SOVEREIGN CUP F.A.Q. the name of the competition is "Sovereign Cup 2003"; this competition is focused on individual TIE Fighter pilots; this competition has "closed" form. Only 32 pilots will participate; this competition will have two phases. Phase one will be a group phase. Pilots will be divided into eight (8) groups (A to H). There will be four (4) pilots in each group. Group phase will be three (3) rounds long. The second phase is the Playoff phase. Two (2) best pilots from each group (16 pilots total) will advance to the Playoffs phase. This phase will be four (4) rounds long (1/8th of the Finals, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals). Eight (8) pilots will advance to the Quarterfinals, four (4) to the Semifinals and two (2) to the Finals; when all 32 volunteers are known, an initial draw to assign pilots to the groups will take place. Pilots will be divided into four (4) baskets, eight (8) pilots each. Individual overall standings (total score) from the SL2003 will be important here. Eight (8) best volunteers will be assigned to basket one. Eight (8) next to basket two... Etc., up untill all four baskets are full. Then, one pilot from each basket will be randomly drawn to a group. This means that there will be only one pilot from each basket in one Group. This way all Groups will be more/less equal as far as "difficulty" is concerned. We won't have a group full of "Top Aces" and the other full of "Rookies", what will balance the group phase nicely; if the volunteer pilot did not participate in the SL2003, he'll be assigned to the last (fourth) basket; most important thing - the "engine" of this competition. Like in the SL2003, there will be six statisctics used in the Sovereign Cup 2003. These stats are: score, fighter kills, bomber kills, capship kills, laser hit percentage and missile hit percentage. Unlike in the SL2003, all stats will be of equal imoprtance now. The entire competition is based on one-on-one duels. Each pilot will face each other in his Group (that's why the Group phase is three rounds long) in consecutive rounds. In a single duel, a winner is chosen by comparing the stats. For each better stat a pilot will be given one "small" point. A pilot with more "small" points will be declared a winner and given three "big" points. Because there are six stats used, it's possible to have a draw. In this case, both pilots are given one "big" point each. In case the stats are equal, "small" points nullify each other and neither pilot is given any; system decribed above seems complicated, but in practice it's really easy to use. Let's have an example. Let's say we've got two pilots - A and B. Stats for pilot A are: score - 10000 points, fighter kills - 6, bomber kills - 2, capship kills - 2, laser hit percentage - 80% and missile hit percentage - 90%. Stats for pilot B are: score - 9950 points, fighter kills - 3, bomber kills - 2, capship kills - 5, laser hit percentage - 85% and missile hit percentage - 95%. In a "typical", based on score only, competition, pilot A would be declared a winner and get all he honours despite really a small difference in a score. But let's use the proposed system. Firstly, let's compare the scores. A is better than B (10000 vs. 9950), so he earns one "small" point. 1:0. Now, fighter kills. A is better again (6 vs. 3), so he earns another "small" point. 2:0. Bomber kills go next. Here, neither pilot is better, (2 vs. 2), so the stats nullify each other and no-one gets any "small" points. Still 2:0. Let's compare capship kills now. Here, pilot A is worse than B (2 vs. 5), so B earns one "small" points. 2:1! The last but one stat is laser hit percentage. A is worse again (80% vs. 85%)! Another "small" point for B! 2:2! A draw! The last stat will decide! And, comparing missile hit percentage, it appears that A is worse again (90% vs. 95%)! Last "small" point goes for pilot B! 2:3! Mariginal victory for pilot B! And it's B who earns three "big" points! Congratulations! as you might have already noted, this system is a copy of a system used in World Football (Soccer) Championship. However, it works perfectly well fot the TIE Corps as well! when determining two best pilots from each group that will advance to the playoffs, "big" points are the most important. In case 3 or more pilots have the same number of "big" points, difference between earned and lost "small" points will decide; playoff ladder: see end of this file; single free missions will be used for each round; each round will be two weeks long; rewards are: IS-GW for the winer, IS-SW for the runner-up and IS-BW for third place.

rewards are: IS-GW for the winner, IS-SW for the r