Tournaments? Competitive vs Non-competitive Splitting

[Leipziger]

Geoff (Lucifer) has posited the following idea for discussion (He is mentally busy [or busy being mental ] this week, so I am sticking it up here to see what you think):

Is it viable to split a tournament in two to make it more fun for:

The guys who aren't going for the title and just come along for the craic and the joy of a Big Guy dodge etc

Geoff's suggestion is that instead of entering say the Waterbowl/Monkeybowl etc, you could choose whether you wanted to go into the Competetive draw, in which case you face off against the guys aiming for the title and, usually, playing Tier 1 or Tier 2 teams. Or you can enter the non-competetive side, which would give you more matched games over the weekend and, therefore, a more enjoyable weekend?

Bear in mind that this is the germ of idea, so if you have any ideas if it could work or if you think it isn't workable, please post (and, preferably, say why). It would be great to get a spread of opinion from people that would identify themselves as the kind of player that would be group a or b.

Having had a day to think about it, my feeling is that if you are just going to split the tournament in two, it will lose something. I love the idea that Polar Bear's all snot line-up can beat Gorbad's khemri (or that Gorbad can be beaten by any stunty team ) and if the tourny were in two, then they would never have played. Admittedly, these upsets are not the norm, but they are one of the joys of playing with a weaker team or being a weaker player. Also, by splitting a tourney in two, where do the guys in the middle strata go? Would they enter the secondary competition and thus make it tougher? Having played Underworld and goblins at tournaments, it hasn't bothered me if they are beaten off the park, the fun is watching the horror on your opponents face when you do something unlikely or stealing away the points. It doesn't matter what your playing against, as long as the opponent is alright (and they usually are, especially if you are using a weaker team ) the weekend is fun, particularly if there is a good atmosphere in the venue and there is a good social.Apologies for the ramble...

[Joemanji]

Swiss does this already IMO. The powergamers and funtimers get split up pretty quickly. There will always be randomness in the draw, and that is part of the fun IMO.

[Purplegoo]

Yeah, can't see this as a good thing, and Joe's right that the Swiss sort of does the job anyway.

There is never a game with one of the big guns nearly as scary for me as when I play a 'funtimer' anyway, it's always squeaky bum time in a game you 'should' win. When it's CAS, CAS, KO on the LOS and the 4+ pass drops neatly into the Ogre's paws, you know it's trouble o' clock. That's part of the fun of weekends for me - upsets.

Plus, when I run lesser races / run them in the future, I like to see how well I do with them in the wider context of the Tournament, I'm not sure I'd either like to get creamed 5/6 times up top or lose that bit of edge down bottom. If that makes sense?

[Wightlord]

Agree with Joe, a tournament with two seperate groups would be missing a lot of the fun. And as a lot of tourneys are sub 30 players would two groups be viable?

[mepmuff]

This reminds me of what in go is known as McMahon Pairing.

Might be interesting reading, but I dont see it as a viable mechanic for bloodbowl tournies.

[Leipziger]

Interesting stuff, Mep. Agree about it not being viable for BB though.

[sann0638]

I tend to start off powergaming, and then decide that I'm only in it for the fun

[fire olli]

I think it would take the fun out of the tournement. I like the fact that i could take a lower tier team and beat a power gamer with wood elves/undead.

[Zoglug]

It would be intersting to know when/why this thought occured.

I definately think splitting tournaments in two would mean they lose a lot of their sparkle. I tend to yoyo between mid and bottom! I like the tough matchups from playing the top guys, and its always good if i manage to give them a good game! But a tourney just wouldnt be the same if i was grouped with one set of players or another. Especially when im one of those who tries to win, but my tactical skills arent great, so wouldnt exactly know where to fit in!

[Eski]

I think for a fun tournment, you could go down the road of only Gobbos Halflings, ogres Teams supported by a bunch of inducements like a chainsaw starplayer as part of your roster and dirty trick bonus cards.. and just go mad with it..

[WilburS]

I tend to start off powergaming, and then decide that I'm only in it for the fun

I usually think like that too, just after suffering my second 6-1 mauling in a row.

[Leipziger]

It would be interesting to know when/why this thought occured.

I think it was from the weekend, where Geoff was playing amongst the lower ranked players and he observed the different motivation for the guys from those at the top and was just interested to see if there was a way to make it more fun for them.

For some people, I think the stunty cup provides an alternative attraction, plus there is no reason why a team near the bottom cannot win Most CAS, best comeback (witness Barney's rise to 12th? at the Waterbowl after a tough first day) or even some of the alternative prizes. I'm not counting him among the weaker players, but I know that littlejonnyfrostbite throughly enjoyed winning a chocolate princess for being 'Least Dangerous Coach'

[Zoglug]

I think it was from the weekend, where Geoff was playing amongst the lower ranked players and he observed the different motivation for the guys from those at the top and was just interested to see if there was a way to make it more fun for them.

Makes sense! I think there are definately plenty of prizes on offer for everyone to have a chance of picking something up! The thing is, you tend to see the same guys taking the tier 3 teams, so they are obviously have fun and enjoyment or surely they wouldnt take them. The stunty cup being one of the big attractions!

[Pipey]

I'm in the powergamer ( ) camp along with Joe, Phil, Sailor Sid etc. i.e. I like to play for the big prize but also if I took Goblins i'd love the challenge of trying to beat up a Rycos or a Geggster with their Undead or whatever...

[Wightlord]

One thing I'd like to see would be a change in focus from bigger prizes for a few to smaller gifts for everyone for taking part. You don't really need a big prize as players would compete for the challenge and winning of Tournaments with or without them. I remember being made up at the Dungeonbowl when we all got some pro made 50K inducement cards - a really nice touch for all.