From what I can see, there are advantages and disadvantages to any of the options, and I listed the ones that I could come up with below the survey. Some of them, like the HSC IV method, I am not terribly familiar with, but I did the best I can for descriptions and PRO/CON.
So here's a few questions for you guys:
Based on a Best of 3
*As of fixing the poll on wording, votes so far*
+ Show Spoiler +
Veto 3 = 7
Map 1 auto, veto 1 = 2
Veto 1 = 1
Map 1 auto, veto 1 = 2
Veto 1 = 1
Poll: What do you think is the best style of map vetoing in tournaments
Map 1 auto, veto 1 (29)
45%
Veto 3 (19)
29%
Map elimination (9)
14%
Map 1 auto (5)
8%
Map elimination, veto 1 (3)
5%
65 total votes
Veto 3 (19)
Map elimination (9)
Map 1 auto (5)
Map elimination, veto 1 (3)
65 total votes
Your vote: What do you think is the best style of map vetoing in tournaments
(Vote): Map 1 auto
(Vote): Map 1 auto, veto 1
(Vote): Map elimination, veto 1
(Vote): Veto 3
(Vote): Map elimination
Map 1 auto
This style has the first map already chosen before the start of the tournament. No vetoing is done and the loser picks the next map. This was one of the earlier forms of tournaments used a lot during beta
Pros
Players already know what to expect well before each round begins. This allows them ample time to reduce the amount of strategies they can pick from.
Cons
Maps may heavily favor one race over the other two, thus giving an advantage to certain matchups at different stages of the game.
Map 1 auto, veto 1
This is the veto style that was used by MLG last season. The first map auto picked and the players veto 1 map each before the game starts. The loser picks the map for round 2 and the vetoed maps can not be chosen.
Pros
Same as above, however the player can now eliminate a map that either heavily favors his opponent, or is just a really bad map.
Cons
Same as above. This style favors the winner of the first map as they could have eliminated the largest map threat to them before the matches even started.
Map elimination, veto 1
There are a lot of variations on this one. However, the most common that I have seen has players eliminating maps with the higher seed starting first until there is one map left. This is similar to the Map 1 auto method, but the first map is not static. 1 map is vetoed by each player for round 2 and 3 if needed.
Pros
Eliminates the advantage that may be given for each tournament round based on a a static first map.
Cons
Allows the winner to eliminate a map from the pool which may swing the game in favor of his opponent in game 2 and game 3.
Veto 3
This is the style I see in HSC IV. I hope I have it right. Each player eliminates 3 maps from a pool of 9 maps. They will then play their best of 3 based on that map pool. Seed, then loser picks.
Pros
This is similar to the ladder where you can eliminate 3 maps you don't want to see because they are either bad for your race, or good for your opponent. This also allows you to know what map game 2 and 3 may be on by eliminating the choices
Cons
This may create some boredom on the spectator side of things. The same maps may trend over and over again for certain race match-ups.
Map elimination
This style that I have been using in my tournaments and is similar to Veto 1, except there are no vetoes for rounds 2 or 3.
Pros
This gives the player that lost map 1 a big advantage as he still has the entire map pool to choose from.
Cons
This puts the winner of the 1st map at a slight disadvantage. Maps that may be considered imba for the race matchup, are fully available and can't be removed.
Now these are just my opinions and I think the HSC IV format is the best to come out so far, but that isn't always the case. As with all things, there are multiple points of view on things and even the PRO/CON of each veto method may look different from someone else's POV. What's your take on it?
And btw, if this was your map pool, which one would you veto?
Poll: 9 maps, which to veto?
MLG Dual Sight (23)
36%
MLG Tal'Darim Altar (16)
25%
Ohana RE (8)
13%
MLG Shakuras Plateau (5)
8%
GSL Bel'Shir Beach (winter) (4)
6%
GSL Metropolis (3)
5%
ESV Edge of Oblivion (3)
5%
MLG Antiga Shipyard (2)
3%
GSL Daybreak (0)
0%
64 total votes
MLG Tal'Darim Altar (16)
Ohana RE (8)
MLG Shakuras Plateau (5)
GSL Bel'Shir Beach (winter) (4)
GSL Metropolis (3)
ESV Edge of Oblivion (3)
MLG Antiga Shipyard (2)
GSL Daybreak (0)
64 total votes
Your vote: 9 maps, which to veto?
(Vote): GSL Metropolis
(Vote): Ohana RE
(Vote): MLG Dual Sight
(Vote): GSL Daybreak
(Vote): GSL Bel'Shir Beach (winter)
(Vote): MLG Tal'Darim Altar
(Vote): MLG Antiga Shipyard
(Vote): MLG Shakuras Plateau
(Vote): ESV Edge of Oblivion