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Conquer Club Tournament Handbook [Archived]

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Conquer Club Tournament Handbook [Archived]

Postby Optimus Prime on Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:12 pm

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Postby Optimus Prime on Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:14 pm

How to Join a Tournament

You have honed your skills in the public games and maybe even a few games against your friends. Now you are looking for a new challenge, something to prove your true dominance. You have come looking to join (and win) a tournament!

Conquer Club tournaments are full of some of the best players on the site. Many of them play strictly in tournament games as they know their skills will be tested by the best players around. Strategy takes on an entirely new meaning in a tournament; sometimes you have to win the game outright, while other times, a second place finish will be enough to get you to the next round. It's an entirely different ballgame, and you are guaranteed to have fun. :)

Here is a step-by-step guide for finding the tournament of your dreams:


  1. Take a moment to browse through the titles in the Create/Join a Tournament Forum. In most cases, the title of the tournament will give away a few hints as to what the tournament is about.

  2. Pick one of the titles you are interested in and enter the thread. Carefully read the first post to find all the details about that tournament. Pay special attention to things such as:

    • Game Format/Settings
    • Maps
    • Whether you are required to have premium membership
    • How many players are needed
    • How many games you will play at once (it varies between tournaments)
    • How players advance to the next round
  3. If the tournament looks like one you would enjoy being a part of you now need to sign up. All this takes is a reply in the thread. Most of the time a simple "Count me in!" will be fine, but be sure to see if you need to include any other information such as map choice or settings.

  4. Now that you have made your post, all that is left for you to do is patiently wait for the tournament to start. Sometimes this only takes a couple of days, but on occasion it can take up to a week or two. Just check back on the thread every so often to see if there are any updates you need to know about.

  5. Once the tournament is ready to start you should get a PM from the organizer telling you what to do next. Some organizers will ask you to check for game numbers in the thread, others will send them directly to you.

That's all there is to it! Enjoy the tournaments!

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, as you go through it, feel free to contact any one of the Tournament Directors. That’s what they are here for…to help you have fun.

Optimus Prime
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Postby Optimus Prime on Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:16 pm

How to Host a Tournament

So, you want to create, host, and run a tournament? But, you’re nervous and not quite sure how to do it? Well, you’ve come to the right place.

Running a tournament on Conquer Club is a whole lot of fun, a great way to meet new players, and provides a perfect outlet for the competitive beast in all of us. Not to mention that it’s guaranteed entertainment when you are bored at work.

This trusty set of step-by-step guidelines will provide the perfect source for “one-stop-shopping” on how to build, host, and run your own tournament from beginning to end. Until you are familiar with the process, my advice would be to print this out before you begin. That way, it will be in front of you as you go through the process.

Let’s get started.

  1. If you want, you can have a theme to your tournament. This is where you can be really creative. The best resource for theme ideas, if you choose to have one, is to look at actual themes that have been used in the past. You can get some great ideas from seeing what other people have done. Or, you can come with something completely original. Or, you don’t have to have any theme at all. It’s up to you.

  2. Next, you will need to give your tournament a name. It can be based on the theme (if you have one) or it can just be called “Joe’s Knucklehead Tournament.” The sky’s the limit!

  3. Now you have to decide the details of the Tournament and how it will be set up. For this you will need to decide upon:

    • Number of entrants (keep in mind, it should work out evenly all the way to the end).
    • Map
    • Game Type
    • Play Order
    • Spoils
    • Reinforcements
    • Fog of War
  4. Now that you have all the details of the Tournament established, all you need now are some players. For this, you need to create a thread in the Tournament section of the forums letting everyone know that you are looking for people to sign up. Most people will respond right there in the same thread, but you might receive a few PM’s as well. Either way, keep track of it in the order in which you receive players!!!

    It’s also good to let the players know what their status is. In other words, let them know if they are in or not, or reserves, etc. You can do this by affirmatively responding to their posts with a new post of your own, or by listing entrants as they join on your original post by clicking “edit,” and then making the updates.

    Once you have received enough players to fill your tournament, I strongly suggest that you accept some reserves (3-10 depending on the size of your tourney) just in case someone drops out or deadbeats. Hopefully you won’t need them, but it can save you big headaches down the line.

