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Created page with " '''Valhalla National Rankings''' was an independent New Zealand paintball team ranking system maintained through the Mercenaries Star website. Its surviving records cover the 1997–2001 tournament seasons and provide one of the earliest systematic records of competitive paintball performance across New Zealand.[1] The database began operating in 2000, with earlier results compiled retrospectively. It was intended to compare teams competing in different regions..."
 
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'''Valhalla National Rankings''' was an independent New Zealand [[paintball]] team ranking system maintained through the [[Mercenaries Star]] website. The database operated from 2000 and included retrospectively compiled tournament standings dating back to 1997.[1][2]


'''Valhalla National Rankings''' was an independent New Zealand [[paintball]] team ranking system maintained through the [[Mercenaries Star]] website. Its surviving records cover the 1997–2001 tournament seasons and provide one of the earliest systematic records of competitive paintball performance across New Zealand.[1]
Valhalla was developed to compare competitive paintball teams from different regions of New Zealand using results from national and regional tournaments. Its surviving records cover the 1997–2001 seasons and document the performance of numerous New Zealand teams during this period.
 
The database began operating in 2000, with earlier results compiled retrospectively. It was intended to compare teams competing in different regions, tournaments and formats, using a scoring system that accounted for differences in the maximum points available.[2]
 
The rankings identified Katipo as the leading team in 1997 and Saints Gold as the leading team from 1998 through 2000. In 2001, separate rankings were published for seven-man, five-man and three-man competition.[3][4][5][6][7]


== History ==
== History ==


=== Origins ===
The Valhalla ranking system was established in 2000, with historical results from 1997, 1998 and 1999 subsequently incorporated into the database.[2]
 
During the 1990s, New Zealand tournament paintball consisted of independently organised competitions, including the [[New Zealand Paintball Nationals]], [[Northland Open]] and South Pacific Championships.
 
Different organisers used different scoring systems, tournament formats and numbers of games. It was therefore difficult to compare teams competing at different events.
 
Valhalla was created to address this problem by compiling tournament results into a national ranking database.
 
The original concept divided teams into three grades according to the number of national tournaments they attended. However, this excluded many regional events, some of which featured strong competition.
 
The ranking system was subsequently revised to incorporate a broader selection of tournaments.[1]
 
=== Establishment in 2000 ===
 
The 2000 results page identifies that season as the database's first operational year.[6]
 
The 1997, 1998 and 1999 tables were consequently historical reconstructions using available tournament results.
 
Valhalla's compiler acknowledged that historical records were incomplete and invited organisers and players to submit missing scores.


The 2000 database included 37 ranked entries and reportedly contained results from almost every competition held that year. The principal missing event was the Southern Three-Mans.[6]
The original ranking concept divided teams into grades according to the number of national tournaments they attended. This approach was later revised because it excluded regional competitions and did not adequately represent teams that competed outside the principal national events.[1]


=== Administration ===
The revised methodology incorporated a broader selection of tournaments, allowing teams competing in different regions and competition structures to be included in the same annual rankings.


Valhalla formed part of Mercenaries Star, an early New Zealand paintball information website.
Valhalla was maintained through the Mercenaries Star website, with '''Neil M. Harris''' listed as the contact for tournament results, corrections and submissions.[1]
 
The website also maintained tournament calendars, team profiles, historical documents and a national directory of paintball resources.
 
'''Neil M. Harris''' was the published contact for tournament results, corrections and updates.[1]
 
The rankings depended on the collection and verification of results supplied by tournament organisers and participants.


== Ranking methodology ==
== Ranking methodology ==


=== Definitions ===
Valhalla calculated rankings using a points-based system designed to compare tournament results across different competition formats.
 
Valhalla defined the New Zealand playing season as running from February through November.
 
The methodology distinguished between:
 
* '''Event''' – a recurring competition, such as the Northland Open.
* '''Tournament''' – a particular edition of an event.
* '''Round''' – an individual stage of competition within a tournament.
* '''Elimination round''' – a round determining which teams advanced.
* '''Final round''' – the concluding stage determining a tournament winner.
 
