User talk:SamRosenfeld/Countdown to 99/Season 4

Pre-Season 4
I have archived Season 3 here. I have archived the Season 3 Talk Page here. I have also announced Season 4 on the main page. Signup here. SamRosenfeld 13:54, December 25, 2009 (UTC)


 * W0000t! Can't wait 'till this season starts! Signed up for Smithing cause I got to train it more, and because I also need to train mining, but igning up for a harvesting skill isn't really much fun. By the way, when does it start? I've got to go get some coal and iron ores.... -- 17:22, December 28, 2009 (UTC)

I wonder if my strength icon in my siggy is causing the strength to turn red? LOL. 18:00, December 28, 2009 (UTC)
 * Quite possibly. I'll check it now. 18:02, December 28, 2009 (UTC)
 * It was. I added  around your sig (easier than adding huge amounts of code to the table page), so that should be used in future for problems like that.  18:12, December 28, 2009 (UTC)
 * That won't affect his sig, will it? Lol, anyhow. -- 18:15, December 28, 2009 (UTC)
 * No, not at all. 18:21, December 28, 2009 (UTC)

The thing that automatically tells you which skills are taken is not working. It has not registered the previous two signups. SamRosenfeld 20:18, January 1, 2010 (UTC)
 * Fixed. A  was not closed correctly.  20:55, January 1, 2010 (UTC)

Thank you very much for fixing that Gaz Lloyd. I have edited the colours of the main Countdown table. SamRosenfeld 23:43, January 2, 2010 (UTC)

So when is the anticipated start. The dates still show Sept. 4th. Hopefully some time before the end of the month? 13:24, January 4, 2010 (UTC)
 * I was just thinking about that. I want the competition to end on either March 11th, March 18th, or March 25th, and I would start accordingly with one of those dates in mind as the end. The number of weeks that a season lasts is always two less than the number of participants. We currently have ten contestants signed up. In order to start this week, we will need to have at least eleven people signed up in order to end on March 11th. Id we do not get an eleventh person this week but get two more people next week, we could end on March 25th. If we do not get another signup this week but get three next week, we will have pull some strings. Hopefully we'll start this week. SamRosenfeld 02:31, January 5, 2010 (UTC)

I did a little work on updating the page tonight because I am going to be very busy Thursday. I should probably be able to finish the page tomorrow morning. SamRosenfeld 02:40, January 10, 2010 (UTC)
 * Do you want to advertise on the events forums this time? 16:27, January 5, 2010 (UTC)
 * Sure, great idea! (If you don't mind making the thread yourself) SamRosenfeld 23:09, January 5, 2010 (UTC)

I did a little work on updating the page tonight because I am going to be very busy Thursday. I should probably be able to finish the page tomorrow morning. SamRosenfeld 02:41, January 10, 2010 (UTC)

I may be the first to get eliminated. My motherboard is dead on my home computer. I bought a hard drive for my old backup computer and I am awaiting a copy of XP in the mail from dell. It is supposed to show up on the 14th. If for some reason it doesn't, then I can almost guarantee being out first. I can only access the wiki from work, gaming sites are blocked. So, keep your fingers crossed for me that I will back up and running the 14th. 14:44, January 11, 2010 (UTC)
 * Well, as long as you get it within a week of the 14th, but I would be surprised if everyone with a lower level than you gained a level. SamRosenfeld 03:16, January 12, 2010 (UTC)
 * I am good. Software showed on the 12th. I am back up and running. Although a little laggy on the old computer with only 512mb RAM. phew. 14:19, January 13, 2010 (UTC)

Am I allowed to sign two of my accounts up for two different skills? 10:35, December 31, 2009 (UTC)
 * You may sign up two of your accounts for different skills but if anyone wants either of the two skills you sign up for, they may delete your signup for whichever skill they want and sign up with their own account. SamRosenfeld 19:46, December 31, 2009 (UTC)

