Note- I was not at Nationals, just posting what I think are interesting ideas.
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The best thing to come out of the TPCI office this year was the idea of Extra Swiss Rounds w/ Smaller Top Cut. This first suggestion applies to all events, not just Nationals
Lowering the bar with regards to qualifying for Extra Swiss Rounds is a good idea for all events Cities and Higher.
My Suggestion-
http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/acaspanello/media/opinion_zps18d306d5.jpg.html
I had the chance to staff two regionals this season that had extra Swiss rounds. 9 Rounds + 5 Rounds + T8 is very doable in a 2 day time frame, both events were over by 7pm Sunday, anything less as suggested on the chart above is equally possible. At US Nationals, going 6-2 in Juniors and missing T8 is rough. Let the kids have extra swiss rounds at US Nationals as well as other tournaments leading up to and including Worlds. Also, if possible Make future Worlds 3 Days instead of the current 2 to allow for extra Swiss Rounds at Worlds. LCQ on Thursday, Worlds Friday-Sunday.
Something else to consider, instead of 9 Rounds Day 1 for events with 227+, cut 1 round to make Day 1 shorter. This will cause more X-2s to exist, meaning that more players will have the opportunity to have a good run during extra Swiss round and the dream of making Top 8 is still alive. With more X-2s, there will be a defined bar to make Day 2. The likelihood of there being 32+ X-2s is way higher. X-3s, X-2-1s, etc... won't make/miss day 2 on tie breakers.
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In regards to CPC side events... this is a re-post from the side events thread-
First off, despite all of the clamoring that 500 points was "too much" we already have 155 Masters qualified in North America and Europe combined. This certainly doesn't say to us that 500 points is too high a target, given that our general attendance goals sit between 128 and 150, approximately.
Our thought process has nothing to do with additional invitations, as these events do not grant invitations, they *potentially* award championship points. Someone has to first, finish in the points, next in a way that allows them to be awarded those points within the Regionals BFL. Could this push a few players into an invite? Sure. Can we manage the few additional invites on top of what's already been awarded? Sure.
This is about an ongoing effort to make the U.S. Nationals weekend about more than just the main event. Only a few select players can move on past the first portion of Swiss play, and that leaves a large number of players with free time on their hands. We'd like to give them the opportunity to play in events that matter to them.
We're offering a couple of events, for a $20 entry fee, that we feel provide value out to players who choose to participate. Remember, you can have zero points and enter this tournament, if you win, you get 150 points. That is not an invitation to worlds. In fact, you'll need to have 350 points already, and win this event, and not have had a number of better finishes at Regionals this year, in order to turn that 150 into an invitation.
Thanks,
Dave
Just posting to throw some ideas your way, since you are reading this thread.
Apply this philosophy to Regional Championships as well. Some PTOs had League Challenges on Friday Night and/or Sunday Afternoon at their events. To provide a variety of events though out the weekend, offer PTOs a chance to run a Championship Point Challenge at Regionals that awards City Championship Points and count towards the City Championship best finish limit. The opportunity to play in a League Challenge at a Regional may not cater to some players as they may come from an area with an abundance of League Challenges. City Championship type event would give players a chance to play in another event that matters to them.
For the same reasoning above, smaller Championship Point Challenges at Nationals that award City Championship Points gives players additional opportunities to play in events that matter to them, some players may not need Regionals Points due to BFLs, they might like the chance to pick up some City Championship Points. 32/64 Player Flights, 5/6 Rounds, seems very doable.
I haven't been to Worlds since 2011, so I don't know what the current side event line up looks like, but Championship Point Challenges (for Regionals or City Points) and League Challenges that count towards the upcoming season are events that players might appreciate, and at the same time makes Worlds about more then just the Main Event.
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Alot of complaints I read on Facebook is about 8-Mans having an entry fee and League not occurring.
I was never really a fan of League at Nationals or Worlds as a Player or a Staff Member.
As a Player, I take 15-20 Minutes to play 1 game then get in a 15-20 Minute Line to win a prize.
As a Judge, players found a way to work the system, they get in line, get a prize, get in the back of the line without playing a game, get a prize again and repeat. Players who just get in line without playing contribute to a longer prize line. One year at Worlds I was in Side Events at League. I saw alot of players come back through the line rather quickly. I asked my lead staff member of League if I can stand on a chair and watch for players working the system. Within seconds I saw a group of Japanese juniors go from prizes to end of line within minutes, I also saw one guy get a prize, walk across the room, hug one of his buddies and then get in line with his buddy. Dan happened to be in in sides at the time and he took care of the guys who decided to hug and get in line for prizes.
Anyways, League is still fun for players who do play by the rules. There needs to be some way League can come back and still be monitored for players working the system.
I have an idea, take 8-Mans and League and combine them into a 8 Man League Challenge type events. (No Championship Points)
Players sign up to participate in an 8 Man Pick Up.
Prizes payed out for individual 8 Mans T4- 4-2-1-1 (No Participation pack, because players are still playing for League Prizes)
As players play in 8 Mans they get participation points- 8 points for 1st, 5 for 2nd, 3 for T4, 2 points for losing in the first round.
Once players point total reaches a certain level they get a pokemon promotional item, for example-
15 Points- Set of Left over League Promos or what ever small item P!P gives out at National/World Leagues just to give away
25 Points- Pack of Play! Pokemon Sleeves
40 Points- Hat
60 Points- Another Set of Left over League Promos or what ever small item P!P gives out at National/World Leagues just to give away
80 Points- Binder
100 Points- Playmat
etc...
Combining League and 8 Mans like this gives players a chance to play in something more structured with the chance to win League Type Prizes and can be monitored by the judge overseeing that particular 8 Man. By providing this structure, players should come up to the prize/reporting table at a steady pace as they are forced to play a legit tournament game.
Regarding how to keep track of this point system, make a program that is designed to do this, Carlos Pero and Jeff Brower might be able to come up with something if you think this is a good idea and they are willing to pick up this task.
About the entry fee, alot of players felt that $5 per 8 Man was a turn off to them. I agree and disagree. Players can easily play in 5-10 8 Mans in a weekend, at $5 a tournament, this adds up.
However, the funding for the prizes need to come from somewhere. Since cash is involved, make it easy, what if you charge a flat rate for a weekend pass to participate in as many 8 Mans League Tournaments as possible. Charge players $20-$30, they get a wristband and then they can play in as many 8 Man League tournaments as they want and are able to throughout the rest of the weekend.
If P!P likes the idea of making a program for League/8 man pick up play and likes the idea of charging a flat rate for 8 man pick up tournaments....
this website has bar coded wristbands. Wristbands allow for easy control to figure out who payed to play in 8 mans and the barcode on the wrist band has the potential to be used in any program that is created for this type of side event.
