TMD OPEN X - January 13-14 Stratford, CT.

[iamfishman]

That's right ladies(optimism) and gents.  After 6 months, The Mana Drain Open will be returning to a brand new location.

MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW

DAY 1

WHEN:
Saturday, January 13, 2007

WHERE:
GamingETC.com Storefront
555 Lordship Boulevard (Exit 30 off I95)
Stratford CT 06615
1-800-380-1115 or 203-849-0186

LODGINGS:
I finally got in touch with the Ramada and a room rate has been established(assuming 10 rooms each night which should be a definite). 
Call and ask to book one of the rooms in the CARD TOURNAMENT reservation.  These are the $69 rooms.
Be sure to reserve your room ASAP, as there are only 10 rooms and they won't last very long at this price.

WHAT:
MAIN EVENT - THE MANA DRAIN OPEN 10 (Waterbury)

$20 Entry Fee

Registration: 10:00 - 11:00 am

Tourney Starts PROMPTLY at 11:00 am(To avoid a prolonged tournament, this will be strictly enforced.  Latecomers will be subject to a round 1 loss.)

Format - Type One with TEN proxies + $1 per extra proxy(15 proxies maximum)

Cut to single elimination portion of the tournament will be based on standing after x rounds of swiss, where x is the exponent of the first power of 2 greater than the number of player we have(typically this means 8 rounds).  Essentially, if there are 8 rounds, anyone with a 6-1-1 or better record will make the final cut.

DOPENESS FACTOR: 387 times the value of k if: "The surface of a right circular cone is painted black. The cone has height 4 and its base has radius 3. It is cut into two parts by a plane parallel to the base, so that the volume of the top part (the small cone) divided by the volume of the bottom part (the frustrum) equals k and painted area of the top part divided by the painted are of the bottom part also equals k."

PRIZE SUPPORT:*
*In thinking about the time of the year, as much as I don't like to put clauses on my prize support, I think I may have to.  I don't like doing it because I think it makes people wary about coming(even if it is TMD OPEN!).  I have a hunch, though, that after saying the following everyone will agree that what is said is fair and true.
1.) Snow can kill a tournament.
2.) As mentioned before, I can't buff my attendance with card sales and I can't take a business loss, that balances out over time.  As an individual, a thousand dollar hit, as one that may be caused by low attendance due to weather is not one I can afford and one that would make future TMD OPENs tough to jumpstart.
4.) Despite this, my prize support will still be guaranteed unless both attendance is under 150 people(my break even point) AND the low attendance is due to weather.
5.) What this means is that if attendance is below 150, but it is not due to bad weather, I will still give out the full prize support.
6.) Also. if bad weather causes attendance to be low, I will still give out 100% of all money taken in from entry fee to the prize support.  Granted, I will take a hit on other costs but I can deal with this, if it is not coupled with a hit on prize support.

I feel this is fair to the players on all accounts, but at the same time will make me sleep easier during the weeks leading up to the event.  All in all, the above most likely will mean nothing, however, it should be said so that people know the situation ahead of time.

1st Prize - UNLIMITED BLACK LOTUS PLUS free admission and 1 ROUND  BYE into the next MANA DRAIN OPEN and official TMD OPEN Playmat for TMD Open 11
2nd Prize - ALPHA MOX EMERALD
3rd Prize - UNLIMITED MOX RUBY
4th Prize - UNLIMITED MOX PEARL
5th Prize - UNLIMITED MOX EMERALD
6th Prize- LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA
7th Prize - UNLIMITED TIMETWISTER
8th Prize - UNLIMITED TIMETWISTER
9th - 16th Place Prizes - OFFICIAL "TMD OPEN" PLAYMAT
17th Place- 3D MAGIC LIFE COUNTER
18th-32nd Prize - DRAFT TIME SPIRAL
33rd Prize - PLAYSET OF GOBLIN GAMES
Farthest travelled participant: FREE ADMISSION TO MAIN EVENT
First to beat previous champion(Rich Meyst): DRAFT SET OF TIME SPIRAL

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At the end of round 4 we will be taking sign ups for a FREE tournament for a MANA DRAIN. The tournament will require you to use the same deck used in the main event(to make life infinitely freakin' easier) and to ensure speedy signups-send off.
The tournament will be single elimination(Hey what do you want from a free event?!?!)

