Deserts where no Dark Age civilisation would settle have become Age of Empires II's most popular locations to fight for glory.
The great Battle of Africa and King of the Desert have become traditional events in Africa’s arid wilderness. But for one month, let's break Out of Africa to populate every continent, introducing the World Desert Championship, a $8k+ 3v3 tournament on maps based on various deserts around the world, with a little bit of 1v1 action in between.
A few classic maps and many brand new maps by Cebdos, Chrazini, HenkDeSuperNerd, TheMadCADer and Zetnus. A part of the maps will have a fixed pool of civilisations too, which fit to the desert's region.
Sign up now or enter the $300 map creation contest, which will contribute to the main event's map pack.
40 teams can enter the event, the highest 6 seeds starting in the Ro16, single elimination, joined by 10 qualifiers. Qualifiers will start on April 12, if more than 26 teams sign up. The semifinal and final weekend is planned to be on May 22 and 23.
Streaming will be open for any caster and POV streamer.
Thanks a lot to SeanT for approaching me with the idea and the prize pool.
@Lord_patito has joined me as co-admin.
- 1st place: $1800
- 2nd place: $1200
- 3rd+4th: 2x $600
- 5th-8th: 4x $300
- 9th-16th: 8x $150
Additional money is used for map creation contest, graphics/videos, admin salary, show match and map testing.
- 2nd place: $1200
- 3rd+4th: 2x $600
- 5th-8th: 4x $300
- 9th-16th: 8x $150
Additional money is used for map creation contest, graphics/videos, admin salary, show match and map testing.
A show match is planned for the 6th, 7th or 8th of April. More details soon.
For questions and feedback a Discord server is public here. At the same place spoiler-free recorded games will be made available for casters, since with the big amount of ongoing tournaments, we can’t guarantee that matches before the Ro8 will be casted live.
Rules and Settings are here.
Banner by @NOVAinc.
March 28: Announcement, Sign-up starts, map creation contest starts
April 04: Map pack v1 available in the mod center
April 07: Map contest ends
April 06: show match
April 09: Sign-up deadline
April 10/11: Seeding+brackets
April 12: QF R1 starts
April 12/13: Map pack v2 ready
April 12-20: QF R1, Max 28 teams
Until April 28: QF R2, Max 20 teams
Until May 10: Ro16, 16 teams
May 15+16: Ro8, 8 teams - live each day at 14 and ~18 GMT (depends on when the first semifinal finishes)
May 22: Semifinals, 4 teams - live at 12 and ~17 GMT (depends on when the first semifinal finishes)
May 23: Finals, 2 teams - live at 14 GMT
April 04: Map pack v1 available in the mod center
April 07: Map contest ends
April 06: show match
April 09: Sign-up deadline
April 10/11: Seeding+brackets
April 12: QF R1 starts
April 12/13: Map pack v2 ready
April 12-20: QF R1, Max 28 teams
Until April 28: QF R2, Max 20 teams
Until May 10: Ro16, 16 teams
May 15+16: Ro8, 8 teams - live each day at 14 and ~18 GMT (depends on when the first semifinal finishes)
May 22: Semifinals, 4 teams - live at 12 and ~17 GMT (depends on when the first semifinal finishes)
May 23: Finals, 2 teams - live at 14 GMT
Map pack v1 will be used for the qualifiers.
