a few regulars from WMT. I’m unsure where this team will place as I’m not sure how active the members in it will be. That was a problem for MTW last season which had a lot of great European players, but not all of them could show up on game day. If they show up, they have the potential to be good. If they don’t, they will be what MTW was last season. I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt as of right now.
9.) MoB – This is the one team that I feel I may be under-ranking. They have some proven talent from previous seasons, but I’m unsure how well this group will mess as a team of seven when the tournament starts. That uncertainty has left me with questions and the ranking I am giving them. I know they have the talent, but do they have that edge to push them up a few notches?
The Prove-Its
This group of teams needs to show to the rest of the community that they have what it takes to compete against veteran teams.
10.) tK – A new clan with a lot to prove. They have some talent from previous UNAC seasons, but is it enough for them to challenge those above them? Can their new group challenge a group of members that have been fighting together for a few seasons? I have my questions on what will come, but I hope for the best. They have a lot of upside, but will they realize that potential?
11.) TFM – I am unfamiliar with a lot of these players, as they seem to play mainly on GK_Siege, however, I do recognize a few staples from past competitive GK teams so I cannot put them lower. I feel those few staples alone have the competitive experience to put them above the teams below them.
12.) VL – Although this team looks like it doesn't play native as much as the others, I recognize a few members that were apart of KM in Season 1 of UNAC and know they have some experience in native. I’ll have to see more out of them to have to gauge a more accurate ranking.
13.) PoN – PoN still has some leaps to take before they can compete with players that have been on the competitive scene for years. However, they are taking an active approach by joining every tournament they can to gain the experience they are lacking. More activity from their members on POM and a few closer matches would improve this ranking.
1.) wK
2.) TMW
3.) KoA
4.) Balion/HB
5.) Wappaw
6.) TSP/SF
7.) DoF
8.) WTTM
9.) MoB
10.) tK
11.) TFM
12.) VL
13.) PoN
Ranker Rationale
Hello and welcome to the first edition of ranker rationale! Here is where I will do my best to explain why your team still has hope to climb the rankings! I will also try to explain why I placed each team where they are and why. This is a large task that may step on some people's backs, but hopefully I don't hurt too many feelings along the way.
The Top Five
First and foremost, let's talk about the constants, the top five.
1.) wK takes my award as the top team in this tournament. Although they did not finish with the gold last year, losing a very close match to KoA in the semi-finals, they have a history of success and have top players at each key position. This along with a chip on their shoulder for not finishing first last season, puts wK on top and the team to beat coming into this tournament.
2.) Coming in at #2 is the reigning champs, TMW. They too have a history of success, placing 3rd, 2nd, and now 1st in our UNAC tournaments. They have solidified themselves as one of the top-tier teams in the NA scene and have the talent to back it up. In previous tournaments, they have been an infantry juggernaut, relying on closed maps to pull ahead and secure their wins. However, since season 3, TMW has become a much more balanced team as they have recruited talent from overseas to fill in their gaps. Although losing some of their infantry prowess in key players, TMW has gained in other areas and it showed last season, giving them a highly valued championship win.
3.) Now onto the surprise of last season, KoA. KoA has always been mentioned as one of the most talented teams in the scene, but never making that extra step to enter in as one of the top teams. Last season, they showed to us all that with some new roster changes, they have taken that next step. KoA has taken on the top two teams in wK and TMW and have shown they can play alongside and sometimes beat them. With the addition of some new star players from the now defunct Rebels and what looks like a more proactive team, KoA is shaping into the team we all expected them to be in seasons past.
4.) In the 4th spot, I’ve put the Balion/HB combination team. Although Balion and HB were not apart of Season 3, they have earned this spot from their performances in Season 1 and Season 2 which cannot be overlooked. Balion was one of the most dominant teams in season 1 and HB dominated Division B in Season 2 as well as their promotion match. However, questions still need to be asked as the team is not bringing in any of their key cav players from those tournaments; Missing from Balion is Scott Ray and Blak and missing from HB is dman and, now wK, VinnyPooh. There is also the question of calling. Will the HB players take to the Balion way of calling or will it be a tougher transition than they expect? The main question though is will this team be the dominant force they were in S1 and S2 or will they end up as a team filled with amazing talent but can never capitalize on it like the Canucks team in BIT?