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BYES:
The top finishers(top is a relative word based on the size of the event) of ANY Type 1 Tournament in the world will be rewarded with the ability to purchase a round one bye at the upcoming TMD Open X seperate from any prize the TO is giving, The following guidelines are to be considered:
1.) The tournament must have at least 25 people.
2.) If the tournament has between 25 and 49 people, the winner may purchase a bye for $10.
3.) If the tournament has between 50 and 74 people, the winner AND/OR the 2nd place finisher may purchase a bye for $10 each.
4.) If the tournament has 75+ people, the top 4 players may purchase a bye for $10(this will mainly be SCG events)

ALSO, a TO can still offer byes as prizes in one of two ways.  They can purchase either a round one bye without entry for $10 or a round one bye with entry fee for $30.  These can only be use as prizes for:
1.) Part of a first or second place prize if the tournament has between 15 and 39 people.
2.) Part of any top 4 place prize if the tournament has between 40 and 64 people.
3.) Part of any top 8 place prize if the tournament has 65+ people.

Any TO's wishing to purchase a bye must contact me prior to the day of the event for which the bye is being offered, though payment doesn't have to be received until after the tournament takes place, since if the tournament does not meet the minimmum number of players and the bye cannot be awarded, the TO will not be charged.

This list will be updated as time goes on.

PAID FOR BYES:
Previous TMD OPEN Day 1 Winner: Rich Meyst
Previous TMD OPEN Day 2 Winner: Tommy Kolowith

BYES THAT CAN BE BOUGHT:
TMD OPEN 9 Day 1: Joel Brauer
TMD OPEN 9 Day 1: Ben Kowal
TMD OPEN 9 Day 1: Dave Feinstein
TMD OPEN 9 Day 1: Rob Costanza
TMD OPEN 9 Day 1: Roger Sorino
TMD OPEN 9 Day 1: Justin Timoney
TMD OPEN 9 Day 1: Roland Chang
TMD OPEN 9 Day 2: Ben Carp
TMD OPEN 9 Day 2: Jeremiah Rudolph
TMD OPEN 9 Day 2: Jess Fico
Change/Orlove benefit 8-6-06: Kyle Leith
Blue Bell Double Blue Power 8-19-06: Mike(Midknight)(please tell me your last name)
Myriad Games 8-19-06: Joe Colon
GENCON-Worlds: Travis Spero
GENCON-Worlds: Robert Vroman
GENCON-Worlds: Paul Mastriano
GENCON-Worlds: Paul Nicolo
GENCON-Worlds: Nick Trudeau
GENCON-Wolrds: David Cohen
GENCON-Worlds: Arend
GENCON-$500: Matt Abold
GENCON- Champs Prelim:???
Beanie Exchange 8-27-06: ???(there is no record of who won this thing)
SCG Boston 9-16-06: Jeff Greene
SCG Boston 9-16-06: Simon MacRae
SCG Boston 9-16-06: Matt Bailey
SCG Boston 9-16-06: Vincent Forino
SCG Boston 9-17-06: Mike Pise
SCG Boston 9-17-06: Mike Herbig
SCG Boston 9-17-06: Ashok Chitturi
SCG Boston 9-17-06: Mike Hetherington
Myriad Games 9-30-06: Dan Cunningham/Pat Broderick Split(which means you guys must fight to the death over who gets the bye)
Myriad Games 11-11-06: Eric Dupuis
GP: New Jersey Side Event 11-12-06: Joe Davis
SCG Roanoke 11-18-06: Jeff Floinus
SCG Roanoke 11-19-06: Cody Vinci
ELD's Tourney 12-02-06: Dan Yarrington
Myriad Games 12-09-06: Demonic Attorney
Pastimes 12-09-06: Dan Carp
Beanie Exchange - 12-10-06: Rob Moreau
RIW Black Lotus Event: Brian Demars
RIW Black Lotus Event: Steve Menedian
1-6-07 Blue Bell- Joe Denoy
Myriad Games 1-7-07: Charles Scourbys
Myriad Games 1-7-07: Crossman Wilkins

* If you are travelling from far away(of which tournaments I did not record winners) and feel you deserve the right to purchase a bye, simply let me know and I will adjust the list above to reflect it.
** With byes passing down from players already qualified for one, you may want to check this list carefully, and inform any friends that may not know they are qualified for a round 1 bye.

