2 new tournament ideas...feedback?

[JrFan88]

I have a couple of ideas for tournaments and I'd just like some feedback, positive or otherwise, on my basic premise for each of them.

First, a tourny based around NCAA Football. I call it "Who Needs the Stinkin' BCS!". It would consist of eight confrences with five players each, for a total of 40 players (my first attempt so I want to keep the numbers relatively small). Each confrence would have a single, winner-take-all format (one game, one winner); the eight confrence champs would advance to the quarter-finals (four "bowl" games), the quarter winners to a 2 round semi-final and finally a two player "National Championship" game. Each player would also pick a team from each of the real confrences to represent in the CC tourny (one team/player, no repeats - there are PLENTY of teams to choose from). I'd like to use the USA map for this one, but am open to suggestion.

Second, a NASCAR themed tournament, tentativly called "Back in the Day". This one is a bit trickier, because I would have to limit the number of players to a maximum of 8 total (which I believe is the max number each game can handle). There would be 16 games on eight tracks (2 each, duh) with the same players in all of them. Like the NASCAR championship, the CC tourny winner would be based on the total number of points scored over the "season": the player with the most points would win the tournament (as an option, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals could be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place). Like the NCAA tournament, I'd like to use the USA map.

Additionally, depending on their popularity, both tournaments could be annual events. I can post the preliminary details if anyone is interested.

Comments?

Thanx!
JrFan88

[Natewolfman]

Second, a NASCAR themed tournament, tentativly called "Back in the Day". This one is a bit trickier, because I would have to limit the number of players to a maximum of 8 total (which I believe is the max number each game can handle). There would be 16 games on eight tracks (2 each, duh) with the same players in all of them. Like the NASCAR championship, the CC tourny winner would be based on the total number of points scored over the "season": the player with the most points would win the tournament (as an option, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals could be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place). Like the NCAA tournament, I'd like to use the USA map.

i think that Circus Maximus would be the best map for this, since nascar works the same way, one direction in a loop

[JrFan88]

Thanks!!! I've got a message out to the mapmaker to see if he can clarify the gameplay a little. While we're on the subject, anyone want to take a stab at a simple explanation of how Circus Maximus works?

Oh, btw, I've revised the NASCAR idea a bit and fleshed out the details for both. I'll post everything to a related thread within the next couple of days.

[Natewolfman]

its pretty simple really, you can only travel in a counter clockwise direction around the track, attacking anything directly in front of you, or diagnal to you. There are no bonus's on this map other then the standard 12=4 15=5 and so on

[JrFan88]

Greets,

This is actually an addendum to my original post about holding NCAA football and/or NASCAR themed tournaments. This post will provide details on each proposal including a revised format for the NASCAR idea. It's a bit wordy, but bear with me; I'm trying to touch all the bases. As usual, your feedback is always welcome.

Details for the proposed NCAA themed football tournament "Who Needs the Stinkin' BCS!"....

Players: 5 in each conference (40 total), playing 8 preliminary games (one game per conference). Conference champs advance to the quarter-finals; quarter winners to the semi-finals and the two remaining players meet for the championship (40 > 8 > 4 > 2 > 1).
Game type: standard, sequential, casual. Open to free and premium players.
Map: USA (tentative)
Spoils: none or flat rate, whichever is best for gameplay
Reinforcements: unlimited
Fog of War: no

Tournament Conferences (and team examples)
Atlantic Coast (Boston College, Florida State, Virgina Tech, Georgia Tech, etc.)
Big Ten (Penn State, Ohio State, Northwestern, et al)
Big 12 (Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, etc.)
Mountain West (Utah, BYU, Air Force...)
Pacific 10 (USC, UCLA, Washington, Cal, et al)
Southeastern (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, etc.)
Western Athletic (Boise St., Hawaii, LA Tech, San Jose State...)
Independent (Notre Dame, Army, Navy, Western Kentucky*)
(* The BCS only lists these 4 teams as independents. )

Players may choose a team from one of the conferences to represent in the tournament (one per player, no repeats.) but this has no bearing on the outcome; it's for bragging rights only. If a player wants a team that's already been picked by someone else, he/she can choose an alternate from one of the following non-tournament conferences:
Big East (Cincinnati, Pitt, W. Virginia, etc.)
Conference USA (E. Carolina, UAB, UTEP, SMU, etc.)
Mid-American (Temple, Kent St., Ball St., etc.)
Sun Belt (Troy, LA-Lafayette, Arkansas St., etc.)

