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We run the events because they're fun and get people in the store playing games.

Aduro wrote:We run the events because they're fun and get people in the store playing games.

And the more people who play = more people who buy. That and knowing a tournment is coming up often kicks impulse control to the curb. I know I tend to buy more stuff when I'm prepping for one.

There were a lot of problems at the ‘Ard Boyz this year.

This is what happens when you try to play 40k for high stakes.

In poker you have a neutral 3rd party watching all of the action (the dealer) and the rules are well written and there are no disputes.

In 40k there are so many shenanigans that when you increase the prize pool there is nothing that you can do if your opponent wants to be a complete tool. You can’t have a TO stand over your table to make sure that they are only moving 6”, and they aren’t there to move the players along if they are taking too long, and arbitrating all of the rules disputes in a timely manner.

Not only that, but you will be even more upset when you think you won after going 3-0 and then having your paint scores tanked, and the same with your sportsmanship scores and the overall winner is a regular at the store who went 1-1-1 (this happened to me).

General Observations, discuss!

Any time you increase prize stakes to 'serious money', you are going to encourage the absolute worst that this hobby has to offer. Greed turns even the most level-headed, laid back player into something else. But, since it is very difficult to 'score' Sportsmanship, it is hard to hold the line.

'Back in the Day' (tm) a store bought a $75 or $150 'prize package' from GW. People would enter the ones they knew were the $150 ones, because of the chance to get a Golden Griffin (turkey) statue. However, EVERYONE got buttons or whatever trinkets GW threw into the $75 and $150 box.

Trinkets Rule

<sweeping generalization>
People who go into tournaments looking for big money or big prizes tend to get frustrated, FAST.
People who just want cool swag (trophies, plaques, t-shirts) tend to be a little more laid back.
</sweeping generalization>

The best tournaments I have been in are ones that use preliminary tourneys to build up a 'Championship' tournament.

Only 5 or 6 round all-weekend GT's can really use the Swiss System and Overall Points.

--Brian, rambling.

Prize support is never truly worth it IMO.

Its a nice extra - but only things like Ard boys- might be something more worth while.

Simple small tourneys...

You should be going for compettive fun. If you really wanted to win items...

You'll get better prize by working to get money - for the same amount of time you spend in a tourney ;P + the entrance fee.

And its guranteed!

haha

Frazzled wrote:

PanamaG wrote:
Personally a plaque is just fine for me. I would still pay up to $50 to get in a tourney if there were a lot of awards but they were just plaques.

1. I agree with PG's #1 above. Players, should have as much information as possible at the time. However when reality calls even the TO abides, and can only give info they have. If its still developing, tied to tourney (for example 10% of proceeds), or such then say that.

2. Me personally, a trophy/plaque is of substantially higher value to me than items. Others have different needs, but I need something to keep up with the ten awards my kids seem to get daily for this or that ("solving the value of pi, with congratulatory thank you letter from NASA, I'll add it to the fridge wall O success."

At the larger tournament events around the US, particularly the GTs, I have found this to be very much the most common pattern.

Most guys who can afford to fly/drive around the US to play at these events really don’t care about winning some product. They can afford the product already. They go to a) play a guaranteed minimum number of games, in a large organized venue, with guys and against armies they don’t see every week at their local store, b) socialize (often drinking and playing pickup games or just hanging out) with other guys who love the hobby, c) see and get to play against gorgeous painted armies , d) get the chance to compete against other top players from around the country or the world.

When those are your goals, and you can already afford pretty much any GW stuff you like, cool trophies and plaques tend to be more valued than just boxes of stuff. This is my experience, and what I’ve observed of players (including the top competitors) I’ve met over the 12-15 GTs and similar events I’ve attended.

Of course, this is for Grand Tournaments. For local RTTs, I've usually seen much the same pattern, but some material prizes (usually in store credit) are frequently appreciated.