Large Scale Sponsored Unrated Events

[homeofmew]

Side thought, if you go to Anime conventions and various other places you may find events. I think at Sakura Con (Seattle,Washington's Anime Convention in the Spring) they even have an unlimited event (where's Poke No Baka?). However other anime Conventions may have Sanctioned Play like A-Kon (Dallas ,Texas/ Early June)

 

[Spotter]

However other anime Conventions may have Sanctioned Play like A-Kon (Dallas ,Texas/ Early June)

Or G-Kon in late September last year. However, keep in mind that organizers can't afford to put on events like this if people won't support them.

I attempted to run 6 events at G-Kon this past September. The best attended was the Battle Road (free), with 24 people. Next best was the Unlimited tournament (that's right, an UNLIMITED tournament) with 4. I had 2 sealed packs, one of which had to be cancelled (no participants), the other had 4. Two Modified tournaments, both of which were cancelled due to no participants.

With all of the prizes I had purchased beforehand, I ended up losing about $250 on the weekend. And that's not counting expenses (food, gas driving back and forth between home (E. Dallas) and Arlington (~40 miles one way), etc).

Admittedly, I still have most of the prizes, and will use them for other events, but it gets old having people complain about a lack of events, or begging me to hold Unlimited events, and then nobody showing up for them.

S.

 

[yoshi1001]

At an anime convention, I think you'd be better off holding more open and free events. People already have other events they're interested in and can't be bothered to block off hours for a tournament.

 

[hectagonman]

A Lafonte Open, open to all players 15+, was in works last year between Regionals and Nationals. There was a lot of effort put into the research to make the Lafonte Open happen, but for one reason or another, it did not go off. However, if there is enough interest from the entire community, we would be happy to put on a semi-large scale event! We had prizes, venues, etc. all picked out last season, so much of the planning has already happened. Again this would be an event open to ALL players, including the best in the world, and would include some decent prizes (some of our discussions included Nintendo Wii's, booster packs, gift certificates, etc.).

Just 15+. That's a bummer.

 

[JandPDS]

Sakura-Con/Ranking Points

Yes, Sakura-Con in Seattle will once again be having an unlimited Pokemon Tourney and a Sealed event at the Con.

I also miss the opportunity to play at multiple big events. I had a blast at the Sierra Nevada Regionals last year and was planning on going back again this year, until the one regionals limit was imposed. I will also miss being able to play Washington, Oregon States and British Columbia Provincials all in the same year, now I will have to skip either Oregon or BC.

This entire mess came from what I feel has been a mistake, making ranking points have actual meaning. I wish rating points and rankings would just go back to being for fun like they used to. Now that they mean something (invites to Worlds) it is causing all of these problems to surface where there did not used to be any. When points were just for fun and did not mean anything it was no big deal if one person had access to 4 States while another just had access to one or two of them. It was no big deal if one city had enough players for a top 16 cut while another city just had enough for a top 2 cut. Players did not drop out after the final Swiss round and skip the top cut because they did not want to risk loosing 8 points. It was no big deal if you got paired outside of your age group in an event.

All of these issues appeared because of ranking points having an actual impact on Who gets to play in Worlds and who does not. I would really like to see things go back to how it used to be when worlds invites were given out at major Tournaments and not on how well a player was able to game the system by selectively playing and dropping out of events throughout the year.

There is no need to bring back Gym Challenges, I think the best way would be to put all of a particular county's invites be given out at the National Championships. Get rid of Rankings invites and distribute them among the countries in the Region. So lets say the US Nationals has invites with trips to the top 4 in each age group and invites to the 5-32 place players. Maybe Canada Nationals would give invites and trips to the top 2 in each age group and invites to the 3-8 players. And Mexico could get invites and trips to the top 2 in each age group and invites to 3-16.


That way Citys could go back to having top 8's and 16's and States could go back to having top 16's and it would not matter if someone played in 3 states and 2 Regionals in the same year. Pokemon could go back to having a more fun atmosphere and not be as cut throat as it is today. People are dropping when they win, and dropping when they loose.. that is not what Pokemon should be about it should be about having fun and actually playing the game. If people are being encouraged by the system "NOT" to play then the system is counterproductive to how is should be. People should be encouraged to "Play" as much as possible. Dropping the fact that ranking points mean something would help bring that back.
I hope that next year ranking points go back to just being there for fun and not become the be all and end all of a persons Pokemon experience.

 

[Mew*]

I really wish there were some good large scale unofficial tournaments. I don't get proper practice at league. I just get to battle a bunch of kids, and some adults with dated archetypes or random rogue decks. It would be nice to get some real practice without the consequences of messing up at a official tournament. I don't see how most people wouldn't be willing to spend a few dollars to play. I mean, they are already serious enough to invest their entire day into the event, as well as the drive down.

 

[SHPanda]

Large scale events would be amazing and with the proper support it would draw in alot of people. A 5 dollar entry fee would go very long way if enough people showed up.

