Is random character selection allowed in tournaments?

I'm pretty sure that random isn't allowed in tournaments, but iirc I've never seen it explicitly stated. Maybe it is allowed and I just don't know...

Choosing random select at a tournament is like eating Burger King at a PETA convention.

Why would you do it?

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Choosing random select at a tournament is like eating Burger King at a PETA convention.

Why would you do it?

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Good question!

Well firstly, it helps me get a feel for all the characters in a game if I do it for a while. I get an idea of their traps, speed, etc. and that really helped out my versus play, putting myself in the enemy's shoes and seeing what all works.

Another reason is so someone can't pick character-killers for a set team that I use. That's pretty useful in arcades, in VS play, so that you can have an advantage and the other guys can't pick a character who's anti-your-character and end your winning streak.

And yet another reason, tying back to arcade VS, is so you can have different characters each time you play and not get bored of the same old ones over and over. It also, like I alluded to, keeps your opponent on his toes as he's gonna get different enemies each time.

And also you can tick off the judges if it's not allowed :P.


I was at an arcade last night and there was a bit of KOF 98 vs play. For the past week I'd been watching combo videos for 98 but also my brother and I played a lot of random VS play so that we can get better rounded, and that really took our skills up another notch. My team was either Kyo plus two randoms, or Kyo, Ralf, and Takuma, and while the normal team is good, the random play kinda helped give me an advantage- the shock factor pretty much helped and made everyone go "hey what the?...".

Sorry for the rant.

and not get bored of the same old ones over and over.

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You need to take up Virtua Fighter, sir.

And the whole point of a tournament is to win, is it not? You should pick your BEST character(s). I don't think there are any set rules against using Random select, but most tourny players just don't use it.

I've tried Virtua Fighter but it's not my cup of tea. 3D fighters don't sit well with me.

I was just cuirous in the first place. I still don't quite have an answer (well unless you mean it's ok but not recommended), but that's ok. In most fighters I play I have some good fighters I'd be ready to use in a tournament.

Well, I'm not sure. I've never seen it used, and I've never heard it be said that it can't be used.

It's best just to build up your favorite characters, anyway.

Unless you are at Maan level, random is not reccomended at any tourney.
You're opponents will make mince meat of you and double the spearmint gum type ownithness.

I reccomend using only top tiers if you want to stand a chance.
Unless you are so good, you can deal with the BS other top tier heads will use.
In fact, I don't reccomend anyone below Maan level to even bother going random, unless you truly have mastered the roster, which can take years for some individuals. Any KOF beyond 98 especially, double the learning curve and especially the time.

Very few tourney's ban random. Very few players gamble on random.

I simply don't see a reason why it wouldn't be allowed. If a guy want to take the risk of having his character chose by the computer, that his problem. Random selection don't get the boss characters usually.

And someone can do this just to look 'cool', like 'I can beat you with ANY character'

Only reason I could see it not being allowed is that it gives the chance of turning up other banned characters. Hence defeating the purpose of banning them.

I used this tactic at KI tourneys in the mid-90's.

It's pretty useful for a few reasons.

1. I'm good at KI. If people are scouting you, it leaves them with the uncertainty of not knowing who you're going with and gives you the "off-kilter" edge. It's unsettling not knowing what's coming at you next.

2. If you use it in the early rounds, you can save your good characters for later, hence no one gets your tactics/strategies/patterns down.

3. If it's a tourney you don't care that much about winning, you sharpen your sword with other characters against decent competition, making you better all-around and it helps you pick up strategies against certain characters, especially ones you don't know that well yourself and you learn it first hand.

It's not a tactic I would reccomend, though, if you're a specialist. I wouldn't *dare* do it at a game like 3s or a KOF. Too much selection and too many high-end players.

It *is* useful, in certain situations like the early rounds.

Thanks for the response, guys. I don't play any tournaments (all the local ones are for games I suck at), but if I did I'd for sure use a good team of mine.