Uncommon Method Competition | Payout and an Apology

[Silky]

I had a concern about this:

Some quirky methods are novel only in-part, while some are completely novel.
Heise for example shares no steps with the big-4;
Tripod starts off like petrus upto 2x2x3, then deviates quite a bit;
Something like 42 is very close to Roux except instead of LS+CMLL+EO, you do corner+c-CMLL+EOedge

So if someone who has done lots of Roux does 42, s/he's going to get close to their Roux times with little practice because they already have FB, SB-square, and LSE down, and know CMLL algs. But no matter which of the big four you main, you'll have considerable trouble getting close to your times with Heise because you're doing something completely new on all steps. Tripod falls somewhere in the middle.
So going by solve-times alone is probably not a fair way to compare entires.

If there was a way to factor in the novelty of the method compared to big-4, like "somehow" separating the methods into 2-3 catagories depending on how similar they are to a big-4 variant, or some other way, it would be considerably more fair and the results could potentially even be useful.
Not sure how practical this is though.

I don't disagree. However, right now it seems that the best approach is to make things as accessible as possible. My original idea was focusing on fewer methods with large potential; I think is a much better approach but it seemed a bit to restrictive for the first iteration of this competition. I also had the idea of having teams competing against one another with a few specific methods. I already have plans to hold another competition down the line and hopefully if this competition gets enough engagement we can implement these more targeted ideas. PM me and we can brainstorm more.

 

[Devagio]

What if I did 42 but my main method is CFOP?

This is precisely one part of why this is a complicated problem. Your 42 results would be close to as difficult to improve at as your heise results (if we ignore internet roux resources).
One possible solution is to assume everyone knows each of the big-4. Pretty terrible idea, but if we're judging the best 42 solve, it will likely come from someone with ample roux practice done already. But this would mean (assuming you're competing to win) you should either compete in the category of completely novel methods, or pick a method that is closer to CFOP than any of the other big-4. This of course destroys part of the reason this competition is there in the first place.

 

[Cubingcubecuber]

Can I use HK?

 

[Silky]

Can I use HK?

Ofc

 

[Silky]

This is precisely one part of why this is a complicated problem. Your 42 results would be close to as difficult to improve at as your heise results (if we ignore internet roux resources).
One possible solution is to assume everyone knows each of the big-4. Pretty terrible idea, but if we're judging the best 42 solve, it will likely come from someone with ample roux practice done already. But this would mean (assuming you're competing to win) you should either compete in the category of completely novel methods, or pick a method that is closer to CFOP than any of the other big-4. This of course destroys part of the reason this competition is there in the first place.

Would you suggest a Variant category, a Hybrid category, and a novel/experimental category ?

 

[Devagio]

Would you suggest a Variant category, a Hybrid category, and a novel/experimental category ?

Seems like a decent segregation if we are to go by that Idea. I believe this is what it would look like:
Variants: 42(explained above), LEOR? (FB from Roux, SB+LL from ZZ)
Hybrids: PCMS, HK, Waterman?
Novel/experimental: Heise, Mehta, SSC, LMCF?
Might need a structured reasoning of why a method is in a given category, I've put ? after the ones I'm unsure about. We could now expand on this list to add FreeFOP, ZBRoux, etc.

 

[ProStar]

Ofc

Wait but that's his main method

 

[Silky]

Seems like a decent segregation if we are to go by that Idea. I believe this is what it would look like:
Variants: 42(explained above), LEOR? (FB from Roux, SB+LL from ZZ)
Hybrids: PCMS, HK, Waterman?
Novel/experimental: Heise, Mehta, SSC, LMCF?
Might need a structured reasoning of why a method is in a given category, I've put ? after the ones I'm unsure about. We could now expand on this list to add FreeFOP, ZBRoux, etc.

The potential issue is that if there isn't enough competitors in each category than its an easy W. So you would need like 10 in each category and it's most like that you'll have a concentration in one category than spread out between all three.

Wait but that's his main method

I mean it's still an uncommon method. LMCF is efattah's main and that's not really a problem.

 

[GenTheSnail]

Is using something like full ZBLL considered novel enough?

 

[Silky]

Is using something like full ZBLL considered novel enough?

With what ?

 

[GenTheSnail]

With what ?

Um, I was thinking with ZZ. It's not a method that a lot of people can use so true ZZ-A is pretty uncommon.

But if that's considered too mainstream, what about LEOR with ZBLL?

 

[Silky]

Um, I was thinking with ZZ. It's not a method that a lot of people can use so true ZZ-A is pretty uncommon.

But if that's considered too mainstream, what about LEOR with ZBLL?

We're not use Big 4 methods but LEOR would be acceptable.

 

[Silky]

So I've decided to compete. Thinking of using either Waterman or SSC ( L6E or EZD ). Thoughts? I figure Waterman would be easier since I'm a Roux solver but SSC-L6E is Rouxesque as well.

 

[Username: Username:]

Go for it, now's a better time than ever ! Gotta love a Ryan Heise method. Speaking of Heise methods... where you at @Username: Username: ??

Sorry, I was doing tons of other things like soccer, chess (a bit still sucks) and binging anime a ton lol

 

[Silky]

Sorry, I was doing tons of other things like soccer, chess (a bit still sucks) and binging anime a ton lol

All good. Are you down to finally prove Heise is top 3?

 

[Username: Username:]

All good. Are you down to finally prove Heise is top 3?

Ehm, I do like Heise and it is pretty good but I don't think it is top 3 material.

 

[Silky]

Ehm, I do like Heise and it is pretty good but I don't think it is top 3 material.

Lol, I feel. But for real you should take part in the comp ! Looks like the prizes should be on lockdown

 

[BenChristman1]

Here is my submission! If I get a better average, I will edit this post. I put some music over the video because my brother and sister were being loud.

Submission #1 (12-28-20)

Spoiler: Video

Spoiler: Times & Scrambles

1. (1:09.711) R2 B' R U2 D R' B2 L D' F2 L2 B2 L F2 L U2 B2 U2 R' F2
2. (34.542) F2 D' R2 D' L2 D F2 D L2 D R2 D2 R B2 D U F' L B D' F2
3. 47.220 F' D2 F2 R2 D2 B' R2 U2 F' L2 R2 F' D' R2 F' L B2 D2 B
4. 42.979 L B' R U2 D2 L D F' U B2 U2 B' R2 F U2 R2 F' L2 D2 B
5. 35.332 L2 U2 F U2 B F D2 F2 U2 F' D2 F' D' F' U F' L' F U B U
Average: 41.844

Sumbmission #2 (2-15-21)

Spoiler: Video

Spoiler: Times & Scrambles

1. 27.30 R2 B' D' L F U2 D2 L U' D2 L2 F2 U2 F2 U2 F' L2 U2 B D2 L2
2. (23.60) B R' B2 R2 U2 F' D2 F U2 R2 D' L' R F' U L R' B
3. 26.04 D' F B R U D' R D2 F R2 L2 D2 B' U2 B L2 B' L2 D2 R B2
4. (41.68) D R2 U2 B2 U L2 R2 B2 D L2 R2 U R' D2 R' D2 B L' R B' D
5. 29.20 U R2 F2 L' B' D F L' U R2 U' F2 L2 U2 B2 U' B2 U R2 U2
Average: 27.51

 

[OreKehStrah]

Today I started learning Tripod LL algs so I can hopefully get decent at Tripod and participate.

 

[efattah]

I dusted off the GoPro and started filming averages again. Hope to post something decent in the next few days.