Welcome to the planning thread for the 2023 IDU Baseball Classic in Haesan!  This competition is open to all of the nations of the IDU and seeks to revive a long forgotten event and celebrate both baseball and national cultures across the region.

You can access the registration form here.  To enter, post the link to the completed form in the thread below, and be sure to make the settings "anyone with the link can view" so we can see it.
The registration deadline is August 1st August 15th until we reach 16 teams.  Please try to submit your form (or at least let me know your interest) as soon as possible so I can get started on the calculations and logistics phase of this in a timely manner.

How does this tournament work?
Functionally, it depends on the number of teams, but there will be a group stage with a semi-randomized draw and locations (think: World Cup) followed by a single-elimination bracket.  There may be play-in games between the first few teams held before the tournament if the numbers are awkward (i.e. prime).  The games will be simulated largely by hand (with the aid of a computer program) using some customized formulas.  This will take a while to run, and the event will likely take place sometime in the fall.

Outcomes of individual at bats will be randomized but affected by the player ratings of the batter and pitchers.  These are assigned in the registration form, and the average must be no more than the program rating.  The program rating is determined by how good your nation is at baseball, and is a combination of factors:
1. Your nation's Olympic baseball rating (35%)
2. Your nation's Olympic softball rating (15%)
3. A mix of cultural factors including Olympic success in Hanshui, a history of competing at the Trive Baseball Classic, and a cultural legacy of baseball (as measured in wiki references to the sport and general impressions) (50%)
This average then went through some math (standardization and then redistribution to fit a new mean and sd that made the numbers look like a realistic spread) in order to get the program score, which ultimately falls in a range from 27 to 78.  The full list is below at the bottom of this post.

The reason why I did this is mainly for realism.  Since we just had a competition with baseball a few months before this occurs, it would be totally unrealistic to see drastic changes in who has good/well funded programs.  Of course, if your nation competes here and overperforms, their score will likely improve in the future.  Just like real life, some nations will only be happy with a win, while others are ecstatic to make it out of the group stage at all.  I also wanted there to be some element of strategy in assigning points, versus the old league simulator version where it is basically just fancy coin flips.  Additionally, this way you can customize your team to be what you want, whether that is a single superstar-led roster, or one that is more well balanced.  The choice is yours.

In addition, similar to Trive, you can increase your program rating by up to 10 points by providing additional details about your team and players.

How do I fill out the form (accurately)?
First is the administration section, where you provide information about your team.  There are only two required items:
1. Your country name
2. Your trigram

There are also 4 optional items that will boost your program rating, with IC reasons for doing so:
1. Your team nickname (+1)
Having a rallying cry will give your players something extra to fight for.
2. Your team mascot (+1)
A comedic (or adorable) character to represent your team gives makes your players a bit more relaxed on the field.
3. Team uniform description (both home and away, please) (+1)
Nice clothes beget confidence.
4. Cheerleading squad (4 cheerleaders + MC) (+2)
In Haesan, it is routine for teams to have cheer squads at games, and the infrastructure will remain available for national teams to use during the baseball classic.  Having a cheer team leading chants during at bats is a major psychological advantage.  This is the aspect that makes this a uniquely Haesanite competition with our own national flair; it's not every day you see stadiums full of people on their feet chanting for a batter to hit a home run.
5*. You can also provide any additional notes about your team for flavor I can use in narrating this tournament.  You don't get points for it, but it can make this event more fun for RP purposes and doubly so for teams that aren't predicted to do so well.

Then is the team roster, which has two mandatory components:
1. Player names (one at each position)
2. Player rating (a number from 0 to 100, higher = better player)
Put the team rating in the box that says Team Rating, and sum your modifiers and put it in the Bonus Applied box.  The rest will auto calculate.  Ensure your roster rating (gold box) is less than or equal to the adjusted rating (bottom silver box), or else your team will be subjected to a harsh investigation on suspicions of the use of controlled substances.

The bench is special here, instead of forcing you all to have to come up with one more name at each position (as in Trive), I have created a generic bench position.  There may be substitutes for pinch hitters and pinch runners in key situations or to swap in if a player has been underperforming, and the substitutes' rating is represented by the bench.  The bench rating represents multiple unnamed players, and as such its rating is counted three times when calculating the average.  No player details should be provided for the bench, if I find that data is critical and I need it later, I will message you over discord when if that time comes.

