Terra Nova Duos - $4300+ 2v2 Announcement

What?
Terra Nova Duos is a 2v2 tournament for high level Age of Empires 2 players. Similar to Terra Nova from 2020, it comes with a very interesting format that will take both players and viewers around the world, exploring a vast variety of maps sure to keep things interesting!

In addition to this, the Duos Edition features a map contest for scripters of the community interested in having their maps featured in a highly competitive team tournament, and a chance of winning a portion of the map contest prize pool of $300. More details in the map contest section below.

The event will feature a prize pool of $4000 to boot, sponsored by TheMadCADer, with community contributions matched up to $1000. This makes for a potential total prize pool of a whooping $6000+. There is a guaranteed prize share for the top 12 teams, with the exact distribution detailed in the prize section below.

For whom?
There are no Elo restrictions for this tournament, so anyone is free to sign up. We will take the top 40 teams and give the 8 strongest teams* direct access to the main event, while the remaining 32 will play a single elimination qualifier series to define the 16 remaining teams.

*based on ladder and tournament ELO.

When?
The timeframe for the tournament spans as follows:

- Sign-ups and map submissions:
March 28th - April 10th.

- Qualifiers:
April 11th - April 17th.

- Group Stage (5 rounds):
April 18th - May 22nd.

- Playoffs:
May 23rd - June 12th.

*The time frame might be adjusted slightly to accommodate for concurrent events, and any changes will be properly notified via the pertinent platforms.

How?
Sign-ups are now open for teams! Join the tournament discord server, then register your team in the "sign-ups" channel. Remember to also assign yourself an appropriate role to unlock additional channels.

Map submissions are now open, as well. Check the map contest rules (also available in the Discord server) and begin creating. We're looking forward to see what you can bring to the tournament!

Spoiler: Maps

The tournament features 5 different map pools, to be played in different weeks each. The map pools feature the following maps:

- Africa: [included in Qualifier:] Gorge, Jungle Swamp, Marooned, Ounianga, [Added in Group Stage:] Badlands, Desert Bara, Contest Winner.
- Americas: [included in Qualifier:] Bermuda, Clearing, Painted Desert, Ushuaia, [Added in Group Stage:] Patagonia, Tenochtitlan, Contest Winner.
- Asia: [included in Qualifier:] Arena-ception, Huangshan, Shorelands, Umm al Samim, [Added in Group Stage:] Fissure, Takeshima, Contest Winner.
- Europe: [included in Qualifier:] Loch Ness, Ruins (Regicide), Sand Trap, Savonia, [Added in Group Stage:]Frozen Forest, Rivulet, Contest Winner.
- Oceania: [included in Qualifier:] Lagoon, Meltdown, Palm Valley, Te Fiti, [Added in Group Stage:] Hydroplains, Sumatra, Contest Winner

A map guide document will also be provided soon for everyone’s convenience.

Spoiler: Map Contest

Scripters may submit only one map per region, with a maximum of 5 map submissions per participant.

The jury members will individually evaluate each submission, and no point system will be used. Instead, the evaluation will be based on several factors (such as competitiveness, uniqueness, visual appeal, etc) that each judge will use to give a map an overall rating.

Submissions must consist of your own work, and down below are a few things to keep in mind:

- Originality. You may use pre-existing maps of your authorship, but custom work for the tournament may have higher chances of getting a higher rating.
- Uniqueness. We’re aiming to include a wide range of map types, representing different regions of the world. We would prefer maps that represent regions or locations that aren't already present in the map pool, as well as map types that are different than what we
currently have available.
- Visuals. A visually appealing map may have higher chances of getting a high rating if done right. Good use of terrain types for visual effect, as well as embellishments in general will be well accepted, as long as it doesn't get in the way.
- Xs scripting: While we value creativity, we require participants to not use xs scripting.

Maps may be updated any number of times before the deadline, with the most up-to-date version being used for evaluation.

At the end of the contest submission phase, 5 maps will be picked by the jury, with each winner banking $60.

*We reserve the right to make changes to the winning maps if needed.

Spoiler: Prize Pool

The current prize for players is $4000, and community contributions will be matched up to $1000, for a potential total prize of $6000. If you’re interested in contributing towards the prize pool, contact TheMadCADer on Discord (TheMadCADer#1431).

