The Games Club .5K Tournaments

[The Games Club]

I'm currently wokring on the feasability on running a series of events with a significant cash prize and am looking for opinions on the two options detailed below.

Your comments (keep them constructive and on topic) will help to work out whether this type of event should become a regular(ish) part of The Games Club's event calendar.

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Option 1
Format: Standard
Structure: N Rounds of Swiss + Top 8 Playoff
Entre Fee: £20

Option 2
Format: Booster Draft (2 Drafts)
Structure: Draft - 3 Rounds Swiss - Draft - 3 Rounds Swiss + Top 8 Booster Draft Playoff
Entry Fee: £35

Prize Payout (both options)
1st = £250*
2nd = £150*
3rd = £50*
4th = £50*

*Prize Payout will depend on the number of players. The figures above are based on 50 players, 64 players would increase the prize payout to £640 and 32 players would reduce the prize payout to £320.

It is unlikely that there will be any form of product based prizes.

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[Mark Walker]

Oh, that's good. Especially if you only run it once :D

Roque Martire said:

How about free entry into all of next year's 4-tournament season for the POTY? It would be like getting pro points!

[The Games Club]

Roque Martire said:

How about free entry into all of next year's 4-tournament season for the POTY? It would be like getting pro points!

This might have some legs to it.

It would be nice to have different levels, say 1-4 each representing the number of free entries you can claim the following year.

I think this would ultiamtely depend on the number of players that attend. The maths are already quite tight, but it might be possible do something that doesn't impact too much on the margins.

[Michael Duke]

I don't think you would be able to call it a .5k if prize money is directly linked to player numbers. It might be looked in a negative light if lets say 10 players turned up and spent £35 each with the prize pool only being £100 and therefore barely winning back their entrance fee, but could also backfire in a good way (so to speak) in the example given if 62 players turn up and prize pool was £620 then you would have missed the oppertunity to promote the tournament as a .6k which may have brought in more players, either way, if it was to be called .5k, the name would be deceptive.

I also believe that maybe booster prizes should given to 5-8th perhaps 1/4 booster prize support per player. After playing 6 rounds and making top 8 might seen a bit empty that you have to progress further before you have anything to show for it.

[The Games Club]

Michael Duke said:

I don't think you would be able to call it a .5k if prize money is directly linked to player numbers. It might be looked in a negative light if lets say 10 players turned up and spent £35 each with the prize pool only being £100 and therefore barely winning back their entrance fee, but could also backfire in a good way (so to speak) in the example given if 62 players turn up and prize pool was £620 then you would have missed the oppertunity to promote the tournament as a .6k which may have brought in more players, either way, if it was to be called .5k, the name would be deceptive.

The trouble here is that it has to be called something and whilst you are right on missing the opportunity to advertise a larger prize pool, there does need to be an amout associated to the event which is attractive enough to interest a reasonable number of players.

I'm fairly sure that you can advertise it as .5K as long as there is a disclaimer included in the advertising material and I don't think calling it "The Games Club P*.01K (P = number of players)" is quite as catchy.

If we guarantee a fixed prize we run the risk of loosing a considerable amount of money. To date there has never been a large cash prize tournamernt in the UK that made money (there have been several attempts by other TOs). I'm not sure that this is a risk that I am prepared to take.

As an aside I estimate that the "Win a Case" tournament in Lincoln lost approximately £300. It certainly didn't cover the advertised prizes out of the entrance fees, let alone the additional product prizes, staffing and operational costs.

Even the Star City Games 1K events are not covering the prize money with the entrance fees collected.

[The Games Club]

Michael Duke said:

I also believe that maybe booster prizes should given to 5-8th perhaps 1/4 booster prize support per player. After playing 6 rounds and making top 8 might seen a bit empty that you have to progress further before you have anything to show for it.

I have to say that I am still on the fence with regards to product prizes, but I am definitely leaning towards none, especially as no other M:TG cash prize tournament gives product prizes.

I have a fundamental problem with giving prizes to 4 players (5th-8th) that manage to lose more rounds than the guy in 9th place when their place in the top eight was assured by their first opponents being shit and playing every round.

This is why we now give product prizes based on the points after the final standing and don't take into account in during any Playoff .

[ross miles]

i'm in for cash event - lots of drafting - a good prize - maybe some stripping - what could go wrong

[Ben Titmarsh]

I really like the player of the year thing Roque came up with. It breeds loyalty and means you are likely to see them same faces at each event even if they arent GC regulars.

1st = Free entry to all of next years events
2nd = Free entry to the first 2
3rd and 4th = Free entry to the first 1

Awesome.

I think Nick in Colchester does something similar with Xtreme Games League or whatever its called where he offers XGL points at all events. Not sure what prizes are on offer there.

Also like Marks idea of having one sealed, one draft, one standard & one extended.

[Kieran Symington]

This is definately a great idea. I also like the idea of rotating between limited and constructed events.

How would the double draft work? And what would happen if there was an odd number of players?

[Gary Lynch]

Just call it the "King of something" tournament. Then I will have to win. I like being King :)

[Amidu]

I dont mind taking your money jason :D

drafting sounds awesome, 2 drafts and then top 8 sounds like a good plan.

You could always do sealed with top8draft if you want to give me money :D

[wv]

What about using this Ning to create some sort of a 'Player Leader Board', much in the same vein as the DCI rankings page.

Every single time you participate in a tournament at the Games Club, it effects your 'Games Club Points', which in-turn effects your ranking on the 'Games Club Ladder'. At the end of the year, the winner gets free FNM for a year (for eg), and runners up win a box each or something.

Not only is there a tangible incentive, but a visible ladder will really get all our competitive juices flowing, and would (with out a doubt) increase tournament turnouts...

All it would require is for someone to update the ladder every week (either manually or through an automated system).

gogogogogogogo!!!

[Gary Lynch]

Jason used to do this with the top 8 best and top 8 most frequent player getting into the games club invatational. I believe this was another thing that cost him money as it didnt get people to spend any more than they already would.

Warren Vonk said:

What about using this Ning to create some sort of a 'Player Leader Board', much in the same vein as the DCI rankings page.

Every single time you participate in a tournament at the Games Club, it effects your 'Games Club Points', which in-turn effects your ranking on the 'Games Club Ladder'. At the end of the year, the winner gets free FNM for a year (for eg), and runners up win a box each or something.

Not only is there a tangible incentive, but a visible ladder will really get all our competitive juices flowing, and would (with out a doubt) increase tournament turnouts...

All it would require is for someone to update the ladder every week (either manually or through an automated system).

gogogogogogogo!!!