There are also four optional categories here:
1. Batting order (+1)
This one isn't hard (you list the numbers 1-9) and basically I'm giving a free point for it, but I will have to manually set this if you don't, so please do it for me and get your free rating point.  Having a set order helps provide clarity for the batters and gets them into a rhythm.
2. Player number (+1)
Helps provide clarity for coaches and players on the field.  It's a nice bonus for your fans too.  Please refrain from single digit numbers for pitchers or numbers larger than 60 unless absolutely necessary.
3. Handedness (left/right/switch) (+1)
Matching batters favorably against pitchers in terms of handedness provides them with an advantage at the plate (and vice-versa).
4. Baseball Club (+2)
Having a team and coaching staff to support and train you is a huge bonus to performance.  Also, if you want to use any of the 32 teams in the Haesanite National League for some of your players, feel free.  Just note that they have a 50% cap on foreign players, so don't send too many collectively to the same place.

National Rating List
If your nation did not compete in Hanshui and did not already tell me that you were interested in competing, let me know and I will get you rated.
In order of best to worst:
78 - Xiomera
77 - Haesan
69 - Great Tequila Island
67 - Milintica & Wosteaque
66 - LOM
64 - Lehvant
63 - Huenya
60 - Mallacaland & Trive
58 - Greater Acadia & Laeral
57 - Aredoa
55 - High Fells
54 - Opthelia
50 - Misumi
49 - Slokais
48 - Astoria, Gardavasque, Teye
47 - Kerlile
46 - Elalia, Mansilla
44 - Sanctaria
43 - Lao Sansong
40 - Lauchenoiria
39 - Novella
35 - Pharitaya
34 - Azaffran
33 - Serriel & Zongongia
30 - Eiria, Grundhavn, Thousand Branches
27 - Andhrapur & Auria (Competed in Hanshui, did not qualify in baseball)

If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please let me know!  I look forward to hosting this event, and I hope you all enjoy it as well!

King Shapur XIV of Zargothrax was high on painkillers following his hospital stay. Not that it mattered much; he acted in exactly the same way when he was perfectly sober. His 22-year-old son, the Crown Prince Bahman, rubbed his temple as he looked at his father rolling around on the floor playing with twelve cats he had adopted thanks to a “vision from God”. Bahman rather thought that “God” in this case meant “even stronger painkillers”, but he would never say that to his father. Not that his father would pay attention in any case.
 
“Father, we must do something about the flooding in the Jonoob region,” he tried again. “We are looking at over a hundred thousand displaced people, with several villages just completely disappearing. People are struggling to get food and shelter, and we already have thousands of dead.”
 
“What’s that, Azar? You need to use the litter box? Go on, my boy, go on!” the King said to a cat that had miaowed loudly over the top of Bahman.
 
“Father!” Bahman shouted, slamming his hand on a table.
 
“We cannot move yet,” the King snapped, turning to Bahman. “The gods will not look kindly on premature actions.”
 
“Father, I am not talking about your apocalypse, I am speaking of the severe flooding in the south of the country!” Bahman hissed, attempting to keep his compsure.
 
“Hm? Oh, that. Do as you wish, I have important work to do in the lab,” the King said, brushing past his eldest son and heading back down to the basement where he’d ended up in hospital in the first place.
 
“Your Highness, have you broached the topic again?” a figure sidled up to Bahman who was rubbing his temples as his father departed. The Crown Prince jumped, turning to the King’s Chief Advisor, Javed Hashemi. Not that his father ever spoke to Javed; indeed, spent much more time with Javed than his father ever had. The older man, however, still made him a little bit uneasy.
 
“He just snapped at me about the apocalypse again,” Bahman sighed.
 
“This won’t do,” Javed muttered to himself.
 
Bahman found Javed creepy. The man would appear out of nowhere, at the oddest times. People said that they’d see him in the kitchens and then not a minute later he was on the other side of the palace grounds. While Bahman put these stories down to superstition, he couldn’t deny that there was something uncanny about the advisor. Especially since Javed seemed determined to talk the King into abdicating.
 
“Look, I have no desire to become King right now,” Bahman told the advisor. “You need to drop this, okay?”
 
