Group A: Eastwind
Group B: Dead Soul
Group C: The Simberleen
Group D: Gragtek

The aforementioned DOES raise some concern. It is starting to hit home that I lucked out with Persephone's creator because of an equal split from kommunity and judges, so this problem didn't come up at that point.


ANYWAY, I may be asking for it... based on what's given on the character page and what's in the Roleplaying thread, if there is to be a character breakdown for Kira on only THAT information, then go ahead. Otherwise, if there's more info needed, then I'll provide it.


Look at what she did in my most recent RP thread entry out of concern that the title of MK Champion would fall to an enraged, compromised monk of the Shaolin, forgetting the teachings of his ways. She wasn't fast enough to prevent the title outright, but now shares the title with him because of the simultaneous nature of the attacks striking down Shao Kahn. Kira's probably the kind of person you would expect to take up the monk lifestyle and live in the balance of the forces in a person's essence, but she has a job and calling outside of her martial arts training that takes precedence to her... and even so, she acknowledges that one must act out one's own desires from time to time to keep a balance going. She'll always act out for the greater good, but her desires will be spoken out afterwards that she not be highly lauded for it by the masses, for various reasons.

Which is why I'm wondering what exactly determined how Rik'Ki won the round. When you count all the votes (judge's included) as just one vote, Rik'ki does technically win regardless, but when you bring the scoring system into it, the match is a draw... I just know that if I was in this kind of draw and lost due to rounding, I'd find it very irritating... So I wonder if it was just taken into account that in the most basic way, Rik'ki got more votes, or if rounding really was the deciding factor.



Yeah, I know, but in this particular match the 2/3 of a score that is the judges vote was itself divided... This particular match's score is a bit of a special case where rounding appears to be the reason why one character won and the other lost, as opposed to the winning character actually having the majority of the score. Technically both characters got 1.5 points. That said, if you count up the actual number of people who voted without weighing the judge votes as more than a normal vote, Rik'ki still wins, but with the way the score system appears to work, it should be a draw. I'm just wondering how they decided Rik'ki was the winner... What breaks the draw in this situation... Because rounding is not a good solution.

Wow, that Judge vote rounding discrepancy REALLY messes up the rankings. Here's what it would be if the mathematically correct 1.5/1.5 tie outcomes existed:

(Win-Tie-Loss)

Group A
(5-0-0) Eastwind
(3-1-1) Rik'Ki
(2-0-2) Remnant
(2-2-2) Vipehr
(2-0-3) Blizzard
(0-2-3) Sphere
(0-1-3) Glacier

Group B
(5-0-0) Neuros
(4-0-0) Luren-Uresula
(4-0-1) Blight
(2-0-3) Dead Soul
(1-0-4) Alloy
(1-0-4) Dai Kahn
(0-0-5) Sogratse

Group C
(4-1-0) Ekimaru
(3-1-1) Mizrath
(2-3-0) Simberleen
(1-2-1) Wei-Lu
(2-0-3) Kwah Dah
(1-1-3) Phantom
(0-0-5) Saphira

Group D
(4-1-0) Kira
(3-1-0) Ameerah
(3-1-1) Persephone
(2-1-1) Xorah
(2-0-2) Gragtek
(1-0-5) Maia
(0-0-6) Gus

In Group A, Vipehr pulls ahead of Blizzard and Sphere pulls ahead of Glacier.

Group B doesn't change.

In Group C, the Simberleen pulls ahead of Wei-Lu.

In Group D, Xorah pulls ahead of Gragtek, but more importantly for the quarterfinal bracket lineup, Kira pulls ahead of Ameerah.

Luckily this wouldn't change the outcome of who actually is currently in the running for the final eight, but the last four matches coming in could change that, and we could have a mess determining who should be in or out. So this really does need an answer.



That would fix the problem with these very easily, because no outcomes would have to be changed and it's basically what they're doing already. Just go from a best-of-three scoring to a best-of-five, and cut the confusion of rounding or fractions. Problem is, it makes it look like the MKommunity vote has less sway, even though by the numbers it's exactly the same as what's happening now.



I do have very blunt-edged opinions, so I'm only giving Beatdowns to people who specifically ask for feedback. And I only take official profile information into account, not roleplay. Knowing that, if you're sure you want a Beatdown I'll get you in after Mizrath.

Judges votes have a weighted bias for the final result, inherited from previous contests (keeping in mind it's an official site contest). This year the big difference is that the bias is less severe, particularly as the judges are mooted by hung results. The Round Robin format also spreads the weight by having multiple match-ups, which can also end with a tied result [dependent on MKOmmunity votes].

