Fourth Round and Finals Discussion Thread

[Kitsune Inferno]

Ladieeeeeeeees and gentlemen! ahem 218 entrants have entered this year's tournament and 210 entrants have fallen. The final eight have formed tag teams and have competed as one since the third round and now… I present to you, the final four teams of the Arlong Park Character Tournament 2012 event!

! 'Beards and Berries' Straw Hat Navigator Extraordinaire Nami and the Dark King Himself, Silvers Rayleigh
! 'Eras Collide' Former Yonkou Edward Newgate and Supernova-turned-Shichibukai Trafalgar Law
! 'O-kami' Practitioner of the Okama Way Bon Kurei and Lord of Light and Lightning Enel
! 'Sand-toryuu' Mr. Crocodile Sir Zero and Roronoa Hunter Pirate Zoro
Now then, let us draw the matches for Round 4!

! …
! I don't believe it... The first match! Swords and spirits collide! It's Crocodile and Zor-
! >! CROCODILE: "Hold it."
! >! (dramatic bgm)

! Yes, Sir Crocodile?
! CROCODILE: "I no longer wish to work with this undesirable fool."
! ZORO: "Oh good, I was thinking the same thing."
! Now, now, guys. Here, let me just switch you partners wit-
! WHITEBEARD: "Now that you mention it, I'm getting a little fed up with the way this bean sprout runs things as well."
! LAW: "If your heart's not in it, then you're welcome to leave, old man."
! WHITEBEARD: "Old man? What nerve you have. Gurararararara."
! Hey, um, can we please just get on with the matches? Crocodile and Zoro, you will face B-
! BON CLAY: "Oh, I've had it up to here with this guy's ego!"
! ENEL: "Do you tremble before God? Do you wish to leave my side? Unfortunately, the only exit from my service is death."
! Guys, come on…
! [sNAMI: "Time to pay up on that debt, Silvers. You barely scraped your way through thanks to me."
! RAYLEIGH: "You barely survived last time, girl. What makes you think you can stop me this time?"
! Okay, fine, tag teams are disbanded! Are you happy? Let's just redraw the matches an-
! >! NAMI: "Nah, don't bother. I've got a score to settle with Beardy over here.
! RAYLEIGH: "Fine, but just know that I don't plan on losing twice."
! BETRAYAL! Nami vs. Rayleigh!
Uh, let's not betray each other. Let's talk this o-
! >! WHITEBEARD: "You're still a hundred years too early to be tangoing with me, boy."
! LAW: "I'll take my chances-ya."
! BETRAYAL! Whitebeard vs. Law!
! Come on, now, seriously!
! >! BON: "Oh, that does it! I'm not holding anything back!"
! ENEL: "So, you choose death? Kneel before my might and pray for mercy!"
! BETRAYAL! Bon Clay vs. Enel!
! Oh, what's the use?
! >! CROCODILE: "Betrayal? How amusing. I don't plan on betraying Moss Head here or anything, I just want a partner who isn't completely useless."
! ZORO: "Hey…..............................!!!!!!"
! >! ZORO:"…....................Who you calling Moss Head, wise guy!?"
! BETRAYAL! Crocodile vs. Zoro!
! Oh, fine, just ignore me and stuff… You guys sort out your own damn problems! throws match card to the ground and signals the start of the Fourth Round

_Prepare your campaigns and enjoy the filler matches as we prepare for the most exciting round yet! These quarter-finals matches are not to be taken lightly, ladies and gentlemen! Any one of these eight brave combatants could very well be the TOURNAMENT CHAMPION!

–-

(Significantly less fun summary of the events which transpired above):_

! Nami vs. Rayleigh
Whitebeard vs. Law
Bon Clay vs. Enel
Crocodile vs. Zoro

[Cyber-Robin]

I wonder if Nami vs Rayleigh will have the same outcome as before? Will be interesting. Easy choices this round.

Nami.
Bon-Chan that is all.

[Fire-Fist]

just wtf

super hard choices! (other than Nami vs. Rayleigh in which i'm voting for dark king again!)

[Dryish]

starts up the chant

Four champions in a row, four champions in a row!

[Kitsune Inferno]

Nami, of course. Crocodile, of course. Enel, of course.

And 60-40 in Law's favor.

I like Law, but he needs to go. But I doubt Whitebeard will be the one to crush him. So he might just get my vote.

[Huon]

Well, 4 easy choices for me.

Nami vs. Rayleigh
Whitebeard vs. Law
Bon Kurei vs. Enel
Crocodile vs. Zoro I guess Nami can make it; Whitebeard probably doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell; Bon Kurei and Zoro… I really don't know how those matches will turn out.

[Porinero]

I miss captain buggy

[Warp Predator]

Thats actually heartbreaking. Old man, you were the best ally possible manly tears.
But enough is enough. To the WORKSHOPS!

[Devil G.]