Total improvisation, and I hope I didn't mess anything up, but I switched which skill I signed up for to Runecrafting, because I want to train the instead. And I got the Earth runecrafting gloves, and I hate smithing, and, well, you get the picture. Hope I didn't break any rules. Now to go obtain some essence... -- 18:07, January 11, 2010 (UTC)

First Week
Congratulations! Most have you have made it to the first week of the competition. Unfortunately, Arch Bowyer has changed his/her name and I cannot figure out what his/her new one is. If anyone else can work on that I would appreciate it; I am very busy. SamRosenfeld 00:36, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
 * His new display name is HS Ezio Bowyer, I added his level and exp.
 * I also think we should allow tLUL to join, I see no harm since he was only a few hours late - currently level 72 and 976,728 exp. 16:26, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
 * Thank you very much for finding Floppy's new name. I completely agree with you about tLUL.  Thank you for telling me how much experience he had so that as much of his training as possible towards this competition.  SamRosenfeld 20:09, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
 * Anytime. Good luck everyone! 21:13, January 15, 2010 (UTC)
 * Close to 50 Runecrafting!!!   -- 02:45, January 17, 2010 (UTC)
 * Heh Heh. I got 50 Runecrafting! I'm just gonna play the Great Orb Project and hope I get a level now.... -- 19:00, January 18, 2010 (UTC)
 * Grats. I don't see me lasting long, it'll either take me many hours or will cost me ~1.2m to get one level (under 50k exp)... thats ridiculous, even prayer isn't that bad (~2.4m for 130k exp in half hour)... Bah I say, bah to herblore. 19:43, January 18, 2010 (UTC)

Second Week
Can someone else please update? I am ridiculously busy. SamRosenfeld 01:00, January 22, 2010 (UTC)

Scores were not recorded until 8:15am GMT Friday. A bit late.


 * Eliminated: Sam 0 xp
 * Green player: Gaz 42 xp
 * Most levels gained: The Last Username Left 14 levels OMG!
 * Most experience gained: The Last Username Left 2,663,450xp (The judges must check past history to see if this is a record) OMGGGGG!

08:52, January 22, 2010 (UTC)
 * 14 Levels???!! That's insane...Gaz got 42 exp... Wotcha been doin' lately, Gazzie 'ol Chap? -- 18:06, January 22, 2010 (UTC)
 * Herblore is too expensive, slow, or wristache-inducing for me at the moment... and I have exams. I cleaned 3 snaps from a random event and 2 tarromins from a monster Congratulations tLUL, thats epic. It is the new record - the previous was 2,200,365 firemaking experience by Frede last season.  19:43, January 22, 2010 (UTC)
 * Gratz tLIL You're leet  10:19, January 23, 2010 (UTC)
 * Thanks! In fact, if you had counted from earlier that day, it would have been a full 20 levels. Then again, this week I will get nothing, as sharks aren't buying and I was busy with finals.

Third Week
Scores were not recorded until 4:00am GMT Friday. A touch late.


 * Eliminated: Raleighriper 0xp (although I might be confused as Supawilko had 0xp and no levels gained in since start?) help?
 * Green player: Supawilko 0xp but higher level. see above.
 * Most levels gained: Frede 5 levels. Nice.
 * Most experience gained: Frede 2,312,230xp (F2P Fishing wow.....)

A slow week but I am assuming this was due many wikians with finals?

04:21, January 29, 2010 (UTC)
 * Indeed, finals were and still are disrupting our no-lifing.
 * I am really sorry about that. I completely blanked.  I think it is time for me to appoint an assistant.  Gaz Lloyd, you are my 1st mate and Hammer2092, you are my 2nd mate.  SamRosenfeld 12:09, January 29, 2010 (UTC)
 * :3 12:30, January 29, 2010 (UTC)
 * Frede, you're such a hax0r (but not as much as Nomad). I can keep it updated if you want (I am usually on at ~11pm UTC, though sometimes at GWD); between me and Hammer I'm sure we can make sure its updated
 * I also had exams, but I managed to do my aberrant spectre task for some free experience. 14:43, January 29, 2010 (UTC)
 * Wow, I'm surprised I didn't get eliminated. I've been training, but I only got one level on Sunday... GOP is FTW, I've made like 400K already... Too bad it isn't really as good as conventional runecrafting... -- 17:05, February 3, 2010 (UTC)