5.) Finishing out the constants of success in the top five is Wappaw. Wappaw reminds me a lot of how KoA looked at the beginning of Season 3 but without the new additions. They have a lot of great talent, but not enough great talent to field a full seven-man team every week. Their team is a mixture of highly competitive players that want to make that next step and semi-competitive players that just want to have fun and hang with their gaming brothers each week. For most of the members, the latter is what makes Wappaw great. Unfortunately, that also makes it hard to compete against the clans above them who can field 7 players that have taken that extra step. Until they can figure that out, Wappaw will be carried by a few individuals and hindered by the rest and will be perennially at the bottom end of the top five teams each season.
The Up-And-Comers
These are the teams that have moments of talent, but are missing those few elite players and that extra bit of edge to push them into the upper echelon.
6.) TSB/SF – A team that looks like it is on the verge of challenging the teams above them, but is just missing a few things. TSB/SF has had a mixture of leadership throughout its creation causing some instability in the calling department. Originally, this was another clan created and ran by Tesla, but since then it has been adopted and changed names and leadership. Once the leadership in the clan gets some experience calling, get some members that can play cavalry better, and work more cohesively as an infantry unit they will knocking on the doors of the teams above them. We’ll see if this is the season where that happens for them.
7.) DoF – They have improved and surprised a lot of us in the last two seasons of UNAC. Always a team that a lot of other teams looked past, DoF has now become one of the mid-tier teams that will have to be worried about for other teams in that skill range. Although they have had a change in members from another DoF-schism, the leadership of DoF has stayed constant, as well as a few key contributors. I have high hopes that they will continue to improve upon their past success.
8.) WTTM – A very intriguing group as it seems to be a mainly European team with a few regulars from WMT. I’m unsure where this team will place as I’m not sure how active the members in it will be. That was a problem for MTW last season which had a lot of great European players, but not all of them could show up on game day. If they show up, they have the potential to be good. If they don’t, they will be what MTW was last season. I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt as of right now.
9.) MoB – This is the one team that I feel I may be under-ranking. They have some proven talent from previous seasons, but I’m unsure how well this group will mess as a team of seven when the tournament starts. That uncertainty has left me with questions and the ranking I am giving them. I know they have the talent, but do they have that edge to push them up a few notches?
The Prove-Its
This group of teams needs to show to the rest of the community that they have what it takes to compete against veteran teams.
10.) tK – A new clan with a lot to prove. They have some talent from previous UNAC seasons, but is it enough for them to challenge those above them? Can their new group challenge a group of members that have been fighting together for a few seasons? I have my questions on what will come, but I hope for the best. They have a lot of upside, but will they realize that potential?
11.) TFM – I am unfamiliar with a lot of these players, as they seem to play mainly on GK_Siege, however, I do recognize a few staples from past competitive GK teams so I cannot put them lower. I feel those few staples alone have the competitive experience to put them above the teams below them.
12.) VL – Although this team looks like it doesn't play native as much as the others, I recognize a few members that were apart of KM in Season 1 of UNAC and know they have some experience in native. I’ll have to see more out of them to have to gauge a more accurate ranking.
13.) PoN – PoN still has some leaps to take before they can compete with players that have been on the competitive scene for years. However, they are taking an active approach by joining every tournament they can to gain the experience they are lacking. More activity from their members on POM and a few closer matches would improve this ranking.
West Knights
Rank: 1
REASONING:
Despite a disappointing finish in UNAC Season 3, I still think West Knights is the most dangerous team in the tournament. The team arguably has the best players of each class in North America on their roster; Calamity, Gelden, WilySly and Vinny on cav, Lagstro, RobertBruce and Achilles on ranged, and PPK, Beer, and Oodle on infantry. With such a powerful, diverse and balanced lineup, and a history of great performances in all tournaments they've participated in, they'll be the team to beat throughout this tournament.
The Midnight Watchmen
Rank: 2
REASONING:
An extremely close second behind West Knights, The Midnight Watchmen have the potential to take first rank from West Knights at pretty much any moment. At this point, TMW's teamwork and cohesion is a step above that of West Knights. The only thing that's keeping them in second for me is a slight disadvantage in individual talent. That is not however to say they lack any: Unicorn is one of the best infantry players in the world, Can, Sikici and RelaX are monstrous on cav, and Sota and Clockwise are absolutely lethal archers. Like I said, it's not a big difference between TMW and wK; I imagine everyone is waiting to see how the two teams will fare against one another in their first match.
Kingdom of Avalon
Rank: 3
REASONING:
KoA surprised everyone with a narrow and glorious victory of wK in the UNAC Season 3 semi-finals. They've been working very hard since their last place finish in Season 2, and have upped their game to a level I don't think they've ever achieved. Despite their victory over wK, I don't believe they're currently ready to take on wK or TMW, and for now will stay at third place. Their roster is arguably as balanced as West Knights': Cru is a fantastic cavalry player, John, Fatso and Rhadagast are all scary good archers, and Brave, Troubadour, Robocop and PolarBear are all solid infantry.
