MBR Application Process is Closed

Cactuar · Mar 17, 2011

Application process is closed.

Cactuar · Mar 17, 2011

Cactuar · Mar 17, 2011

Smashboards Username: Cactuar
Region: Northeast
Primary Character(s): Fox, Marth
Secondary Character(s): Falco, Sheik, Falcon, GaW, Roy

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. I've been playing competitive melee since the beginning of 2006.

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
A. I attend tournaments frequently, probably two a month, when I am active. I've taken a few breaks from the scene for several months at a time. I have an extensive knowledge of my local, regional, and the national/international scene as a result of my activity and position.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. At my prime, I would have classified myself as a top level professional player. Relative to the current metagame, I would consider myself a high level professional player.

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. I think the other individuals in my region do support me being a member of the MBR. I have always been very supportive of the community as a whole in generating theory and trying to help others improve. Seeing other people get better is one of my greatest motivations to remain in the community.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. I do consider myself a discussion leader. I often publish theory regarding a wide variety of subjects relative to the game for the purpose of spurring thought by others and to enable the crafting of strategies and mindsets. Most of this is an effort in helping others improve.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. I am not a TO. My contributions to the local scene from a tournament perspective are limited.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. The current tier list is accurate only in player opinion. I have an issue with it because it is not accurate to tournament placings. I think realistically, the tier list being comprised entirely of player opinion (voting on placement), is flawed, but only in that there isn't a tier list that accurately reflects how those characters place in tournaments. I would like to see a second tier list that reflects those tournament placings to provide greater overall visibility into the current metagame.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current stage list is fair? Why?
A. No, I don't like the huge effect that Rainbow Cruise and Brinstar have on the matchups. Counterpick stages should be able to influence matchup percentages, but once that variation is too great, it takes depth away from the game in the areas that I personally enjoy. The problem with this is that taking away so many stages makes the game a little more bland from that stage perspective, so there needs to be some kind of compromise.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current rule set is fair? Why?
A. I do feel that the current rule set is fair, but I feel that it could be a bit more comprehensive in the matters it addresses. Specifically, I would like to see a voluntary neutral start rule in place, as starting positions have quite an effect when you consider how important stage control is at high level play.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. Focus on strategy has always been more important to me. I have always believed that as long as I figure out how to manipulate my opponent or counter his strategies, my tech skill will keep up with the demands of my strategies. I also believe it is far more important to develop tech skill directly focused on the demands of your style and strategies, as having access to too many options tends to dilute your effectiveness. I would rather be amazing with 5 techniques than mediocre with 50.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Combos or First Hits? Why?
A. First hits are far more important to me. The aspect of melee I love most is how we maneuver against each other, all leading up to the moment that determines who made better decisions, who pressured better, who made the first mistake, etc. Of course, there should be balance between your first hit game and your combo game. My overall game has always suffered because my combo game is weak due to my focus being too heavy in first hits, and because of that I drop a lot of punishments that could have been extended to allow me to kill the opponent.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. Melee only has a limited lifespan if the community allows it to. There are a number of factors that affect the viability of the community, but none of those factors can't be countered by effective implementation of support, from members both influencial and not, high level or low. The biggest problem I see is that we do not take action to grow our community, but rather act as if we are entitled to the world just because the game we play is so incredible. We need to step up as a community.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. To expand our community, I think we need to make ourselves visible. We need more members who are willing to organize play and encourage local community growth. We need easily accessible information and video resources for new players. We need awareness of our new players and to support their growth, because without them, we will continue to wither.

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. I think the MBR could expand themselves beyond the thinking that all there is to decide is tier lists and rule sets. There is so much that a group of respected members of the community could accomplish, provided they are given the direction and don't close themselves off from change and new ideas. The MBR could do much to stimulate the community by being actively involved in activity and discussion in and out of the community, both on and off the boards.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. At core, I'm a theory guy. I take all the information I have and think about how I can use it. I'm also not terrible at expressing myself in a way others can usually understand. I think the MBR would benefit from my input because I have a lot of ideas on how it could be more effectively applied towards improving our game and our community. I care about where the community for melee is years from now, and I understand that, to ensure it stays strong and becomes stronger, we need to start changing things now.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.
1. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?p=2338134#post2338134
i. Description: The Peer, The Pro, and The Scrub. This post was about the optimal improvement environment relative to other individuals you need to improve quickly.
2. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=118998
i. Description: The "Ask Cactuar Stuff... about Stuff" thread. In addition to it being the first of its kind, to be imitated by many players in the following years, it was also a great source for information and an opportunity for players to interface with an up-and-comer.
3. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?p=3372338
i. Description: An initiation on discussion regarding Casual vs Competitive players.
4. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?p=4127465#post4127465
i. Description: Explanation of Push and Pull vs Punishment. (First Hits vs Combos)
5. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?p=2758554#post2758554
i. Description: Playing peacekeeper. I felt the need to step in and mediate in this situation because people were verbally attacking one another on a personal level, and that is inappropriate for members of this community. Trash talk vs insults.

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.
1. Player: HugS
i. Reason: Over the long term, I feel like HugS has done both of these. He generally seems to take the time to think out his responses to others, and always has the community's best interest in mind. He has been a great influence on smashers in general for as long as I can remember and I don't think he gets nearly enough credit.
2. Player: Dr. PeePee
i. Reason: He has been approaching his own character and play in a way that others should aim to replicate. Options out of options, analyzing himself and others in an effort to constantly be improving. The guy has been doing work. I'm impressed.
3. Player: KishPrime
i. Reason: The best tournament experiences I've ever had have been at the FC series (6 and D). The guy is a solid contributor and has been for a long time. I don't have a lot of knowledge regarding the way tournaments work, so whenever it comes to TOing, I look to him first.

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?
1. Answer: My opinion of "Play to Win" varies when checked against the competitive environment being looked at. In a gaming scene that is already established as a long term sustainable environment, such as poker or a similar community, playing to win makes perfect sense. I strongly disagree when it is applied to smaller communities such as the ones around fighting games. In smash, because of our smaller user base and how important truly enjoying the game is to sustainability, long term playing to win is a surefire way of killing the community. Now, this isn't to say we shouldn't strive to be successful in tournament, but rather, I discourage use of things that are clearly borderline gamebreaking, (in my opinion) like wobbling or excessive edge camping. These kinds of tactics discourage play by presenting a situation that is incredibly frustrating to the player due to the questionable balance of risk/reward. In another environment, it makes complete sense to take advantage of everything you possibly can to net the win, but in this environment, all you are doing is killing the community for the sake of a win here and there.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:

Gee, I hope I get in! :troll:

LLDL · Mar 17, 2011

My Application:

Smashboards Username: CHAiN-ACE
Region: Atlantic North
Primary Character(s): Falco
Secondary Character(s): Fox

REQUIRED

Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?

A. I discovered smashboards and competitive SSBM during Q4 2006. My first tournament was Esticle IX. December 29, 2007.
Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?

A. I average 1 tournament every month or two. I am extremely familiar with the tri-state Melee scene. I keep up with all of national (US) Melee. This includes East Coast, West Coast, South, and Midwest tournaments. I am somewhat familiar with Canadian Melee. I also keep up with the results of large European tournaments.
Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)

A. I would classify myself as being in an area between average and high level. In terms of technical skill only, I'm at a high level. I'm able to do everything that my character (Falco) can do in the current metagame. As far as the complete metagame goes, I lack matchup experience due to the number of tournaments that I've gone to in total. I believe that this is the only thing holding me hack from placing higher at local tournaments.
Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?

A. Yes. I am well known in tri-state. I'm not known for my skill or tournament placings, but because of my posting in Atlantic North tournament threads, my video recording setups, and attendance and social interaction with the community at tournaments. I don't believe that anyone in the region would object to my membership of the backroom based on my skill alone. They would most likely support me, knowing how dedicated to the game and community that I am.
Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?

A. Yes, and no. I am not a discussion leader on Smash World Forums by any means. However, I have rational, detailed debates with other smashers on various subjects, whether it be about character matchups, tournament results, game physics, etc. I have the ability to have a rationalized debate, and would use this to the best of my ability if the need were to come up.
Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?

A. I am not currently an active TO. This is partially because Monmouth county (where we host) is a large travel distance for those coming out of state. I did, however, help Eggm host a large percentage of the Tunes Monthlies in New Jersey. Recently, I have inquired about several venues, and have a few local tournaments planned for NJ in upcoming months.
Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?

A. For the most part, the tier list is accurate. I feel as if it gets less accurate the closer the list gets to the bottom. Although character diversity is something that I admire about my smash scene, as a whole, we live in a high tier player community. I feel as though if we were to have a balanced amount of talented low tier players, the tier list would be more accurate. All in all, the order of the high and mid tier characters are well thought out, but low tiers are based solely on results, which doesn't necessarily reflect correctly, the order of the abilities of the characters themselves.
Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?

A. The MBR recommend stage list is fine the way it is now. Some neutrals and counterpick stages are debatable, but tri-state has been using the recommended stagelist or slight variations of it with no complaints so far. I wouldn't spring for a change in the stage list until members of the community prompt for it.
Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?

A. The current MBR rule set is perfect the way it is. If anything, I would expect complaints from the recommended stage list. One major change in the rule set, which I think should be discussed separately, is the legalization/banning of infinite combos.
Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?

A. Tech skill and strategy are equally important to me. If I had to pick one, I would lean more on the strategy side, reason being that if two players are equally powerful tech skill wise, the "smarter" player will almost always win. Countless tournament videos and results have shown me that the strategic, more patient player is able to consistently find openings. That is not to say that tech skill is less valuable than strategy. A lot of players are able to simply overwhelm their opponent with pressure and movement that is derived mostly from muscle memory. I also consider this to be a valuable asset.
Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?

A. Initiating punishment is slightly more important to maximizing punishments to me. The reason for this is because the game is based on character specific attack and damage percentages, Directional influence, and other variables. Combos are an asset, but you won't be able to beat someone with good combos alone. You need to be able to out maneuver your opponent, which is what gives you the opportunity to attack them without getting hit. I believe that is the most important aspect of this game. Maximizing the punish afterward is the next most important thing.
Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?

A. Competitive SSBM is not limited by it's age, otherwise it would have lost it's appeal a few years ago. It is limited by availability and it's learning curve. In my opinion, any decent video game player has the potential to at least reach decent to average levels of play in this game. What prevents them is the amount of time it takes to progress. Not all people have the intention span that it takes to get good at melee. The truth is, unless you can attend tournaments every weekend, it takes months, even years to really become a competent player. New players see how slow that they are progressing, and assume that they have reached a skill cap. That is incorrect, but by that point it is too late. Something I think the MBR should focus on is decreasing the learning curve. This is an important factor in extending Melee's lifespan, which I believe is directly related to expanding the community.
Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?

A. I think we need to lessen the intimidating factor of being inducted into competitive melee. Some players are really just turned off by the unwillingness to share and explain by the better players. I think we should run events FOR the lower level players. I don't mean the actual bracket tournament itself, but I do want to see more interaction and reaching out to the new players. If we create a more pleasant environment, they are more likely to stay.
Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?

A. I think players are driven by a want to get better. As mentioned earlier, I want to see a program where we decrease the learning curve a bit. As for older players, we're driven by "hype", so to speak. That factor is wearing off with all of the big tournaments. I think we can start off by having a few circuits. Those usually motivate players to stay in practice. Also, we could experiment with new tournament formats. We already have some tournaments in the US running Swiss elimination, which I find to be a wonderful idea.
Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?

