The Power in our Helmet is YOU

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Daniel20448

Ut est rerum omnium magister usus

The following post encapsulates the importance of the Christmas Chaos tournament; what it means to us historically, and how vital it is to take this trophy home.
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A Tarnished Track Record

On November 18th, 2011, Club Penguin Army Central announced a ‘christmas tournament’ would take place during the holiday season. It looked to be a very promising and entertaining idea, and so, Kenneth1000 (20th and 38th leader of the ACP) formally announced ACP’s official participation.

The first battle, against the Elites, went swiftly as the opposition did not show up. The next round was more exciting, as the bracket pitted us against the Watex Warriors — and this time the enemy army did attend.

Owing to controversy regarding the result of the battle, CPA Central allowed for both ACP and WW to move on to the next round. The semi-finals saw a three-way battle between ACP, WW, and the Nachos.

The battle saw the ACP bring 50 troops into battle. Regardless, the Nacho’s 35 troops overpowered us, ending in us being knocked out of the tournament.

While this was a very humiliating loss for the army, Slider568 released a post, detailing the following:

As you heard today we lost the CPACCC semi-finals, but don’t be discouraged! We are ACP, there is power in OUR helmet, and that power lies with you. It’s hard to believe we lost with our ridiculously huge size but every army meets a loss at some time or another. We are the largest army ever created, we are the everlasting army – we are ACP.

This would be the beginning of ACP’s annual participation in what became known as the ‘Christmas Chaos’ tournament.

Time and time again, the ACP participated, and time and time again ACP failed to even deliver a commendable finish or an advancement to the finals.

The furthest the army has gotten was to the semi-finals. This includes iteration of the tournament from CC III where the Rebel Penguin Federation defeated us, to the most recent one where we lost to the Water Vikings.

Honestly… looking back at our track record in Christmas Chaos is very depressing. This, however, only gives us more reason to aim to rectify this while we have the opportunity to.

My Experience With Tournaments

I personally served under CSY back in 2020 and 2021, and tournament-wise, it was absolute hell for us…

Fright or Fight

In October 2020, Club Penguin Army Hub organized the first and only edition of the ‘Fright or Fight’ tournament. The start of it was a very brisk win against the Army of the Orient Seas, and then the real battles started.

We faced Ice Warriors, a very strong army, in the semifinals. Each of us brought out the best in us, and the entire week leading up to it was just pure hype. Personally, breaking 100+ troops online was probably the most exciting moment of my entire CPA journey (let alone my personal experiences with Legión Española.)

After advancing to the finals in a huge upset, we fought against RPF once more in the finals, with an even greater chance of bringing CSY the first major trophy of his leadership home. It was incredible, we maxed even higher than before, only to get absolutely crushed 3-0.

Since I did not personally experience the Premier League finals loss against RPF earlier that year, this was only the beginning of what, to me, would be the first of many heartbreaks.

Aces of AUSIA

In December 2020, Mchappy had the idea for the ACP Shamrock Bulletin to host one of the first-ever AUSIA-only tournaments: Aces of AUSIA. It was a great idea, as the people from the other side of the world would finally get a chance to fight in THEIR timezone. Many armies decided to participate, and it seemed very hopeful.

We had the chance to once again solidify CSY as one of the greatest AUSIA leaders of all time, and we advanced the first couple of rounds easily, reaching the finals against the Help Force.

We brought an incredible force of 77 troops — which is our current-standing AUSIA size record—and had high hopes of winning the tournament. We ended up losing once more.

March Madness 2021

March Madness was the next challenge, and eventually, our second-to-last, or last major tournament we would participate in (if you consider the first edition of Project Conquest a major tournament).

From this tournament would spring up something many would participate in, and something many would mock us for: a massive Call to Arms. A huge amount of veterans and members of the army community came back to help us out in hopes of finally winning a tournament. This was a big chance, and once again our hopes would rise.

We fought RPF in the semifinals, reaching overtime after an exhilarating battle and actually ending up losing at first until our results got overturned 24 hours later.

While this was a huge victory for us, it didn’t really feel like a big success, due to the aforementioned loss. We would then go to the finals, where we would battle the Ice Warriors once more. We worked so hard, in hopes of winning and proving we deserved to win this tournament.

Bringing a humongous force of 97 troops to battle, we finally had a huge chance of winning. We battled out until literally the last second, even with an overtime room taking place.

Despite our efforts, we ended up losing overtime, the closest we ever got to winning. This was probably the biggest heartbreak we’ve had, incredibly demotivating.

The End

Eventually, in an end to the Golden Democratic, I ended up retiring alongside the rest after our Project Conquest victory in August 2021, without a true feeling of having reached the top.

What Does This Amount To?

I write this post because I’m tired. I’m tired of losing. Tired of us just barely making it to the end and falling flat at the end.

Although ACP was thankfully able to grab its first Legends Cup win under Calgo, Austin and Coolguy, (which we are all grateful for), I’m bummed out I couldn’t partake.

But we’ve now been given another chance, not only to win a historic tournament the ACP has always participated horribly in, but also to grab a tournament win for all of us. This is especially great to those of us who haven’t been able to taste a tournament victory.

To those new troops, who just recently joined and are first experiencing armies: let this be the first time of many you taste victory.
To our old troops who have been with us in ups and downs of this current leadership: rally together with us like you have time and time again, and help us in our journey.
To our veterans: we know many of you don’t like supporting us, but I would like to extend my hand one last time, asking for your support.

Let’s forget about generational differences and any grievances you may have, and gather together because you are supporting the home you once held dear to you.

Those who were around in 2020 and 2021, join us one last time so we can finally taste victory together.

Those that were around for the Legends Cup and Holiday Championship victories, join us to relive that feeling alongside us once again.

All the veterans from the original Club Penguin era, let’s do this simply for old-time’s sake.
Last but not least, to our current staff, HCOM, and leadership: this is your time to shine, to write your name into the history books of the army you love and tirelessly work so hard for. Defend Freedom and Preserve Justice against those who take it away.

Let’s fight together because we are or were once part of one of the most legendary armies of all time.

Our journey begins on Sunday, at 3pm EST. Help us make history, and defeat an army that literally only exists to hate us.

As Shaboomboom once wrote during World War V:

Brave soldiers and allies of the Army of Club Penguin, this battle will be of Biblical proportions… We will be firing on all cylinders.

Let this tournament victory be spoken about for years to come. Let them all remember the day ACP stood up, not only to win but to defeat an army that has dragged our name through the mud.

discord.gg/armyofcp

“It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle; it takes a hero to be one of those men“

Daniel20448
ACP Field Marshal