Fourth Week
Scores were not recorded until 08:15, February 6, 2010 (UTC) - more than a day late.
 * Eliminated player: Bob the elf *see below
 * Green player: Supawilko
 * Most levels gained: Frede173 and The last username left, with 4 each
 * Most experience gained: Frede173, with exactly 2,700,000 - My record! *sobs* I vow to avenge this Frede... you have been warned. Congratulations on this though!

Gaz Lloyd has not gained a level for three consecutive weeks, however he has gained XP each time... does this mean that he should have had a level ignored this week, and have a level gain of -1? If so, he should have been eliminated instead of Bob. Please fix this if that is the correct ruling.

Congratulations to everyone for making it this far.
 * Mousekeys ftw. :P 08:59, February 6, 2010 (UTC)

Feel free to eliminate me, I have no plans to train so I'll be out at some point anyway. 17:36, February 6, 2010 (UTC)



-- 20:41, February 6, 2010 (UTC)

Fifth Week
Scores were not recorded until 07:52, February 13, 2010 (UTC) - more than a day late. This seems to be turning into a problem, and I recommend that we appoint someone else to do it. I am not the best person to do it, as I am often busy.
 * Eliminated player: Sir Scizor1 - 0xp, level 51
 * Green player: Gaz Lloyd - 0xp, level 66
 * Most levels gained: Jack Spiral1, Frede173, and The last username left, with 2 each
 * Most experience gained: Frede173, with 2,564,140 - Third best in history of countdown (including his record last week)

Gaz Lloyd has not gained a level for four consecutive weeks (the whole competition), but still has not been eliminated. Come on Gazzy, let's see if you can go the entire countdown without gaining a level and still survive!

Also note that I have changed the format of the table slightly to reduce page size and fix other formatting issues I was noticing with either my browser or my custom css. Users who are eliminated now have a single red bar that continues to the end of the table. This reduces the work of updating as well.


 * Oops, heh, not really paying much attention to this lately.. I'm pretty sure that was the week I stopped doing the Great Orb Project, because I play 50/50 as it's impossible to win without a half-decent team. So that week I got 60 Cooking and Magic. I started doing the GOP again, but heh, looks like I'm already out. Oh, well. Way to go Frede, you seem to be doing all right...-- 20:03, February 19, 2010 (UTC)

Sixth Week
Scores were recorded 02:34, February 19, 2010 (UTC) - Pretty much on time
 * Eliminated player: Floppyc5 - 32xp, level 94
 * Green player: Ssswizmig - 219xp, level 77
 * Most levels gained: Jack Spiral1 and The last username left, with 3 each
 * Most experience gained: The last username left, with 2,700,001 (all-time record)

Gaz Lloyd has still not gained a level for the entire competition, but remains a competitor. Come on Gazzy, you can do it!

Also, quick question: if a user reaches 99, do they get highlighted in purple immediately, or not until the end of the competition? I see at least two people who will be reaching 99 before the end of the competition (hint - we've been fighting over the weekly XP record).
 * Wait Gaz has not leveled for most of and Bowyer get eliminated? Like i had a higher level and stayed in for about 3 weeks without getting a level and Gaz did say "Feel free to eliminate me, I have no plans to train so I'll be out at some point anyway. 17:36, February 6, 2010 (UTC)" so should we have this changed?  02:52, February 19, 2010 (UTC)
 * Well, it's based on xp, not levels at all, really. A level 50 who had gained no levels beat out a level 80 in week 3. If Gaz wishes to withdraw, then I think he should specifically state that. However, even if Gaz withdraws, Bowyer still gained the least amount of xp and is still eliminated.
 * I thought is was based on a combination of levels and xp? As I see it Gaz would be out being the lowest level. If all people gained xp but not a level the lowest level would be eliminated. XP is only a factor if people are the same level. Am I wrong? 08:55, February 19, 2010 (UTC)
 * I'm pretty sure you are correct. In any case I have -3 levels, lol. As I'm forcing people out of the competition when I have no plans (or funds) to train, then I withdraw. (Though, I do know that Siege won't be training defence, he's going for 99 smithing.) Nice work and good job everyone. 11:04, February 19, 2010 (UTC)


