Games 1 and 2: Bois du Chatelet
Games 3 and 4: Semois
Game 5 (if necessary): Langres
* maps selected by contenders in veto process 1 week prior to fight
I'm intrigued by the map line-up tonight. My general philosophy about the vanilla COH metagame is that it takes Wehr a long time to figure out how to win a map. At the beginning of each patch, we see Americans dominating, simply because they are the most versatile. With doctrines and tech choices, they can adapt quicker to a particular game/map. Wehr, on the other hand, must have a strategy in mind, and must execute it properly, to win. It takes massive games played on certain maps for the community in general to slice up the map by trying various approaches, constantly testing which is best. Over many months, the metagame evolves and Wehr learns how to win maps, even dominate them.
So how will this play tonight, with Bois du Chatelet, and if it goes all the way, with Langres?
People are saying Bois du Chatelet is "American favored" right now. I don't think it is. I just think that Wehr hasn't figured out the best way to win it yet. We've seen Wehr try all sorts of different strats on this map. It's been wonderful to watch, tbh. So I'm wondering how these two pros will fare, after watching an entire season of games played on Bois. And I'm intrigued by the fact that Bois wound up the G1 and G2 map. If I had to guess (and please players don't tell, I like it that way), I would guess that Aim vetoed Ango, not wanting to face DevM's early-game Allies on that map, and DevM vetoed Argentan, not wanting to face Aim's Wehr on that map.
Then there's Langres. After DevM's experience on it yesterday vs. Sandland, how will they approach it tonight if they have to play it? If it goes that far, will the VP leader pick Wehr for sure 100%???