The 11 conferences and 4 major independents are all part of the BCS's Football Bowl Subdivision (or FBS), the teams that - in theory - are all eligible for the BCS National Championship "play-offs".
(all information is per rivals.com from Yahoo! sports)

Quarter-Finals
Four "bowl" games between the eight conference champions:
Rose Bowl - Pac 10 v. Big 10
Sugar Bowl - Atlantic Coast v. Mtn. West
Cotton Bowl - Big 12 v. WAC
Orange Bowl - Southeastern v. Independent

Semi-Finals
Two more "bowls" between the quarter-final winners:
Freemium Bowl (tentative) - Rose v. Orange
Premium Bowl (tentative) - Sugar v. Cotton

Finals
The "National Championship" game:
Conquer Club Bowl - Freemium v. Premium

Details for the NASCAR themed tournament "Back in the Day".

Players: Eight total, playing in 16 games head-to-head (same players in all 16 games), winner determined by total points earned by the end of the tournament. Player with the most points wins.
Game type: standard, sequential, casual. Open to free and premium players.
Map: USA or Circus Maximus
Spoils: none
Reinforcements: unlimited
Fog of War: no

Gameplay
The tournament is played as a NASCAR "season" with all 8 players going head-to-head at 16 "tracks". Games could be played in four groups of 4 games each and are named for the tracks on NASCAR's 1980 Winston Cup schedule:
Group 1: Daytona, Atlanta, Bristol and Charlotte
Group 2: Darlington, Dover, Martinsville and Michigan
Group 3: Nashville, North Carolina, North Wilkesboro and Pocono
Group 4: Richmond, Riverside, Talladega and Texas

Scoring: Points are scored depending on the player's finish in each game, as follows -
1st: 25
2nd: 20
3rd: 15
4th: 10
5th: 5
6th: 3
7th: 2
8th: 1
(optionally gold, silver and bronze medals could be given to the players finshing 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall. I'd just need someone to help design them.)

If anyone sees any problems with terminology, or any other possible stumbling blocks, please let me know.

[Night Strike]

I went ahead and merged your topics because you can still work on a draft within the same thread. The Edit button is your friend in the tournament forums. Once you get the tournament finalized in this thread, you'll be able to start a new thread in the Create/Join forum to start recruiting players.

[JrFan88]

Thanks. So, what do you think about all this? Worth pursuing?

[Optimus Prime]

You can do a very effective NASCAR tournament with far more than 8 players, trust me, I've done it.

As a matter of fact, 2008 Sprint Cup Championship is finishing up here in the next week or two.

[JrFan88]

Hmm, yer probably right, but I didn't want it to get too complicated. Now that I think about it, I might be able to tweak it into 2 divisions and still keep the history intact. My question now is: what is the absolute, drop-dead limit on plyers per game?

Oh, btw, the 2008 Cup season ended 2 weeks ago. NASCAR is the only sport that brings our household to a dead stop 3 days a week between February and November. We even shut off the cell phones and put the land line on "do not disturb". If you wanna call us on a race weekend, SOMEBODY better be dead! Like the Dale Jr. avatar isn't a dead give-away......?

Later days.....

[SuicidalSnowman]

Hey, keep in mind that if you want it to be an 'official' tournament you need 16 players!

My advice, as someone who is currently running his first tournament, is never underestimate how much time and effort it takes! If I were you, I would run one of the two, see how it works, then run a second! I spend a solid 45 minutes each day updating my 1v1 tournament, and some days (like when a new round starts) I can spend several hours.

Good luck, I think you will discover that there are some great people around here willing to help!

