How to run a tournament. Need help.

[Taurelin]

For January I'm planning to set up a small Legacy-tourney. Small-scale, that is, without DCI-sanctioning, proxies are allowed etc.

I'm going to function as both organizer and judge, and I have some questions. If you are a judge yourself, or if you have some experience running tournaments, maybe you can help me.

1) I've got the DCI-reporter software on my notebook (and know how to use it ). I have the comrehensive rules as well. What is missing is something like a complete card-database with the current Oracle-text of all cards. The problem is that there won't be any internet-connection at the venue. Is there anything like a downloadable pdf/txt file? Or is the MWS-masterbase sufficient as a source of reference? How reliable is that one?

2) Is it the function of a judge to supervise the matches, look over the players' shoulders and remind them of (major/minor) rule violations? Or should he stay in the background, remain silent, and only become active once a player calls "JUUUUUUUDGE"?

3) Apart from notebook, table numbers, prices, food, spare basic lands, is there any other important material that an organizer has to provide?

4) Do you have any further useful advice?

Your help is deeply appreciated!

[Nihil Credo]

For January I'm planning to set up a small Legacy-tourney. Small-scale, that is, without DCI-sanctioning, proxies are allowed etc.

I'm going to function as both organizer and judge, and I have some questions. If you are a judge yourself, or if you have some experience running tournaments, maybe you can help me.

1) I've got the DCI-reporter software on my notebook (and know how to use it ). I have the comrehensive rules as well. What is missing is something like a complete card-database with the current Oracle-text of all cards. The problem is that there won't be any internet-connection at the venue. Is there anything like a downloadable pdf/txt file? Or is the MWS-masterbase sufficient as a source of reference? How reliable is that one?

www.yawgatog.com will provide everything you may need in this regard.

2) Is it the function of a judge to supervise the matches, look over the players' shoulders and remind them of (major/minor) rule violations? Or should he stay in the background, remain silent, and only become active once a player calls "JUUUUUUUDGE"?

Both - ideally, there are multiple judges and they take turns at the tasks. But if you're doing this alone, you'll probably be busy at the TO station registering match results, printing pairings, etc. for most of the time, so you'll only be able to wait for judge calls.

Since it's not a sanctioned tournament, if someone you trust drops out early, it would be a good idea to ask them to give you a hand by doing stuff like hanging the pairings, distributing match slips, etc.

3) Apart from notebook, table numbers, prices, food, spare basic lands, is there any other important material that an organizer has to provide?

Some pens are always good. A printer to print the pairings and the match slips. Oh, about that: practice beforehand the trick of printing them exactly aligned so you can cut the whole stack at once (bring scissors, too).

[Taurelin]

www.yawgatog.com will provide everything you may need in this regard.

That's exactly what I was looking for. Thx a lot for that!

Both - ideally, there are multiple judges and they take turns at the tasks. But if you're doing this alone, you'll probably be busy at the TO station registering match results, printing pairings, etc. for most of the time, so you'll only be able to wait for judge calls.

Now that's interesting. In all the tournaments that I have attended as a player so far, all the players were basically left alone.

So you mean that when I walk around and see something, I am supposed to remind players of things that none of them would have noticed?

- "Hey, that Mishra has summoning sickness"
- "Hey, the Ponder that you just pitched to FoW is RFG, not in your grave."
- "Hey, that's a Confi, right? Then don't forget to take 8 from that Tombstalker that you've just drawn. Now draw another one."
- "Hey, you don't even have priority to cast that Krosan Grip."
- "Hey, I think you have 5 Counterspells in your graveyard"
- "Hey, 5 life - 4 life = 1 life, not 2"

Really?

A printer to print the pairings and the match slips.

Wow. Would have forgotten this one. Good point.

Thx a lot for your help so far. Maybe you (or someone else) have even more good advice for me.

[Silverdragon]

A printer for the pairings and standings is great even if there are only 10-15 people (with 8-10 you can probably simply announce the pairings and show standings on the notebook if someone asks). Printing, cutting and collecting result slips is probably too much work if you don't have another person helping you fulltime throughout the tournament.
As Nihil hinted at you'll probably be busy ensuring that the tournament runs smoothly most of the time and won't have much time to watch matches at all.
Although it shouldn't be encouraged, most minor issues (e.g. someone asking for an oracle text) can and will be solved by people sitting next to the player in question.