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PROXIES:
As far as proxies go, each player will be entitled to 10 proixes included in the basic admission cost.  In addition, players may pay $1 per proxy for the ability to play additional ones with the maximum number of total proxies being 15.  Prior to the start of the tournament, when you bring up your decklist, a TMD OPEN associate(not someone playing in the event) will check that your decklist properly indicates all your proxies.  At this time, you will present your deck to show the indicated number of proxies and pay at that time for additional ones past 10.  There are some who would be tempted to cheat this system.  Let it be said that each round there will be at least one random deck check(now possible with increased help).  Any player who is found to have more proxies than indicated on his decklist and/or paid for will receive a disqualification from the event without prize.  This may sound severe, but keep in mind that this is simply to prevent deception and people from abusing a privilege intended to benefit TMD OPEN and newer players(who may need slightly more proxies).  As long as you are on the up-and-up, you have nothing to worry about.

A proxy should not be distunguishable from a regular card in a sleeve except for the face.  This means no back markings, no cards backwards in sleeves, no abnormal thickness of papers in sleeves, no papers falling out of sleeves, etc.

Proxies must have all pertinent info written on them: Card Name, Casting Cost, Text, Power/Toughness, Etc

Best bet is to get some revised plains(they are plenty light), sharpie the front with all the info, and draw a quick sketch of the picture.  This will minimize your chance of having an inappropriate proxy.

If there is still doubt, ask at TMD OPEN X when registering your deck.

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Team rivalry, a.k.a. Braggin Rights Supreme JANUARY 2007:
Here is how its gonna go down.  Teams of three will agree prior to the event to play as a team and will register(seperate from a deck registration...it will be done on a different sheet of paper).  Each teams cost is $9...$3 per person.  Then, at the end of the tournament, the teams with the highest combined number of match points(top 16 matches-finals count as 3 points per match, just as in the swiss) will win. 

If enough teams enter, there may be a second place prizes or more, but the number of teams entering, and thus the collected entry fees, will determine the prizes.  In the event of a tie for match points, the average opponent match win percentage of the three players on each team will be computed and compared. 

After round 3 team designations will be inserted into players names, so teams may view each other team's players and match points on the pairings/standings.

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DAY 2

Sunday, January 14, 2007
GamingETC.com Storefront
555 Lordship Boulevard (Exit 30 off I95)
Stratford CT 06615
1-800-380-1115 or 203-849-0186

Type 1 Tourney for an ANCESTRAL RECALL
10+ proxies(same as day 1)

1st place: UNLIMITED ANCESTRAL RECALL PLUS free admission and 1 ROUND BYE into the next MANA DRAIN OPEN
2nd place: LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA
3rd place: ENGLISH LEGENDS MANA DRAIN
4th place: 2 FORCE OF WILL
5-8th place: 5 TIME SPIRAL BOOSTERS

Registration 10 - 11:00 AM

Starts 11:00 AM

$15 Entry Fee

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TEAM Magic Trivia(teams may be up to 4 people)
(Using Jeopardy template- 5 categories with questions of varying value.)
Starts at 6:30 pm
Prizes include: TIME SPIRAL BOOSTERS
FREE Entry

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Questions comments concerns, please feel free to contact me at iamfishman2000@hotmail.com, via AIM at PLIKEY, PM ME, or by phone (860) 618-3412. or (860) 605-3730

Cya at Waterbury!

[RThomas]

You can't have this December 30-31, when I'm on leave?  Frown.

I hope this event turns out as well as all of your others have.  Perhaps I'll make it to one sometime.

[M.Solymossy]

Edit*!    My classes resume on the 9th.   You might want to vote on this to see if there is a week that works better (like the 7th and 8th weekend) due to classes.