[Natewolfman]

snow is right, 16 players is the minimum, and perhaps starting with something alittle simpler is not a bad idea, however if you feel you can handle it then go for it! If you have any specific questions tword your tournament set up or how to put it togeather, feel free to shoot me a PM and ask me anything

[JrFan88]

OK, I can fit 16 players in the NASCAR tourny, and still keep some historical accuracy. But first, would it bother any of the powers-that-be or anyone else for that matter if a tournament wound up having TWO winners? See, I could run two divisions for the NASCAR theme, each with 8 players, using the same format that I've already floated. Then each division would have a winner.

Details for the NASCAR themed tournament "Back in the Day".
(version 2.0)
Players: Sixteen total in 2 divisions, with 16 games each, played head-to-head (same players in all 16 games); division winners determined by total points earned by the end of the tournament. The player with the most points wins his/her respective division. Meaning the tournament would have 2 champions.
Game type: standard, sequential, casual. Open to free and premium players.
Map: USA or Circus Maximus
Spoils: none
Reinforcements: unlimited
Fog of War: no

Gameplay
The tournament is played as a NASCAR "season" with players going head-to-head at 16 "tracks". Games could be played in four groups of 4 games each and are named for the tracks on NASCAR's 1980 Winston Cup schedule:
Group 1: Daytona, Atlanta, Bristol and Charlotte
Group 2: Darlington, Dover, Martinsville and Michigan
Group 3: Nashville, North Carolina, North Wilkesboro and Pocono
Group 4: Richmond, Riverside, Talladega and Texas

Players will be divided into two divisions of 8, and both would compete on the same "tracks", just like they did "back in the day". The first eight players to register will form the Grand National Division (forerunner of the Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup) and the second eight will form the Late Model Sportsman Division (grandaddy of the Budwieser/Busch/Nationwide Series). Neither term is currently used by any level of NASCAR.

Scoring: Points are scored depending on the player's finish in each game, as follows -
1st: 25
2nd: 20
3rd: 15
4th: 10
5th: 5
6th: 3
7th: 2
8th: 1
Both divisions will use the same scoring system. In case of a first place tie in either or both divisions, the first level of tie breakers would be #of wins, the 2nd: top 3 finishes, the 3rd: top 5 finishes, and the 4th (if necessary) a coin flip.
(optional gold, silver and bronze medals could be given to the players finshing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each division; I'd just need someone to help design them.)

[JrFan88]

Something I just thought of: If 2 or 3 of the moderators or wiley old veterans would be willing, I'd like to start a private game using the Circus Maximus map just so I can get a feel for the way it plays. Ideally, the game wouldn't count for points or such, it would just be a "test session", so to speak.

Any takers?

[SuicidalSnowman]

Well, games currently have to count for points, even private and tournament ones...and private games can only be created by premiums...

Personally, I would use the game finder, and play a few games as you plan on setting them up. Use the same settings players would use in the tournament, this will give you a better idea. Circus Maximus plays a bit differently.

If you need help filling a game, post it here and I will join.

[JrFan88]

Good idea. I just might try that route. I'll post a game number as soon as I finish one of the 2 I'm already playing.

[Optimus Prime]

Oh, btw, the 2008 Cup season ended 2 weeks ago. NASCAR is the only sport that brings our household to a dead stop 3 days a week between February and November. We even shut off the cell phones and put the land line on "do not disturb". If you wanna call us on a race weekend, SOMEBODY better be dead! Like the Dale Jr. avatar isn't a dead give-away......?

Later days.....

I think you missed my point... I was referring to the tournament I am just finishing up based up on NASCAR.

[JrFan88]

OOPS! Sorry! No offense meant. I musta mis-cun-fuzzled your meaning. I really didn't mean to sound sarcastic or anything. I know a lot of casual fans who catch a race now and then and really don't pay that much attention to what's going on. One of theses days, I'm gonna jump a conclusion and have collapse underneath me!

Anyway, if all is forgiven, I wonder if you wouldn't mind giving me the basics on how you ran yours; format, maps, etc. The Reader's Digest Condensed Version would be just fine, thanks. Don't go to a great deal of trouble, if there's a thread roaming around the forum, you could just point me at it and I'll take it from there.

