Conquer Club

Amazing Race: Europe
*Brought to you by Generation One: The Clan.

Based on the CBS show The Amazing Race, this tournament will be a series of 6-player doubles games with teams being dropped at each stage.

I am needing 24 doubles teams to register to compete.
*Premium Membership is Required*

In this season, teams will race through Europe. They will have to make stops at 8 different venues before making 1 final dash to the finish. The places of interest for this season will consist of

Italy
Ancient Greece
Rail Europe
Germany
BeNeLux
France
Iberia
British Isles
Europe

Format:
The 24 teams will be randomly assigned to 8 different groups. These groups will play 3 games on each map.

Points will be awarded as follows:

1st place: 5 points
2nd place: 3 points
3rd place: 1 point

Bonus Points are as follows:

+2 points for winning in 6 rounds or less
+1 point for the last place team IF they last 10 rounds.

At the end of all the games on the first map, the lowest 3 teams overall will be dropped from the tournament. In case of a tie, the teams who played the most rounds will advance (meaning they put up the better fight).

The advancing teams will continue on to the next map in different, randomly assigned groups. Points will reset for each map, but a running tally of points will be kept. 3 more teams will be dropped after each map. For ties, the TOTAL amount of points will be used, with the higher team(s) advancing. If that can’t break it, the team that played the most rounds within that map will advance.

This will continue until the final map, Europe. There, the first team to 2 wins will be crowned the winner.

Because there are 9 total rounds but only 24 players (which would only take 8 rounds to complete the tournament), the 3 Finalist teams from Amazing Race: USA will receive a first-round bye in this tournament. This means that both Rounds 1 and 2 will have 24 players in each of them. To give them a fair shot in case of an early tiebreaker, all 3 teams will receive a score equal to the average score from the Round 1 teams.
Congratulations to the teams who have earned the first round bye:

General Franco / Natelya
superkarn / isodice
flavanoid / Eats

Notes:

• All games will be Sequential, Flat Rate, Unlimited, Sunny.
• The winner of this tournament will receive an automatic place and a starting bonus in Amazing Race: The World.

Standings

Round 6 Results are now available. This was an incredibly tight round.

Advancing:

dieforasandwich / graulenst 11 (67)
Forza AZ / lokisgal 11 (66)
luckyderus / pault334 11 (63)
goggles paisano / vexx 11 (61)
gehrem / seamusvibe 11 (57)
Hath / knighthawk 10 (61)
superkarn / isodice 10 (57)
Godd / Arcee 9 (70)
Bones2484 / barterer2002 9 (62)

Eliminated:

Night Strike / spidey 9 (60)
PaulG / Easy n Dirty 9 (58)
negoeien / spinal 7 (54)

Storyline

Round 1: Italy

Welcome to the Amazing Race: Europe. This season, 24 teams will embark on a journey that will take them through the sites and history that the European continent has to offer. Each leg of the race has its own tricks and hardships that you all will have to overcome. Although your immediate opponents may change every leg, your overall goal is still the same: finish ahead of the others for only one team may be crowned the champions of Amazing Race: Europe.

Italy is located in southern Europe and comprises the long, boot-shaped Italian Peninsula and a number of islands including Sicily and Sardinia. Including islands, Italy has a coastline of 7,600 km. The independent state of the Vatican City is within the Italian Peninsula, while Campione d'Italia is an Italian exclave in Switzerland. Italy is a mountainous country, with the Alps as the northern boundary and the Apennine Mountains forming the backbone of the peninsula. But in between the two lies a large plain in the valley of the Po, the largest river in Italy.

Italy has been the home of the Romans and later was the birthplace of the Renaissance movement that began in Tuscany and spread all over Europe. Italy's capital, Rome, was for centuries the center of Western civilization. Today, Italy is a democratic republic and a developed country. It is a founding member of what is now the European Union (having signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957). In October of 2007, Italy officially reached more than 59.5 million persons. Italy currently has the 23rd largest population in the world.

The opening leg for this season will take place on the Italy map. Created by RjBeals, this map is regarded by many to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing maps the site has to offer. The blend of English and Italian languages, this map is easy to understand while still providing a glimpse into the Italian culture. Its classic-like gameplay makes it a simple map for beginners to pick up but for experienced players to enjoy. The capital cities provide a bonus to those players who find themselves scattered about the countryside. At the end of this leg, the three lowest finishers will be eliminated. Good luck.

Round 2: Ancient Greece

Greece is a country in southeastern Europe situated on the southern end of the Balkan Peninsula. The Aegean Sea lies to the east and south of mainland Greece, while the Ionian Sea lies to the west. The country consists of a large mainland; the Peloponnese, a peninsula connected to the southern tip of the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth; and around 3000 islands. Greece has 15000 kilometers (9300 miles) of coastline. 80% of Greece is mountainous, and the country is one of the most mountainous countries of Europe.