    Once your tournament is full, please designate as such. You can do this by “editing” your original subject line and writing “FULL” at the end of it. Your thread will be moved after you request your privileges.

  5. Now that you have enough players to run a public tourney, you must get “Tournament Privileges.” Simply fill out the below form and PM it to one of the Tournament Directors.

    ---------------------

      Tournament Organizer: Put the Tourney organizer (and co-host if applicable and will be making games) name here

      Tournament Name: Put the name of your Tournament here. Make sure you use proper spelling and capitalization, because what you send us will be the label for your games.

      Tournament Thread: Copy/Paste the link to your Tourney thread here

      Comments: If you have any comments or questions, put them here.

    This process could take a while (up to 24 hours) so please be patient.

    ----------------------
  6. Now we have to create the games. The number of games to be created will be dependent on how many people are in your tournament and how many players you wish to be at each game. For example, if you are running a 64 person tournament, you could have 4 players at 16 games. This would require you to create 16 games. Or if you are running a 20 person, head-to-head tournament, you would have 2 players at 10 games.

    To create the games, go to “Start a Game,” scroll to the selected tournament name, decide upon a password for each of the games, and fill out the details that you decided upon in Step #3. You can also add a descriptive Game Label that will follow your tournament title. You will have to go through this process for each game you need. Like the example above, you would need to create 16 games for a 64 person tournament, and repeat the process 16 times. Sounds like a lot, but it’s a piece of cake once you get the hang to it.

    Again, I strongly recommend you write down each of the game numbers and passwords you use. You will need to remember them when you send out game assignments to your tournament participants.

  7. Now simply assign your participants their game numbers and individually PM them along with passwords (that you make up) to get into each game. Hopefully, they will all join in a reasonable amount of time and you can sit back and enjoy the show.

    Sometimes, you will get people that just don’t join the games, change their minds, disappear, or whatever. This is where the “reserves” (see Step #4) can save your butt and keep you from looking foolish. Simply PM one of the reserves and let them know that they are “in” and give them the table number and password of the person they are replacing.

  8. Congratulations, the hard part is over!!!! Now, just simply keep track of all the games. I like to post each of the Game Numbers and all Tournament updates in my original post. It gives your participants a place to check the tourney status and keeps them involved. I also like to post the round-by-round winners so players can “scout” possible upcoming opponents.

  9. As games end, request that the winner of each game send you either a post on the thread, or a PM letting you know of the results. This will allow you to keep track of the tournaments’ progress and set the brackets and match ups for the upcoming rounds.

  10. Finally, congratulate the winner publicly. There is no greater feeling than having your victory posted for all to see. And, why not…they fought hard and earned it. They should be rewarded with a little bit of “spotlight.” Also, it will keep people interested in joining future tournaments you might host as well.

  11. The staff at Conquer Club like to keep things as user-friendly as possible. One way we are able to do this is to literally move tournaments, based upon the status of each.

    So, once your tournament is full and under way, please type "Full" or "Ongoing" in the Subject line of your original post. This signals the CC staff to move your tournament to the Ongoing SubForum. Likewise, when your tournament has concluded please type, "Completed" or "Winner: ______," in the same Subject line. This, in turn, will signal CC staff to move the tournament into the "Completed" SubForum.

    And don't worry about not being able to find your tourney once it's moved. We always leave a "shadow" directing you to it's new home.

  12. Sometimes things arise unexpectedly that are out of our control. It happens. If this should happen while you are in the midst of hosting a tournament, no worries. You may pass the torch to someone else to continue running the tournament in your absence. Just send a PM to one of the Tournament Directors letting us know who your replacement will be. Also, have your replacement send us a PM, with the above mentioned completed form, and we will grant them Tourney Privileges so that they may continue running the tourney.

You may, if you so choose, offer a real prize of a Conquer Club membership to the winner(s). If you do this, Conquer Club will generously match 100% whatever prize you offer. You may distribute the matched membership, by month, however you wish to your winner(s).

That’s about it. My best piece of advice is to stay organized! It will make hosting your own tournament incredibly easy and possibly save you from looking silly. And, most of all have fun.

