The new season's ladder opens on Wednesday
A new Harbour LAN season begins this Wednesday with a fresh ladder and a short vote on the games. Here is what is different, and what stays exactly the same.
Same kettle, new ladder
Every few weeks the ladder is wiped, the honour board gets its repaint, and the crew sits down with a pile of suggestions to build the next season. This time the pile was taller than usual, which is a good problem to have. Renee Fleming, who organises the week, has put the main points in one place.
The short version: sign-up opens on Wednesday and stays open until the first fixture is posted, the vote on the three featured games closes on Thursday night, and the first matches are played the following week. Nothing about the way we play has been rewritten.
What changes this time
Three picks, not two
Last season each member put up two games and the crew picked from the pile. This time everyone gets three picks, and newcomers' picks go to the front of the queue. If a game appears on three lists, it's in; if not, it waits for next season.
Shorter rounds
Harvest is on, which means a lot of the crew are working split shifts. Rounds are shorter and fixtures can slide by a few days without penalty. Nobody drops down the ladder for missing a game while loading trucks.
A second referee
Caroline Fisher will be joined by a deputy on league nights, so disputes never wait for a free pair of hands. If you'd like to learn the job, find her on a Thursday and she'll show you the checklist.
What stays the same
- No fees, no tickets and no money prizes, ever.
- The winner gets a title, a name on the honour board and the pick of the next Saturday's game.
- Solo players are welcome and get matched into teams at the draw.
- Doors open at six, and the kettle goes on at ten past.
How to enter
Use the join form if you are new, or tell the league channel in the chat server if you're a regular. Bring a power board if you have one; as the ladder fills, the room does too.