 |
|
|
|
| Author |
Message |
daloonieshaman |
|
Post subject: Which Tourney sould I attend and why
 Posted: Dec 05, 2007 - 04:49 PM
|
|
Joined: Feb 28, 2003
United States of America
Posts: 883
Location: United States of America
Status: Offline
|
|
I will be attending 1 or 2 tourneys next year and traveling from the Los Angeles Area.
In North America which tournament(s) should I attend. Please also note as to why I should attend that tourney. This is a $600 decision for me so please bear with me if I am a little picky. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
Spazzfist |
|
|
Post subject: RE: Which Tourney sould I attend and why
Posted: Dec 05, 2007 - 08:09 PM
|
|
Joined: Aug 16, 2004
Canada
Posts: 3953
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
|
|
The question is awfully vague!
How far are you willing to travel? What kind of tournament are you looking for? (number of games, style of tournament, projected attendance), are you looking to go to a more touristy city to please Mrs. Looonie?
Try to give more ideas of what you want in a tourney. I can only speak for those in Ontario, but there are some pretty darn fine ones up here! 
Spazz |
_________________
#1 Nurgle coach in Canada (formerly the world!)
#1 Snotling coach in Canada
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Notorious_jtb |
|
|
Post subject: RE: Which Tourney sould I attend and why
Posted: Dec 05, 2007 - 08:19 PM
|
|
Joined: Sep 02, 2005
Canada
Posts: 1456
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
|
|
Wow, you're offering you're attendance to the Tournament organiser who can impress you the most!
I would say it depends on what you want out of the experience.
Different tournaments offer different things.
Gencon bowl (Indianapolis) is probably the biggest tournament with the most coaches attending. This means that there are more ranking points available there than at most other tournaments.
The Chaos cup (Chicago) is a major, and has a good attendance too, not as many as Gencon though. Being a major you get good ranking points here as well.
Of the Canadian tournaments, of which I can speak from personal experience, there is a bit of variety
(disclaimer: I help run the tournaments in ottawa  )
The Deathbowl (Ottawa, ON) offers games of 4 way bloodbowl which is quite a different experience with very different game play. It is well attended, but is not a major so there are less ranking points here than at the Chaos cup or Gencon bowl. It also allows coaches to spend 1.25 Million GP on their teams and buy multiple improvements for their players before the tournament.
The Capital City Kick Off (Ottawa, ON) is a new tournament which has middling attendance and features regular games of bloodbowl, but has a novel method of improving players where the coaches get to draft skills half way through the tournament. The coach who is bottom of the standings gets to pick first and so has more chance of getting good skills than the coaches near the top of the standings.
The Canadian Open (Toronto, ON) is a well attended tournament, often the highest attendance in Canada. It also features the skills draft, that thief Tusim stole it from the Ottawa crowd
The Challenge of Q'ermitt (Toronto, ON) is a tournament that is all about the custom boards with all sorts of special rules. If playing bloodbowl on boats, in sewers, or in a crazy slann temples is your thing this one could be your bag.
The Niaggaroth Bowl (Niagara Falls) is another interesting varient tournament where you bring two teams and contest two seperate tournaments, one with each team. The results from both tournament are joined together to determine the overall winner.
The Spike tournament is the major which is held in Canada. This is quite an erratic tournament which can have good and bad years as it has recieved varying levels of support from GW. In 2006 it was just one day in Toronto, but this year it was apparently very good and held out west. Although the results have not yet been entered into the rankings so question marks about next years event still exist. It is probably not one to plan a big trip for.
All of these tournies are far from LA though. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
daloonieshaman |
|
|
Post subject: RE: Which Tourney sould I attend and why
Posted: Dec 05, 2007 - 10:56 PM
|
|
Joined: Feb 28, 2003
United States of America
Posts: 883
Location: United States of America
Status: Offline
|
|
Well I can travel (hence the $600 price tag figuring hotel and airfare)
I am looking for a good batch of skilled players where I can both learn and have fun. The majors have a certain appeal as I would get to meet and greet but I do not want to be distracted by a Convention setting (I would much rather go to an event that is mostly or just the BB tourney), don't want the AdD to flare up (lol)
I am also looking at the event itself as we would like to start a west coaster and build it to a major
OTTAWA is too soon as I have the whole time off request thingy at work to deal with.