 

[homeofmew]

Or G-Kon in late September last year.....
S.

I can name a lot of cons (like Atsui Con, Sakura Con, Oni-Con ect..) that do unsanctioned play I only gave the example of Sakura Con since it's like the only place thats get turn out for unlimited. I am also sure there are other places that have Sanctioned play (not sure where) *only knows about she got 2nd in a MTG Lorwyn Draft that was DCI Sanctioned at Oni-Con*

I believe at A-kon 17 MP Birch had a booster DRAFT the night before Gym Challenge. (or was it Sealed/ not sure)

At A-Kon 18 there were some people with theme decks/ people got them from the dealers room. I almost lost to the Empoleon one.
BTW Spotter I still have that picture of you being weird from A-Kon 18.

Yes, Sakura-Con in Seattle will once again be having an unlimited Pokemon Tourney and a Sealed event at the Con.

Thanks for clearing this up. I am tempted to go to Sakura Con one year just to play unlimited/ (and for the con of course)

 

[drmario]

this is what league and local tournaments are for. sorry if those aren't 'enough' to fuel your competitive fire.

shouldn't the reduction in K-value this year for cities and BRs have done just this, reduce the 'competitveness' factor and get the players to relax a bit? and if not, just what is POP supposed to do to MAKE them do so?

seriously: where is the budget for such a series of events supposed to come from? because of course these should be FREE, just like every other event, no?

and who's supposed to run these, if PTOs/TOs are *already* running prereleases 4x/year, fall BRs, cities, states, spring BRs, regionals, staffing nationals and worlds, and so on?

i realize to a lot of players, pokemon = life. but unfortunately though it IS a big part of life to those of us who put on the events, we DO have lives outside the game. everyone wants to _play_, but putting on the events/giving back instead of taking is all too often another story entirely, and asking for more more MORE makes me, for one *facepalm*

jmho.
'mom

Nowhere in Shaw's post did I see him say that he would expect prizes for these. So how much money is this going to cost PUI. Wait, I know! You will be charged to use the building. Wrong. You can almost certainly find a place to hold an event for free. Many game stores will hold it because it brings in business. And many libraries and other public buildings that can hold said events will allow them to be held there. ( I was going to look up my libraries policy on their meeting room, but there is currently a problem with their website.) So please enough about being charged for the venue as an expense. Perhaps in California places charge for usage, however there are many places on the east coast that do not. And if a free place cannot be found then the event would simply not be held. After all we are talking about non-premier rated events.

I understand in theory League is supposed to fill these voids, but League lacks a system of organization, a source of sought after prizes, and the aura of competition which so many Pokemon players relish.

He did not say that a league is not "enough", a league does not really have any competition to it and they are rarely as large as a big tournament. Plus the situation I am in is that all of the MD players already have a league (they are both over an hour away) and if I tried to start one no one would show up. There was a league once that ran for over 6 months but no one actually came to it.
And finally having a few more tournaments does not mean pokemon is your entire life. In MD the last tournament was a CC on december 16th. The next one is MD states on march 1st. That is a long time between tournaments.

Back to back posts merged. The following information has been added:

Whoa, I am not disagreeing with the pay for events....

I am the one who ran the $200 cash event for years in the St. Louis area...a PRIVATE event where we gave 90% of the prize pool back as cash (10% to the store) and a guaranteed $200 to the top place finisher. It was not an event for the feint of heart, $20 enry fee, NO AGE RESTRICTIONS, and NOT age-modified swiss. Johnny 9 year old could get paired with Jimmy or Chuck! Great events! Had a 7 year old take home $70 for 4th place!!!

We run, at league, $5 per week in 13 week events, that pay off, heck, my son finished 2nd and took home $90! 1st place took home $180!

I have NO trouble with pay to play, and think more Pokemon should be pay to play.

Too many pokemon players, that are used to free, think they are entitled to free!

Matt, ditch your prizes, CASH is the only way to do an event of that scale. Trust me.

Vince

I started a thread that had why pokemon is not "free" Please remember that everyone is not made of money, and that after buying all of the cards for their decks they might not have $20 to burn for a tournament entry fee. It pays off if you win, but what about all the people who didn't win?

 

[David's Confused Pokedad]

I think the main point of his topic was that he lives for 8 rounds and top 16 cut. He won't have that opportunity to get as much as he is use to. Now he is going thur pokemon withdrawal and will need lots of rehab. Can you hit any in Canada? If not lets go hit up Mexico.

