Warrior Clan Cats
The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Sleepy
Clan/Rank : RiverClan
 
Number of posts : 9738
Age : 25
| | Subject: United States Quidditch League Mon 11 Sep 2017 - 13:51 | |
| U S Q L est. 1898
Welcome all witches, wizards, and Quidditch fanatics from California to Ilvermorny, to all-new American Quidditch! This is your commentator Rowan Swivenhodge reporting from our Salem headquarters, where we cover the USQL each week, every week, and give you the highlights and in-depth analysis you oh-so-desperately crave. The wizarding world of sports is absolutely buzzing as we close in on the start of the USQL's inaugural season. Let's refresh and cover the rules, the players, and the league from the ground up. How is Quidditch played?
Two teams compete on a standards-compliant Quidditch pitch, which is five hundred feet long and one hundred and eight feet wide. There are three hoops at different heights on each end of the pitch, which makes six in total. Teams score against each other by throwing the Quaffle through their opponent's hoops. Each goal is worth ten points each.
The goal of the game is to finish the match with more points than the other team; games end when the Golden Snitch is caught by a team's Seeker, or the two team captains come to a mutual agreement. Games may go on for days, weeks, or even months, but this is usually rare.
Each team consists of seven players at four positions. Three Chasers attempt to score goals and keep possession of the Quaffle. Two Beaters protect the Chasers with wooden clubs by knocking away Bludgers (ideally back toward the other team). One Keeper protects the hoops and tries to prevent the other team's Chasers from scoring. One Seeker chases the Golden Snitch. Players all ride USQL-approved broomsticks.
There are always four balls in play (out of three different types). These are the scarlet Quaffle, which is used to score goals, the two iron Bludgers, which fly around attempting to knock players off their brooms, and the golden Snitch, which is chased by the Seeker and will end the game when caught. Catching the Golden Snitch is worth one hundred and fifty points and will end the game.
Players may not leave the pitch boundaries; the Quaffle will be surrendered to the other team if this occurs. However, players may fly as high as desired. Time outs may be called by the team captain at any time, and time outs may be extended to two hours if the game has already been played for twelve hours. Failure to return to the pitch after time out ends will result in ejection. Contact is allowed, but players may not lay hands on other players or their broomsticks. Players cannot be substituted, even in the event of injury. Wands may be taken out onto the pitch, but magic cannot be used against any other player, at the penalty of immediate ejection.
How is the USQL structured?
Fifty teams compete each season to earn Morrigan's Cup, an enchanted goblet which is passed from champion to champion each year. Morrigan's Cup acts as a pensieve, and it is tradition for the winning team's captain to immerse themselves into the memories of previous champions, letting them relive their moments of jubilant triumph, and to leave their own greatest memory of the winning season in the pensieve for future champions.
At the start of each season, the entire league is sorted into ten groups, with five teams in each group. Wins earn teams three points, draws earn teams one point, while losses earn no points. Each team faces every other team in their group once. At the end of this group stage, the top three teams in each group (those with the most points) will advance to the knockout stages, which is a single elimination tournament. The top two seeded advancing teams will skip the first round with a bye. The winner of this tournament will ultimately become that season's champion, and their city will become the new host of Morrigan's Cup until the next year.
Groups are determined by the team's record the previous year.
Okay, but what exactly is this?
This is all a big simulation I'm putting on for the entertainment of the masses (see: I hate myself). Each team has seven players and players have four attributes—power, speed, finesse, and sensory. These attributes determine how well they play at their position by acting as multipliers, and are values from 1 to 5. These values are randomly generated when a player is drafted. Without getting into all the details, during a game, these attributes will influence (but not wholly determine) how well a player did, which will contribute to their overall score. Good players can have bad games and bad players can have good games. Team with the greatest score wins, these wins are reflected in the standings. Simple.
Another important modifier is a player's broom. Better models will serve as better modifiers to a player's stats (e.g. +1 to +4). More on that in the next section.