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, as you go through it, feel free to contact any one of the Tournament Directors. That’s what they are here for…to help you have fun.
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Postby Optimus Prime on Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:17 pm

New Tournament Requirements

Over the past couple of months the tournament forums have exploded with many new tournaments for the enjoyment of all and it looks like it is a trend that will continue, much to the delight of the Tournament Directors. However, we have begun to notice an upswing in the number of tournaments that are somewhat lacking in preparation or competitive nature.

A tournament should feature enough players to make sure that the winner had to really accomplish something to win, rather than just a few lucky rolls of the dice, and with that in mind, we are installing a new set of minimum requirements for receiving tournament privileges.

These requirements are not meant to restrict your creativity (as I know fully that all of you are incredibly creative in your themes and formats), but rather to make sure that everyone who signs up for a tournament receives the same competitive atmosphere as everyone else. It is our intention that a minimum standard be maintained here in the tournament forums, and this should help us do so.

Without further delay, here are your new minimum requirements:

=========================================================

  1. You must have at least 16 total players.

  2. The tournament must feature at least 5 games.

  3. At least 50% of the spots available must be for open/public sign-ups, and not filled with special invitations. (Tournament Directors will be conducting random checks on occasion to ensure this criteria is being met.)

  4. The first post must be organized and state such things as game settings, maps, number of games, etc.

    Note: If you wish to run a tournament based upon a actual sports league or something similar, and it requires you to have less than 16 players, please contact a Tournament Director to discuss what options are available to you. Your tournament may possibly be approved if it is well prepared and features an acceptable format.

    We have no objection to anyone running a tournament that does not meet these specific requirements. However, if it is not approved, it will not be granted privileges and will have to be organized using private games.

    If your first post is missing some pertinent information, the Tournament Directors reserve the right to kindly ask you to provide such information before granting your privileges.
=========================================================

We realize that some of you like to run smaller tournaments, and we love that, but we kindly ask that you make sure they fit into the new requirements. We have full faith in your creativity and skills, and believe you will all be providing excellent tournaments for a long time to come.
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Postby Optimus Prime on Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:18 pm

Abandoned Tournament Policy

Over the last year, there has been an increased number of tournaments that have been started only to be abandoned mid-way through. The CC staff has received numerous complaints about this from the players who had entered these tournaments, only to be left in the lurch wondering if the tournament was still active, abandoned, on hold, etc.

Abandoning a tournament is simply unfair and discourteous to the players who make the commitment to sign up and play. As the host of a tournament, it is your responsibility to see your tournament through from beginning to end....period.

That being said, your Tournament Directors have come up with a policy that is designed to reduce the number of abandoned tournaments. It is a ladder system that gives those who host tournaments every opportunity to succeed, yet is designed to discourage those who create tournaments, only to walk away after it has begun.

The ladder system is as follows:

    1st Offense: Informal Warning and a slap on the wrist

    2nd Offense: Official warning and a swift kick in the "tookus"

    3rd Offense: 3 month ban from starting/hosting tournaments

    4th Offense: 6 month ban from hosting tournaments

    5th Offense: Permanent ban from hosting tournaments

By "ban," we mean that no tournament privileges will be granted to the offending player for the specified period of time.

A permanent record will be maintained by the Tournament Directors reflecting those currently on the list, a history of all offenses, the dates warnings/bans start and end, and the names of abandoned tournaments for easy reference.

Punishment in the form of "bans" is a last resort. It is our hope that no one ever has to lose tournament privileges. But, in the interest of the tournament community at large, we feel it necessary to have a system in place to protect the large majority of our members from the thoughtlessness of a few.

I wish you all a safe and prosperous New Year.

Steelhorse
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Postby Optimus Prime on Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:19 pm

Abandoned Tournament Policy — FAQ


1. What exactly is considered an abandoned tournament?

    A tournament is not a tournament until it is full and games have begun. If you announce a tournament, but abandon it while acquiring players, no violation will have occured. Sometimes, hosts can't get enough players, or realize that it is too involved and feel the need to pull the plug before it gets going.

    If an ongoing tournament has no activity for 1 month, meaning no posts by the hosts, no standings updates, no new game assignments, etc., the Tournament Directors will assess the status. PM's will be sent to the host making inquiries as to the status of the tournament. If no response is received or justification given, it will be considered abandoned.

