From following the forum, listening to podcasts (both Zion’s Finest and Twin Troopers are doing great work for the community!), loosely following the Slack channel, etc., I am getting the sense that the IA competitive play tournament hierarchy is something like the following:

1. Worlds

2. Regionals

3. Store Championships

4. Other store tournaments

and the weird part is that North American Championships (Gencon) and US Nationals (NOVA) are not really addressed all that much. I would expect them to slot in below Worlds and above Regionals, but there just doesn’t seem to be as much chatter about them and Regionals almost seem more important. Am I the only one perceiving this? If not, why the distinction?

I've heard a lot of talk about Gencon to be honest. I definitely have not heard much about US Nationals, but maybe that will fire up once Gencon is over?

Right now Gencon has 55 players signed up for IA, which to me is pretty good.

Yeah, they are slotted above Regionals, but way fewer people get to attend NOVA and Gen Con, so you’ll hear less chatter, and they aren’t the ultimate meta-defining event that is Worlds, for which people fly in from other continents, which is why Worlds gets more attention despite fewer attendees. Regionals are happening all throughout a season, all over the World, so more people will chime in. The same for store champs, though that’s taken less seriously.

But I’m going to Gen Con and I’m pumped! ?

-ryanjamal

Like Ryan said, Nationals get less chatter because only a small fraction of the community gets to attend and doesn't have the same level of prestige as worlds that makes people pay attention and gets people to buy those plane tickets. But Nationals are a very important data point for those of us who like to analyze the meta.