Today my opinion changed when I read Dev postings stating the rules were intentionally left vague and the actions Hydra and Outbreak took on Sisi aren't against the rules but everyone should be careful just in case.

Now I believe CCP wasn't protecting the spirit of the tournament, rather they were simply not willing to man up and just ban Hydra and Outbreak for last year's actions. CCP deliberately created rules which could be interpreted several different ways by the player base, CCP seemed to ignore requests for clarification from Hydra and Outbreak while reaching out to other Alliances, and then we are told the reason Hydra and Outbreak were banned isn't actually against the rules.

I don't pirate, don't care for drama or tears

if you had read the other posts you would see what i was talking about

They did explain comprehensively, reply to queries politely and issue I think two detailed clarifications.

The whole issue is about timely and appropriate communications to avert anything that might compromise the quality of the tournament. Something the ATX team vowed to do this year with the new rules.

Outbreak and Hydra have shown that they tried to get clarification on what they thought were vague. And after reading those mails I cant see how they were anything short of wanting to be fully co-operative. The ATX team did not act on those to avert anything for whatever reasons they may have had. Then without warning or appropriatley recognised communications between the 3 parties ban them both. Fair enough this sets the bar rather high for further rulings, they mean buisness this time!!

This now brings up the question of why weren't RVB allowed to, in a similar fashion, just be ignored and allowed to fall foul and be removed from the torunament. Why initiate a special dispensation for one group and not another? They would have fallen foul of two rules, Possible colluding and stacking the dec.

PL without a doubt were the Main Alliance of their two entries and fell foul of the stacking the dec rule yet the Main alliance was not removed. As stated in the same rule set which on one hand with one group they want to enforce vigorously and yet with others are so lenient.

PL command alot of respect for what they have achieved in pervious AT's and bring alot of interest to the table and rightfully so. So I have to agree with this special dispensation.

Other teams are still seeking clarifications for fear of the same fete as Hydra/Break. The ATX team have since admitted that the rules were vague on purpose.

It seems you need a super natural ability to communicate with or comprehend the ATX team this year and their "feelings" is what seems to be the main theme in this years rules.

"General consensus" in this case means "a few Hydra/Outbreak alts"?

Cool story bro. Prove it.

"General consensus" in this case means "a few Hydra/Outbreak alts"?

I'm not one for the politics of Eve. I don't pirate, don't care for drama or tears, and I don't normally get involved in the "metagame". I just log in when I'm not deployed and enjoy spending time with friends and flying around doing fun stuff.

Last year I heard about the AT on Eve Radio and I gave it a look. I have to admit I really enjoyed the fights and the theorycraft involved in coming up with team configurations. I was really looking forward to this years competition since I understood more about what would happen and could actually follow the fights.

Then I see a blog post about CCP banning last years winners. Something I can't blame them for doing as the entire tournament last year ended on a bad note with the laughable last match. I read the initial posts about the ban, posts which have now been pulled down, and I thought CCP had a pretty valid reason behind their justification. As I've pointed out in my blog CCP seemed to be protecting the spirit of the tournament while not exactly enforcing the letter of the rules. While somewhat dubious in nature I could understand the logic behind CCP's actions.

Today my opinion changed when I read Dev postings stating the rules were intentionally left vague and the actions Hydra and Outbreak took on Sisi aren't against the rules but everyone should be careful just in case.

Now I believe CCP wasn't protecting the spirit of the tournament, rather they were simply not willing to man up and just ban Hydra and Outbreak for last year's actions. CCP deliberately created rules which could be interpreted several different ways by the player base, CCP seemed to ignore requests for clarification from Hydra and Outbreak while reaching out to other Alliances, and then we are told the reason Hydra and Outbreak were banned isn't actually against the rules.

I have no idea why CCP didn't just HTFU and tell Hydra and Outbreak they were banned because they made a joke out of the final match last year. Simple, concise and no drama. Give participants a warning that every match must be contested or you'll get kicked out of the tournament and not be allowed to enter next year.

Instead we get vague rules, removed posts, insulting replies from both CCP and the players, and in the end the AT feels tainted without a single shot being fired.

In a game that touts itself as rough and tumble, no holds barred, not for the faint of heart, I can't figure out why CCP has seemly gone out of it's way to try and look like a good guy when simply taking the bull by the horns would have avoided all manner of ill feelings.

"General consensus" in this case means "a few Hydra/Outbreak alts"?

Apparently only Hydra and Outbreak were confused The rest of us understand perfectly

This is getting so pathetic.

I'm not one for the politics of Eve. I don't pirate, don't care for drama or tears, and I don't normally get involved in the "metagame". I just log in when I'm not deployed and enjoy spending time with friends and flying around doing fun stuff.

Last year I heard about the AT on Eve Radio and I gave it a look. I have to admit I really enjoyed the fights and the theorycraft involved in coming up with team configurations. I was really looking forward to this years competition since I understood more about what would happen and could actually follow the fights.

Then I see a blog post about CCP banning last years winners. Something I can't blame them for doing as the entire tournament last year ended on a bad note with the laughable last match. I read the initial posts about the ban, posts which have now been pulled down, and I thought CCP had a pretty valid reason behind their justification. As I've pointed out in my blog CCP seemed to be protecting the spirit of the tournament while not exactly enforcing the letter of the rules. While somewhat dubious in nature I could understand the logic behind CCP's actions.

Today my opinion changed when I read Dev postings stating the rules were intentionally left vague and the actions Hydra and Outbreak took on Sisi aren't against the rules but everyone should be careful just in case.

Now I believe CCP wasn't protecting the spirit of the tournament, rather they were simply not willing to man up and just ban Hydra and Outbreak for last year's actions. CCP deliberately created rules which could be interpreted several different ways by the player base, CCP seemed to ignore requests for clarification from Hydra and Outbreak while reaching out to other Alliances, and then we are told the reason Hydra and Outbreak were banned isn't actually against the rules.

I have no idea why CCP didn't just HTFU and tell Hydra and Outbreak they were banned because they made a joke out of the final match last year. Simple, concise and no drama. Give participants a warning that every match must be contested or you'll get kicked out of the tournament and not be allowed to enter next year.

Instead we get vague rules, removed posts, insulting replies from both CCP and the players, and in the end the AT feels tainted without a single shot being fired.

In a game that touts itself as rough and tumble, no holds barred, not for the faint of heart, I can't figure out why CCP has seemly gone out of it's way to try and look like a good guy when simply taking the bull by the horns would have avoided all manner of ill feelings.

This is getting so pathetic.

"General consensus" in this case means "a few Hydra/Outbreak alts"?

This is getting so pathetic.