- Atacama (original by Mr ED, modified by Huehuecoyotl22 & TheMadCADer)
- Gobi (original by TheMadCADer, modified by Huehuecoyotl22)
- Taklamakan (Arabia-clone with some terrain and wildlife changes)
- Karoo (new map by Cebdos & HenkDeSuperNerd)
- Jalapão (new map by Chrazini)
- Mount Bromo (new map by HenkDeSuperNerd)
- Simpson Desert (by TheMadCADer, modified version of Outback Rumble’s “Outback”)
- Umm al Samim (new map by Zetnus)
First version of the mod: World Desert Championship Map Pack v1
Map pack v2 includes additional maps from the contest and be used starting in the Ro16:
Map pack v2 includes additional maps from the contest and be used starting in the Ro16:
- Disko Island (Arctic Circle) (by TheMadCADer)
- Ounianga (by MingudaiLee)
- Pag (by Zetnus)
- Painted Desert (by green eggs)
- Pamir Mountains (by Zetnus)
- Kyzylkum (Red Sand) Desert (by MyteaLancer)
- Sonora (by TheMadCADer)
- Thar Desert (by Rorrik)
1. Atacama: Aztecs, Mayans, Incas, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Khmer
2. Gobi: Mongols, Chinese, Koreans, Tatars, Huns, Cumans, Slavs
3. Taklamakan: Chinese, Mongols, Koreans, Tatars, Turks, Indians, Persians
4. Karoo: Malians, Ethiopians, Berbers, Portuguese, Burgundians, Sicilians, Goths
5. Jalapão: Aztecs, Mayans, Incas, Spanish, Portuguese, Sicilians, Italians
6. Mount Bromo: Malay, Burmese, Vietnamese, Teutons, Japanese, Indians, Khmer
7. Simpson Desert: Britons, Franks, Teutons, Burgundians, Malay, Magyars, Celts
8. Umm al Samim: Persians, Saracens, Vikings, Bulgarians, Byzantines, Italians, Ethiopians
9. Thar Desert: Indians, Saracens, Burmese, Britons, Vietnamese, Turks, Berbers
10. Sonora: Aztecs, Mayans, Britons, Spanish, Lithuanians, Koreans, Khmer
11. Pamir Mountains: Cumans, Bulgarians, Persians, Turks, Mongols, Huns, Slavs
12. Pag: Celts, Lithuanians, Italians, Byzantines, Magyars, Bulgarians, Goths
13. Ounianga: Berbers, Malians, Saracens, Ethiopians, Franks, Byzantines, Goths
14. Arctic Circle: Vikings, Lithuanians, Sicilians, Slavs, Burgundians, Teutons, Celts
15. Painted Desert: Incas, Chinese, Aztecs, Japanese, Magyars, Franks, Vikings
16. Red Sand: Cumans, Tatars, Turks, Persians, Indians, Huns, Burmese
2. Gobi: Mongols, Chinese, Koreans, Tatars, Huns, Cumans, Slavs
3. Taklamakan: Chinese, Mongols, Koreans, Tatars, Turks, Indians, Persians
4. Karoo: Malians, Ethiopians, Berbers, Portuguese, Burgundians, Sicilians, Goths
5. Jalapão: Aztecs, Mayans, Incas, Spanish, Portuguese, Sicilians, Italians
6. Mount Bromo: Malay, Burmese, Vietnamese, Teutons, Japanese, Indians, Khmer
7. Simpson Desert: Britons, Franks, Teutons, Burgundians, Malay, Magyars, Celts
8. Umm al Samim: Persians, Saracens, Vikings, Bulgarians, Byzantines, Italians, Ethiopians
9. Thar Desert: Indians, Saracens, Burmese, Britons, Vietnamese, Turks, Berbers
10. Sonora: Aztecs, Mayans, Britons, Spanish, Lithuanians, Koreans, Khmer
11. Pamir Mountains: Cumans, Bulgarians, Persians, Turks, Mongols, Huns, Slavs
12. Pag: Celts, Lithuanians, Italians, Byzantines, Magyars, Bulgarians, Goths
13. Ounianga: Berbers, Malians, Saracens, Ethiopians, Franks, Byzantines, Goths
14. Arctic Circle: Vikings, Lithuanians, Sicilians, Slavs, Burgundians, Teutons, Celts
15. Painted Desert: Incas, Chinese, Aztecs, Japanese, Magyars, Franks, Vikings
16. Red Sand: Cumans, Tatars, Turks, Persians, Indians, Huns, Burmese
Tournament structure
Qualifiers: 34 teams
Round 1:
28 teams (seed 13-40)
Best of 3, map pack v1.1, map pack v1.1, Gobi (civ pool 2).
14 winners advance to round 2.