 

[SD PokeMom]

again, what's stopping (general...) you from putting on your own tourney locally, if there aren't enough, often enough for you? isn't that why there are local TOs? one only has to be 18 to become a TO, and not even be a professor...

sure the event wouldn't be handed to you on a plate, as *someone* would have to make the effort *and* sit it out to act as TO, find a suitable venue, arrange for prizes/entry fees, advertise, line up a judge staff, run the event, etc. etc.

why is OP only considered to be POP-sponsored events that you just show up to, in this thread? there *is* a way to put on local events...after all, if POP didn't want locally-run events, there'd be no local TOs, only PTOs for the large tourneys. 'local event' does not necessarily mean 8-person pickup tourney; see vince's posts above regarding 'local' tourneys. it can be as big as you're willing to work to make it...

it's EASY to say 'i want more events to play in'. the fact is, SOMEONE has to do the prep work to make it happen. are the people saying they want more tourneys going to do so, or are you (general 'you') just saying 'gimmee' and waiting for more events to be handed to you?

jmho.
'mom

 

[drmario]

The point is it would make is seem more "official". Which would add to the whole thing. Plus it is hard to get 40-70 people going to an unsanctioned local tournament.

 

[rhodesia123]

i like how pui limited states to 2 and regionals to 1. i wish they would do the same with cities and BRs, maybe 4 of each of those. its really difficult keeping up with the people that rack up points by driving everywhere or just lucky enough to live 10 minutes from a premier tourney

 

[hectagonman]

If they had more states/regionals that would make the running for the invite that much harder. I completely disagree with that statement. 1 Regionals day and 2 States days are enough to either make or break you. JMO though.

 

[drmario]

i like how pui limited states to 2 and regionals to 1. i wish they would do the same with cities and BRs, maybe 4 of each of those. its really difficult keeping up with the people that rack up points by driving everywhere or just lucky enough to live 10 minutes from a premier tourney

These would be non-premeir rated. Meaning that you can not go to them and you will not fall behind the competition in premier rating.

 

[ryanvergel]

I think this is a GREAT idea. So much so that me and a few of Team R want to organize a cash event around regionals time. It would give players who rarely see each other (people drive long distances to regionals) another change to hang out in a tournament environment. Plus a new playing structure might be tried.

POP may only have specific cuts/times/etc, but if you run a large, cash tournament or something you could organize it any way you want it.

We can finally have best 2/3 for swiss. Or 3-turn extensions after time is called. Think of how much more legit the tourney could be!

 

[Rambo1000]

lol sd pokemom is sooooo mad about this idea for NO REASON

 

[aade8]

SD mom is right, there is nothing stopping local TOs from putting on tournaments.

What IS the problem is that people are drawn to OFFICIAL PUI-sponsored events because they know what to expect, they know what format they're getting into, and know in that there should be some degree of PUI inspired professionalism. Non-PUI sponsored events do not hold the same attraction, believe me.

If PUI is at all interested in this, but feel that PTOs already have enough on their hands, maybe they should ask for more help (WITHOUT COMPENSATION!!!). I would be first in line, and I can promise that others will follow.

 

[ShawofMordor]

again, what's stopping (general...) you from putting on your own tourney locally, if there aren't enough, often enough for you? isn't that why there are local TOs? one only has to be 18 to become a TO, and not even be a professor...

sure the event wouldn't be handed to you on a plate, as *someone* would have to make the effort *and* sit it out to act as TO, find a suitable venue, arrange for prizes/entry fees, advertise, line up a judge staff, run the event, etc. etc.

why is OP only considered to be POP-sponsored events that you just show up to, in this thread? there *is* a way to put on local events...after all, if POP didn't want locally-run events, there'd be no local TOs, only PTOs for the large tourneys. 'local event' does not necessarily mean 8-person pickup tourney; see vince's posts above regarding 'local' tourneys. it can be as big as you're willing to work to make it...

it's EASY to say 'i want more events to play in'. the fact is, SOMEONE has to do the prep work to make it happen. are the people saying they want more tourneys going to do so, or are you (general 'you') just saying 'gimmee' and waiting for more events to be handed to you?

jmho.
'mom

As a point of clarification - we do run unofficial tournaments in my area - with entry fees and prizes. They draw local players that come to league and their friends - they don't draw out of area players or even players that go to other leageus - because they don't really hear about them.

Parents and players go to the op website to find events. They search for Pokemon, OP comes up. We don't need a PTO for these, we run them without them.

I think the main reason I'd like PUI sponsorship is to get more advertising for the events so people from out of the area come. If I advertise it, people will be like "eh just some random event, could be fun, but could be a bust." If it is a PUI sponsored event it seems a lot more likely to be well run and have lots of participants. The benefits of PUI sponsorship don't have to be material - they can be in the perception of the people thinking about the event. Its not all about money and prizes, its good marketing.

 

[ShawofMordor]

lol sd pokemom is sooooo mad about this idea for NO REASON

I believe her very vaild reason is that she thinks we just want everything to be taken care of for us, we want PUI to pull money out of their butts and have overworked PTOs do even more for us.

But my suggestion is not asking for that - maybe I am an idealist - or maybe Mom is a bit jaded - but I think that the players would desire this enough to help do it themselves and it wouldn't turn into some horrible "PTOs help do this for us!" event.

Edit: WHOA I CAN BACK TO BACK POST!

Edit2: YEAH, I really like ryanvergel's idea. I might start working on planning something for this.