Greece lies at the juncture of Europe, Asia and Africa. It is heir to the heritages of ancient Greece, the Roman and Byzantine Empires, and nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule. Greece is the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, major scientific and mathematical principles, and Western drama including both tragedy and comedy. Greece became the tenth member of the European Union on January 1, 1981 and ever since the nation has experienced a remarkable and sustained economic growth. The country adopted the Euro in 2001 and successfully organized the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the capital.

Round 1 ended in a lone, drawn out game that successfully gave goggles paisano and vex enough rounds to survive the tiebreaker. Round 2 promises to be just as exciting as the three finalists from Amazing Race: USA will be joining this European Race. On Conquer Club, the Ancient Greece map is map that has both standard size and gameplay. Hopefully all of you will make it to the finish line before this map gets revamped. I encourage everybody to take a quick pit-stop and lend your suggestions to the revamp or any other foundry project. Remember, the three teams with the lowest scores from this round will be eliminated. Good luck.

Round 3: Rail Europe

In 1813 George Stephenson examined the first practical and successful steam locomotive, and, convinced that he could offer improvements, designed and built the Blücher in 1814. In Britain on September 27, 1825, the Stockton and Darlington Railway was completed. It was authorized to carry both passengers and freight. Passenger service, offered by contractors who placed coach bodies on flatcars, did not become permanent until 1833, and horse traction was commonly used for passenger haulage at first. Development of the railroad in France was somewhat independent of that in Britain. The first railroad in France, the Paris and St. Germain, was opened in 1837. The tracks covered eleven miles, and the performance of the locomotive was regarded as a triumph. There were certain consistencies, however, between the two countries. It was the transport of coal that frequently determined whether railroads were constructed and where they would run.

Today, European railroads boast they can “take you where you want to go.” European railroads travel through capital cities and forgotten towns. And in between, the countryside is breathtaking.

After another long round, we are finally moving on to round 3. On Conquer Club, Rail Europe is the second map in the Rail Series from cairnswk. This is a standard map, but the layout and descriptions make it seem more complex than it really is. Unlike in Rail USA, the rails within the stations can not always attack each other. This design leads to “corner continents” that are actually within the middle of the map. This large map could bring the scores back together, but the lowest three scoring teams will again be dropped from the tournament.

Round 4: Germany

A region named Germania inhabited by several Germanic peoples has been known and documented before 100 AD. Beginning in the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire that lasted until 1806.In 1949, after World War II, Germany was divided into two separate states—East Germany and West Germany—along the lines of Allied occupation. The two states were reunified in 1990.

Elevation ranges from the mountains of the Alps in the south to the shores in the north. Between lie the forested uplands of central Germany and the low-lying lands of northern Germany, traversed by some of Europe's major rivers such as the Rhine, Danube and Elbe. Because of its central location, Germany shares borders with more European countries than any other country on the continent.

The highlights in a visit to Germany include numerous Gothic castles and the Bavarian Alps. Or visit the Black Forest region and pick up a Cuckoo clock. And a trip wouldn't be complete without stopping by a brewery, or two.

After a VERY long trip on the Rails, your next stop is in Germany. The Germany map is one of the oldest on the site, much like the country itself. It is a classic play map that I have played on many times in the past. Sorry for the long delay in getting to this round, but 3 more teams will again be eliminated at the end of Round 4. Good luck.

Round 5: BeNeLux

The Benelux is an economic union in Western Europe that comprises three neighboring countries, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg which lie in the north western European region between France and Germany. The name is formed from the beginning of each country's name. Historically, they were known as the Low Countries, which used to cover a somewhat larger area than the current Benelux group of states.

The Kingdom of Belgium is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters. The name 'Belgium' is derived from Gallia Belgica, a Roman province in the northernmost part of Gaul that was inhabited by the Belgae, a mix of Celtic and Germanic peoples. The Netherlands is often called Holland, which is incorrect as Holland is merely a province. The word Dutch is used to refer to the people, the language, and anything appertaining to the Netherlands. Luxembourg lies on the cultural divide between Romance Europe and Germanic Europe, borrowing customs from each of the distinct traditions.

Belgium is well known in the world over for its cuisine. Belgians love waffles and french fries. Contrary to their name, french fries also originated in Belgium. The Netherlands is known for its traditional windmills, tulips, cheese, and clogs. Studies show that the country Luxembourg consumes the most alcohol, according to Guinness World Records 2008.

The CC map of BeNeLux was designed by MarVal primarily for his Dutch Clan. The map contains standard gameplay, but has some similarities to the Classic map (smaller bonuses on opposite sides of the map). What sets this map apart is the ability to hold the small +2 bonus in the middle of the map. It lends itself to building, but can be left alone by a player in the north. The Capitals bonus gives a player who is spread out a small chance to earn some troops.