[Moxlotus]

That date was probably chosen to coincide with MLK Jr. Day which is on Monday I think.

[nataz]

Yay that you are back, sad face that it's not in a hotel anymore.

[Machinus]

I'm looking forward to having more information on this tournament. Arsenal may be represented!

1.5 side events? plzplz

[Myriad Games]

I haven't yet been to Stratford. I too will miss the convenience of walking to my hotel room from the playing area, but I'm sure it will be an excellent Waterbury. Can anyone recommend a good hotel in the area?

Edit: And now that I've re-read the opening announcement, I see that the Ramada Inn is within walking distance of the store.  That should help.

[Dxfiler]

I'm personally happy it's being moved to Stratford.  The store has been very helpful in hosting past Ray tourneys, and I've been to every one of them.  They were all good. 
You really can't call it 'waterbury' anymore, that's about the only real negative I can think of.  The location is much more centralized and easy to get to from practically all directions.  The singles are reasonably priced and the buy prices are pretty good.  There is plenty of food within driving distance as well as in the store.  It's personally a 2 hour hike for me but if it's at Stratford I'll definitely go regardless of the date.  I would recommend actually not trying to conflict with a ptq on that day, because it would be during extended season and I think it's safe to say alot of the player base will actively be playing that season.  Don't make people have to do the choice of a local extended ptq or Waterbury and you should have a nice attendance, regardless of weather.

- Dave Feinstein 

[Nomad]

New location moves it about 20mins closer so
I guess that's a good thing.  Which country I'll be working in at the time remains to be seen, but I'll definitely bear this in mind with regards to my travel plans...

If I'm there I am, of course, happy to help judging Saturday, and to dominate anyone at trivia Sunday.

[iamfishman]

Byes have been updated.  For reference:

PAID FOR BYES:
Previous TMD OPEN Day 1 Winner: Rich Meyst
Previous TMD OPEN Day 2 Winner: Tommy Kolowith

BYES THAT CAN BE BOUGHT:
TMD OPEN 9 Day 1: Joel Brauer
TMD OPEN 9 Day 1: Ben Kowal
TMD OPEN 9 Day 1: Dave Feinstein
TMD OPEN 9 Day 2: Ben Carp
Change/Orlove benefit 8-6-06: Kyle Leith
Blue Bell Double Blue Power 8-19-06: Mike(Midknight)(please tell me your last name)
Myriad Games 8-19-06: Joe Colon
GENCON-Worlds: Travis Spero
GENCON-Worlds: Robert Vroman
GENCON-Worlds: Paul Mastriano
GENCON-Worlds: Paul Nicolo
GENCON-Worlds: Nick Trudeau
GENCON-Wolrds: Phil(MoxLotus)
GENCON-Worlds: Arend
GENCON-$500: Ray Robillard(Seriously, I won this thing LOL)
GENCON- Champs Prelim:???
Beanie Exchange 8-27-06: ???(there is no record of who won this thing)
SCG Boston 9-16-06: Jeff Greene
SCG Boston 9-16-06: Simon MacRae
SCG Boston 9-16-06: Matt Bailey
SCG Boston 9-16-06: Vincent Forino
SCG Boston 9-17-06: Mike Pise
SCG Boston 9-17-06: Mike Herbig
SCG Boston 9-17-06: Ashok Chitturi
SCG Boston 9-17-06: Mike Hetherington
Myriad Games 9-30-06: Dan Cunningham/Pat Broderick Split(which means you guys must fight to the death over who gets the bye)
SCG Roanoke 11-18-06: Jeff Floinus
SCG Roanoke 11-19-06: Cody Vinci

[Samite Healer]

OMG....Waterbury without Waterbury?  So many memories from that hotel...the tournament will be awesome...but it will never be the same ever again.  I am incredibly sad to see the venue go.

[iamfishman]

I've realized that many people did not note a change from the last few TMD Opens that should be brought to everyone's attention.

Cut to single elimination portion of the tournament will be based on standing after x rounds of swiss, where x is the exponent of the first power of 2 greater than the number of player we have(typically this means 8 rounds).

