Home
Contents |
LoTA, The Lord (or Lady) of Total Annihilation
Another KoAA inspired title, with a different emphasis
The LoTA is a title marking the most adaptive, skillful, and insane of TA mod players, rather than the player with the best strategy and knowledge of a specific mod. As such, the rules are much more twisted and sadistic, with nearly every advantage given to the challenger.
Firstly, the LoTA title is attained for players of all TA-based mods, not just one of OTA, XTA, AA, FF, KuroTA, or TLL. Rather the Lord is expected to be either good at all of them, or flexible enough to adapt quickly to an unfamiliar TA mod. Non TA-based mods such as Nanoblobs, SWTA, TAWD, Gundam, etc are not to be used.
As per the usual:
1. The Lord/Lady gets bragging right and may choose a title such as
Prince XXXXX, Crusher of Peewees or
Lady YYYYY, She who owns you all on Speed Metal
Specific Noble title is up to the title-bearer whether King, Earl, Sir, Captain, or whatever as long as it is within standards of common decency.
2. The title-bearer is expected to put 'LoTA' in his name, but isn't required to. However, if you're going to fight for the title, you might as well wear it while you can.
3. Anyone can challenge the LoTA. If the Challenger is soundly defeated, he must wait roughly 3 days to re-challenge that title-holder.
4. Any tactic is allowed, no matter how silly. The point of this title is adaptation and insanity. However if sober, standard tactics net you the win, that is also acceptable.
5. The title is fought over three battles, best 2 out of 3 taking the title. Battles must be fought within 24 hours of the previous, although they may be fought back-to-back if the Lord wishes. The Lord may take on as many challengers as he wishes, but title is passed in order of the initial challenge being received. Also, he must notify all new challengers that they are in a queue, and then inform them when they are currently at the front of the queue. (When Possible) Thus, if Kixxe is Lord, and Lallante, Journier, and Sleksa all challenge him (in that order) and Lallante loses 2 battles, Journier wins 2, and Sleksa wins 2 (and before Journier wins his second battle), the title is passed to Journier, not Sleksa. If this is too confusing, don't worry. The rules get worse. In the case where title is forfeit due to a disqualification (rules violation), the title goes to the first challenger with a win, or if none, then the previous title holder.
6. The mod and map must be different in each of the 3 battles unless otherwise agreed to by both combatants. This means the mod must be different and the map must be different, not either one or the other. The mod is chosen before the battle is entered by the player with mod choice and may not be changed unless both players agree. The most recent or most balanced version of the mod is to be used unless specified and agreed on by both players. (Most balanced applies only in cases where a change has made the mod notably unbalanced relative to previous versions) Also, for the purposes of determining mods, XTA SE and XTA Pimped are considered the same, as are OTA mods with insignificant differences. Insignificant means such things as different models/pictures. Different units are considered a significant change. AA variants are all considered the same, but as per the terms above may be chosen if both players agree.
7. The map may be any map 20x20 or smaller as long as the filesize is reasonable. Any larger map may be vetoed by the other combatant if he feels it will tax his PC.
Game Setup
Every Battle
Resources
The challenger chooses 'standard' (1k/1k) or picks a resource and the amount. If the challenger made a change to one resource, the LoTA may choose the starting value of the other resource.
Unit Count and Disabling
The challenger chooses the number of units. The LoTA, however, may set a maximum limit of no less than 400 units. This is to maintain playability for LoTA's with slower machines.
The challenger may also opt to disable units. If so, he may begin by choosing one unit to disable. (Whether side-specific [in which case side is specified] or non-side-specific [equivalent on Both sides]) If the unit is specific to a side, the LoTA may counter by disallowing a side-specific unit from each opposing side. If not side-specific, the unit is disallowed on all sides.
Side-specific = Brawler, Peewee, Rapier, Goliath (most any combat unit)
Non-side specific = Energy Storage, KBOT lab, Construction Vehicle, Wind Generator
The challenger may stop disabling units at any time he chooses. After the challenger has disabled 3 units, the LoTA may choose to counter for every additional unit or halt the process of disabling. The LoTA may also now counter a non side-specific unit-disable with a different non side-specific unit-disable.
In the 3rd battle, the LoTA may not call a halt.
Example - (Mod AA)
- C - Wind Generators , LoTA must pass
- C - Brawler , LoTA - Goliath
- C - Moho Maker , LoTA must pass or may choose to halt - in which case no more units may be disabled
- C - Peewee , LoTA - Instigator
- C - Solar Collector, LoTA - Plasma Deflector
- C - Flash, LoTA - Leveler and Halt
[No more units may be disabled]
The point of this is to enable challengers to inflict gruesome pain on the LoTA and to add a level of strategy from unit disabling and countering. In this the LoTA benefits most from disabling key units of the opponent early. The Challenger benefits by disabling key units late and then stopping, which allows the LoTA to counter with only one to that last key loss.
Other Settings
The challenger may choose whether to have ghosted buildings and/or diminishing metal maker returns selected. The challenger also gets to choose whether the game is commander's death ends and whether dgun is limited.
Round Specific
First battle The challenger chooses the mod. The LoTA then chooses the map.
Second battle The LoTA chooses the mod. The challenger chooses the map.
Third battle The challenger chooses both. The LoTA may not call a halt in disabling units.
Can we play Teams?
Sure, team matches are encouraged as long as both players agree that the sides are reasonable. Rules are as above, with the following notes:
1. Start Boxes do not need to be used. Random or fixed is acceptable if the challenger selects it. However, if the challenger elects to choose start positions, the boxes should be arranged according to metal dispersal and the map should be reasonably symmetric. If the map is not symmetric, then the title-holder gets to choose which of the start boxes his team gets.
2. Any current challengers may use the win of the game as their first win regardless of whether they play on the LoTA's side or the Challenger's. The LoTA may also count it as a win against them if his side wins. He should consider this when selecting teammates. Only the opposition may use this as their second win. (No ousting the LoTA while fighting on his side.) Any challengers on the losing side will also have the loss counted against them.
3. The teams may be any size, but the LoTA or Challenger may set a max size if he feels the game will be unstable from too many people.
4. If the Challanger and LoTA both want XXXX to be their teammate, it's up to XXXX to decide which team to play on.
Good Grief!! Why?!? Whatever made you come up with such a ridiculous ruleset?
Well, initially I thought the King of <some mod> was silly, then I realized I could use people's love of titles to get some more strange (and fun!) games going. I'm insane and perfectedly suited to such rules. Also, I'm so bad at TAS, I'll take any advantage I can get. Remember, you don't have to set anything non-standard if you are the challenger. You can play a completely vanilla game. If you're the LoTA, however, you're in for some difficult times.
Now that I've won it, I don't like having this title!
Give it to someone else then. Either the person you took it from or the first one mad enough to challenge you for it.
Previous LoTA
His Majesty King Maelstrom the Almighty. Challenges: 1, Held the crown for ages, forfeit cause no one was challenging
Current LoTA
Lord Frank