These distinctions allowed the database to calculate results from competitions with different structures.[1]
 
=== Normalised scoring ===
 
For the opening round of a tournament, Valhalla converted each team's score into a percentage of the maximum available points.
 
'''Ranking value = (Team score / Maximum possible score) × 100'''
 
The same calculation applied to subsequent elimination rounds.
 
A team achieving 400 points out of a possible 500 therefore received a round value of 80.
 
This enabled scores from competitions with different maximum point totals to be compared.
 
=== Finals weighting ===
 
For a final round occurring after the opening round, Valhalla applied a different formula:
 
'''Final-round value = 75 + 25 × (Team score / Maximum possible score)'''
 
This ensured that teams progressing to finals received substantial recognition for doing so.
 
For example:
 
* A final-round score of 0% produced a ranking value of 75.
* A final-round score of 50% produced 87.5.
* A final-round score of 100% produced 100.
 
The compiler explained that finalists often scored fewer points against stronger opposition. Without additional weighting, advancing to a final could actually reduce a team's overall ranking.[1]
 
=== Season calculations ===
 
The published methodology stated that all calculated round values were averaged to produce a team's season score.
 
A team attending two tournaments, with four recorded rounds in total, would have its four round values averaged.
 
The system therefore measured performance across rounds rather than simply awarding points for tournament attendance.
 
=== Separate squads ===
 
Teams entering multiple squads were recorded separately.
 
For example, Saints Gold and Saints Black had independent rankings.
 
The methodology also described assigning results entered under a general team name to that team's established premier squad where appropriate.


This prevented a larger team organisation from combining all its squads' results into one national score.[1]
The system converted each team's score in a tournament round into a percentage of the maximum points available. Subsequent elimination rounds were calculated using the same approach, while final rounds received additional weighting.[1]


=== Changes in 2001 ===
For qualifying and elimination rounds, the calculation was:


The published 2001 rankings differed from earlier tables.
: '''Round score = (Points earned / Maximum available points) × 100'''


Rather than presenting an average score on an approximately 0–100 scale, the 2001 tables displayed cumulative totals from individual tournament rounds.
For final rounds occurring after an earlier round, the calculation was:


They were also divided into separate seven-man, five-man and three-man categories.
: '''Final score = 75 + 25 × (Points earned / Maximum available points)'''


Consequently, the 2001 figures cannot be compared directly with the 1997–2000 scores.
The calculated round scores were then averaged to produce each team's annual ranking score.


The surviving 2001 tables are labelled October 2001 and do not explicitly establish final results for the entire February–November season.[7]
Teams entering multiple squads, such as Saints Gold and Saints Black, were generally recorded separately.


== 1997 rankings ==
The methodology was revised during the database's operation. The published 2001 standings used cumulative tournament-round totals rather than the average scores presented in the earlier rankings. Consequently, scores from 2001 are not directly comparable with those from 1997–2000.[1][6]


The 1997 rankings contained eleven teams or squads.
== National rankings, 1997–2000 ==


'''Katipo 1''' finished first with 91 points, ahead of Saints Black and Kamo Karzi.[3]
The archived Valhalla database contains annual rankings for 1997 through 2000.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Valhalla 1997 – leading teams
! Year
! Rank !! Team !! Score
! First
|-
! Second
| 1 || Katipo 1 || 91
! Third
|-
|-
| 2 || Saints Black || 79
| 1997
| [[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo 1]] (91)
| Saints Black (79)
| [[Kamo Karzi]] (74)
|-
|-
| 3 || [[Kamo Karzi]] || 74
| 1998
| [[Saints Paintball Team|Saints Gold]] (92.5)
| Grey (78)
| Katipo 1 (72)
|-
|-
| 4 || Paint Contractors || 72
| 1999
| Saints Gold (91)
| Paint Contractors (80)
| Psychosis (77.5)
|-
|-
| 5 || Grey || 71
| 2000
|-
| Saints Gold (91)
| 6 || Team Raven || 58
| Team Crisis (82.5)
|-
| Grey (82.5)
| 7= || Katipo 2 || 55
|-
| 7= || Flashpoint || 55
|}
|}


Katipo also won the 1997 New Zealand Paintball Nationals, held at [[Actions Paintball]] in Te Atatū, Auckland.
Source: Mercenaries Star, Valhalla annual rankings, 1997–2000.[2][3][4][5]
 
The Nationals victory and Valhalla's national ranking were separate achievements.
 
