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Minimaster
Reyemile
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
4pm, I headed into the minimaster room. Tournie started right on time, can't complain about that. The formats a lot of fun--I started with a complete pile (two packs, 20 land!) but so did everyone. I started off with a decent Bant pile, splashing black for a Ruthless Cullblade--a choice I never would have made if anyone had told me we were starting at 30 life, one game.
Round one, and two, were similar--the game broke into a stalemate, and my major bomb, Luminarch ascension, came through. I missed a Luminarch trigger in game two and nearly lost as a result, but a well timed Aether Tradewinds let me get the fourth counter and run him over. Third bonus pack contained a Day of Judgement, the card that blew away both a mediocre RGW aggro deck round three and a much faster, Cunning-Sparkmage based RW one in 4. Fifth round was a gimme--mana screw, plus my opponent accidentally shuffling his hand into his deck!
But its round five that the screw up happens. It's minor, really--the Judge tells us that prize-splits aren't allowed, and even discussing them could get us kicked out for collusion. I'm puzzled, and frustrated, but go into the top four. There, I get the matchup I'm dreading: my friend Flez, the eventual winner of the tournament, who blows me out with Ob-Nixilis. I wouldn't have won even at one-hunderd percent, so playing on no food at 9pm after skipping dinner I don't stand a chance.
During the final game, I ask the judge why prize splitting wasn't allowed. He gives me a vague answer about not allowing prizes to influence game results. I ask how me and Flez agreeing that the winner would give the loser some fraction of the prize (a full set/foil set of wordwake) to make sure everyone goes home with product. "Oh," he says, "that's not a prize split. That would have been fine." Apparently, splitting the prizes and arranging a prize-split aren't the same thing. Who knew?
Props to Flez, for winning and being a gentleman. Props to all my opponents, in fact, who were all a lot of fun to play with (Sorry I didn't write down names!). And I got beat fair and square; I don't begrudge either of the winners their product. But I skipped dinner, skipped Sealed, and skipped DnD to make the top 4 of a tournament--and 5 hours later, having gone 5-1 and made the top 4, I still walked away with nothing to show for it but a Day of Judgment. Slops to the organizers who thought this would be a good idea, and slops to the judges for telling me I couldn't arrange the split that would have let me walk home with at least a few cards for my trouble.
Round one, and two, were similar--the game broke into a stalemate, and my major bomb, Luminarch ascension, came through. I missed a Luminarch trigger in game two and nearly lost as a result, but a well timed Aether Tradewinds let me get the fourth counter and run him over. Third bonus pack contained a Day of Judgement, the card that blew away both a mediocre RGW aggro deck round three and a much faster, Cunning-Sparkmage based RW one in 4. Fifth round was a gimme--mana screw, plus my opponent accidentally shuffling his hand into his deck!
But its round five that the screw up happens. It's minor, really--the Judge tells us that prize-splits aren't allowed, and even discussing them could get us kicked out for collusion. I'm puzzled, and frustrated, but go into the top four. There, I get the matchup I'm dreading: my friend Flez, the eventual winner of the tournament, who blows me out with Ob-Nixilis. I wouldn't have won even at one-hunderd percent, so playing on no food at 9pm after skipping dinner I don't stand a chance.
During the final game, I ask the judge why prize splitting wasn't allowed. He gives me a vague answer about not allowing prizes to influence game results. I ask how me and Flez agreeing that the winner would give the loser some fraction of the prize (a full set/foil set of wordwake) to make sure everyone goes home with product. "Oh," he says, "that's not a prize split. That would have been fine." Apparently, splitting the prizes and arranging a prize-split aren't the same thing. Who knew?
Props to Flez, for winning and being a gentleman. Props to all my opponents, in fact, who were all a lot of fun to play with (Sorry I didn't write down names!). And I got beat fair and square; I don't begrudge either of the winners their product. But I skipped dinner, skipped Sealed, and skipped DnD to make the top 4 of a tournament--and 5 hours later, having gone 5-1 and made the top 4, I still walked away with nothing to show for it but a Day of Judgment. Slops to the organizers who thought this would be a good idea, and slops to the judges for telling me I couldn't arrange the split that would have let me walk home with at least a few cards for my trouble.
