[Boromir88]

THE TWO TOWERS NETWORK
Boromir the 88th

Tol-in-Gaurhoth Preview

This week I bring you a preview of the famous TIG team, owned primarily by the internet search engine, Barrowdowns.com. I was able to ask a wide range of questions to several players and fans. And while there appears to be many differences between werewolves, there is one thing that unites them, the bias of new Arda Cup rules against the werewolves from the Isle.

TTN: One of the committee's new rules this year is the TIG team is only allowed 4 wolf-players and the rest would be human/wight form. Thoughts about this decision? Do you think having a team entirely filled with wolf-players is an unfair advantage, as the committee believes? And what adjustments (if any) will the team have to make to continue success under the new rules regarding the cap on wolf-players?

All werewolves asked this pointed to the unfairness of the rule, but each had an interesting reaction. Shastawolf made the most passionate case, citing the advantages other players have, which are not restricted by the Arda officials, while others seemed confused by the situation or started looking ahead to get the rule repealed.

Shastawolf: It's absolutely unfair! No one prevents the great eagles from using their wings, or the spiders from using their webbing, or the horses their hooves, or Caradhras his winds, or the Ents their height and strength, so why should the wolves be penalized for using their natural-born gifts as well? Rubbish, I say. All part of a Valar plot to cripple the TIG team after we almost crushed their beloved Doriath team last year. Especially since they won't be able to control the outcomes of any matches in the Uttermost West, because of the ban. I'm still as much a fan of Huan as ever I was, but really, this is rather ridiculous.

Nilpwolf: That would be an unfair advantage for the villagers. Werewolves constitute 15-25% of most villages, whereas in the Arda Cup they make up slightly more than 3% of the total population. And now they're thinking of cutting that?! Where's the fair play there?!?!

werephantom: I completely disagree with their decision to not allow us to compete as a team of Werewolves.

Now, as WightWolves, as we were last year.... I suppose I can understand to an extent. WightWolves are not naturally occurring within Arda, but rather were a result of extra-dimensional experimentation. And as everyone saw last year- the experiment was quite successful. We dominated everyone we played until the finals, where a combination of having a bad day and being matched against an all-star team finally did us in. With the increased competitive balance this year, I have no doubt we'd be the strong favorites this year were we allowed to renew our WightWolf forms.

But as far as outlawing all of us as Werewolves, as we've been in the past- completely unfair! Werewolves are naturally occurring creatures with strengths and weaknesses. Some matchups would be great for us, and others would be tough. I don't believe we would have a clear competitive advantage over the field. As a matter of fact I'm not entirely certain we would all be Werewolves- we might leave a couple of us as Wights to help keep things under control and such.

We will certainly be appealing the rules. It's probably too late for this year, but I look forward to receiving more flexibility from Arda Cup in the future.

TTN notes here, that others did not want to appeal the ruling, but brought up possible loopholes to exploit:

Nogwolf: That's a discrace! That is our nature! It's like ripping Aule or Yavanna of their "Valarness" or making Fëanor a mortal weakling. So you can see my position: being werewolves for us in not any more unfair than letting Balrogs to be Balrogs or Maia to be Maia.

If the ruling only specifies werewolves, we should let Eomer remain a warg - and maybe some others of us could learn "wargery" as well?

Galwolf: Not a problem – TIG is not just any wolf team, remember; we’re no ordinary wolves. Werewolves. We can have no wolves on the team at all, when they inspect us. We’ll transform whenever we need to. And the best thing of all – no one will even notice! The more experienced barrow-werewight-wolves can hide in any village, even if it be full of Seers! I trust a cheering crowd will not be much more difficult, especially since it would not particularly be looking for any signs of fur on players.

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TTN: Sauron has invested some money in the TIG team, having pride in his '08 team and for many of their players. It is rumored he is looking to return to play for TIG. Would you welcome Sauron onto the team of Barrow-downers? And do you think he would be the missing piece to finally bring a championship to TIG?