From the Ashes
Rank: 4
REASONING:
I'm really curious about how this team will perform this season. In all honesty, I'm a bit lost when it comes to evaluating where exactly they rank in comparison to the other teams. Based on excellent past performances from both Balion and Honour Bound, I kept them a step above Wappaw, but a step below KoA due to the difference in the teams' levels of activity. FtA still has a lot of raw talent from both clans; Kaiser is still one of the best infantry around, and Zero, Phoenix and Chewbacca used to be in my opinion three of the five best ranged players in North America. One big difference between this roster and the past Balion and HB rosters that used to compete, is a total lack of cav. There's no Scott Ray, Hero, Vinny (former HB), Can, Blak or Angus, all of whom were incredible cav players for both Balion and HB in the past. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is anxious to see this team in action.
Wappaw
Rank: 5
REASONING:
Wappaw has always been just a step below the rest of the 'top tier' teams, but a strong step above most of the lower tier teams. They're kind of the space between the contenders for first place, and the lower-ranked teams fighting for a higher place in the tournament. Wappaw's roster is always full of talent, and this is the first time in a long time they have not fielded two teams. They're perfectly capable of surprising everyone, though, as they haven't split their forces this time around. If players like Redknight, Zacty, Mafioso, and Quantum Matrix were to get back into shape, Wappaw would be a strong contender for at least top three. Everything is still up in the air, as the tournament is just about to start. After a few weeks of matches it'll be easier to see how well some of this roster's (and other rosters') key players are performing.
Turtle Knights
Rank: 6
REASONING:
I'm excited about Turtle Knights. They're the players I've seen the most of recently in pub servers, and they seem to be working very hard to get better at all three classes. They've recently home-raised some strong ranged players in Hani and Tito, and most of the roster's players are really solid in melee. I'm looking forward to watching some of their matches and getting a better idea of how they play together.
Whoa, Those Terrifying Men
Rank: 6
REASONING:
I always have trouble judging how the second TMW team will fare in these tournaments. Their large number of European players could be a benefit or a disadvantage, depending on a few factors: their Euros may not be able to attend matches consistently, and it may give WTTM some consistency and cohesion problems. I mean Vitus is a great infantry player, and of course LeRoux and a few other Europeans will be great help in the team's ranged game, but it's really tough to predict how well they'll do since I imagine many of them have not yet even once played together. I'm ranking them at about the same level as tK, but for entirely different reasons.
A Truly Sad Coalition
Rank: 7
REASONING:
The old SF teams used to always be wild cards; one day they could take on teams like Wappaw and KoA, and yet other days would just collapse on themselves and have trouble claiming even single rounds in matches. From what I've seen, I don't expect much different from this roster. They'll have moments of glory, but I don't think they'll be consistent enough to rise too high in the tournament. Disco is a great infantry player, and Captain used to be one of the most diverse and best all-round players I know, but it's hard to say how much this team will be able to accomplish.
Defenders of Faith
Rank: 8
REASONING:
I'm glad to see DoF register a single team this season. Having classically split their stronger players between two teams, they've generally had trouble against many teams I believe a unified DoF is perfectly capable of taking on. With Darin, William, Erminas, Varangian and Alec, the roster has a massive lineup of solid cav players, but I'm a bit skeptical about how well their infantry and ranged players will fare. DoF has surprised us before with unexpected victories over seemingly stronger teams, so we'll see how the first few weeks go for them.
MoB
Rank: 9
REASONING:
In all honesty, I think MoB has a very solid and balanced roster. All the team needs is some more scrim experience, and I believe they could rise pretty quickly above some of the other lower-tier teams around them. I unfortunately don't see them around too often, but I don't see them as too far below the 4 teams ranked higher.
The Veterans League
Rank: 10
REASONING:
Hard to say much about this team, as it is so new, but I've seen a few solid players around wearing VL_ tags, like Meadows, GoldenPrototype, and Olama (who, if the same Olama I'm thinking, has been around for a long time) who give me hope for this team. Since I've seen literally nothing of them as a team, however, I can't rank them any higher than this until the tournament gets going.
Praetorians of Neapolis
Rank: 11
REASONING:
Another team that I yet unfortunately know very little about. I'm going to make a point of watching their first few matches, since they have been around for a while now.
The Filthy Mongorians
Rank: 12
REASONING:
From what I can tell, TFM is half hoard of recently recruited siege players, and half older GK players. This team will either completely fall apart, or after a few scrims start to come together and become a challenge for the other lower-tier teams.
