The event started out chaotic with a lot of unexplained variables, very little information, and almost no organization; for a brand new and completely unorthodox event, these things are at least understandable if avoidable, but easily corrected in the future.
The clans were uncertain on how to arrange their members in their various sub-clans to reach optimal level on level competition, the members had no idea how to prepare for the massive energy requirements involved or how to stack their mech's to match their skills and training that previously had been built for multiple specialty warfare, and no one had any idea initially, whether the medals would be awarded upon achieving the rank or rather they would be handed out upon the timer's completion.
All of these uncertainties could have and can now, be easily remedied with a little more education and communication. The organizers of the event should have put out more literature on the competition, but, understandably, it was a new situation, they were under a short time table to get it off the ground, and some things that seemed like common sense to them were, in fact, complete unknowns to combatants.
Once again, this is all understandable miscommunication that was entirely understandable and is easily avoidable in the future. I think the old adage of, "hind site is a B@#$h!", applies well here.
What cannot be ignored or dressed up to look prettier than it was, is the VAST gulf between the skill levels of the combatants. Many weaker players were faced up against opponents that they had no business even being in the ring with, let alone fighting over a ten day period. This will need to be addressed before any future engagements can be planned in this style. I don't think any of us thick skulled, gear brained, 'bot jockeys, can put forward a method of leveling out the playing field for the organizers, but it has to be admitted that the higher ups certainly need to look into the issue.
Now, with all the negative critique out of the way, I have to personally say that the rewards for this event, while slow in coming, were certainly much heftier than previous prize pools. Normally, after a competitive short event, a pilot picking up a silver medal would drag home a couple new weapons, some equipment enhancements, and a chunk of spare change.
This time around, just participating in the event could get you that much. Almost every single pilot took home a mech! Just for entering! That's not expected to be a regular award level, but it was a helluva nice way to introduce us to a new sporting event, I must say!
The constant warfare made pilots think about defense in a whole new light, causing them to not just charge in, kill or die, and then go have a beer, but to strike, regroup, alter their configurations and prepare to re-engage, over and over again.
This my friends, is the definition of, "Good damn training!". Some folks may not like it, but training isn't always fun and games. If you learned something, then it was a success. If you didn't learn anything, then you weren't paying attention.
And that loyal readers, is Monk Malone's two cents.
Submitted by Ron Frye#879655