[Poll] Should Russia be included in the Underused Cup?

[Cometk]

Hey guys, jumping off the back of the poll a few days ago on which tournament format would be preferred for a future weekend tournament, is a question on the individual format that was most popularly voted on for play. The next weekend tour will be an Underused Cup, but where exactly to draw the cutoff for which civilizations should be banned is my question for today.

By usage, British, French, and Germany were the most used civilizations from the NWC Qualifiers, and will for sure be getting the boot. However, India and Russia actually tied for 4th place in usage. In addition, Russia was the 5th most-used civ in the Autumn Champs 2018. Now, don't get me wrong, India is definitely getting banned, no questions asked, but, despite technically being an "overused civilization" at least on par with India, should Russia be included in this upcoming tournament format? Would appreciate to see some discussion.

[Jaeger]

I know this could get messy but...Could we ban 5 cossacks first? Maybe it could be done with every civ, like bad some BO that is most often done?

[Cometk]

I’ll ban you

[Mitoe]

I think it's played enough that it can't really be considered underused. Especially recently.

[Cometk]

I mean we have to leave some civs for Erik to play

[yemshi]

Russia being played as frequently is just a result of Thar Desert. That being said: it's not like its complete trash otherwise.

[Hazza54321]

I think they are underplayed a little but not much, the rusket buff was nice i feel

[Mitoe]

How can you possibly say they're underplayed lol

I doubt there was a single series the whole tournament where we haven't seen them. And then get played all the time outside of tournament too.

Not to mention they're so damn boring to play and to watch

[Hazza54321]

Good thing youre not biased :)

Cant get over his loss vs hazzarov

[Cometk]

Sucks you guys aren’t in the same LAN groups

[EAGLEMUT]

I don't understand what's even the argument for including one and not the other, when they're tied? It's supposed to be underused civs based on usage data, not on opinion, I would hope?

[Cometk]

I don't understand what's even the argument for including one and not the other, when they're tied? It's supposed to be underused civs based on usage data, not on opinion, I would hope?

Says the India main

[EAGLEMUT]

Gotta say I'm tempted to open a "Should India be included in the Underused Cup?" poll right now

[BrookG]

Come on boys keep the bans coming

[aligator92]

I don't understand what's even the argument for including one and not the other, when they're tied?

Exactly
no russia

[deleted_user0]

It's definitely underused civ but...

1) Popular among lows
2) Thar desert

Enough said.

[Lukas_L99]

I doubt there was a single series the whole tournament where we haven't seen them. And then get played all the time outside of tournament too.

Tabben vs me! Though we practiced for it.

[BrookG]

It's definitely underused civ but...

1) Popular among lows
2) Thar desert

Enough said.

Funnily enough it is one of the top picks in Thar along with Aztecs and Indians (all chosen 8 times)

[edeholland]

Perhaps we can just ban Thar Desert instead?

[Kaiserklein]

Honestly if we're gonna do an "underused civs" tournament we should ban more than 5. Russia IS overused, everyone plays it both in tourney and outside of it. But everyone also spams japan tbh, and dutch too I'd say.
For me underused civs are otto/ports/spain/aztecs/sioux/iro, and I guess china to some extent.

P.S: russia was also a top pick on baja guys...

[[Armag] diarouga]

No Otto please.

[Kaiserklein]

You think otto is overused? I don't see many people playing it

[EAGLEMUT]

As @Kaiserklein says, if anything the civ pool should be restricted more, not less. We want to see the real underused civs, the real deal!

[[Armag] diarouga]

You think otto is overused? I don't see many people playing it

It's not over used but it really should be. The reason why people don't spam it is because they play for fun.

[BrookG]

Honestly if we're gonna do an "underused civs" tournament we should ban more than 5. Russia IS overused, everyone plays it both in tourney and outside of it. But everyone also spams japan tbh, and dutch too I'd say.
For me underused civs are otto/ports/spain/aztecs/sioux/iro, and I guess china to some extent.

P.S: russia was also a top pick on baja guys...

*2nd after Otto
Most underused are Iroquois, Spanish, Portuguese, Aztecs, Chinese and Sioux. All much below average picks. Otto are close to Sioux, a bit above all previous