Why I probably wont participate in the 20th Anniversary Event

[Iolanthe]

I was going to start a separate thread for this but with the last few posts it seems to fit in here:

It's not at all clear what goal a server must reach just to qualify for the second portion.

The text in the event window says:

Event Window

The first four days of the event are for qualification.

Each server has to reach a certain number of gathered balloons during this time. If a server does not manage to reach this amount, it will be taken out of the competition, which starts right after the qualifying round. Furthermore, all servers reaching the amount will get a great reward -> the Settlers 2 Headquarters.

The amount needed to "qualify" is not specified. Though the Settlers 2 Headquarters is offered as a reward for reaching it.


The Dev Diary says:

Diary

Each game world has the same task: reach 100% as soon as possible.

The faster your game world reaches 100%, the more rewards you get.

Rewards for the first phase: Gems and Hired Troops. The amount of these rewards will depend on the performance of your game world (how fast it reaches 100%).

It is clear we are rewarded for reaching 100%, though here the Headquarters mentioned in-game is missing, but it doesn't say we must reach 100% to qualify.

Further down the Diary the Headquarters reappears but as a reward for the second phase:

Diary

The summary of 3 main rewards (second phase)
Rewards for reaching 100%
Settlers 2 headquarters, 100x Gems, 10x Change Skin Buff

Which seems to be confirmed here, again as a reward for the Second but not mentioned a reward for reaching 100% on the First from which it is clearly absent:

Diary

If my game world reaches – for example – 200%, what rewards will we get?

In this case all active players from your game world will get:
Settlers 2 headquarters (for 100%)
600x Gems (100 for 100%, 200 for 150% and 300 for 200%)
3x Retro adventure (1 for 150% and 2 for 200%)
60x Change Skin Buff (10 for 100%, 20 for 150% and 30 for 200%)

Please keep in mind that the rewards for respective percentage levels (100%, 150% and 200%) are not all rewards you can get. There is a special initial phase that can guarantee you additional Gems and Hired Troops (depending on the performance of your game world). Remember that two international tasks can provide you even more Gems and other rewards!

Even something as simple as the rewards for the first phase aren't clear and server-wide confusion over actual requirements is causing people to build different strategies as this conflicting info is interpreted in different ways, add in the confusion Fishslice and earlier posters have mentioned above and a little clarity would be very much appreciated before any number of people make decisions based on best guesses and cross their fingers whilst hoping they've read correctly.

Since the in-game text clearly states:

Event Window

If the server does not manage to reach this amount, it will be taken out of the competition, which starts right after the qualifying round.

Guessing what to do at all is something of a gamble, guessing wrong means the event could well be over before it begins.

[PChamps]

The worry is even the mod does not sound clear in knowing what we need to do!!

[BobLurker]

This event will need a serious re-think at the end of the first phase, because at current rates not even the German servers will reach 100%. BB will have to re-jig things for the second phase.

[MOD_Daz]

The worry is even the mod does not sound clear in knowing what we need to do!!

The balloons collected during the qualifying round will count towards the competion rounds which starts AFTER the four day qualifying round. It's clear enough in the description in the event window

[imyourmum]

No. Balloons acquired during the first phase of the event will NOT affect the second phase results. It means that all balloons you get during the first phase should be used in that specific time slot - they will lose their value when the first phase ends.

[PChamps]

The balloons collected during the qualifying round will count towards the competion rounds which starts AFTER the four day qualifying round. It's clear enough in the description in the event window

And where does it say that??? I have just read the text 3 times I cannot see it saying balloons collecting during the qualifying round will count in competition the actual text on the event page on the forum by BB_Dama says

THE SECOND PHASE OF THE EVENTKey facts related to the second phase of the event:

The balloons from the first phase will not be included in second phase results.
During the second phase of the event, certain game worlds will work together (results) in order to achieve a common goal and compete with servers that have stronger economies.
The goal is to reach high scores (percentage).
3 types of rewards that every game world can get: reaching 100%, 150% and 200%.
2 international rewards: the fastest game world and the game world that donated the most balloons during the second phase.

The bold text says they wont count. Your and mine definition of clear are obviously very different, because what you are saying is going against what the event post says.

[Mechanix]

The target of the event is quite clear: take all resources you have for some cheap reward in a big rat race....donation of ballons and all the explanation is just bla, bla, bla...no clear rules, no target...
At this moment I have almost 20k ballons to donate and I feel...well, not confortable...let's see after 4 days what will happen...

[DocAckersonCO1]

"•Each game world has the same task: reach 100% as soon as possible."
-
says nothing about getting less
-
even top server won't get 100%

[Mechanix]

"•Each game world has the same task: reach 100% as soon as possible."
-
says nothing about getting less
-
even top server won't get 100%

Assuming you are right (I believe you are, unless BB interfere), do you see all the frustration from ALL the servers/players when they realize lost resources for nothing (expect "fun")???

[MOD_Daz]

And where does it say that??? I have just read the text 3 times I cannot see it saying balloons collecting during the qualifying round will count in competition the actual text on the event page on the forum by BB_Dama says

THE SECOND PHASE OF THE EVENTKey facts related to the second phase of the event:

The balloons from the first phase will not be included in second phase results.
During the second phase of the event, certain game worlds will work together (results) in order to achieve a common goal and compete with servers that have stronger economies.
The goal is to reach high scores (percentage).
3 types of rewards that every game world can get: reaching 100%, 150% and 200%.
2 international rewards: the fastest game world and the game world that donated the most balloons during the second phase.

The bold text says they wont count. Your and mine definition of clear are obviously very different, because what you are saying is going against what the event post says.

We are not even in the first phase yet. We are still under the 4 day qualifying round. Balloons collected during the qualifying round will count towards the first phase.