I just wasn't sure what it took to become one, if there were any requirements or anything. Also, what exactly is a TO capable of doing/allowed to do?

What's a TO?

I fill out a form, post results for a tournament that didn't happen, and then sell the alt cards and tokens online; but you might want to ask some others.*





*This is false information and if you have done this you should be ashamed of yourself...at least give the tokens and alt cards to your friends.

You seem like a nice guy. Give it a shot.

Tournament Organizer. Read up on the FAQ, learn the rules, and be impartial. You can play in smaller tournaments but not larger ones. You can disqualify people for repeat offenders. You set the tournament rule set up as well if you inform people before hand (escalation/scenarios instead of dogfights). Just don't side with your friends just because and make sure all ruling is fair. Bout all there is to it. Oh also, there is no form, just ask your store if they need you to TO.

I just wasn't sure what it took to become one, if there were any requirements or anything. Also, what exactly is a TO capable of doing/allowed to do?

So long as you have a clear and good understanding of the rules and are fair to others.

If no one in your area wants it, it's all yours.

If you and another want to organize, then it's up to you guys to sort it out.

Technicaly if your a TO you are not suppose to play in the games unless there is a second. That way if there is a problem and questions come up in your game your not the one who decides.

There have been reports of some TO making decisions in their games that obviously favors them, and imo is cheating.

Also don't abuse the authority. For example I remember one post someone said their To would not allow anyone use a duel falcon build.

Again that's just poor Organizing.

Honestly there are some people out there organizing events who shouldn't be.

Edit

Like mentioned if your in a small area hosting an event you can probably get away playing without a second TO, but just remember to be fair in all games including yours, which I'm sure you would.

Larger crowds you now need to have a second TO if you intend to play.

Probably make it a lot easier too, as your trying to play your game, but may have to step away and deal with other issues which isn't fair to your opponent

Yes, i always figured that as far as impartiality goes, if there were any rulings that didn't have an explicitly stated ruling then i'd use the 3 dice rule put forth in the Handbook for settling disputes. One of the reasons I am thinking of becoming one is that, like Duraham stated, player retention is starting to wane in my area and i think I can actively do something about it.

You should become a TO and move to Sierra Vista, Arizona.

N-no…no. (Though I do really appreciate the thought, and the 4% humidity)

Yes, i always figured that as far as impartiality goes, if there were any rulings that didn't have an explicitly stated ruling then i'd use the 3 dice rule put forth in the Handbook for settling disputes. One of the reasons I am thinking of becoming one is that, like Duraham stated, player retention is starting to wane in my area and i think I can actively do something about it.

That's good idea

I'm trying to build up more players in my area so I'll be organizing the next few tournaments.

I've gotten new people to play and try it out buy our game night has never had more than five.

Hope that may change over winter

currently there is no test or ways to qualify to become a TO, around my area, we have a handful of stores that all run events and a couple of the local players have kinda of just become TOs. It would be nice for a way to become offical, but I don't know if we really need that.

Actually as a *TO* you dont really need to know the rules by heart...your *ref team* does.

YOU need to be good at logistics, networking, marketing... be a 'people person' and generally be someone people want to be around, can trust and can make the players enthused.

I used to manage 'organised play' for GW, big events, two to three hundred players at some in warhammer world and there is *no way* i could have known all the systems we covered at the time as well as my refs i selected could.

The trick is to delegate.

Actually as a *TO* you dont really need to know the rules by heart...your *ref team* does.

YOU need to be good at logistics, networking, marketing... be a 'people person' and generally be someone people want to be around, can trust and can make the players enthused.

I used to manage 'organised play' for GW, big events, two to three hundred players at some in warhammer world and there is *no way* i could have known all the systems we covered at the time as well as my refs i selected could.

The trick is to delegate.

The TO does need to know the rules. When there is a ruling decision it comes down to the TO

There is no ref team.

It's the TO responsibility to make sure the event is run fair, he settles disputes and organizes the event.

When it comes down to it, it the TO who makes the call.

Not a ref team

Actually as a *TO* you dont really need to know the rules by heart...your *ref team* does.

YOU need to be good at logistics, networking, marketing... be a 'people person' and generally be someone people want to be around, can trust and can make the players enthused.

