I think that moving the age from 18 down to 16 would increase the popularity in competitive teams. Take 55 hp monks for example, an amazing team, well worth going to a WTS but can’t due to a couple of their players not being 18. I think it really hurts the competitive side. Let’s face it any 16/17 year old that gets to a WTS are going to be the same as an 18 year old. Personally I feel you couldn’t go any younger than 16 because of legal issues. Is that the current reason for the age brackets? If you were to change it to 16 I think there would be a lot more teams in the WTS qualifiers.
A huge example of this age limit hurting teams is the EU qualifiers. The event was really hyped up then when it came around, 4 teams had turned up, just 4 teams for such an amazing opportunity? I don’t think this is due to not wanting to go but due to the age.
I suspect there are certain things that happen behind the scenes at WTS that minors should never have to witness.
Why is it that those “certain things” should effect a minor’s ability to compete? And if you’re implying that these “certain things” count as bad behavior, then maybe those “certain things” shouldn’t be happening in the first place.
I suspect there are certain things that happen behind the scenes at WTS that minors should never have to witness.
Why is it that those “certain things” should effect a minor’s ability to compete? And if you’re implying that these “certain things” count as bad behavior, then maybe those “certain things” shouldn’t be happening in the first place.
don’t ask me! i don’t know anything, i’m just suspicious XD
Personally I feel you couldn’t go any younger than 16 because of legal issues. Is that the current reason for the age brackets? If you were to change it to 16
Yes. Under 18s would need some sort of parental consent, but it’s probably brings up a load of other issues.
Random Engineering // Trixxti // Random Noises (worst thief eu)
Svanir Appreciation Society [SAS]
The absolute lack of comprehension of federal and state laws, in the US alone, in this thread baffles me.
Would it open potential? Sure. The problem is, the varying state and federal laws that create a different set of rules for compensation, time, as well as interaction issues, makes the idea completely unreasonable.
You also have to consider chaperon, compensation, health and welfare, and other things.
In order to have a minor (anyone under 18) they have to be present with a parent or legal guardian. Also such things can be considered “gambling”, even in contests of skill, as you pay an entry fee to compete and a “chance” to win money. And in the US, gambling is restricted to age 18, or higher depending on the state.
Plus there are liability issues that go along with allowing a minor. If a minor gets injured while competing in an event, that opens the hosts up to all sorts of legal actions. In the end there is just too much to worry about, and too many variables to take into consideration to make it worth those hosting such events time.
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It’s the chain I beat you with until you
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The main reason only 4 teams competed in EU was proof of valid passports for all 5 members who could compete.
So not only did you have to qualify, you had to get -all- 5 of your members to provide valid passports BEFORE you were even permitted to attend the qualifier.
Less of an issue for NA since most players competing were U.S. citizens and so passports (which can be a ridiculously long process) were not an issue.
The main reason only 4 teams competed in EU was proof of valid passports for all 5 members who could compete.
So not only did you have to qualify, you had to get -all- 5 of your members to provide valid passports BEFORE you were even permitted to attend the qualifier.
Less of an issue for NA since most players competing were U.S. citizens and so passports (which can be a ridiculously long process) were not an issue.
I don’t get it. I mean, I doubt there are a lot of illegal immigrants among top players, and most of them live in a country with a functioning administration. Why wouldn’t they have a passport?
The main reason only 4 teams competed in EU was proof of valid passports for all 5 members who could compete.
So not only did you have to qualify, you had to get -all- 5 of your members to provide valid passports BEFORE you were even permitted to attend the qualifier.
Less of an issue for NA since most players competing were U.S. citizens and so passports (which can be a ridiculously long process) were not an issue.
I don’t get it. I mean, I doubt there are a lot of illegal immigrants among top players, and most of them live in a country with a functioning administration. Why wouldn’t they have a passport?
Because you don’t instantly get passports as birthrights in countries?
You need to apply for a passport, pay the fee and wait the long period… or pay more to expedite it so that you only have a wait a slightly less long period.
The problem is, especially with the Europe, is the large amount of legal differences within said continent due to states or countries. There are so many variances in law regarding age in regards to parental responsibility, wages, legal rights, drinking, driving, travelling, health and safety, insurance, courts, age of consent etc etc etc
The only real constant is the age of 18 being seen as pretty much an adult where you get a majority of legal restrictions on your life lifted.
So to open up the WTS for u18s, it would be a legal and logistical nightmare.
There’s probably legal reasons they can’t give cash prizes to under-18s. And remember, this is an international tournament so they have to pick a minimum age that’s legal in ALL countriies eligible to join. So unless you want to create a global advocacy group to change US, EU, Canadian, and Chinese legislation, there’s nothing you can do.
You need to apply for a passport, pay the fee and wait the long period… or pay more to expedite it so that you only have a wait a slightly less long period.
I doubt that paying 100$ every five years was THE main reason there were not more european teams. In addition to the fact that many europeans actually leave their country from time to time, so passport are not exactly rare birds.
Some states within the U.S. forbid minors from winning cash prizes of any sort.
This also applies to some countries as well.
You also have to put into consideration any promotions that Anet can use with
these type of tournaments. If they allow minors, you run into the issue of having
to get permission from their parents for any advertisements with their likeness.
Within the U.S. and other countries, minors can not legally agree to enter into a contract with out parental consent.
This is me speaking of course, what Anets actual reason is up to them to speak about.
Former PvP Forum Specialist 2015-2016
Fort Aspenwood
I would have competed in the last WTS and future ones if I was able to. Therefore I am obviously in favor of the rules being changed… That being said.. logistically it doesnt make since for them to take on the risk… Very few players are both underage and competitive enough to play in WTS…. Not worth it for them..
You need to apply for a passport, pay the fee and wait the long period… or pay more to expedite it so that you only have a wait a slightly less long period.
I doubt that paying 100$ every five years was THE main reason there were not more european teams. In addition to the fact that many europeans actually leave their country from time to time, so passport are not exactly rare birds.
Well to be honest, i’m european and i don’t have a passport as i just don’t travel. I see no reason to get 1 either, sight seeing the world doesn’t interest me much anyway. However a rush job for a passport is probably less than a week. I can’t see in how anet can be looser with their rules. Say if i’d be in a team and wanted to try to qualify, i’d only want to buy a passport if i knew i could go! Otherwise i’d be wasting 100+€ for a teeny tiny chance of actually being able to go because teams like TCG and oRNG are far better than most new teams and other veteran teams.
So they could as well just check age solely. Every 18+ in europe can get a passport succesfully when applying for it as long as they’re not criminals! Just plan the qualifiers further ahead of the tournament in question, say a month or so, gives the winners who didn’t have a passport yet enough time to apply an emergency (which like i said, takes less than a week in belgium). I’m pretty certain noone would care paying extra for a rush job passport when the 4th position already gets 500$/person (more than a rush passport).
But in my opinion the primary reason why you got so little participants is the fact there are no other rewards in the tournament. TOL and TOG (this served for deciding who qualified for WTS #1 iirc) were extremely popular because getting in second round already got you a mini, it’s at least something, and you didn’t need to beat the best of the best to get a decent amount of stuff. If the only prize in the tourney is the ticket to WTS you can know a small group of teams will try because in europe there are 3 active teams that are far above the other active teams, so why bother if your chances to actually win are less than 0.1%. You’d be wasting time for absolutely nothing.
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