Fantasy GSTL: HotS Season 1

Main Team Selection
To start, each Fantasy GSTL participant is given a total of 36 points* with which they may purchase players. With these points, a main team of eight pro-gamers (of which one is your team captain) and one pro-game team must be selected. The captain of your team is the same as a regular player with the exception that they cannot be traded.

The pro-gamers and pro-game teams have been assigned point values based on a variety of factors, including past GSTL performances, number of past GSTL appearances, performances in individual competitions, estimated likeliness to compete in the upcoming GSTL, etc. When pro-gamers and pro-game teams win games in the GSTL, the Fantasy owners who have purchased these players earn points. Detailed scoring rules are listed below.

*These points are only used for team selection. The points used for scoring are separate.

Anti Team Selection
Each Fantasy GSTL participant is also given 13 points with which to assemble an “anti-team.” Three pro-gamers must be selected to be on the anti-team. The anti-team is identical to the regular team in all respects, except points scored by the anti-team count AGAINST the owner.

Player Scoring:
Lineup Appearance: +1 Point*
Game Win: +2 Points per win
Game Loss: -1 Point
2-Game Streak Break: +1 Point**
3-Game Streak Break: +2 Points**
Your Player's Team Wins: +1 Point***

Tie-breaks are decided by the team captain's score.

*Point given just for appearing in a match, regardless of win or loss. Only counts once, i.e. if MC goes 4-0, he still only gets 1 appearance point.
**Given when a pro-gamer defeats a pro-gamer on the opposing team who is on a two or three game winning streak. Streaks do not carry over between matches; all streaks must occur in the same match.
***This counts for all players on the team's roster, even if they did not play in the match.

Team Scoring:
4-0 Victory: 6 Points
4-1 Victory: 4 Points
4-2 Victory: 3 Points
4-3 Victory: 2 Points
3-4 Defeat: 1 Point
2-4 Defeat: 0 Points
1-4 Defeat: -1 Points
0-4 Defeat: -2 Points

Miscellaneous
Trade Tax: -1

Week 1: March 22-23
FXOpen e-Sports vs. Incredible Miracle
MVP vs. Axiom-Acer

Week 2: March 29-30
New Star HoSeo vs. StarTale
AZUBU vs. Prime

Week 3: April 5-6
Axiom-Acer vs. Incredible Miracle
MVP vs. FXOpen e-Sports

Week 4: April 12-13
Prime vs. StarTale
AZUBU vs. New Star HoSeo

Week 5: April 19-20
StarTale vs. AZUBU
Axiom-Acer vs. FXOpen e-Sports

Week 6: April 26-27
Incredible Miracle vs. MVP
Prime vs. New Star HoSeo

Week 7: May 3-4
FXOpen e-Sports vs. New Star HoSeo
Prime vs. Axiom-Acer

Week 8: May 10-11
Incredible Miracle vs. AZUBU
StarTale vs. MVP

Week 9: May 17-18
Incredible Miracle vs. Prime
New Star HoSeo vs. MVP

Week 10: May 24-25
FXOpen e-Sports vs. StarTale
AZUBU vs. Axiom-Acer

Weeks 11-14
Not yet annouced

To help you get into Fantasy GSTL, here's some advice from the previous winner of Fantasy GSTL.

Q: Can you introduce yourself, your BW/SC2 background, and your history with Fantasy Proleague/GSTL?

Hello this is mrbamboo. I used to play broodwar as a little kid with friends, nothing serious. Got into it a big more when Wings of Liberty came out and played some ladder. Wasn't that amazing at it, was Diamond league. Instantly got hooked on the GSL. Stayed up late every night during college to watch starcraft. Followed it pretty religiously. That's when Team Liquid last did their GSTL. I thought it would just be kind of fun. Did really well the first week of results, like top 50 or something. Then I got bit more serious about trading. Since I was already following GSL/GSTL religiously every night, I feel like I had a pretty good grasp on the players conditions. That and some luck, I ended up winning the first fantasy GSTL

Unfortunately GSTL changed formats afterwards and there wasn't fantasy for a long time until Proleague started recently. I haven't been doing as well in FPL, I think ranking around 200-300 in the last 2 rounds. I'm super excited for Fantasy GSTL to be back. Although now that I'm out of college and work full-time, haven't been able to follow all the games as I used to. That and with all the players transitioning into HoTS, will be tricky to say which player is in the best condition.

