How to Play the Print Your Brackets Tournament

Are you ready for an exciting adventure filled with dramatic reveals, plot twists, and unexpected events? Look no further than the Print Your Brackets tournament! This unique competition combines science and storytelling to create a thrilling experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

In this tournament, scientists use published research about the species and their environments to create an evidence-based play-by-play. The outcomes of the encounters between combatants are revealed in real-time by a scientist announcer, reminiscent of a radio sports announcer. This allows for the possibility of UPSETS, where a worse-ranked combatant defeats a better-ranked one.

To determine the outcome of each encounter, a random number generator is used to estimate the probability of victory based on attributes such as temperament, weaponry, armor, body mass, speed, fight style, physiology, and motivation. A team of scientists researches the combatants and their habitats to estimate the probability that a particular combatant will win.

The tournament features 16 combatants, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Combatants are arranged in a four-division single elimination tournament, with seeds ranging from 1 to 16. The better-seeded combatant has the advantage of fighting at home, while the worse-seeded combatant is the visitor.

The battle locations for the last three rounds - the Elite Trait, the Final Roar, and the Championship - are randomly selected among four possible habitats. In these rounds, the winner advances to the next stage, with the loser being defeated and perishing on or retreating from the 'field of battle.'

Unless otherwise stated on the bracket, each combatant represents a single species at peak performance condition. The outcome of each encounter is determined by the random number generator, taking into account the attributes mentioned earlier.

The 2024 Print Your Brackets tournament is set to take place on February 22nd. Stay tuned for updates and get ready to cheer on your favorite combatants as they battle it out in this exciting tournament!

Print your brackets