2. What if I start a tournament and I have an emergency (ie. death in the family, illness, etc.) where I am unable to continue running my tournament?

    Contact one the Tournament Directors immediately, if possible. Consideration will be given to extreme circumstances. We can either find someone to take the tournament over, or an announcement can be made stating that it will be postponed for no longer than 1 month. However, this subjectiveness on behalf of the Tournament Directors is not to be abused.

    If such circumstances do arise, we advise you to find help in the Tournament Organizers' Forum, which everyone who has privileges has access to. Often, you will find someone there who will cover the tourney for you until you are able to resume control. This should be one of your first avenues.

3. What if I have abandoned tournaments in the past? Does this new policy apply retroactively?

    No. Everyone starts off with a clean slate as of January 1, 2008. Punishments will not be levied ex-post facto.

4. Will the current list of who is "banned" and/or who is on the ladder be maintained publicly?

    No. The intent is not to embarrass anyone or open them up to public scorn or ridicule. In time, most everyone will know who the habitual offenders are, anyhow.

5. What if I am running multiple tournaments, I abandon one of them, and it is my 3rd offense? Will I lose privileges for the other tournaments I am running mid-way through?

    No. You will not lose privileges for any tournaments you may be running while in progress. However, no NEW privileges will be granted for the specified period of time beginning once all of your tournaments are completed.

6. What is the difference between the First Offense warning and the Second Offense warning?

    Nothing. We want to give everyone the opportunity to succeed. But, once you make it to the Second Offense, you are skating on very thin ice and perilously close to falling through.
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Re: [Official] Tournament Handbook

Postby Optimus Prime on Thu May 08, 2008 7:05 pm

What to do About Abandoned Tournaments

So you signed up for a tournament a few weeks back and the first couple of games were created and you were doing great! Then something happened. The organizer of the tournament has disappeared and nobody has any idea what is going on. What should you do?

  1. If the tournament organizer has not had any presence in the tournament thread for at least 3-4 weeks you can consider the tournament abandoned. Very rarely will an organizer return after that length of time.

  2. If you were doing well in the tournament and would really like to see it continue then you should consider reviving the tournament yourself in one of the following ways:

    1. If you can get permission from the previous organizer and have them send one of the Tournament Directors a PM stating that they are willing to have you replace them in running the tournament then the privileges for that tournament can be transferred to you.

    2. If you cannot find the previous organizer you should feel free to start a brand new tournament using the same format and even the same title if you wish.

Unfortunately, as Tournament Directors, we cannot grant you the privileges to take over a tournament without the permission of the original organizer. We are aware that sometimes this means a tournament will fall by the wayside, but we are willing to do whatever we can to help you begin a tournament anew under your name.

As always, if you have any further questions, please feel free to send a PM to one of the Tournament Directors.
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Re: [Official] Tournament Handbook

Postby Optimus Prime on Thu May 08, 2008 7:09 pm

Reserves Threads Policy

In nearly every tournament, there are players who sign up to compete but never show up when it comes time to join their game(s). Most tournaments start out with a couple reserves for just such a case, but what should the organizer do when their list has been depleted? The option to start sending PMs to players is always there, but many organizers choose to create a new thread specifically for recruiting reserves. If you would like to do this, please follow these guidelines:

  • The thread title must include a [Reserves] tag. This will easily separate the active tournaments from those still recruiting.
  • The first post needs to include information on the # of reserves needed, the game settings, and a link to the main thread.
  • Reserve threads will be moved to Archives after 1 week in the Create/Join forum. If you are finished with the thread earlier than that, please mark it with a [CLOSED] tag in the thread title and a Tournament Director will move it sooner.
  • Here's an example post:

    Thread Title: [RESERVES] Point Grabbers VII

    In Post: I am looking for 3 players who are interested in playing in the Point Grabbers VII tournament. The games are 1 vs 1 with flat rate spoils and chained reinforcements. If you would like to join the fun, please post in the thread linked below, or contact Optimus Prime with a PM.