“Of course, Your Highness,” Javed said, and then vanished into the shadows again. Bahman was certain that he would try again in a few days. The Prince did not know what the advisor was plotting, but he was sure he was plotting something.
 
“Brother!” yelled a figure running up to him. It was his eleven-year-old sister, Princess Leila.
 
“What do you want, Leila?” he asked sharply. She was in trouble for breaking decorum and yelling in the presence of the media. She had already been punished for it, despite her tears and the fact she was indeed sneezing constantly since the cat adoption.
 
“Have you considered – achoo! – the boarding school thing again?” she asked.
 
Leila was determined to get herself sent away to boarding school and away from the cats she was so allergic to. He did have to admit that she was not exaggerating her discomfort. This was her with allergy medication. Nevertheless, there were no boarding schools for female students in Zargothrax, given most of them ended their education at Leila’s age. And there was no way either he or their father would allow her to go abroad.
 
“I have more important things to do, Leila,” he said irritably. “Go and play with your younger brothers,” he waved her away. She scowled and stomped off, arms folded. Bahman shook his head and headed back to the meeting chambers to discuss the flooding situation with some sensible people for a change.

June 25th 1959
New Liverpool, Slokais Islands 

Juan Costa looked over the massive crowd, 75,000 people, chanting his slogans holding the red and black banners of the National Reform Party. He waved to the crowd, this crowd was ready to hear what he had to say. He approached the microphone.
“Citizens of the Reformed State,” he said his voice booming, the crowd cheered
“As I open the National Reformist Committee, I have a message for all of you”
“As the Slokasian state continues to thrive under the policy of National Reform, you must stand against the reactionary movement that tries to undermine our society”.
The crowd booed at the mention of reactionaries
“Take that energy into the streets, destroy the counter-reformist elements!”
Juan Costa waved his hand to a choir of children, all dressed in the same red jackets.
“Farmers and workers united, for the salvation of the state”
“A thousand voices speak as one, A thousand flags wave in the sky, A thousand workers stand tall, A thousand hands raise you red standard high, A thousand proud citizens willing to die”
The crowd cheered as Juan Costa retreated inside.

A few hours later, President Juan Costa was at his desk, smoking a cigar. The door knocked
“Yes, citizen.”
“Mr. President, you have a call from a message from Commander Arroyo,” said his secretary
“...Send it through”
“President, Costa we have captured a number of socialist traitors”
“Good, send the younger ones to be re-educated, the others should be purged, that should be obvious commander?”
“I regret, I have to tell you this Mr. President we have learned that foreign elements are funding reactionary elements"
“And that is, Citizen?”
“This group called the Socialist Revolutionary Army is being backed by the Laeralian”
“Commander, the reactionaries wish for our reformed state to be destroyed, this is obvious. Double your efforts to purge these elements”
"What about the Laeralians?" 
"A war is coming, A world war, until then we build"

In the rural village of Libertad, in San Fernando Province several dozen members of the National Reformist Union of Agricultural Workers: Local 929 gathered. Libertad was a small farming community focused on sugarcane production. It was illegal for any person or company not to be a part of a National Reformist Affiliated Trade Union, so even rural areas have many chapters. Mostly the Trade Unions were used as a political tool, tax had to be paid to the national organization, in theory, this money was supposed to be used towards social programs, though in reality much went to a few wealthy party members. The small wood building was made of hand-cut planks, with bamboo planks acting as the floor. 
"I call this meeting to order, citizens," said the General Secretary
He paused before continuing 
"This is not going to be a regular gathering, citizens" 
A small crowd of farm workers, many still in straw hats stood watching
"I have received some very concerning documents, the membership fees are being transferred to United Sugar Co"
The crowd shifted uneasily, one woman blurted out "What next U.S not giving us wages, this is a known fact"
"Yes, but the NRU is doing this themselves"
The whole crowd looked around, informers were everywhere.
"We don't have to live like this"
"This is life, citizen" a man blurted out
"No, it's not, if we all stand up, everybody in Libertad"
"What about money?"
"They're paying us $75 Marks a week, for bare nothing, we got nothing to lose"
From outside, a young kid ran inside "The Fed's are here"

