Last Summer, Smogon hosted its first ever Charity Bowl. For many, this was their favourite event in Smogon history; the day felt magical, and together we managed to raise $10,050.69 for four amazing organisations that continue to fight against police violence and system racism. It was perhaps one of the most united times in the history of the Smogon community; this year, we'd like to run it back with a different organisation in mind.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are on the horizon, and with them will come the new BDSP OU; while it will not be Smogon's primary focus, these games were a huge part of many of our childhoods. For many of us they were a pastime, and for others an escape - in the spirit of recreating the magic of the past, we've decided BDSP OU is the most sensible format for this tournament.
The systemic and social persecution of LGBTQIA+ people has always been a major issue. Gay and bisexual people across the world continue to face discrimination in employment, marriage, healthcare, and more, while many more face regular bullying or are disowned, abused, or forced into so-called conversion therapy by their parents. Much of the same is true for transgender people, whose increased visibility over the past decade or so has lead to a significant increase in transphobic rhetoric, hate crimes, and legislation throughout many developed countries. Smogon is proud to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community and condemn this terrible state of affairs, which continues to regularly drive LGBTQIA+ individuals to depression or suicide.
With all that in mind, Smogon is hosting its second Charity Bowl, a live tournament that will take place on Saturday, November 20th 2021 at 12 PM EST (GMT -5). This time, the Smogon Charity Bowl will be raising funds for the Trevor Project, a non-profit that focuses on suicide prevention for LGBTQIA+ youth.
You can join us for this tournament as a participant, or follow the action live on our Twitch streams at twitch.tv/smogonu. Smogon will be raising money via donations throughout the event, so we are encouraging all participants and spectators to donate whatever you can spare at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/smogoncharitybowl.
FORMAT
The Smogon Charity Bowl will consist of two parts: a live tournament qualifier, immediately followed by seeded best-of-three playoffs for the top 8. The format will be Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl OU.
These sign-ups are for the LIVE TOURNAMENT QUALIFIER. Players will be randomly divided into two groups. Each group will play in a live best-of-one tournament, following the same rules and format as the Smogon Tour. The top 4 from each live tournament will advance to playoffs. Playoffs will be seeded based on live tournament results, and will be played in a best-of-three format.
- This tournament will be held on the official Smogon Tournament server at http://smogtours.psim.us/. All games MUST take place on this server.
- Hosts for the live tournament qualifiers are kjdaas and Wigglytuff.
- The format for the tournamet is BDSP OU! The current banlist on Smogon University is in effect.
General Smogon Tour rules:
- You must have a Smogon forum account to sign up for this tournament. You cannot participate if you do not post in the signup thread. Proxy signup posts are not allowed.
- When signups for this tour is posted, post as quickly as you can to ensure a place in the tournament. It is up to the discretion of the host on when sign-ups will be closed. On Xenforo (our current forum software), YOUR POST NUMBER IS NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE. Please do not attack the host or on SmogTours if your post number implies you should have been in the tournament and you are not.
- Substitute players will only be applied in the first round and as deemed necessary by the host.
- If you have signed up successfully, you must stay for the entire tournament unless you have lost.
- You may change teams between rounds without penalty. You are, in fact, encouraged to do so to prevent your opponents from knowing your team in advance.
- Do not hassle the host(s) of the tournament.
- The format is Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl OU. The current status of the appropriate standard ladder will function as the prevailing tier list. If you have any question about whether a particular Pokemon is banned or not in any particular tier, reference the banlist of the appropriate ladder on PS! with '/tier'. This is not confusing. There will be no exceptions.
- Species Clause: A player cannot have two (2) of the same species of Pokemon on their team, based on National Pokedex number. For example, a player cannot have two Koffing on their team.
- Sleep Clause: A player cannot put two or more different opposing Pokemon to sleep using attacks that induce sleep to opposing Pokemon.
- Evasion Clause: A player cannot increase their Pokemon's evasion stat with a move that specifically increases evasion. Items or indirect boosts do not break this clause.
- OHKO Clause: A player cannot use a move that has a chance of instantly KOing an opposing Pokemon. For example, Horn Drill or Sheer Cold are illegal moves.
- Timer Clause: If a player exhausts the timer, that player loses. SmogTours staff will not turn the timer off in any circumstance.
- Self-KO Clause: If a player uses a recoil move to cause a draw, that player wins. If a player uses Explosion, Selfdestruct, Destiny Bond, or Perish Song to cause a draw, that player loses. If a draw would be caused by a hold item or ability that causes recoil to the opponent, the player that controls the Pokémon with the hold item or ability wins. (This clause helps determine the winner of what would be called a tie in DPP. Later generations do not apply this clause, because their cartridge mechanics will prevent ties from happening.)
- Endless Battle Clause: A player cannot use a combination of items / moves / abilities to force a game that will never end (example: Recycle / Leppa Berry / Heal Pulse, etc).
- Moody Clause: A player can not use the ability Moody.
- Swagger Clause: A player can not use the move Swagger.
PRIZES
The winner of the Charity Bowl will receive a prize banner to appear on their Smogon account. In addition, the following Pokemon Showdown prizes are being offered:
- A custom avatar.
- The ability to recolor your PS username.
- The ability to claim an unused PS username.
The prize banner will appear under the user’s custom title and state that they are the winner of the Smogon Charity Bowl. The winner will be allowed to choose from a range of colours.
The custom PS avatar must meet all ordinary rules for custom avatars, and is subject to Zarel’s approval.
The PS name recolor will allow you to change your PS username color to the color of another account that you own.
Regarding claiming an unused PS username, only names that have not been used for four or more years are eligible to be claimed.
The custom PS avatar must meet all ordinary rules for custom avatars, and is subject to Zarel’s approval.
The PS name recolor will allow you to change your PS username color to the color of another account that you own.
Regarding claiming an unused PS username, only names that have not been used for four or more years are eligible to be claimed.
DONATIONS
We strongly encourage all entrants to donate at least $5. However, if you are unable to give at this time, you will still be able to participate in this tournament.
You can show your support here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/smogoncharitybowl.
Thank you all and have fun :D
