This is the best suggestion I think I've heard.

If UDE removes the cash prize from PCQ's, it accomplishes several things:
1) Less expense for UDE, while still maintaining a steady system of local sanctioned play.
2) Provides less reason for pro players to attend PCQ's - therefore, if pro attendance at PCQ's drops, enabling casual players to perform better than they had previously, and more easily qualify for the ProCircuit.

Realistically, if the objective is to encourage a casual player base, while reducing UDE's expenses on the game, I think this is one simple thing UDE can do which should contribute greatly toward those goals.

One of the problem you may find with just city champs/hobby league is stores may get discouraged if they do not get a ton of players and stop holding events. If we have PCQ's and they are run by PTO's then we know for certain we will have some kind of events, guaranteed. I think most people just want to know there will be guaranteed events. And while PTO's may think its a pain in their butt to run PCQ's because they are not making money at it. Guess what too bad. They make plenty off of Yugioh. They can help us out it is their job.

And PCQ's without money sounds great. In our area we might lose one or two players. But I think they play because they like the game and they will stay.

Fortunately for our area we already have a few people trying to get events happening. Myself and a store owner from down south.

I believe you get more points for winning then you are deducted for losing, I thought it was something like 7 points for a win at hobby league and -5 if you loose. Those numbers may be wrong.

Hey Dschneider I dont mean to come off mean but if you are only going 50/50 at a PCQ then you probably shouldnt be at the PC, the P does stands for Pro. Granted I am not a pro and never will be their is no shame in that, I still love to play this game but for me its just a hobby.

Just check the St. Louis Mega-PCQ.

PCQs are needed!

GO UDE!! PCQ!!!

As Jeff stated, there will some type of mid-level tourney events but not as PCQs.

They should do 2 per season, 1 Constructed and 1 Sealed.

Yea really funny. RI has every sneak preview 20+ people showing and in the HL that I'm in we have 8 to 14 people show.

Hey I just want some form of PCQs back
so theres my vote

I live in a city with no Hobby League. We do not have enough players to support a hobby league. Travelling isn't really an option for 2 hours of "fun" play on a regular basis.

PCQ's give me a chance to travel, play against others, and start gaining those points necessary to compete in a PC. Ratingswise, these will never happen for me, and if I can't advance competitively.. you know? I might as well quit.

B.

I think that for vs to survive tournaments like pcq's are needed but I agree with more hobby league support. I come from NB Canada and we have about 20 some people come to our atlantic Canada PCQ and it is great because it gives us a chance to play against some people who we don't see that often and who dont see our decks all the time.... I look forward to them and think that these type of tornaments with the great prize support is healthy for the long term of VS but they have been lacking on the hobby league stuff so lets give these city championships a try and UED wake up and give us some more details on the prise support and rating system for the city championships

the new pc invite system is better IMO. It encourages people to play more often. You can't just go to one PCQ anymore and qualify and then sit idly by till the PC starts. If you wanna go to a PC, you have to play more often now

All I can say is good bye to you sir. I really think you need to help the game grow so they can add money again. :cool: :cool: :cool:

Or you play until your rating gets high enough, then quit playing so you don't below the line.

The cost of a single PCQ is not hard to ballpark - the trick is including ALL of the costs (for a hypothetical 24-person PCQ):

$260 prize card (the extra $10 pays for transaction fees)
3 boxes latest product (Top 8, roughly $160 wholesale)
24 participation + 8 prize EAs (call it $20 wholesale)
Comp for judge(s)* - 1 box latest product each, min. 2 (~$105 wholesale)
Cost of the location* - varies wildly
Sealed pack only - 1 box latest product (top 8 draft) plus 5 packs per player (for 24 players, call it 6 boxes of product, about $320 wholesale)

* These vary by PTO and venue. The venue cost can vary wildly. I also assume that these are borne solely by the PTO, but I'm counting costs as if they were incurred by a single entity - likely not the case, but hey, it's my post and we're just throwing numbers around.

For the fixed costs, call it minimum $545 for Constructed, $865 for Sealed (and you only get $5 x 24 players = $120 more for the extra $320 in cost).

On the income side, $20 Constructed ($480), $25 Sealed ($600). The PCQs, as they were, seemed to be a great way for UDE to shovel money out the door. Okay, a small shovel - but LOTS of them...

Suggestion: Get rid of the $260 prize card. Replace with a box of product and, oh, an EA EoME or Mobilize or other money rare. (On second thought, a money rare EA may not be such a great idea, since a common theme here is "Keep the pros away." Wait, I know - you can't play in them if you have 20 (10?) or more PC points!)

Btw, I have ratings below 2300 in both Sealed and Constructed, so I expect NEVER to see the bright side of 2500, and 2650 is a fantasy of Bo Derek proportions. (Oops, giving away my age...) BUT... I have played in a PC that my son also played in (Gencon last year, went 1-3 drop and it was a BLAST!) and have 6 points now... and no prospect of ever playing in another one. :(

And I'll keep playing as long as they make the game.

PCQ/City Championship Same thing to me but 4 times a year is not enough. 1-2 a month should be the quota. 1 Constructed and 1 sealed. Semi-competitive fun and costs nothing for UDE!

I've said it on my podcast and I'll say it here.

"People that want to keep this game in the money need to promote and play this game."

Never has this been more true than now :)

No hate from me because in some ways I'm like you. We do need to start back at a new beginning now though.

Paul