    Thread: Point Grabbers VII Main Thread

We will also no longer be allowing organizers to host a public notice list or a revolving reserves request thread. You'll need to keep any compiled lists on your own. For publicizing your tournaments outside of your recruitment thread, please use PMs or the Tournament Newsletter. If you need to keep a large notice list on hand for your use as an organizer, please consider using the PM Draft feature in your Inbox. It can store all sorts of lists and data without ever being lost. We apologize to those that are affected, but it is in the best interest of keeping the Create/Join forum as clean as possible.
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Re: [Official] Tournament Handbook

Postby Optimus Prime on Thu May 08, 2008 7:09 pm

Prize Donation Policy

Each day we have new tournaments being created, started, and completed here at Conquer Club. These tournament provide a new and exciting avenue of game play for all involved, and give the players a new challenge to pursue. However, without our tournament organizers, these tournaments would not exist, and so we would like to outline exactly how these organizers can add a little extra incentive for the players in their tournaments to play hard.

At this time, Conquer Club is willing to match any premium that is purchased by a tournament organizer for the winner of a tournament. This matching applies to any amount an organizer may wish to apply to their tournaments.

Read below to find all the details of how this policy works.

==============================================================

Examples:

    Steelhorse decides to run a tournament, and when is is all finished and a winner has been determined, he logs on to CC and buys his winner a 1-year membership. Then, he sends a copy of his receipt to one of the Tournament Directors and they confirm his purchase. Once the Tournament Director has confirmed this, he allots 12 months of "matched" premium to Steelhorse who then awards a 6 month package to his second place finisher, and 3 months to third and fourth place respectively.

    OR

    Steelhorse runs his tournament until it is finished and buys a premium membership for his winner. Once he has been given his matched premium by the Tournament Directors he decides to keep it stockpiled in his "premium bank" which will be monitored by the Tournament Directors. A couple weeks later, Steelhorse finishes his second tournament and sends a PM to a Tournament Director asking that 6 months of his banked premium be applied to the account of the new tournament winner. Steelhorse now has 6 months of "matched" premium remaining.


Policy Details:

  1. All questions, concerns, or problems with tournament prize donation need to be sent to one of the Tournament Directors. They will be monitoring the "premium bank", confirming purchases, and allotting all matched premium to tournament organizers. The tournament organizers should not contact lackattack to get approval for premium rewards.

  2. A tournament organizer may "stockpile" their matched premium if they feel so inclined. The Tournament Directors will keep a running list of who has purchased what, and how much matched premium they have awarded and have remaining. If you ever need to know your current matched premium balance, please send a PM to one of the Tournament Directors.

  3. Matched premium may be parceled out in portions from as small as 3 months to as much as you have in your bank. You may not give your portions of premium any smaller than 3 months. No exceptions.

  4. All matched premium in a tournament organizers bank must be used as a prize/reward for an approved tournament related event. It cannot be given to a random family member, friend, or the organizer himself (unless they actually won their own tournament, which has happened on several ocassions).

  5. If an organizer wishes to use some of their matched premium as a reward for a future tournament they must include their intention to do so in their request for tournament privileges for the future tournament. Also, if the organizer does not wish to use their matched premium for the same tournament for which it was given, they must tell the Tournament Directors at the time it is earned so a note can be made in their bank.

  6. Once a tournament organizer has used up all of their matched premium they must once again purchase additional memberships in order to earn more to add to their bank.

==============================================================

PLEASE NOTE: This prize donation policy may have changes made in the future as new features are added to the site. If any changes or additions to this policy are made we will make sure they are publicized.
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Re: [Official] Tournament Handbook

Postby Optimus Prime on Thu May 08, 2008 7:10 pm

Tournament Organizer Etiquette

Planning out and running a tournament is a privilege available to all members of Conquer Club. However, it is not a privilege that should be abused, and it is not something that should be done in a half-hearted manner. By creating a tournament, you are taking upon yourself the responsibility to provide a well-run and well-organized event for many players; most of whom you have never met, but are still expecting a good time.

Running a tournament is not something that can be done overnight. It takes planning, thinking, and dedication in order to do it, and an extra dose of each of those things to do it well. At any given time there are tournament organizers who fall by the wayside, those who put in just enough effort to finish, and those who go the extra mile to make their tournaments stand out above the rest.