We'll probably change the system slightly for the finals, but the exact way we'll do that is to be determined, pending a few uncertain factors.

Would that amount of information be enough for you to do it, is my question.

(What I intended to say is if you wanted to see her mannerisms as a person and a fighter in action, they're demonstrated in the RP thread if you wanted that to reflect. Not the overall action of the thread, just how she behaves.)

If there's more information you want to know that wasn't explicitly provided -- understand that I kept Kira's submitted bio and ending about the length you'd see in MK9, giving only the necessary information and letting your imagination go from there so as to speculate -- then let me know and I'll answer any questions.

With that answer forthcoming, I'll see if I really want to do it. I kind of fear a bit of backlash in what may be incoming if I go through with it...

Is there ever going to be a competition on this site that won't lead to a conflict with tallies or judge discresion?

Kinda takes away the fun.

The MKOmmunity
Group A: Glacier: 0 | Eastwind: 12
Group B: Dead Soul: 9 | Sogratse: 1
Group C: The Simberleen: 10 | Kwah Dah: 2
Group D: Ameerah: 10 | Gragtek: 2

The Judges
Group A: Glacier: 0 | Eastwind: 4
Group B: Dead Soul: 2 | Sogratse: 2
Group C: The Simberleen: 2 | Kwah Dah: 2
Group D: Ameerah: 4 | Gragtek: 2

Final Day 18 Result:
Group A: Glacier: 0 | Eastwind: 3
Group B: Dead Soul: 2 | Sogratse: 1
Group C: The Simberleen: 2 | Kwah Dah: 1
Group D: Ameerah: 3 | Gragtek: 0

For updated information visit the Kreate-a-Kharacter VII hub.
For an extra perspective, check out the KAKVII Roleplaying thread.

DAY 19:

Group A: Blizzard versus Remnant
Group B: Blight versus Luren-Uresula
Group C: Wei-Lu versus Ekimaru
Group D: Persephone versus Xorah

FIGHT!

I didn't draw the conflict myself, but I think I may have inadvertently started it.

And UGH, what a matchup in Group D.

I have to go with my other equivocal favorite. Apologies, Riyakou.

Group A: Remnant
Group B: Luren-Uresula
Group C: Wei-Lu
Group D: Xorah

Here are my votes.

A. Remnant
B. Blight
C. Ekimaru
D. Xorah

Remnant
Luren-Uresula
Wei-Lu
Xorah

Blizzard
Blight
Ekimaru
Xorah

Group A: Remnant
Group B: Luren-Uresula
Group C: Ekimaru
Group D: Persephone

I can already sense my impending dispair.

But I shall say, if Persephone is to lose to anyone, I'm proud to say it was Xorah.

Even then, you seem to be solidly stuck in 3rd place. There's no contention in Group D here.

Anyway, Persephone AND Xorah stood out to me. Ameerah's merely another well-done character, and sure, there's st about her that one kind of likes, but I'm hesitant to really call her the stand-out fan favorite of Group D when the only thing keeping Kira from being tied with her right now is the tie I had with Persephone. That, and also there's the fact of how long I've had Kira in existence and her being the first of a concept because of it.

By the above, of course I mean a truly acidic character, and then she's also one based off of an arena and its purpose. When you think about it, WHAT OTHER ARENA can you rightfully do this with that you can think of right now?? I can't really think of any of them. None that can make as much sense as my Kira does. I was smart well beyond my years to act when I did! Lucky me!



Really, the fight to await is when Ameerah and Kira throw down for D1 position.


I'd suggest anyone here with their characters let the concepts and characters be known past this website. I, for one, have a home on deviantART and two artists there have created the art for me that showcase Kira for the contest since I myself have no illustrative ability. Join and upload, then find the best MK groups and submit to their collections to get widespread attention.

A. Remnant
B. Blight
C. Ekimaru
D. Xorah

I've been dreading this match, heh. And Neuros is still to come!

Remnant
Luren-Uresula
Ekimaru
Persephone

Also, a curse upon Eastwind! Haha... I'm kidding, but six victories? Bah humbug.

Group A: Blizzard

Group B: Blight

Group C: Ekimaru

Group D: Persephone

It has become a trend in group D to keep mentioning other characters now, hasnt it. Is there a reason you keep talking about Ameerah and how she is not good enough to win? Of course everyone is entitled to his opinion but if I am not mistaken it is not the first time you do that, and going on with presenting reasons why your character is better is a bit childish seriously. We are grown up people playing in a game for fun I believe and you know stuff like "She is not a stand out. Mine on the other hand has a bery interesting element have you ever seen that before? SHE IS BASED ON AN ARENA!" lol man...just let your character shine with what you've done with her and dont compare her to other entries.

