RTS-League: Clan Leagues for Strategy Gamers

Well, how about some clan team game fighting after all the 1v1 and 2v2 not only smurf tournaments? Seems like a good time to kick off yet another great season of RTS League's Age of Mythology: The Titans Clan League, with the number 31 already! Collect your friends from all the corners of the world and sign up for the next installment of the popular community competition where all that matters is to have good fun and some competitive games, and then, if you happen to be the best, hoist the prestigious Banners above your virtual heads! (Or real ones if you print them out to hang on your wall... :d)

Just want to also mention sorry for the delay in starting, we know you have been clamouring for the start for some time, we wanted to begin a lot earlier ourselves, but things happened, with the web mainly, but also others, for example in the world, and when we wanted to give it a go through our Discord, we were on the path to web fixing already, so yeah, here we are Sorry again, hopefully it won't affect your fun with the season, and on the plus side, you'll be able to enjoy everything you're used to from the past.

Because we know a lot of you are properly ready for the fights, the sign-ups will last only a week to get going asap, so careful with that, we'll try to contact clans as well if we see someone relevant missing.

Due to the world situation also, please, please make sure you can finish the whole season when you sign up - RTS League is usually up to a 3-month affair, so in case your home confinement is looking to be lifted, as has already started in some countries, or rather other sources of non-home, non-AoM entertainment are going to get more reachable, and maybe preferable for you, make sure you take this into consideration so that we don't have drop or other activity problem situations during the Season - thanks a lot and hope everything is going fine for you and your close ones. (This was also something of a concern for an earlier start, so hopefully now many of you have a clearer idea).

News for Season 31

1) Obviously we'll be using the latest Voobly Balance Patch 4.0.

2) New maps introduced in Bill Gregg Open Tournament are now available as free home map choices and will be joining our large roster of other maps - Arctic Craters, Borderlands, Drenched River, Fields of Punishment, Lumber Camp, Moat, Tropical Mirage. Be aware some of them may not be spawning up to the standard Balance Patch quality levels, at the same time they shouldn't be wildly different from the original, non-standard spawns like Megalopolis or Team Migration, etc., but since they were widely introduced to the community and they're fairly standard, why not use them as well to properly test them in competitive team game setting.

3) Co-clans become a thing - last season we already offered that option to solve a certain situation, so we thought immediately back then why not make it a thing for the next season from the beginning as it makes sense in the current climate.

What does this mean? It means that if there are two clans, neither of which could play in the League on its own due to lack of active players, they can sign up together as one entity if that would mean they would reach the requirement of activity then. This is meant to help with certain situations that happen in this old community when you have an old clan with just few players remaining active now, you would like to play, but you just cannot do it on your own and Guest Players per our Rules would not make it. If there is then another clan in a similar situation, you can join up, and play together in whatever player combinations you want as a normal clan would.

This is not meant to circumvent Guest Player Rules, we will keep an eye on that, so don't even try it, this is meant to help keep the clan spirit alive in the community, as even small clans are still clans, especially when they have history they cherish, and clans are the backbone of the community. Hope this helps.

If you want to use this option, please before you sign up, contact us with the explanation of the situation and why you want to do it, so that we can go through it if it makes sense and fits the purpose of this novelty to avoid some unpleasantness from misunderstandings, we know how this community can be.

4) Every clan's Clan Operator is required to join RTS League's Discord to be easier available for contact - scheduling is still expected to happen here on the forum because it's just better for organisation and following what's going on, but we'd like to give more reliable options for contact besides the elusive "let's talk on Voobly" for various cases you all know can happen.

If you have more than 1 Clan Operator, at least 1 needs to be available on the Discord, preferably the active one... :d

Rules changes will probably take some time to get reflected on the web, so this post, same as previous season ones, are taken as relevant for the purposes of running the League.

How to Sign Up

To take part in Season 31 and have a chance at the fun (and possibly the Banners ), your clan will need to fit a few conditions to ensure you would be a positive contribution to the League.

First you will need a Clan Operator - the guy/gal representing you in the competition, scheduling your matches with the opponents and communicating with League staffers on your behalf. This person should be reliable, responsible and available regularly, every day if at all possible. Proper and timely communication is the key here. You can, of course, have more than 1 Clan Operator to cover for each other (it's actually recommended, or at least have a designated back-up within your clan)

Then you must have at least 6 active players ready to participate - this is to ensure you are able to complete your matches regularly even if some of your heroes happen to be temporarily unavailable. We are also a clan competition, not team competition, therefore the players need to be your true clan members, not random players you just asked a day before to play with you in RTSL.

Further you need to be familiar with the League rules. Read them carefully, and pay good attention.