The prize distribution will be as follows:
1st - 30%
2nd - 20%
3rd - 10%
4th - 10%
5th - 5%
6th - 5%
7h - 5%
8th - 5%
9th to 12th - 2.5%

Community Donations:
$50-zloty
$100-Lord_Patito

Spoiler: Streaming

The tournament will be open for anyone to cover. We will provide a few requirements (command text, banner use) soon, as well as a few resources for those interested in covering the event.

Spoiler: Rules and Settings

Refer to the Rules and Settings Handbook thread to get access to the complete rules and settings.

Spoiler: Admins

Huehuecoyotl22 (Huehuecoyotl22#3717)
Lord Patito (weekdays only Lord patito#1970)
NovaAoE (NOVA#9058)

 

Reserved for updates.

03/28 - Sign-ups are open! Join the discord server to register your team.
03/29 - Map submissions are open as well! You can read the map contest rules (also available in the discord server) and begin crafting.
03/04 - Full handbook released, as well as map guides and qualifier map pools. Find them on the Rules and Settings Handbook thread as well as the Map Guides thread.

 

Go Go Nova! After the RoTC that you hosted. I am really excited for this tournament as well!

 

super nice to see 2v2, thanks for hosting it!

 

new maprinos

 

Nice! 2v2 can be very exciting!

 

Not Aoe 4

 

ohh honey I'm back. Super hyped for this :D

 

The event will feature a prize pool of $4000 to boot, sponsored by TheMadCADer, with community contributions matched up to $1000. This makes for a potential total prize pool of a whooping $6000+. There is a guaranteed prize share for the top 12 teams, with the exact distribution detailed in the prize section below.

Congratulations Nova! Looking forward to this <3

Is there no chance to get Microsoft (Nili?) to match the same amount of money you guys already have?

 

I just hit Ctrl+F and went to find the actually important stuff. What is Arena-ception and when can I play it?

 

Congratulations Nova! Looking forward to this <3

Is there no chance to get Microsoft (Nili?) to match the same amount of money you guys already have?

This is unlikely I believe, but we might be able to collaborate for future events if all goes well

 

I just hit Ctrl+F and went to find the actually important stuff. What is Arena-ception and when can I play it?

The map pack is already available

 

Sign-ups are now open! Join our tournament server and fill in the team information in the sign-ups channel.

 

Very very very deserved Nova - I am super happy for you and hope the tournament will be a grait succsess

 

Pog. Looking forward to this.

 

Aoe2 = instant W

 

hope it turns out good.
May sherlock robert ernest kazan bless you nova

 

Important updates today! The full handbook is available to everyone and you can access it in the Rules and Settings Handbook thread.

The Qualifier Map pool is public for all to see which maps will be used next week. If you'd like to get a glimpse of what the maps are like without opening the game, you may direct yourselves to the Map Guides thread and check the map reference cards with key information about them.

There is now less than one week left for teams to register and scripters to submit maps for the contest! As of this point, there are 24 teams registered, as well as 10 map submissions.

 

Important updates today! The full handbook is available to everyone and you can access it in the Rules and Settings Handbook thread.

The Qualifier Map pool is public for all to see which maps will be used next week. If you'd like to get a glimpse of what the maps are like without opening the game, you may direct yourselves to the Map Guides thread and check the map reference cards with key information about them.

There is now less than one week left for teams to register and scripters to submit maps for the contest! As of this point, there are 24 teams registered, as well as 10 map submissions.

Out of curiosity, has there been practice sets played or player opinion that are generally gathered for the maps that are custom made for evaluation.

 

Out of curiosity, has there been practice sets played or player opinion that are generally gathered for the maps that are custom made for evaluation.

Depends on the maps and also for some we know, for some we don't.

- 15 of the maps have been used in some tournaments in the past, but often not in 2v2: Badlands, Desert Bara, Gorge, Ounianga, Bermuda, Clearing, Painted Desert, Tenochtitlan, Shorelands, Takeshima, Umm al Samim, Loch Ness, Rivulet, Savonia (=90 % reskin of Chrazini's Greenland), Lagoon.