I would say min of 25 players but would prefer 50-100(or more)
I have been to 12 Warhammer GT's and enjoyed them I am just starting my Tourney BloodBowl training so I can make it to England in 2-3 years
the ideal would be to get to 2 in the same year for under $800 (figuring airfare in the US would be $400-$500 for both)
too bad I do not know anyone in the midwest/Canada that can pick me up at the airport, taxi-me around, and crash at their place, That would save a ton of cash then I would have to just fly and eat (and play of course) |
_________________
Why restrict yourselves by only playing local tournaments, take your team on the road.
Best Painted: Rocky Mountain Rampage 2012, 2013, Avatar Blood Bowl Championship 2011
Stunty Cup: West Coast Quake 2012, Zlurpeebowl IV 2008
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Clan_Skaven |
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Dec 06, 2007 - 02:47 AM
|
|
Joined: Aug 19, 2003
Niagara Falls ON, Canada
Posts: 2604
Location: Niagara Falls ON, Canada
Status: Offline
|
|
The Death-Bowl just past was 20 people, I think last years Canadian Open was between 20-30 . I run the NBBO in Niagara Falls my 1st tourney had 12 but it was 12 awsome guys .....
You will be hard pressed to find tournies with 50+ attending, 25+ is not to out of the question.
In Ontario I'd say our few tourney's (mention above) average between 15-30 people per tourney. Mine was low at 12, but also a few last minute cancles will do that.
My tourney will be next September.
Rod |
_________________
"2006 SPIKE Champion!"
"Death-Bowl IV & V, Most Casualties!, Death-Bowl VI Best Team!"
"2008 Dagger Bowl Champion"
Host of the Warpstone Cup, Q'ermitt Bowl & the Hope Bowl
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
SolarFlare |
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Dec 06, 2007 - 05:57 AM
|
|
Joined: Nov 24, 2004
Posts: 199
Status: Offline
|
|
The ZlurpeeBowl is one of the best tourneys out there. Xtreme had a special figure cast for the giveaway last year (along with specially made tourney dice). Last year we had 37 players, and it was a blast. This year, the stated goal if 50 players, and players have been recruiting new attendees from their home leagues. Go to zlurpeebowl.com for more info.
After that, I recommend Chaos Cup (because it's a "Major") or GenConBowl (if you like all the other stuff you could do at a con). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Notorious_jtb |
|
|
Post subject: Re: RE: Which Tourney sould I attend and why
Posted: Dec 06, 2007 - 08:11 AM
|
|
Joined: Sep 02, 2005
Canada
Posts: 1456
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
|
|
daloonieshaman wrote: Well I can travel (hence the $600 price tag figuring hotel and airfare)
I am looking for a good batch of skilled players where I can both learn and have fun. The majors have a certain appeal as I would get to meet and greet but I do not want to be distracted by a Convention setting (I would much rather go to an event that is mostly or just the BB tourney), don't want the AdD to flare up (lol)
I am also looking at the event itself as we would like to start a west coaster and build it to a major
OTTAWA is too soon as I have the whole time off request thingy at work to deal with.
I would say min of 25 players but would prefer 50-100(or more)
I have been to 12 Warhammer GT's and enjoyed them I am just starting my Tourney BloodBowl training so I can make it to England in 2-3 years
the ideal would be to get to 2 in the same year for under $800 (figuring airfare in the US would be $400-$500 for both)
too bad I do not know anyone in the midwest/Canada that can pick me up at the airport, taxi-me around, and crash at their place, That would save a ton of cash then I would have to just fly and eat (and play of course)
yeah the numbers game is a tough one. I went to 4 warhammer GTs in nottingham and there is a huge difference between a bloodbowl tournie and a GT. IBecause there are less players you really get to know the people involved, so if you go to one tournament its likely you'll have somewhere to crash for the next one. The only roughly 50 coach tournie in north america is gencon bowl. Although I didn't realise how successful the zlurpee bowl was! Good work there lads.
