as we're still probably getting some, no need to pick yet. as for how, that i'm not sure of. have a couple thoughts done though. there's the "serious contest" route, and there's the "for fun" route. both are pretty fair and legitimate viewpoints, especially for something like this, as though it's a competition between user-made characters, "my character winning" really isn't the main goal.
just one rule comes to mind that's needed and falls somewhere between those lines:
- by default i don't think anyone should be forced to have their character stuck in a terrain that heavily shift the fight away from the combatant and instead puts the focus heavy on the terrain. so by default, the "Terrain-Focused" category is disabled from the randomizer. if you're cool with your character being in it, that's fine, just say so. i'll make a list along the way.
the rest here is just an idea. there's 23-24 terrains made right now and removing those guys doesn't shrink it much.
so here's a possible way to work, the serious route: to keep options wide, 3 likes and 3 dislikes for the fighter (if you include the terrain focused group you can add 1 more to each). where to go exactly from that point, still don't know. most obvious is "both like something, good to go." dislikes should also take priority on pool reducing in that kind of system to avoid a terrible matchup done by chance. from there you can just randomizer the rest.
so basically:
Like-Like -> Terrain picked. if multiples, random of the pairs.
Dislike -> Removed from randomizer pool.
Random terrain thereafter.
(i expect a good amount of you to like the RST terrain though...!)
the major flaw in that idea's the obvious one, requires more input. a lot more seeing how people actually have to read terrains to understand and know, now it's going beyond just the guys they made. at that point, it's actual work and a pain in the ass while also going against the idea of "hands off the finalized character." so there's flaws to that, both fundamental and technical there.
now for the other spectrum:
a different idea would simply to allow just full on randomizer (with the disabled-unless-said-otherwise terrain group still working like that) because hey, it's not a one-off contest in a bracket. if you get screwed by terrain you get screwed, no need to take it so damn seriously as hey, this isn't the typical contest and is a lot more 'for fun' based. comes with the turf. at the least, you do still get to decide if you're cool with a match where the focus will be heavily on the terrain. some can be bizarre and headache inducing. others can be hilarious. e.g., if the coffin one has no means of escape via teleporting or something, then what happens if you stuff the Kaiju guy who's hurt by gags with the guy who's got TK weapons the size of buildings inside? and if you CAN escape, then... what's it like (this is a big problem to it and needs to be expressed in there, but you're welcome for that mental image).
right now i lean to the latter in terms of spirit of the contest, while naturally am inclined to the former because it's a contest. personal habit, that. don't know if there's any other better ideas out there, but if there are by all means, toss 'em in.
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"Maybe it's a tentacle, molesting the planet itself. - Aschen Brodel.