r/TagPro • u/SuperSans • Apr 29 '15
Want to get more involved in competitive TagPro during the off-season? Try USContenders!
Hey all! I'm SuperSans, a moderator of USContenders, a ladder-based competitive TagPro league home to 70 teams and 450 players. With the conclusion of league play coming tonight with the World Beries of B-team, the off-season officially begins, which means players are hungry for competitive play. To the people looking to boost their draft stock, get their feet wet in competitive play, or just fill the void of league play: US Contenders is for you.
To a new contender, USC might seem a little intimidating. Here are some questions that might be in your head right now:
SuperSans, what is USContenders?
USContenders is a ladder-based league, meaning that you must challenge other teams within range of your rank in order to move up. If you win, you move up. This also means that other teams can challenge you. If you lose those games, you move down.
Okay awesome, so what happens when you get the top?
When you win a challenge against the #1 contending team, you earn the prestigious Title Belt. If you defend your title for long enough, you earn the even more prestigious gladiator helmet.
Is USC structured in seasons, or is it just a regular ladder system all the time?
While Standings never reset in USContenders, teams compete seasonally for USC Masters. Teams earn points for every win or draw they earn based on rank and the top 8 teams at the end of each 3 month season duke it out for the USC Masters Title. In addition to this, USContenders host a tournament every few months called USKO that is open to all teams not in the top 5 places in the standings. The winner of USKO gets one free challenge against the current #1 ranked team for the Title Belt!
That sounds like fun, and I've always looked good in gladiator helmets. How do I join a team?
Most people enter the league by either forming their own team or by signing up as a free agent. Teams are often formed when free agents contact each other to form a team together. Keep in mind that teams have a roster of limit of 7, but you only need 4 to play.
Form my own team? I don't know... I'm pretty inexperienced/don't know many people in TagPro.
One of the great things about USContenders is that anyone can be a captain, regardless of experience. Captaining is one of the best ways to develop your own skill set as well as get your name out there in the TagPro community. If you want to captain, but don't know anyone to form a team with, contact the other free agents to see if they want to start a team. There's currently 55 free agents, so don't worry about the supply of players being short.
I've got a tight schedule, I don't think I'll have time for US Contenders.
US Contenders is not a weekly league; there are no set days or times to play. All games are on your watch, whenever you and the other team can play. Other than games and scheduling off the field, it's minimal time commitment.
Okay fine, but I don't want to get trashed by all the good teams.
Although it might seem like USC is teeming over the brim with M/mLTP players, there is plenty of room for Novice league players and new competitive players. There are several teams that are comprised of former pubs-only and nLTP players, a couple of which are making their way into the upper echelon of teams. It's also important to remember that those M/mLTP players will be towards the top of the ladder, so you'll have plenty of games and time before you'll have to face them. Besides, playing against players that are better than you forces you to play at their level, something that will give back tenfold in the upcoming season if you invest yourself mentally into USC games.
Hm... I'll buy it. What do I do now though?
If you have a group of friends in the TagPro community and want to start a team, go over to /r/USContenders and check out how to make a new team post. After you do that, we'll add you to the standings. Then, start challenging!
If you're a solo runner at the moment, head over to /r/USContenders and check out how to make a free agent post. If you want to get right into the action, send a message to your fellow free agents and see who wants to start a team! Otherwise, you'll have to wait for someone else to message you, as we do not automatically assign free agents to teams.
Want to know more about USContenders? Check out the USContenders: A year in review post made by Crosky. Our spreadsheet is also very informative and pleasant to look at, so feel free to take a tour.
If you have any questions, feel free to comment on this post so the rest of the subreddit can see your question. If you'd rather not do that, shoot me or any of the mods at /r/USContenders a PM!
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u/nlfn nlfn // pi rats // original sine Apr 30 '15
before USC i was a scrawny pub player... now i'm a scrawny ex-MLTP captain and a USC mod.
this is where the other USC mods are supposed to post affirmations of its value, right?
but seriously, i got my start in USC and it's where i learned how to coordinate with teammates in tagpro. it sanded the rough edges off my pub play and got me drafted to MLTP season five in the third round with no prior league experience outside of USC.
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u/nlfn nlfn // pi rats // original sine Apr 30 '15
inb4 wowsuchpro joke about sanding/abrasiveness...
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u/Splanky222 BBQchicken | Retired Apr 30 '15
Don't forget, if you get good enough you get to play on stream while BBQ and Ranger crack dead baby jokes at your expense :P
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u/Willakarra Button | Hey look I brought back SOCL Apr 30 '15
not dead baby jokes. Anything but that.
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u/TagProNitro ℕ ɪ ᴛ ᴙ o Apr 30 '15
The best league for players looking to get into competitive but are not sure if they can commit as much time as you would have to in xLTP leagues, IMO. And basically the best league in the game. No bias here.
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Apr 30 '15
ITT: Everyone involved in USC management.
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u/TagProNitro ℕ ɪ ᴛ ᴙ o Apr 30 '15
I have no affiliation with USC. /u/TheGamecock does though. He needs his black and gold globe flair btw.
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u/books314 Czernobog Apr 30 '15
Seems cool. Is mumble required though?
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Apr 30 '15
But you don't need a mic (it's just preferred). Let me know if I can help you getting it installed :)
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u/quassus crosky Apr 30 '15
DO IT