== 1998 rankings ==


The 1998 rankings contained eighteen entries.
Katipo 1 headed the retrospective 1997 rankings, while Saints Gold occupied first place in each of the following three seasons.
 
'''Saints Gold''' led the standings with 92.5 points.[4]
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Valhalla 1998 – leading teams
! Rank !! Team !! Score
|-
| 1 || Saints Gold || 92.5
|-
| 2 || Grey || 78
|-
| 3 || Katipo 1 || 72
|-
| 4 || Paint Contractors || 71
|-
| 5 || Saints Black || 64
|-
| 6 || House Steiner || 51
|-
| 7 || Black Dragon || 50
|-
| 8 || Katipo 2 || 48
|-
| 9 || [[Kamo Karzi]] || 43
|-
| 10 || Kiwi Extreme || 42
|}


Saints Gold also won the 1998 New Zealand Paintball Nationals.
The 2000 rankings contained 37 team and squad entries. The compiler reported that results had been obtained for almost every tournament held that year, with the Southern Three-Mans identified as a principal omission.[5]
 
The presence of Saints Gold and Saints Black in the same rankings demonstrates the separate treatment of multiple squads.
 
== 1999 rankings ==
 
Saints Gold retained the leading position in 1999, scoring 91 points.
 
The table contained 22 entries.[5]
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Valhalla 1999 – leading teams
! Rank !! Team !! Score
|-
| 1 || Saints Gold || 91
|-
| 2 || Paint Contractors || 80
|-
| 3 || Psychosis || 77.5
|-
| 4 || Grey || 77
|-
| 5 || Black Dragon || 76
|-
| 6 || Flashpoint || 74.5
|-
| 7 || Katipo 1 || 69
|-
| 8 || Solidaire || 65
|-
| 9 || [[Kamo Karzi]] || 63
|-
| 10 || Phantom 5 Purple || 59
|}
 
The 1999 season coincided with the reorganisation of the original [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)|National Paintball League]], which had operated a two-division competition structure since 1997.
 
Valhalla's rankings were independent of the NPL and should not be treated as its official championship standings.
 
== 2000 rankings ==
 
The 2000 season was the first during which the Valhalla database operated.
 
The published table contained 37 entries, including teams from regional competitions.[6]
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Valhalla 2000 – leading teams
! Rank !! Team !! Score
|-
| 1 || Saints Gold || 91
|-
| 2= || Team Crisis || 82.5
|-
| 2= || Grey || 82.5
|-
| 4 || Paint Contractors || 82
|-
| 5 || Katipo 1 || 81
|-
| 6 || House Steiner Red || 80.5
|-
| 7 || Assault Korps || 74.5
|-
| 8 || Phoenix (Wellington) || 73.5
|-
| 9= || Phantom 5 Purple || 69.5
|-
| 9= || Vipers 1 || 69.5
|}
 
Saints Gold led Valhalla for the third consecutive season.
 
The compiler noted that Saints averaged approximately 96% of available points in the opening rounds of tournaments.
 
'''Warp Speed''' received special mention for attending six events during the season, demonstrating an unusually high level of tournament participation.
 
Other ranked entries included Tag n' Release, Fusion, Full Boar, Havoc, Southern Raiders, Hokonui Head Hunters, DamNatives and Insane.
 
[[Kamo Karzi]] finished eighteenth with 59 points.
 
[[Team Insane|Insane]] appeared in the 2000 rankings with 9 points.


