Just so there is no confusion on Saturday, for the Delaware Regional Championship a 50 minute time limit will be enforced for each round of the preliminary rounds.

This was the time limit announced a few weeks ago, and I do not feel it is right to made a change to the tournament parameters on such short notice.

I understand that some folks have expressed concerns that some decks have difficulty achieving their victory condition within the 50 minute time limit.
However, I don't think that changing the parameters of the tournament at the last minute to suit certain decks is the best answer to this problem.
If you feel like your deck may have difficulty earning a Match Win within the previously stated time frame, then perhaps you should consider altering your deck to give it a better chance to achieve its victory condition within the parameters of the tournament.
The tournament parameters are the same for every game that every player participates in

They apply equally to all. Every player has been aware of the time limit for weeks, and sound deck building strategy takes time limits into consideration.

On a related note, I would like to express my intention to fully enforce the actual results of the game.
It is not up to the players in a tournament to decide who would have won a game if the time limit had not been reached.
I am not interested in labeling this collusion or anything else, but here is how I would like this tournament to be run:

If a game ends in a draw, then a draw will be enforced.
If a game ends in a modified win, then a modified win will be enforced.
If your opponent is ahead 14-0 at end of the round after time is called, you do not have the right to award them a full match win.
If you wish to award your opponent a full match win, then you will need to forfeit the current game and drop from the tournament.

For anybody to earn a full match win, they must actually achieve their win condition within the time limit. That seems rather simple and straightforward to me. I understand that time limits are articial and rather stupid (nobody plays with them during "normal" play), but they are part of the tournament structure and they need to be enforced. and the actual outcome of matchs that run up against the time limit need to be enforced (despite the fact that it seems to spit in the face of common sense)

It is not the right of any player to decide how and when the official rules of a tournament are enforced.
If anything other than the actual results are reported (and I am aware of the actual results), then this will be considered lying about the outcome of an official tournament game and will be grounds for disqualification for both participants.

Of course, all of this is dependent on me (as a TO) being aware of what is going on. Obviously, if I don't know about something then I can't do anything about it.
I apologize to anybody who feels I am being an @$$ about this, but I take the responsibility of being a TO very seriously (to the point of not playing in the tournament) and enforcing the rules to the letter is the only fair option to all players, in my opinion.
I am not sure how FFG officially feels about this issue, but I am running this tournament and this is how I am planning to run it.

I understand that not everybody agrees with my viewpoint in this matter, but I am asking anybody who participates in the Delaware Regional to abide by the above conditions.

Having said that, I hope everybody has a great time at the tournament. And that we are free from any controversy. Despite the above nonsense, I consider myself a pretty reasonable, easy-going person, and I looking forward to a wonderful event playing the game we all love.

There will be doughnuts and coffee available around 9:30-9:45 for anybody who enjoys trans-fat and caffeine.

Great Guidelines. I hope everyone has fun times!

You are my life hero.

Not sure why there is a need to justify the 50 min time limit. Official tourney rules give the TO the authority to adjust time limits in Joust rounds anywhere from 50-70 minutes. So players should always be aware that they could be held to 50 minute rounds.

And I don't see anything wrong with imposing a local rule that rounds can only be conceded if the person conceding drops. Before the modified win policy - when you could only win, lose, or draw - the fairness balance would have been a bit different, but that was then, this is now.

Nothing here in my view that makes you unreasonable, as an individual or a TO.

ktom said:

My only issue is the enforcement. Is the TO going to watch every round? Otherwise, someone is up 14-0, takes all their power off their house, the other person puts 1 on theirs and wins. Or they just sweep everything off the playing field and say 'Joe won'. *shrug* Or is it going to be enforced 50% of the time when the TO happens to know that happened (which is worse/less fair IMHO than not enforceing it at all)?

Anyways, for a smaller tourney I think all of this works just fine. I would just be surprised if this was done by a TO in a tourney bigger than 20-25 people (the 3-4 in the US all year - more in Europe I am sure).

rings said:

As for time limit stuff, even at 50 minutes, the majority of the games will be over. The TO tends to be acutely aware of what is going on with the few games that are still going in the last few minutes because he is anxious to get the next round going. That's my experience, anyway.

True...it would be hard to not see issues in the later games (unless control is truly here and eveyrone is giong to time). However, actual collusion would be impossible to enforce unless noticed by someone else (and then a 'he-said, she-said' situation).

Thanks Ktom!

Thanks Darth Jeff for clearing things up. I probably fall more into the category of "disagree" with some of these items, but I will certainly respect the tourney rules. Also, it's just nice to have expectations clear more generally...makes for smooth sailing. By the way, I'm bringing along a friend who's a complete novice and will probably make a lot of legitimate mistakes. It might be nice for you to reiterate some of these rules...and if he does anything wrong, please don't be too harsh on him (he means well).

The only other question I have is where are you getting your donuts from? I only eat Krispy Kreme, and I prefer them to be warm straight from the oven. Also, if you're taking pre-orders, a Starkbucks Frappaccino (venti's fine) would be great. This is all included in the registration fee, right?

Seriously though, I'm looking forward to this thing.

EDIT: Heh, I just realized I didn't even spell "Starbucks" right...man, worse than a cheesy joke is one that's not even told correctly. Although, the typo is kind of Nedly. So yeah, if Starbucks is too hard to find, a normal venti coffee from *Starkbucks* would work too. (By the way, if you brand that and sell it for millions of dollars to HBO or GRRM, I want a %.)

Twn2dn said:

Haha. I think a "Starkbucks" coffee would have to be frozen though...

Grand prize will include 50 Starkbucks, which are legal tender at any Starkland, which includes exciting rides like "The Beheader" and "The Beheader And Then A Wolf Head Is Sewn On To You.' Family entertainment includes the ever-popular "Watch Your Wolf Die" and "These People You Thought Were Allies Murdered You and Burned Down Your Castle."

Starkland - Fun is coming!

skeletonator said:

FTW!

skeletonator said:

Best thing I've seen on here in weeks!