Round Two Edition: Who's Your Favorite to Win the CT?

[Christoph]

The winning teams for round one have been decided! Congrats to the advancing teams! I figured we could have a new poll for overall winner predictions this round to see how things have changed.

[Karuka]

More detailed prediction to come once I've seen swapouts and whatnot, but at the moment, my bet is to see CN v. Morituri in the final round.

[Godhand]

Whatever team Magdalena is on.

[Elijah_Morendale]

Cipher Nex.

Every vote is for Cipher Nex, whether or not you all realize it.

[Ataraxis]

My teams.

Yes, both of them: the beat, and the lyrics, at the same time.

[Breaker]

Alright, here's my predictions for round 2...

Cipher Nex vs. The Red Hand

1v1: Karuka Tida vs Sorahn

Prediction: Obviously these two are both great writers, and I expect it to be a close match. However, I believe Karuka has an edge in activity, and she's been battling a lot recently. I expect her to get the win.

Advantage: Cipher Next by 1-3 points

2v2: BlackandBlueEyes and 016573 vs Lorenor and Tenki

Prediction: I skimmed through Lorenor and Tenki's first round battle and saw some good stuff happening. That said, myself and BaBE are both pretty hardcore battlers, not to mention our characters have a crazy relationship and play off each other well.

Advantage: Cipher Nex by 2-5 points

Army: Christoph vs Ranger

Prediction: I think this will be a close one. Both excellent writers, and both clearly have a handle on the Gisela style thing. That said, I've gotta go with Christoph, firstly because he's my teamate, secondly because I think he's more active, and thirdly because he beat Dirks in round 1, and that's damn impressive.

Advantage: Cipher Nex by 1-3 points

Overall: Yep, I think we can potentially sweep the RH. Not saying it's going to be easy, but I believe wholeheartedly in my team.

Argentum Astrum vs Morituri te Salutant

1v1: Lasair Anubail vs Rheawien

Prediction: Two fantastic writers on their alternate accounts. Not much more to say than that. I give the advantage to Rheawien because Letho is, well, the master of JCs, and also Rhea's character is better stuited to battling.

Advantage: Morituri by 1-2 points

2v2: Chromanon Rockskin and Papa Dragon vs Homunculus and Toy Soldier

Predicton: Eeesh. I'm seeing a pattern of difficult decisions here. I don't know who Papa Dragon is, but the other three are great writers on alternate accounts. We didn't get to see the Morituri duo to their full potential in round 1, which makes this even harder. In the end, I say if Manda and Pappa Dragon both stay active, they'll get the win

Advantage: AA by 1-3 points

Army: Zook Murnig vs Magdalena

Prediction: I don't know a huge amount about either of these writers; I know Magdalena has alts but I'm not sure who they are. Based on an impressive performance in the first round, I'll give it to Zook Murnig.

Advantage: AA by 1-2 points

Overall: Tentatively giving this to Argentum Astrum, but a lot is going to depend on who stays active.

Final thoughts: Looks like I've got Cipher Nex meeting Argentum Astrum in the finals. This round is exciting as hell. To me, it looks as though every battle could potentially go either way. Can't wait for it to start.

[Karuka]

My in-depth predictions for Round 2. (assuming everyone is active)

Cipher Nex vs. The Red Hand

1v1: Karuka Tida vs Sorahn

Prediction: While I'm grateful to Numbers for his confidence in me, my battling only really shines in the situation under which he faced me: a very strict, enforced word limit. That said, I don't know Sorahn's writing very well, only that I have been more active as of late. I can't really call a winner or loser here, because it's my fight, but I will say with the arena we have planned and how similar our characters are in terms of fighting style, this is going to be an interesting match.

Advantage: Reserved.

2v2: BlackandBlueEyes and 016573 vs Lorenor and Tenki

Tenki seems good, but I'm going to say that Lorenor will writer and score similarly to how he has in the past. Both B&BE and Numbers are excellent writers, prolific battlers, and their characters have history, which ought to make for interesting back story.

Advantage: Cipher Nex

Army: Christoph vs Ranger

Prediction: Writing wise, I think that Christoph has a slight advantage here, no matter Ranger's activity, but with the immense strain on Ranger to focus his attention to real life, it leaves him very little time to focus on the battle. I think that if he is able to get the battle to the minimum number of posts, the strain will show. Then again, Christoph is burning out, lately, and who knows how that will affect his side?

Advantage: Slight Cipher Nex

Overall: Probably CN.