Seed 7-12 (6 teams) start in round 2
Round 2:
20 teams
Best of 5
Game 1: Map pack v1.2, free hidden civilisations
Game 2: 1v1 Bo3 (3 different players per team). Home maps have civ pools. Civilisations are free hidden pick in game 2.1 and 2.2
2.1 Team A (higher seed) chooses 1 map (from map pack v1) and one player, then team B chooses the player to face team A’s player 1
2.2 Team B (lower seed) chooses 1 map (from map pack v1) and one player, then team A chooses the player to face team B’s player 2
2.3 Map pack v1.2, random mirror civilisations – not played if both previous 1v1s are won by the same team.
Game 3: Map pack v1.2, free hidden civilisations, no repetition from game 1
Game 4: Umm al Samim (civ pool 8)
Game 5: Simpson Desert (civ pool 7)
10 winners advance to Ro16
Highest 6 seeds start in Ro16
Round 1:
28 teams (seed 13-40)
Best of 3, map pack v1.1, map pack v1.1, Gobi (civ pool 2).
14 winners advance to round 2.
Seed 7-12 (6 teams) start in round 2
Round 2:
20 teams
Best of 5
Game 1: Map pack v1.2, free hidden civilisations
Game 2: 1v1 Bo3 (3 different players per team). Home maps have civ pools. Civilisations are free hidden pick in game 2.1 and 2.2
2.1 Team A (higher seed) chooses 1 map (from map pack v1) and one player, then team B chooses the player to face team A’s player 1
2.2 Team B (lower seed) chooses 1 map (from map pack v1) and one player, then team A chooses the player to face team B’s player 2
2.3 Map pack v1.2, random mirror civilisations – not played if both previous 1v1s are won by the same team.
Game 3: Map pack v1.2, free hidden civilisations, no repetition from game 1
Game 4: Umm al Samim (civ pool 8)
Game 5: Simpson Desert (civ pool 7)
10 winners advance to Ro16
Highest 6 seeds start in Ro16
Ro16: starting with map pack v2
Ro16, Best of 5:
Game 1: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations
Game 2: 1v1 Bo3 (3 different players per team). Home maps have civ pools. Civilisations are free hidden pick in game 2.1 and 2.2
2.1 Team A (higher seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team B chooses the player to face team A’s player 1
2.2 Team B (lower seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team A chooses the player to face team B’s player 2
2.3 Map pack v2, random mirror civilisations – not played if both previous 1v1s are won by the same team.
Game 3: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, no repetition from game 1
Game 4: Ounianga (civ pool 13)
Game 5: Thar Desert (civ pool 9)
Ro8, Best of 5:
Game 1: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations
Game 2: 1v1 Bo3 (3 different players per team). Home maps have civ pools. Civilisations are free hidden pick in game 2.1 and 2.2
2.1 Team A (higher seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team B chooses the player to face team A’s player 1
2.2 Team B (lower seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team A chooses the player to face team B’s player 2
2.3 Map pack v2, random mirror civilisations – not played if both previous 1v1s are won by the same team.
Game 3: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, no repetition from game 1
Game 4: Pag (civ pool 12)
Game 5: Red Sand (civ pool 16)
Semifinals, Best of 7:
Game 1: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, but no civilisation twice in one team in one game.
Game 2: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, no repetition from game 1
Game 3: 3 1v1 (3 different players per team). Home maps have civ pools. Civilisations are free hidden pick in game 3.1 and 3.2
3.1 Team A (higher seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team B chooses the player to face team A’s player 1
3.2 Team B (lower seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team A chooses the player to face team B’s player 2
3.3 Map pack v2, random mirror civilisations – not played if both previous 1v1s are won by the same team.
Game 4: Danakil (civ pool: Ethiopians, Malians, Berbers, Italians, Saracens, Persians, Chinese)
Game 5: Arctic Circle (civ pool 14)
Game 6: Sonora (civ pool 10)
Game 7: Red Sand (civ pool 16)
Finals, Best of 7:
Game 1: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, but no civilisation twice in one team in one game.
