Compiled by a team of tournament organizers and analysts with input from top players, the 2017 Recommended Ruleset aims to provide a single, unified ruleset for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U tournaments. While its contents are controversial, it may be exactly what the community needs.
One of the primary aims of the Recommended Ruleset is to rectify a problem Smash Wii U has struggled with since its release. Rulesets have varied wildly between regions, differing on matters such as stock counts, stage lists, and Mii Fighter legality. Where one region might use two stocks per game, another might use three. Where one region may ban Mii Fighters, many more may allow them with some restrictions.
Debates about these issues often end without resolution, as many regions simply continue to use their preferred rules, though this has died down somewhat. Most events now follow the example of major events like EVO, The Big House and Genesis. Nevertheless, the Recommended Ruleset is the first attempt at a proper community-wide ruleset in quite some time.
While the community was already heading towards a standard, the Recommended Ruleset took the extra step in codifying it. In doing so, its authors have established a valuable asset for the community.
Many are reluctant to adopt the Recommended Ruleset, but it serves a valuable purpose. A unified ruleset is a sign of strong community leadership that can act as one unit. It shows that we are no longer in a position to be co-opted, that a large organization interested in Smash Wii U cannot simply say, “we have the money, we make the rules.”
When the community rallies around a single, codified ruleset, it creates a standard not just for the community, but for companies looking to invest in the game. It prevents situations like EVO 2008, where the Super Smash Bros. Brawl community had a largely unsatisfactory ruleset forced on it.
As Smash Wii U grows as an eSport and more organizations get involved, there is a greater need to avoid falling into the same trap. We need to show eSports organizations that want to run Smash Wii U events what we as a community expect of them, and having a unified ruleset does just that. Nevertheless, they won’t be willing to get on board with the Recommended Ruleset if the community at large is not.
Now that a unified ruleset has been established, the issue is now that of adoption. If the Recommended Ruleset is largely ignored, it might as well not exist. It will simply be another one of many rulesets used by the Smash Wii U community. Thus, there is a need to encourage widespread usage, not just at majors but at a regional and local level.
Much of the difficulty in doing so comes from the same problems that made the Recommended Ruleset necessary. Many regions are reluctant to move away from their own rulesets, particularly those who take issue with elements of the Recommended Ruleset.
One former FGC tournament organizer gave a seemingly counter-intuitive solution: more rulesets, at least temporarily. Present three different variations on the Recommended Ruleset and clearly label each one. Then, talk to local and regional tournament organizers about trying these variations out and providing feedback from their players.
“After three to six months, one version will reign supreme,” he explains. "After that, it's a matter of convincing [Joey "Mr. Wizard" Cuellar] to adopt the predominant ruleset."
Efforts to gauge opinions on potential changes have already been made, as Bassem “Bear” Dahdouh, one of the authors of the ruleset, has conducted polls on potential changes. This proposal would take that to the next level. Smaller tournaments would act as live testbeds for changes to the ruleset, providing hands-on experience and live feedback before they’re finalized.
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