Reyemile on
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I appreciate the tournament organizers bothering to try and accommodate people who like the format, but I can't help but say it did anything but solidify my thought that EDH needs to remain as unsanctioned and unofficial as possible. The behaviour gave me flashbacks to play 'serious' formats.
Tom Shea is the tournament organizer that ran those events, and I'm sure he would be happy to fix this, and get you the prize you earned for placing well in that event.
Send him an email at tjcollect@aol.com, describe him the situation. Make sure you have your name and DCI number included in the email.
I disallowed splits for concession/drops for a specific reason. I explained to people who inquired why it was. We have a pretty firm bribery and wagering policy in the DCI and I wanted to make sure people knew it.
Adam
When you have that many people sign up I would really recommend that you create a flighted tournament and create smaller groupings that can start earlier and are more manageable. Flights of 32 players(16 teams) with shotgun starts would have let players get started a lot earlier and be much easier to manage on the organizer side. Especially in a single elimination format you'd be freeing up the people who lost a lot faster to go enjoy the rest of the show. With a flight structure you would also be able to have a normal registration cut off and open a separate flight for those who decide they want to play at the last minute.
WoW - US Quel'Dorie - Daxius DwPr(Disc/Shadow) 80
Give Back to those who serve us Become a Black Pie Day Pieoneer!
We couldn't do flighted tournaments because of the prize structure, but we'll throw ideas up to Scott Larabee (who was responsible for the WotC side of planning). I'm also in contact with the PAX Prime TO/HJ so we'll compare notes and see how we can make the experience better all around.
We appreciate the feedback,
Adam
WoW - US Quel'Dorie - Daxius DwPr(Disc/Shadow) 80
Give Back to those who serve us Become a Black Pie Day Pieoneer!
Minimaster started well for me - opened packs with decent removal/fixing with a Celestial Collonade and a Bloodghast. Pack 3 yielded a Wrexail, which only helped as time went on. I never got to cast my Conqueror's pledge. Final deck included two Ruin Ghosts, a Sejiri Steppe and two Pilgrim's Eyes. It was a really fun tournament to play, everyone was incredibly friendly and polite players - it was just a really fun time.
The minimasters were my favorite part of the Magic events at PAX and with the exception of the first team minimaster with all its disorganization and code monkey snafus, they were very well done. I hope that I see more of these types of casual limited events in the future!
Sorry if my post seemed harsh; I was pretty frustrated after a long, hungry day, and I know things were hard for you. That being said, perhaps I'm not familiar with Magic vernacular as it could be, but "prize splits" means something totally different to me as it seemed to mean to you.
You meant that the top four couldn't agree to not play, or play purely for ranking, and split the prize pool evenly four ways. I understand that policy. But what I wanted to offer was that the winner of the semi-finals promise to give the loser their Persecutor out of their complete set, so no one left empty handed (because there was a miscommunication about prize pool for the runners-up). According to the conversation we had post tournament, this "prize split" would have been allowed it would have no impact on the game, and the game would still be played for the majority of the prize. Bribery and collusion rules wouldn't have applied. But your announcement made it sound like such a prize split, or even aking if that prize split was reasonable, would risk a DQ.
I appreciate the good job you did managing an enormous tournament, and having had a few days to cool off I can see I was overreacting a bit. Nonetheless, I strongly encourage you to find a clearer way to communicate what is and isn't allowed with the disposition of prizes.
Absolutely!
We'll be a lot clearer next time. You highlight one of my biggest struggles for PAX weekend: moving into "casual-mode" as my experience is mostly with high level magic events. The PAX players taught me a lot about what it's like to just have fun playing magic.
Adam
WoW - US Quel'Dorie - Daxius DwPr(Disc/Shadow) 80
Give Back to those who serve us Become a Black Pie Day Pieoneer!
Absolutely.
I'd suggest joining the WPN where you can hold casual tournaments and get prize support for them! I'm sure Tom/WotC would work with someone who wants to do something @ PAX East 2011.
