Despite my recent set back in the OBBA, (my vamps got crushed in the first game of the season), I think I do enjoy the tournament play in League more than ranked. The Cherrypicking topic has come up on more than a few occasions and quite recently at that. Since Ranked is a free for all, it's bound to happen. But in tournament play and leagues, you have a set schedule in front of you and you play it. That's it. No more games. I'm involved not only in OBBA, but also the AFL, the OCCS, and a few others, including the Stunty Cup.

OCCS lets you play matches outside of their tournaments as long as your not in one. Currently, I'm taking my League team Dying to Play You to each of their tournaments in turn, being careful to stay under the cap for each. Sometimes this requires shedding a coach or a recently "acquired" zombie. Theoretically you don't have to take them in turn, you can drop out for awhile I suppose, but I created Dying to Play You under the premise that they would try and win the cup. So I try and get into everyone that I can.

AFL and OBBA allow "friendlies" between seasons, though AFL's version is less structured as you could get as many games as you wanted as long as you come in below the Commish's stated TR limit. OBBA assigned either 1 or 2 matches to teams, but you had to arrange them yourselves. Even with that "flex time" between scheduled seasons, the course of team development is alot stricter and perhaps narrower. You don't see too many crazy things, though the undead team I recently played in the AFL had a pair of absolutely killer mummies. Main things is, I don't feel picked in this environment. Now, my opponents in the OBBA are probably going to have an easier time with me since I lost two blodge vamps and my TR hit the floor of the division. What I'm hoping is that my next game will yield some good handicaps and great winnings so that I can compete with the next team. Because of the schedule, I do know approximately what I'm up against (my future opponents still have to play their own scheduled matches). So even at a disadvantage, at least I can get an understanding of what I'm up against.

In any event, I don't like being picked, I'm sure no else does. I try to find even matches on gamefinder. People want no part of my Amazon team for some reason (2 blitzers with guard and a few linos with block, one of whom is niggled, come on people). I'm sure I've been guilty of it in the past and I remember a few times when I was able to turn the tables on someone who obviously thought they were getting a pick (I don't know what it says about me, but I find that quite satisfying).

Anyway, I like the structure afforded in League and while Ranked is fun (I'm addicted to SMACKS for some terrible reason) I like the tournaments and leagues I participate in a little better..