Jason Klaczynski pushes for 90 Minutes

[bullados]

I'm again going to echo Pop's points. Getting venues with extended hours on a weekend is fairly cost-prohibitive. Libraries, in general, do NOT allow TOs to go over time. Most card stores have either space or time limitations. For lower level events such as BRs and Cities, it is not feasible to promise longer top cuts when the TO doesn't know the scale of the event.

As I said before, my FREE venues had 8 and 9 hours, respectively, to run my events. 6 rounds, top 8 take a MINIMUM of 6 hours to complete, and that's ASSUMING that everything runs perfectly, that there are no overruns, that the computer doesn't do anything crazy, etc, etc. A more realistic event time allowance for 6/8 would be 40 minutes for Swiss and 70 minutes for the Top Cut. That's SEVEN AND A HALF HOURS of tournament time. That's not including lunch. That's not including registration time. That's JUST the tournament time. Add on another hour for registration, half hour for lunch, and I'm pushing up against my LONGEST time crunch. I already cut lunch from my tournament schedules because of the time crunch. I instead opted for bringing in lunch for my players AT MY OWN EXPENSE so that we could keep the tournament going.

If I wanted to run longer events? $30/hour, all paid in advance. And most of those spaces generally weren't large enough for the events I was planning. As far as the gaming stores in the area? One was too small and didn't want us, and the other was a health hazard. So you're asking me to spend $300 for the VENUE ALONE when I could have an adequate venue for FREE by cutting a bit of time out of the Top Cut.

If anything longer than 60 minutes were mandated, then my area would have had to cut rounds. And which would you rather have? Longer rounds? Or MORE rounds? I think the answer is obvious.

As far as State Championships, far too many of those end far too late for my taste anyway. When a well-run tournament is ending at 10pm or later, that's simply excessive. To add another 2 hours onto that time is insane. And mandating 2 days for States is also ludicrous. The vast majority of them do not require 2 days. In fact, I think there are only 2 or 3 that might need 2 days. And even then, I don't think I would go that long if I were those PTOs.

As far as events that are already going extra days, such as Regionals or Nationals, I would LOVE to see those go to 75 or 90 minute Top Cut rounds. The time is available, generally, for those events. But those timings are down to TPCi (for Nationals), and to the PTOs (for Regionals). And I'm not going to criticize those guys, either of them, because I know how much work and how much thought they all put into every event they put on.

 

[Politoed666]

Strange, I don't recall seeing any posts from the OP guys in this thread...

Would it kill you to not be so freaking cynical? :nonono:

1. Shouldn't have said OP guys, that is confusing. I meant TOs. Not all, but most.
2. Yes. I'm a big jerk.

 

[Regis_Neo]

I think at the Regionals, Nats, and World levels, exceptions for longer top cuts should be made. Cities and States is kinda eh, maybe States if you can swing the time for them, but Cities is kinda the lesser in importance overall I would think.

 

[Cyrus]

Bullados, do you have to end the event by the time the venue closes? The "vacate to a fast food restaurant" tactic seems to be pretty common, so if this policy were ever enacted, it's not like you couldn't use the library still.

 

[Mystery Thing]

Bullados, do you have to end the event by the time the venue closes? The "vacate to a fast food restaurant" tactic seems to be pretty common, so if this policy were ever enacted, it's not like you couldn't use the library still.

A last gasp, do-it-if-we-have-to measure should never have to be considered a "normal option" just because a few TOs have been forced into a corner to the point where it has had to be done.

 

[PokePop]

No one likes hiking off to a fast food restaurant for the final rounds. In addition to the time of the final round(s), it also adds a lot of time to get everyone over there and ready to play. Not to mention now dealing with a whole new "venue" that wasn't expecting a bunch of people not buying much of their food.
I always make sure to buy a round of food for the players, but for a Battle Road, the compensation is next to nonexistent as it is.