Here is a list of things that you can do as a Tournament Organizer to stand out among the rest:

  1. Take the time to announce your tournament properly. Make the first post in your thread something that stands out and make sure that it is organized in a way that is easy to understand and follow. The first key to finding players is to make your tournament look good.

  2. When you start a tournament, update your sign-ups on a regular basis. This usually means that you will need to check in at least once a day (sometimes more) and let the players know you have put them on the list of players for the tournament. Nobody likes to sit around wondering if they actually got in.

  3. Learn how to alter the text in your thread title. This is helpful for letting players know as the tournament progresses if there is anything new they should look at. Tags such as [Updated on...], [Check Standings], or [Round #] let players know if something has changed.

  4. When you are ready to start creating games for your tournament, please use the proper form for requesting your tournament privileges. It will not only endear you to your Tournament Directors, but it will speed up the process. You can find the form you will need in the Tournament Handbook.

  5. Update your tournament thread regularly. We cannot stress this enough. Players that have signed up to play in your tournament will not like to be left wondering what is going on. Even if there are no newly completed games or any changes to make to the standings, post in your thread that there is nothing new to report. Tournament Organizers who are respected always make sure their players are up to speed on even the smallest of details.

  6. Make sure to record game results on a regular basis. Even if your tournament has 400 games and only 4 or 5 have been completed, the players will want to know. Trust us on this one. Also, it is easier to stay on top of things if you do small things on a frequent basis.

  7. If a player in your tournament sends you a PM or makes a post in the tournament thread with a question that pertains to the tournament, make it a point to answer that question both in the thread as well as with a PM to the player. Personal attention will get you places you never dreamed of in this profession.

  8. If you get stuck, or don't quite know how to do something, ask someone who does. The players here at Conquer Club are a treasure trove of knowledge and if you need help making your standings work, or figuring something else out, just ask, you will find the answer. Not knowing how to do something is a terrible reason to abandon a tournament.

  9. The Tournament Directors really are your friends. We promise. There is nothing we want more in the world than to help you run a successful tournament. Feel free to send us a PM anytime with any question, large or small. If we don't know the answer, we will help you find it, or we will point you in the direction of someone who does.

  10. If your schedule becomes too busy to run your tournament effectively, see if one of your players or another organizer would be willing to become a co-organizer to free up some of your time. If you have absolutely no time, see if someone else will take up your full tournament. You must make a post that publicly announces any change in leadership. DO NOT start a tournament if you know your schedule will get very busy soon after it starts.

  11. NEVER create games other than for the tournament the privileges are granted. Your privileges can not be used to create games for private tournaments, in-clan tournaments, or clan challenges. ANYONE caught abusing this will have their privileges revoked. Yes, the Tournament Directors do check on this from time to time, don't press your luck. ;)

Hopefully this list will help all of you in your efforts to be better Tournament Organizers. If you don't get everything right the first time around, don't worry too much, there are plenty of us here to help you out. Even extremely experienced organizers are constantly seeking to improve their skills.

Now get out there and run some good tournaments!
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Re: [Official] Tournament Handbook

Postby Optimus Prime on Thu May 08, 2008 7:10 pm

Tournament Player Etiquette

Just like an organizer has a responsibility to his or her tournament participants, those same participants have a responsibility to the organizer and fellow competitors. Although these may not be as important as an Organizer’s Etiquette, they can help the tournament run more smoothly as well as help everyone enjoy their participation. All of these etiquette guidelines will improve every tournament participant’s experience.

Player to Organizer Etiquette
There are several factors that you as the participant can do to help the organizer run an effective tournament.

  1. Follow any given guidelines when registering for a tournament. Typically, the organizer will provide what he/she wants from you when you sign up for the tournament. They will typically include such requests as Division of play, map preference, and other settings (spoils, reinforcements, etc.). Please also include ALL team members (rather than just one at a time) and a team name if these are applicable. Both of these will save the Organizer from having to send reminder PMs for the necessary information.

  2. Show up for your games. Depending on the number and variety of games, it could take the organizer a large amount of time to create each one. It is a hassle when a player does not show up for a game because a replacement must be found and/or a game remade. Most organizers allow you 48 hours to join your game(s) from the time they send the PM to you. If you are not going to be able to join in this timely manner, it is a courtesy to PM the organizer with a reason for your delay. They will then be able to decide if a replacement needs to be found or not.

