Regardless of whether I was there or not, I've been to enough events that have been held there to be able to compare the qualities of said events to events run by other tournament organizers of various levels, from pro tours, grand prixs, all the way down to casual FNM. I can only reiterate, Ryan runs his events professionally.
I have gone to 3 of these mox tournies and I agree that generally they are well run, just not this past one in several matters...they need to at least go back to how the first several were. (low turnout due to easter and mothersday was just ignorance on choosing dates, I was told by several employees there that the dates were a mistake, so that is a bad excuse for low turnout since that was their fault as well) If ryan is the head judge then he is doing a fine job and should keep it up. (unless is he in charge of all the other aspects of advertising, promoting, store operations etc etc)
the monetary reason is simply that I dont like expending money to go play against 28 people, and when players like you are gone it makes the skill level of the whole thing drop, and thus not as exciting. I understand your impressions about less players = better chance to win, but for me and many others winning isnt everything. I enjoy playing more rounds, against more good players.....regardless of if I win every time.
I made top 8 at the ruby tourny, and I got second (after beating you mister pro tour player) at that little mana drain tourney at whos on first, skill levels arent a problem for me. I enjoy playing games of magic in a tourney setting, the more rounds the better, the more skill the better.
Advertising costs money yes, and isnt always easy...I dont see how Eudemonia holding a series of power tournies though is more difficult to advertise for than that mana drain tourney that whos on first held.
I am speakig directly about making this a more inviting and fun atmosphere that will attract more players (and if you get artist signing involved or other such ideas you can bring in players from outside of T1)
We also got to see the loss of complementary computer time (things like free computer time is what I am speaking about, give players extra reasons to come, even if they arent super pro magic players)
I have attended all but the easter tourney, with a decent part of my team, and we always place at least one player top 8. I know your mister hard core and you have problems with losing, but dont try and claim that I am complaining because of skill level issues. (I watched your final match against jeff in the pearl tourney...and the tantrum that followed)
After going to 3 of the 4 I would say that this past one was the exception, and I have no problems with any of the judging or how the rounds were set up. I fully understand why we only did cut to top 4 last time, I realize that this was the best way to go about this tourney...I simply believe that Eudemonia isnt doing enough to keep players and generate new players to get us back up to the 6 rounds cut to top 8 format.
I will say again what I said last time...ryan did a fine job of actually running the tourney, the shop did a bad job of executing a good environment.
As to talking about an employee to that guy, I believe that the person I have had multiple problems with is one of the part owners....what do I do about that eh?
Advertising can be done more simply by asking other shop owners to post info on the tournies, they can also attempt to post on more than one site than here (especially since this site has been on the decline as of late) there are a bunch of bay area posters on starcitygames, and I never see any tournie posts on there. (it just takes a minute to post a new thread in the vintage section there)
I generally do my best to get more players to play, anybody I find that is from northern california that isnt attending I generally send a PM to and try and get them to come. I try to do my part, how bout you and the store that wants to make some money off it?
Hope that gets your blood boiling a little bit david...just trying to keep everybody on their toes. No real hard feelings.