[Optimus Prime]

The link is in this post to the main thread for the tournament.

You can do a very effective NASCAR tournament with far more than 8 players, trust me, I've done it.

As a matter of fact, LINK->>>2008 Sprint Cup Championship<<<-LINK is finishing up here in the next week or two.

[JrFan88]

Wow. Absolutely too cool for the room! Honestly, I never even thought about doing it that way. But now that I see it live and in living color, it really seems so simple. Have you ever considered using the same format for the Nationwide and/or Truck series? What might be really off the hook would be to do all 3 series at the same time, maybe with 3 different tournament czars working together.

My idea seems a little, err, bland in comparison; but I also think the way I have mine set up is a pretty good way to get my feet wet in the tourny biz without driving myself (AND my wife AND my daughter) stark raving looney.

If my NASCAR tournament actually lifts off at some point, it'll most likely be a one shot deal; should I decide to go temporarily insane once a year and host an annual event, the NCAA theme is the one most likely to succeed. Just between you, me and the voices in my head, you've got the NASCAR thing pretty well nailed already.

And if you're even THINKING about running it again next season, could you at least consider allowing us lowly Freemiums to get in on the fun. I'd do ANYTHING to get a piece of that action (well, almost anything; I wouldn't eat eggplant to get in...but I might consider stewed okra).

Later days....

[Optimus Prime]

I have thought about doing a Nationwide or Craftsman Truck version at some point. Perhaps when my current tournaments are done with. As for letting freemiums in... I'll have to think about that because it would be really hard to run as smoothly. We'll see though, we'll see.

Right now I'm working on a different project for CC, once that's done, we'll see what happens.

[JrFan88]

Two things. First, the Circus Maximus game I posted is no longer among the living. I found a 4 player game that I can use to check out the map for use with my NASCAR tourny.

Second, to Optimus Prime:

... As for letting freemiums in... I'll have to think about that because it would be really hard to run as smoothly. We'll see though, we'll see...

May I ask why it would be harder to run with freemiums? Maybe I haven't been around long enough, but is there that much of a logistical difference between the two? In my limited experiance, there doesn't seem to much of a difference beyond the basic perks.

[SuicidalSnowman]

I can shed some light on the Freemiums and Tournaments:

Since Freemiums can only have four active games, they need to leave room open. This is fine, except most freemiums try to have four games active at all times. If there is, say, a week between sign ups and first games (quite common), they will not leave a spot open, but continue playing. Then, when you send out games, they need to finish. This is well and fine, unless someone in their game is very slow, or it is a long game, in which case you either need to replace them with a reserve (Which is often a pain) or wait.

Secondly, if you have a Freemium who IS holding a spot open, then they get very anxious for things to happen quickly, and get upset when they don't. You might need a day or two to tally results and open up the next round of games, and you will get lots of PMs from Freemiums asking where the games are, already, damnit! And this is completely understandable on their part, but tough for the TO.

Your tournament is a game per week, correct? Sometimes, especially in a flat rate or no cards game, Circus Maximus takes a LONG time. You could have someone still in a game, when the next starts. If your freemiums are only holding one space, then you have a problem.

Also, ANY 8 player game can take forever. Everyone has 24 hours to make a move, if each person waits the full amount, it will take about 8 days FOR THE FIRST TURN! This is an extreme case, obviously, but somtimes it happens. Games can stack up easily.

Also, Freemiums are relucant to even sign up for tournaments often, as they don't want the hassle of holding open a game slot, especially for someone like yourself (or me!) who is new to organizing tournaments.

Having said this, Freemiums are sometimes the best people to have in your tournament. It all depends.

Also, I made every effort to include Freemiums in my tourny, and will probably continue to do so in the future. It just makes some things, which should be easy, more difficult.

I am sure OP will have more to add, he has done this WAY more than me.