Round 6: France

France is a country located in Western Europe; extending from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean. It is often referred to as L’Hexagone (The “Hexagon”) because of the geometric shape of its territory. France possesses a wide variety of landscapes, from coastal plains in the north and west to mountain ranges of the Alps in the south-east, the Massif Central in the south-central and Pyrenees in the south-west.

The railway network of France is the most extensive in Western Europe, as you may have noticed earlier in the season when we visited Rail Europe. France is the home of the International System of Units (the metric system). It is also the home of more well known icons such as the Tour de France-- a 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi) bike race, the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel tower, and the Arc de Triomphe: it's no surprise that France is ranked as the first tourist destination in the world.

Although the country is the butt of many jokes in the US, there’s nothing funny about the CC map. It’s another standard map that anybody can pick up. Have you noticed that I prefer that type of maps? We’ve now whittled over half the field; another 3 teams will not make it out of France.

Round 7: Iberia

The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes modern-day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar and a very small area of France. It is bordered on the southeast and east by the Mediterranean Sea, and on the north, west and southwest by the Atlantic Ocean. The Pyrenees form the northeast edge of the peninsula, separating it from the rest of Europe. In the south, it approaches the northern coast of Africa. The peninsula is roughly octagon shaped. Approximately 3/4 of the octagon is a low and rolling plateau. It is located roughly in the center. It is ringed by mountains and contains the sources of most of the rivers, which find their way through gaps in the mountain barriers on all sides. The principal urban centers are: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao, Lisbon and Porto.

Because of its location, the territories of Spain and Portugal were subject to many external influences, often simultaneously, since prehistoric times. On the other side, Spain has been an important source of influence to other regions. After a long and hard conquest, the Iberian Peninsula became a region of the Roman Empire known as Hispania. During the early Middle Ages it came under Germanic rule. Later it was conquered by Muslim invaders. Through a very long and fitful process, the Christian kingdoms in the north gradually rolled back Muslim rule, finally extinguishing its last remnant in Granada in 1492, the same year Columbus reached the Americas.

Things have gotten to the nit-and-gritty point of the tournament. In Round 6, 11 of the 12 teams were within 2 points of each other. The dominant team of Godd and Arcee were forced into a tiebreaker scenario in order to advance. This round of 9 teams will continue to be a dogfight, but 3 more will still be eliminated.

Round 8: British Isles

The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include Great Britain and Ireland, and numerous smaller islands. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Ireland. There are about 136 permanently inhabited islands in the group, the largest two being Great Britain and Ireland. The islands are at relatively low altitudes. The Scottish Highlands in the northern part of Great Britain are mountainous. Other mountainous areas include Wales and parts of the island of Ireland. Lakes on the islands are generally not large, neither are rivers particularly long. The English Channel and the southern North Sea are the busiest seaways in the world. The Channel Tunnel, opened 1994, links Great Britain to France and is the second-longest rail tunnel in the world.

The Isles have a long shared history. Even though they are one of the smallest areas in our trip, it has some of the most interesting sights. These include Hadrian’s Wall in northern England (built by the Romans in 122 and still used today as a bike trail), Westminster Palace in London (including the palace and Big Ben), Stonehenge, Loch Ness in Scotland, and Dublin University in Ireland.

This is the next to last leg of the race, and we are down to our final 6 teams. Half will be eliminated, so I hope you’ve stored up enough tiebreaker points throughout the tournament.

Finals: Europe

The continent of Europe takes up almost 7% of the world’s land and contains 11% of the world’s population. It includes 50 nations/states, with Russia being the largest and Vatican City the smallest. The continent drove the rise in Western civilization in the 16th century, and dominated most of the world in the 17th-19th centuries. The World Wars of the first half of the 20th century left Europe with much less power than it had previously. Today, 27 European nations are members of the European Union, which was designed for ease of travel and market structure.

Congratulations on making it to the final leg of the race. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done up to this point in the tournament; it’s a mad-dash to the finish line. The first team to win 2 games wins the title of Amazing Race: Europe Champions.

Would love to join again. I'll see if Bart wants to team up

I'm in together with lokisgal. I will ask her to confirm here.

I'm with Bones again.

I will be playing with our tourney organizer again.

vexx and goggles paisano will play

My beard brother and I are going to give it another go after falling short in the last Race.

I will be in with dieforasandwich. I am confirming with him and will let you know if there are any changes.

Thanks

List has been updated.

me and hath would like to play

i'm in with graulenst. see y'all out there.

Another team for ya NS:

poptartpsycho18 + lgoasklucyl

We are now 1/3 of the way full.

Confirming I'm teamed w.poptart!

I'll join with ultraman as my partner.

edit: all good

sign me and BagwellTheGreat in

Godd and Arcee would like to play

We are in
killerkern
JE5

AKA "The Bitch Slapers"

I would love to compete, because the choice of maps is fenomenally good .
I love them all (just to bad italy isn't there)
Only problem I don't ahve a partner, who wishes to sign up with me , just pm me

Halfway filled.