Nami vs. Rayleigh
Whitebeard vs. Law Bon Clay vs. Enel
Crocodile vs. Zoro ( i don't who i'll vote in these two )

I'm not really interested in these matches, aside from Whitebeard's one.

[Drake_Cloud]

Lol. Comeon Law, Make it 4/4 in taking out previous winners (I think).

He got a nice panel to use for campagins this chapter, and shit is about to go down on PH . . .

[Silent K]

Nami vs. Rayleigh
Whitebeard vs. Law
Bon Clay vs. Enel
Crocodile vs. Zoro

The only thing that gave me trouble was choosing between Bon-chan and God, but I like the Enel campaigns too much to not give him my vote.

[Juvar]

I knew this was going to happen, and it's awesome! I'm just a bit scared about Enel vs. Bon. But we will take this victory, too!

In general I've got to agree with my best fiend Foxy-guy. Nami, Croc and Enel, easily, while Law and Whitebeard… Meh.

[Kubihige]

He's the Dark KING for a reason. Rayleigh will not fall here!!

[Nia]

I'm set for the first two matches, but the other two … hmmm.

[Katzztar]

The charas I'll support=
Nami vs. Rayleigh
Whitebeard vs. Law - this is the only match where I'm conflicted. I like em both…though favoring Pops more, though considering how many people campain for Law, I may go for Whitebeard Bon Clay vs. Enel
Crocodile vs. Zoro

[Mr M]

Nami for sure , Law for sure , Crocodile for sure .

But Okama way vs Almighty God? :cwy:

[Robby]

Geez Kistune, thats way too many hide tags.

granted, I knew what was coming. But yeeeesh!

[Kitsune Inferno]

Hmmm, point taken. I could see it being extremely troublesome on skinnier monitors… I'll cull a few~

[DarkFalcon]

within those match ups I choose Nami, Whitebeard, Bon-Kurei and Crock

[NicoNico28]

Nami,Whitebeard,and Bon Clay for sure,but that last match will be difficult…

[NateRich]

Gah, Nami vs Rayleigh again!! Upset time!!! GO RAYLEIGH!!!!

[Mastello]

Awesome, I was hoping the tag teams would turn on each other. So much easier to choose who to vote.

[Robby]

Now that the betrayals have been revealed, I suppose I can reveal what the plan WAS for Shakky and Tashigi.

The plan HAD been, before the TWO TIES (curse you all) to give them a reeeeally easy match in the tag team round… against Satori and someone else... maybe Rob Lucchi. Someone that they could beat real easily.

Then this round would have come, we would have had a proper Shakky/Tashigi match (basically having their round 2 match in round four) and then at the end of this round, there would have been a free for all to eliminate the excess fifth character.

But then you guys went and had TWO TIES (curse you all), which just really upset the numbers involved, and so instead of getting a super easy super defeatable opponent, Shakky and Tashigi ended up fighting a really really hard team instead. Best laid plans.

Still, can't help but wonder which of the two would have won if they'd had an actual face off...

[dwo]

Nice matches. Although, after recent manga, I think there is no ther than Law who will win the tournament.

[Kubihige]

That would have been great, Robby. Sucks that Nami couldn't just lose :ninja: Shakky vs. Tashigi filler match?

Does that mean that ball 4 really didn't do anything?

[MasterKingJC]

Oh, I kneeeew you guys were going to pull something like this.

[Elfman]

Nami V Rayleigh
Whitebeard V Law
Bon Clay V Enel
Crocodile V Zoro

Voting for all the first ones

[CaptainPaige]

Oh, can't say I didn't see this happening. So Nami, Law, Bon Clay, Crocodile? Yes.

[Robby]

@Kubihige:

Does that mean that ball 4 really didn't do anything?

Sorry, THAT at least is a secret I will never tell.

[Nia]

I'm still huffy because ball two didn't win.

[Juvar]

I'm scared. So much love for Bon-chan. The Enel-camp needs to be stronger than ever…

[zachri]

Oh. Shit.

[Deviant_Mugen]

@RobbyBevard:

Now that the betrayals have been revealed, I suppose I can reveal what the plan WAS for Shakky and Tashigi.

The plan HAD been, before the TWO TIES (curse you all) to give them a reeeeally easy match in the tag team round… against Satori and someone else... maybe Rob Lucchi. Someone that they could beat real easily.

Then this round would have come, we would have had a proper Shakky/Tashigi match (basically having their round 2 match in round four) and then at the end of this round, there would have been a free for all to eliminate the excess fifth character.

But then you guys went and had TWO TIES (curse you all), which just really upset the numbers involved, and so instead of getting a super easy super defeatable opponent, Shakky and Tashigi ended up fighting a really really hard team instead. Best laid plans.

