Planning TMD Open 12

[iamfishman]

Hi all...

I'm in the midst of planning the next TMD Open and I have a few questions for all of you.  Please share your opinions and feel free to discuss the following:

Please note that all of the following aren't even neccesarily possible at the moment, so just because an option is a favorite doesn't mean it will happen.  I am just seeking opinions on thoughts brewing in my head right now.

Question 1
$25 and same prize structure
or
$30 and entire power 9 given away

Question 2
Day 2 also Vintage but smaller
or
Day 2 also Vintage but just as big as Day 1
or
Day 2 is a large sanctioned Legacy event instead
or
some other option

Question 3
Continue to have Team Rivalry Competition
or
Do something else in its place

Question 4
Magic Trivia on Day 1 and Scattegories on Day 2
or
Team sealed tourney(like with the Urza's Common Sets) on day 1 and Trivia on Day 2

Question 5
Feb 2/3rd
or
Feb 9/10th
or
Feb 16/17th

Other questions to follow...

Thanks for your input,
Ray

[Lou]

Since I'm pretty much 100% sure I want to make the next TMD Open my first, I'll be the first to pipe up.

Question 1 - $30 and entire power 9 given away

Question 2 - Day 2 also Vintage but just as big as Day 1

Question 3 - Continue to have Team Rivalry Competition

Question 4 - Magic Trivia on Day 1 and Scattegories on Day 2

[Kowal]

1) I'd prefer $25 entry because $30 eats a big fat one.

2) I'd prefer also vintage and just as big, but you'd take a pretty big hit on prizes if you did it that way.  It's more feasible to have a smaller event that is also vintage.

3) Team Rivalry, no doubt.

4) Don't really care here, none of the alternate formats are really my thing (except MAYBE highlander) so I'll let people who care more pipe in here.

[nataz]

1) If we are doing two days, the extra 5 dollars isnt going to kill. I'll buy one less 6 pack or something.
2) Big Vintage day 2. I don't particularly care for legacy, and I certainly would rather play vintage then try and put together a legacy deck and get in the practice.
3) w/e - I'm trying to think of what else we could do.
4) Team Sealed

[ashiXIII]

1) $30, whole P9

2) anything Vintage

3) whatever. Team Rivalry is kinda cool, but if you can think of something else, it'd probably be a nice change of pace.

4) Skittles, obv

[oneofchaos]

Question 1
$30 and entire power 9 given away

Question 2
Day 2 also Vintage but just as big as Day 1

Question 3
Continue to have Team Rivalry Competition

Question 4
Magic (team) Trivia on Day 1
Unannounced urza's type event.  As in, everybody knew going into that event red/green owned, so you need to make it a more innovative format.  Random set, possibly a block?  Make it teams also.

Question 5
Feb 2/3rd

[Dxfiler]

1) $30 whole p9... but if you do this and still have the bye system I'd suggest charging $5 a bye for those who are eligible.  At $5 everyone on the bye list would almost certainly purchase one and it would put extra money in your much deserving pocket.  At the normal $10 you've charged previously you're looking at $40 to play with a round one bye... and I don't think you'd get a whole lot of takers at that price (I'd probably be one of them anyway ;p).  I'm aware that neither the whole p9 thing nor the bye system are set in stone... but I expect most people to vote for entire P9 and if that's the case you're going to get a big audience where probably multiple tourneys all over qualify people for byes.  

2) Anything vintage that's workable.  It might not make sense for you to hold a day 2 as big as day 1.  I know Starcity gave up doing day 2's with their own prize support and let mystic gaming take over for Sunday.  I would probably say day 2 at $25 with multiple pieces of power but not an entire set.  That ought to get you the usual 70-85 for day 2's.

3)  Team Rivalry seems fine

4) Trivia is very good for your events and appears to be a day 1 staple, but I personally like team sealed.  Maybe trivia day 1 sealed day 2?

5) The weekend doesn't matter to the Feinstein :p  Try not going head to head with a GP/ local PTQ if possible because that does tear into your base.  Having it the same weekend as a pro tour does not.

No matter what happens I'm sure it'll be another unmissable weekend of hot vintage action.

- Dave Feinstein

[SpencerForHire]

Question 4
Magic (team) Trivia on Day 1
Unannounced urza's type event.  As in, everybody knew going into that event red/green owned, so you need to make it a more innovative format.  Random set, possibly a block?  Make it teams also.

Bring Your Own Standard?

[Harlequin]

Q1) I would be fine doing either.  But I feel like you'd get fewer people at $30... so it would more or less balance out.  Just remember that three people at $30 bring less money than 4 at $25.

Q2) Vintage - I hope alot of people show up(?) I know I will.

Q3) doesn't mater to me.