A. I take all other members feedback into consideration before I make posts. Posts that you get from me will be rationalized and thought out, rather than just ideas with no basis. I also try and find the weakness of other ideas, and my own ideas before presenting them. Rather than have heated arguments, I think we'll be able to find solutions easier and more quickly than before, with less effort and pointless arguing

OPTIONAL

Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.

http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=289220
Discussing keeping Melee scene's active
http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=295223
Converts any version of Melee to another.

List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.

Dr Peepee

I have watched PP's posts even before he was ever popular and he has always posted in depth, rational posts regarding matchups and general advice.
Forward

Although he isn't as active as he used to be, all of Forward's posts that caught my eye were impersonal, solely focusing on the community and ways to improve it.
Umbreon

This is the one user that I've noticed where 99% of his posts are always carefully worded, intelligent, and usually correct.

Edit 3/19 - 3. I am familiar with the Play to Win articles, but there is one crucial point I must address. Playing to win is perfectly acceptable. However, when people lose sight of the true goal of this community; Bringing smashers together to socialize and have fun, is when that particular player loses respect in my eyes. A person who out plays anyone by any means necessary, yet retains a modest attitude in this community is one who I respect the most. A player who becomes smug because of their "failure is not an option" attitude, isn't someone who I am going to want heading the community. That is all
Final Words:

I won't be leaving this community for quite a while. In fact, although my attendance at tournaments may change due to me taking college courses and working a part time job, I don't think I'll ever leave, or be less active. I visits the site every single day, whether I post or not, and it's good to have proactive members on the team.

Codi · Mar 17, 2011

Sorry this is taking so long. A lot of things have came up over the past few days. I'll try getting this done asap.

Deleted member · Mar 17, 2011

Smashboards Username: Umbreon
Region: East Coast, USA
Primary Character(s): Zelda
Secondary Character(s): Fox, Roy, Ness

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. ~8.5 years.

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national scene?
A. I attend no melee tournaments locally. I attend one tournament about every month in my regional scene by traveling to MD/VA. I attend about two to three national tournaments per year.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. Beginner. Why is this here? Don't waste my time.

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. I actively hold strong regional support, since I have a long reputation for quickly progressing the interests of tournament players.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. I tend to lead specific discussions of my interest, but I do not like to lead them. I prefer to listen over talking unless I need to accomplish something or unless some subject is particularly captivating.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. The last tournament I specifically hosted was regional in April 2007, so no time recently. My local scene is largely brawl play over melee, thus I have no local scene.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. I defined the basis for which tiers must be voted. My vote on the recent tier list also had very little deviation from the finished product, suggesting that my ideas strongly overlap with the best intellect available in the community.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current stage list is fair? Why?
A. I think it is fair, but I am somewhat biased as the most recent version was my project.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current rule set is fair? Why?
A. I think it is fair, but I am somewhat biased as the most recent version was my project.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. I favor whichever is more likely to yield victory. To pretend that one carries weight over the other suggests that the other is less relevant, which is obviously false. No one wins at "Super Theory Bros.". Don't waste my time.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Combos or First Hits? Why?
A. If I wanted to debate "Cactuar vs Scar" I'd do it on AIM. Don't waste my time.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. Any game has a limited lifespan, and to not acknowledge such a simple limitation is silly. In particular, Melee has extremely high entry barriers in a lot of ways, including a game disc that is increasingly hard to find in good condition, very high talent barriers, tournaments that are exclusively live, and a relatively high average age in the community.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. Get more people to play. The only way to really expand a populous is numerically.

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. I think the MBR could easily and feasibly show some of our less objective debates and let the general community mull them over in a publically available topic. Any kind of transparency would help really, so long as it doesn't negotiate our decision-making for votes or more serious discussions.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. I am the sole quality check of the MBR.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.
1. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=246672
i. Description: This is my restart of the MBR in which I hand-picked 15 new members by JV's request.
2. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=255538
i. Description: I reopened the MBR as its leader.
3. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=261514
i. Description: I headed the MBR, defined its classical system of operations, and hand-picked its moderation team.
4. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=250101
i. Description: This is the start of my project for the current rule set.
5. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=252262
i. Description: This is the start of my project for the current stage list.

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.

1. Player: Plairnkk
i. Reason: *Pound* Series
2. Player: Alex Strife
i. Reason: APEX Series
3. Player: KishPrime
i. Reason: Melee-FC Series

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?
1. Answer: David Sirlin's theories are highly debatable for smash since they can be taken out of context so badly. I don't think his theories directly affect the community in any way, and I'd be all for sending him a formal request to show us how his theories could help our community and to subsequently try his suggestions.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:

I'm so important that I don't even need to show you how important I am. You should just know.

Vts · Mar 17, 2011

Smashboards Username: VTS
Region: Atlantic South
Primary Character(s): Ice Climbers
Secondary Character(s): Jigglypuff,Falcon,Sheik

REQUIRED

Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?

A. I first noticed smash when I was at MLG Dallas for halo 2 in later 06, I didn't play the game until July 07.
Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?

A. I travel to as many tournaments as I can sometimes it's every week sometimes its once a month. I'm the head director for all smash in Arkansas people come to me for when they want to host a tournament I help with TV's and finding venues as well running the brackets. My regional scene is very little to the Florida area, but as for AR,TN, MO, IL, AL,MS and TX i'm known and know the players of these area.
Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)

A. Right now I believe I'm slightly above average due to my lack of consistency and bad habits. I notice where I can improve but under lack of better practice I resort back to bad habits when under pressure which results in my defeat. My main thing my friends say i'm good at is being able to push movement a lot which they wish they could do while I wish I could do the combos better.
Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?

A. Yes. My region would like to see support from those who understand the game as well travel to learn and help others with the process of making the rules for tournaments more fair or even to give advice to those who wish to learn.
Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?

A. Yes, I'm very talkative person who likes to hear many different people's opinion as well state clear facts. I'm very good at making sure that we also stay on track with our goals on the discussion.
Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?

A. I am a TO and the most recent tournaments were not for melee or brawl but had them at the event. I was the head TO for Little Rock Gamecon 10 which had 12 games with me doing all the seeding and brackets. I'm now a part of Sabergaming a new tournament organization that will be hosting a very large tournament in the near future with melee/brawl/n64, no date yet but you may also see us at Genesis helping if they want our sponsorship.
Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?

A. Right now the tier list is good for top 6-7 but where the mid tier and low tier is at I believe it needs some more work. Characters are being rediscovered with new techniques that have been emerging. Shield dropping is the major one that seems to have helped the low to mid tier the most.
Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?

A. It depends on how you call it fair. For most the characters the stages are great. For 2-3 character the stages are amazing and for 1-2 characters some stages are bad. Brinstar is a stage that i believe should be replaced, if you wish to hear my reasonings then I could type up a whole page if need be.
Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?

A. Everything looks fine to me. It gives each match plenty of time to play out, it allows enough stocks for closers games and enough stock for comebacks if need be.
Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?

A. It would have to be a mix for me. With tech skill it allows you to fulfill your goal of either movement and comes with out messing up or complete a combo that requires timing. Strategy is something that is needed so your not always getting shield grab by running up and trying the same combo and just throwing moves out. In tournaments it would depend mostly on the character of if strategy or tech skill player would win, if you have a technical fox vs a smart fox the smart fox could use his strategy to either bait the combo or punish recklessness with 1-2 moves instead of comboing, and if we have a sheik vs a bowser and the sheik is technical but bowser is bowser he would have to really out smart the sheik due to her character being more combo related.
Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?

A. My character is a maximum punishment character but I tend to win more by just getting 1-2 hits in then avoiding theres so for me first hits. With getting first hits you can play with them while being safe with maximum punishment you might have to go way out for a kill that could cost extra dmg or life.
Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?

A. SSBM doesn't have a lifespan for competitive play due to its game design has so many factors that the player can control you can have so many different things. Each character brings something new to the table soon we will see people playing 2-3 characters instead of just one since there are so many different play styles among just 1 character its like having a whole another game instead of the game.
Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?

A. The mind set to expand, right now we are slowly starting to find new people, we need to start inviting friends that don't smash to come over and give a try and to show them videos of cool combos and maybe crazy tech skill and to say any character can be tournament viable but choosing lower can mean a harder time. Show that this game is for meeting new people and to expand the culture don't show it as a game for money.
Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?

A. This one is a little bit of a thinker. With where the MBR could go is pushing for faster improvement less complaining about stages and expanding the game itself by showing we have active people pushing to learn and try new things until we find what works.
Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?

A. From being sponsored as a halo2 player and giving that up to pick up a game that had a better community I can say that I would be fair with every opinion and with playing the game at my current state I could help others who also have questions of improvement as well why we need to have changes in the rules.

OPTIONAL

Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.

http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=292997
A Melee IC intro guide still being worked on( need capture card to complete it).
http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=281708
Finding a new way to get back on the stage with Sheik that is safe but require massive amounts of techskill.
http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=270885
An IC technical question thread where I help explain the hit boxes.
http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=256913
NES N00b's death thread (shows how much this community means to me)

List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.

Dr Peepee

He is very smart about his spacing as well he works a lot of non-attacking shield pressure that is just crazy. He has his combos down pat and almost never SDs.
Bunbun

kid is so good about running smooth tournaments also to help make them as fair as possible <3 bro
Vanz

This guy is no 1 trick pony. He is what I believe the future of smash is going to become. Multiply character all being played at a high level that allows him to counter only 1 character mains who may not have enough experience in other characters. His play style also changes depending on your play style also so his adapting skill is what catches my eye.

Final Words:

Even if I don't make it in the MBR I'll be always reading the boards learning and helping as much as I can to others. My goal is to help expand this community since it is just so amazing.

took a while to do that lol

Roneblaster · Mar 17, 2011

Formatted for easy reading!

Smashboards Username: Roneblaster

Region: Midwest

Primary Character(s): Captain Falcon

Secondary Character(s): Fox/Falco/Marth/Luigi/Ganon

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?

Since PoE 2, so early 2009

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?

I attend almost all major MW tournies, and smaller ones when possible. I have attended 2 OoR Nationals and intend to attend more.
I have no local scene. Very in-tune with the regional scene. Very in-tune with the national scene and more in-tune with the international scene than the average joe

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)

Average, on the brink of high level

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?

I think most of the region knows I am a good guy, and if this MBR thing gets serious, I would be a good person to promote the interests of this region. I also am trying to move to the best city in the region and will if it is feasible.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?

I can be. However I do not enjoy being uptight all the time and enjoy casual discussion as much as serious discussion. I have an open invitation to the debate hall here on SWF, but I took a look through that area and its not really interesting to me.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?

It's hard to be in the least active region, but I've had my name stamped on one of the last major regionals and will be very active in the behind-the-scenes of the next major regional.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?

Not 100% accurate, but very.
(I think Falco is the best character. [AR fox with infinite tech skill is the best char] and Luigi is the best mario brother, maybe not in terms of MU's.)

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?

Yes, it is pretty fair, I'm not convinced FoD is neutral though. (Atleast partly because of character bias)

For a game this old, we have to keep the options as varied as much as possible, or our community will not grow and will increase the burn-out rate if there were only 2-5 legal stages.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?

The rulesets that are being used in tournaments could use some uniformity, but that isnt really enforceable. But yes the ruleset is extremely fair (wobbling legal or banned is fine, i just think it should be banned)

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?