 

[bullados]

Bullados, do you have to end the event by the time the venue closes? The "vacate to a fast food restaurant" tactic seems to be pretty common, so if this policy were ever enacted, it's not like you couldn't use the library still.

I did that once. It was an unqualified disaster. Out of the 3 venues I had available to me, only one was anywhere reasonably close to a fast food joint (a DD/BR combo a quarter mile away). That was the only tournament I ever ran in the red, and I had problems both with my original venue and with the DD/BR. Basically, I overstuffed the library, and then got the DD/BR angry at me for loitering. The other two venues that I had... One was a library in the middle of an abandoned air force base, the closest alternative was about 1.5 miles away. The other was a library in the middle of a hipster neighborhood. No fast food. No inexpensive food. 1.5 miles from the nearest inexpensive table space. Basically, for 2 out of my 3 potential locations, I had to run exactly on time. And the third one was constantly booked, it was only by a wing and a prayer that I ever got that one.

It angers the players. It angers the parents. It angers the Judges. And it angers me.

Tournaments are supposed to start and end in the same place. Nobody's satisfied when a tournament has to move. Especially the Seniors, who for a while were my consistently largest age group.

If another TO is comfortable moving their events for the final rounds, more power to them. I was not. I am not. I don't like doing it. There's just too much potential for bad feelings when that happens. Moreso than simply running 60 minute rounds.

 

[JandPDS]

As a player I understand the want for longer top cuts, as a TO I understand the need not to have them.

Best 2 our of 3 one hour has been the standard in play for so long I do not see it changing any time soon,
What is really scary is though that Top cuts themselves may be dissapearing. IF they are happy with how no top cuts in BR work who is to say it wont move to other events liek Cities not having top cuts.

The top cut is where skill overtakes luck. You can get good match up and get your way into a top cut, but you really have to derserve it to move on in a Top Cut. So this debate will be mute if Top Cuts are no more.

 

[Mystery Thing]

As a player I understand the want for longer top cuts, as a TO I understand the need not to have them.

Best 2 our of 3 one hour has been the standard in play for so long I do not see it changing any time soon,
What is really scary is though that Top cuts themselves may be dissapearing. IF they are happy with how no top cuts in BR work who is to say it wont move to other events liek Cities not having top cuts.

The top cut is where skill overtakes luck. You can get good match up and get your way into a top cut, but you really have to derserve it to move on in a Top Cut. So this debate will be mute if Top Cuts are no more.

You're just fear-mongering now. Cuts for anything larger than BRs aren't going anywhere. I would put money down on that.

 

[yoshi1001]

To be honest, the best idea might be to make the games shorter by changing to a four-prize structure with a 40-card deck and a limit of 3 (maybe still 4) per card. It would probably be better to do that at a generational change, however.

 

[JandPDS]

You're just fear-mongering now. Cuts for anything larger than BRs aren't going anywhere. I would put money down on that.

Am I? Who before last week ever would have imagined that there would be no Top Cuts for Battle Roads this year, if anything people were prposing that the Top Cut might me expande from 4 to 8 not decresed from 4 to 0. I am not saying that there will be no Top Cuts for Citites this year, but if they like whaterver it is that they are looking for who is to say that next year the No Top Cut Tourement structure wont be expanded.

Part of the problem is no one knows why this has happened? We know Top Cuts are gone but do not know the reason for this. As allways changes happen with no explanation to the player base, So how can you say with any cetainty that only Battle Roads will be the only Tourneys to not have Top Cuts decide who wins the event?

 

[bulbasnore]

Guys, I love TopCut, but don't lead your thread post with a link to an opinion piece that someone reading here has to go to another site to read to discuss here. Its one thing when its news content with pics we're not going to hork off another site. Its different when the article referenced by the OP is from a member who has an account on this site. Make the argument yourself or let the member post his or her own thread.

There's already some good discussion here so carry on, but don't leave the explanation in your lead post to a link to an opinion post on another site (link removed; OP & Ness will receive a PM inviting them to edit the argument into lead post or submit a front page article.).