And when you've checked all these points and you're ready to join, then again make sure that your clan meets the criteria listed above and within the rules and simply post the following sign-up form (if you're new and need an account first, follow the instructions up top under the menu and we'll get it done). Returning clans need just to confirm the participation, but still re-read the rules, too, to be sure you know everything - ignorance is no excuse. Really not, help save both you and us a headache of potential disputes. We are different from other competitions, for example in no vetoes.

Clan Tag:
Clan Name:
Clan Website:
Number of Active Members:
Clan Operator Nickname and Contact, including Discord ID:
Clan Leader Nickname and Contact:
Clan Operator has read the rules and agrees to them:

B(C, etc.)-teams need to supply their complete roster with the application as well to allow us to gauge their strength so that we know where to seed them. Please also pay special attention to the guidelines on Guest Players found in Rule 4 - you need to list them as well to allow us to properly seed the clans.

Please sign your clan up only if you seriously want to take part in the League, do not sign up inactive or fake clans or clans with too few players to actually meaningfully compete. Clans that drop out during the season will be excluded from the next one/s.

If you have a specific clan situation, e.g. you'd like to play as a joint clan since neither of you can form a proper sign-up, but together it would work, or anything else, let us know and talk to us about it so that we can figure it out - we're not in the business of denying participants if there's a good reason to let you play and have fun, without spoiling the fun for others (that's important).

Sign-ups will be closed on Sunday 7th June, we'll do our best to start Season 31 on the following week, but sometimes it can take a bit as we need to ensure every participant is ready to play by the rules.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me (Black Adder) or ChronoJJ.

Looking forward to having you in the League, and spread the word - the more clans, the more fun for everyone!

You can check the games played in RTS League at the RTS League's Replays Archive or in the dedicated forum at RTS-Sanctuary where you can also discuss them. Visit our YouTube channel for previously streamed League matches to enjoy the games with insightful commentary or see them through the eyes of players the likes of Spoeft and IKill_UDie or PLAYER, and be sure to follow our Twitch for regular live streaming of RTS League battles.

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Look Back at Season 30 - How F2 Took the Win

At the dawn of Autumn, our anniversary 30th Season of RTS League's Age of Mythology: The Titans Clan League saw its final battle for the lords of the Age of Mythology community - if you're not sure how that came to be or want to reminisce on the progress or refresh your participation memories, read on, we have a short summary ready for you that will make it clear why the winners deserve their Title.

Group Stage

Dividing the clans and their teams into the Divisions was from the start a bit contentious, as there clearly were more favourites for Playoffs than planned spots. This also made the fight a lot more important and intense, and no one could really let off and risk worse advance position.

Both Divisions in the end had undisputed leaders managing to not lose a single game, however difficult and kind of "playoff-worthy" that was - Fade2 had to beat extremely strong TheUnCrapAbles - Lizards, the A team, stacked with known names from the community games that often show extraordinary performance, but they themselves are multiple-times RTS League Champions, so it's not entirely surprising they did manage, even with a deeper line-up - that was clearly their strong point this Season, allowing them to react to opponents' picks and use various gods' mains.

On the other hand, in Division 1, the result was probably a bit of a surprise, as not many exactly expected 2k for jesus to dominate the way they did after their strained line-up activity, and leave confident Deities of Death behind. Just speaks to their individual qualities that they can come so strong from their opponents' left field. Notable performance here certainly came also from the other TheUnCrapAbles team, the Owls, who even contended with DoD for the second spot after tying with them, which nobody really expected.

A high point of the group stage was certainly the presence of many EE players also lately playing on Voobly, joining the competitive community, whose clans have shown quite some promise and made the fights and results interesting - AllTimeBest and Straight Outta EE. It's quite nice to see the communities connect and enjoy their time in a common competition, as is becoming a standard.

And as has been said at the start, all the other clans made an impact on the Season as well with their skill, and pretty much every game mattered as far as getting points for advance - especially third spots were pretty close and certainly not clear, with Organization of Natural Uppers and Gladiadores del Mythology always having something to say to the other clans in these matters, now with TheWalker Team joining their ranks as well. Them, WKT, together with Team Mystic, could probably make even more of an impact if they could ensure more stable showings, which might be costing them a few points. Even DoD|B's game taken from ATB came dangerously close to actually decide the Playoff participants - literally every game mattered and matters, and everyone has a chance to affect the Season's outcome.

Find all the streamed games on our YouTube or Twitch and recs in our archive (Voobly Balance Patch 3.0 required)

Playoffs

When the dust settled, JSS and F2 sitting in the saddle of a pretty high horse called Semifinals, Quarterfinals featured curious clashes that could easily go wrong for the favourites - ONU are known to be able to play special maps and cause upsets, so Deities of Death had to be careful and prepared, and that they were - the games in the end proved to be rather straightforward and DoD looked determined to succeed this Season, more than in the previous ones. At the same time the other Quarterfinals, the duel between two animalistic teams of TheUnCrapAbles, was an open battle where not many dared to guess what exactly is going to happen. These inter-clan matches are always tricky from so many standpoints, and it didn't change here, as the games proved to be intensely fought and no one gave their clan mates any quarters (heh, pun not intended, but welcome :d) - the match was just a prelude to what was going to come between the best of the best.