Q4) I vote for VINTAGE TWO HEADED ORGE.  Unlimited Proxy.  The combined two 60 cards must be vintage legal (so only one deck gets the lotus, one of each mox to divide over the two decks, and you could do 4-0, 3-1, or 2-2 split of non-restricted cards).  I also think that teams should start with 40 life because of how easy storm seems to be (as opposed to 30 for normal 2HO).... Either that or ban Tendrils of Agony.  Maybe ban WGDragon - or just make it Legacy.   Anyone else for some 2HO????

Q5) It doesn't matter to me, but the earlier the better I guess

[oneofchaos]

2 Headed giant...I like it. 

[MarkPharaoh]

$30, as big as day1, the rest doesn't really apply to me.

[desolutionist]

Question 1
$25 and same prize structure
or
$30 and entire power 9 given away

$30 P9

Question 2
Day 2 also Vintage but smaller
or
Day 2 also Vintage but just as big as Day 1
or
Day 2 is a large sanctioned Legacy event instead
or
some other option

Extended :p

Question 3
Continue to have Team Rivalry Competition
or
Do something else in its place

Keep it.

Question 4
Magic Trivia on Day 1 and Scattegories on Day 2
or
Team sealed tourney(like with the Urza's Common Sets) on day 1 and Trivia on Day 2

I think the sealed takes too much time, Trivia/Scattegories is probably more practical.

Question 5
Feb 2/3rd
or
Feb 9/10th
or
Feb 16/17th

16/17 (the more time to schedule, the better)

[Grand Inquisitor]

1) $25 - the more inclusive the better; this contributes to people who are pretty sure they won't reach elimination still coming and having a good time without shelling out too much.  Most of the people in the money already have power anyway.

2) I think an alternative format (legacy, highlander, old-skool, etc) as the lead event starting early (9-10), and have a guaranteed type 1 side event.  This way there's diversity, but those who made a trip and wanted two days of T1 get it.

3-4) don't care

5) 2nd/3rd has the benefit of people avoiding possible valentine's day plans and the long weekend of presidents weekend.

[ashiXIII]

I'm not really sure why people think a $30 entry fee as opposed to a $25 one would decrease attendance. A lot of people make quite a trip for Waterburies, and even for the locals, I highly doubt a $5 difference is going to deter them from coming. In addition, I think the additional prize support might attract some players who wouldn't make the trip for a lesser one.

[Methuselahn]

Regular TMD Open attendees will come regardless of prize support, due to the fun factor.  Why not make the entrance fee as low as possible to entice people that don't have an intimate knowledge of the format to attend and maybe make it worth their while. 

Now, I don't follow Standard at all.  Even with comparable prizes to TMD Open, I wouldn't attend a Standard tournament for 30 bucks, for example, because it's too much money to just throw away.  Not that 30 bucks is some huge amount of money for me, it's just past the threshold that I'm willing to pay to have a good time at a magic tourny that I know nothing about.

The most important thing to keeping waterbury healthy is to have an influx of new players.  Right?  Tournament cost is directly proportional to new players wanting to come.  Personally, I'd prefer costs to be 10-15$.  Moxen are overrated as prizes and have been for some time now.  I'd much rather see lower costs and more practical prizes, like cash payouts.

For the record, I'd probably go again if I didn't have to fly to get there.

[SonataOfTheCathedral]

I think another side event may be a good idea, one you like pay for. Last time day 1 I super scrubbed and just sat around waiting for something cool to roll along during round 6 and 7ish.

[ErkBek]

The most important thing to keeping waterbury healthy is to have an influx of new players.  Right?  Tournament cost is directly proportional to new players wanting to come.  Personally, I'd prefer costs to be 10-15$.  Moxen are overrated as prizes and have been for some time now.  I'd much rather see lower costs and more practical prizes, like cash payouts.

For the record, I'd probably go again if I didn't have to fly to get there.

As a person that frequently travels far to make a big event (unfortunately I haven't made a Waterbury yet) I'm usually wanting just the opposite. I wouldn't mind throwing down another $5 for entry to significantly increase prize support considering that I'm dropping money everywhere to actually go. I'm paying for gas, eating out, and occasionally hotel stays.

To attend a Waterybury here are traveling costs for most people

~$30-90 a person for gas (car of 4, car owner doesn't pay for gas b/c wear and tear on vehicle)   
~$40-60 per person for a hotel (1 room, 2 nights, 4 people)
~$40-60 food (usually eat out at 3 fast food places, 2 sit down)

Now when you're talking a difference of $5 in entry fee, I'll gladly pay another $5 for a significant increase in prize support (at least $600 more in prizes is pretty significant).