 

[Ness]

Darn it Ness, and OP, you are actually getting me to listen.

Check my posts. I have been staunchly against the increase in time for he cuts.

You may see 75 minutes experimented with at my Cities. I want to see the effect before going "all-in" at the Regionals or States level.

I've always considered you one of the best judges in the game. Your open-mindedness to at least try the idea says a lot of your character, too. I thank you and I'm sure others will too for giving your players this opportunity. I hope others will follow in your footsteps. I mean it, Vince!

 

[Diaz]

Guys, I love TopCut, but don't lead your thread post with a link to an opinion piece that someone reading here has to go to another site to read to discuss here. Its one thing when its news content with pics we're not going to hork off another site. Its different when the article referenced by the OP is from a member who has an account on this site. Make the argument yourself or let the member post his or her own thread.

There's already some good discussion here so carry on, but don't leave the explanation in your lead post to a link to an opinion post on another site (link removed; OP & Ness will receive a PM inviting them to edit the argument into lead post or submit a front page article.).

I think continuing the thread without giving people a look at the original article is pretty pointless. That is what we're discussing. Might as well lock the thread.

edit:
A possible solution: Link to the article is in my sig. I suggest others put the link in their sig as well.

 

[PokePop]

I think continuing the thread without giving people a look at the original article is pretty pointless. That is what we're discussing. Might as well lock the thread.

edit:
A possible solution: Link to the article is in my sig. I suggest others put the link in their sig as well.

'snore outlines the solution.

 

[Otaku]

This turned into a massive post, but that's because I've got three ideas, that originally were going to be jokes until I realized, they might actually work!

Option 1
You know, given threads where players were happy to pony up money for Prize support, I must wonder if the solution is as simple as player fees. This will sound a little odd, perhaps, and will not work in every instance.

Entry fees are pretty scary, and just like the people pushing for "entry-fees-for-Prize-Support" this is should really at least try to exclude the lowest age bracket. Seniors might also be excluded, depending on what group is really making the tournament take this long. Like I said, this may not be the answer for everyone or indeed most, but those same people clamoring for more Prize support should consider this.

Prize support will only benefit you if you perform well (unless you were going for something really extreme where like everyone gets a "participation" pack minimum). Paying an entry fee so you can have a better venue helps you whether you come in first place or last place. Plus, nothing says the ideas have to be mutually exclusive; an entry fee can go towards both tournament expenses and better Prize support.

Option 2
A much odder plan would be a "finals fee". That may sound harsh, but for those who demand they be given adequate time to play out finals, the finals are basically why the venue needs to be rented that last hour (less Prizes/tournament wrap-up). Own it. All the usual arguments about "the moment" apply, and by paying the fee then, it really is the people benefiting most from the event footing the expense.

I know that option sounds pretty bizarre, almost like blackmail. It would add some painful bookkeeping, but perhaps a "deposit" system would be best. So no one thinks they are getting scammed, everyone makes a deposit and if you fail to make the finals, you get it back. Weird though it sounds, the people directly benefiting from more time for top cuts are bearing the cost.

If we make TPCi pick up the bill (yeah right) by having them compensate TOs enough that they can afford nice venues, it will fail. First not everyone needs the same budget, but how do you allocate fairly? Second, that would ultimately spread the cost to everyone who is a part of the game, because the price of products would go up to cover it, because you know, that is how business works. Very rarely can and will a company absorb such an expense, and usually when it does it is only for fear of losing more money due to backlash.

So collectors, casual, and semi-casual players are paying so that the top cut gets to have more time. Yeah, most remotely serious players are going to be part of that top cut, but making a person pay extra all the time for that one moment (which may not even be necessary depending on the venue!) isn't right either.

Option 3
This actually happened with out Leauge! Learn your area(s), and encourage your player base to find and support the best local gaming/hobby shops. Some places are horrible, but some are great. I used to live near Ames, IA, and attended a Pokemon League there sponsored by Mayhem Collectibles. The League had to move around a lot at first, and eventually (as numbers dwindled) moved to the store itself.