== 2001 rankings ==
== 2001 rankings ==


=== Separate categories ===
In 2001, Valhalla published separate rankings for seven-man, five-man and three-man tournament formats.


The October 2001 tables distinguished between seven-man, five-man and three-man competitions.
The surviving tables are dated October 2001 and should not necessarily be interpreted as final standings for the complete season.[6]


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2001 published ranking leaders
! Format
! Format !! Leader !! Total !! Entries
! First
! Second
! Third
|-
|-
| Seven-man || Saints Gold || 400.5 || 23
| Seven-man
| Saints Gold (400.5)
| Jetts (313)
| Katipo (308.2)
|-
|-
| Five-man || [[Tag n' Release]] || 214.5 || 16
| Five-man
| [[Tag n' Release]] (214.5)
| Saints Gold (211)
| House Steiner (93.4)
|-
|-
| Three-man || DamNatives Red || 226.4 || 30
| Three-man
| DamNatives Red (226.4)
| [[Team Insane|Insane]] (181.7)
| Tag n' Release GPS (159.3)
|}
|}


The totals were cumulative values from the recorded tournament rounds, not scores directly comparable with previous years.[7]
Source: Mercenaries Star, Valhalla 2001 rankings.[6]


=== Seven-man ===
=== Seven-man ===


The seven-man rankings incorporated the Northland Open, RotoVegas and New Zealand Paintball Nationals.
The seven-man standings incorporated results from the [[Northland Open]], RotoVegas and [[New Zealand Paintball Nationals]].


{| class="wikitable"
Saints Gold headed the published rankings with 400.5 points, followed by Jetts and Katipo.[6]
|+ 2001 seven-man rankings
! Rank !! Team !! Total
|-
| 1 || Saints Gold || 400.5
|-
| 2 || Jetts || 313
|-
| 3 || Katipo || 308.2
|-
| 4 || Damage || 236.5
|-
| 5 || DamNatives Red || 215.6
|-
| 6 || Phantom 5 || 207.8
|-
| 7 || Phoenix (WGN) Red || 205.6
|-
| 8 || [[Tag n' Release]] || 192.9
|-
| 9 || Black Dragon || 158.6
|-
| 10 || [[Kamo Karzi]] || 111.4
|}
 
Saints Gold accumulated 400.5 points from five recorded rounds across the three competitions.
 
The team scored 100 in the Northland Open, 83.4 and 73.3 at RotoVegas, and 87.5 and 56.3 at the Nationals.
 
Insane finished 21st of 23 entries with 28.2 points.


=== Five-man ===
=== Five-man ===


The five-man rankings used results from the South Pacific Championships and Wellington Cup Five-Mans.
The five-man rankings included results from the [[South Pacific Championships]] and Wellington Cup.


{| class="wikitable"
Tag n' Release ranked first with 214.5 points, narrowly ahead of Saints Gold on 211.[6]
|+ 2001 five-man rankings
! Rank !! Team !! Total
|-
| 1 || [[Tag n' Release]] || 214.5
|-
| 2 || Saints Gold || 211
|-
| 3 || House Steiner || 93.4
|-
| 4 || DamNatives || 82.3
|-
| 5 || Phoenix (WGN) || 67.1
|-
| 6 || DamNatives Red || 60
|-
| 7 || Tag n' Release Training || 52.3
|-
| 8 || Warp Speed || 48
|}
 
Tag n' Release finished 3.5 points ahead of Saints Gold.
 
Its total comprised 68.3 and 56.5 points from the South Pacific Championships and 89.7 from the Wellington Cup.
 