Rank: 1
REASONING:
Despite a disappointing finish in UNAC Season 3, I still think West Knights is the most dangerous team in the tournament. The team arguably has the best players of each class in North America on their roster; Calamity, Gelden, WilySly and Vinny on cav, Lagstro, RobertBruce and Achilles on ranged, and PPK, Beer, and Oodle on infantry. With such a powerful, diverse and balanced lineup, and a history of great performances in all tournaments they've participated in, they'll be the team to beat throughout this tournament.
The Midnight Watchmen
Rank: 2
REASONING:
An extremely close second behind West Knights, The Midnight Watchmen have the potential to take first rank from West Knights at pretty much any moment. At this point, TMW's teamwork and cohesion is a step above that of West Knights. The only thing that's keeping them in second for me is a slight disadvantage in individual talent. That is not however to say they lack any: Unicorn is one of the best infantry players in the world, Can, Sikici and RelaX are monstrous on cav, and Sota and Clockwise are absolutely lethal archers. Like I said, it's not a big difference between TMW and wK; I imagine everyone is waiting to see how the two teams will fare against one another in their first match.
Kingdom of Avalon
Rank: 3
REASONING:
KoA surprised everyone with a narrow and glorious victory of wK in the UNAC Season 3 semi-finals. They've been working very hard since their last place finish in Season 2, and have upped their game to a level I don't think they've ever achieved. Despite their victory over wK, I don't believe they're currently ready to take on wK or TMW, and for now will stay at third place. Their roster is arguably as balanced as West Knights': Cru is a fantastic cavalry player, John, Fatso and Rhadagast are all scary good archers, and Brave, Troubadour, Robocop and PolarBear are all solid infantry.
From the Ashes
Rank: 4
REASONING:
I'm really curious about how this team will perform this season. In all honesty, I'm a bit lost when it comes to evaluating where exactly they rank in comparison to the other teams. Based on excellent past performances from both Balion and Honour Bound, I kept them a step above Wappaw, but a step below KoA due to the difference in the teams' levels of activity. FtA still has a lot of raw talent from both clans; Kaiser is still one of the best infantry around, and Zero, Phoenix and Chewbacca used to be in my opinion three of the five best ranged players in North America. One big difference between this roster and the past Balion and HB rosters that used to compete, is a total lack of cav. There's no Scott Ray, Hero, Vinny (former HB), Can, Blak or Angus, all of whom were incredible cav players for both Balion and HB in the past. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is anxious to see this team in action.
Wappaw
Rank: 5
REASONING:
Wappaw has always been just a step below the rest of the 'top tier' teams, but a strong step above most of the lower tier teams. They're kind of the space between the contenders for first place, and the lower-ranked teams fighting for a higher place in the tournament. Wappaw's roster is always full of talent, and this is the first time in a long time they have not fielded two teams. They're perfectly capable of surprising everyone, though, as they haven't split their forces this time around. If players like Redknight, Zacty, Mafioso, and Quantum Matrix were to get back into shape, Wappaw would be a strong contender for at least top three. Everything is still up in the air, as the tournament is just about to start. After a few weeks of matches it'll be easier to see how well some of this roster's (and other rosters') key players are performing.
Turtle Knights
Rank: 6
REASONING:
I'm excited about Turtle Knights. They're the players I've seen the most of recently in pub servers, and they seem to be working very hard to get better at all three classes. They've recently home-raised some strong ranged players in Hani and Tito, and most of the roster's players are really solid in melee. I'm looking forward to watching some of their matches and getting a better idea of how they play together.
Whoa, Those Terrifying Men
Rank: 6
REASONING:
I always have trouble judging how the second TMW team will fare in these tournaments. Their large number of European players could be a benefit or a disadvantage, depending on a few factors: their Euros may not be able to attend matches consistently, and it may give WTTM some consistency and cohesion problems. I mean Vitus is a great infantry player, and of course LeRoux and a few other Europeans will be great help in the team's ranged game, but it's really tough to predict how well they'll do since I imagine many of them have not yet even once played together. I'm ranking them at about the same level as tK, but for entirely different reasons.
A Truly Sad Coalition
Rank: 7
REASONING:
The old SF teams used to always be wild cards; one day they could take on teams like Wappaw and KoA, and yet other days would just collapse on themselves and have trouble claiming even single rounds in matches. From what I've seen, I don't expect much different from this roster. They'll have moments of glory, but I don't think they'll be consistent enough to rise too high in the tournament. Disco is a great infantry player, and Captain used to be one of the most diverse and best all-round players I know, but it's hard to say how much this team will be able to accomplish.