Outside, a car was parked outside. 4 Reformist Guard officers stepped out, armed with batons.
"Nobody leaves until we find the reactionary, everybody step out one by one" 
As ordered, the hall emptied out. 
"Who is Huberto Peter Villareno"
The crowd stood silent
"Hubert Villareno, chair of Local 929 wanted for treason"
The crowd shifted, not showing any signs of giving him up
"Alright, I guess we will go one by one" 
The guard approached an old man smoking a cigarette
"I could you some real Smithson smokes, you know," he said
"Young bucky's like you got no honor"
"You want a case of treason, old man"
The old man slapped the officer hard enough to knock him off his feet
The crowd reacted by rushing the remaining officers, kicking them, and tipping over their patrol car. One old man's simple act trigged a month-long
conflict in Libertad and throughout the San Fernando sugar country.

Chancellor Bernadino's Office
6/15/23
In attendance:
Cori Bernadino - Chancellor - Conservative Party Chair
Shuri Recardo - Vice Chancellor - Environmental Justice Party
Demetrius Clark - Senior Advisor to the Vice Chancellor
Justine Lemarco - Senior Advisor to the Chancellor
Along with various members of the Chancellor's cabinet

"If she isn't here soon, we're going to start without her. This is getting ridiculous" Shuri states, breaking the deafening silence. The only person not in the meeting was the Chancellor. And the meeting is in her office and is about her approach to diplomatic developments in Roucourt and the upcoming Budget Allocation process. Justine, her pale face turning red, struggled to maintain decorum but quipped " I insist that we practice patience. The Chancellor is a busy woman!"

The Chancellor is indeed a busy woman, but today it's her age which has delayed her. An issue that seems to be occurring more frequently.

She struggled to get herself ready this morning. Having to wait for her personal assistant to arrive. They're being transported to her office now, but the delay, and others like it, are angering her allies and adversaries alike. Being uniquely positioned and capable, Cori is at the center of the PLP and is seen as a balance. The more liberal and conservative factions can unite under her leadership. On top of her position as leader of the EJP-PLP Coalition, which represent her unique ability to hold together a historic alliance between the more progressive Enviromental Justice Party and the more moderate Peoples Liberation Party. 

But with recent declines in her general health and mobility, as well as some recent competency questions, many are beginning to doubt her.

Her Coalition Chair counterpart, EJP Chair Shuri Recardo is one of her longest friends and closest allies. Their mentors orchestrated the late 1970's legacy coalition government, which lasted 5 decades. After the first 2 decades of their majority, they passed the baton to Shuri and Cori. Shuri and Cori, taking turns at the helm, had worked together to keep their governing majority for an additional 30 years. But even Shuri has grown frustrated with Cori being late to meetings, falling asleep during debates and votes on the Chamber floor, and at times, general incoherence.

Reports asked her opinion on a proposal from the CP a few months ago to defund Doatia's public healthcare system and establish strict work requirements. Despite being responsible for crafting her coalition's own proposal, as well as sitting through numerous debates, some of which she participated in, she was confused. She couldn't seem to recall the legislation reporters were talking about, despite just leaving a debate regarding the issue. Growing frustrated she told reporters to "leave her alone" and quickly departed, with her aid assisting her by grabbing one arm, and the Chancellor using her cane with her other hand. 

Her staff and some members of her party have condemned criticisms against her, sitting ageism and sexism. They've also said that she's best positioned, considering position, experience, and relationships within the EJP-PLP to be Chancellor. With a PLP member from Doatia's district 12 saying "nobody, and I mean nobody has the combined attributes of 5 decades experience as part of a legendary coalition majority and unique perspectives at preserving the essential EJP-PLP Coalition."
But signs that her grip of control on both the PLP and the coalition is slipping.

With mostly junior members of EJP calling for separation from the PLP, and liberal and conservative flanks of the PLP calling for her resignation. 

*Cori Bernadino's POV* "I'm embarrassed enough as it is at my tardiness. I certainly don't need to sow more doubt". I understand her point, but Tamia does not understand the scrutiny I am under. Keep together the liberal coalition. Lead an effective government, in the minority. And comply with the Queen's rogue foreign policy at a time when the DN, vehemently opposed to liberal foreign policy, which no one seemed to be concerned about, gained a historic number of seats last cycle. 

