IFL Hiatus

[Kalamere]

I've been holding off on saying anything because IFL doesn't usually take place for a number of months still and it didn't seem terribly relevant. In the last few days though I've heard rumblings that some people plan to abstain from Hydra because they don't want to do both it and then IFL in the Fall... so I guess there is some relevance to saying this now.

There will be no IFL season this year.

I fully expect to bring the league back in 2017 if there's interest. This isn't a case of me going anywhere or giving up on the league, I just think as a community we could use a little bit of a break. Some of you will disagree with me on that, and that's cool - we're all going to have our own opinions on things. It felt to me though that towards the end of the last IFL season folks were getting burned out. Between IFL, Hydra, Ragnarok, Madness, we had a constant schedule of these long / large events over the last couple years and it was just a little too much.

I want to stand down a little bit. Have a quieter year this year and let people catch their breath. I feel like interest in regular dueling has already taken a slight bit of an uptick in the last month or so and with any luck we'll see that continue.

Anyway, I thought it appropriate to make this known now and I hope there's not too much disappointment. I have a lot of fun with IFL and think other people do too, so it will be back next year.

[King]

[King]

Though crying aside. Will things like Rank carry over from the 2015 season to 2017?

[Kalamere]

Yes, the results of 2015 will translate into ranks for 2017. This is not a full reboot like after the 7 year break.

~Kal

[King]

Coolio. Thanks for answering.

[Claire Gallows]

I had similar thoughts when it came to Ragnarok too, I definitely see where you're coming from. That said, while Hydra was my first real team event, IFL was the one that convinced me that team dueling was the bees knees. I'm sad to see it gone for the year and look forward to seeing it back next year.

[Goldglo]

::sadness::

Totally understand where you're coming from, though. Appreciate your looking out for the overall community

On the plus side, that's a whole extra year of IC funds from TMF championship gear

--Matt

[Sylus Kurgen]

Might not be a bad idea to get events like ours into a set rotation. Hydra one summer, IFL the next, then Ragnarok, and so on. That might be something for us to discuss and figure out.

[King]

Hydra one summer, IFL the next, then Ragnarok, and so on.

deargodpleaseno

Waiting 2 years for a chance to participate in the league of your choosing is just madness.

[JewellRavenlock]

I think a better discussion, instead of a rotation which could work but will always please a minority over the majority, is discussing what the community can handle at a specific time. What is best for the community at that time?

Edited to clarify: I think a rotation might be good for the leagues, but does that make it good for the community?

[Claire Gallows]

Hydra one summer, IFL the next, then Ragnarok, and so on.

deargodpleaseno

Waiting 2 years for a chance to participate in the league of your choosing is just madness.

No, Madness is in the Spring

[DemiBob]

I for one would welcome a rotation schedule, but I'd propose something less drastic than only one a year. Maybe two a year, alternating.

[Corlanthis]

I just wanted to drop a line here and put this point out. I feel comfortable saying that there are plenty of duelists who have their preferred events.

In cases like myself, changing up the schedule of that preferred event is not going to make me decide to increase participation elsewhere, either in regulation dueling for the three sports, or in other events that may run instead.

All it means is that I'm just going to wait longer to duel in my preferred event.

[Hope]

Going to miss IFL this year but absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Last year it felt almost claustrophobic with the back-to-back events from the previous IFL, Ragnarok, Madness, Hydra and then into the next IFL. Having participated in all of them I can say first hand it was exhausting. I've dueled a lot of regulation since joining this site but that gauntlet took it out of me.

I think what Jewell said is pretty important. What are people wanting to play and participate in? A light-weight schedule with only 3 duels a week in regulation? A 7 week season of fights? A quick barrage of Magic duels? Where does something new find its way in here? Where does a new idea like DoG come into play? What about the next team dueling event that hasn't come up yet?

I realize I'm asking more questions than actually contributing answers to but this is where my train of thought took me.

[King]

All it means is that I'm just going to wait longer to duel in my preferred event.

This. I was one of those people who were deciding/thinking about skipping Hydra this year and instead wait for IFL. IFL now being off the table doesn't magically make me want to join Hydra.

No, Madness is in the Spring

Hoo boy, maybe we should add it to the rotation as well.

Last year it felt almost claustrophobic with the back-to-back events from the previous IFL, Ragnarok, Madness, Hydra and then into the next IFL. Having participated in all of them I can say first hand it was exhausting. I've dueled a lot of regulation since joining this site but that gauntlet took it out of me.

I think what Jewell said is pretty important. What are people wanting to play and participate in? A light-weight schedule with only 3 duels a week in regulation? A 7 week season of fights? A quick barrage of Magic duels? Where does something new find its way in here? Where does a new idea like DoG come into play? What about the next team dueling event that hasn't come up yet?

Simple. If you feel burnt out, don't join a league or dueling event that pops up. You didn't have to join all three last year. Participation might be lower for the event, but no one should shame or blame anyone for not feeling like joining something or "not helping the community". DoG, new leagues and tournaments, etc. Nothing is stopping them from popping up, if they find the participation and interest then it's all well and good. If they host it during another league / event, it might be seen as rude, but interest will dictate who goes where.