New "Split Decision" for ANW13

[Ninja Warrior Ryan]

www.americanninjawarriornation.com/platform/amp/2021/3/24/22346981/american-ninja-warrior-ninjas-react-to-the-news-of-split-decision?__twitter_impression=true

[thebobmaster]

I like it, on paper at least. As long as they manage to balance (heh) the difficulty properly, I think it could be a cool new idea. It will all depend on execution, though. I could see it backfiring if they make one or the other obstacle unequal in actual difficulty, to the point that all the ninjas with any common sense pick the same obstacle.

[jvlalic]

Taking a portion from the ANW 13 sasukepedia page:

On both the Qualifying and Semifinals courses, competitors will face “Split-Decision”, a point on the course where they will have to pick between two different obstacles. This concept originated in multiple international Ninja Warrior formats such as Ninja Israel and Ninja Warrior France:

• In qualifying, the Split-Decision will occur on the fourth obstacle, in which competitors must choose between two different balance type obstacles in order to advance.
  
• In semifinals, the Split-Decision will occur on the ninth obstacle, giving competitors the opportunity to choose between an upper-body intensive obstacle or a heavily modified balance-type obstacle.

I'd say its a great addition to the course, especially with the fact that there are a lot of balance obstacles that mostly last just one season. In qualifying, its gonna be a mixed bag especially if competitors can choose what is the more suitable one for them. In Semifinals, it changes a LOT since people have the chance to go for the typical upper-body obstacle which they usually do in past seasons, or go for the balance obstacle to conserve their upper-body strength in some form.

But yeah, like what's said earlier it all depends on execution to "balance" the difficulty of both obstacles to be chosen.

[tyler]

I like the concept of it. Balance obstacles can be brutal. Choosing between them could be interesting.

But the semis, upper body vs balance, I'm not too sure about. To me it really depends on how brutal the 8th obstacle is. Often getting to the 9th obstacle is good enough but not always. Balance has been known to be risky. Upper-body can be more draining. There is that safety pass (for better or worse) so there is that incentive for speed. For that reason I'd rather see it happen on obstacle 8. A risky fast way to get to 9 or a slower way to 9 where it can be more likely to cut you. I just have no clue how they would do a split for obstacle 8.

[DeAndre]

I initially read the split decision for 9th place being just two diff. types of upper body obstacle, but now I'm even more excited. ~Return of the tuning forks?~ nah, that got people injured. but seriously, I imagine some fast people going for that and going out earlier. With this in mind I expect ANW to keep it to the top 12 to make for a more dramatic decision, because the 9th will most likely be the cutoff in this case

[SasukeDoctor]

Mar 29, 2021 2:00:27 GMT -5 jvlalic said:

Taking a portion from the ANW 13 sasukepedia page:

On both the Qualifying and Semifinals courses, competitors will face “Split-Decision”, a point on the course where they will have to pick between two different obstacles. This concept originated in multiple international Ninja Warrior formats such as Ninja Israel and Ninja Warrior France:

• In qualifying, the Split-Decision will occur on the fourth obstacle, in which competitors must choose between two different balance type obstacles in order to advance.
  
• In semifinals, the Split-Decision will occur on the ninth obstacle, giving competitors the opportunity to choose between an upper-body intensive obstacle or a heavily modified balance-type obstacle.

I'd say its a great addition to the course, especially with the fact that there are a lot of balance obstacles that mostly last just one season. In qualifying, its gonna be a mixed bag especially if competitors can choose what is the more suitable one for them. In Semifinals, it changes a LOT since people have the chance to go for the typical upper-body obstacle which they usually do in past seasons, or go for the balance obstacle to conserve their upper-body strength in some form.

But yeah, like what's said earlier it all depends on execution to "balance" the difficulty of both obstacles to be chosen.

Wasn’t this a thing on VIKING as well?

[casuallystranded]

I think this might the final nail in the coffin when it comes to my following of ANW. The show has been far too dependent on gimmicks to care about actual quality programming. Season 9 created the Women's Rule, which sounds fine until you realize that it effectively gave people who failed early a free pass to the city finals; Season 10 had the Mega Wall, a great concept with awful execution; Season 11 introduced mulligans, which goes against he very concept of the sport, Season 12 wasted all the potential it had for being a decent season (given the circumstance). Now that this exists, this will probably be the first season since it began airing in Canada on August 22, 2011 that I won't watch, barring some sort of a miracle.

[jvlalic]

Apr 4, 2021 23:13:53 GMT -5 SasukeDoctor said:

Mar 29, 2021 2:00:27 GMT -5 jvlalic said:

Taking a portion from the ANW 13 sasukepedia page:

On both the Qualifying and Semifinals courses, competitors will face “Split-Decision”, a point on the course where they will have to pick between two different obstacles. This concept originated in multiple international Ninja Warrior formats such as Ninja Israel and Ninja Warrior France:

• In qualifying, the Split-Decision will occur on the fourth obstacle, in which competitors must choose between two different balance type obstacles in order to advance.
  
• In semifinals, the Split-Decision will occur on the ninth obstacle, giving competitors the opportunity to choose between an upper-body intensive obstacle or a heavily modified balance-type obstacle.

I'd say its a great addition to the course, especially with the fact that there are a lot of balance obstacles that mostly last just one season. In qualifying, its gonna be a mixed bag especially if competitors can choose what is the more suitable one for them. In Semifinals, it changes a LOT since people have the chance to go for the typical upper-body obstacle which they usually do in past seasons, or go for the balance obstacle to conserve their upper-body strength in some form.

But yeah, like what's said earlier it all depends on execution to "balance" the difficulty of both obstacles to be chosen.

Wasn’t this a thing on VIKING as well?

Yup, VIKING 1 to 3 have Crossroads which works similarly to the Split Decision. Though I am not sure whether to consider the Crossroads as actual basis for the Split Decision but I might reconsider in some form.

[Tico]

I enjoyed the idea of split decision. Getting to choose your own path through qualifying adds a new level of excitement for me as a competitor. You go in thinking you’re going to do obstacle A, then decided on obstacle B and then flip back to A when you’re on the course. These are the stages to make it to Vegas so having fun with that format is okay, but when it comes to stages 1-4 and those new additions bleed over in Vegas (safety pass) that’s when I see red flags.

[Ninja Warrior Ryan]

Apr 5, 2021 0:35:13 GMT -5 casuallystranded said:

I think this might the final nail in the coffin when it comes to my following of ANW. The show has been far too dependent on gimmicks to care about actual quality programming. Season 9 created the Women's Rule, which sounds fine until you realize that it effectively gave people who failed early a free pass to the city finals; Season 10 had the Mega Wall, a great concept with awful execution; Season 11 introduced mulligans, which goes against he very concept of the sport, Season 12 wasted all the potential it had for being a decent season (given the circumstance). Now that this exists, this will probably be the first season since it began airing in Canada on August 22, 2011 that I won't watch, barring some sort of a miracle.

Judging before even seeing what it is definitely makes sense!

Honestly this is one of the better decisions theyve done if done right and gives a chance for ANW to up the difficulty of the course.

[gamer2k4]

Apr 5, 2021 0:35:13 GMT -5 casuallystranded said:

Season 9 created the Women's Rule, which sounds fine until you realize that it effectively gave people who failed early a free pass to the city finals

Maybe it used to, but these days it's not uncommon for 1-2 women to be in the top 15 anyway, so I don't mind it. At any rate, it's better than "wild cards" which were just slots for popular female runners who didn't qualify.