Game 2: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, no repetition from game 1
Game 3: 3 1v1 (3 different players per team). Home maps have civ pools. Civilisations are free hidden pick in game 3.1 and 3.2
3.1 Team A (higher seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team B chooses the player to face team A’s player 1
3.2 Team B (lower seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team A chooses the player to face team B’s player 2
3.3 Map pack v2, random mirror civilisations – not played if both previous 1v1s are won by the same team.
Game 4: Danakil (civ pool: Ethiopians, Malians, Berbers, Italians, Saracens, Persians, Chinese)
Game 5: Thar Desert (civ pool 9)
Game 6: Pag (civ pool 12)
Game 7: Gobi (civ pool 2)
Ro16, Best of 5:
Game 1: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations
Game 2: 1v1 Bo3 (3 different players per team). Home maps have civ pools. Civilisations are free hidden pick in game 2.1 and 2.2
2.1 Team A (higher seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team B chooses the player to face team A’s player 1
2.2 Team B (lower seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team A chooses the player to face team B’s player 2
2.3 Map pack v2, random mirror civilisations – not played if both previous 1v1s are won by the same team.
Game 3: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, no repetition from game 1
Game 4: Ounianga (civ pool 13)
Game 5: Thar Desert (civ pool 9)
Ro8, Best of 5:
Game 1: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations
Game 2: 1v1 Bo3 (3 different players per team). Home maps have civ pools. Civilisations are free hidden pick in game 2.1 and 2.2
2.1 Team A (higher seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team B chooses the player to face team A’s player 1
2.2 Team B (lower seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team A chooses the player to face team B’s player 2
2.3 Map pack v2, random mirror civilisations – not played if both previous 1v1s are won by the same team.
Game 3: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, no repetition from game 1
Game 4: Pag (civ pool 12)
Game 5: Red Sand (civ pool 16)
Semifinals, Best of 7:
Game 1: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, but no civilisation twice in one team in one game.
Game 2: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, no repetition from game 1
Game 3: 3 1v1 (3 different players per team). Home maps have civ pools. Civilisations are free hidden pick in game 3.1 and 3.2
3.1 Team A (higher seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team B chooses the player to face team A’s player 1
3.2 Team B (lower seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team A chooses the player to face team B’s player 2
3.3 Map pack v2, random mirror civilisations – not played if both previous 1v1s are won by the same team.
Game 4: Danakil (civ pool: Ethiopians, Malians, Berbers, Italians, Saracens, Persians, Chinese)
Game 5: Arctic Circle (civ pool 14)
Game 6: Sonora (civ pool 10)
Game 7: Red Sand (civ pool 16)
Finals, Best of 7:
Game 1: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, but no civilisation twice in one team in one game.
Game 2: Map pack v2, free hidden civilisations, no repetition from game 1
Game 3: 3 1v1 (3 different players per team). Home maps have civ pools. Civilisations are free hidden pick in game 3.1 and 3.2
3.1 Team A (higher seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team B chooses the player to face team A’s player 1
3.2 Team B (lower seed) chooses 1 map and one player, then team A chooses the player to face team B’s player 2
3.3 Map pack v2, random mirror civilisations – not played if both previous 1v1s are won by the same team.
Game 4: Danakil (civ pool: Ethiopians, Malians, Berbers, Italians, Saracens, Persians, Chinese)
Game 5: Thar Desert (civ pool 9)
Game 6: Pag (civ pool 12)
Game 7: Gobi (civ pool 2)
Teams which will not make it into the top 16, will be eligible to sign up for a second league.
- 1st place: $150
- 2nd place: $100
- 3rd/4th place: 2x $50
More details about the structure will follow once the registration phase is over.
Finally, I want to say, that by having this big prize pool, I can really show my gratitude to other people and have an impact which feels right.
Originally, I calculated to have $200-300 for admins, which would include myself, and although $100 is not little money for me, I decided that those $100 should go to something related, useful, to fight human-caused water scarceness and desertification in real life.
So those $100 will go to a Trees for the Future, which I am currently trying to decide on (if you have a good suggestion, please let me know), and any additional donation (not the prize pool from the main sponsor) by 50 % to them, 25 % to the prize pool and 25 % to the map creators.
Here is some more information about them:
Charity Navigator - Rating for Trees for the Future
Trees for the Future has earned a 4/4 Star rating on Charity Navigator. This Charitable Organization is headquartered in Silver Spring, MD.
www.charitynavigator.org
If you want to contribute, you can message me here, or on Discord (Huehuecoyotl22#3717) or donate via Streamlabs (which will have more fees though).
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