"I understand. Simply tell them that I was running behind and made you late" Tamia responds. "I am the Chancellor. If i was delayed, I had a reason."

They enter her office. Through the lobby, they can hear the Vice Chancellor yelling. "This is a waste of time. She needs to explain herself" Shuri shouts. "As i already told yo.." Justine attempts. "What you told me is bullshit!! The Chancellor is nearly two hours late!!" Shuri concludes. 

The Chancellor and Tamia enter the room.

Justine and Shuri retake their seats. Cori joines them at the table. Slipping off her heels as she sits, something she normally does. Tamia gets the Chancellor some tea. "Enough is enough, Chancellor. You and I are friends. We understand each other. This is not sustainable" Shuri begins.

A few moments of silence pass.

"I see. Not sustainable? Can you tell me, which of our two parties lost more seats to the Doatian Nationalists?' Cori responds.

"I dont see what that.." Shuri shoots back. "12 seats, Madam Vice Chancellor. 12. You're party are idealists. We know this. But Doatia is firmly center. and despite our progressive roots, shifting more and more conservative. We have to find the balance." Cori asserts.

"And who is the balance? A woman struggling with her basic duties? A Chancellor who falls asleep on the Chamber floor? You may be the balance of the PLP, but the EJP is being weighed down by your party's baggage. Voters see the PLP placation of the right has only worsened our economy. After all, it was your leadership that caused the recession!" interrupts Demetrius, breaking an unspoken rule against nonexecutives from speaking unless spoken to.

"That is a preposterous assertion" argues Justine.

"Point being, this behavior cannot continue Cori, or else, neither can our coalition" Shuri concluded.

Minutes passed. Silence. You could hear the tick of Demetrius's pocket watch, which he kept checking frequently.

Cori swallowed the words of betrayal. She will wait until she has a better hand, before she plays any cards. 

'Very well! The Queen has essentially gone rogue on foreign policy, exercising her authority on the situation in Roucourt well beyond its historically recognized boundaries. Now, not only has she authorized use of DAF ground forces, but she's asking for an investment in WHF as well! If turns into a crisis, its important to distance ourselves somehow" Said Cori. "Well my primary concern is that will wont be able to distance ourselves. None of us in the government. So we must intervene to dial back her authority" Justine adds.

"While Im in favor of rolling back government overreach as much as the next gal, I actually support the Queen's endeavors in Roucourt. Its necessary work, and that means necessary risk. We should surely take steps to safeguard Doatia." Shuri concludes.

"Indeed. We can have our teams look into safeguarding. Without EJP support, we can't pursue limitations of the Queen's authority. Our budget will be announced tomorrow. It has an income of 5 Trillion Doa, and an expenditure of 4.8 Trillion Doa. It has a nearly 200 million Dao surplus, and reducing our debt to 1.5% total GDP. We are going to require CP votes to get anything passed" Cori adds. 

"My office has been working on my allies in the CP all day. Hopefully we'll see some progress soon" Shuri responds.

"My office will do the same. Meeting adjourned everyone!' Cori concludes.

Everyone leaves, excluding Tamia. "Take me to the couch, I am dizzy" Cori exclaims. "Did you take your medicine today? Did you eat?" Tamia stresses. "Yes. No" Cori responds. Tamia supports Cori to the Couch, and dials in the receptionist to order breakfast for the Chancellor. "Oh and Tamia?" the receptionist replies. "Yes?" Tamia responds. "The Doatian Senior General is here to go over today's security briefing with the Chancellor" says the receptionist. "I'll take the meeting Tamia concludes and hangs up the phone.

Cori slept until food arrived, at which point Tamia came in and fed her as she laid on the couch. Tamia also cancelled her meetings for the rest of the day, fielding required engagements to herself, Shuri, or Justine.

Tamia has truly been running the show in the Chancellor's office.

The delegation from Doatia hereby submits the following proposal for debate and consideration:

https://idugov.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=2418

Claudia Ostellari Diplomatic Center
Embassy of Selene in the International Democratic Union

Region | Roleplay | Government | Contact Us

I hereby call a vote of the Budgetary and Internal Affairs Council regarding the acceptance of Doatia's application into the League of IDU Nations. The initial voting period will last for 72 hours.

The next issue of The North Star can be viewed here.