As before, preference will be given to those who did not compete previously, so please mention it in your posting if you want it taken into consideration.
In this competition, allowing for the increased traffic in the StripCreator.com forums, there will be a possibility that I will allow sixteen entrants. When you enter, please mention if you definitely want to be in (and anything that makes you more eligible) or if you only want to be in if it goes to sixteen players. If you just want to be a judge, please indicate if you would be willing to be one of the sixteen if some extras are required, though you can be register as a definite non-playing judge if you like, as in previous cups. If, within 24 hours, we have close to sixteen signed up to play (maybe thirteen or more) then I will call for extras to fill the numbers. If that fails, it will be played with only eight after all.
I am going to try an experiment with the rules, whether we get sixteen players or not. Round one matches will have two rules each, provided by myself. Round two will be different - one rule in each match provided by myself, and one each from the two players defeated in round one by the two participants, for a total of three. If we have sixteen players, we will go to round three the same way - two rules from me, one each from the two eliminated by the two participants in each match, for a total of four.
If we only have eight players, round three will be the same as before, with six rules emailed to the judge by the six eliminated players. If we get sixteen, only those who were eliminated in rounds two or three before being eliminated will be eligible to submit a final round rule, making the standard six rule final. As always, each match in every round will be decided by public vote.
Okay, a summary of how it will work, in case anyone is confused...
Round 1 - [eight and sixteen players] Two rules made up by the judge.
Round 2 - [eight and sixteen players] One rule from the judge, one rule each from the two players beaten in round one by the two participants in each match.
Round 3 - [eight players] One rule each from the six players eliminated in rounds one and two.
Round 3 - [sixteen players] Two rules from the judge, one rule each from the two players beaten in round three by the two participants in each match.
Round 4 - [sixteen players] One rule each from the six players eliminated in rounds two and three.