Defenders of Faith
Rank: 8
REASONING:
I'm glad to see DoF register a single team this season. Having classically split their stronger players between two teams, they've generally had trouble against many teams I believe a unified DoF is perfectly capable of taking on. With Darin, William, Erminas, Varangian and Alec, the roster has a massive lineup of solid cav players, but I'm a bit skeptical about how well their infantry and ranged players will fare. DoF has surprised us before with unexpected victories over seemingly stronger teams, so we'll see how the first few weeks go for them.
MoB
Rank: 9
REASONING:
In all honesty, I think MoB has a very solid and balanced roster. All the team needs is some more scrim experience, and I believe they could rise pretty quickly above some of the other lower-tier teams around them. I unfortunately don't see them around too often, but I don't see them as too far below the 4 teams ranked higher.
The Veterans League
Rank: 10
REASONING:
Hard to say much about this team, as it is so new, but I've seen a few solid players around wearing VL_ tags, like Meadows, GoldenPrototype, and Olama (who, if the same Olama I'm thinking, has been around for a long time) who give me hope for this team. Since I've seen literally nothing of them as a team, however, I can't rank them any higher than this until the tournament gets going.
Praetorians of Neapolis
Rank: 11
REASONING:
Another team that I yet unfortunately know very little about. I'm going to make a point of watching their first few matches, since they have been around for a while now.
The Filthy Mongorians
Rank: 12
REASONING:
From what I can tell, TFM is half hoard of recently recruited siege players, and half older GK players. This team will either completely fall apart, or after a few scrims start to come together and become a challenge for the other lower-tier teams.
Preseason predictions are always fun, but also are usually based off guesses and deduction. If we go purely off what happened last season these rankings would be pretty easy, but in this case I'm going off of what has been as of late. I'm also going to skip the top 3 because it is too close for me to call, needless to say almost all of the teams are somewhat different than they were last season whether for good or bad.
4. Wappaw
Wappaw has one team this season instead of two, most would say that makes them stronger and I agree, but that also means both teams have to get used to each other again. They have also lost several strong players (Hero, Dodge, Manry, Jim etc), but have gotten back a couple back as well (Zacty, Blade? etc).
5. Balion & Honor Bound (FTA)
This team is a combined team from the remaining parts of both clans hence their team name From The Ashes. This team has a lot of potential, it really just depends on if the players show up to matches and if they can build cohesion.
6. Ministry of Blades (MoB)
MoB has a pretty strong roster and I think they are stronger than people believe.
7. Turtle Knights
tK has a very solid infantry lineup, they just need to sharpen their archery and cavalry departments.
8. Defenders of Faith (DoF)
They need to scrim more! I haven't been keeping track, but I think if they put in the time they could do well.
9. True Sad Boys & Strike Force (TSC)
Solid roster, just need to play more seriously and get more cohesion.
10. Woah those terrifying men! (WTTM)
Good roster, but so many Europeans. If they can get them to show up to the late night matches then I expect good things, if not then...
11. The Filthy Mongolians (TFM)
Don't know much about this team. I recognize some names, but other than that they are a question mark.
12. The Veterans League (TVL)
Don't know much about this team, but I expect a certain player to carry until they develop more as a team.
13. Praetorians of Neapolis (PoN)
I want them to do well, hopefully with some of the new roster additions they will surprise us.
4. Wappaw
Wappaw has one team this season instead of two, most would say that makes them stronger and I agree, but that also means both teams have to get used to each other again. They have also lost several strong players (Hero, Dodge, Manry, Jim etc), but have gotten back a couple back as well (Zacty, Blade? etc).
5. Balion & Honor Bound (FTA)
This team is a combined team from the remaining parts of both clans hence their team name From The Ashes. This team has a lot of potential, it really just depends on if the players show up to matches and if they can build cohesion.
6. Ministry of Blades (MoB)
MoB has a pretty strong roster and I think they are stronger than people believe.
7. Turtle Knights
tK has a very solid infantry lineup, they just need to sharpen their archery and cavalry departments.
8. Defenders of Faith (DoF)
They need to scrim more! I haven't been keeping track, but I think if they put in the time they could do well.
9. True Sad Boys & Strike Force (TSC)
Solid roster, just need to play more seriously and get more cohesion.
10. Woah those terrifying men! (WTTM)
Good roster, but so many Europeans. If they can get them to show up to the late night matches then I expect good things, if not then...
11. The Filthy Mongolians (TFM)
Don't know much about this team. I recognize some names, but other than that they are a question mark.