Grass-roots magic is what the WPN is about.
If you have any questions about the WPN please feel free to email me at discourse@gmail.com, I can help answer most questions or forward you to your local rep.
Adam
Just finished reading the WPN stuff and I think I'll take the plunge for my own efforts. How would stores that already have Premier status go about creating mini-master league? Or is that covered by running casual events under their Premier standing which I would guess have Advanced WPN?
We have this vision of store/area champs duking it out at PAX East for a trophy to bring home to their local stomping ground.
WoW - US Quel'Dorie - Daxius DwPr(Disc/Shadow) 80
Give Back to those who serve us Become a Black Pie Day Pieoneer!
We signed up at 6pm as soon as allowed. We were told by the woman registering it would be two-headed ogre rules so we could in fact play together. At 7pm we lined up, only to find a HUGE crowd gathering. After 30 minutes we were sent into one of the rooms to stand around waiting for the team postings to up. We were then informed it would not be two headed ogre rules, but that we were in fact playing separate games individually...the only real 'team' factor was the deck building. Many of the people around me were rather upset - they had been talked into playing/agreed on the idea that their far more talented/practiced friends could help them! Then we were sent back out of the room because we were a fire hazard. We lined up along the walls to wait.
After 45 minutes people started looking for refunds - they had panels and concerts to get to. We were told we couldn't have them until the posting had gone out, and it would be "soon" (mind you "soon" had been the reply for 45 minutes). When postings did go up almost an hour late, we all dashed in to sit down and begin deck building. Deck building lasted much longer than it should have. The table behind me built decks...played their games, and started to leave, which made me go ask if we were supposed to have started playing. I was told that no, team assignments were not posted yet. ./boggle. But we had come in the room with assigned opponents...no, these were assignments for deck building and the first round was to come. Argh. Now 1.5 hours from when we should have started, we were assigned, again, and moved tables, again.
The play was fun and once we were all started people enjoyed themselves but the wait time and disorganization was insanely frustrating. It was also disappointing not to actually play with my team mate. And then when I won but he lost, we as a 'team' lost because my life total was less than our opponents ending life total, which was weird. Although by that point, we were kind of glad to be free to do something else. I have no idea how long setting up round two, but I hope for the sake of my well played opponents that they were not there allllll night waiting for the next round's postings! It was really the one black mark on an otherwise kick ass and awesomely amazing weekend.
To those that waited in the team mini master event, I apologize for the delay. We work hard to try an launch events on time, but that one particular event had just about everything go wrong.
1) Interest in the teams event was huge. It was almost double the size of the regular mini master events run that weekend. During the sign in process, the fire marshal entered the fray, and we had to work with him and the event enforcers to move the crowd around until he was satisfied.
2) Sign ups continued quite past the posted start time of the event, and we wanted to get everyone that wished to play we could possibly fit into the event. Turning people away is even less fun then delays.
3) The computer software ran into problems, where the teams were missing from the roster despite being entered in, and it refused to be fixed. We ended up running parts of the event by hand on paper until the entire event could be re-keyed into the system. This was the largest cause for the delay, and difficult to avoid.
We hope people had a good time despite the delay in starting the event. The whole weekend was exhausting, but rewarding work. It was great to see so many new faces enjoying the game, and working through difficult challenges like Saturday's team event is a great learning experience for us. Sunday's team event was seated with packs and building in a little over 5 minutes, and we avoided using the teams computer software completely to ensure there was no repeat of the problems we faced on Saturday.
Overall, it was a very fun format, but I don't know if it would work with a smaller group, unless it was done league style. I have heard of sealed leagues, where you start off with 6 packs, then the winner gets prize packs, and each week you can purchase a new pack to add to your pool. If it was something similar to that, where there were official pool lists or something, then it would be pretty cool.
I'm happy to hear that some really enjoyed the format. Thanks for trying it out!!!
I know at team mini-master Sat. night the guys next to me said it had been like 10 years since they had played! They were wondering why we had dice and counters out! It was pretty cool that they were trying to pick it up again.