Question 2 was a bit more divisive. No one seemed to deny the skill and worth of what Sauron would bring to TIG, but most were cautious of what it would be like having Sauron on the team. We should mention, besides mormwolf who would only say "Sauron should be team captain." This was in direct contrast to Shastawolf and Galwolf, who seemed to have a problem with bringing more authority to TIG:

Shastawolf: I feel that TIG has grown to be an independent major challenger in its own right without Sauron's help. I'm not certain anyone but the wolves should be on a team meant for wolves. That said, I'm not entirely opposed to Sauron's return, but I'm definitely not up for taking orders from him due to his long absence. I feel that he gave up any semblance of control over us when he abandoned us.

Galwolf: Sauron might be a good addition to the team. At least he fits in well enough – he could transform into a wolf himself before the utter stupidity of certain pig-headed arrogant self-centered *cough*Valar*cough*... I mean, before a tragedy happened and the ability was taken from him. Moreover, if you look at the wight side of our lineage, it was the Dark Lord’s servant who gave us an afterlife. So whatever betides, at least he’d fit in well.

The only thing I am worried about is that he would try to take over leadership of the team. The leadership should be held by a werewight. Our identity as werewolves, wights, friends who murder each other for fun, whatnots, wherenots (and wereknots!), whynots, geeks, oddballs, and furballs must be preserved.

werephantom was the most pleased by the idea, which is no surpise, since in '08 his rapport with Sauron was...wait for it...legendary. However, he did not think this was a likely possibility:

werephantom: Unfortunately, I don't think that's going to happen this year. I talk to him now and then, and with this reorganization he has a lot of work to do back home and I don't think he'd be comfortable leaving his Mordor business to be run by others at this time. But I suppose we can hope.

And surprisingly (but in retrospect, not too shocking) there was one vehement objection to Sauron returning to TIG:

Nilpwolf: Sauron can go play in stinkypoop. Can't we have Finrod and Beren instead? They did pretend to be Werewolves once, too. *bursts into flames*

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TTN: The hot topic of the year. What are your feelings on no games being played in Valinor lands this year, due to the previous years of scandals and corruption?

Again, most wolves were united, to varying degrees. All those asked seemed to support the ban. Mormwolf, cited a different reason, siding with the purity of Valinor, but most of the others felt it was about time for the Valar to be punished:

mormwolf: Valinor would never host a game and it would be sacrilege to let those foul creatures on that pure soil.

werephantom: Eru had to put his foot down. People will argue how bad the abuses really were and how much of it was trumped up, but by even the most kind source there were definitely some mistakes made.

Really, abuse of "baddies" has been rampant throughout Arda Cup. Remember last year how our host site kept changing the times of matches to screw over nocturnal creatures?

There have got to be some clearly outlined rules about that sort of thing, and most importantly- enforcement of the rules.

Galwolf: No games in Valinor means less traveling across the Belegaer for me. We’ll show these big-headed Valinoreans not to hold their proud heads too high on our ground!

Shastawolf: About time, I'd say. The Valar have had the outcomes of matches in their homeland in their pockets for far too long! Missed and unfair calls, rumors of spectator interference, you name it, it's happened. Granted, we've done that once or twice too... but at least we're honest about it! And we only do it when deserved! Mostly.

Nogwolf: We and our core-fans are dead already so we have nothing to be afraid of going to Valinor for a game or two. But I can see where the ban is coming from and am not opposing it either. Just couldn't care less.

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That is TTN's report from around the TIG training grounds. Still only 3 werewolves have been confirmed on the team. But many players in the area have shown up to try out. It's possible TIG will try a larger rotation of players, through the duration of the friendlies, in order to find the best athletes. How will this strategy work in the tournament? Historically, they do field a late team, but the benefit of playing together in the friendlies went to nullifying TIG's procrastination. Now, if they are doing a rotation, throughout the friendlies, how will they be a cohesive unit when the tournament begins?