Welcome to the Informational Thread of the ICS on
WDWMagic.com!
We’re glad that you’ve decided to join our merry band of future Imagineers! So, you’re probably wondering, what exactly is the ICS? Well, for starters, the ICS is the semi-official governing body of the competitions that take place on this forum. The ICS is sponsored by TAFI (The Alliance of Future Imagineers), but that’s not important right now. What is important is getting you up to speed on how the ICS works and what role you can play in it!
A Brief History of the ICS –
The ICS started in the fall of 2013 when a few members of the WDWMagic Imagineering forum came up with an idea to standardize the various competitions that had popped up in over the summer and fall of 2013. This group wanted to establish a system by which an end-of-the-year champion could be established. They agreed that while it was great to win one competition, wouldn’t it be even better to be counted as the best for an entire year.
The idea was a tough one to see through. Issues, both logistical and personal, quickly arose and the project was almost shelved entirely. However, mid-way through 2014 the idea was resurrected by the same group who had initially proposed it. After many long days, and longer nights, of deliberation, discussion, and debate as to how the system should work, this is the system that we believe will work best for what we have in mind.
The ICS Schedule –
Throughout the year, the ICS sponsors tournaments in which competitors receive points based on their results. These tournaments are divided up roughly into three basic timeframes: January-April, May-June, and July-November, with December being reserved for the Elite Eight Tournament. These competitions are hosted by members of the WDWMagic Imagineering forum community and can be hosted by any member of the community. Traditionally, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a competition based loosely on the television show The Apprentice, has taken residence in the July-November slot. An updated schedule will be posted below. Should you have interest in hosting a competition in one of these slots, or in another timeframe should the opportunity arise, please contact
@jdmdisney99,
@LittleGiants16, or
@Zweiland for more information.
(It should be noted that not all competitions hosted in the WDWMagic forums are ICS official competitions, nor are they required to be. Should you like to have competitors in your competition compete for ICS points, however, it must be an official ICS competition.)
The Points Ranking System –
The most significant part of the ICS, and the system by which the competitors for the Elite Eight Tournament are chosen, is the points ranking system. The points ranking system, while complicated in name, is actually quite simple in practice. For every person you beat in an official ICS competition’s final standings, you receive one point. Simple as that.
Let’s try an example. Let’s say you participate in a ten person ICS sanctioned competition and finish in third. Because you finished in third, you beat seven people and would receive seven points for your success. These seven points would be added to any points you received in other ICS sanctioned competitions and would combine to make your total ICS Points Ranking System tally. Come December, a tie will be broken using tiebreaker rules which include head-to-head match-ups, the number of competitions each member has participated in, and other such statistics.
Hosts for competitions also receive points, and their points calculation is just as simple. For hosting a competition, the host receives the amount of points equal to half of the number of contestants in the competition. In the ten person competition example, the host would receive five points. Should there be multiple hosts for a competition, the total number of host points will be divided amongst the total number of hosts. Guest hosts, or any other host who does not participate as fully as the main host, will receive no points.
These points do reset each January 1.
The Conversationalists –
The “governing body” of the ICS is the TAFI Conversationalists. Governing body was intentionally put in quotation marks so as to indicate that there is little governing that actually needs done with a group such as this. However, this group serves to authenticate any competitions that seek to be ICS sanctioned as well as adjudicate any conflicts or decisions that arise in ICS competitions. Mostly, however, this group simply strives to keep the ICS on track throughout the year so that the end of year Elite Eight Tournament can get off without a hitch.
This group will change from year to year, however the system by which this will change is still to be determined. Stay turned for more information regarding appointments/election to the conversationalists.
Elite Eight Tournament –
The final tournament of the year for the ICS is the ICS Elite Eight Tournament. The top-eight point-getters from the ICS Points Rankings System for that year will participate in a single elimination, knockout tournament to see which Imagineer reigns supreme for that year. The format may or may not change from year to year, depending on the host, but will be comprised of the top-eight ICS points-getters from that given year.
Congratulations! You’ve read the full run down of the ICS and are now ready to participate in our little yearlong tournament. If you have any questions, please reach out to
@LittleGiants16,
@jdmdisney99 or
@Zweiland for more information. Thanks for reading and, again, welcome to the ICS!
...I've never particularly liked the format of the Archives page on the TAFI site. I know, that sounds a bit picky, and it kind of is, but I have a few minor changes that may be good if people like them.
I'm excited to join the club of fellow hosts.