What it means:
Going into the event, you will know exactly what what record you must have in order to make the cut to single elimination after swiss(formerly top 16).

I expect TMD OPEN to be 8 rounds...as such, 6-1-1 will be the minimum record needed to make it into the single elimination part of the tournament.

How it works: According to statistics, the number of players who make the single elimination should be between 8 and 16.  The number of people making it to the single elimination portion determines what portion of people will receive a bye into the top 8.  For example, consider the situation with 11 people making it past the swiss.

1 receives bye
2 receives bye
3 receives bye
4 receives bye
5 receives bye
6 plays 11
7 plays 10
8 plays 9
and then we have a top 8.

Or with 15 people:
1 receives bye
2 plays 15
3 plays 14
4 plays 13
5 plays 12
6 plays 11
7 plays 10
8 plays 9
and then we have a top 8

Why the change: Numerous reasons prompted the change.
1.) Players should have some incentive and reward for placing high in the standings after swiss.
2.) Accordingly, an aggrevating part of Waterbury, and something of an inside joke, is that is sucks to be the 1st seed since you WILL get knocked out by the 16th seed.
3.) There is no doubt that about what players need to make the single elim rounds.  No longer will there be a 17th seed 6 and 2.
4.) Tiebreakers are an unfair measure of someone's qualification to make the single elim rounds because it is beyond the person's control.
5.) Collusion can be minimized.

Comments? Questions?

[ErkBek]

Ray, your new single elimination cut looks great.

I think some members of GWS will be making this our first Waterbury experience. Falling on the 13th-14th will be perfect for many of our school schedules.

[Moxlotus]

What happens if there are a ton of people who draw out?  Say if there are 7 people with 6-1-1 and better?

I do say that that elmination system looks nice so everybody knows exactly what record they need.

[iamfishman]

What happens if there are a ton of people who draw out?  Say if there are 7 people with 6-1-1 and better?

I do say that that elmination system looks nice so everybody knows exactly what record they need.

The odds that we will end up with less than 8 people at x-1-1 is very very slim.  We will cross this bridge if we come to it(although ...that would probabbly mean that we would just take the top 8)

[forests failed you]

Ray, do Josh, Mark, and I still get free admission to Waterbury events.  If yes, we may very well make the trek out east to play.

[iamfishman]

Ray, do Josh, Mark, and I still get free admission to Waterbury events.  If yes, we may very well make the trek out east to play.

The three of you selfless returned something of great value allowing me to continue to be a part of vintage magic and run these events.

So yes, you three are ABSOLUTELY considered my guests if you make the trip down.  Heck, if you need a place to crash, you could even stay at my place(though it is an hour away and we will be leaving early each morning to get down there.)

In all, I would love it if you guys came out for this.

Ray

[Demonic Attorney]

I'm actually not thrilled with the new system.  As it was before, 16 people stood to make it past the cut to the elimination rounds.  I can't think of a time a 6-1-1 record wasn't good enough for that; more often than not, at least a few 6-2's also were fortunate enough to make it in.  As it is now, no 6-2's will be able to make it, regardless of their tiebreaks.  This translates into fewer people being able to make it into the elimination rounds. 

Believe me, I know better than most how random and arbitrary tiebreaks can be.  I placed 17th at Waterbury V on a tiebreaker difference of less than 2 points, and I've placed 9th-11th at more than one Mox tournament with the same record as the lower seeds in the top 8.  But, while tiebreakers can be random and arbitrary, a chance to make it into the elimination rounds based on luck is better than no chance at all.  A record-based cutoff will narrow people's ability to make it into the elimination rounds, and therefore lead more people to drop sooner.  This translates into some people getting less tournament experience for the same entry fee, which to me does not seem optimal. 

I guess I'll qualify the above statements by saying I don't think the change is a huge problem, and if many people believe strongly that this arrangement is preferable, I certainly won't object.  I just think there's another side to the issue that makes this change not quite as much of an unbridled improvement as some people seem to be taking it as.