Strategy is useless if you don't have the tech skill to perform it. But on the whole, strategy is more important. A person who never misses an l-cancel and doesn't miss-time a dash-input or JC Grab, and who is a great strategist will **** someone who can infinitely shine on some1's shield.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?

It's hard to say but, because no1 is perfect and everyone ****s up multiple times per game(except cactus and mango) being able to get the maximum punish from every ****-up is incredibly helpful. So I choose Maximizing Punishment.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?

No, you can burn melee onto a normal disc and play it on a Wii. I'm a nostalgic old fart and always think that older = better. (Videogames suck now except for Melee and a select few series of games)

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?

Advertising on a local level. (Like Chain-Ace's ideas)
Making tourneys more nub friendly.

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?

More open/viewable threads, like the DSR Thread last year. Being "useful" more than useful than once a year(Doing more than a tier list or modified ruleset that has one change worth mentioning)
The MBR should've been the group to come up with the ideas that chain-ace did, not one person. No excuse why the MBR hadn't come up with that on their own, and if they did they didn't do a good enough job of promoting it.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?

I would provide informed opinions and am remarkably reasonable person to discuss issues with.(contrary to how I make look in any wobbling threads) I can also be a scapegoat, if something bad happens say it was my fault cause you all were laughing at the last dumb/funny clip I just uploaded.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.

I think most of my major contributions have been on the youtube/video side of things.
I don't really see how we are supposed to post link's to posts, the Melee discussion only has 4 pages worth of threads, and none dating back farther than last month.

1. Link: N/A
i. Description: I made the most convincing argument for why uploading tournament sets are better as one video than each match uploaded separately.

2. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGSrbMW50Aw
i. Description: I do my best to promote the Midwest, I also did something like this with Dart and while I don't claim credit for how good he is, I take 100% responsibility for how well-known he has become. (<3 Dart)

3. Link:
i. Description: In Scar's thread I used to be one of the most helpful people in the thread until I became a degenerate useless poster like everyone else. (I still help in other threads and Scar's thread[<3 Scar's thread, its the best on SWF])

4. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1-14EWXjC0
i. Description: IMO, it's important to remember that we are still playing a game and to have fun from time to time.

5. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el6IDZP0kEQ
i. Description: It's why you even know who I am.

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.

1. Player: KirbyKaze

Reason: Demo Kirby wants you to learn how to DI Fox's upair
Fox frame data in the Fox Boards
All his work in the sheik boards
He is the cutest person ever(sorry cactus)

2. Player: Lovage

Reason: How to recover on battlefield and not die like an idiot
The Lovezone

3. Player: Mew2king

Reason: Go to any thread where m2k talk's about retirement and count the number of people who say "you cant retire, you inspired me to play melee! / You got me started playing melee! / You introduced me to competitive melee! etc. etc.

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?

Some what.

I don't think it neccessarily applies to most SWF goers because we don't think wave-dashing is "wave-cheating" or that l-canceling makes you a "tourney-***"

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:

I did all this while repeatedly refreshing this song on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykwqXuMPsoc

the youtube side of our community is a tremendous boon to the community as a whole and should not be ignored, whether that means letting a major youtuber/youtubers into the MBR or atleast taking that into account when making decisions/announcments.

I'm not going anywhere, my interest in this game has been reinvigorated since the last tourney i went to, i mean **** i'm actually practicing tech-skill for the first time in my life. Also, like I said I'm trying to move closer to more smashers if I can.

Pi · Mar 17, 2011

i don't want to participate in any nonsense or have to interact w/ the people in the MBR

all i want for christmas is a purple name

Cactuar · Mar 17, 2011

All I want is 100 million dollars without having to work for it.

Dart! · Mar 17, 2011

+1 for reneblade, i would apply but i can't really say i've done a lot for the community other than traveling an obscene amount within my region and have been an inspiration for a lot of newcomers/smash-friends. :/

*crosses fingers for my husband*

Rubyiris · Mar 17, 2011

Smashboards Username: Rubyiris
Region: Southwest (Arizona)
Primary Character(s): Falco, Link, Fox
Secondary Character(s): Marth, Captain Falcon, Sheik

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?

A. I have been playing Melee competitively since Q3 2005. My first tournament was a RR in 2007

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?

A. I attend a minimum of one tournament a month during my active periods. My knowledge of my local and regional scene is extensive, and my knowledge of the national, and international scene is above average.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)

A. I'm a high-level player. I'm in the tier of play that I have made it out of pools at a national-level tournament, and have the capability of making it to bracket at international tournaments, but haven't been given the opportunity. I consistently place between top 4, and top 8 within my own region.

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?

A. I believe so. I've contributed much of my time to the Arizona smash community, helping with expanding the scene, running the tournaments, and helping players improve.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?

A. I have the capability to be a discussion leader, but I prefer to take the back seat. I'm more of a person to expand upon existing ideas, though I do occasionally get inspiration to spearhead something I'm genuinely interested in bringing to light.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?

A. I am not an active TO, but I always do my part in helping the existing TOs with equipment, and managing the pools, and bracket, as well as recording, and have a years of experience with organizing, and running tri-weeklies within my region.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?

A. There are some minor discrepancies, but otherwise I generally agree with the tier list. I feel that Jigglypuff is placed far too high, but I come from other fighting games where the tier list is constructed differently than how SSBM approaches theirs, where characters are ranked objectively, rather than how well they do in tournament. Reflecting how SWF does their tier list, I do think Falco should move up to first based on his increased performance, and Jigglypuff dropped a spot or two based on her diminishing record.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?

A. Yes, but I personally dislike the fact that Pokefloats, Jungle Japes, Corneria, and Green Greens were removed from the roster. The current stage list provides equal amounts of advantages to most of the characters in the cast, as well as keeping enough stages legal to provide variety.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?

A. I do. I believe that throughout the years the MBR has had the time required to refine their ruleset to cover as many aspects of competitive play to provide a fair and fun environment everybody.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?

A. I don't think that either plays second fiddle to the other. Dismissing one for the other is just limiting ones self. I believe that it is important to have as much of the two as possible. Technical skill increases the amount of things one can do, as well as how fast, and most importantly, how consistently one can do these things, whilst strategy is how one implements these techniques, as well as their ability to plan, to think, to condition, and exploit.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?

A. As with the previous question, I believe both are important, and neither should be excluded for the other. A player should have the capability to discern which of the two is the better option at any point of a match, especially since the game's roster is so diverse, as well as the ways each character can be played. A character like Falco can be played either way and as such, whichever option is better at that point of time is the one that should be pursued.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?

A. Every game has a limited lifespan. Melee is held back by the fact that the game is becoming increasingly difficult to find in playable condition, the game is inherently an offline community despite the increasing compatibility with emulation and P2P clients, and most importantly in my opinion, the obscenely high skill barrier.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?

A. Expand the player base. Projects such as HugS' Melee Match Casting are good mediums to attempt to expand upon our audience by explaining why we enjoy smash, as well as the mechanics behind competitive play to cater to both the casual crowd, and other competitive communities.

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?

A. People are always wanting to see what goes on in the MBR. I believe it would be a good idea to throw the general community a bone occasionally.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?

A. I'm an extremely active member with years of experience with competitive SSBM, as well as a decade of prior experience with other competitive games. I have a vast knowledge of the inner workings of SSBM as well as general competitive play, as well as a high level of knowledge of the characters I use, especially regarding the more technical aspects of their play.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.

1. http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=245846
i. Pivot edge hog discussion. Rather than just a post, there is good, informative posts throughout the thread, as well as discussing the ramifications of whether or not it was useful to attempt to learn it, and its uses over more conventional edge hog techniques. A good read.

2. http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=246628
i. Fox's shine > waveland options versus characters, and discussion on their practical uses. Inspired by the Washington foxes, as well as a period of time where I still practiced this game on an obsessive level. This brought about healthy discussion of flashy, but also very real, and very practical alternative options for Fox's game that's becoming progressively more and more standard as the years go by, but at the time that I posted, was relatively uncommon, especially the last proposed option. again, rather than a single informative post, the entire thread is healthy back and forth between myself and other members.

3. Link:
i. Description:
4. Link:
i. Description:
5. Link:
i. Description:

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.

1. Player: DruggedFox and Umbreon
i. I can't give credit to just one of these two individuals since they may as well be the same person with how often they bounce ideas off one another. Both players constantly provide great insight to generally good competitive play, as well as doing their best to correct logical fallacies, a big problem with SWF's community as a whole.

2. Player: Wobbles the Phoenix
i. The main driving force being Ice Climbers and overall an exceptional source of smash knowledge. Nearly all of his posts are highly informational and provide great insight.

3. Player: Jetfour/Jackie Tran
i. A very awkward, obscure, off-the-wall player. He acts very silly more often than not but when he gets serious he's provided the falcon boards, and the AZ boards with awesome knowledge, such as edge cancel spacing and sweet spots for various characters on various stages, the inner workings of Randall's timer, and obscure, alternative, but effective strategies for Captain Falcon, and Sheik vs many of the other characters in the cast, such as Falcon's Falcon Dive platform tech chase, no-tech punish, or trading with recovery moves with active hotboxes, such as going down low for a dair spike with a character, but spacing it to trade and recover using the knock back of the opponents recovery move.

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?

1. Answer: Sirlin's "Play to Win" theories are all things I generally agree with, and do my best to apply during tournament play. I've personally taken his theories to heart. His theories have helped me improve as a player throughout the years. I feel as though not enough people know about their existence, and can only benefit from them.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:

I'm confident in my ability to contribute to the MBR, and the smash community if given the opportunity. I've contributed immensely to my own local and regional community, and I'm more than happy to contribute to the competitive Melee community as a whole. I just hope the players operating the MBR will look at applications objectively as there are players such as myself who are far more knowledgeable about this game then they are skilled.

Tee ay eye · Mar 17, 2011

can i just have a purple name

CloneHat · Mar 17, 2011

There you go:

Smashboards Username: CloneHat
Region: Eastern Ontario
Primary Character(s): Fox, Falcon
Secondary Character(s): Marth, Link, Pichu, rudimentary knowledge of all characters

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
I began playing Melee when it was released, but didn’t join the competitive scene until after Brawl; I began in 2009.

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
I host a local tournament every month, and frequently attend other tournaments with the university Smash Club. I know the local scene very well, but I am still discovering my regional scene. I make sure to keep up to date on the national and international scene, but have difficulty traveling.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
I consider myself an average level player, still looking to improve.