12. The Veterans League (TVL)
Don't know much about this team, but I expect a certain player to carry until they develop more as a team.
13. Praetorians of Neapolis (PoN)
I want them to do well, hopefully with some of the new roster additions they will surprise us.
1.) wK
2.) KoA
3.) TMW
4.) Wappaw
5.) Balion/HB
6.) TSC
7.) WTTM
8.) MoB
9.) DoF
10.) tK
11.) VL
12.) TFM
13.) PON
REASONINGS
1.) Coming in at number one for me is wK. Despite finishing 3rd this past season, they look like strong contenders for the gold in UNAC 4. With well known players filling in all their key positions and becoming more active in the months preceding UNAC 4, they'll be ready to rock right out of the gate. This, combined with the fact that they have a record of success in recent tournaments, makes them in my mind an obvious choice to take the first seed.
2.) After surprising a ton of people this past tournament with a victory over wK in the semi finals, KoA will continue to impress. Leading the way for them is a very strong range group, with the likes of John, Rhadaghast and Fatso being a difficult trio to contain, and right behind them is a steadily improving infantry group. The main area of concern looks to be their Cavalry. While, Cru & Brave may be good, having only 1 or 2 calvary to rely on will make things tough for them in certain matches. All that considered, I'm pegging them at 2.
3.) With their 2nd championship title coming last season, TMW is in good shape looking towards the future. Historically strong in the infantry category, TMW should still maintain it's hold in this area despite the inactivity of several key players. Their ranged and calvary game has also stayed the same, with no real additions or subtractions. Sota, Rurin, Sikici and Can are all fantastic at what they do. My only area of concern is activity and dedication, and so until the tournament begins and any activity issues, or lack thereof, become apparent, TMW stays third on my rankings.
4.) Wappaw is an interesting case. I feel like I'm parroting what everyone has said, but Wappaw seems to have a ton of talent, just never the ability to pull it together. Some good overall players in their mix like Pizza but no one who has really put them over the edge. It was a close call between Wappaw and FTA, but Wappaw having been active these past few months whilst Balion and some of HB has haven't been should give them the edge and secure them the fourth spot.
5.) HB/Balion could either be totally sick or crash and burn pretty quick. I doubt it will be the latter, so I'll stick them at a comfortable 5. Any team with the likes of Mad Dawg, Zero, Pheonix and Ordyn working together should be more than capable of winning the majority of their matches. The biggest question in my mind, then, is whether they will be able to get comfortable enough with each other and win some of their tougher matches. I don't doubt that they have the skill, I just need to see them in action before I put them anywhere above 5.
6.) My wonderful friends in TSC will have a good tournament, but won't be in the top 5 barring a surprise. They've got some skill no doubt, but SF never really impressed in tournaments and seeing as this is basically a continuation of SF, I'll give them about the same ranking. Here's hoping that their ultra hard core rivalry with tK becomes even bigger this tournament. The scene can always use more drama.
7.) Nobody can say for sure how WTTM will fare this season. Our second team always seems to have a different look and this season will be no different. An influx of former Wolfpack players has given WTTM a number of very good players to work with. I just hope they take full advantage of that.
8.) The MoB will be a solid team, but not one that stands out above the rest. Their leadership is great, but I worry about the level of commitment and activity from the rest of the team. MoB has the potential to be good, it's just a matter of how much the individuals want it.
9.) DoF, much like MoB, is a team hampered by what I think is a lack of individual commitment. It takes a lot to win, even in a community as small as ours. But, DoF has their share of decent players, but to my mind no stand outs. They could very well place higher or lower depending on any number of factors, but for now, 9 seems like a good spot for them.
10.) Having played them a few times, I can say that tK is a good team that needs to work on their focus. They have some great individual talent, probably the best among the bottom 5 teams listed here, but individual talent means nothing if not used for the betterment of the group. If your Calvary try to take on the world and die, they're useless. If your infantry get themselves into un-winnable fights, they're useless. If your archers are constantly out of the fights or die early, they're useless. If tK can learn to focus and work together, they'll be a fantastic new team.
11.) I've seen next to nothing from the VL. I'll watch them with keenly and I hope that they'll bring something new and exciting to the table.
12.) TFM, GK's second team, these guys are in for a (hopefully) fun learning experience. Beyond that, I can't say whether they'll do well or become a train wreck.
13.) PoN has, in the past, been forced to drop out of tournaments due to inactivity. With another small roster this time around, I can only hope they begin to put some time into their matches.