The team had been formed in Rotorua in 2000 and was also documented in an original team profile contributed to Mercenaries Star by Russell Clement.[8]


=== Three-man ===
=== Three-man ===


The three-man rankings incorporated results from the Hawkes Bay Triples, Indoor Three-Man Open, National Three-Man Centre Flag Championships and Combat Zone Three-Mans.
The three-man standings incorporated several smaller tournament formats, including the Hawke's Bay Triples, Indoor Three-Man Open, National Three-Man Centre Flag Championships and Combat Zone Three-Mans.
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+ 2001 three-man rankings
! Rank !! Team !! Total
|-
| 1 || DamNatives Red || 226.4
|-
| 2 || [[Team Insane|Insane]] || 181.7
|-
| 3 || Tag n' Release GPS || 159.3
|-
| 4 || Saints Gold || 152.5
|-
| 5 || Flashpoint || 114.4
|-
| 6 || House Steiner || 84.3
|-
| 7 || Havoc || 80
|-
| 8 || Phoenix (WGN) Red || 75
|-
| 9 || Phoenix (WGN) Grey || 64.9
|-
| 10 || Damage || 62.9
|}
 
DamNatives Red recorded 46.4 points at the Hawkes Bay Triples and 100 and 80 points in the two Combat Zone rounds.


Auckland team Insane finished second with 181.7 points, consisting of:
DamNatives Red led the published standings with 226.4 points, followed by Insane with 181.7 and Tag n' Release GPS with 159.3.[6]


* Indoor Three-Man Open: 100
== Limitations ==
* Combat Zone preliminary round: 56.7
* Combat Zone final: 25


A separate squad, Insane B, placed 24th with 28.3 points.
Valhalla was an independent statistical ranking system rather than an official national championship.


Insane's second-place position represented its ranking across the recorded rounds, not necessarily a runner-up finish at an individual tournament.
The database's compiler acknowledged several limitations, including incomplete historical results, differences in tournament strength and the difficulty of comparing teams attending different numbers and types of competitions.[1]


== Historical significance ==
The inclusion of smaller regional tournaments also created situations where teams performing strongly against limited opposition could rank above teams competing in larger, more competitive events.


Valhalla provides one of the most detailed surviving records of New Zealand competitive paintball during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Although the original website described the leading teams as ''Valhalla National Champions'', these rankings should not be confused with championship titles awarded at the [[New Zealand Paintball Nationals]] or by national paintball organisations.


Its records preserve the names and results of numerous teams, including Saints, Katipo, Paint Contractors, Kamo Karzi, Phantom 5, House Steiner, Tag n' Release and Insane.
== Historical records ==


The database also documents the transition from five-man tournament formats toward more widespread seven-man competition, while retaining information about smaller three-man events.
Valhalla's archived standings document competitive New Zealand paintball teams that participated in tournaments during the late 1990s and early 2000s.


Its inclusion of regional tournaments makes it particularly valuable for documenting teams that may not have competed regularly at the Nationals.
The database preserves historical results for teams including Saints, Katipo, Paint Contractors, Kamo Karzi, Grey, House Steiner, Tag n' Release, Insane, Phoenix, Flashpoint and numerous regional squads.


=== Limitations ===
The original ranking pages remain preserved through the Oocities archive of the Mercenaries Star GeoCities website.
 
The original compiler openly acknowledged limitations in the ranking system.
 
The most important were:
 
* Incomplete historical tournament results.
* Variations in competition strength between events.
* Different numbers of tournaments attended by teams.
* Changes to ranking methodology.
* Separate team squads sometimes competing under inconsistent names.
* The cumulative scoring format used in the 2001 tables.
 
A strong performance at a smaller regional tournament could result in a higher score than a less dominant performance against stronger opposition at a national event.
 
Consequently, Valhalla should be understood as an independent ranking system based on available results, rather than an absolute measurement of team ability.
 
The database also used the term "national champions" for its ranking leaders. These titles should be distinguished from victory at an individual national championship tournament or a title sanctioned by a national sporting organisation.
 
== Preservation ==
 
The original Valhalla pages were hosted on the Mercenaries Star GeoCities website.
 
Following the disappearance of many early personal websites, the pages were preserved through archival mirrors, including Oocities.
 
The surviving archive contains the ranking methodology and annual standings from 1997 through 2001.
 
These records remain important primary sources for the history of New Zealand tournament paintball.


