CPL: MR15, but Faster CS

[CSN NewsBot]

The Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) and its CAL online counterpart have both undergone a massive CS match format change that comes in the shadow of the Justin Blanchard's appointment as CPL Commissioner. Both the CPL and CAL are adopting a maxrounds 15 format, but are shortening the round timer significantly:

• increase of max rounds from 12 to 15 (there will now be 15 rounds per half)
  
  
• decrease round time from 2:30 to 1:45
  
  
• increase freeze time between rounds from 10 seconds to 15 seconds

Maxrounds 15 gives six extra rounds of weapon play — where teams can typically afford to buy assault and sniper rifles — and places less emphesis on the early pistol rounds.

Though maxrounds 15 has been popular in Europe, the CPL's adoption of the format will make it an implicit standard. While the number of rounds per half has increased, the theoretical maximum time for a half to be completed has actually decreased. The CPL is trying to speed up competitive Counter-Strike play through these changes.[break="read about more match format changes"]Overtime play has been completely revamped, removing the focus on pistol strategy when two teams tie in two halves of play:

• increase overtime start money from $800 to $10,000
  
  
• increase overtime freeze time from 15 seconds to 20 seconds

Overtime will still be played three round halves.



These changes will take affect at the start of CAL's upcoming season — which will likely be pay-to-play — but new configs are already available. The changes will then be used in the most competitive of environments during this Winter's CPL event, which begins on December 15th. The CPL released this statement regarding the changes.

Justin Blanchard believes that these changes will move the game play to a structure similar to NFL football. Rounds with lots of action followed by a regrouping strategy period, then another play with lots of action. Overtime changes should provide teams an opportunity to utilize their full gamut of strategy instead of just one round determining play for the remainder of overtime.

These changes mark a massive overhaul of US league play. I think that Justin has made some exciting changes that will shape the future in major ways. Over-all, competitive CS play just became a whole lot more dependent on big weaponry and the strategies that go along with them.

[entRo]

Played a few scrims on the new config today, don't really like the short roundtime but that's my only complaint. I'll get used to it.

[^.j()$h.^]

These changes will take affect at the start of CAL's for the upcoming season

I thought it had been said that the pay-to-play implentation would not take place till next season?

[[GH]-Paladin]

I like the new rules but i'm still not fond of the Pay to play idea..

[-Aragorn]

CAL already announced that pay to play will NOT be for this up-coming season...



Check the news posts on the CAL site.

[bladefist17]

i like all these new changes with the exception of the roundtimes. 1:45 just seems a little short to me

[x7-Superman!]

i think its a good idea

ive always hated losing pistol rounds and then falling behind because of it

[MrBo]

I dunno about the round time change, it speeds things up, but also takes away a lot of the delay and confusion strategies, and really puts a hamper on teams trying to overcome a strong defense.

[Buddah]

Let's speed things up even more by making the only map for the seaon fy_iceworld. *sarcasm*

[st3wi3]

Great idea Buddah!

[dizzle]

Buddah wrote..

Let's speed things up even more by making the only map for the seaon fy_iceworld. *sarcasm*

HAAHHHAHAHAAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I wish I could give you a million dollars right now, LOL.

[hugo-rj]

Hmmm... I kinda like it... although really agree with #7. Maybe 2:00 would be perfect.



Now it will not be a matter of when and where the terrorists will atack. Only a matter of where the TRs will go... because they won't have too much time to decide: if TRs delay the attack to much, they won't be able to fake it and go to the other bombsite.



So we can expect lot's of rushes on the initial minutes, what is nice to HLTV spectators and so on, but that excess of rushes may take the fun a little off from watching those games.



Just like a F1 x Cart comparision: Cart has a lot of overtakes during the races, but after a while it becomes boring, because the cars are overtaking all the time, but on the F1, there are less overtakes... so, when it happens, it's nice to see them.



Well, I think my text a little confusing, but english is not my native language and americans don't follow F1.



Whatever.

[Gpig]

ew

[Splatula]

Bah, T's will have more time to plan the assault, but so little time to implement it it's going to come down more to individual DM skills than strategy in the end.

[DeFade]

1:45 is too short imo



edit: ive changed my mind. its way too short.