On the Subject of CM I just want to say I am more likely to help out someone who's kind on Skullheart which rules out him and a few other players for me. It isn't that I don't want to see him compete against players in the states, but I'd rather help out somebody who I want to be with in person.
I just want to mention that
1) IRL != Internet (I hear even Mike is bearable offline!)
2) Impersonal Forum posts != Direct communication (CM is a lot nicer when you talk with him on Steam than read random posts on SH)
3) If you want to send nice people.. I am not sure how good your choices are for that//
++ of course if you send someone from JP/Kor, you simply have no idea about their personality at all (and you may even be entirely unable to talk to them! Is this a knockout criterion?)
In general, *I* thought the main idea behind this was to invite the best international players -
To reward their effort, see what they are doing (eg Japan plays differently compared to the US) and teach each other (eg Woofly would get better through the tourney and casuals and talking, and then can bring that higher level of skill back to EU, which would increase the competitiveness of the area and grow the community here + the US gets a new picture of what one can do (zoning with Parasoul, woo!)), not to build a love tent ..
Like, if there are 2 slots to fund I can understand that you'd pick 2 guys who "deserve it" AND "are nice", but currently we have an 'unlimited' amount of slots and just want a general view, and I don't see how CM wouldn't qualify for this 'preliminary sorting'.
.. Aside from the fact that he "needs it more" than eg someone from Mexico would (no idea where exactly Uzu is from, but I'd be exceptionally surprised if the plane ticket wasn't substantially cheaper than from Australia) and that the AUS community "needs it more" than likely any other place (EU can play with the US online just fine, Mexico anyway, JP/Kor can play with each other and are known for their FG prowess, Brazil got funded this year and has Caio coming in the next, Australia is entirely locked out from the world) - arguments which would put ClarenceMage as clear #1 priority in my book
On the note of "inviting the best international players", someone with magic contacts should hit up Japan/Korea and actually get some info as to how the scene there looks etc.
- Magicman, Mulnim, and GFarmer (as well as the infamous GiantKingTurtle) are known because they play a bunch of quickmatch and sometimes upload stuff on YT, but nothing really tells us they are actually the best Korean players.
- Similarly, Inuchiyo likely doesn't play anymore, I haven't heard of Baiken in forever, Poccola is guaranteed no good and I have no idea where SIG clocks in. May as well put Ken_Tekka on the list, he was a really good Filia in SDE~
# For the communities that don't really have a voice (and thus aren't incessantly shouting "Woofly is the best player in EU, trust us!"), this is far more likely a list of people that are known in the public eye than one of people that are actually at the top of the skill curve (Poccola being the most obvious case in point).
So you can post, see your sig after sending and go "Oh FUCK, forgot about it again!" and hit the edit button?