Tournament Ideas

[muz177]

Seeking positive ideas where you have seen good ideas put into action for tournaments.

What is different that has worked well?
Describe the tournament, the way it was set up, and how it was run.

An example may be the International Teams Tournament on at present - this could be run in a similar way at a more regional level or even just putting teams together for any tournament. It combines a team using a selection of armies over a number of periods, so each level is themed and loads of opportunity to encourage the performance of team members (I'm sure everyone will be encouraging Dave's results in Team GB).

It may also be something you have been thinking of running, but haven't got around to it yet. Let us know anyway.

The intention is to provide loads of ideas for organisers to choose from, leading to a greater variety in the tournaments offered and ultimately to increased interest and player numbers.

[zoltan]

Having attended a number of the ITC teams tournaments in the past, the team format certainly allows more flexibility in defining themed periods. For example this year there is an elephants theme.

In NZ we've run "swap a crate" * one day tournaments successfully over many decades and under different rule sets. Typically you might try and get 3 games played on one day by choosing the points size and game duration that allows this. Everyone brings one army which are then paired up to provide as near to historical match-ups as possible. Alternatively, pairings may be based on appropriate troop-type match-ups even if the selected armies never met.

The paired armies are left on the table for all games and the players cycle around the table each round, either at random, by agreement (what would you like to play next?), or based on a complexity rating for the matched pairs (top scoring generals get more complex pairings).

This style of event allows players to try out armies they don't own. However, it doesn't suit players who are not prepared to lend their armies to others or prefer to design and play with their own army each round.

* Swap a crate - in the 1970s before NZ had a wine industry everyone drank beer (ladies might have a shandy or Pimms). When you bought beer to take away from licensed premises for a party at your own home, it came in wooden crates of 12 large bottles. The best deal was to swap a crate of empty beer bottles for a crate of full bottles (repeat as required).

[hazelbark]

In the US we have our own Team event. Larry Essick years ago borrowed the verbatim program from what was then Ghent ITC for DBM. It is has consistently been the most popular event in the US for years.

We also use it for a our qualifying who represents the US to the ITC.

The Celtic Cup in the British Isles was a 3 member team event. Don't recall details but I think you can google it.

[jorneto]

Using objectives on the table as win/lose conditions.
Essentially that's a similar logic to that used in Flames of War and Napoleon at War.

The games will end sooner with that additional break rule. Combined with other rules like smaller tables or pre-set terrain as discussed elsewhere, it might be possible to run games within a 2 hour period.

[dave_r]

In the US we have our own Team event. Larry Essick years ago borrowed the verbatim program from what was then Ghent ITC for DBM. It is has consistently been the most popular event in the US for years.

We also use it for a our qualifying who represents the US to the ITC.

The Celtic Cup in the British Isles was a 3 member team event. Don't recall details but I think you can google it.

The Celtic Cup is still going strong I believe. Although I think it uses DBMM now.

We have the Derby Teams in the UK, which is identical to the ITC other than there are 3 man teams. Team games tend to be more popular as you get two people who then have to bribe / threaten / cajole somebody else into attending...