Another thing you might want to do is working on your announcements beforehand. You'll obviously have to set some rules before the tournament starts (tell them to keep their seats clean, tell them where the toilet is etc.) and you'll have to announce the beginning and end of every round. As even 8-10 people can be very noisy you might want to use a signal to get their attention (or even use a microphone if the place is big enough and if you have one). Maybe turn the speakers of your notebook up and play the sounds DCI Reporter uses or get a signal horn.

[sunshine]

This is slightly unrelated, but does anyone happen to know if the DCI reporter software is mac compatible?

[Nihil Credo]

So you mean that when I walk around and see something, I am supposed to remind players of things that none of them would have noticed?

- "Hey, that Mishra has summoning sickness"
- "Hey, the Ponder that you just pitched to FoW is RFG, not in your grave."
- "Hey, that's a Confi, right? Then don't forget to take 8 from that Tombstalker that you've just drawn. Now draw another one."
- "Hey, you don't even have priority to cast that Krosan Grip."
- "Hey, I think you have 5 Counterspells in your graveyard"
- "Hey, 5 life - 4 life = 1 life, not 2"

Really?

Yes, that's what a judge is for. You don't have to be specifically watching a table, if you notice something wrong - or if someone tells you that something's wrong - you step in immediately. But as said, you probably won't have all that much time to just go around.

I suggest you read some judging articles, there are tons of them on the mailing list and on the DCI page under the Wizards' main site.

[Taurelin]

Another thing you might want to do is working on your announcements beforehand. You'll obviously have to set some rules before the tournament starts (tell them to keep their seats clean, tell them where the toilet is etc.) and you'll have to announce the beginning and end of every round.

Good point. I will do that.

you might want to use a signal to get their attention

I'll see if I can borrow a loud toy from one of my daughters. I know they have plenty of these.

I suggest you read some judging articles, there are tons of them on the mailing list and on the DCI page under the Wizards' main site.

Yep, I will also do that.

Thanks again for all your help. This is my first tournament as an organizer, and I'm not even a certified judge (merely rules advisor). But I guess everything will run smoothly as I can rely on the help of the players themselves.

[Tosh]

2) Is it the function of a judge to supervise the matches, look over the players' shoulders and remind them of (major/minor) rule violations? Or should he stay in the background, remain silent, and only become active once a player calls "JUUUUUUUDGE"?

I've got to admit, I ran legacy every week for about 2 years with Pinder and Mav and we almost never interfered with a game unless we were called for. I figure since both players are responsible for the game state, they can handle themselves and if there's a dispute or just a question we would be right there to assist.

Unless you can't be at the computer the whole time, I wouldn't bother with match slips; they're a waste of time, effort, and paper/ink.

Also, I remember reading about this somewhere on Wizards's site that if you get 3 judges you can play in your own tournament provided you do not judge your own match or one that would affect your progression (eg. the other semi-finals match). So basically Mav, Pinder, and I were the 3 judges and things went fairly smoothly.

Our tournaments were usually 20-25 people and some occasional spikes of 30+ but it trailed off at the end. All-in-all it was very easy - not as hard as you might think.

[scrumdogg]

Good news, bad news - WOTC/DCI outlawed the 3 judge system years ago (which was a horrible idea - it did not encourage more people to become judges/TOs and if someone is going to be sketchy, they will find a way. In essence it penalized the people who were making the effort to run small local tournaments). But that is a rant for a different day... The good news is that since this is an unsanctioned tournament, you CAN use the 3 judge system. That way even if 2 judges play each other, there is a third, neutral party (and regular calls can be picked off by whomever is finished or not in a crucial part of their game). Match slips are a waste of time, but having a results sheet that players either sign or report to you with results builds good habits (and eliminates many he said/he said problems). Remember to make any announcements before you give the players what they want (like pairings...) because otherwise you become Charlie Brown's teacher...