In the Semifinals, known firms had another meet-up - with another epic conclusion. With pre-set Megalopolis starting it off, both clashes provided epics right at the start, and we knew the right clans got into the right positions. These games were also curiously similar between the matches, signaling players watch and learn from their competitors, exactly as it should be. From here on though, the similarities kind of ended, but we have still seen very unusual games - curious strat on Medit from UCA, then a close call on WH with brave push supported by line-up change from JSS, while in the other Semifinal, players fought literally to the death, playing on Deities of Death's River Styx snaking through the Underworld, showcasing one of the most special games in a long time, and then continuing with well-prepared strats on the following maps exchanging wins with decider needed.

Find all the streamed games on our YouTube or Twitch and recs in our archive (Voobly Balance Patch 3.0 required)

Grand Finals

This all led to a clash everyone was expecting and looking forward, between Fade2 and TheUnCrapAbles - Lizards, a re from the group stage where F2 won 2:0.

Start was appropriately fun on pre-set Team Migration, with both clans having different, yet fun ideas how to approach the map, while the next game also provided a fun moment, though not for the players in action - mistakes happen :d And they cost at such high stakes. When the home maps were done with yet another signature performance on Medit guess by whom, second pre-set Frozen Wastes tied the match with a close battle that was not too far away from going the other way - but at least we learnt/saw in action Mountain Giant the Tower Destroyer - they're really good at crushing buildings. This then required the Decider with capital D, which ended up on the same map which UCA chose before, and we had another open, aggressive game on our hands - with a bit early set pace as to its progress due to an early tactical decision. Every thing matters in top level play.

When the hooves quieted down, swords stopped singing and blood started to dry up, we had the honour of talking to the clan that prevailed through all the hardships of the Season and overcame every obstacle and other clan - the deserved Champions of RTS League's Age of Mythology: The Titans Clan League Season 30 are:



The Finalists, 1 game away from Triumph:



Watch the Grand Finals commentated stream on the RTS League Channel

Download Grand Final recs (Voobly Balance Patch 3.0 required)

Bronze Banner then goes to a clan that cannot get any more staple than they already are in the community, after yet another good season:



League Cup

But as always, that wasn't all - parallel with Playoffs, the competition for non-participants took place and clans and teams had another chance to leave their mark on the Season. All four clans gave it their all and we had another batch of quality games, with TheWalker Team and Gladiadores del Mythology meeting in the Finals - WKT had an intense battle in Semifinals against AllTimeBest, confirming both clans' strong position and potential, and maybe that gave them the edge and confidence to then also claim the lone Blood-Red Banner - though it still took a long battle to overcome GDM, their fierce opponents.



Download League Cup Finals recs - Game 1,Game 2

Fair Play

And what would a Season be without traditional Fair Play Awards for the most fun clan to play with - as awarded by the participating clans themselves, these are the final standings, with Fade2 taking the double prize:



F2 9.0
ATB 8.6
UCA Owls 8.6
UCA Lizards 8.2
DoD|B 8.0
GDM 8.0
SOEE 7.8
WKT|B 7.8
DoD 7.6
JSS 6.7
WKT 6.3
TM|B 5.9
ONU 5.7
TM 5.0

Congratulations to all successful clans and thank you very, very much to everyone participating - without you, we wouldn't have such a good competition going in the community! Hope to see you all, and maybe some new faces (hopefully) in the next one

Follow us:

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Would You Like to Get Involved and Help Us and the Community?

We're always on the lookout for engaged players, new active staffers can help us run the competitions better, artistically gifted people would make things nicer, technical skillers could make our web and services to the community so much better!

If you think you can help, give us a hit (don't forget to change the addressee nick to Black Adder, or contact us another way) and we can talk it through, we would especially be super-glad for assistance with the web, as we're sure you can see for yourself

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Support Us and Help Us Host More Competitions for You

If you enjoy what we do for the community and you, the players, and would like to assist us in moving things ahead more materiastically, we would be glad for any donation or patronage we could use to push RTS League forward - we would like to do more!

About us:
RTS League is the foremost and longest running "Age of" clan competition ever, with a history of hosting numerous other strategy games (like StarCraft II, Empire Earth, and Dawn of War) in the past. Fun and friendliness are the prominent aspects of RTS League, with the unquestionable prestige and fame the triumph brings to the top finishing clans following close behind.

Last edited by Black Adder (2020-06-03 15:07:28)