There will be a brief summary of every game, week to week, covering the best highlights, biggest fails, scandals, gossip, and other happenings around the league. This is a living storytelling medium that will cover generations and generations of American Quidditch.
Where do spectators come in?
You, my good friends, don't have to worry about the nitty-gritty numbers. That's all behind the scenes. You are fans and sponsors. What does that mean for you? Well, you cheer, and every season, you can pump sickles and galleons into your favorite team, buying players better brooms, which will give them more of a competitive edge against their opponents. American Quidditch is that kind of sport, you see.
How do you contribute this way? At the start of every season, there's going to be a popularity poll with all fifty teams in the league. Cast your vote for your favorite. All teams that get at least one vote will receive an allocation of funds, and teams with the most votes will get a bigger piece of the pie, capiche? Teams with zero fan support get zip.
You can also help me with player creation, which will be a separate thread. There's a ton of Harry Potter sounding names I have to come up with, and I'm only one guy. Help give me names. In essence, turn your OCs into Quidditch players.
Last edited by Sleepy on Fri 15 Sep 2017 - 10:50; edited 4 times in total |
| | | | Sleepy
Clan/Rank : RiverClan
Number of posts : 9738
Age : 25
| | Subject: Re: United States Quidditch League Mon 11 Sep 2017 - 15:30 | |
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Last edited by Sleepy on Tue 19 Sep 2017 - 15:04; edited 1 time in total |
| | | | Sleepy
Clan/Rank : RiverClan
Number of posts : 9738
Age : 25
| | Subject: Re: United States Quidditch League Fri 15 Sep 2017 - 11:47 | |
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Last edited by Sleepy on Sun 24 Sep 2017 - 8:08; edited 3 times in total |
| | | | Sleepy
Clan/Rank : RiverClan
Number of posts : 9738
Age : 25
| | Subject: Re: United States Quidditch League Sun 17 Sep 2017 - 14:14 | |
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Last edited by Sleepy on Fri 22 Sep 2017 - 11:38; edited 4 times in total |
| | | | Sleepy
Clan/Rank : RiverClan
Number of posts : 9738
Age : 25
| | Subject: Re: United States Quidditch League Thu 21 Sep 2017 - 11:05 | |
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| | | | Sleepy
Clan/Rank : RiverClan
Number of posts : 9738
Age : 25
| | Subject: Re: United States Quidditch League Fri 22 Sep 2017 - 11:23 | |
| Season Preview Hello, Quidditch fans! This is Rowan Swivenhodge reporting from Salem, and there are really no words to describe the historic excitement building here as we approach our first week of the USQL's inaugural season. Even our Quick-Quotes Quill is speechless! League Commissioner Seneca Stichstock gave a press conference today where he elaborated on the sweat, toil, and many many many years that has gone into building his dream—and America's dream!—of a United States Quidditch League. As per The Salem Snitch, he said:
"It is my greatest honor and privilege that I am blessed with the opportunity to fulfill my dream and present my vision to you. Myself and my colleagues have long dreamed about a day where wizards and witches right here in America could have teams to call their own, and thanks to your support, that day has finally come. We hope to build an institution that will provide role models for our children, unite American wizards in their love for Quidditch and pride in their cities, and feed a voracious passion for wizarding sports that is unmatched by the Old World. Thank you so much for joining me on this incredible journey, that hopefully, one day, will be something in common we share with our children, grandchildren, and great-great-great-great-great grandchildren. As long as there is an America, let there be American Quidditch."
Isn't that sweet? But enough of all the sentimentality, right? We're just as hungry for Quidditch as the rest of you, so let's dive into the hard-hitting analysis you've been craving and take a look at the league leading into Week 1.