 * WHOA! Frede's almost to 99 Fishing! Niiiiice! -- 20:05, February 19, 2010 (UTC)
 * DO WANT 21:07, February 19, 2010 (UTC)
 * Graaatttsss on 99 fishing Frede! Didja have a party? -- 14:43, February 21, 2010 (UTC)

Seventh Week
Scores were recorded 07:30, February 26, 2010 (UTC) - A tad late
 * WE HAVE A 99: Frede173 has achieved 99 Fishing, and is therefore awarded first place.
 * WE HAVE ANOTHER 99: The last username left has achieved 99 Cooking, and is awarded second place.
 * Player withdrawn: Gaz Llyod
 * Eliminated player: Ssswizmig - 1017xp, level 77
 * Green player: Supawilko - 1225xp, level 85
 * Most levels gained: The last username left, with 4
 * Most experience gained: The last username left, with 3,816,357 (all-time record)

Two players have gained level 99 this week, Frede and myself. Frede is awarded first place because he achieved his level earlier in the week. Gaz Lloyd has chosen to withdraw from the countdown. Ssswizmig was eliminated, with a total xp gain of just over 1k.

A total of four players are no longer competing after this week. This means that the decisive week is the week ending March 19, as there will be only two players remaining by that date. This renders the final week of the competition pointless for level gains, as only one player will be left competing.
 * A big gratz to Frede and tLUL on 99. Also, tLUL you have a week of vacation or what? WOWser. Absolutely craZy. My suggest is cut out the last week as well and move the recording of final week xp up as well so those left can enjoy the final week battle. 12:37, February 26, 2010 (UTC)
 * No vacation, just solid no-lifing (and training the fastest, cheapest skill).

The countdown will be shortened by two weeks
The countdown to 99 will be shortened by two weeks. The scores for the final week will be recorded on March 11th. There are several reasons for this change. Firstly, there are only four players left competing for 99, and four weeks to go. The final week would not be much fun with just one or even two contestants. Secondly, starting almost immediately after this date, members will receive an experience boost that will drastically affect xp gain rates, and would render the competition unfair not only for comparisons between the skills, but also against other seasons and against free players, who will not receive this xp bonus. This change ensures that the competition is both fun and fair.

Eighth Week
Scores were recorded 23:22, March 4, 2010 (UTC) - Pretty much on time
 * Eliminated player: Supawilko - 42,273 xp, level 85
 * Green player: Bruxacosmica - 93,026 xp, level 90
 * Most levels gained: Hammer2092 and Jack Spiral1, with 1 each
 * Most experience gained: Hammer2092, with 530,480

Hammer. Jack. Brux. This is the final week of the countdown. GOGOGOGOGO!

W00T.... LOL. I got 530k xp just doesn't seem ummm up to par with some of the crazy numbers put up this season. 05:00, March 5, 2010 (UTC)
 * Lol perhaps not. It's still an achievement though — most xp this week. And if you think that this season had crazy numbers, you haven't seen anything yet. My plan for next time (or perhaps a few seasons later) is summoning. Summoning goes crazy fast when prepped with the right charms. Bonus: My primary source of income, green drags, are one of the best charm sources too. So watch out for my summoning skillz =D

I would like to apologize for abandoning the Countdown. School got pretty crazy and I kept forgetting. There were a lot of interesting decisions made and it seemed as if there were people in charge who I did not appoint. I would like to thank everyone for stepping up. SamRosenfeld 01:27, March 7, 2010 (UTC)