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
Since I frequent SWF more frequently than most players in my community, I think that it would be appropriate for me to represent my region in the MBR.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
I encourage organized debate, and will take a leading role if I feel qualified to discuss the issue, but I try to leave unfamiliar issues to players more experienced with the topic at hand.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
I host the Kingston Melee Monthlies, a series of tournaments that has been ongoing for over a year. I attend other local and regional tournaments when I can, making sure to volunteer setups.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
The tier list is a collection of players’ opinions, with no clear basis. Is it supposed to be “best character with the current metagame”, “character that wins the most tournaments”, or “character with most potential”. It’s impossible to judge such a vague list, but I’d say that under any of those initiatives, the basic order of our tier list would remain intact.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?
I’ve seen what PP can do on Rainbow Cruise, and know how polarizing stages such as it and Brinstar can be. I’ve seen some great ideas on reforming the stage selection process, and think that looking over the process would be worth a try. There’s a tight balance between balancing the characters’ options and reducing the stage list to a handful of bland stages.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?
I think the rule set is great, but I disagree with the anti-wobbling clause and think the blurry issue of stalling needs to be addressed. With the rise in campy play in Brawl, having it in Melee is a fairly new issue, and TOs like myself need the power to address it.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
I used to think that you could be top level without tech skill. I saw all the mindgames incorporated by players like Silentspectre and Mango, and thought that you could get by just reading your opponent. Since then I’ve learned the importance of tech skill, but I still believe that it is ineffective without proper strategy.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?
It’s a tough decision. You can’t zero-death an opponent without being able to hit them, but you can’t do real damage if you can’t capitalize off of your hits. With the prevalence of fast, deadly moves like shine and rest, however, I find it’s more important to be able to score hits. As I said before, however, neither is effective without the other.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
The game will be around as long as people continue to play it. I for one know how the popularity of the Smash series in general can lead new players to discover Melee, and after that, the game’s appeal is nearly timeless. With the emergence of emulators, the game’s life has been secured as long as its ISO exists.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
Reaching out to younger players in the community, Brawl players come to mind (Yah, I said it). Organized, professional initiatives such as Hugs’ match-casting idea can spread the word to other fighting game communities who regard Melee as a “kid’s game”.

Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
The MBR has always been extremely secretive from what I’ve seen, and major, controversial issues should be decided on with the help of the community, such as wobbling and stage list reconsideration. This BRoom reform in itself makes the community feel a little less locked-out of the decision making process. Without the feeling of involvement, the Melee Discussion board seems to devolve into trolling.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
I hope to help the MBR with my logical and analytical thinking, as well as providing new ideas to benefit this great community and game. I experiment with many different characters, and I want to help out in any way possible.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.

1. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?p=12198769#post12198769
Description: I help refute the argument to implement extra rules for edgecamping

2. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?p=12260128#post12260128
Description: I state my desire for a re-imagining of the tier list

3. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?p=12224948#post12224948
Description: I try to keep people up to date with Pound 5 for people who may not be aware of the “surprise” livestream

4. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?p=12036679#post12036679
Description: Pichu is underrepresented, and I try to keep him from being pushed under the rug

List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.

Player: Mew2King

Reason: His play is revolutionary, and the information he’s gathered has been extremely useful to many people. He contributes his knowledge into every major discussion and still remains a figurehead of the Melee and Smash communities.

Player: Wobbles

Reason: Wobbles is one of the only players I’ve seen give reasonable arguments in wobbling debates, and has the knowledge to back them up. He takes a lot of hate for how he plays, but stays collected and argues for what he thinks is best.

Player: KirbyKaze

i. Reason: KirbyKaze has put much work into practical explanations of fundamental aspects of Melee, such frame and percent data with Fox, as well as inventing “Demo Kirby”. All of these are extremely useful, and he’s really someone I’d call a discussion leader.

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?

1. Answer: I have not read “Playing to Win”, mostly because at the time, it looked like a drawn-out edition of “No Johns”. It looks potentially interesting, and didn’t know that the MBR valued it so much, however, so I will check it out.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:

As my age has sometimes come into question, I’ll state that I am still in high school. Take that as you will. I practice with the university’s Smash Club (high-level players such as tect and Europhoria), and organize my own monthly tournaments. I’d still like to take part in analytical discussion and contribute to the Melee community. I still have much room to improve, which is both a blessing and a (albeit temporary) curse, and I hope to do so once I can travel more easily to national/international tournaments.

Thank you for you consideration.

t3h Icy · Mar 17, 2011

Smashboards Username: t3h Icy
Region: Western Canada
Primary Character(s): Falco, Falcon
Secondary Character(s): Jigglypuff, Sheik

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. I've played and was aware of competitive Melee since mid 2007, but have actually gone to tournaments and the like since late 2009.

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
A. I'm unable to travel much due to money and school, and have only attended three tournaments. I'm building the local scene in Lethbridge myself (I also did with Brawl previously) and I know of mostly every major Smasher, but not personally. I can name top players all over the world, but I'm not completely knowledgeable of players before 2007 and back.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. Above average. I mostly lack inexperience but I have all the tools to become a powerful player. Due to location, I only play with a few people so my skill is unopened potential.

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. Probably not since I'm a **** to them lol, but they've been supportive of me with match-up chart projects, helping with streams, etc.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. Definitely. I'm an organizational freak and I really dislike when people are "lost" and unaware of what's going on. I am good at creating and organizing discussion and new ideas, though I somewhat lack the creativity to come up with the ideas themselves.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. I am not. I've contributed for national/international tournament by helping out other folks in the livestreams know what's up, running info threads and making decent trailers. So I've helped TOs indirectly. For the local scene, I've pretty much built up both Melee and Brawl in the bottom section of Alberta by hosting Smashfests and welcoming/teaching new people.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. I feel that lower and bottom tiers could shuffle around if more effort were put into developing those characters, but based on what's currently known, yes.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?
A. I'm conservative with stage lists and would prefer Rainbow Cruise, Brinstar and Kongo Jungle all banned. The European stage list would be perfect in my opinion since it puts the focus on the players with nothing interfering.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?
A. I believe that Wobbling and its variants should be legal as a theoretical perfect Ice Climbers could 0-death often anyway (I'm not sure about how DI can affect these), though the problem created by this is mid and lower skilled players have a greater advantage. It's a topic I think needs to be discussed some more. Otherwise, I think the ruleset is fair.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. With all the tech skill in the world, but not the smarts to apply it, you would have to helplessly get the first hit and create a 0-death combo using your abilities. On the other side, if you can read and analyze perfectly, but can't perform what you want to do, you won't be winning matches. I think as both go up, strategy starts to prevail as Melee becomes more and more about outplaying your opponent and getting in the hits. If you have enough tech skill to give yourself enough options and consistently perform what you want to, you should be fine.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?
A. Like with the above, both are important. Without combos, you have to have significantly superior reading abilities to consistently get the hits in, while with only combos, you will struggle to even get a chance to begin them. At the highest levels, I believe initiating is more important. Every hit you take is a mistake you made in some way, shape or form, which means you have to be getting the first hits to be a perfect player, no matter how many of them it may take to get the KOs. Of course that's not realistic, but I still believe to a more human level, initiating is still the better of the two.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. If a new game replaces it (which Brawl didn't due to large differences), I can see it happening, but as long as new players keep coming in to replace the oldies and Melee continues to spread, it should be fine for at least a few more years.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. I definitely like Chain-Ace's poster idea, to show new players the scene. I think that amazing combo videos draws in the most players, as most people reminisce about when they learned of the community through Ken, Shine Blind, etc. I think if more quality videos come out, people will stumble upon them and be interested in learning how to do that themselves. This is better for newbies as opposed to just ****** them with Falcon or Fox, since they don't get discouraged (though some people like to accept the challenge).

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. Opinion-based information is often well, opinion-based. It's nice to have all sorts of information collectively put into simple threads, but it's hard to give an objective answer about a game with such dynamics and variables. I'd like to see MBR work on more statistical data with these dynamics and variables to try and form objective knowledge about the game, rather than just discussing and arguing opinions

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. I am not a professional player (though I'll definitely be improving fast when I move to Vancouver next Summer), but I am a very organizational person and love statistical analysis (majoring in Math). I'd be more the person to set things up, analyze results, make ways to express and visualize data and opinions gathered, and keep things on track. I wouldn't be able to accurately contribute information about characters, stages, etc however.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.
1. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=257235
i. Description: Melee Match-Up Chart v1.0. I've also done the Smash 64 Chart and Tier List.
2. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=297924
i. Description: Pound 5 Info Dump. I've also done this for ROM3, DGDTJ, Winter GameFest, and MLG Dallas.
3. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARtMQQOwbCg
i. Description: Pound 5 Trailer. I've also made one for Genesis 2, and I have a couple videos from non-recording setups that were used for livestreams.
4. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=274834
i. Description: Shine deflection multipliers.
5. Link: N/A
i. Description: Moderating livestreams and answering questions for other viewers. I've done this for every major national/international since ROM2.

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.
1. Player: Mew2King
i. Reason: He's pretty much the father of frame data analysis and statistics about Melee, which has blown up significantly afterward using Action Replay, gif images, etc. Beyond that, he's selflessly contributed to every major Melee discussion including Tier Lists, frame data, general knowledge and helping people out. He's put a lot of effort into building the community, as well is an outstanding player.
2. Player: Prog
i. Reason: He's one of the many folk that aren't known for their skill, but are very well known for other various contributions. He's helped out a lot with TOs, helping the folks at hope during livestreams (especially with ROM3), has made a ton of Melee-related videos, and has put up tournament matches on his Youtube. He's a great example of the type of people the community needs to sustain Melee, and also someone to look up to for all the folk that aren't able to be a pro level gamer, but love the game.
3. Player: Hungrybox
i. Reason: While he has made some small discussion threads and has contributed to all sorts of stuff, he contributes to Melee indirectly through his playstyle with the game. Hungrybox shows that you don't require technical skill to be good at the game (though he has other tech skills such as reflex time, spacing, etc). He's pushed a character well beyond what we thought was possible and demonstrates the play to win mentality, which is what competitive players should strive for. He also happens to generate hype as he's a "bad guy" in the community (due to character and playstyle), though based on his personality, I'm sure he's one of the nicest people in real life.

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?
1. Answer: I have not, but through a quick skim just now, I know most of the ideas and thought processes through other ways. As a player, you're playing with some goal in mind, whether that be fun, to be the best, to learn about math, whatever it may be. For those that happen to find competition fun, naturally comes winning. But for the pure idea of playing to win, you should do everything possible to ensure you win. To what extreme you want to take this is also up to the player, as some people like Ch33se are willing to DQ the opponent if possible to continue on winning. Morality can be a factor, how people think of you outside the game etc. For actual gameplay, a player should only do what's necessary, never play extra flashy, play for the crowd, etc. I would have to read his theories to know specifically what he talks about, but I'm sure I would agree, as it likely matches my opinions.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:

Again, I am not (yet) a high-level player and would purely contribute to MBR by helping organize, calculate and present ideas and opinions. I am very fluent with game theory and how to analyze games, and I run a community for Pokemon RBY specifically to push its limits. I'm also a top level player, though currently on the decline due to focusing on other things at the moment, so I do understand game theory, how to predict opponents, why X works vs Y, etc.

RBY Community I run
200-page competitive RBY guide (there's more expansions of this in the community)

rhan · Mar 17, 2011

Application

Smashboards Username: Rhan
Region: East Coast (SoVA)
Primary Character(s): Young Link & Samus
Secondary Character(s): Sheik

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. Since the Summer of 2007.

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
A. I try to attend any possible tourney available within a 3-4 hour drive. Recently not as often as I'd hoped for due to personal matters. I am very familiar with my local scene and bring in new comings from time to time. My regional scene I haven't been able to really see in person but I'm in contact with them via SWF or other social networks. Over the past year I've been to two of the biggest National/International events (Pound 4 & 5) I've got to play people from all over the nation and learned a great deal about how different the regions are.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. I believe I would be considered an above average player but not high level.