Q: What is it about Fantasy GSTL that makes it so different from Fantasy Proleague?
I believe the schedule is the biggest difference. In proleague every team plays twice each week. That's 8 matches. Where as in GSTL there's only 2 matches a week. That means half the teams don't even play. This makes trading a lot different in fantasy between those two leagues. That, and of course totally different teams/players

Q: Last season, you did an absurd amount of trading to win. What was the rationale behind this and on what basis did you make these trades?

Well before each week you get to see the starting players in all kill format, and you've also learned more information about the teams and players from the previous weeks. The information you have the better choices you can make. Trading is to adjust your roster based on new information. I think it's pretty silly to say that we've learned nothing new through out the tournament. I think it's only natural to do a lot of trades. Even in Fantasy Proleague, I think I was top 50 in +trade value in the last two rounds. Also I like to gamble some times. So maybe that's just me haha.

Q: Before we get into specifics about this season, how in touch are you with the current SC2 scene?

I still follow most of the large tournaments. I haven't been following GSL as much due to it being so late at night. But most of the western tournaments like MLG, Dreamhack, IPL, IEM etc I definitely do still follow. And I'm usually up to date on the results even if I don't get to see the matches live. I'd say I'm reasonably in touch with the current status.

Q: Looking at values for this season's Fantasy GSTL, are there any players that scream out to you as obvious picks? What about easy anti-team picks?

I think most of the LGIM players are a bit on the cheap side. Ruin, Ragnarok, and Byul have all done well in the preseason and seems like they've been practicing HoTS longer than the GSL regulars who were still occupied with Wings of Liberty until recently. Also the IM Coach in the past has fairly regularly sent out B-teamers in GSTL. So I think they could see a lot of play.

I'm a bit partial to Jjakji. He's not exactly cheap at 7, but he's the only good players on NSH so he's likely to play every time and get a few kills. I think there are a lot of really talented 4 point terrans in the pool, we've got Heart, sC, dream, keen, sting, hack, and even mvp. I don't think mvp will get used a lot but the rest of them are all pretty good. Especially with Terran being really strong in HoTS. I could see any of them rack up some damage in GSTL.

As far as anti-team. I haven't seen any obvious picks yet. All the 6+ value players pretty much deserves their value, except maybe Ryung. I think he's a bit over valued at 6.

Q: Are there any traps you'd caution Fantasy players to stay away from?

Mostly pay attention to the schedule and keep track of which team is playing and who the starters are. With GSTL only half the tteams play each week, it's important to know this information to get the most out of your trades. Also keep updated on roster changes and traveling. We've got a few foreigners who are likely to miss some weeks due to other tournaments, and the same goes for high profile players like MC. Too many times I see people complain in the forums that they traded for so-and-so and they aren't even at the event.

Q: What about in terms of picking initial players? Are there any players that look deceptively good?

I think MMA and MKP are probably not great picks that people might think other wise. They've are both really strong terran players that are great at micro. So HoTS should help them right? They are also arguable the ace on their team so they'll see a lot of play. And you might be right, but I think it's a bit of a gamble. I think there are a lot of really great terrans out there right now and MKP and MMA are not a step above the others in HoTS yet. So for 6-7 points they are probably not worth it. Maybe add Gumiho to that list, too. Like MMA/MKP he's really good terran that should theoretically benefit from HoTS. But so far hasn't impressed with their transition to HoTS yet. Probably not worth the 7 points. Again, don't complain if they end up making tons of points, I think they are all have the potential to dominate, but aren't quite consistent to be worth the 6-7 valuation. I certainly am not suggestion to put them on your anti-team.

Q: Any other tips for prospective fantasy players?

Well maybe just one thing. Don't pick 1-2 point players unless absolutely necessary; they are a waste of a slot. they never see play, and are not worth enough to trade later. Sure you can get like a bunch of 7+ value players and get a bunch of worthless players. But past fantasy leagues are indications that about half the higher value players end up not making a ton of points. It's really the midrange 3-5 value players that exceed expectations that makes the biggest impact to your fantasy team.

Q: Anything else you want to say?

I hope I can start doing better in FPL. And really excited to soon have both FPL and FGSTL going at the same time. Gonna be a lot of fun.