Argentum Astrum vs Morituri te Salutant

1v1: Lasair Anubail vs Rheawien

Prediction: This battle ought to be interesting, seeing who it is, but like Numbers, I think the win will go to the Letho alt.

Advantage: Morituri te Salutant

2v2: Chromanon Rockskin and Papa Dagon vs Homunculus and Toy Soldier

Predicton: I judged the last Morituri 2v2, and while they did pull out with a win, I was less than impressed, considering the reputation of the writers. If Manda and Atar can keep up what they had in the last round, I'm giving this to them.

Advantage: Argentum Astrum

Army: Zook Murnig vs Magdalena

Prediction: A Zook v. Atar battle...their writing styles will probably clash in an interesting way, since what I've seen of Zook's writing is more subdued than average, and Atar has a tendency for a more extroverted style, with wry humor and plenty of flair. I'm giving this to Magdalena.

Advantage: Slight Morituri te Salutant

Overall: Slight Morituri te Salutant.

[Ataraxis]

Excuse me, both of ya, but it's Papa Dagon. Got its? Yeaaaah, we's gots it - now we's smokes da ganja, yes?

Here's my [more] in-depth prediction, since people complained my last one was biased. Go figure!

Cipher Nex vs. The Red Hand

1v1: Karuka Tida vs Sorahn

Prediction: I've read quite a bit of Sorahn's writing, so I know most of his highs and lows. Same goes for Karu, who's written gems as much as - I wouldn't say coal - semi-precious stones. By common standards, their lows are still pretty hard to beat, but if they come on their best game, it should be quite a match, with perhaps Karu at a slight advantage.

Advantage: Cipher Nex

2v2: BlackandBlueEyes and 016573 vs Lorenor and Tenki

Prediction: Lor and Tenki are good, but they've been a somewhat unassuming duo up till now, while I think we all remember the Crotch-Biting Incident involving Numbers and BaBE.

Advantage: Cipher Nex

Army: Christoph vs Ranger

Prediction: Sadly couldn't get much of Ranger's battle due to Shyam's disappearance, last round, but I know from other fights that he's to be reckoned with. Christoph shouldn't be underestimated either, especially since he one-upped Dirks in the last match. Well, 0.5-upped, actually. Peek condition, I'd think, would see them evenly matched. Still, the universe seems to be riding down on Ranger pretty hard, so he might be at a disadvantage here.

Advantage: slight Cipher Nex

Overall: CN seems to have the floor at the moment, but I'm sure the Red Hand will be contesting that control, and violently at that.

Argentum Astrum vs Morituri te Salutant

1v1: Lasair Anubail vs Rheawien

Prediction: It seems Rhea will be meeting up with her second anathema in the CT. There's been a huge clash between bitch and bubbly last round, and there probably will be in the second one as well. Both are amazing writers, but considering Letho hasn't used Rhea in a while before the tournament while Witchy's been all around with Lasair these past few months, I think we'll be getting a close one. Also... has anyone seen Letho lately?

Advantage: Toss-up

2v2: Chromanon Rockskin and Papa Dagon vs Homunculus and Toy Soldier

Predicton: I just realized that I can't speak for either side. Damn, and I was looking forward to this part. Well in any case, Homun and Toy Soldier make an interesting duo, and they've pulled punches last round. They'll be glad to know that, well, so did we.

Advantage: N/A

Army: Zook Murnig vs Magdalena

Prediction: Same as above, crap. Well Zook's got a weapon against writers like me, and that's sweet brevity. Plus, this'll be his main against my alt, so there's the matter of familarity to take into account. Since anything I could say about myself will be considered masturbatory praising, I'd just like to say instead that Sun Tzu would have a lot trouble on Althanas.

Advantage: N/A

Overall: The weather is nice in Quebec

[Elijah_Morendale]

"while I think we all remember the Crotch-Biting Incident involving Numbers and BaBE. " -Ataraxis

At least I'll be known for something when I leave this site.

[Breaker]

"while I think we all remember the Crotch-Biting Incident involving Numbers and BaBE. " -Ataraxis

At least I'll be known for something when I leave this site.

And yet no one ever says "Oh yeah, they got battle of the year."

Nope. It's all about the crotch bite.

[Zook Murnig]

I was driving Chris and Karuka through Richmond when they told me y'all were going to be teamed up. Don't tell Karuka, but I almost crashed.

[Christoph]

And yet no one ever says "Oh yeah, they got battle of the year."

Nope. It's all about the crotch bite.

NOM NOM NOM!