== See also ==
== See also ==


* [[Mercenaries Star]]
* [[Mercenaries Star]]
* [[Paintball.co.nz]]
* [[History of paintball in New Zealand]]
* [[New Zealand Paintball Nationals]]
* [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)]]
* [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)]]
* [[New Zealand Paintball Nationals]]
* [[Northland Open]]
* [[South Pacific Championships]]
* [[Saints Paintball Team]]
* [[Katipo Paintball Team]]
* [[Kamo Karzi]]
* [[Team Insane]]
* [[Tag n' Release]]


== References ==
== References ==


# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/RankIndex.htm Valhalla National Team Rankings – Methodology]. ''Mercenaries Star''. Original explanation of scoring, round weighting and limitations.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/RankIndex.htm Mercenaries Star – Valhalla National Team Rankings, methodology and scoring system.]
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2000Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 2000]. ''Mercenaries Star''. Identifies 2000 as the database's first operational year.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1997Hall.htm Mercenaries Star – Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1997.]
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1997Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 1997]. Original season standings.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1998Hall.htm Mercenaries Star – Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1998.]
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1998Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 1998]. Original season standings.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1999Hall.htm Mercenaries Star – Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1999.]
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1999Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 1999]. Original season standings.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2000Hall.htm Mercenaries Star – Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 2000.]
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2000Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 2000]. Original season standings and compiler's commentary.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2001Hall.htm Mercenaries Star – Valhalla Hall of Heroes, October 2001.]
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2001Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 2001]. October 2001 seven-man, five-man and three-man tables.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Links/TagNRelease.htm Tag n' Release Team Profile]. ''Mercenaries Star''. Original team profile contributed by Russell Clement.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Events/EventsIndex.htm Annual Tournament Events]. ''Mercenaries Star''. Historical tournament calendar.


== External links ==
== External links ==


* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/RankIndex.htm Original Valhalla ranking methodology]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/RankIndex.htm Original Valhalla ranking methodology]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1997Hall.htm 1997 rankings]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/ Mercenaries Star archived website]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1998Hall.htm 1998 rankings]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1999Hall.htm 1999 rankings]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2000Hall.htm 2000 rankings]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2001Hall.htm 2001 rankings]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/ Mercenaries Star archive]


[[Category:New Zealand paintball history]]
[[Category:New Zealand paintball history]]
[[Category:Paintball rankings]]
[[Category:Paintball rankings]]
[[Category:Paintball tournaments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Paintball statistics]]
[[Category:Paintball statistics]]
[[Category:1990s in paintball]]
[[Category:1990s in paintball]]
[[Category:2000s in paintball]]
[[Category:2000s in paintball]]

Latest revision as of 16:17, 16 October 2026

Valhalla National Rankings was an independent New Zealand paintball team ranking system maintained through the Mercenaries Star website. The database operated from 2000 and included retrospectively compiled tournament standings dating back to 1997.[1][2]

Valhalla was developed to compare competitive paintball teams from different regions of New Zealand using results from national and regional tournaments. Its surviving records cover the 1997–2001 seasons and document the performance of numerous New Zealand teams during this period.

History

[edit]

The Valhalla ranking system was established in 2000, with historical results from 1997, 1998 and 1999 subsequently incorporated into the database.[2]

The original ranking concept divided teams into grades according to the number of national tournaments they attended. This approach was later revised because it excluded regional competitions and did not adequately represent teams that competed outside the principal national events.[1]

The revised methodology incorporated a broader selection of tournaments, allowing teams competing in different regions and competition structures to be included in the same annual rankings.

Valhalla was maintained through the Mercenaries Star website, with Neil M. Harris listed as the contact for tournament results, corrections and submissions.[1]

Ranking methodology

[edit]

Valhalla calculated rankings using a points-based system designed to compare tournament results across different competition formats.

The system converted each team's score in a tournament round into a percentage of the maximum points available. Subsequent elimination rounds were calculated using the same approach, while final rounds received additional weighting.[1]

For qualifying and elimination rounds, the calculation was:

Round score = (Points earned / Maximum available points) × 100

For final rounds occurring after an earlier round, the calculation was:

Final score = 75 + 25 × (Points earned / Maximum available points)

The calculated round scores were then averaged to produce each team's annual ranking score.

