Stage confusion

[TheHartChip]

I am relatively new to the Melee scene and I was wondering why there were so few stages to pick from. I get the reason why all the neutral picks are what they are but I was wondering why there weren't more counter picks in the game. I personally think that the DK levels would make for good counter picks along with Mute city. Why is it that they aren't aloud though. I can understand mute city with the cars but I feel like the DK levels would fit well into counter picks.

 

[ColdFridge]

I'm new too, but from my understanding they eliminated all stages where it's possible to die from BS. In Jungle Japes you can get hit by a jumping alligator, and in Kongo Jungle there's the barrel below the main platform. And, like you mentioned, Mute City has the cars.

 

[Elyssa Xey Hexen]

Stagelists are pretty dynamic over the years. Generally, it takes like one major tournament to set a stagelist, then small TOs might use it to save on having to make there own. While other TOs would stick with stages regardless of the norm.

There use to be a ton of stages in the past which were on the counter pick list. Places like Mute City, Corneria, Rainbow Cruise, and Brinstar. As time went on I believe the potential problems with stages simply became too annoying to keep up anymore and the norm shifted to the current stage list.

 

[1MachGO]

Basically, there are three reasons why a stage can be banned:
1. Results in polarization which grossly favors certain characters (waveshines or Marth's fthrow on stages w/ walk offs)
2. Allows exploitative/abusive tactics (circle camping)
3. Directly inhibits play (FoD in doubles, Icicle Mountain, Flatzone)

In regards to the stages you mentioned (DK stages and Mute City) at least one of the above reasons is applicable to them. Both Kongo Jungles have platforms which promotes camping. (This is a pretty famous example on KJ64: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTNaAUJZz5k&feature=youtu.be) Japes also promotes projectile/platform camping and immensely favors certain characters who can abuse it.

As for Mute City, Mute City is probably the only presently banned stage that comes close to being legal (IMO that is). Granted, it has hazards and stage changes, but both of these are rather predictable and the transformations themselves are relatively balanced (unlike PS transformations which can range from "ok" to "utter cluster ****"). The main aspect in question with regards to Mute City is the main platform. It is small and ledgeless which can drastically favor certain characters.