So my LGS is running its 3rd and 4th tournament for AGoT tomorrow. We are having both a Joust and a Melee one after another (yeah looks to be a long day). Now this is our 3rd Joust tournament, so I expect that to run pretty smooth. But it is our first melee tournament, and based on the melee games we have played before I'm wondering if anyone has any tips to keep it running smoothly.

My main concern isn't so much the rules. Thanks to the FAQ I think we will have enough players that know the rules to keep each table going, my concern is with the pace of the games. In a Joust it's not so much of an issue, but in Melee I've seen how one player not really knowing how to play that well can slow the game down to the point it would have no chance to finish in time. In addition some players have a hard time keeping track of the whole board, how do you guys normally handle people asking for take backs after realizing they just messed up.

Any tips to help this run in a somewhat effective manner?

ScottieATF said:

Sorry you didn't get any replies here. I was gone for the weekend. How did it run? What kind of turnout did you have?

Did your players tend to "farm the weakest link" or "take down the leader?"

It went ok.

Because we ran both a melee and joust in the same day, we weren't able to do a proper melee set up.

We had 3 tables of 4, with the winners playing in a final table of 3. In hindsight we should have had a 4th person at the finals table, because 3 person melees suck.

My peliminary table went rather smoothly, but then again I was announcing player action windows to keep things moving. One Targ player was able to bring out all 3 Dragons on his first turn, but no dupes and no Dany. He jumps to a big lead of 8 or 9 power. Someone then of course Valars. He ends up bringing out Dany and Balaerion kneeling everybody's everything. He ends up with 12 power. I Valar and everyone takes a few power from him to bring him down a bit. Next turn Euron with Support of Harlaw goes nuts, and I win picking on the former power lead.

In the end it was player inexperience as the player acting to my left did not leave the Master of Laws for the player with no board as I would have not gotten free unopposed challenges.

The final table was myself my friend Tommy and a a DE player named Jack. Jack had the strongest setup and was able to out-Title us, never leaving either of us in much of a position to attack him with any strength. He ended up winning and Tommy and I both sat at 6 power.

In the end none of the 4 games went to time which I was worried about, and we got ironed out on some rules we had been playing wrong. Oh and 3 player melees are horrible.

Great job on announcing player action windows. That's usually a big help, especially with newer players and those unfamiliar with the format.

It's impressive that the winner managed to "out-title" you on the final table with the "every two round" grouping. In a couple longer games, I remember turn 3 and turn 5 choices by the 3rd player being influenced by what would be left in the pool the next round.

It was mostly a case of a poor understanding of board position in regards to when you want to be picking in a 3 player.