Greetings...
I was just curious as to what people think of the change Wizkids implemented to the Qualifiers rules. Previously, you could win as many events as you wished. With the upcoming Qualifiers event though, you can win only once. Winning more than one Qualifier can cause you to be banned from actually playing at Nationals in June.

Myself, I actually like it. Now I don't have to compete against my same group in every event. Once someone wins, they're out, unless they want to play again, and try to purposefully lose just to get the fellowship prize. And considering you'd be paying $30.00 just for a Longbow, thats doubtful.

The counterarguement is that Nationals is where the BEST players go to prove themselves, now with a one-win clause, there will be a lot more 'average' players there to take up seats...:)

As to nationals themselves, its still a tossup as to whether I'll play. There are going to be soooooo many Arrow IV turtle armies, its disgusting to even contemplate.

-Stealth

I'm sure the intent is to help spread the prizes around, but it'll be a non issue for the people they are trying to help. The people only seeking the LEs for resale value are probably not going to care one way or the other if they are banned from playing at nationals anyway. However, if I was planning on playing at Nationals and needed a way to help fund the trip and I was good enough to win multiple tournaments, I would use the extra LEs to raise some extra money to pay for the trip. From California for a weekend stay with airfare its going to be about $500 bucks add in meals, tickets to the event, money for the sealed booster when you get there and it could be $1000. This doesn't include any last minute army additions which could add up. Nationals ends up being not a test of the best players available but the best players who are willing and/or able to travel.

I haven't seen this, want to put a link up?

Yeah really, where was this update posted?

According to that document, players already qualified to atten nationals may not participate in a Nationals qualifier tournement. That means that if you've already got your ticket to ride, you can't even play, not that you can't win again.

Wow.

I'm not sure if that's cool or if that really sucks.

- GhostPony

Sure more people will "qualify" but will those players be competitive. probably not. This must be the Wizkids version of affirmative action. For players in areas without a lot of venues it won't change things. In larger markets where there are a lot of options it hurts the venues and the players. Venues lose out on additional sales. Competitve players lose out on an opportunity to practice in the sealed format which will be at Nationals. All Wizkids had to say was that if you've already won a qualifier the invite goes to the 2nd place player. For a qualifier there shouldn't be a fellowship it should be second place. This way everyone is happy.

I don’t really have too much sympathy for the people who would be affected by this. Guys who go to multiple venues and win every week, not that there is anything wrong with that, will just have to suffer.

It's not like any of us (where I live) could actually afford the expnses to do such..

and do you have sympathy for venues that lose out on additional revenue from players who play at multiple venues?

My point if you want to go to Nationals, earn your way. If the multiple venue guy is the best guy around, prove your worthy by beating him. The sealed tournament is supposed to level the field by taking a person's collection out of the mix. Its about luck and skill. Prove you've got ample supplies of both by beating this guy and advancing. If you can't beat him in this format then you probably aren't competitve enough for nationls anyway. Then enjoy the game and learn from someone who knows how to play the game a bit better than you do.

I like the change.

This 'there will be less competitive players there' isn't a very good argument. There already would be. What about the towns were only 1 person shows up to the event so they win automatically? The towns were only 2 players show up to an event and both are new?

I know there are areas out there that have a couple people who all ranked high at Nationals & Worlds last year. Just because 1 person in the group might be the best doesn't mean the others arn't 'national level' quality. There can only be 1 National Champion, that doesn't mean everyone below them is 'bad' or 'less competitive'.

As for venues loosing money, it is only 1 event. And who knows, some might gain money! If the local 'shark' wins on Friday, some people might come out to play on Saturday and Sunday who otherwise would not have because they didn't want to have to play him.

As for those getting the invite and not being able to get 'practice' at sealed at the rest of the events that weekend, that one doesn't hold up to well either. There was a sealed event last month people could attend, there is another one next month. There will probably be more between now and Nationals.

To me people wanting to play in more than one are just wanting to eliminate their competition before the event. I mean before the Olympics when someone qualifies for their country it's not like they can go to the other countries qualifiers and qualify for them too so that they can keep the best of that country from going to the event.

1. This doesn't effect them either way.
2. Its very few places that would actually have a huge amount of National/World quality players and only one venue to go to. If they divide anf conquer they'd all be able to go other than fight it out at one spot.
3. There's a differnce between the usual sealed and Nat. Qualifier Sealed. The rewards for winning the qualifier is greater than that of a regular sealed event. Attendance at most sealed events are poor this far after an expansion release. However attendance for Marque level events is usually pretty good. So there is a dollar figure loss to the venues.
4. Agains attendance at a regular event is usually lower than that of a Marquee level event. There are a lot of players who won't play the campaigns buit will come out to play the big tournaments.
5. What's wrong with narrowing the field before the tournament. I'd rather play against someone who would at least offer some type of challenge, than against the guy who had nothing better to do that day. This is supposed to be the top level for competitve play, not a charity event.

where can I find more detail about the tourny?

Assuming I won at my venue, what kind of registration fees would I have to pay? Also what is the cost of participating at nationals, and what are the awards?

It's a good thing. It keeps people from being shut out who wouldn't be otherwise, especially since sealed booster is a lousy format to detirmine the best players since so much luck is involved with actual pulls.

They haven't announced any specifics about the tourny yet. like prize support. but the costs you'll have to pay are transportation to and from Ohio, hotel, tickets for the convention, the cost of boosters for the sealed portion plus meals and any other incedental costs.

sealed isn't totally about luck, its also about skill and knowledge of the game. it may not be the greatest format but it removes a player's collection from the mix. I'd hazard to say if the person is not good enough to win at the local level, they probably wouldn't do well at Nationals either, considering the first day is sealed booster.