[JrFan88]

Hmm, guess I'm one of the exceptions. I've only had my 4 slots full once, back when I first joined. I found that having one turn a day made having more than 2 at once a rather large pain in the ass. I'm a stay home dad and my free time is somewhat limited, but I can usually find time to at least check in on my games several times a day and then make the time to play when my turn comes up (my big blocks of free time come in the evenings and weekends, which is when I'd do my TO thing). As the father of a 3 yo, I've learned the value of patience so the wait between turns is np. My big issue is the wait for results. Like the Olympics tourny I just finished (knocked out in the first round); I found myself waiting with a worm in my mouth for Amazzony to post results and start the next round - only because I was having too much fun to wait! I only pm'd twice, 'cause of slow downs. Both times it was either a player issue or a technical one. Amazzony got back to me in record time and fixed things within a few minutes. I suppose a lot of freebies don't have my sort of relaxed outlook on things. Maybe because I have more of a life than just cyber-space.

Anyway, I don't intend to jump into the insanity of being a TO before I throughly understand all the permutations. Being a Freemium myself, I really can't restrict my entry list to just Premium members; so I suppose I'll just have to deal with it.

BTW, just for gits and shiggles, if I could get someone to sort of quietly pass the word around in the world of TOs, I'd tell 'em this is one freejack they can trust to be a good boy and play nice with others. So if they'd consider sort of quietly slipping me in here and there amongst what would otherwise be an all preemie cast of characters, I wouldn't mind - and I promise to be so well-behaved ya woodna know I was a freemium lessn' you looked at me pips.....

Ciao for now

[JrFan88]

Greets...

Let's call this revision to the NASCAR theme ver. 2.0.1. After playing a couple of rounds on the Circus Maximus map, I have decided to add spoils to the format. Using only the standard 1:3 ratio of reinforcements to territories might be a drag on gameplay, so I think adding flat rate spoils to the mix may liven things up a bit. Any comments?


Details for the NASCAR themed tournament "Back in the Day".
(version 2.0.1)
Players: Sixteen total in 2 divisions, with 16 games each, played head-to-head (same players in all 16 games); division winners determined by total points earned by the end of the tournament. The player with the most points wins his/her respective division. Meaning the tournament would have 2 champions.
Game type: standard, sequential, casual. Open to free and premium players.
Map: Circus Maximus
Spoils: flat rate
Reinforcements: unlimited
Fog of War: no

Gameplay
The tournament is played as a NASCAR "season" with players going head-to-head at 16 "tracks". Games could be played in four groups of 4 games each and are named for the tracks on NASCAR's 1980 Winston Cup schedule:
Group 1: Daytona, Atlanta, Bristol and Charlotte
Group 2: Darlington, Dover, Martinsville and Michigan
Group 3: Nashville, North Carolina, North Wilkesboro and Pocono
Group 4: Richmond, Riverside, Talladega and Texas

Players will be divided into two divisions of 8, and both would compete on the same "tracks", just like they did "back in the day". The first eight players to register will form the Grand National Division (forerunner of the Winston/Nextel/Sprint Cup) and the second eight will form the Late Model Sportsman Division (grandaddy of the Budwieser/Busch/Nationwide Series). Neither term is currently used by any level of NASCAR.

Scoring: Points are scored depending on the player's finish in each game, as follows -
1st: 25
2nd: 20
3rd: 15
4th: 10
5th: 5
6th: 3
7th: 2
8th: 1
Both divisions will use the same scoring system. In case of a first place tie in either or both divisions, the first level of tie breakers would be #of wins, the 2nd: top 3 finishes, the 3rd: top 5 finishes, and the 4th (if necessary) a coin flip.
(optional gold, silver and bronze medals could be given to the players finshing 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each division; I'd just need someone to help design them.)

p.s.: I haven't gotten one word of feedback on the NCAA football theme. Everything has been about NASCAR. That can mean only one of three things: First, NASCAR is a WAY more popular and/or interesting idea, or: Second, the NCAA theme is fine like it is and y'all are just waiting for me to get on with it, or: Third, nobody much gives a crap for college football. C'mon, there are a couple o'thousand of us in this club, someone must have something to say!!!

[SuicidalSnowman]

Spoils in Circus Maximus are a good idea, else the games can take a long time. Which is fine, but maybe not for your first tournament.