The only two people on the website insane enough to play a best-of-51 have decided now is the time. ALL 51 MTL TEMPLATES, from beloved classics like French Brawl, to controversial, lambasted templates such as Georgia Army Cap, we will be playing ALL OF THEM.


THE STAKES: As my punishment, I will be watching David Lynch's "Eraserhead" and giving it a rating out of 10.


THE FORMAT: We will be playing a best-of-51 series, playing one game on all 51 active templates on the MTL. The series will not end if someone reaches 26 wins, only once we reach 51 games played. We are going to give every template a showcase, and see how close the score will be, make your predictions! We will update the series score sporadically, the games themselves, completed or not, will remain a secret until we give you an update. We are already underway, so keep those eyes peeled!


THE TEMPLATES: If you are new to the MTL and don't know what templates we will playing, come check out the "Active Templates" section on https://www.warlight-mtl.com/, and while you're at it, maybe give the ladder a shot!


GAME REVIEWS: We will share our thought processes, pointing out why we picked or played the way we did, what mistakes we thought we made, and what mistakes we thought our adversary made, during multiple different games throughout the series! I'll try to give out reviews for as many games as possible, but will mainly be focused on interesting games, or games that were pivotal for the bigger picture. If you want a game reviewed though, don't be afraid to ask.


BETTING: The series is over, thanks for anyone who placed bets!


THE SCORE: Rufus 30, Octane 21

Game 1: Greece LD | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849193 | Octane leads 1-0
Game 2: Timid Lands | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849157 | Series tied 1-1
Game 3: Pangea Ultima | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849173 | Rufus leads 2-1
Game 4: Yorkshire Brawl | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849147 | Series tied 2-2
Game 5: French Brawl | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849199 | Octane leads 3-2
Game 6: Australia | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849222 | Octane leads 4-2
Game 7: Unicorn Island | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849151 | Octane leads 5-2
Game 8: Treasure Map | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849154 | Octane leads 5-3
Game 9: Basileia | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849221 | Octane leads 6-3
Game 10: Great Lakes | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849196 | Octane leads 6-4
Game 11: Phobia | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849172 | Octane leads 6-5
Game 12: Randomized Strat ME | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849170 | Series tied 6-6
Game 13: Final Fantasy VII | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849201 | Rufus leads 7-6
Game 14: British Raj | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849207 | Rufus leads 8-6
Game 15: Strat ME | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849165 | Rufus leads 9-6
Game 16: Tor-ture | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849155 | Rufus leads 10-6
Game 17: Belarus | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849215 | Rufus leads 11-6
Game 18: Fast Earth | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849202 | Rufus leads 12-6
Game 19: Laketown | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849186 | Rufus leads 13-6
Game 20: Saudi Arabia | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849168 | Rufus leads 13-7
Game 21: Battle for Middle Earth | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849220 | Rufus leads 13-8
Game 22: Post-Melt Antarctica | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849171 | Rufus leads 14-8
Game 23: Slow Burn | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849167 | Rufus leads 15-8
Game 24: Strat MME | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849164 | Rufus leads 15-9
Game 25: Numenor | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849175 | Rufus leads 15-10
Game 26: Hannibal at the Gates | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849188 | Rufus leads 15-11
Game 27: Greater Middle East III | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849194 | Rufus leads 15-12
Game 28: Tarabonia's Choice | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849158 | Rufus leads 15-13
Game 29: Strategic Commanders | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849161 | Rufus leads 15-14
Game 30: Guiroma | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849190 | Rufus leads 16-14
Game 31: Battle Islands V | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849218 | Rufus leads 17-14
Game 32: Malvia | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849177 | Rufus leads 17-15
Game 33: Black Sea | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849209 | Rufus leads 18-15
Game 34: Volcano Island | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849149 | Rufus leads 18-16
Game 35: Macedonia No Split | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849178 | Rufus leads 19-16
Game 36: World of Warhammer | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849148 | Rufus leads 20-16
Game 37: Earthsea | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849205 | Rufus leads 20-17
Game 38: Discovery | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849206 | Rufus leads 20-18
Game 39: Biomes of America | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849210 | Rufus leads 21-18
Game 40: Elitist Africa | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849204 | Rufus leads 22-18
Game 41: Aseridith Islands | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849224 | Rufus leads 22-19
Game 42: Turkey LD | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849153 | Rufus leads 23-19
Game 43: Strategic Greece | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849160 | Rufus leads 24-19
Game 44: Island of Ruins | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849187 | Rufus leads 25-19
Game 45: MME MA+LD | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849176 | Rufus leads 26-19
Game 46: Landria | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849184 | Rufus leads 27-19
Game 47: Succession Wars | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849159 | Rufus leads 28-19
Game 48: Lampuria Swap | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849185 | Rufus leads 29-19
Game 49: Blitzkrieg Bork | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849208 | Rufus leads 29-20
Game 50: MA Battle Islands V | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849181 | Rufus leads 30-20
Game 51: Georgia Army Cap | https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849198 | Rufus wins 30-21