Aaaanyway here are my votes:

-Remnant -Luren-Uresula -Ekimaru -Xorah

Please don't change the system it is very crucial to avoid favorism in a contest like this,and "strategies" , "alliances " and other forms of misjudgement.

A contest should be decided by the judges WITH the help of the community, but in the end the people giving away the prizes should be the deciding factor.

In american courts, the jurry decides if the person is guilty or not , BUT all the power is given to the judge .He can decide if the convict should recieve 10 years in jail or a day in a correctional facility. And that is just in America, almost everywhere in the world judges decide the final outcome.

In short:

"..durum hoc est sed ita lex scripta est .."

Group A: Blizzard
Group B: Luren-Uresula
Group C: x
Group D: Xorah





I think voting for your own entry is highly immoral and at the end of the day if you win with that vote was it really winning?

Group A: Blizzard
Group B: Blight
Group C: Ekimaru
Group D: Xorah



Alliances, really? The Judges still have over twice the weight of the fans, and no amount of "strategy" to swing the popular vote will change that. I'm not sure that everyone's opinion can really be swayed once people's minds are made up anyway. Relax, we're not fighting a war here with sides and strategies... Mick answered our perfectly valid question with a perfectly reasonable answer and things are under control.

And if voting for yourself is immoral, then maybe we should change the rule that allows us to do it, or the rule that lets political candidates vote for themselves. Or we could just recognize that two opposing parties each casting one vote in their own favor results in a zero balance.

Voting for yourself is speaking up for your own character. You may abstain if you wish, but you don't have to, and you're possibly hurting yourself unnecessarily if you don't vote at all.



An effective fighter for MK9 expresses their personality in everything they do onscreen; it's in the way they move, the way they talk, the way they fight and kill. All of these things can be expressed very effectively in the profile alone through the storyline, moveset, and entrance/victory poses. Supplemental material in roleplay shouldn't be necessary to understand what a character is all about, and we don't even really need a lot of speech patterns and mannerisms to get a feel for "personality."

Long story short, for my reviews and judging I will only look at the profile. Everything we need should be right there in the entry, and the roleplay just for extra fun.

If Kira's bio and ending are on par with MK9, that's good. It's hard to jam in all the important points of a new character's backstory in a short blurb without glossing over things, so my opinion on that is "make it as long as it needs to be to get the point across." Some mystery is good, as long as we have enough information to know what the character is about.

As for your fear of backlash... well, I can pretty much guarantee that I'll make some points you don't want to hear, just as I've done with every other entry including my own. But I do my best to back up my bad points with clear observations, and facts straight from the MK source. And I spotlight the good points wherever I find them too, so it's not all negative. Above all, I try to keep it light-hearted and fun -- which I suspect is the bigger reason I keep getting requests, more than the actual advice.

I understand you put a lot of years and a lot of love into building Kira, and you want to know that you did a good job. But the truth is that all of our characters can be improved, and we as creators are often blind to problems that others can see clearly. The only way we'll learn and improve on our creations is to take criticism in stride, and gain the confidence to question our own work without getting too discouraged. The goal of these reviews isn't to make you sit back and feel satisfied that you did your very best, but to make you want to push your creativity harder.

Is Kira strong enough to take a few hits? Is it worth her getting a right and proper Beatdown if she'll come out of it a little more battle-hardened? If you decide to go for it, you've got a spot in line waiting for you.

Remnant
Luren-Uresula
Wei-Lu
Xorah

(I didn't ever say above that Ameerah's not good. Sb misinterpreted.

I just haven't been this emotionally invested in an event in many years. I tend to get wordy and overreact/overtype at times. My apologies for sending the wrong message and giving the wrong impression.)


For the breakdown, I'll do it.


Just know:
What may not be as apparent is that Kira's caught between MK expectations and what else I'm trying to do with her as a character apart from it. [What she's a part of right now, given the art about her as of late on dA, has a lot to explain about what exactly she's doing. Not exactly work-safe to mention its nature here, so go look for yourselves if you have interest in it.] The overwhelming amount of the development and action has been apart from MK happenings or immediately following after them, all in the time before MK9 came out and its story reboot, facilitating a re-start of all this. What I fear is a backlash from Kira not being developed enough yet from an MK standpoint as per the new storyline. Well, I'm starting over again to re-do it, so that may explain away a lot of what may be argued ("I'm not to that point yet").

Group A: Remnant
Group B: Luren-Uresula
Group C: Wei-Lu
Group D: Xorah

Group A: Remnant
Group B: Blight
Group C: Wei-Lu
Group D: Persephone