At first it was cramped and crowded but you know what happened? The owner and operator generally cared about his customers and the Pokemon League, and even when Pokemon sales fell he kept the Pokemon League going. Now the really cool thing is because he held on, so did the League, and it began to grow. It wasn't just Pokemon, but as TCG business improved the store was able to add a game room!

To give you an idea, this was a store across from the southern edge of Iowa State University's campus, in the campus town area. Few businesses last in that area. During an unfortunate and embarrassing case of rioting (...like I said, campus town), when the people smashing storefronts tried to hit Mayhem, people formed a wall around it. The game room was largely a matter of waiting for a neighboring business to close or relocate, so the storefront was open.

This may sound even kookier than the rest of what I have said, but supporting your local venders really is important. Even if your main purchases are online, spending just a little at a store can help. Even if sales average out to only booster pack a month per regular Pokemon League attendee in a modest sized Pokemon League, as long as it helps move product it ends up as a mutually beneficial relation ship... and when that league has dozens of players, the store owner and staff have even more reason to accommodate tournaments. You had to earn their trust, but I seem to recall Mayhem closing down but letting us remain in the game room to finish the tournaments... sometimes two or three hours later!

 

[BlisseyRocks]

Overall, this is going to be a big struggle between venue limitations and the time necessary for completing matches. To give you an idea of what my tournament experiences have been like with 60 minutes, I'll list out every top cut match from the past few years from States and higher that was affected by time limits.

Wisconsin States 2012 (Using Zekrom/Eelektrik)

Top 16 - My opponent, Ryan Borgmann, is using Durant, so all of his turns are extremely quick. He ends up rushing himself in the third game because of the time limit, and he makes a rash decision that costs him the match. I win 2-1, but my opponent had to concede one of the games early to save time.

Top 4 - I face Jay Hornung in another mirror match that goes to Game 3. Time is called near the end of the third game, which forces me to make a play that loses the game instantly instead of giving me a chance.

Illinois States 2012 (Using Zekrom/Eelektrik)

Top 2 - The series is very close and goes to a third game. However, time is called early on. I become State Champion because I am leading by a prize as Yoshi Tate and I draw/pass during the +3 turns.

Wisconsin Regionals 2012 (Using Zekrom/Eelektrik)

Top 2 - The series goes to a third game, where time is called a few turns into it. I am ahead a prize when the +3 turns are finished. I become Regional Champion by taking one or two prizes, a very empty win over Nikolas Campbell.

Illinois States 2011 (Using Dialga/Garchomp)

Top 4 - Only one game completes. My opponent cannot take four prizes in the small amount of time remaining.

Top 2 - I win the first game against Josh Wittenkeller. In the second game, he concedes because he realizes that he is unable to take four prizes in the remaining time.

Wisconsin States 2011 (Using Dialga/Garchomp)

Top 16 - Chris Wood and I go to a third game, which ends up being Sudden Death because time is called. He takes the first prize, and I lose.

Wisconsin Regionals 2011 (Using Dialga/Garchomp)

Top 2 - I go to a three game series with Ross Cawthon. Time is called early on during the third game, and he wins by taking the first prize.

US Nationals 2011 (Using Donphan/Yanmega/Zoroark)

Top 4 - Time is called during the third game against Jayson Harry. I end up taking a prize to take the lead on the third turn.

Top 2 - Time is called during the third game against Justin Sanchez. He becomes National Champion by knocking out my Tyrogue with his Tyrogue to take the first prize.

If you notice, not only is this a ton of games being decided by times, but many of these are extremely important matches that did not get to complete. While I understand that it might not be a possibility to extend time limits for States and lower, it needs to be done for Regionals and higher. If 10 of my matches in the past two years have been affected by time limits, something needs to change.

just to add on to that, vs kyle in top 2, i had to change my thought process completely due to time being called. Instead of being able to take a slow paced game that i think i would have won, i was forced to make a risky play to let luck decide the national champion of that year.