In Group A, Aramis Sabine (PHI - C) leads a solid Philadelphia roster, complimented by the very talented Mia Salamanca (PHI - K) and Shaun Burns (PHI - S). However, the Fireballs will face teams with similar strengths, leaving the final standings up in the air. Rival Seekers Emi Ikehara (ATL - S), Olive Bergdoff (HAR - S), and especially Sonya Song (DOV - S) will all give Burns (PHI - S) a run for the Golden Snitch. Dover captain Pansy Grosnickle (DOV - C) may not be the best flier in her Group, but some pundits think she can lead this Dementors squad well into the knockout stages, even if Dover can't overcome Philadelphia or Atlanta in the standings. Sofia Townsend (JC - K) remains a keen bright spot for Jersey City, although the roster suffers from Reuben Callus' (JC - C) recurring arm injury, which he hurt in an Ilvermorny game against Horned Serpent in 1894. The Hippogriffs, however, may be the most frightening team in Group A, with a lethal triple combination of Aurora Imahara (HAR - C) and Arie Neachtain (HAR - C) at Chaser, Evalina Harrison (HAR - B) at Beater, and the aforementioned Bergdoff (HAR - S) playing Seeker. Adlai Lachapelle (HAR - C) is a veteran flier, whose experience in his Group is only matched by fellow captain Minerva Simoneaux (JC - B) and the decidedly mediocre Samael Raine (DOV - K).
Group B sees strong Richmond and Boston rosters up against somewhat shallower teams. Superstar Ji-Woo Moon (CON - C) will have to carry a diminished Chimaeras squad if Concord has any hopes of advancement, although Marielle Yin (CON - B) and Carmen Trevino (CON - C) both show promise. Baltimore shows similar struggles, but Hecuba Brundidge (BAL - K) and Maria Crane (BAL - C) may be enough to slide into the knockout stages behind the likes of Saria Sophan (RIC - C) and Tally Appelzoller (BOS - C). Basilisks captain Lykos Braune (BOS - K) will be a strong bulwark against enemy Chasers, and Boston should have high expectations for this upcoming season, but there's no telling how much of an impact Braune (BOS - K) will have from the position of Keeper. Many sharp analysts are also warning not to sleep on Charleston—Kerubin Reyes (CHA - C) leads a quietly talented roster that might make some big noise this season by upsetting the teams in Virginia and Massachusetts.
With Group C we have a collection of highly offensive teams, and all of them sharing the same question marks at Seeker. Lily Montgomery (NY - S), Hopsfy Lacroix (CHL - S), Steven Cleveland (PRO - S), Silvius Yung (BUR - S), and even Rutherford Burns (LOU - S) all range from flat out bad to middling at best. This witch, at least, is predicting most of the games in this Group to be shootouts, with the likes of Kaylee MacGowan (LOU - C), Avelina Flint (NY - C), Jean Tyler (CHL- C), Richard Lancaster (BUR - C), and Melia Cormag (PRO-C) at Chaser, among other solid talents, such as William Grock (NY - C) and Emma Stone (CHL - C). Keep an eye out for New York and Louisville—these should be the strongest contenders in the Group regardless of their shared weakness, and they should make big strides in the knockout stages.
What is there to say about Group D that every sports outlet hasn't covered a thousand times? Owls can't seem to stop bringing us bits of gossip about the young and splendidly talented Griselda Griswold (NO - S), the prodigal Queen of Quidditch who should be able to carry an otherwise middle-of-the-road New Orleans team incredible places. And of course, there's the high-octane Jackson offense, an almost all-female squad that will be sure to make a splash in the knockout stages, although Jenny Bagley (JAX - S) is a glaring chink in their armor. Indianapolis also sports a star Seeker of their own, Leopold Thornton (IND - S), who will make up in experience and game sense to try and match what Griswold (NO - S) has in raw talent. Stephen Norwood (IND - C) will be matched against the likes of Abraham Kennedy (NO - C), Naomi Priebus (JAX - C), and Harvey Frost (NAS - C) at Chaser, and will have to work in tandem with Thornton (IND - S) to even the odds against Jackson and New Orleans. Cleveland is almost overshadowed among this kind of company, although Nashville captain Gayle Diggs (NAS - C) will fight tooth and nail to make sure nobody underestimates a spirited Short-Snouts roster.
