Why not have grinders in the US?

[bulbasnore]

I get the impression the LCQ is not a pure effort to 'give everyone a last chance'.

I think a big purpose is that it gives visitors from around the world who accompanied their player to worlds a chance to play and join them in the competition -- that is, its for the attendees. Therefore, I don't think they'd hold it elsewhere.

 

[pokedad1]

maybe you didn't understand, but the LCQ is not the way to fill spots. Any open spots should be given to deserving players, not relatives of players paid to attend or those from around the world who can afford it. What about the kid who has 56 points instead of 57 ... why should he have to pay 2000 and prequalify when he probably did enough already.

A new system is needed. All state winners should get an invite. All regional winners should get one. Maybe top 2 regionals. Maybe only top 4 nats. Maybe expand the tournament and give invites to more deserving players. To say a faulty system cannot be improved or made better makes you look like the beneficiary of this broken system and proponent of the status quo.

 

[Mystery Thing]

maybe you didn't understand, but the LCQ is not the way to fill spots. Any open spots should be given to deserving players, not relatives of players paid to attend or those from around the world who can afford it. What about the kid who has 56 points instead of 57 ... why should he have to pay 2000 and prequalify when he probably did enough already.

A new system is needed. All state winners should get an invite. All regional winners should get one. Maybe top 2 regionals. Maybe only top 4 nats. Maybe expand the tournament and give invites to more deserving players. To say a faulty system cannot be improved or made better makes you look like the beneficiary of this broken system and proponent of the status quo.

That would only work if Worlds was routinely held all over the place in different countries and every country had the exact same SPT/Regional/Nats system. Which, aside from the North American countries, NONE do.

Under your model, there would be the potential for, pre-LCQ, over 50 Americans alone at the tournament. Then it isn't Worlds anymore, it's US Nationals v. 2.0 with a handful of international players sprinkled in for good measure.


And what's to say that somebody who can survive 7+ rounds (depending on location) of single elimination, top cut style, against people from all over the world are NOT deserving? I certainly think that that's a pretty solid qualification method. Heck, one could make an argument that in its current form, the LCQ is actually a harder tournament than US Nationals. At US Nats, you can survive an early loss no problem. At the LCQ, one bad deck matchup, and your day is over.

 

[baby mario]

maybe you didn't understand, but the LCQ is not the way to fill spots.

Maybe you don't understand. You don't seem to be taking on board any of the points that have been made repeatedly.

Any open spots should be given to deserving players, not relatives of players paid to attend or those from around the world who can afford it. What about the kid who has 56 points instead of 57 ...

Who decides who is deserving?

Anyone who gets through the LCQ can be seen as deserving. It's called 'the grinder' for a reason. it is one of the toughest tournaments of the year. Just ask those who have made it through.

why should he have to pay 2000 and prequalify when he probably did enough already.

1. For about the 4th time . . . he will still have to pay the $2000 because LCQ wins don't come with trips. The ONLY way to avoid paying the $2000 is to qualify through Nats or finish in the top 4 at Worlds the previous year. Please stop ignoring this crucial point.

2. He didn't 'do enough already'. If he had done enough, he would have qualified.

A new system is needed. All state winners should get an invite. All regional winners should get one. Maybe top 2 regionals. Maybe only top 4 nats. Maybe expand the tournament and give invites to more deserving players.

As others have pointed out, Worlds is supposed to be exclusive. Pokemon doesn't want a massive tournament involving winners of every State Championship.

To say a faulty system cannot be improved or made better makes you look like the beneficiary of this broken system and proponent of the status quo.

Of course it can be improved, but none of your suggestions to improve it are the least bit practical or appealing. This is probably because your definition of a 'better' system is 'one that gets my son into Worlds'.

 

[pokedad1]

it would be completely different paying 2000 knowing you have an invite and not have to prequalify all over again when you already have.

 

[dialga master]

The question is, would you take him if he had invite? I know some people who got invite and can't go due to the $$$ required to go to hawaii. (Me included)
I do see where you are coming form, however. Having the possibility of not making it into the actual tournament and going there seems risky, and not that appealing/user friendly.