The deathbowl and the canadian open average between 20 to mid 30s. They do both feature custom tournament dice, and various prizes. The deathbowl has custom trophies too. There will be alot more tournaments with custom figures now with the support from IMPACT on that line. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Colin |
|
|
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Which Tourney sould I attend and why
Posted: Dec 06, 2007 - 09:15 AM
|
|
Joined: Feb 10, 2003
Posts: 698
Status: Offline
|
|
I have to disagree with the statement that the Spike! tourney isn't worth planning a big trip for. I attended the one held this year in Calgary and it was a great tourney. It is a major and attracts people from all over western Canada. (over 30 coaches this past July, which is pretty good for a NA tourney). Lots of good players there and competition was great. Contact ToppyT at the abbba.org website for more info.
A big plus is that flying into Calgary is alot cheaper from LA than to any city in eastern Canada or eastern US.
I will like to add that if travel isn't a big concern for you, check out the Three Kingdoms Challenge in Tampa, FL, a smaller tourney (averaging around 20 coaches) but a great tourney that attracts people from all over (including players from Europe). |
_________________
"I'm not dumb, but I don't understand
How she dodge like a woman but block like a man
Here name is Zara, Z-A-R-A, Zara"
Last edited by Colin on Dec 07, 2007 - 09:13 AM; edited 1 time in total
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Notorious_jtb |
|
|
Post subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Which Tourney sould I attend and why
Posted: Dec 06, 2007 - 09:32 AM
|
|
Joined: Sep 02, 2005
Canada
Posts: 1456
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
|
|
Torg wrote: I have to disagree with the statement that the Spike! tourney isn't worth planning a big trip for. I attended the one held this year in Calgary and it was a great tourney. It is a major and attracts people from all over western Canada. (over 30 coaches this past July, which is pretty good for a NA tourney). Lots of good players there and competition was great. Contact ToppyT at the AbBBA.com website for more info.
I have to disagree right back torg.
I did say that this years tournament went well, which is great. However, due to the links with GW last years tournament was a 1 day disaster. There is also no evidence that this won't happen again. Also, the results from this years tournament have not been entered into the database, which speaks to organisational issues surrounding this event.
Whilst it may be a great time, these doubts will prevent myself from planning a big trip to attend the spike. I am not willing to gamble limited travel funs on a maybe. I feel it only fair to share my doubts with others, who do not know the history. It would be a much "safer" use of funds to go to a well established event, like Gencon bowl or The Chaos Cup.
If you live close, or can get there for cheap then of course go to the spike. I hope it continues to do well and if it does then maybe the east will come to the west for the party. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Notorious_jtb |
|
|
Post subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Which Tourney sould I attend and why
Posted: Dec 06, 2007 - 09:50 AM
|
|
Joined: Sep 02, 2005
Canada
Posts: 1456
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
|
|
Torg wrote:
I will like to add that if travel isn't a big concern for you, check out the Three Kingdoms Challenge in Tampa, FL, a smaller tourney (averaging around 20 coaches) but a great tourney that attracts people from all over (including players from Europe).
Oh yeah, the Chaos cup also gets some of the best European coaches coming over regularly too. In 2008 there is a plan to have the Chaos cup in Chicago, hopefully on the 4/5 of october and then the following weekend to hold the Deathbowl in Ottawa.
There are maybe half a dozen euro coaches who want to try and play both in 2008. A bunch of the eastern canada coaches are thinking of heading down to the chaos cup for the first time too. This could increase attendances at both tournies. It could be a good 1.5 week trip to the east, two great tournies and only 1 cross continent trip. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Xtreme |
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Dec 06, 2007 - 12:48 PM
|
|
Da Boss
Joined: Mar 12, 2003
United States of America
Posts: 1096
Location: United States of America
Status: Offline
|
|
SolarFlare wrote: The ZlurpeeBowl is one of the best tourneys out there. Xtreme had a special figure cast for the giveaway last year (along with specially made tourney dice). Last year we had 37 players, and it was a blast. This year, the stated goal if 50 players, and players have been recruiting new attendees from their home leagues. Go to zlurpeebowl.com for more info.
After that, I recommend Chaos Cup (because it's a "Major") or GenConBowl (if you like all the other stuff you could do at a con).