Teams entering multiple squads, such as Saints Gold and Saints Black, were generally recorded separately.

The methodology was revised during the database's operation. The published 2001 standings used cumulative tournament-round totals rather than the average scores presented in the earlier rankings. Consequently, scores from 2001 are not directly comparable with those from 1997–2000.[1][6]

National rankings, 1997–2000

[edit]

The archived Valhalla database contains annual rankings for 1997 through 2000.

Year First Second Third
1997 Katipo 1 (91) Saints Black (79) Kamo Karzi (74)
1998 Saints Gold (92.5) Grey (78) Katipo 1 (72)
1999 Saints Gold (91) Paint Contractors (80) Psychosis (77.5)
2000 Saints Gold (91) Team Crisis (82.5) Grey (82.5)

Source: Mercenaries Star, Valhalla annual rankings, 1997–2000.[2][3][4][5]

Katipo 1 headed the retrospective 1997 rankings, while Saints Gold occupied first place in each of the following three seasons.

The 2000 rankings contained 37 team and squad entries. The compiler reported that results had been obtained for almost every tournament held that year, with the Southern Three-Mans identified as a principal omission.[5]

2001 rankings

[edit]

In 2001, Valhalla published separate rankings for seven-man, five-man and three-man tournament formats.

The surviving tables are dated October 2001 and should not necessarily be interpreted as final standings for the complete season.[6]

Format First Second Third
Seven-man Saints Gold (400.5) Jetts (313) Katipo (308.2)
Five-man Tag n' Release (214.5) Saints Gold (211) House Steiner (93.4)
Three-man DamNatives Red (226.4) Insane (181.7) Tag n' Release GPS (159.3)

Source: Mercenaries Star, Valhalla 2001 rankings.[6]

Seven-man

[edit]

The seven-man standings incorporated results from the Northland Open, RotoVegas and New Zealand Paintball Nationals.

Saints Gold headed the published rankings with 400.5 points, followed by Jetts and Katipo.[6]

Five-man

[edit]

The five-man rankings included results from the South Pacific Championships and Wellington Cup.

Tag n' Release ranked first with 214.5 points, narrowly ahead of Saints Gold on 211.[6]

Three-man

[edit]

The three-man standings incorporated several smaller tournament formats, including the Hawke's Bay Triples, Indoor Three-Man Open, National Three-Man Centre Flag Championships and Combat Zone Three-Mans.

DamNatives Red led the published standings with 226.4 points, followed by Insane with 181.7 and Tag n' Release GPS with 159.3.[6]

Limitations

[edit]

Valhalla was an independent statistical ranking system rather than an official national championship.

The database's compiler acknowledged several limitations, including incomplete historical results, differences in tournament strength and the difficulty of comparing teams attending different numbers and types of competitions.[1]

The inclusion of smaller regional tournaments also created situations where teams performing strongly against limited opposition could rank above teams competing in larger, more competitive events.

Although the original website described the leading teams as Valhalla National Champions, these rankings should not be confused with championship titles awarded at the New Zealand Paintball Nationals or by national paintball organisations.

Historical records

[edit]

Valhalla's archived standings document competitive New Zealand paintball teams that participated in tournaments during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The database preserves historical results for teams including Saints, Katipo, Paint Contractors, Kamo Karzi, Grey, House Steiner, Tag n' Release, Insane, Phoenix, Flashpoint and numerous regional squads.

The original ranking pages remain preserved through the Oocities archive of the Mercenaries Star GeoCities website.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. Mercenaries Star – Valhalla National Team Rankings, methodology and scoring system.
  2. Mercenaries Star – Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1997.
  3. Mercenaries Star – Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1998.
  4. Mercenaries Star – Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1999.
  5. Mercenaries Star – Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 2000.
  6. Mercenaries Star – Valhalla Hall of Heroes, October 2001.
[edit]
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