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. I believe they would because we're more like a family. If one of us make it then we all make it.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. I'm very capable of debating and discussing multiple topics because I always want to find the truth or in other cases hear the opinions of others. I'm very open minded and take every view into consideration as I put together my own view.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. No. The ways I contribute to my local scene is helping the main Event Organizer with the amount of set ups needed. I can provide about 3 set ups and a great deal of dedication for running everything smoothly. I also help advertise events weather it was spreading the word or creating attention getting banners.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. It is semi accurate. I wouldn't put Jiggs as high as she is right now (Probably a spot down) or Doc above Ganon/Samus. Those are the only points on the tier list I disagree with. Jiggs has been domniating the scene lately but we have been able to see the weakness in Jiggs that makes playing against her not so difficult. With the Doc > Ganon/Samus. I just don't understand why. Samus' match-ups are so much better for her then they could be for Doc. and for Ganon he can destroy anything with 3-4 hits.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?
A. I feel that it is fair. The legal stages are pretty basic and don't give any one character a great advantage against another. The counter pick stages are reasonable. They give certain characters their advantage they need in their match-ups.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?
A. It is 100% fair. They layout the rules clearly and they make a lot of sense in the long run. The rules give the game it's ability to be fair and it takes away all the game breaking aspects that some characters hold.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. Both are very important. But without tech skill you cannot have a strong strategy. With all the tech skill in the world one is able to create any kinds of openings and combos. This ultimately will put that player in a great advantage.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?
A. Maximizing. Because when you're able to keep and finish combos you're able to clearly take stocks fast. This also intertwines with tech skill because you need tech skill to keep these combos going.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. No it doesn't. SSBM has a strong fan base and it's very hard to drop something one put their time and effort into for such a long time. As long as we as a community can continue to bring in new faces to the scene then we are able to bring new life and expanding life to the game. This game just continues to change throughout each generation.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. Just to keep bringing in new faces. Continue to have positive publicity towards the scene (Not saying things like "Brawl sucks". Even though we are divided from that side of the community it is still apart of what we are. It's just different then what we do.

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. Compromise with the people of the community and don't just shaft them away as some of the previous MBR members have done. Also try not to seem superior to any one person. Giving respect gains respect.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. I would hope so. I'm not a high placer in tourneys but I do have a great deal of match-up knowledge when it comes to the more ignored characters of the SSBM cast. I'm also extremely active on the boards and tend to drift from each character board (Lurk) and try to soak up as much knowledge as possible.

____

Thanks for taking the time out and reading this. I appreciate it and will hope to hear back soon. If not then life moves on. Who will ultimately be chosen to join the MBR will be a great group of individuals that will contribute well to the community.

Redact · Mar 17, 2011

Smashboards Username: Redact
Region: Australia
Primary Character(s): Falco, Falcon
Secondary Character(s): Marth, Peach, Fox, Mario, Zelda, GaW, Puff

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. 5 years

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
A. I pretty much run my local scene at this point, I attend every single tournament and meet in my own state and the majority of tournaments outside of my own state. I plan to travel to America to play sometime in 2012 when i have the money.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. Average, I'm within the top 10 of my own country, but my own country is pretty pale in comparison to Europe/America.

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. Yes, such as CAOTIC, due to my ongoing contribution to developing my own local community along with a general attempt to understand the game more.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. Somewhat, not to the point where i will create an entirely new concept of discussion, but I will steer discussion in a different/better direction.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. Yes, I'm hosting ACL within Melbourne very soon, and I've taken over the Couch Warriors series within my own state. I've been assisting with tournaments for years though.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. Somewhat, I feel that two tier lists are necessary (current meta game vs opinion) as the majority of the community seems to take a single tier list as a bible, where as two tier lists can not only promote discussion, but can also promote awareness as to WHY set characters are regarded so highly or so low.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?
A. Mostly, I believe we should exclude brinstar/rc as they really both are just terrible stages for some characters (EG ic's) where it becomes a situation of ban one, get taken to another. It skews some match-ups ridiculously and that's not needed. I also believe that it should be 7 neutral (ps and kj moved to neutral) with 1-2-2-1 strike system. This is to broaden the range of possible neutral stages for first game, two players may end up on PS or KJ64 as they believe those stages are more neutral than the standard 5.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?
A. Yes. whilst I am personally against wobbling (along with the rest of my local community) i understand that its not exactly game breaking, thus really its up to the TO to judge his own community with that rule. The somewhat futile thing is that hand-offs have the same effect as wobbling (somewhat) where they are 100% inescapable yet are not even mentioned to be banned.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. Strategy, Tech skill is something that you can work on much more easily and freely within your own time. Where as strategy is often lost in the heat of the moment, keeping focus up to retain a strategy is something everyone needs to focus on as making a correct decisions can yield much more in comparison to a correct wave-shine. Also there's the simple idea of you don't see the most technical players getting amazing results all the time, yet you can see the players with the most solid playstyles consistantly winning.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?
A. Maximizing punishments. I believe this is due to my characters more so than my play-style, with falco you have much more freedom than the opponent in almost every match-up, where you have the ability to keep the pressure up. Being able to hit-confirm and correctly go from there can lead to so much with falco/falcon that you are often looking at a stock each time you hit if done correctly.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. I believe that SSBM does not have a limited lifespan as a community, the only factor threatening the game is if the series never sees another release. The game has sold so well that this is pretty much not a possibility, it simply is only a question of when it will happen. Brawl helped the melee community immensely by massively increasing the exposure people received to the game, and future installments will either only do the same, or supersede melee as a more competitive game.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. A more active approach into having ssbm run along side other fighting/console games. Exposing people that are already dedicated to gaming to a new and different game can not only create awareness or expand the community, but can generate respect for ssbm (as we all know that from some eyes it is still regarded as a "kiddy game")

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. Some form of national ranking/circuit system, somewhat like MLG or the current national brawl ranking list. Melee has nothing to compare to this as of currently. This can not only create awareness of players that get good results yet are unheard of due to lack of travel/time within the community, but also promote competitiveness within the very top levels for the title of no1, promoting consistent results from all players. This also can remove the concept of "hey I'll just miss this tourney, and go to the next one because it doesn't matter", seeing as with MLG, some people made the effort to attend all tournaments to keep their rankings up.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. I believe the mbr would benefit from my input due to my history within overall competitive gaming, whilst I don't have a 100% accurate perception on the top level of the current meta-game due to not being within America, i can offer opinion from an alternate perspective of an up and coming community, along with my input from a large competitive history with alternate influences.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.
Example: Pal vs NTSC Discussion
Link: none as of currently (cannot seem to find it). This probably the subject i know the most about, whether it be recording pal video (pals a funny resolution) or the game differences. I've explained and demonstrated the differences of each version to many people within my own countries community, having to prove to them as to why pal 60hz is the same speed as ntsc (really i did have to prove this)
I do not believe there is anything as of currently that I have contributed that is worth note, I contribute to my local community by helping players and running tournaments, but am seeking the opportunity here to influence and push forward a broader community.

Example: Stage legality discussion
Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=299932&page=10 (Multiple of my posts on this page explain my POV along with reasoning as to why)

Example: Falco tech assistance? (idk lol)
Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=177816 (If you read down even drpp needed to work on that a bit lol)

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.
1. Player: Atticus
i. Reason: I highly doubt anyone that reads this would know this guy (an Australian player who doesn't exactly post a heap) but not only his general understanding of the game is quite exceptional, his discussion ability is next to perfect. He is able to make clear concise posts that accurately convey his point or opinion whilst being easy to read, he is able to post into great depth without a great amount of words and still fully put across his point.
2. Player: Wobbles
i. Reason: Whilst i believe he is somewhat biased with the discussions i have participated within (wobbling discussion with wobbles...) he has demonstrated a deep understanding for the game, and a great ability to post.
3. Player: Cactuar
i. Reason: He pushed forward a reform of the MBR (or is simply leading it) which either way will be a huge benefit to the community if carried out correctly. If this is not a contribution to the melee community, then I don't know what is.

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?
1. Answer: I have Sirlin's read play to win along with many of his articles. I agree with pretty much all the content. From my memory (it was quite a while back) it didn't cover the concept of "beatable strategies that negatively influence the meta game". I do believe in the wobbling debate we touch this concept, and I have approached this concept before in alternate communities (TF2) and have discussed this heavily previously.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:
Despite the general lack of contribution I have made until recently, I would like to be given the opportunity to demonstrate my understanding of the game within the MBR. I understand there is opportunity to demonstrate this outside of the back room but I have not actively pursued this until recently, thus have not had much influence, if any, as of yet.

TheCrimsonBlur · Mar 17, 2011

I don't think I am qualified to help "lead the community" but I kinda want to fill out an app because the questions are just oh so interesting. Oh and it would make Cactuar read one of my posts. That'd be a dream come true!

Umbreon said:
3. A. Beginner. Why is this here? Don't waste my time.

10. A. No one wins at "Super Theory Bros.". Don't waste my time.

11. A. If I wanted to debate "Cactuar vs Scar" I'd do it on AIM. Don't waste my time.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS: I'm so important that I don't even need to show you how important I am. You should just know.

**** UMBREON SPITTIN FIRE

DAMN

Pogogo · Mar 17, 2011

Can the unwashed masses vote?

CloneHat +1

Nicknyte · Mar 17, 2011

Smashboards Username: Nicknyte
Region: Sierra Vista, AZ, Southwest, USA
Primary Character(s): Luigi, Marth
Secondary Character(s): Pichu, Ganondorf, Kirby

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. Around 5 years. Started in 06.

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
A. I attend tournaments very often. Locally, I am well known as a Luigi/Marth Player, and currently lead my city's Power Ranking (Unoffically 3rd, I am behind Axe and Vectorman) Regionally, I've shared a presence with the New Mexico Scene, and a great deal with the North Florida and Lousiana Scenes. Nationally, I am known for my Pichu and my Luigi as well, but I've yet to break out as much as my fellow crewmates.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. High Level. I try to get to the level of pro, but I have a bit of refining to do before I get to that stage. I can accurately say where I stand in my skill level as I fight Vectorman and Axe and I am given a good Idea where I stand.