Onto Group E, the Scourers will be looking to out-fly an elite Little Rock squad led by veteran captain Frederick Meijer (LR - S). While some analysts aren't sure St. Louis has what it takes to top the Lethifolds, Tallulah Ó Taidhg (STL - C) and Leilani Dipper (STL - C) are one of the most exciting duos in Quidditch stretching back to their Ilvermorny rivalry, with Iris Bonesworth's (STL - C) contribution making them a genuine contender for the knockout stages. Chicago sports a decent roster, with young Calia Bijoux (CHI - C) and captain Nick Philips (CHI - C) being of particular interest, but not quite as good as Mobile or Augusta, who will be looking to edge each other out in the race to the knockouts. Ghouls captain Lynn Sawyer (MOB - S) is young and untested, and is set to face serious challenges against Fwooper stars like Tony Rosales (AUG - C), Roland Reed (AUG - C), and rival Seeker Alexander Garrett (AUG - S).
Milwaukee looks set to take Group F, with a deeper roster on paper than their rivals, but observant fans will know not to overlook Des Moines or Detroit in the upcoming match-ups. Erklings Seeker Edward Stark (DM - S) is clearly the top Seeker in a Group full of good Seekers, and the triple threat of Des Moines captain Harwood Graves (DM - B), Philomonia Coolidge (DM - B) and Mortimer Rosario (DM - K) makes this Iowa team a defensive powerhouse. We may be looking at a slugfest in the fight for advancement, as Houston and Miami will also be looking to make their mark, with stars like Briseis Bridges (MIA - B) and Lacey Zoelly (HOU - B) proving they have the tools to take down Group favorites. It's tough to write any of these teams off, and this may be the Group to watch, even if you don't have any personal investment in these teams.
Group G is already looking bloody, and the upcoming clash between Minneapolis and Los Angeles carries early promises of being the best match-up of the season. This Phoenixfeathers team is young, hungry, and eager to dominate, with an incredible passion and energy that is reflected in their zealous fanbase. More seasoned rosters might think of them as upstarts—and maybe they are, and those teams should be worried, because Los Angeles is looking to be unstoppable for years to come. Despite all that, California won't be able to coast to an easy-breezy victory. Juanito Vivas (LA - B) and Leo Yuen (LA - B) have amazing synergy on defense, but the real question is if they're better than their counterparts in Minneapolis, Raymond Badger (MIN - B) and Conrad Arthur (MIN - B). The honest answer to this debate that has fans in California and Minnesota heated? The Malaclaws might just be simply better, with the phenomenal Addison Harper (MIN - K) at Keeper and Elisaie Baird (MIN - C) leading the offense. Los Angeles will have to depend heavily on Dean Starcher (LA - S) to out-fly Perenelle Reddick (MIN - S) throughout the Group Stages if they want to out-muscle Minneapolis in the standings. As for the other teams in this group, none are quite as exciting. Portland is strongest on offense, with Deziree Butts (POR - C), Eoin Phoebe (POR - C), and Eli Quincy (POR - C) at Chaser, and Huntington may turn heads with an all-around decent roster, but it remains doubtful either can top out Minneapolis or Los Angeles. Wichita, unfortunately, remains the odd team out, but Roland Linwood (WIC - K) and Daciana Dalca (WIC - C) may be able to keep the team in contention.
Group H will see a strong Omaha team try and fend off Denver and Fargo, with Sioux Falls entering as a dark horse contender. Las Vegas is a mostly weak roster with the exception of captain Maeve Mallard (LV - B), while her teammates Wilfred Filch (LV - C) and Nina Violett (LV - K) occasionally flirt with decency. While that might be enough to sneak into knockouts in a weaker Group, the Leprechauns simply can't hang among company such as Xander Dong (OMA - C), Annette Bell (OMA - B), Romano Dahl (DEN - C), Eireann Moray (FAR - C), or Romulus Prinsen (SF - B). Denver is extremely strong at Chaser, but the Nifflers are just an altogether better, deeper, and more well-rounded team, with star Chasers of their own, and Omaha Seeker Mercedes Harding (OMA - S) is clearly better than the middling Cole Henry (DEN - S). Fargo is in a similar position, although Fabrizio Lycurgus (FAR - S) may be the only Seeker in the Group capable of threatening Harding (OMA - S) in a duel for the Golden Snitch.
