CL 19 is mostly done. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nInD9ybrpFq7cdzHBCML6hmqc5ujOwNJlUMshnI7HkU/edit?gid=1014622740#gid=1014622740
CL 20 will start in January as usual.
So let's sort out the important stuff.

First thing: templates.

Every clan who played last season is free to suggest their own. Preferably it's done by the clan contacts from last season, to avoid multiple submissions from the same clan.
What we need is a game link to a finished game on that template.
You can post them here or send me a WZ mail.
There's a limit of max 15 template submissions from a single clan, team and solo templates counted together, so that we don't get spammed by templates that nobody really cares about.
Note: it doesn't mean you need to submit 15 templates. You can send fewer.

The CL panel will then select templates from the ones all clans submit. While it's not exactly a vote, if the same template gets submitted by a lot of clans, its chances increase.
We will also try to continue the tradition and include one team and one solo template that has never been played in CL before, while avoiding templates played last season.
Only skill-based templates with low luck element will be considered. No lotto.

Deadline for submissions is June 14th

Feel free to check out this thread for inspiration: https://war.app/Forum/871115-cl-20-looking-templates
Or the Multi-Template Ladder list: https://www.warlight-mtl.com/all-templates

Second thing: feedback on rule changes for CL19.

A lot of things changed this season and while I didn't really hear any real complaints, I'm not sure if we created a proper channel for such feedback in the first place. And with the season mostly done I think now could be a good time.

So feel free to post here. Did you like or dislike the last changes? That is:
-reducing division sizes and fewer games
-reduction in banked boot time
-unlimited substitutions and abolishing rosters and midseason registration
-not fielding the same player on 3 team templates

Third thing: changes for CL20.

We don't really have any changes planned for next season, but maybe we should?
There was one idea that started gaining traction but was too last minute to be considered. And that was a straight 2-slots-per-person limit, at least for div A. Maybe B too. Not for C because because newcomers to CL don't need additional hurdles.

So what do you guys think about it? Do you perhaps have some other ideas in mind?

The purpose of this thread is discussion, so feel free to post your thoughts.

My two cents regarding past and proposed changes. I have been playing CL continously for the last ten seasons, so just consider this an old veteran's nostalgic rambling if you want.

Reducing division sizes and fewer games

Hard dislike. I always found the divisions to be too small, not too big, and another decrease to reduce duration of a season seems like the worst way to do it. I could imagine so much more fun with divisions made of 8-10 clans and 3 clans relegating each season.

I suggested this several seasons back once with detailed elaboration, but as there are only 3-4 elite clans left participating, this is even more true now. I see no reason to have CORP, TLA or MH die a boring last place every other season when we could have all these clans fight relegation every season

Reduction of banked boot times

Hard like, but insufficient. Reducing banked times further to a minimum which will satisfy most clans would allow to increase division sizes to a more appropriate number (more fun) and have the season run faster in general (more fun to watch and follow). This will also revive drama and discussion about CL, which has been stagnating at best for years.

Unlimited substitutions, no rosters

Perfect. Reduce bureaucracy and hurdles everywhere you can.

No three slotting on team templates

Probably good, don't feel strongly about this. Adults should be able to decide for themselves, but with negative examples in mind, probably better than the alternative. However, this is already somewhat addressed by unlimited subs.

2 slots limit for divs A and B

I don't think this is required. I played two 1v1 slots and one team slot this season and that seemed very relaxed, as 1v1 games can be played like any other games. People mostly have far more than this many games on their dashboards.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.

I would also like to reintroduce an idea I had put forward previously, inspired by various sports competitions (e. g. Fußball Bundesliga):

Have the 3rd last clan from division A play a promotion/relegation battle against the 3rd best clan from division B.

This could be done by matching all teams on all templates played that season between the finished season and the next (one extra game for every slot).

In my head, this would add a huge amount of fun and discussion material. Due to the low amount of games required, all games could be created manually and at the same time.

Wouldn't relegating 3 teams out of 8 be even more difficult for bottom clans than relegating 2 out of 6?

It would be a fight, as there would always be one "bottom clan" or two making it and more of them participating. Especially if you combine that with the promotion/relegation game idea.

The way it is right now, there is typically one sub-par clan dead last and the other relegation spot sometimes fought against. The way I suggest it, there would be several more clans around the level of the dead last clan, with one of them mostly surviving. It will also create more turnover of clans and increase motivation in B.

It's implicit in my idea that with current participation, there would be no division C.

I disagree with Alex (CONSEQUENCER) on this. I will come back to why later.

Folks, we have a serious problem. A very serious problem. Everybody knows it. The players won’t say it, but people are talking about it all over discord. They come up to me; Big clans, smart players, tough people, and they say, “Sir, what is happening with Alex?” And frankly? They’re right to ask.

Because Alex has been a disaster. Total disaster.

This guy goes on the forum, comments a lot, says all the politically correct things, and meanwhile, nothing gets done. Nothing! We’ve had discussions, committees, panels, such ethical panels, and somehow everything is worse. Incredible, really.

And Alex says, “I have a plan.” Have you heard this? Always a plan. There’s always a plan. But then you look closely, and there’s no plan! It’s just words. Empty words. Frankly, I’ve seen better planning from kids running lemonade stands. True story.

And the turtles love Alex. Of course they do. The lower divisions love him. Those lobbying for change love him. The people making money off failure love Alex. Why? Because Alex will never change anything. Never. He talks tough for five minutes and then folds immediately. Completely folds.

We don’t need that anymore, folks.

We need strength. We need confidence. We need somebody who walks into a room and actually knows how to improve Clan league. Alex couldn’t improve his situation in a diplo filled with bots, okay? He can’t do it.

And the commenters, very dishonest people, many of them, they keep saying, “Alex is doing great in the forum.” Which forum? Where are these posts coming from? I want to meet these people. Because everywhere I go, people are tired of Alex. They’re tired of excuses. They’re tired of weakness. They want results.

And I’ll tell you something else nobody wants to say: Alex has terrible energy. Low energy. Very low. We’re trying to build something incredible here, and this guy looks exhausted playing three 1v1s. It’s unbelievable.

Meanwhile, Masters is bringing in huge crowds. Thousands and thousands of people. The biggest crowds anyone’s ever seen in this league, by the way. The enthusiasm is through the roof. Because people know we’re going to win.

We’re going to rebuild things. We’re going to fix what Alex broke. We’re going to stop wasting time, stop apologising, stop being pushed around by people who don’t know what they’re doing.

And when we win, not if, when, people are going to look back and say, “Wow. That was the moment everything changed.” You watch.

Thank you everybody. Blowfly bless you. And believe me, the best is yet to come.

It's true, I am the best. I have now arrived though.