2.) KoA
3.) TMW
4.) Wappaw
5.) Balion/HB
6.) TSC
7.) WTTM
8.) MoB
9.) DoF
10.) tK
11.) VL
12.) TFM
13.) PON
REASONINGS
1.) Coming in at number one for me is wK. Despite finishing 3rd this past season, they look like strong contenders for the gold in UNAC 4. With well known players filling in all their key positions and becoming more active in the months preceding UNAC 4, they'll be ready to rock right out of the gate. This, combined with the fact that they have a record of success in recent tournaments, makes them in my mind an obvious choice to take the first seed.
2.) After surprising a ton of people this past tournament with a victory over wK in the semi finals, KoA will continue to impress. Leading the way for them is a very strong range group, with the likes of John, Rhadaghast and Fatso being a difficult trio to contain, and right behind them is a steadily improving infantry group. The main area of concern looks to be their Cavalry. While, Cru & Brave may be good, having only 1 or 2 calvary to rely on will make things tough for them in certain matches. All that considered, I'm pegging them at 2.
3.) With their 2nd championship title coming last season, TMW is in good shape looking towards the future. Historically strong in the infantry category, TMW should still maintain it's hold in this area despite the inactivity of several key players. Their ranged and calvary game has also stayed the same, with no real additions or subtractions. Sota, Rurin, Sikici and Can are all fantastic at what they do. My only area of concern is activity and dedication, and so until the tournament begins and any activity issues, or lack thereof, become apparent, TMW stays third on my rankings.
4.) Wappaw is an interesting case. I feel like I'm parroting what everyone has said, but Wappaw seems to have a ton of talent, just never the ability to pull it together. Some good overall players in their mix like Pizza but no one who has really put them over the edge. It was a close call between Wappaw and FTA, but Wappaw having been active these past few months whilst Balion and some of HB has haven't been should give them the edge and secure them the fourth spot.
5.) HB/Balion could either be totally sick or crash and burn pretty quick. I doubt it will be the latter, so I'll stick them at a comfortable 5. Any team with the likes of Mad Dawg, Zero, Pheonix and Ordyn working together should be more than capable of winning the majority of their matches. The biggest question in my mind, then, is whether they will be able to get comfortable enough with each other and win some of their tougher matches. I don't doubt that they have the skill, I just need to see them in action before I put them anywhere above 5.
6.) My wonderful friends in TSC will have a good tournament, but won't be in the top 5 barring a surprise. They've got some skill no doubt, but SF never really impressed in tournaments and seeing as this is basically a continuation of SF, I'll give them about the same ranking. Here's hoping that their ultra hard core rivalry with tK becomes even bigger this tournament. The scene can always use more drama.
7.) Nobody can say for sure how WTTM will fare this season. Our second team always seems to have a different look and this season will be no different. An influx of former Wolfpack players has given WTTM a number of very good players to work with. I just hope they take full advantage of that.
8.) The MoB will be a solid team, but not one that stands out above the rest. Their leadership is great, but I worry about the level of commitment and activity from the rest of the team. MoB has the potential to be good, it's just a matter of how much the individuals want it.
9.) DoF, much like MoB, is a team hampered by what I think is a lack of individual commitment. It takes a lot to win, even in a community as small as ours. But, DoF has their share of decent players, but to my mind no stand outs. They could very well place higher or lower depending on any number of factors, but for now, 9 seems like a good spot for them.
10.) Having played them a few times, I can say that tK is a good team that needs to work on their focus. They have some great individual talent, probably the best among the bottom 5 teams listed here, but individual talent means nothing if not used for the betterment of the group. If your Calvary try to take on the world and die, they're useless. If your infantry get themselves into un-winnable fights, they're useless. If your archers are constantly out of the fights or die early, they're useless. If tK can learn to focus and work together, they'll be a fantastic new team.
11.) I've seen next to nothing from the VL. I'll watch them with keenly and I hope that they'll bring something new and exciting to the table.
12.) TFM, GK's second team, these guys are in for a (hopefully) fun learning experience. Beyond that, I can't say whether they'll do well or become a train wreck.
13.) PoN has, in the past, been forced to drop out of tournaments due to inactivity. With another small roster this time around, I can only hope they begin to put some time into their matches.
TMW
Rank: 1
REASONING: Their strong inf, cav and ranged play combined with Sota's sometimes unorthodox calling gives TMW a strong overall team.
West Knights
Rank: 2
REASONING: Solid team that seems to be almost invincible when they are playing well together. When things are down to the wire though, we see some of their newer cav fall off a bit. (Boogy and Vinny in the Semis against KoA for example.)