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. Yes. I am known as a good hearted fellow that tries his best to support his community and extend a hand to a fellow smasher whenever he is in need. I do not view my community as just smashers, but as my friends, and extended family. I do my best that good things are uttered whenver my name pops into conversation.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. At times. Whenever I feel that there is an error that needs to be looked at, regarding matchups, or techniques, I am not afraid to bring my opinion into frontal view. I also don't lose my cool whenever someone disagrees with my opinion (and outright flames it). I find myself being more of a discussion supporter, a mix between moderating behaviors of disagreeing and agreeing parties, and sharing what I feel about a subject without enchroaching on their esteem. I like adding my $2 in a discussion, moreso than leading one, in all due honesty.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. I am not a TO, although I have helped run tournaments in the past and do my best to assist fellow smashers by bringing set ups, arranging rides and transportation to my fellow smashers, and loaning money without deadlines or nagging.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. No. I feel that the lower tiers can be explored a bit more. I am not saying this because of my Pichu (which I think is better than Kirby) but because of the state I do reside in. My state has multiple mains which include some of the best low tier fighters in the smash world (Axe: Pikachu, Vectorman: Yoshi, Taj: Mewtwo, Wobbles: IC's (before they were good)). I always feel that the higher tiers are correct, but with lack of use in the lower portion of the list, I feel that there could be room for improvement.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?
A. Somewhat. I think that Brinstar should be legal unless the stage spike glitch occurs within it, because even though a jigglypuff might get sucked down into PS, it cannot recover from the lava spike glitch, which makes me question its legality. This is my opinion. I do think having PS back into the rotation would be a plus for the community, as most people find FoD more banworthy than PS, from what I'd gather around me.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?
A. Yes. I think it is fine because its a base standard on how a good tournament should be ran. I would like, perhaps, a rules set that encompasses different tourny styles, like swiss, but I think the regular DoubleElim is preferable.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. Strategy. Technical skill is nice, but its only just pressing button in the right order. If there isn't a solid strategy into victory, it is just fancy gameplay. It is important to use TechSkill in order to possibly mindgame opponents into doing what you want them to do, but in the end, its still a part of strategy,

11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?
A. Combos. Most of the higher tiered characters, are fastfallers. Playing against those characters usually mean, either you get shined, lasered, or kneed, or you play into chainthrows and combos that prevent your opponent from coming back. As a luigi player, combos are everything, as they work with most characters in the game. A luigi without combos is like a fish without water. Combos are key to me.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. I think Melee has a limited lifespan of around 10 more years, mainly because some of us are encroaching our mid 30's, but i feel the same way about Brawl too. Given that brawl is the bigger community, but thats because there is more youth on that side of the aisle. Melee gets new players from time to time, but Brawl is a constant influx of new people, mainly because of kids who think they are better than everyone, and sometimes they do get better. What I see from Brawl, is what I see from Melee when I was in Louisiana, before brawl came out. We always got new people to play, but now, its a slow recruiting process. I think Melee has many strong years left, but I doubt that Brawl wouldn't be far behind. (I'll be playing Melee until I am old though. Believe that. Hahaa)

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. More local tournaments. Flyers to announce a gaming event with melee in it. Invite local smashers that never tried melee out cause they thought it was difficult. What helps expands the community is not waiting for users to come onto this board and meet up with them somewhere else, but litterally going out the way to invite new people to tournaments to play. Its not even hard to convince a brawler to play melee as well as long as the proper POSITIVE input is given. We have a smasher here named Silly Kyle who is on our state power rankings on both Melee and Brawl, and no one gives him any crap about it. What could possibly be the best thing to expand our community is not to treat Brawlers like the bottom of the Caste system, and welcome them in with open arms, and let them know that they are welcome in the presence of other meleers, and in exchange, brawlers will play melee too.

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. More interaction with the normal users of the community. Frequent Polls on how each character should be matched up with other characters, and news reports on upcomings within the MBR, so that way people can know what are hot topics in the forum, without divulding too much to the masses. Just a simple reminder that the rest of the community is as important as the ones who make the rules for it.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. The MBR would benefit from my input because I would give a sightful suggestion on how Melee should be looked at on the lower half of the tier list. Likewise, I can share my opinion on the legality of rules, stages, and character matchups. Finally I think the MBR would be pleased to have someone who is reliable, not selfish, and brings a vibe to a community that is truthworthy and responsible.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.
1. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=299086
http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=12316435&postcount=31
i. Description: I helped armada with Snap to set up a fund after the losses at pound 5.
2. Description: I have no link for this, but I hope you take my word for it. On top of arranging flights, hotel rooms, and food for Arizona at Pound 5, I also paid for 2 other people for New York City, YEAH!, a former Crewmate, and Blackanese, get to pound 5 when they had no other means to go. by paying for their bus tickets.
3. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=12097186&postcount=4427
http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=12097196&postcount=4429
i. Description: Used funds to help a smasher (Kid Goggles) get signed up for Pound 5 before the registration deadline
4. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=12096857&postcount=1392
http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=12096857&postcount=1393
http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=12096857&postcount=1394
i. Description: Helped smashers who were coming to a tournament from hours away (Flagstaff, AZ) get to the venue on time, even though I was 2 hours away myself (Hereford, AZ).

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.
1. Player: Axe
i. Reason: He's a great Meleer, and an even better friend. I watch him drive the Phoenix community back and forth every Monthly, and show everyone that even a guy that mains Pikachu can go and win 4th a national tournament. People demeaned him, saying he could not make it as a pikachu player, and even said that he should stick to high tiers, but his perservation refused him to give up what he loved doing, and in the end, it paid off.
2. Player: Sudai
i. Reason: Sudai is a good man that is great at discussion and keeps a cool head when things get rough. He shows me how to be whenever things get tough, and never demeans anyone.
3. Player: Mocha
i. Reason: Vaughn is the inspiratation I gain from playing low tiers. He is an intelligent young man that has a heart of gold and a strong will. He is always there for his community in Baton Rouge, LA, and he goes out his way to visit me whenver I am back there. He shows me how to be a great smasher, and a great man.

I would add vectorman to this list as well, but I don't have 4 spaces. He knows everything about smash, great training partner, and good rival. I consider him my little brother at times, but he is lightyears beyond me in the intellect of the game. It's through him, that Axe is who he is today, and why I get better at this game, everyday.

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?
1. Answer: No, I have not, Ill be honest. I play to have fun, even if I lose, which I try not to do often. But if I do, at least the in between was good enough. Victory is not important to me as is the experience.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Applying to this means a lot to me. Keep up the good work guys.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

CloneHat · Mar 17, 2011

Pogogo said:
Can the unwashed masses vote?

CloneHat +1

Thanks a lot man, but I haven't even applied yet

N.A.G.A.C.E · Mar 17, 2011

i sort of want to apply but i haven't done anything atm that would get me in. o well maybe next time

Pi · Mar 17, 2011

Cactuar said:
All I want is 100 million dollars without having to work for it.

BRO! ME TOO!

fk

can't i just like donate money to the site and attain a purple name? it's only 1 character!

BBQ° · Mar 18, 2011

Smashboards Username: BBQ
Region: Atlantic South (Georgia)
Primary Character(s): Marth
Secondary Character(s): N/A

REQUIRED:

1. I ****

Mahone · Mar 18, 2011

Smashboards Username: Mahone
Region: MD/VA
Primary Character(s): Puff
Secondary Character(s): Falco

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. For 2 years.

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
A. I try to attend tournaments whenever I can. When on break from college, I attend every tournament, so about 1 a week, and when in college, I travel and attend 1-2 "local" (the closest is three hours away) tournaments a month. I have recently been to all the regionals that are within 4 hours from where I am, and I went to my first national recently, which was Pound 5. In the past I did not think it was worth it to travel far for nationals because of my skill level, but now I am much more willing to travel.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. I would say high level, I only lose to named players, or pros, and a couple of other high level players.

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. Some would and some wouldn't. Most of the people I beat believe that I only beat them because I play jigglypuff, so they would say that I am not good enough to be a member. There are many people who would support me though. People who don't get frustrated by jigglypuff realize that I know a lot about the character and all of her matchups, as well as a good understanding of high level play.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. Yes. When I first came to smashboards, mango and hbox were always posting in puff boards, but all the pro puff players slowly stopped posting. I waited until I felt that I was good enough and qualified, and then I started helping everyone out on the puff boards. If you look at the last 50 or more pages of the puff boards, about 95% of the useful (as opposed to "bair more") advice is posted by me and Idea. I noticed that many of the questions repeated, so i decided to make this: http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=298777.

I really feel that creating that guide and taking and giving advice for the last year has given me more than enough experience as a discussion leader.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. No, I am not a TO. At tournaments I definitely do my part and make sure that I do everything on time and show up on time. I have in the past tried to convince TOs to not be so lenient with pros, and ensure that the tournaments finish on time, but as most of you know, TOs can be very stubborn, and tend to favor pros' opinions.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. No, I think that Jigglypuff should be moved to below Marth. I know that it seems very obvious that the puff main would think puff is overrated, but I really don't think my opinion is biased. I think most people want to play down their main, so they feel more accoplished when they win, but this is not the case for me. When I play my falco secondary, I feel like I beat people way easier than I should solely because the character is better, and none of that affects how good or bad I feel after I win or lose.

I have played countless people with puff, including pros, and beaten them because they misplayed the matchup horribly. I always offer to help them with the matchup, but they assume they know the matchup and only lost because jigglypuff is "gay". Right now that is how most of the smash community is, they are not willing to learn a completely new matchup, because they have been playing the same foxes and marths for the last 10 years, but I definitely think that if people learned the matchup (a good example is drpeepee wining a matchup that used to be considered terrible) puff is very beatable and is below sheik and marth.

As for the rest of the tier list, there might be some slight changes I would make, but I almost never argue for low tiers or even mid tier movements, because there is not enough information availiable on many of their matchups (i.e. There are not many matches of Doc vs Pikachu, and there are only a couple top players that play either of those characters, so I feel like arguements tend to be based too much on theory) and I do not have enough personal experience with lower tiers, except in the vs. Puff matchup.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?
A. No, I think that it should be the neutral 5, with Pokemon Stadium and mabye Kongo Jungle as counterpicks. Brinstar is an autowin for jigglypuff in many matchups, so they have to ban it, and then I get to go dreamland, which against a character like marth, seems to be too strong of an advantage for a counterpick. Rainbow Cruise should be banned, because it is somewhat random and favors some characters such as falco way too much in ceratin matchups (a good example would be Marth vs. Falcon, where falcon can go either brinstar or rainbow, to ensure a huge advantage). No one ever goes Kongo Jungle, so I'm not sure how it is, from the few times I've played on it, it seems pretty fair, but it kind of promotes camping.

As far as teams go, I think that Yoshi's is too small, but no one ever picks it so I don't have very strong feelings about it. I think brinstar and rainbow again give too much of an advantage to certain characters, but people rarely go there, so I don't think there is enough evidence yet to make a change.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?
A. Yes.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. Obviously the two are both very important and are intertwined, but I would say strategy. I would say that you need tech skill to get to a certain level, but after you have a certain amount of tech skill, you will improve much more from thinking about strategy vs. practicing tech skill. Also, jigglypuff as a character has an emphasis on strategy over tech skill.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?
A. Initiating punishments. If you can get first hits, if you drop a combo its not that bad, because you'll get an first hit again. On the other hand, if you can combo, but can't get intial hits, it doesn't really matter. I'm oversimplifying a lot, but I feel that unless you are a combo heavy character like falco, it seems more important to have first hits.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. No, I can't play any other fighters because I always end up comparing them to melee and realizing they are not as good. The same thing happened with Counter Strike. I played that game and then I couldn't play any other shooter without thinking about how it wasn't as good as CS, and as we see today, CS is still here, along with melee, because of their amazing gameplay.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. Focus on converting brawl players (not by shouting "mk is gay you idiot mirite lololol") and other fighting game players. Work on making very stylish and interesting combo videos that we could show as kind of advertising.

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. You could make a national Power Ranking system, even though that would be a huge headache. You could try forming a circuit like MLG, with trusted TOs. I'm probably not going to name an idea that hasn't been said on this website, I think people have a lot of good ideas, they are just really hard to execute.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. I think that I have one of the least biased views on Jigglypuff and can make well-constructed arguements to defend my positions. There are only a few people who play puff, and even less that can articulate their opinions.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.
1. Link:http://www.smashboards.com/showthread.php?t=298777.
i. Description: Jigglypuff guide, because mango's was kind of outdated and too simple
2. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=11923771&postcount=4142
i. Description: I critiqued this guy's game in detail
3. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=11980879&postcount=4170
i. Description: This is the second match, I do this a lot, these are just two random ones i found
4. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=12069770&postcount=4215
i. Description: This is a post I made, when a new puff player kept saying things comboed when they didn't, he got very defensive, so i tried to explain it in the nicest way possible.
5. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=12374471&postcount=1255
i. Description: I needed housing.