I say the Zlurpee Bowl, though I may be bias. There always have been, and always will be a lot of free stuff for everyone that attends the ZB. Attendance has really jumped, with the closeness of several Midwest leagues now, and the activity on the zlurpee bowl forums. We are hoping to hit 50 coaches this year and it does seem like a realistic goal. If you are interested at all I encourage you to poke around the zlurpee bowl forum and see what is going on. Its still early for next years discussion, but it is getting started already. It will be June 21, 22nd in '08. www.ZlurpeeBowl.com
That being said, if you want to spend more money and play other games, everyone should see GenCon at least once. It is expensive, but it is 4 days of great gaming. And one of the largest BB tournies in the US. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
DarkOrk20 |
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Dec 06, 2007 - 03:15 PM
|
|
Joined: Aug 24, 2005
United States of America
Posts: 300
Location: United States of America
Status: Offline
|
|
I will have to second everything Xtreme just said. I am running a tourney this year also but I would much rather attend Zlurpee Bowl. Besides that, where else can you play BB and drink your free Zlurpee.
There will be 50 coaches there this year. Even if we have to go out and club a few over the head and sit them in a chair. (Don't worry about them, they will still win some games. The guys I bring from my home league know how to play and still can't win a game). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
daloonieshaman |
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Dec 06, 2007 - 09:11 PM
|
|
Joined: Feb 28, 2003
United States of America
Posts: 883
Location: United States of America
Status: Offline
|
|
Can't go to Gencon (Alaska Cruise with my wifes family)
Zlurpee Bowl sounds fun (is the Zlurpee fermented ?!?)
I am seriously considering the Stupor Bowl (the date works VERY well for me)
Chaos Cup (maybe)
1 big thing I am looking at is the nuts and bolts of the tourney (and I will be talking with the organizers about stuff like advertising and costs).
One huge goal is to gather tourney info (what the players liked , did not like ect. how the event ran.) So I can run a tourney here is Los Angeles.
The other is to build my skills as a Tourney player (rather than a League coach) so that I can go to England and do as well as the dice let me. |
_________________
Why restrict yourselves by only playing local tournaments, take your team on the road.
Best Painted: Rocky Mountain Rampage 2012, 2013, Avatar Blood Bowl Championship 2011
Stunty Cup: West Coast Quake 2012, Zlurpeebowl IV 2008
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
SolarFlare |
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Dec 07, 2007 - 07:16 AM
|
|
Joined: Nov 24, 2004
Posts: 199
Status: Offline
|
|
daloonieshaman wrote: I am seriously considering the Stupor Bowl (the date works VERY well for me)
Yeah. I forgot about that one. We're looking to go to the Stupor Bowl as well. It looks like JP is putting some nice effort into it. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Colin |
|
|
Post subject:
Posted: Dec 07, 2007 - 09:10 AM
|
|
Joined: Feb 10, 2003
Posts: 698
Status: Offline
|
|
Notorious, you base your opinion on the Spike! not doing well in Toronto and being moved to Calgary that it is somehow an unstable event that may be moved around from year to year or not held at all. The fact that it did so poorly in Toronto was the whole reason it was moved to Calgary and the fact that it did well there means there is no reason for it to be moved somewhere else. The people who attended from Vancouver were so impressed that they expressed the desire to hopefully host the Spike! in Vancouver one year in the not so distant future. Nothing to do with instabllity, more to do with popularity, others want a chance to host it because it's a well run and fun tourney. I'm sure it's possible that there may be people in Toronto lobbying GW Canada to get the tourney back there, but as long as it is doing well in Calgary, there's no reason for it to more. As far as rankings go, if that's the reason you go to tounrnies, so be it, but I go to have fun, socialise with other coaches, and play some good games of BB, don't really care how long it takes to get the results entered as I don't look at the rankings anyway.
This isn't a personal attack, no need for a flame war to get started, you are intitled to your opionion as I said before, but I wanted to offer my own as a couterpoint to yours which was that the Spike! wasn't worth planning to attend as it will be shuffled and moved around without anyone knowing where it will be held from one year to the next. The Spike! isn't going anywhere, it did well in Calgary this year and will be a fixture in the western Canada tourney scene for some time to come.
But like I said, that's my opinion, so no need for a flame war.
Oh and BTW, I do agree that GenCon is a tourney that everyone should try atleast once, been there twice myself, a really good time. One of these years I'll check out the Chaos Cup as well (and maybe the Zlurpee Bowl) . |
_________________
"I'm not dumb, but I don't understand
How she dodge like a woman but block like a man
Here name is Zara, Z-A-R-A, Zara"
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