 

[cabd]

I live in the middle of California. Last year, Worlds was in California. I don't make much money, so the cost of a hotel for the weekend plus the travel cost was probably proportionate. I got donked out of the grinders almost immediately (round one, vs. ZPST)

It was still one of the most fun weekends in my life. I regret nothing. Even just the open league session made the trip worthwhile, and playing the other side events made it even better.

Don't let participation in the main events influence your decision. The side events are totally a blast too.

Not to mention getting to meet so many people from all over the world.

 

[pokedad1]

I would borrow or try to find a way, but to spend that and fail to prequalify would not be worth it.

Here is an example why the current system is broke.

You could win a cities, a states, a regionals and top cut at nationals but fail to qualify. Something is not right about that.

 

[dialga master]

The way the system is promotes players who do well at multiple events, not ones who win a few medium sized ones. Unfortunately, that means the ones who can't attend a high number of events don't have the advantage that the others who can have. No system is perfect, and that is one big flaw in the current one.

 

[cabd]

I would borrow or try to find a way, but to spend that and fail to prequalify would not be worth it.

Here is an example why the current system is broke.

You could win a cities, a states, a regionals and top cut at nationals but fail to qualify. Something is not right about that.

The qualifying line is a sliding one. So sure, that doesn't qualify you, but only because X number of people did all that and more. Do you show up to the track, achieve a personal best time, and get an instantinvite to the Olympic team? Of course not. You have to preform at an amazing level across all sorts of events, at the very least, more events than the other people who want the same slot you do.

Or, put another way.

I am a hiring manager for Cabd's Computer Repair Shop.

I have two resumes in front of me.

Both list C++ experience, CCNA certs, diplomas from the same university, etc. Except one of them has gone above and beyond, also getting two or three more industry certs.

You're trying to tell me that as owner of Cabd's Shop (TCPI) I should work to my own economic disadvantage and hire both. But then Guy C walks up. And he has everything that the second place guy had except he doesn't know C++. Now he argues I should hire all three of them.


See where this is going? The line has to be drawn somewhere. You fell on the other side of it. Crap happens.

 

[psychup2034]

All state winners should get an invite. All regional winners should get one. Maybe top 2 regionals.

I won New Hampshire States in Masters this year. I also got 2nd at Fall New England Regionals. I did not deserve a Worlds invite for either one of those relatively unremarkable accomplishments. (And I'm talking about Masters here.)

 

[pokedad1]

the people who have the time and money have the advantage, even though you may have won and placed ahead of all of them at major events ... not right ...

also, it depends what area you live in. These multi tournament weeks in florida chicago and some other cities gives those players more point opportunities and an unfair advantage over those in areas with less tournaments. If you are going to allow 10 battle roads in one town in one week, you better offer them to everyone, not just those few big cities in california, chicago, florida. That is an unfair advantage to players in those areas.

 

[psychup2034]

You could win a cities, a states, a regionals and top cut at nationals but fail to qualify. Something is not right about that.

You could also play a full season, perform consistently at a wide variety of tournaments (10+), and get an invite. Winning 3 events a year in the U.S. is rather mundane.

 

[dialga master]

The thing is, P!P isn't 'allowing' those tournaments, the local TO's are organizing them. (Which is a lot of work)

And to your first comment, that is somewhat the truth, although you need to be good to actually win the extra tournaments, so its not like anyone with money has a guaranteed worlds invite.

 

[pokedad1]

winning three major events in a season is a lot more than winning 20 battle roads, especially when a lot less people are playing at them espcially in juniors and seniors. Winning states cities and regionals and then top cutting nats is mundane? You have got to be joking ...

 

[LOLZ]

maybe you didn't understand, but the LCQ is not the way to fill spots. Any open spots should be given to deserving players, not relatives of players paid to attend or those from around the world who can afford it. What about the kid who has 56 points instead of 57 ... why should he have to pay 2000 and prequalify when he probably did enough already.

56 CP =/= in the Top 40, he came close but did not do good enough, there has to be a cut off point, and 57/56 is this point. If he is so deserving, why not just go play in LCQ. All of the other "better" players already qualified so it should be no problem for him to snag an invite from the LCQ because he is so deserving. Sorry for being so harsh but that is the reality of it, there are so many seats, someone has to wiff and not get a seat.

