So like many cities the one I live in has players of differing competitive levels. We have those who aspire for professional events and those who want to play their decks against other people in a more relaxed environment. Our FNM has the more competitive players coming in and that has pushed out some of the less competitive players. So I approach the store owner about starting another night for those players.
The issues we have are:
1) Coming up with a friendly name that both conveys the more relaxed environment, isn't insulting and is kind of catchy
2) Entry Fee/Prize Payout. I suggesting something like $1 entry fee and the winners (which will likely be the top half) get a card from the Promo Folder (stuff like extra pre-release promos and some older FNM cards) low risk/decent reward
3) A way to approach the players who aren't coming to the shop about this new night of magic
4) If you have a night like this what issues do you come upon. Probably not going to commit to a forum so that players can play whatever they have; hopefully it won't become degenerate.
It sounds to me like what you really want is to make a play group, or a 'league' like what Commander has. If you try to make a "Casual Saturday" or whatever with the possibility of store credit how do you determine what is relaxed and casual from what isn't? What's to stop someone who just wants store credit coming in with Jund while you're all playing home brews?
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By: ol MISAKA lo
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Mhjames: mtgsalvation: I DON'T SEE HOW THIS CARD IS GOOD. I KNOW PATRICK CHAPIN USED IT AND WENT 8-0, BUT THAT WAS A SMALL TOURNAMENT. THE CARD IS TOO SLOW. YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THE OPPONENT HAS A SPELL IN THE GRAVEYARD
My playgroup is actually doing this, though tourneys with 8 or more players will be sanctioned. We plan on starting as of next month and our payouts are in booster packs. The owner of our LGS actually supports it (because the product we'll be giving away will be acquired there). You could try to talk to the owner of your LGS about it, too.
Our group is called the Shambleshark League, because of Shambleshark's round belly, the fact that its creature types are bizarre and its translation is hilarious. lol
Though some of the players are REALLY Spike-ish and will always play tier 1 decks, we will try to level the play for everyone.
As for entry fee/prize payout, you could charge something like the value of a booster pack and give boosters out at a 65/35 ratio or 50/25/12/12 if there are more players.
Players can be approached by hearsay. "So, I heard store XXXXX has been holding laid back tournaments at a measly entry fee.."
And, for the last issue, well...
You should have someone there that has at least some knowledge of the rules of the game (not to say a judge - but if you know one that could do it for you, good our playgroup has one) so as to solve players' doubts and oversee the rounds. You should have some space dedicated to your event, because it's not like 10 people could just move around for the sake of not having their defined space, it's bad and confuses people. There must be someone who will handle the money and payouts (essentially the role of the TO).
The toughest part is how to define "casual." Regular FNM works because it just asks you to bring your strongest deck and compete. Your idea is difficult because people will bring strong decks and if you turn them away your players will begin to slowly creep up in power as well as they seek to "push the envelope" on power level. If you aren't destroyed from outside by spikes, you will be destroyed within because everyone wants to win unless there's nothing on the line.
It's why EDH is pretty much the only widely recognized casual format. There's no incentive to win, only to have fun.
Suggestion: Intro Deck Night - players play against each other using one of the 10 guild Intro decks from RtR or Gatecrash. The deck can either be bought from the store, or assembled from your existing collection (but must remain faithful to the official decklist). No sideboards.
First off: thanks for all the suggestions and ideas so far.
I've got the support of the store owner so that's not an issue. I think I can get knowledgeable enough players to be there to help with the rules dilemmas. I was planning on the format being 60 card minimum and that's pretty much it (well and 0 or 15 card sideboards). This is due to the fact that many of the target players have decks they really like but are either not standard legal or modern competitive.
I'm hoping to keep it a less competitive environment by offering a small prize payout divided up between a larger percentage of players than normal. I figure if the prize payouts (as well as entry fees) are pretty small then there's going to be less incentive to be super spikey. Also, a lot of those players can't make Friday night so it's likely going to be on a weekday.
It will only be casual if there's no prize, and no entry fee.
This
Or if the prize and entry fees are derisory
When something is on the line and/or when you to pay get in the intensity ratchets up and all it takes is one player going to for the win to ruin the whole endeavour
This happens at one LGS I go too. First time I went there I ran SneakShow... and everyone else was playing very casual decks. Lets just say I went home and decided to brew up a different deck that wouldn't just run train on everyone.
It was actually pretty fun. I came up with a Jank Zombie deck and ended up going 2-2. (I lost to a player on purpose so I wouldn't make top 4.) To me it isn't going there and just winning. It's having fun with people who are much less competitive at the game of magic.
One of the stores in Arizona does this. 4 rounds, $1 entry fee every Saturday. It's pretty successful - this past weekend got 53 players. People can play anything, but it's generally understood not to bring anything broken, but they won't stop you either.
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The issues we have are:
1) Coming up with a friendly name that both conveys the more relaxed environment, isn't insulting and is kind of catchy
2) Entry Fee/Prize Payout. I suggesting something like $1 entry fee and the winners (which will likely be the top half) get a card from the Promo Folder (stuff like extra pre-release promos and some older FNM cards) low risk/decent reward
3) A way to approach the players who aren't coming to the shop about this new night of magic
4) If you have a night like this what issues do you come upon. Probably not going to commit to a forum so that players can play whatever they have; hopefully it won't become degenerate.
By: ol MISAKA lo
Cockatrice: Infallible
Our group is called the Shambleshark League, because of Shambleshark's round belly, the fact that its creature types are bizarre and its translation is hilarious. lol
Though some of the players are REALLY Spike-ish and will always play tier 1 decks, we will try to level the play for everyone.
As for entry fee/prize payout, you could charge something like the value of a booster pack and give boosters out at a 65/35 ratio or 50/25/12/12 if there are more players.
Players can be approached by hearsay. "So, I heard store XXXXX has been holding laid back tournaments at a measly entry fee.."
And, for the last issue, well...
You should have someone there that has at least some knowledge of the rules of the game (not to say a judge - but if you know one that could do it for you, good our playgroup has one) so as to solve players' doubts and oversee the rounds. You should have some space dedicated to your event, because it's not like 10 people could just move around for the sake of not having their defined space, it's bad and confuses people. There must be someone who will handle the money and payouts (essentially the role of the TO).
UB Sacrifice
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It's why EDH is pretty much the only widely recognized casual format. There's no incentive to win, only to have fun.
If there is prize support some jerk is going to show up with a great deck and run over all the people looking to have fun
I've got the support of the store owner so that's not an issue. I think I can get knowledgeable enough players to be there to help with the rules dilemmas. I was planning on the format being 60 card minimum and that's pretty much it (well and 0 or 15 card sideboards). This is due to the fact that many of the target players have decks they really like but are either not standard legal or modern competitive.
I'm hoping to keep it a less competitive environment by offering a small prize payout divided up between a larger percentage of players than normal. I figure if the prize payouts (as well as entry fees) are pretty small then there's going to be less incentive to be super spikey. Also, a lot of those players can't make Friday night so it's likely going to be on a weekday.
This
Or if the prize and entry fees are derisory
When something is on the line and/or when you to pay get in the intensity ratchets up and all it takes is one player going to for the win to ruin the whole endeavour
It was actually pretty fun. I came up with a Jank Zombie deck and ended up going 2-2. (I lost to a player on purpose so I wouldn't make top 4.) To me it isn't going there and just winning. It's having fun with people who are much less competitive at the game of magic.
Arizona players, click above!
MTGDeckBlog - a place for me to dump my deck ideas (mostly Legacy). Some good, some bad, but mainly you decide