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.
1. Player:DrPP
i. Reason:He never gets lazy and writes one word answers, he seems to always put a lot of thought into what he says, and most of the time whatever he says is very interesting.
2. Player:Theicy
i. Reason:He starts many useful threads, does recording, makes hype videos, he is just always trying to help the smash community as much as he can.
3. Player:Cactuar
i. Reason:He clearly explains that people can't do what he does because they are not as good as him... and its true.

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?
1. Answer: LOL, I actually put my tag as SRLN when I feel like being a **** and camping the ledge. I have read most of his free online version of Play to Win. I disagree, I play games to challenge myself. I would not be happy at all if I won because my opponent suicided or was playing bad. I play to see if I am better than my opponent, and to learn the game. I don't really know how these theories affect Melee, I guess its bad for the game when people are willing to camp me for 8 minutes, but I personally don't mind, because it just makes it that much better when I win.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:
I beat Cactuar's marth in a mm.... badly.

Deleted member · Mar 18, 2011

TheCrimsonBlur said:
I don't think I am qualified to help "lead the community" but I kinda want to fill out an app because the questions are just oh so interesting. Oh and it would make Cactuar read one of my posts. That'd be a dream come true!

**** UMBREON SPITTIN FIRE

DAMN

fuck fear.

Divinokage · Mar 18, 2011

Smashboards Username: Divinokage
Region: Montreal, Quebec
Primary Character(s): Ganondorf
Secondary Character(s): Falcon

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?

A. I have been playing competitive melee since 2006.

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?

A. Locally, there are barely any tournaments however there are a lot of smashfests. At the moment, I keep close touch with the top players of montreal and also I try to play with a lot of different people to help them understand what the top level is like and give them a goal. I believe it's important to share my experiences with everyone around me as I feel I can contribute a lot. But whenever there is a tournament here, I usually attend it. I also sometimes go out of province, given I have enough money and I try to play everyone to expand my knowledge even more. With that idea, I will try to attend the more important tournaments of 2011.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)

A. I'd say I would be a high level fighter since I believe the pro fighters are the Top 5 players as their level is clearly above the rest. For example, PP, Armada, M2k, Hbox, Mango. I believe it is like this because their level of consistency, decision making, adaptation is better than the people below them.

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?

A. Certainly, I think I've already been vouched by Unknown and KK if I remember correctly but I think I can still provide accurate knowledge as I still play the game very seriously and I want to keep the metagame moving forward. I want to find more newer tricks to help evolve the game.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?

A. No I don't, I usually speak of my own experience and so I have to relate to something I had experienced in the past if the subject is pertinent to what I believe in. It's hard for me to come up with new ideas out of the blue but I can definitely find the answers if I'm challenged with any subjects I think.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?

A. No I am not a TO however, whenever there is a tournament I try to play everyone so that they can have an experience they can enjoy or remember. I also try to bring setups. As a community I believe everyone has to work together in order to be successful. Everyone needs to play some part of it, I also try to give some advice if I can if I'm able to see what players need to work on.

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?

A. I think it's pretty accurate right now but anything can change through out a tournament. A tier list for me can only define in theory a character's weaknesses and tools. I think if anyone can play a character that is under-presented and doing well with him consistently then the tier list will change in his favor which was proven numerous times in the past.. like Pikachu, Mewtwo. We know most truths about the metagame at the moment as we shared countless experiences together and it will change as everyone changes. We can only estimate what we think is right in the moment.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?

A. I think it needs a little change at this point. I believe character variety is the next step of the metagame and so reducing the stagelist to only 6 stages (FD, BF, FoD, Yoshi's, PS and DL) would definitely help promote more low tier characters as they will stand more a chance vs anyone. There will no longer be disgusting advantages like in Brinstar for example in certain matchups. Most matchups with this stagelist would be a lot more fair.

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?

A. It's fair given the stagelist however if the stage list changes then the rules must be changed as well. If we use only the 6 stages as I mentioned earlier, I think only one ban would be necessary and then the rest of the set would be played on the 4 remaining stages. That way it would be a lot more fair for everyone.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?

A. Both are equally important because if you mess up a waveland or L-cancel then you will get hit and possibly get comboed as well as making a poor decision. A good player must have everything down in order to perform the best he possibly could.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?

A. I think the first hit is more important as it can usually lead into combos given the right decisions. If you are able to constantly knockdown an opponent to the ground then it gives you one opportunity to attempt to continue the punishment.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?

A. Melee will continue to live as long as everyone continues to have some motivation to move forward. It's been already 10 years and I think it's possible to move on for a few more years at least. I don't think it's about the age.. It's about the willingness to help those around and maybe attempting to get newer players eventually.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?

A. I think we should try to lend our hand to everyone that is interested in playing melee so that we can bring maybe fresh new players and maybe one day they will write their own history. It doesn't always work out since the reasons of some playing are simply not strong enough but you don't know that until you try at least right? Just a kind gesture every once a while can go a long way. You just never know the opportunities that could present themselves. Also, maybe try to do more tournaments, try to get more people interested in the game.. record videos and give good informative commentary to help some understand the game better. Give a hand on the boards with theory too, it definitely helps.

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?

A. I'm actually not sure but I think we should give the proper example as I stated above. Let people aware of the things that need to be brought to light. Again, create topics that would be helpful in the current times for general players that would like to improve even more. Help people make better decisions, help people not to do the same mistakes we did in the past, find solutions that will help create a better future for us.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?

A. Traveling around the world has helped me understand the deeper meaning of everything. I think I can help some people mainly with the Ganon and Falcon matchups and also trying to help people make better decisions with their lives or simply in the game. I can give helpful advice when needed and I think that's a must to help grow the community. I can help break barriers when others think it's impossible. I think the MBR would still enjoy the wisdom I can share.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.

This is really hard as I don't really remember any specific contributions I made. In general, I try to see multiple threads and I try to give helpful advice given the subject. I think my opinion is important at this point as everyone else's.

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.

1. Player: Dr.PP
i. Reason: He was able to share his experiences with everyone in the world and has also tried to help extensively everyone out there that is looking for advice. It's really admirable. Gives really informative posts in general all the time.
2. Player: Alex Strife
i. Reason: It goes without saying that he constantly puts time into the community and tries to tell people what's real and what we need to do now as a community. Putting time to help people is what will help the community flourish in the end. He's also obviously an amazing TO. I mean how can people grow if they are kept in the dark all the time?
3. Player: Kirbykaze
i. Reason: Again, like I said when you put time and effort to give nice informative posts to help other people see the truth about the game then I think it's awesome. I think he does very good at this. =)

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:

I hope this made a good impression upon all of you and I hope I will continue to be accepted as I am now. It's in your hands now.

Pi · Mar 18, 2011

gonna be funny to see who gets in lmao

pockyD · Mar 18, 2011

Smashboards Username: pockyD
Region: NorCal
Primary Character(s): Sheik
Secondary Character(s): ??? there are other characters?

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. since 2007, 4 years

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
A. I attend pretty much every local, which varies from once every 2 months to 3x a month. i go down to socal a few times a year and in recent memory have gone to one or two nationals a year too

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. A pointless distinction without a point of reference, but I'd say I'm pretty average among tourney-goers

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. Yes - I'm trusted to be on the PR panel and help with seeding/TO-ing local events. I'm fairly certain after our beloved MBR leader Sheridan, I'd be the consensus #2 pick among NorCal to be an MBR member (though I would certainly yield knowledge-wise to Lucien, who simply never posts on smashboards anymore)

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. Only about topics I care about and feel are impactful. I don't understand what "Why?" means... probably because I'm interested in the subject? The more I think about this, the more I think my answer to the underlying question is "No"... I'm not the type to drag opinions out of others who don't proactively want to give it. A truly relevant discussion should not require or have a leader; it should be a back and forth between peers who respect each others' opinions and do not require direction or moderation

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. I'm pretty much secondary TO alongside Sheridan and Zoap for Norcal tourneys... we end up running pretty much all the locals

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. No, because the criteria for voting was too vague... although I do agree that the Ice Climbers are the 8th best character

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?
A. Not particularly, since nothing beyond set stages should be considered "fair". I've long been campaigning to eliminate the distinction between CP stages and "starter" stages; if a stage is fair enough to play on, why can't we strike on it // off of it?

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?
A. Fair enough. I think the Mages DQ is a crock but looking at the MBR ruleset it's not in there so no complaints.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. Strategy, but of course they go hand in hand. Tech skill exists merely to expand the breadth of strategy you're able to execute

11. Q. What is more important to you: Maximizing Punishments (Combos) or Initiating Punishments (First Hits)? Why?
A. Initiating punishments. I'd say 'avoiding punishments' is the most important of all, so that really implies the second rather than the first.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. The main factor is whether it will be able to attract new faces. Simply put, as the average age of the players grows, the less likely it is to draw in a new crowd; very few people who aren't already semi-serious gamers would want to fire up the ol gamecube

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. The only way to grow it is for people to bring/teach their friends. There's not going to be some magical outreach program that draws in hundreds; it's going to have to be on a person-by-person basis

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. I don't feel like that's the MBR's role, but for sure, make the MBR visible to the public; there's no reason to hide what we anticipate to be the highest, most focused form of discussion. The discussion is just as, if not more important than any conclusions that are reached

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. Played in various regions, moderately well traveled, part of the most active region in the country, experienced with TO-ing, not afraid to bring up new options or try to break the mold of what's 'just the way it is' from the past 10 years... but really, isn't this addressed by the rest of the application questions?

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?
1. Answer: Yes, and anyone who hasn't should, although NOBODY should treat it as gospel; merely very coherent food for thought. I mostly agree; you can't fault a player for playing to win within the confines of the rules of the tournament. That said, not everyone's goal is to maximize their performance (I personally rarely care about winning anymore), so it's not like everyone SHOULD play to win; people should play to maximize their enjoyment. However, they should NOT expect anyone else to play for the same reasons they do, and to whine about legal tactics and ban them just because they make you unhappy despite not disturbing competitive balance is rather silly.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:
I STILL don't understand why current MBR members are getting booted and why it's moving towards this massive bureaucracy. I think it's sad that the MBR is going to miss out on the opinions of many of the old guard [far older than myself] who have seen and done more than most who are applying now, and this is an unfortunate direction for the group as a whole. I still hold the opinion that the MBR should be a forum of elevated 'discussion' and nothing more; with visibility to all, since as previously mentioned, the discussion is more important than the conclusions. Hopefully that's in the cards

Edit: I also think the first wave of admissions shouldn't land on April Fool's, lest there be confusion, especially given smashboards' history with "pranks". No reason not to push it up or back one day

Pink Reaper · Mar 18, 2011

See, i really want to debate pocky about what makes a stage list fair, but i cant because im not going to be in the MBR any more.

pockyD · Mar 18, 2011

I'm pretty sure I've had that conversation many times over, but if you wanted for serious, my aim = 'horizonflash'

Pink Reaper · Mar 18, 2011

actually im pretty sure WE have already had it. If i actually took the time to look in the MBR i could probably find it too. But bed now, pointless arguing about a video game on the internet tomorrow.

Strong Badam · Mar 18, 2011

Quite a daunting application, I'll need to spend a substantial amount of time on mine. Very excited to see the MBR involved in more than simply tier lists and rulesets!