So P!P has all of these seats awarded (except for 4 guaranteed spots per division for the LCQ). Players only have 1-2 months to make arrangements to attend, some people for various reasons may not make it. P!P with X amount of extra seats on their hands could choose not to award these seats to others, but they choose to do the LCQ instead. P!P will not know how many extra seats to award until players check in/fail to check in on Friday night. That is why it is unfeasible to have the LCQ in advance at some other location, P!P will not know how many invites they can award.

Lets just say for some strange reason a post-nats/pre-worlds LCQ is held at a location to award invites, what happens if Timmy, Johnny and Billy (who all live within a days drive of LCQ) win an invite but can't even attend Worlds because it is too far away... it kind of defeats the purpose of the LCQ.

A new system is needed. All state winners should get an invite. All regional winners should get one. Maybe top 2 regionals. Maybe only top 4 nats. Maybe expand the tournament and give invites to more deserving players. To say a faulty system cannot be improved or made better makes you look like the beneficiary of this broken system and proponent of the status quo.

That type of system awards players who happen to show up and win "ONE" tournament. The current system awards players for consistently do well. Under your suggested system, imagine a kid is one placing away from an invite at every single tournament he attends, while every single one of his opponents at the top tables has a mediocre season all year long save for that ONE win. Who is more deserving of a worlds invite: The kid who won ONE tournament or the kid who did consistently well all season long? Who is even qualified to answer that question.

Your system also brings up the issue of different sized events at the S/P/T and Regional level that has been a matter of public scrutiny in out community for years. Is it fair to award a player something so prestigious (a worlds invite) for winning an X sized tournament in California/Texas/Florida while awarding the same prize for winning a Y sized tournament in The New England States/Hawaii? X is considerately bigger then Y in this scenario.

pokedad1, let me ask you this- Keeping all of these issues in mind, Would you prefer a system that awards consistency or a system that awards a player for winning "ONE" tournament.

Here is an example why the current system is broke.

You could win a cities, a states, a regionals and top cut at nationals but fail to qualify. Something is not right about that.

Ok, in that scenario what about the dozens players who attend and win more then one Battle Road/City, top cut and a good chunk more, win a states, top cut at 2 more states and top cut 2 regional and goes farther in Top Cut at nats. Consistency > Wins

 

[dialga master]

It is mundane if those are the only tournaments you got CP from. (Not so if those are the only ones you went to)
Ugh ninja post. ^ He's saying some good stuff, tho

 

[baby mario]

the people who have the time and money have the advantage, even though you may have won and placed ahead of all of them at major events ... not right ...

Of course money gives you an advantage. That's what happens when you play a commercially produced TCG.

There are many people playing this game who can't afford to attend as many tournaments as you did.

There are many people who can only afford sub-par decks, or cannot even afford to play at all.

Should TPCI give them all free cards and transport? After all, some of them might be better players and more 'deserving' of a chance.

 

[psychup2034]

the people who have the time and money have the advantage, even though you may have won and placed ahead of all of them at major events ... not right ...

I find this statement quite ridiculous. I'm a recent college graduate who just paid off his student loans. I routinely work upwards of 70 hours a week, yet I still find time to play Pokemon because I love the game. If making Worlds is important enough to your son (and you share his dedication), you'll find the time to attend enough tournaments to give him a chance to make it.

Sometimes, I have to get up at 4 am on a Saturday morning to drive to a tournament. For me, it's worth it. I think the current Championship Point system strikes a fine balance between rewarding players for dedication and skill.

also, it depends what area you live in. These multi tournament weeks in florida chicago and some other cities gives those players more point opportunities and an unfair advantage over those in areas with less tournaments.

For some reference, I didn't play in a single Cities marathon this year. I left for vacation on December 14th and returned to the U.S. on January 17th. Despite not playing in a single marathon, I was still fortunate enough to secure an invite.

 

[evil psyduck]

it would be completely different paying 2000 knowing you have an invite and not have to prequalify all over again when you already have.

Wait a minute. If your son has already qualified for world's wouldn't he have an invite? Or is it just your opinion that he did enough to qualify?