Edited 2026-07-31 04:29:46

BETTING

The betting sheet is finally complete, with 6 interactive calculators that let you bet on whatever line you can think of, and adjusts odds for the live score!

For a link to the sheet with editing privileges, click here and make a copy: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rGYV6GCFfNLHjDiR_LQgrkMTH7MCgLLwKKn537OPkus/copy
The link with the live score: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rGYV6GCFfNLHjDiR_LQgrkMTH7MCgLLwKKn537OPkus/edit?usp=sharing

You will be able to edit whatever bets you want to place yourself using the dropdown menus, the ones at the very top with no label represent the live score. If you find any bugs, let me know please. Incase there is any confusion, I'll explain what you are betting on for every calculator.

BEST-OF-MTL SERIES CALCULATOR
Simply gives the odds on who will win the series, 26 wins are needed to do so.

OVER/UNDER CALCULATOR
Gives the odds that the player you select will finish with more or less wins than the O/U Line.

SERIES SCORE CALCULATOR
Gives the odds for any specific series score after 51 games, with me winning and Rufus winning being distinct.

SCORE BRACKET CALCULATOR
Gives the odds that the player you select will end up within the range of minimum and maximum wins you select.

WINS RACE CALCULATOR
Gives the odds that either me, Rufus, or neither of us will reach a specific number of wins first.

REACHED SCORE CALCULATOR
Gives the odds of a specific series score after any number of games you select, could have included the series score calculator with this, but figured it was nicer as its own separate calculator.

Edited 2026-07-22 15:23:31

GAME REVIEWS


Rufus -

Unicorn: https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849151
Felt like safety was the very top priority on this board. Despite being relatively happy with the pick outcome, I have decided to make a bold move on Turn 2 and try to eliminate my opponent if he tries to run and complete his other +3 at the same time. Everything fallen apart after such a failure with a tiny glimpse of hope later on.

Basileia: https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849221
For some reason I didn't particularly like the 1-3 combo that Octane picked, since it was pretty standard and had some funny business with +2 ftb nearby potentially. In the end it was a pretty close game.


Octane -

Pangea: https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849173
Horrible game from me, tapping neutrals, especially on WR is no good, I thought he had +3 combo but it still doesn't excuse my play, since if he does he likely goes +6 there instead. The two 3v2s, not guaranteed bonus take and then not attacking him the next turn was the cherry on top. This game was great on picks, and then lost due to Rufus' superior gameplay.

Yorkshire: https://war.app/MultiPlayer?GameID=44849147
Was extremely happy with my picks and pick outcome, focused on +2 FTB with early picks and then made it a point to focus on +3 combos in the west, Rufus should have watched for the FTB more carefully. Game was won on picks, just make sure not to overthink the gameplay.