[nataz]

A record-based cutoff will narrow people's ability to make it into the elimination rounds, and therefore lead more people to drop sooner.  This translates into some people getting less tournament experience for the same entry fee, which to me does not seem optimal.

Since I'm not sure what kind of numbers you will see, I can't be sure exactly how many 6-1-1's there will be, .: I'm not sure how much the change will matter. Regardless, DA brings up a valid point. 

Here is what I was thinking when I first read your post.

1.) Players should have some incentive and reward for placing high in the standings after swiss.

They do, the top 16 players in the swiss get into the single elim rounds. As for doing well overall, those with better records generally have the option to draw later in the event .: giving them the advantage of resting up before the top 16. 

2.) Accordingly, an aggrevating part of Waterbury, and something of an inside joke, is that is sucks to be the 1st seed since you WILL get knocked out by the 16th seed.

This doesn't seem like a good example for hopefully obvious reasons.

3.) There is no doubt that about what players need to make the single elim rounds.  No longer will there be a 17th seed 6 and 2.

Right, but how is it worse to end 17th at 6-2 and not get in vs. ending 15 at 6-2 and not making it in. Either way, be it 17th place on tiebreakers or final match standings,there will be people on the bubble. The only difference seems to be how many people can be on the bubble at once. I feel like I would rather have at least a small chance of making it in at 6-2, rather then just not getting there after losing my last round (if for instance you get paired down and had to play).

4.) Tiebreakers are an unfair measure of someone's qualification to make the single elim rounds because it is beyond the person's control.

Well, yes and no. Part of the swiss system is that you get paired up against people with similar records. Therefore in theory people who stay in longer, play against people who finish/have the chance to finish higher; correct? It's not perfect, but it seems better again to fill out a top 16 rather then just have less people make it.

5.) Collusion can be minimized.

Can you give an example. I'm not sure what you are driving at that would be solved by the proposed system.

[Dxfiler]

With an event as high caliber as Waterbury is, I think this change to elimination rounds was sorely needed.  You just can't get a clear picture of a top 8 when some 6-2 squeaks in at 16th place over 15-20 other 6-2's and beats the #1 seed who was 7-0-1 or 8-0.  This has happened many times and it hurts the credibility of a top 8.  Some are going to say that a 6-2 deserves a shot to beat the #1 or #2 seeded person...the problem with that is that the 2 losser had the chance to be the #1 or #2 seed...and he/she had 8 rounds to prove it.  There shouldn't be a BONUS ROUND where you scream 'BIG MONEY, BIG TIEBREAKS!' while dodging the whammy as a computer calculates if you squeak in.  This isn't Press Your Luck.

I've been on both sides of the old waterbury system.  I once snuck in 16th at 6-2 (good old GR beats), and it felt great to mise in there... but I never felt like I deserved it more than the other 15-20 who had the same record but worse breakers.  Yet there I am in top 16 trying to crush someone's dream who had a better record and was a top 8 lock.   

Then there's the other side of the coin, and I've been there before, too.  There's just nothing more frustrating than going 6-1-1 or 7-0-1 and losing to someone 12th-16th who got there off tiebreakers, when the other 20 people who went 6-2 and didn't top 16 probably couldn't help it.  Instead of getting a guaranteed $80+ prize in top 8, I lose this extra bonus round to someone who I wouldn't have faced if it was a clean cut.  I'm know I'm not the only one who's felt that pain.  I watched Carl Winter decimate the last Waterbury in the swiss and come into top 16 at #1 seed. His deck then crapped out on him.  You can argue that the deck would crap out no matter who he faced, but the difference is he got a playmat for losing instead of a library or a drain.  This leads to people becoming upset over not making a top 8 where they would have been a clear lock, and then you get another dozen + people upset they got tiebreakered out for the bonus round.  It was just a lose-lose scenario for many players.

The solution was you either let all 6-2's make it in, like a gp, or you just make the cutoff slightly harder and no 6-2's make it, but are still eligible for prizes.  That's not even remotely a hard choice from a TO standpoint. 

Ray made the right move.  Waterburys have the reputation of being the toughest type one tourneys around.  It was time to have an elimination system that reinforces that image and gives players something to strive for.   