Dr Peepee · Mar 18, 2011

Smashboards Username: Dr Peepee
Region: South
Primary Character(s): Falco
Secondary Character(s): Fox, Marth, Captain Falcon

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. Around 3 years and 9 months.

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
A.I attend tournaments about once every three weeks on average(depends on local scene at the time). I am extremely connected with my area and try to get as involved as possible with improvement and organization in NC.
I know lots of talented and influential players within my own region as well and follow it as closely as possible.
Once one begins to talk about national/international players personal opponents begin to come to mind, but I know a wide variety of players and influential community members throughout the community.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. Pro

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. Yes, because of my dedication to Melee and my understanding of it, as well as for my ability to argue coherently, or at least to the best of my ability to communicate my ideas.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. Depends on the situation. A debate among a local/regional group I’m regularly part of I will gladly take the reins of a discussion. Among my peers that I am not as familiar with however, I sometimes tend to contribute only my base thoughts and nothing deeper on a subject unless specifically asked. This predicament could be changed with some hard work though I believe.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. No, but I teach others in my local scene about Melee, as well as help organize dates for tournaments, smashfests, rulesets, and other logistics at times. I also am a part of other core facets of maintaining a local scene outside of tournaments(such as keeping players motivated).

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. Yes and no. Yes because the MBR, to the best of its ability, voted on a list and that’s a great way to get a good mix on well-informed opinions so that a rounded out, intellectualized list is produced. No because this system could have imperfections(some members did not vote or others are going on outdated information, etc) and my personal tier list is based more on what I believe matchups and character potential mean for each character in a competitive environment(tournaments, very simply put) than on tournament results.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?
A. Yes and no. Yes because there are only a few “strong” counterpick stages left on the current stagelist, so the first game of a set is not ridiculously important due to strong subsequent counterpicks. No because these stages could be extraneous in the first place and provide advantages that are still too strong(taking extra advantage in a matchup beyond what “neutral” counterpicks could confer).

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?
A. I believe the current rule set is fair, but I would not opposed to suggestions for improvement of it.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. Strategy, because tech skill is only a means to make one’s strategy appear on the screen.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Combos or First Hits? Why?
A. First hits because that is the most difficult part of Melee. Winning in the neutral position(getting the first hit) is what can lead into combos anyway, so without first hits combos could not exist.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. I don’t claim to have all of the answers to questions like these, but I believe that with a dedicated and supportive player base like the one SSBM still has that it can at least be expanded for a good while longer.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. Running a national circuit, obtaining sponsors(or finding a way to get more money involved in SSBM’s tournament scene), promotional videos/documentaries that accurately depict SSBM’s strong positive elements(Street Fighter/other traditional gaming communities have some of these and they seem very effective/hyped).

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. Organizing some of the aforementioned activities, or delegating authority to those that could do such things. Regular tier list updates/rule list updates/miscellaneous(matchup/etc?) discussion updates to let the community know that there is enough going on with SSBM to stimulate lots of intelligent thought and new ideas.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. I would use my knowledge and experience with SSBM and its community to add depth and clarity to discussions. If absolutely nothing else, my knowledge of Falco and his matchups would be useful when the MBR is constructing a tier list or having a matchup discussion.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.

1. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=12321779&postcount=5202
i. Description: A recent post I made concerning my personal improvement but how some of the principles I had discovered during my quest to improve could aid others in their journey to improve as players as well.
2. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showpost.php?p=12281679&postcount=5024
i. Description: A lengthy post made concerning confidence. Using tournament experience(Pound 5) to back my ideas up, I go from personal to general about what confidence can do for someone who wants to succeed in smash(or hopefully in anything they choose to do).
3. Link:
i. Description:
4. Link:
i. Description:
5. Link:
i. Description:

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.
1. Player:
i. Reason:
2. Player:
i. Reason:
3. Player:
i. Reason:

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?
1. Answer: I agree with Sirlin’s ideas of playing to win under the given rule set one is given. Sirlin did not really play smash so his ideas have to be adapted somewhat to our genre of games, but that does not mean that, at the core, SSBM is exempt from competitive fighting game principles.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:
I am very hopeful about the success of this new MBR and would really enjoy to be a part of continuing to develop Melee as a game and community through the MBR if possible.

Thanks to those reading this application.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dark Hart · Mar 18, 2011

Smashboards Username: Dr Peepee
Region: South
Primary Character(s): Falco
Secondary Character(s): Fox, Marth, Captain Falcon

REQUIRED

1. Q. How long have you been playing competitive melee?
A. Around 3 years and 9 months.

2. Q. How often do you attend tournaments? How familiar are you with your local scene? Your regional scene? The national/international scene?
A.I attend tournaments about once every three weeks on average(depends on local scene at the time). I am extremely connected with my area and try to get as involved as possible with improvement and organization in NC.
I know lots of talented and influential players within my own region as well and follow it as closely as possible.
Once one begins to talk about national/international players personal opponents begin to come to mind, but I know a wide variety of players and influential community members throughout the community.

3. Q. How would you classify yourself as a player relative to the current metagame? (beginner, average, high level, pro, etc.)
A. Pro

4. Q. Do you think the other individuals in your region would support you being a member of the MBR? Why?
A. Yes, because of my dedication to Melee and my understanding of it, as well as for my ability to argue coherently, or at least to the best of my ability to communicate my ideas.

5. Q. Do you consider yourself a discussion leader? Why?
A. Depends on the situation. A debate among a local/regional group I’m regularly part of I will gladly take the reins of a discussion. Among my peers that I am not as familiar with however, I sometimes tend to contribute only my base thoughts and nothing deeper on a subject unless specifically asked. This predicament could be changed with some hard work though I believe.

6. Q. Are you an active Tournament Organizer? If Yes, what are some recent tournaments you have hosted? If No, what are some ways you feel you contribute to your local scene despite not being a TO?
A. No, but I teach others in my local scene about Melee, as well as help organize dates for tournaments, smashfests, rulesets, and other logistics at times. I also am a part of other core facets of maintaining a local scene outside of tournaments(such as keeping players motivated).

7. Q. Do you feel that the current tier list is accurate? Why?
A. Yes and no. Yes because the MBR, to the best of its ability, voted on a list and that’s a great way to get a good mix on well-informed opinions so that a rounded out, intellectualized list is produced. No because this system could have imperfections(some members did not vote or others are going on outdated information, etc) and my personal tier list is based more on what I believe matchups and character potential mean for each character in a competitive environment(tournaments, very simply put) than on tournament results.

8. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended stage list is fair? Why?
A. Yes and no. Yes because there are only a few “strong” counterpick stages left on the current stagelist, so the first game of a set is not ridiculously important due to strong subsequent counterpicks. No because these stages could be extraneous in the first place and provide advantages that are still too strong(taking extra advantage in a matchup beyond what “neutral” counterpicks could confer).

9. Q. Do you feel that the current MBR recommended rule set is fair? Why?
A. I believe the current rule set is fair, but I would not opposed to suggestions for improvement of it.

10. Q. What is more important to you: Tech Skill or Strategy? Why?
A. Strategy, because tech skill is only a means to make one’s strategy appear on the screen.

11. Q. What is more important to you: Combos or First Hits? Why?
A. First hits because that is the most difficult part of Melee. Winning in the neutral position(getting the first hit) is what can lead into combos anyway, so without first hits combos could not exist.

12. Q. Does SSBM have a limited lifespan as a competitive community due to its age or any other factor? Why or why not?
A. I don’t claim to have all of the answers to questions like these, but I believe that with a dedicated and supportive player base like the one SSBM still has that it can at least be expanded for a good while longer.

13. Q. What do you think could be done to expand our community?
A. Running a national circuit, obtaining sponsors(or finding a way to get more money involved in SSBM’s tournament scene), promotional videos/documentaries that accurately depict SSBM’s strong positive elements(Street Fighter/other traditional gaming communities have some of these and they seem very effective/hyped).

14. Q. What do you think the MBR could do to stimulate the community?
A. Organizing some of the aforementioned activities, or delegating authority to those that could do such things. Regular tier list updates/rule list updates/miscellaneous(matchup/etc?) discussion updates to let the community know that there is enough going on with SSBM to stimulate lots of intelligent thought and new ideas.

15. Q. How do you think the MBR would benefit from your input?
A. I would use my knowledge and experience with SSBM and its community to add depth and clarity to discussions. If absolutely nothing else, my knowledge of Falco and his matchups would be useful when the MBR is constructing a tier list or having a matchup discussion.

OPTIONAL

1. Please provide up to 5 examples of contributions you have made to the melee community. Links to exceptional, informative posts are highly valued here.

1. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showpost....postcount=5202
i. Description: A recent post I made concerning my personal improvement but how some of the principles I had discovered during my quest to improve could aid others in their journey to improve as players as well.
2. Link: http://www.smashboards.com/showpost....postcount=5024
i. Description: A lengthy post made concerning confidence. Using tournament experience(Pound 5) to back my ideas up, I go from personal to general about what confidence can do for someone who wants to succeed in smash(or hopefully in anything they choose to do).
3. Link:
i. Description:
4. Link:
i. Description:
5. Link:
i. Description:

2. List up to three players you feel demonstrate good discussion ability or have outstanding contributions to the community and explain why you think they are a good example.
1. Player:
i. Reason:
2. Player:
i. Reason:
3. Player:
i. Reason:

3. Have you read Sirlin's theories regarding "Play to Win"? Do you agree or disagree? Why? How do you think these theories affect and apply to the Melee community?
1. Answer: I agree with Sirlin’s ideas of playing to win under the given rule set one is given. Sirlin did not really play smash so his ideas have to be adapted somewhat to our genre of games, but that does not mean that, at the core, SSBM is exempt from competitive fighting game principles.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/FINAL WORDS:
I am very hopeful about the success of this new MBR and would really enjoy to be a part of continuing to develop Melee as a game and community through the MBR if possible.

Thanks to those reading this application.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cactuar · Mar 18, 2011

Dark Hart said:
I'm a fool.

Uh? Care to explain?

Pi · Mar 18, 2011

lol he straight up C&P'd
the links don't even work cause they have ..... in them
haha

Cactuar · Mar 18, 2011

All of them work when I click on them.

They definitely will fail if you copy pasta them into your browser.

Dark Hart · Mar 18, 2011

Cactuar said:
Uh? Care to explain?

I wanted to troll Kevin

Strong Badam · Mar 18, 2011

Cactuar said:
All of them work when I click on them.

They definitely will fail if you copy pasta them into your browser.

The ones in Dr Peepee's post work. Dark Hart's don't, lol.

MBR Application Process is Closed

El Fuego

El Fuego

El Fuego

Smash Hero

Smash Ace

Deleted member

Guest

Smash Champion

Smash Hero

Smash Hero

El Fuego

Smash Master

Smash Hero

Smash Hero

Smash Champion

Smash Master

Smash Hero

Professional Nice Guy

Smash Master

Smash Journeyman

Smash Lord

Smash Champion

Smash Champion

Smash Hero

Smash Champion

Smash Champion

Deleted member

Guest

Smash Legend

Smash Hero

Smash Legend

Real Name No Gimmicks

Smash Legend

Real Name No Gimmicks

Super Elite

Thanks for Everything <3

Rejected by Azua

El Fuego

Smash Hero

El Fuego

Rejected by Azua

Super Elite

Information

Network