- 10 of the maps are 1-2-3+ years old, but have not been used in a tournament yet. So there have been testing and some variations, but most likely not on the highest level: Jungle Swamp, Marooned, Arena-ception, Fissure, Frozen Forest, Ruins, Sand Trap, Hydroplains, Meltdown, Palm Valley.

- Only 3 maps (Huangshan, Te Fiti and Sumatra) are completely new maps created in March 2022; Ushuaia and Patagonia are new too, but are being used in King of Americas 3 too, so they have some high-level testing in 1v1 [3+2 maps].

- How much any players who aim to participate in the tournament have tested the maps, we don't know; We have received a little feedback, but don't know if that was from multiplayer feedback or just tests in single player/vs. AI.

- We will have a show match this week with 5 of the maps, including 4 which did not have much or no play yet in tournaments (Marooned, Bermuda, Huangshan, Sand Trap, Meltdown).

- The contest maps will see some testing among the jury, but often also have had some by creators with their friends and we will probably see a high-level show match for 5 picked maps next week.

 

- We will have a show match this week with 5 of the maps, including 4 which did not have much or no play yet in tournaments (Marooned, Bermuda, Huangshan, Sand Trap, Meltdown).

Bermuda is being used in King of Americas too! It's a really cool map, for now it was played over 10 times at a 1700+ Level and no big issues/bugs/unfairness was found!

 

Thank you zloty for $50 contribution, much appreciated!

 

A second division for teams that don't make the top 24 will take place.
It will be supervised by Huehuecoyotl22, DaisyChain, sieste and teapotmaster.

Prize money will be $60 for the first place and $40 for the 2nd place.

It wil also start with a group stage with 4 groups of 6 (24 teams in total) on April 18, with the same settings as the main event.

You can register on the Terra Nova Duos Discord server in the #2nd-div-registration channel the same way as for the main event's qualifier (teams of 2-3 players) until April 17, 21:59 GMT, seeding on April 17, 22:00 GMT.

You are allowed to register, even if you make the top 40, meaning you get into the main event qualifier,
but if you make it into the top 24 there, your registration will not be considered, because you can't be
in both divisions.

After the group stage, teams who place #4-6 in their main event groups can continue in the playoff stage of the 2nd division (see picture; if a #4 team does not want to continue, the #5 team from their group would take their spot, etc., and their opponent, who would be a team who placed #2 or #3 in the 2nd division group stage would receive a free advance to the 2nd Ro16).

Any questions for admins regarding the second division before and during the event can be asked in the #questions-for-admins channel in the "TND 2nd Division" section. Please rather ask there, as all 4 of us will do this voluntarily and not all be available at all times, so a private message to just one of us might not be answered quickly.

 

The sign-up and submission deadline has come and gone. Here with you are the teams to participate in the qualifiers, as well as the teams moving straight to the round of 8. We will share the seeding document once the permissions are set for public sharing.

- Move directly to the main event -

Argentina A
dogel
GamerLegion A (GL A)
GamerLegion B (GL B)
Perfect Couple
SalzZ
Suomi A
White Wolf Palace A (WWP A)

- Teams playing a qualifier round -

Aftermath Z (aM Z) vs Imagine having a team name
Les Baguettes vs No Practice
ConCa vs darvoi's Carrot
Dragon in Bear's Shadow vs BK Faranini
Up2IMP vs Kurtlar Vadisi
Ybati vs Chocobo Fans
White Wolf Palace B (WWP B) vs Fox Beta
KGB Team vs Rulers of Rome (RoR)
Douches&Staches vs HyM
Sanber vs Seljuks
Denmark A vs DarKSidE A
Sleepy's vs TRMihai
SoboZ vs Sun (SuN)
Professor and his Muppet vs CZ
Fish Fry vs QueNaNina
Combi Team vs GerAut Reunion

*Update: There was a missing value for the calculation which I've corrected for now. I've updated the list above accordingly.

 

Update regarding Group A:

Due to personal constraints, ConCa has stepped down from the tournament. Their spot will be taken by darvoi's Carrot instead. Teams from Group A will thus be facing them instead. Thanks for understanding.