This is gonna be pretty long.
Let me start off with definitions of the terms: Metagame and tierlist.
Tier list (noun) is a list of characters according to their potential, within a given metagame (this last bit is important and will be covered later)
Metagame (noun) is a broad term usually used to define any strategy, action or method used in a game which transcends a prescribed ruleset.
This is the Wiki definition, but I'm going to add a little bit to this.
The metagame dictates what is currently used on a regular basis, what is popular and what is common knowledge. A simple example would be a card game:
Card A beats Card B.
Card B beats Card C.
Card C beats Card A.
This is a standard rock paper scissors situation, and since we have no other defining attributes, there is NO metagame because anybody can use any card.
If we introduce a system of card rarity, this generates a metagame. Lets say Card C is extremely rare, and the other cards are common. Since Card A is always beaten by card B, and Card C (the counter to B) is rarely played (due to rarity), it is said that Card B is the current metagame; that is, it is commonly played.
However, over time, more people will acquire Card C, and it will see more play. Soon many people will play Card C, in an attempt to beat card B - thus this is advancing the metagame. It is changing the standard of play, due to Card B being popular. Soon Card C will be the metagime, ie it is commonly played.
As a side definition: Anti metagame is using tactics/strategies which counter the current metagame.
If you do not agree with this definition, then it doesn't matter. I am going to base my arguement on this definition.
Why should we have a separate back room? (suggested name EBBR)
Because we have different strategies/tactics which are popular, ie we have a different metagame and therefore we MUST have a different tierlist. This tierlist may even end up exactly the same as the current SBR tierlist, however it will ultimately be because of different reasons.
To debate King Funk's post, which says "we do not have a metagame." This is not true. The only instance in which a metagame cannot exist (for brawl) is if all characters are equal, ie each character has an equal chance of winning, regardless of techskill, knowledge required. All characters require an equal amount of skill. This is simply not true. Can you honestly say Pikachu (a technical character) requires as much skill as say Ike (not very technical, requires more skill with spacing and timing). Of course you cannot, because it simply is not true.
The true question is: Why do we have a different metagame?
The biggest arguement to this is because we do not play against other metagames. Imagine if we have 2 groups of players. Each group will have their own preferences, regardless of how optimal they are. When the 2 groups face each other, it is essentially playing metagame vs metagame, and the optimal metagame will win (assuming skills are equal).
Europe (as a single entity) rarely plays against the US and therefore we do not have a chance to merge metagames. Therefore ours will be different. There is only 1 situation where the metagames will be the same, and that is when the optimal play is plainly obvious. (In theory, if we are given an infinite amount of time to explore the game, all regions will eventually end up with the same metagame). It is only when different metagames play against each other, that one of them changes or is eliminated. This is true on an even smaller scale, taking UK for example, which has 3 mostly separated regions. What is different however, is that players from all regions, will often travel to the others to play, thus pitting metagame vs metagame, removing sub optimal strategies and mixing metagames.
The advent of online play and watching videos, does increase the amount of mixing, and thus reduces variance in metagames, but the majority of us do not play against the US or japanese, thus leaving metagames mostly isolated. If anything, many online players often do not attend offline events, creating an alternate metagame/region, albeit purely virtual.
Ultimately, Europe has preferences which differ from the US or Japan. Toon link may not be popular in the states, but he is popular here, and is therefore more likely to do well in tournaments. Therefore he is a common strategy and will end up higher on the tierlist ie. We will have different tierlists.
A European tierlist is only possible if we are creating a metagame as a whole ie we are playing against each other, not just having isolated countries. And the result is yes. We had an international brawl tournaments - SMACK, and we have one coming up - Super Lion 4.
Is this enough to warrant a separate backroom?
My opinion is Yes.
Europe is the biggest Non-US smash region, and whilst it is not as active as the US, it is still very active. As European smashers, we have a right to show the rest of the world how we play. No matter how different it is from the US or Japan or anywhere else in the world. It doesn't matter how optimal our play is, as long as it is different.
This will only benefit the world smash community. Pit is higher on the tierlist in Japan. It is more than likely that Pit players in Japan have advanced Pit's metagame more than the US. This means the tactics can be adopted by the rest of the world, thus evolving smash AS A WHOLE. As smashers, our duty is to play smash to the highest level and share it with everyone.
To achieve this there must be organisation on all levels. Organisation of the world's communities - US, Japan, Europe and anywhere else. But there must be organisation within these microcosms. - Europe - UK, Germany, France etc - Northwest UK, east midlands, London.
If we were to have our own European Back room, there must be representatives from the US community to pass on information. Similarly, there must be some European reps in the US community. As it currently stands, the SBR is mostly American with SOME European reps, and this is simply not enough. It is misrepresentative and does not do the communities any favours (US or European).
Ultimately, the backroom should be as a result of wanting to improve smash, not just for Europe, but for the world.
[I'm finished now]
).
, hopefully more people will be added in time.