Keeping tournaments interesting for mid-table players
Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 1:30 pm
It has been far too long since I have been to a tournament (nearly two years) but I have noticed that by day two of most tournaments those at the top are still fighting furiously and those at the bottom are trying to avoid (in most cases) the wooden spoon. In fact a lot of the tournaments I've been to have had special competitions for the bottom tables such as Death Bowl/Dungeon Bowl to keep the interest. However, the players firmly in the middle of the table do seem to feel a little less focused with nothing to aim for beyond winning matches and improving their NAF rating.
If I remember correctly when Jervis organised the very first tournament he had three matches followed by quarter finals, semis and finals for the last three games for four different competitions. Your performance on the first day dictated where you qualified for the second day. Although I recognise there are a lot of problems with this format I did like the idea of everyone having something to play for by day two.
What would you think to a tournament where you were seeded based on your performance in the first four games and then depending on where you came competed in a different competition. The top four would play a semi final and final for the main trophy, the rest of the top half of the players could compete for another cup, those at the bottom of the table play for a plate and the bottom four play in some crazy bottom table event. The idea would be that everyone would still have something to focus on right up until the final game.
I do realise there are a few strange people that just play for "fun" and don't care about trying to win things but what would you sat to a tournament with more of a focus on offering something to those in the middle ground?
If I remember correctly when Jervis organised the very first tournament he had three matches followed by quarter finals, semis and finals for the last three games for four different competitions. Your performance on the first day dictated where you qualified for the second day. Although I recognise there are a lot of problems with this format I did like the idea of everyone having something to play for by day two.
What would you think to a tournament where you were seeded based on your performance in the first four games and then depending on where you came competed in a different competition. The top four would play a semi final and final for the main trophy, the rest of the top half of the players could compete for another cup, those at the bottom of the table play for a plate and the bottom four play in some crazy bottom table event. The idea would be that everyone would still have something to focus on right up until the final game.
I do realise there are a few strange people that just play for "fun" and don't care about trying to win things but what would you sat to a tournament with more of a focus on offering something to those in the middle ground?