Here is an experience for the group to read about. A fleet patrol tournament is only 2 rounds instead of 3. The time limit for each game is 120 minutes instead of 135 minutes. It is meant for small informal tournaments when everyone doesn't want to spend the whole day playing Armada. On the off chance that someone gets a bye they get an 8 to 0 win with with a Margin of Victory of 129-points instead of 144. Our most recent fleet patrol tournament had only four players and here is what happened with the scoring.

Round One

Ben defeats Gene 10 to 1 with a MoV of 388

Rick defeats Brian 6 to 5 with a MoV of 45

Round Two

Rick defeats Ben 6 to 5 with a Mov of 4

Brian defeats Gene 10 to 1 with a MoV of 400

Final Leader Board

Brian 15 Points, MoV 400

Ben 15 Points, MoV 388

Rick 12 Points, MoV 49

Gene 2 Points, MoV 0

Here is the rub. Rick was the only undefeated player. Rick beat the 1st and 2nd place tournament winners. Even if we had decided to do a top two cut Rick, the undefeated player, would not have made the cut. No one in our group is upset. In fact the tournament winner Brian gave his first place prize to Rick since he felt Rick deserved it for beating the 1st and 2nd place players. This was a casual tournament among friends and I am proud to organize tournaments when all of the players are such good sports.

In a 3 or 4 round event moderate wins are fine, you will still float up the rankings and can hopefully play and beat guys who got big wins early.

In a 2 round event you have to win big or take your chances.

Try looking at it this way

Round 1

Ben defeats Gene

Rick ties Brian

Round 2

Rick ties Ben

Brian defeats Gene

Final leader board

Brian 1 win 1 tie

Ben 1 win 1 tie

Rick 2 ties

Gene 2 losses

Or in a more military like view based on their MOVs

Ben completely routed Gene in a major battle.

Rick barely held off Brian in a minor skirmish.

Rick barely held off Ben in a minor skirmish.

Brian completely routed Gene in a major battle.

So Brian and Ben in first and second have both won 1 battle where the enemy was utterly and completely destroyed and barely been repelled in 2 attacks involving limited engagement and only minor losses. Whereas Rick has been fought and won largely insignificant clashes by the slimmest of margins.

I've been in Rick's place before. I beat everyone else in a 4 man tournament but finished second. It sucked but I definitely felt like the Ben character in my story truly deserved the win. He crushed his first opponent, I barely held him off, and he beat his third opponent by a wider margin of victory than I did. My third opponent however was so scared of getting tabled again that he basically avoided combat with my Vics and I could just nip at his heels a little for the win. It's not a perfect system but it does encourage engagement much more than a straight win loss system would. I'd hate to drive for hours to a tournament and play multiple games of catch me if you can.