I am a generally fast player and I cant say very many of my games go to time, but time is an issue i cannot deny.

 

[Lawman]

Am I? who befoer last week ever would have imagined that there would be no Top Cuts for Battle Roads this year, if anything people were prposing that the Top Cut might me expande from 4 to 8 not decresed from 4 to 0. I am not saying that there will be no Top Cuts for Citites this year, but if they like whaterver it is that they are looking for who is to say that next year the No Top Cut Tourement structure wont be expanded.

Part of the problem is no one knows why this has happened? We know Top Cuts are gone but do not know the reason for this. As allways changes happen with no explanation to the player base, So how can you say with any cetainty that only Battle Roads will be the only Tourneys to not have Top Cuts decide who wins the event?

There are so many things that HAVE to be considered by P!P brass on decisions from BRs up to Worlds. They dont have to explain WHY they do anything really. This game does have alot of feedback from TPCi OP brass, but remember....they have bosses too! I KNOW those bosses do not want all of THEIR decisions hashed out in the public. I can say this bc I have seen SOME of the back room issues bc I am a PTO and attend the PTO conference. I also have an NDA which means I am not at liberty to discuss the reasons why (unless TPCi allows us to do so or posts said reasons themselves).

Sometimes, you just gotta trust the higher ups on the decisions they make. I dont think they have run this game into the ground. Just sayin'

Keith

 

[Rocketman]

From the facebook discussion:
"Richard, as a TO, it is your obligation to prioritize finding a venue that allows for sufficient time limits. I recognize there are situations where there isn't always possible. I also realize there is a myriad of places to host tournaments for free or very inexpensively."
"While I agree almost every comic book store I've been to is crowded and disgusting, they are alluring because they are free venues. "
Both quotes from Ness

I know a few PTOs are lucky to have free venues.
No such venues exist in my neck of the woods.

Jason is not a PTO so he has little idea what our job entails. I know what my obligations are way more than he does. And I have done this for 10 years and with very few complaints, in fact FL players and many players from other states have told me they loved my tournaments. So while Jason may think he knows what a PTO's obligations are, he really doesn't.
However, I have played in many tournaments. Most PTO's have. Some of us have even won and done well in them. I'm sure a lot of you will remember the finals in Texas states I played where my opponent " legally" stalled me. Of course, if that finals were 90 minutes, would I have won? Well, I sure would have had a better chance, but it wouldn't have assured me a win.
But we still always find ourselves back at the same sticking point......will the owner of whatever venue we choose will allow us to stay the extra time. I made this clear to Jason, it's not just a matter of giving them extra money, if they have another event ( like a night mtg draft) or just want to go home, it's up to them offering them more money won't matter. And once we have a nplace we like and the players like, we really want to stay in the owners good graces. I also think it's very important to hold your events where you do your leagues, if possible. And again, the store owner may or may not let you stay late and you want to hold league and tournaments there.
But like Vince, I am willing to give it a try. I know at states I will, cities, I'll have to see. I'm sure of one place they won't mind me staying a little late, so that will be my litmus test.
I can tell you I don't know of any PTO's who don't have the players first in mind when putting these events together. But there is a practial side as well. And as a final note, players should never expect the TO to lose money to hold events for the players. I'm sure most don't, but I have heard stories about how we make lots of money running these events. Like 'Pop, I'm not going into money but I will say for most of us, it is a labor of love. So go easy on what you expext from your local PTO. What Jason and everyone needs to know is the first "obligation" of the PTO is not to go broke doing it!
Rick

 

[LOLZ]

This post is going to be a little random and will start off slightly off topic, but will come back to this topic, kind of. This post is not directed at any individual(s) but to most players. If I seem a bit harsh, I apologize.