I used to manage 'organised play' for GW, big events, two to three hundred players at some in warhammer world and there is *no way* i could have known all the systems we covered at the time as well as my refs i selected could.

The trick is to delegate.

Ok but this is xwing not warhammer.

The TO does need to know the rules. When there is a ruling decision it comes down to the TO

There is no ref team.

It's the TO responsibility to make sure the event is run fair, he settles disputes and organizes the event.

When it comes down to it, it the TO who makes the call.

Not a ref team

Thank you both for your comments. Even though some of what Gadge said may not be technically accurate, the flavor of what he meant is very useful information. Everyone is providing very useful information in fact. Thank you to everyone commenting.

Let's be clear, are you trying to organize events, or do you just want to judge them? The roles are usually conflated in X-Wing, but they don't necessarily have to be.

No you're confusing what i'm saying.

You can set up a tournament and 'organise' it and have a chief referee who makes those calls.

Trust me i used to make a lot of money organsing events for a long time all over the world... what will make your tournament a success and get people in is good advertising, decent venue and a charismatic organiser.

It doesnt matter what system it is or what games company.

If you as organiser cant talk to someone without stuttering or are too forgetful to put adverts in the local stores, toy shops, or even wargames magazines it will bomb no matter how encyclopedic your rules knowledge is.

Let's be clear, are you trying to organize events, or do you just want to judge them? The roles are usually conflated in X-Wing, but they don't necessarily have to be.

Good i was worried i was speaking greek or something there. This ^^^^ , organising is a different skill to adjudicating.

Good i was worried i was speaking greek or something there...

What's your favorite kind of π? I like boysenberry myself, but I don't care one iota for that lemon meringue stuff.

Well Gadge, our venue is small enough that I'd likely be doing both.

The problem with doing both is that if something happens that requires your attention in the realm of logistics .. well then you cant be sorting rules.

A good event organiser should have *nothing* to do on the day of the event, it should all be signed, sealed and delivered and you should have a team who all know their roles. If anything you should be socialing with players, being a 'good chap' and making them feel at home. if anything untoward happens you're free to deal with it.

If you *want* to do both as you do, thats cool but i personally wouldnt advise it but make sure you have someone who can cover you should anything untowards happen not related to the game that you have to solve.

Trust me i've seen people mess things like this up epically where having a well briefed '2IC' would have prevented it.

there's really no requirements to become a Tournament Organizer. You just need to be able to make the proper rulings in situations that come up. There are very few times I've been called to make a ruling in a game, most players settle things themselves. You will want to find a way to run the Event via software. If you have a laptop computer I would recommend this: https://github.com/Killerardvark/Cryodex/raw/master/Cryodex.jar . The Cryodex is a fan based tournament software and will help you with pairings and rankings. Setting up a Facebook group to announce tournament times and dates is a great way to communicate to the players in the area. You can also post in the organized play sub forum here at FFG to that purpose. I would also recommend not playing in your own events as that can leave a bad taste in the other players months until you have at least a co TO.

Hey there That One Guy, I just started to organise and run events in my area for the same reason you stated, we meet once a fortnight at our FLGS and numbers have been good and growing, we keep it casual, there is a prize which the store owner throws in as part of the entry fee plus we're lucky enough to get some of the promos!

My advice would be to have a word with a store owner who has room to host your events and get stuck in, there's plenty of good event software to make pairings and standings easy and if you stick with it make sure everyone is having a good time then the atmosphere will draw more players to your events, it's totally worth it.

Let us know how you get on.

What Gadge says is kind of good advice though. Do have a 2IC and maybe a secondary TO/judge. And try to have everything delegated. Its probably wise not to play that day. Walking around and sharing in peoples' fun can be pretty nice.

First rule about TO. You do NOT play games.

Now if you have a club or employed at a store that has allot of players then I would say do so as it will bring growth to the organization you are representing and to the hobby. But if you want to influence the overall game be a tester instead

First rule about TO. You do NOT play games.

Also if I do happen to do well I never take a prize, as TO it just seems rude, so it goes to the next standing or the event looser.

Edit:

Fully agree with the other part of your post by the way, shops and clubs need all the help they can get in this heavily Internet based environment.