  3. Help provide the organizer with finished game results. Most organizers will update their tournaments every 3-4 days at a minimum. Posting your finished games in either the thread or by a PM will serve as a reminder to the organizer that the tournament is progressing. It is best to include the game number(s) with link(s) as well as the order of finish in each game.

  4. Check the organizer’s results. Organizers will typically keep an up-to-date chart in one of the first few posts and/or the newest post, but they are not perfect. Do not hesitate to point out a flaw in a point calculation or order of finish. An organizer tries his/her best to be flawless, but mistakes do happen. Point them out in the thread AS WELL AS by PM in a tactful manner, even if correcting the mistake keeps you from advancing. You will gain much respect in the eyes of the organizer.

  5. Be patient if the tournament seems to be moving slowly. Not all games move at the same pace, even if they start at the same time. The organizer is probably still keeping an eye on the tournament even if games are not finishing at a quick rate. If you suspect the organizer has forgotten or even abandoned a tournament, it is best to communicate via a PM with the organizer. It never looks good to bash the organizer publicly.

  6. Do NOT drop a tournament just because you feel the organizer is rude. It is better to finish out a tournament rather than dropping it completely. If you as a participant feel that an organizer has been rude or ineffective either personally or managerially, bring it to the attention of a Tournament Director. The Directors are here to do more than just granting privileges and moving threads.

  7. Thank the tournament organizer, either publicly or privately, after your elimination or tournament completion. Hosting a tournament is a lot of work that the organizer typically gets little credit for putting together. The winner should without a doubt provide a thank-you, especially if a Premium Prize has been awarded.

  8. Being respectful to an organizer can bring a variety of rewards. Some organizers will ask an active player to be a co-organizer in a future tournament. Others will inform players about a tournament before it is posted to the public. Always be on the look out as to what a helpful attitude can bring to your tournament experience.

Player to Player Etiquette
Playing tournament games has some different aspects to it than public games. Here are some of the guidelines.

  1. Do not be overly concerned about points. Most tournament players have a score between 800-1800. This means that you will probably be matched up against a cook in some of your tournaments. Do not worry about losing your points. If you are good enough, you will probably make more points in the tournament than you will lose.

  2. Check your ignore list. For those who have many people on the ignore list, you may have to take a person or two off in order to participate in the tournament. Most organizers will not accept any delays, especially if it involves a person who has been ignored. You will probably get kicked out of the tournament for delaying if you do not remove the person.

  3. Join your games promptly. Many tournament players want the games to move quickly, especially to get the games started. If a participant is slow getting to your game, kindly send the game number(s) and password. ESPECIALLY do this if it is your teammate being slow. This helps out the organizer as well.

  4. Do not purposefully delay your games. Promptly taking your turns is always encouraged, especially in tournaments. This keeps it moving. NEVER purposefully miss turns to receive an army bonus. This is not as problematic since the bonus armies are not received until after the attacks, but it is still very discourteous. Give advanced warning if you are going to miss a turn or two, OR if you have a babysitter. Remember, it CANNOT be a person in the same game, and you should avoid having someone from the same tournament if possible.

  5. Do not get upset if players do not chat frequently. Many tournament players play in multiple tournaments and do not bother saying phrases such as “Good luck” or “Good game”. Or chat much at all. This is especially common if the same players are playing multiple games together. Do not take a lack of conversation personally.

  6. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY ALLIANCES. Secret alliances are against Conquer Club rules anyway, but even public alliances are greatly frowned upon in tournament games. Most tournaments are set up to lead to one winner, and most players will get upset if their methodical lead suddenly becomes double-teamed.

  7. Publicly congratulate the tournament winner. Once the final game is completed, post a congratulation in the tournament thread, especially if you participated in the finals. This shows that you know how to lose gracefully.

Hopefully this list will help all of you in your efforts to be better Tournament Players. We want tournaments to be fun for everyone, both organizers and players, and we think these basic rules of etiquette should help us keep it that way.

Now get out there and play in some good tournaments!
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