One thing a (P)TO and his/her staff in concerned about is time management. Tournament Staff must be sure that the tournament flows at a reasonable pace and finishes at a reasonable hour and/or the venue closes/becomes unavailable due to another event.

The most time is lost at REGISTRATION! Why do we lose time at registration? At times we (tournament staff) may be a bit slow at registration for miscellaneous reasons (computer problems, new person on staff trying to get into the swing of things, etc…), however from my experience, players, unintentionally, do number things to cause the tournament to get off to a slow start which cause us to lose time overall.

For example-

• 1- Deck List not filled out properly (no set/collection numbers, illegible, other various problems).
• 2- Deck presented to deck check out of order or slightly out of order.
• 3- Forgot/Don’t know player ID.
• 4- The Classic- Getting in registration line within the last 5 minutes of registration.

I’ll go quickly into detail on 1 and 2, then 3, then 4. Then tell you how you can help fix these problems, which will help save time.

• 1 & 2- Deck list Errors/Deck out of order may not seem like a big problem, individually each error is not because we can take 5-10secs to tell you to fix it or fix it for you or 15-20 sec to explain in detail what is wrong. But if we have a lot of those errors, those seconds add up and the registration line will get backed up.
  
• 3- In order to explain about #3 I will have to quickly brief how player entry into TOM works. Each TOs TOM Software keeps player information for any player who has ever played in that TOs events. We must enter a new (never played at the TOs tournament) players Player ID, First Name, Last Name, and DOB into TOM (Easily 10 seconds). To enter in a player who is already in the database we simply have to enter in the Player ID and press enter and that player is in the tournament (Under 2 seconds, then next deck list/registration slip). When players don’t know their Player ID we have to look it up. Again, not a problem individually, but the more Player IDs we have to look up the more time we lose. Really we may lose a minute or two at the player entry but when compounded with other errors I have listed above and the big one I am about to go into we loose a lot of time. Players not knowing their ID number has become more and more common.
  
• 4- My favorite, the Classic, players getting in the registration line within the last 5 minutes of registration. During registration, closer to the reg. start time, there are times when staff members are doing nothing! Deck Checkers are waiting for players and Computer operator is waiting to enter in players into the computer. This time needs to be utilized by players. If there is a line forming before registration begins and there is no line or a short line after registration, things are progressing on schedule. The more players who get in line towards the beginning of registration will allow the computer operator (if there is 1 specifically for that job who knows how to do a deck check) to jump in on deck check an start getting players registered early. Specifically what do players do to compel or force them to get into registration line towards the end of registration:
  

• ~Show up with a deck box filled with 58 empty sleeves and a binder of cards, and a completed deck list with the intent of building their deck on the spot, borrowing cards from other players and finding 2 more sleeves.
• ~Show up half way through registration with a completed deck but no deck list filled out. If you need to fill out a deck list you need to arrive 15 minutes before the tournament registration time. The staff should be there and they should have deck list.
• ~Socialize with players before registering. Here is an idea, get in line with your friend and socialize there.
• ~Socialize with players to gain insight into the metagame or just flat out hover around the tournament area to metagame just to get inline at the last minute.
• ~Players who come prepared but get to the tournament right at the end of registration. Just because registration starts at 10:30am and closes at 11:15am doesn’t mean you (players) should sleep in until 10:00am and take your sweet time to get to the tournament right at 11:14am to register. I kid you not, one tournament I was not a staff member at I saw 10 experienced players from 3 families plus individual players show up at 11:14am. 10 more players at 11:15, if there is only 2 judges on staff, each doing 5 of the deck checks in 2 mins flat that is another 10mins it takes to get the tournament started and that is not with out accounting for the rest of the line at 11:15What was really embarrising is more then half of them were from my league. Players who come prepared but show up right before registration closes is one of the most frustrating things of all.
• ~Players who are indecisive about deck choice (Deck A or Deck B) or deck list (1-10 card changes then what is sleeved and written on list)
• ~Any combination of the above items

I just explained what players do that can delay registration. Now let me tell you what you THE PLAYER can do to speed up registration. These might be a bit obvious and I may repeat something I said above.

