Tournament Feedback and Proposed Changes
by Club Admin. Wed, 25 Sept (Updated at Wed, 25 Sept)Hi all
As always we want your feedback on how the yearly tournament is run. We understand many people will have very different ideas and things they like and don't like. As a result it is impossible to cater for all.
For 2025 however, we want to look at a very different option and want your feedback on if we should try this new option or stick with "as is" with a few tweaks. Regardless of if you participated this year or not, we would like your feedback on this please.
New Format Idea
The proposal for next year is to have a more open tournament (league), in which there are no set categories and thus no set games. We have successfully trialled a league concept whereby everyone simply plays the games they want to play, the outcome is logged, like many of us do, on BGG Stats and for each person you beat, you gain a point. So, the winner of a 4 player game gets 3 points, 3rd would score a point etc... Total points accumulated is then divided by the number of games played, to give an average.
There would be quarterly prizes, and an overall end of year award to say the top 4 players, or perhaps a one off game between them, chosen by someone else (so that Ed might not win!) and possibly even be blind, so no one gets a practice.
Why have we chosen to make such a radical change?
Firstly, this addresses one of the biggest complaints that it's limiting in the games that are played, and takes away the controversy of the choices of theme, and the voting system for the games. Assuming two practices, plus the tournament round, just 4 games means 12 Thursdays taken up. Assuming a high level of attendance over the year of 48 Thursdays, it would mean 25% of them are spread across just these 4 games. Given you may also be playing games that you aren't fond of (Mr Hughes and Mr Dent really don't like Barrage!!), this league eliminates this, and means we can just play what we want, including the new stuff, old stuff, whatever.
It will also be more inclusive, since everyone in theory will participate, and those who don't want their scores to be included, simply don't have them published. Slayer Dan will admin the league, and update the results periodically..
Obviously there will be some rules to govern this, otherwise Mr Dent will just play Brass Birmingham every week. Games will need to be substantial, and the winner/placings determinable, so it probably rules out cooperative games; but we play very few of these, typically. A club member needs to be attending regularly, so we'll probably set a minimum number of games to be played over the year (20?), so that the average isn't skewed, and checks will be in place to make sure no one fudges things (eyes on you Mr Dent!). End of evening filler games won't count, and, in a somewhat 'big brother' diktat, Admin will make the call on whether a game qualifies, or not.
Please cast your vote!
This new approach aims to include everyone, even those who do not play in the current tournament - so by default everyone will be in, with the option to opt-out. So we want the views of everyone at the club, not just those who play in the tournament. The link below asks for you to vote on new format or old, and for any other thoughts or ideas you have on the subject. Please let us know!