[cdr]

I would also recommend finding a L2+ judge near you to mentor you.

[Taurelin]

Remember to make any announcements before you give the players what they want (like pairings...) because otherwise you become Charlie Brown's teacher...

In fact, I am a teacher in RL, and one of the basic rules of the job is that you first give instructions and then hand out the worksheets.

I would also recommend finding a L2+ judge near you to mentor you.

That would be the optimal solution, of course. But it seems like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut to me. The event is not DCI-sanctioned, like I said, and I have no ambition to advance in the judging hierarchy.

Again, thanks for all your help! I'll write a short report after the event if you're interested.

[scrumdogg]

In fact, I am a teacher in RL, and one of the basic rules of the job is that you first give instructions and then hand out the worksheets.

Then you understand in your bones, but you would be amazed how many people who haven't dealt with a situation like this screw it up and are beboggled. I've seen too many judges and TOs/event coordinators screw this up not to have said anything.

[T-ORGANIZER]

I mention this all time, but my shop Jupiter Games in Binghamton NY is always willing to provide a location and tables for anyone's tournaments. Free of charge since it will bring in patrons to our store. We will even use our regular methods of advertising to help promote the tournament and maybe even donate some extra door prizes. I check my PM's on here daily if anyone has any questions.

[cdr]

If you plan on doing more in the future, just having someone to bounce questions like these off of is invaluable. I'm always available on PM or AIM if you have any questions about judging etc. I can also help you find someone local.

A reply on what judges are for may be forthcoming when I have more time.

That would be the optimal solution, of course. But it seems like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut to me. The event is not DCI-sanctioned, like I said, and I have no ambition to advance in the judging hierarchy.

[Taurelin]

Alright, the tourney took place yesterday afternoon, and here is the report, as promised.

The tournament was part of a larger convention at the local university, including RPG, tabletop games, board games, and of course trading card games. The atmosphere was very friendly, we were in the same room as a bunch of Battletech gamers. We ordered food together from the pizza delivery service, and we played several rounds of casual magic (pentagram, emperor etc.) afterwards until 1 at night.

About the tournament itself: A total of 9 players showed up, which meant that we played 4 rounds (swiss). An unlimited amount of proxies was allowed, so everybody could play his or her favourite deck. In fact, most players owned their deck with the mere exception of some SB-cards or exotic stuff like Moat. The entry fee was 5€ (about 6.50$), but every player got a prize.

The meta (including final standings) looked like this:

1. GW RogueRectorRock
2. Solidarity
3. Faerie Stompy
4. UG Madness
5. Vial Goblins/bg
6. UWb Landstill
7. Train Wreck
8. Faerie Stompy
9. Deadguy Ale

As you can see, no Thresh, no fast-combo, but still some DTBs and a nice selection of good Tier2 decks. The winning deck, however, fitted no category. It included stuff like Loxodon Hierarch, Sakura-Tribe Elder and normal control-elements like StoP, but was able to do weird things with Academy Rector getting Recurring Nightmare, Debtor's Knell or just a Seal of Primordium, if necessary. It only lost to Solidarity, despite playing Gaea's Blessing (!) maindeck (!!!).

I had a lot of fun organizing and realizing the event, for which all your good advice was very helpful. I didn't bother bringing a printer to the event, though, since the thing was easily manageable without. I even had time to watch some of the matches as a spectator and take some pictures (see below).

My duties as a "judge" were done quite easily as well. I reminded players of stuff when necessary ("Don't forget, -1 for Efreet", "Wish is RFG") and answered some judge calls, which were rather simple, luckily, like
- "Is Basking Rootwalla countered by Chalice@1 if I play it for its Madness-cost?"
- "Do my Goblins still get +1/+1 if my Goblin King is blocked?"
- "Can I put those Brain Freeze copies on top of the Blessing trigger?"
etc.

Here are a few pictures from the event, to give you an impression:

The players:




A scene from a real classic: Solidarity vs. Goblins:


The prizes:


The winners:


All in all, it was a great day. And I hope we will have a Legacy-Tourney at the next Con, too.