• 1- Fill out your decklist in advance so you don’t have to rush during registration. If you have a friend you can trust, double check each others decks for errors before registering. You will save the tournament staff time if your friend can inform you of the error.
  
• 2- When you come up for deck check, please have your list in order
  
• 3- Know your player ID, if you don’t put it on your deck list/reg slip you will cost Tournament staff time
  
• 4- Again fill out your decklist in advance, have your deck sleeved and in order of your deck list, arrive to the tournament and get in line as early as possible, socialize with friends later, testplay in advance and read forums like Pokegym, Pokebeach, HT, etc… so there will be no need to metagame, if you are going to a venue that is new to you leave your house early incase you get lost (it is better to be 30 mins early then 1 min late), leave your house early incase of car trouble/traffic
  
• 5- Didn’t mention anything about this yet, if you see a new/young player filling out a decklist or a tournament staff member helping a new player build a legal deck or fill out a list, offer to help. If you can free up the tournament staff member to do other things you are doing a great service to the tournament because that staff member can now go do other things to get the tournament started. I know it may not be your responsibility but it does show good Spirit of the Game

I just made a very long rant about registration and time, by now you are probably wondering when I am going to link this to 90 min time limits in top cuts. I am almost there.

Tournament Organizers expect this from and understands that this will happen with the new players. The fact that experienced players do these things, especially wait until towards the end of registration to get registered, adds time to the tournament. Tournament Organizers must account in their planning of tournaments that registration can be slow when these errors or oversight (getting in reg. line towards end of reg.) by players occur. If experienced players could be more responsible the tournament could start quicker which could allow more time for the tournament. Time that could be used for LONGER TOP CUT TIMES. If a TOs player base is really good at registering that TO could find themselves with more time to do a longer top cut if there are no other issues preventing them from doing so.

Let me end by saying this, I am a full supporter of 90 minute top cuts, but as a judge who has worked side by side with TOs in the planning and execution of tournaments I know what factors have to be accounted for when hosting a tournament and realize that there are time constraints and that 90 minute top cuts may not be possible in some venues. Also let me be clear my rant above is no way placing blame on players that a delay in registration is completely their fault or that any delay in registration prevents longer top cuts from occurring. The purpose of this post is to encourage players to be more responsible at registration which will allow the tournament to start quicker and possibility allow more time for a longer top cut. At the least I hope this post has given you insight into time management issues that tournament staff has to be aware of at registration.

tl:dr or just want a summery.

• Time Management very important to Tournament Organizers & Staff
• The most time is lost at registration
• Players are the cause of some of the loss
• 1- Deck List Errors
• 2- Deck out of Order
• 3- Players not knowing Player ID
• 4- BIGGEST ISSUE- Players getting in line during latter part of registration.
• What can players do to help tournament staff save time
• 1- Fill out your deck list in advance. Get a trustworthy friend to double check each others lists/decks in advance
• 2- When you come up for deck checks make sure your deck is in order
• 3- Know your Player ID, put it on your decklist/reg slip
• 4- Get to the tournament as early as possible, be prepared (deck, decklist, etc…), get in reg. line when it opens.
• Will doing these things get you a 90 min top cut?- NO
• Will doing these things allow tournaments start sooner?- YES
• If the tournament starts sooner, will your TO do a longer top cut?- MAYBE, It is up to them, but now they have more time to allow for a longer Top Cut, your chances did get better though. There still may be venue availability issues.
• You have done all these things and encouraged your fellow players to do the same, your local tournaments now start minutes after registration ends and you still don’t have a longer top cut!!!- At least the time between registration’s end and tournament’s start is now shorter. What did you lose by doing this?

Again, this post went off topic and may have been harsh to the player base as a whole at times, I apologize. I just felt the need to provide examples of time management issues that causes a tournament to lose time that I have experienced while working a tournament.