Group I is less clear cut, with no superstar rosters jumping out as clear shoe-ins for advancement, but a handful of skilled players who may singlehandedly decide the standings. We, of course, have to discuss Cheyenne before anyone else, with the up-and-coming Hazel Tuttlemore (CHY - S). As the youngest player in the league, she's made a huge impact on the game as the only Seeker—and player in general—to even closely rival Griswold (NO - S) in talent and pure potential. Tuttlemore (CHY - S), a western girl with No-Maj grandparents, was relatively unknown until she hit the Quidditch pitch in her fourth year at Ilvermorny, a last minute substitution for Wampus Seeker Olive Bergdoff (HAR - S) after she was hit by a rogue Bludger. Her subsequent rivalry and comparisons to Griswold (NO - S) represent deep divides in the New World's wizarding community. Half-blood and pure-blood, Wampus and Horned Serpent, the Deep South's Queen of Quidditch against the pretender from the rural Wyoming Territory, who hails from a line of pioneers and frontier cattle ranchers. But that's getting too deep into politics, and Quidditch, if nothing else, was designed to help distract from such drudgeries. Excluding Tuttlemore (CHY - S), the Hidebehinds are a fragile roster, and would be nothing special without their superstar Seeker, but that may be enough to take Group I. Salt Lake City and Boise will prove to be serious obstacles, with star Chaser Irma Bloomer (SLC - C) and Beater Hal Baker (BOI - B) both leading decent squads, complimented by players such as Malik Eaton (BOI - C) and Naomi Greene (SLC - C). Seattle has a few stars of their own as well, namely Jamie Wessler (SEA - B) and captain Nemo Polk (SEA - C), who won't lie down and let their Group rivals fly all over them. Missoula seems so-so, and it would be fair to write the Manticores off this season as nothing spectacular. Cheyenne's main lifeline will be Tuttlemore (CHY - S), who should be able to fly circles around the Group's other undistinguished Seekers.
Finally, we arrive at Group J, a surprisingly strong collection of teams that makes picking one winner a challenge. Even choosing the top three is difficult, and if any Group were to be decided by tiebreakers, it would be this one. Juneau may be the weakest of the pack, but with captain Cybele Ramsay (JUN - K) at the helm, the Thestrals are nothing to sleep on. Ramsay (JUN - K) will be supported by Margot Carlson (JUN - B) and Craig Firdeal (JUN - S), both decent, although Firdeal (JUN - S) is clearly outclassed by Amadeus Sleete (PHX - S). All of Group J's Seekers will be hard-pressed by the competition, between Bennett Scruggs (OKC - S), Peter Adrianson (ABQ - S), and Ray Burkley (HON - S). Mercy Cloud (HON - B) will try and take Honolulu to the knockouts, but she'll have to top Oklahoma City, Phoenix, and Albuquerque's stacked rosters in the Group Stage to get there. Keep your eye out for the shootouts between the likes of Trevor Madison (OKC - C), Allen Grant (PHX - C), and Faith Hunter (ABQ - C).
That covers our analysis for the Group Stage, but that begs the question you're all wondering... who do you pen in for Morrigan's Cup? In my experience, fans and readers, is that nothing in Quidditch is certain. The tantalizing possibilities are what keep us coming back every year to comb the papers and visit the stands. It's impossible to guess, and even less possible to know what will happen week to week. All we can do is hope and wonder.
This is Rowan Swivenhodge, and next time you'll read this paper, the 1898 season will be in full swing! |
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