KoA
Rank: 3
REASONING: The newer shorter tourneys seem to be the biggest factor in KoAs success. They've always had talented teams, but they never seemed to last a whole tourney. KoAs depth on ranged and cav are great and make up for a lack of great inf players.
Wappaw
Rank: 4
REASONING: How well Wappaw does depends a lot on how many of their cav shows up to a given match. Cav dominance plays a key role in wins – Redknight, Blade, Black, Rox, Mar and others will be important.
From the Ashes
Rank: 5
REASONING: No cav mains between the two clans comprising FtA really tells the story. They have Unix and Mad Dawg who are both good cav, even if they rarely play closed map cav. FtA potentially have a real ranged threat between Chewy, Phoenix, Peasant, Zero, etc.
MoB
Rank: 6
REASONING: GK's first team has been together for a while now. Solid ranged in Marquis and Sparhawk will be needed to make up for the lack of solid inf.
DoF
Rank: 6
REASONING: I've been seeing more DoFs on POM recently than I've seen since before DW broke off. DoFs cav looks better than I remember as well.
tK
Rank: 6
REASONING: Super active, always scrimming, always looking to improve. I like these guys and think they could go far if they can get some issues under control.
TSB
Rank: 9
REASONING: Something is missing to bring TSB/SF together. There are times SF/TSB looks good in scrims, and times they do poorly. I feel like as a closed map team they are strong, with the change to no real open maps anymore, it might be a buff to their overall performance.
WTTM
Rank: 9
REASONING: Based on MTWs performance last season, and the heavy reliance on Euros, I don't see WTTM doing well this season.
VL
Rank: 9
REASONING: Haven't seen any scrims or anything really from VL. The few times I see someone with VL tags on they seem to be doing average at best on POM.
TFM
Rank: 12
REASONING: TFM have some very solid players on their roster – Zaffa, LockedOut, etc. Aside from those players, I don't recognize many names from POM, leading me to believe that this team is built on a less than sturdy foundation.
PoN
Rank: 13
REASONING: I'm not up to date with how PoN is doing at the moment, but I see Winnie becoming solid inf on POM.
Rank: 1
REASONING: Their strong inf, cav and ranged play combined with Sota's sometimes unorthodox calling gives TMW a strong overall team.
West Knights
Rank: 2
REASONING: Solid team that seems to be almost invincible when they are playing well together. When things are down to the wire though, we see some of their newer cav fall off a bit. (Boogy and Vinny in the Semis against KoA for example.)
KoA
Rank: 3
REASONING: The newer shorter tourneys seem to be the biggest factor in KoAs success. They've always had talented teams, but they never seemed to last a whole tourney. KoAs depth on ranged and cav are great and make up for a lack of great inf players.
Wappaw
Rank: 4
REASONING: How well Wappaw does depends a lot on how many of their cav shows up to a given match. Cav dominance plays a key role in wins – Redknight, Blade, Black, Rox, Mar and others will be important.
From the Ashes
Rank: 5
REASONING: No cav mains between the two clans comprising FtA really tells the story. They have Unix and Mad Dawg who are both good cav, even if they rarely play closed map cav. FtA potentially have a real ranged threat between Chewy, Phoenix, Peasant, Zero, etc.
MoB
Rank: 6
REASONING: GK's first team has been together for a while now. Solid ranged in Marquis and Sparhawk will be needed to make up for the lack of solid inf.
DoF
Rank: 6
REASONING: I've been seeing more DoFs on POM recently than I've seen since before DW broke off. DoFs cav looks better than I remember as well.
tK
Rank: 6
REASONING: Super active, always scrimming, always looking to improve. I like these guys and think they could go far if they can get some issues under control.
TSB
Rank: 9
REASONING: Something is missing to bring TSB/SF together. There are times SF/TSB looks good in scrims, and times they do poorly. I feel like as a closed map team they are strong, with the change to no real open maps anymore, it might be a buff to their overall performance.
WTTM
Rank: 9
REASONING: Based on MTWs performance last season, and the heavy reliance on Euros, I don't see WTTM doing well this season.
VL
Rank: 9
REASONING: Haven't seen any scrims or anything really from VL. The few times I see someone with VL tags on they seem to be doing average at best on POM.
TFM
Rank: 12
REASONING: TFM have some very solid players on their roster – Zaffa, LockedOut, etc. Aside from those players, I don't recognize many names from POM, leading me to believe that this team is built on a less than sturdy foundation.
PoN
Rank: 13
REASONING: I'm not up to date with how PoN is doing at the moment, but I see Winnie becoming solid inf on POM.
Credit: Special thanks to Gelden for the idea!
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