- Dave Feinstein

[nataz]

You just can't get a clear picture of a top 8 when some 6-2 squeaks in at 16th place over 15-20 other 6-2's and beats the #1 seed who was 7-0-1 or 8-0.  This has happened many times and it hurts the credibility of a top 8...the problem with that is that the 2 losser had the chance to be the #1 or #2 seed...and he/she had 8 rounds to prove it.

This to me doesn't make much sense. Hurt the credibility of the top 8 because a 6-2 made it? Does this mean that the inevitable multiple 6-1-1's are all equal? What if both the 1st-4th seeds are 6-1-1, but only 1st-3rd place gets a bye. Since 1st-4th was determined by tiebreakers, aren't you screwing the 4th seed on tiebreakers?

The problem with justifying it with terms like "bonus round" implies there is no variance between tournament experiences. You can luck sack out in 4 matches with good match-ups early, get one normal match win, and then draw in, and face totally different decks and people then them someone else with a similar record. There is no such thing as a "Bonus Round", it's just round 8 of an 8 round event. And again, Tiebreaks could matter if people have the same record with an uneven distribution of byes. 

Instead of getting a guaranteed $80+ prize in top 8, I lose this extra bonus round to someone who I wouldn't have faced if it was a clean cut.

It sounds like people are frustrated with one of two things. Either they are on the bubble and then don't get in (in which case they don't like the idea of tiebreakers) or they feel like by finishing at the top 8 of the swiss they should be entitled to a prize (in which case why aren't you just doing a top 8?).

[Myriad Games]

I understand arguments on both sides of the issue. I'll be happy to play in either case. 

The difference between winning initial rounds and drawing and losing one or two of the first rounds and having to play it out to squeak in makes for a very different tournament experience. I always feel that people who actually played more matches did more to deserve getting into the Top 8, over the people who were lucky and skilled enough to win the initial rounds and then draw in. This difference is emphasized more at smaller events where winning the first three rounds allows you to draw for rounds 4 and 5 to get in, when you've only played 3/5 of the Swiss. I can understand the logic behind the system, it just seems somewhat odd to me.  Knowing that the difference between a  loss and a draw will definitely mean Top 8 placement may encourage some 6-1-0s to slow-roll in Round 8 to guarantee themselves a spot.

[iamfishman]

I also understand both sides of the issue.

That being said, the prize structure balances with the format of the single elimination rounds to give options to people during the event.

In other words, "awww, I have a second loss, I guess I can't make the elimination rounds.  Should I keep playing?  Yeah, what the heck...I STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN A PLAYMAT."


As for the turnout of this thing...I feel like it will be huge.  I mean, we have GWS, ICBM, Avante-Garde all coming.  I wonder who else may step up to the plate...cough...meand...cough ...

[EotGiftsGG?]

...Cough...Meand...Cough..

for like the two years smenen says he's going to make it, but for some reason unknown to man, he doesnt show up.

I cant wait for this, and im going to pre-type up my deck list and triple count it this time = )

[Kowal]

I cant wait for this, and im going to pre-type up my deck list and triple count it this time = )

Zero necropotence.

[iamfishman]

Please note that as always I'm continuing to take whatever action I deem neccessary to make my events as enjoyable as I can for all.

One benefit of moving Waterbury to Stratford were the cameras in the store to deter theft.  I am also continuing to take actions against those that would deceive and do other imoral things in an attempt to gain an unfair advantage.

Please note:
http://www.themanadrain.com/index.php?topic=31395.0

[Myriad Games]

Looking forward to another excellent tournament.  Decreasing the occurrences of theft and deceit should result in an even better TMD Open!

[kirdape3]

We are showing up, but not necessarily in the strength that we once could bring to bear.  If we did, the world would tremble at our feet like it did in 2003-2004, when we accumulated a great deal of power and all the women.

[Myriad Games]

Any further details on the room rate with the Ramada?  This is less than a month away and I'd like to make reservations.

Thanks!

[Nomad]

That's right ladies(optimism)

I'm looking at flights now and I'll be back in time, and will bring Harriet with me at the very least...