Edited 2026-07-22 19:28:16

Edited 2026-07-30 19:53:17

Edited 2026-07-30 19:53:22

Predictions

Rufus 29

Templates Rufus wins (By alphabetical order)

Aseridith
Australia (6. Octane wins)
Battle for Middle Earth
Biomes
Black Sea
British Raj (14. Rufus wins)
Earthsea
Final Fantasy VII (13. Rufus wins)
French Brawl (5. Octane wins)
Great Lakes (10. Rufus wins)
Greece
Greece LD (1. Octane wins)
Hannibal
Island of Ruins
Lampuria Swap
Landria
Mace-No Split
Malvia
MME MA LD
Numenor
Phobia (11. Rufus wins)
Post-melt Ant
MME
Commanders
Succession Wars
Tarabonia's Choice
Turkey LD
Unicorn (7. Octane wins)
World of warhammer

Octane 22

Templates Octane wins (By alphabetical order)

Basileia (9. Octane wins)
BIV
Belarus (17. Rufus wins)
Bork
Discovery
Elitist Africa
Fast Earth
GAC
Greater Middle East III
Guiroma
Laketown
MA BIV
Pangea Ultima (3. Rufus wins)
Randomized Strat ME (12. Rufus wins)
Saudi Arabia
Slow Burn
Strat ME (15. Rufus wins)
Timid (2. Rufus wins)
Torture (16. Rufus wins)
Treasure Map (8. Rufus wins)
Volcano Island
Yorkshine Brawl (4. Octane wins)

Edited 2026-07-23 16:23:06

Xeno predictions:

I predict rufus to sweep
And if he can pull that off i will come out of retirement and sweep him

Also from Xeno:

Loser has to conduct a public debate with Elon's Musket
On a topic of his choice
Minimum 20 posts and 20,000 words

Followed.

I would love to see the game analyses. Such as the rationale behind the picks. Aimed at strong to elite players -- because this would fill a niche the existing guides can't cover. This could be a penalty for the "loser" (aka 2nd best in the world...), or you could both share some analyses.

Are both of you open to sharing strategies, or do you wish to keep at least some cards close to your chest? I don't know the answer. Likewise you may have a mental model of the opponent's tendencies, but again I don't know if you'd want to share that.

(Update: Now that I've actually read the post, I see some analysis was already offered. But my post still expresses my interest, and mentions some finer details.)

Edited 2026-07-21 04:33:58

Epic!
I'm tipping Rufus wins 31, Octane 20.

I guess the winner gets to play me.

I hope that is sufficient motivation

the real winner is the community.

octane to win and eraserhead / rufus to rename to Euro 95, the lowest in Octane (RON) fuel

Stakes could be the loser needs to attempt AWP trophy next year. Food for thought.

Rufus' penalty for losing could be to transform back to Caribbean Girl, both in name and with a selfie of herself in the tropics. (Though that is arguably not a penalty at all.) Octane's new name could be e-bike, scooter, or moped? Or solar panel, green energy, Captain Pollution, etc. (Credit to 7ate9 for a similar proposal. Also I hadn't heard of Euro 95, but bowsers in my country do use the label "E10".)

Edited 2026-07-22 17:31:55

Looking for game reviews!
Good luck, have fun!

Rufus 25 - 26 Octane

Final game to be decided by WR luck!

If i want to add commentary on the games, should I reserve one reply each for all 51 of them? i just need one yes.

Edited 2026-07-21 11:09:40

Octane 28 - Rufus 23

What you’re calling an over/under is really a spread, no?

I want to commend Octane on his bravery because the last couple people to do this have been made to look very silly. Rufus is terrifying, especially in this format. All respect to the Men In The Arena for offering up their time and experience for our entertainment and learning.

Rufus by 11.

Great idea. There should be a separate line on whether you guys finish all 51.

What are the over/under odds of Turkey LD winner winning with a wasteland pick?