Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you’ve all been waiting for is here!

Rakleader and Forsaken have finally agreed to play a best of eleven series, in what is shaping up to be the most widely anticipated series since the original Nauz vs Phobos challenge.
https://www.warzone.com/Forum/550812-challenge-phobos-vs-nauz-megathread

For those of you who are unfamiliar with these players or their backstory, I present to you 'Forsaken x Rakleader: A Love Story'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJNLJwXr12I

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Format
The concept here is quite simple, they'll play a best of 11 multi-day games from a selection of templates from the MTL, and the first player to win 6 games wins the challenge.

The MTL uses the following templates: Atlantis, Australia, Baltic Sea, Basileia, Battle Islands V, Battle for Middle Earth, Belarus, Biomes of America, Black Sea, Blitzkrieg Bork, British Raj, Cat Fight, China, Discovery, EarthSea, Elitist Africa, Fast Earth, Final Fantasy 7, French Brawl, Georgia Army Cap, Great Lakes, Greater Middle East III, Greece LD, Guiroma, Hannibal at the Gates, Laketown, Landria, MA Battle Islands V, MME MA+LD Light Fog, Macedonia no split, Malvia, Master Mania, Numenor, Pangea Ultima, Phobia WR, Post-melt Antarctica, Randomized Strat ME, Saudi Arabia, Strat ME, Strat MME, Strategic Greece, Timid Lands, Tor-ture, Treasure Map, Turkey LD, Unicorn Island, Volcano Island, World of Warhammer, Yin'angzhou, Yorkshire Brawl.

The selection process is quite simple, each player has the option to ban up to 5 templates, before template selection. As the challenger, rakleader has agreed to allow Forsaken to select 6 of the 11 templates and he will select the remaining 5.

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Coverage

Min34 has graciously agreed to host a few livestreams where he will preview/review some of the games. The time and date of these streams will be announced in due course, we're also looking for people to join these streams and share their thoughts on the games, let me know if you're interested.
https://www.twitch.tv/min34

We have also recruited 3 elite players to post in-depth analyses on the forum for each game, these players are: Jefferspin (1v1 and RTL trophy holder), Rufus (The WZ GOAT) and Texx (God Amongst Men).

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Survey

Now let's get some predictions going.
If you want to participate, you only have to copy/paste the following questions and reply to this thread:

Is rakleader an elite player? (Why?)
Is Forsaken an elite player? (Why?)
Can this challenge run its course, or will one player disappear before they lose 6 games, if the latter, which player?
Who will win this challenge?
What will be the final score?
Who do you want to win?

Bonus Questions

Did you agree with Greece's decision to drop out of the Nations Cup?
Is Fogless Fighting strategic enough to warrant its Clan League 17 selection?
Do you think Phobos and Nauz will ever resume their bo11?
Marcus Aurelius, genius or idiot?

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@Rak @Forsaken Please post your template selections on this thread and then we can get this challenge underway.

Edited 11/2/2023 21:13:32

Player profiles:
Forsaken: https://www.warzone.com/Profile?p=92120047365&u=Forsaken_1
rakleader: https://www.warzone.com/Profile?p=8136895102&u=rakleader_1

Pick Rating Panelists:
Rufus: https://www.warzone.com/Profile?p=2979814301&u=Rufus_1
Jeff: https://www.warzone.com/Profile?p=6319040229
Texx: https://www.warzone.com/Profile?p=82138120737&u=Texx_1

Forsaken's Template Bans
1
2
3
4
5

Rakleader's Template Bans
1
2
3
4
5

Forsaken's Template Nominations
1
2
3
4
5
6

Rakleader's Template Nominations
1
2
3
4
5


Game links:
Game #1
Game #2
Game #3
Game #4
Game #5
Game #6

Edited 11/2/2023 23:02:11

This is very exciting.

Is rakleader an elite player? Yes, Rak has proven to be elite through many competitions.
Is Forsaken an elite player? He certainly is a player.
Can this challenge run its course, or will one player disappear before they lose 6 games, if the latter, which player? If anyone gives up it would be Forsaken. He would likely talk about being too busy and not caring about this.
Who will win this challenge? Rak.
What will be the final score? If fully completed, 6-2
Who do you want to win? I would like to see either one win. I think both outcomes would be entertaining.


Bonus Questions

Did you agree with Greece's decision to drop out of the Nations Cup? No, I think it was selfish and didn't take into consideration what ForFun wanted.
Is Fogless Fighting strategic enough to warrant its Clan League 17 selection? I have never played it but I will say no.
Do you think Phobos and Nauz will ever resume their bo11? I do not see Phobos gaining the courage to continue.
Marcus Aurelius, genius or idiot? 109% idiot.

Love the raksaken / forleader pairing <3

Going on Rakleader’s history of Bo11, I’m going with Forsaken winning 6-0

That's below the belt Bunsy

Maybe Forsaken will contest the result if rak wins because rak wasn't allowed to be subbed in in the first place

[redacted]

Edited 11/3/2023 11:13:59

Forsaken 6-3

I will put my prediction once the template pool is known.

8-3 for rak

hype!~!

forsaken 6-5, rak tries to make comeback after going down 0-3 but to no avail (subject to change)

Irise does know the best of 11 means that once someone hits 6 wins it stops right?

I would say neither is an elite player as they both have losing records to me and we all know I'm a chump.

nice video xeno, i had a fun time watching it.

Is rakleader an elite player? Yes, Rak has proven to be elite many times, although mostly not in Warlight.
Is Forsaken an elite player? I don't know, but Aegean certainly is.
Can this challenge run its course, or will one player disappear before they lose 6 games, if the latter, which player? The Greeks don't ever give up! That's all I will say about this.
Who will win this challenge? We all do.
What will be the final score? 109% - 6
Who do you want to win? I would like to see forsaken win.

Bonus Questions

Did you agree with Greece's decision to drop out of the Nations Cup? It is important to stand up against bullies, I want to thank the Greek.
Is Fogless Fighting strategic enough to warrant its Clan League 17 selection? Yes, on the strategic-drama spectrum it provides good value.
Do you think Phobos and Nauz will ever resume their bo11? Neither of those players have anything left to prove, so I don't think it will continue.
Marcus Aurelius, genius or idiot? This is the obvious question, a better question is whether we like him, and HELL YES WE DO.

Unfortunately, it seems our angriest predictor might be right.


Last night I was contacted by one of Forsaken's representatives and asked to put a stop to this bo11. I have talked to rakleader, and he is willing to put this challenge on hold until Forsaken can give us 109% effort. So please if you talk to Forsaken, be nice to him, show some love, let's help him find the courage and motivation to take down rak.

“You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
- Marcus Aurelius

Edited 11/4/2023 22:08:31

That's the problem when you're too talented, no one is brave enough to face you.

It's lonely at the top.

You're saying it, rak. Speaking of, could you move a little out of the way down there? I need to pee...

How dare you.

Rak, if you are looking for a brave one to face you, then I am your guy.Everyone knows that Samwise is the bravest one. When do you want to start?