Still, can't help but wonder which of the two would have won if they'd had an actual face off…

Tashigi, of course. Not that it matters anymore…

[Robby]

@Deviant_Mugen:

Tashigi, of course. Not that it matters anymore…

Or does it?

http://apforums.net/showthread.php?t=36287

[akagami7]

easy choices

Nami vs. Rayleigh
Whitebeard vs. Law
Bon Clay vs. Enel
Crocodile vs. Zoro

[Mr M]

@Nia:

I'm still huffy because ball two didn't win.

AP likes their pain

[Supernova]

Nami
Law
Bon-Clay
Zoro.

It's Law's year baby.

[No Maam]

So this way I can vote for in then one match and actualy care.

Nami and WB but I still preffer Nami winning because WB already won.

[zachri]

…what if this ended with Law vs Nami?

[Robby]

@zachri:

…what if this ended with Law vs Nami?

It'd end up very similar to the match they had last year.

Which would include both of them stripping and come within one vote. Very unpleasant.

[Gekko135]

Once again, to the people voting against characters who previously won…. cause.... they already won.

I tell you... AP hasn't had anyone win the tourney twice.

That's something new and different. OMGEEEEE

[Drake_Cloud]

For those of us Newbies, Who have actually won the tourney outright?

[Gekko135]

This post is deleted!

[Dryish]

@Gekko135:

Once again, to the people voting against characters who previously won…. cause.... they already won.

I tell you... AP hasn't had anyone win the tourney twice.

That's something new and different. OMGEEEEE

Gekko, Gekko, this is a poor argument in this particular case. When Whitebeard was unanimously voted the most popular, i.e. the best character of the year in 2010, it was almost fully because his feats in the manga during the war arc were on a whole other level than anyone else's at the time. He hasn't had any visibility recently, nothing that would keep him so fresh as to deserve a victory over another character whose more or less entertaining escapades we've been following for the past several weeks.

If the WB camp can top Lawfare in terms of campaigning and pure competitive spirit, bring it on and have the majority choose his side. But don't call us out just because we don't want to let a character that has not done anything significant for a while win for the second time. Not when there is someone more accomplished whom he is facing.

And yes, I can go on about this all night if need be.
But I'd rather enjoy a fair fight. Bring it.

[Gekko135]

I meant my statement in general.

Not towards Law voters or anything.

Sure the only remaining winner IS whitebeard… but my statement was towards the poor rhetoric of voting against a previous winner because they've already won. It's a poor excuse, especially when AP hasnt' had someone win twice.

You don't need a reason to vote for anyone in this tournament. That's why it's fun.

Wasn't trying to dog on people voting for current characters. Vote for who you want. I'll be voting Enel because he's awesome... and his tournament spirit last year was able to body in-current-chapters-semi-final-strong-Zoro.... OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!

ahem..

But I feel basing your vote against characters on stuff like "anti-strawhats" or "cause they already won" is a crummy reason.

[zachri]

@RobbyBevard:

It'd end up very similar to the match they had last year.

Which would include both of them stripping and come within one vote. Very unpleasant.

I'm alright with this.
As long as the one vote is in favour of Law.

[Fire-Fist]

Liking (and eventually voting) a character doesn't always depends on how recently that character did something significant. Some characters leave an impression so powerful that it doesn't matters how long ago they appeared, fans still remember and like them (even over characters that are currently 'in'). Not just taking about white beard, take Hiruluk, who still remains popular after all this time.

[Cyber-Robin]

@Fire-Fist:

Liking (and eventually voting) a character doesn't always depends on how recently that character did something significant. Some characters leave an impression so powerful that it doesn't matters how long ago they appeared, fans still remember and like them (even over characters that are currently 'in'). Not just taking about white beard, take Hiruluk, who still remains popular after all this time.

Or Eneru. Who aint appeared in like 7 years or so has managed to get to the final last year and could very well do the same again this year.

[Dryish]

@Gekko135:

But I feel basing your vote against characters on stuff like "anti-strawhats" or "cause they already won" is a crummy reason.

Sorry, I don't intend on hounding you more or unnecessarily prolonging the silly argument just because I ever so slightly disagree with this, but I feel like there is one thing that pertains to this and holds more importance than some people might think it does.

It is the fact that even though strictly voting against someone solely because they have already won the tournament is kind of silly, for the people to whom that is a valid argument it also is a distinctive feature of a character that they take into account when weighing the two voting possibilities in their heads. This may or may not, depending completely upon the factor of individual taste when it comes to deciding which of the characters to pick, have bearing on the decision. If you feel, like I have felt a couple of times this year, that you'd rather vote for someone else because his or her opponent is a previous winner, then you do. And isn't it the feeling that counts? Isn't it, on grassroots level, what makes us feel good about voting and participating in the first place? To follow your own feelings and stand up for them in front of others.

I daresay that in general it's not so much about silly dogmatism than it is about making the very same "I shall have fun this way!" decision everyone else does. The most of us just can't put it in any other words that would probably better express what goes through our minds and emotions at the moment of pressing that vote button.

[KzTxL7]

Bon Clay vs. Enel.

! FUCK