[Grand Inquisitor]

Regular TMD Open attendees will come regardless of prize support, due to the fun factor.  Why not make the entrance fee as low as possible to entice people that don't have an intimate knowledge of the format to attend and maybe make it worth their while.

My thoughts exactly.

I think another side event may be a good idea, one you like pay for. Last time day 1 I super scrubbed and just sat around waiting for something cool to roll along during round 6 and 7ish.

Out of curiosity has anyone ever developed a way to run a continuous play tournament?  Basically 'king of the mountain' style where you can join in as soon as you want (aka scrub out of main event) and you don't have defined rounds, but instead have pairings supplied depending on who finishes first?  Is there a way to do this using the swiss-style point system and not have complete anarchy?

[nataz]

whatever you do I think its important that you do a vintage event day 2. I'm willing to plop down the 150+ dollars to travel and stay over and what not for two days of vintage, but if its something else I'm not sure its worth it. If there is really a lot of support for something else day 2  why not do a legacy side event or something rather then not do a vintage event.

[TRb]

Noob question, where!?

But considering it is not relievant, here is what I would want.

1: $30
2: Vintage as big as Day 1
3: N/A
4: N/A
5: 16/17th

[Demonic Attorney]

1.  $30.00 for Power 9
2.  Vintage Day 2
3.  Yes on Question 3, Team Rivalry
4.  Team Sealed
5.  February 16-17th, please!  The holiday weekend is important for those of us with lots of career obligations.

[ashiXIII]

Regular TMD Open attendees will come regardless of prize support, due to the fun factor.  Why not make the entrance fee as low as possible to entice people that don't have an intimate knowledge of the format to attend and maybe make it worth their while. 

Now, I don't follow Standard at all.  Even with comparable prizes to TMD Open, I wouldn't attend a Standard tournament for 30 bucks, for example, because it's too much money to just throw away.  Not that 30 bucks is some huge amount of money for me, it's just past the threshold that I'm willing to pay to have a good time at a magic tourny that I know nothing about.

The most important thing to keeping waterbury healthy is to have an influx of new players.  Right?  Tournament cost is directly proportional to new players wanting to come.  Personally, I'd prefer costs to be 10-15$.  Moxen are overrated as prizes and have been for some time now.  I'd much rather see lower costs and more practical prizes, like cash payouts.

For the record, I'd probably go again if I didn't have to fly to get there.

I feel the $30 entry fee with the greater prize support is more likely to attract players than the extra $5 on the entry fee is going to scare them away.

[Englishman_in_NH]

I agree that $30 with full Power 9 given away seems the way to go for day 1, with a Vintage event on day 2 with slightly reduced entry and prize support.

I cannot think of anything to replace team rivalry, unless you can come up with some sort of amusing bingo game. Each time someone sees a certain play occur they can check it off their bingo card until they get bingo. Just a quick idea.

In terms of which date. I agree with Chris, the long weekend is ideal in that it allows those of us who are traveling from a ways away to not have to worry about monday morning for work as people will have that day to travel home or recouperate.

Either way, thanks again for organising what will be an amazing event.

Oli

[TopSecret]

I cannot think of anything to replace team rivalry, unless you can come up with some sort of amusing bingo game. Each time someone sees a certain play occur they can check it off their bingo card until they get bingo. Just a quick idea.

Although this would be very subjective,
there could be an award for "best play".

Ray could hand out his own opinion and be the final judge,
or there could be some sort of voting process.
I mention the former because accurately polling that many people
is difficult for even the most accomplished math teachers.

[v4ino]

One idea my brother had is to include your themanadrain.com screen name when you register (perhaps as an alternative to the DCI# or in addition to it) and print them on the match slips. This way you will know which member of the community you are playing. I hope this is possible as I can see this starting some interesting conversations before a match (your the guy who said that my deck sucks huh).

Since we don't have much support from Wizards we need the make the community tighter!

[Myriad Games]

I'd prefer bigger entry fees and more prizes.
Vintage both days - same size or slightly smaller for Day 2.
Replacing the Team Competition would be a nice change of pace.
I'm a big fan of Trivia and Scattergories or whatever other games we could add in as bonus activities.
Holiday weekend sounds good!

[Grand Inquisitor]

I'm a big fan of ...Scattergories

This would be really resource intensive, but a TABOO version of magic would be amazingly fun.  I think it would really show which teams are tight as well.

[Myriad Games]

Magic Taboo!

That would be sweet!

[Nefarias]

Man, that'd be sweet. You don't even know how many times I've played Taboo and thought, "Man, if there was a Magic player here, he'd get it in two seconds."

[ashiXIII]

Man, that'd be sweet. You don't even know how many times I've played Taboo and thought, "Man, if there was a Magic player here, he'd get it in two seconds."

I've never played Taboo, Magic or otherwise. Now I feel like I'm missing out.