Now that we've had a full season of SF PCQs, how do you guys feel about them?

Here is a list of why I think it's an improvement:

1. Reasonable Event Times:
Going home 11pm or later was painful. Now players can get home at around 7pm and the staff can have dinner at a reasonable time (heh).
2. Lunch Breaks:
Usually, the crossover of two formats made it hard to break for lunch... now players get a little bit of time to chow down some bad-for-you grub.
3. Amateur Prizing:
This was awesome. I saw more new players this last season than the last year and a half. Kudos to whoever brainchilded this up at UDE.
4. Judge Coverage:
Dual-format always presented a problem because you either had to stagger the number of judges you have or run a little short-handed during deckchecks. And now judges only have to worry about a single format, even at 10ks and PCs, most judges only are responsible for one event.
5. Player Experience:
I think it's better when all the players are in the same tourney. This way there "bad beat" stories are more relateable (heh).

I'm sure that there are many players who still wish there was dual-format but considering the turnout at PCQs, it just isn't a viable format.

How do you guys feel?

I'm a huge fan of single-format PCQs for one simple reason. If I choose the right metagame for my constructed deck, I should be able to earn my spot on play alone. Throwing in a draft at the end always seemed to nullify everything previously accomplished. If you make it to the cut based on your play in the first 10(?) rounds, why shouldn't you fight for the invite by playing with the same skillset?

There have been lots of times I've X-0'd an event, and then because of bad packs, poor skill, or just plain horrible play, I lost my Top-8 matchups.

I have to agree with this even if it will never benefit me directly. Now if we could just tell the non-vs world we exist.

I thought the single format pcq system was a bad idea, because I enjoy limited a lot more than constructed. However, the increase of the number of events more than made up for it, in my mind. In January alone, there are something like 6 PCQs within driving distance of my house.

Thumbs up here, though we (in Atlanta) haven't really seen the promised increased frequency...

In fact, we had ZERO Silver Age constructed PCQs after PC Indy, because the next constructed PCQ to come along after Indy was the weekend of PCLA. That SUCKED. If they pick up the number of weekends that PCQs take place, then I will LOVE the decision to move to a single format.

And yes, the amateur prize is a good thing - I played against a guy this past weekend who was an amateur, and the surprised look of delight when he got handed his extra swag was great. I was happy that such a classy guy was rewarded for showing up, even if he didn't top 8...

-S

1. Reasonable Event Times:

Very true

2. Lunch Breaks:

We still don't get these :ermm:

3. Amateur Prizing:

Great idea, needs better advertising. The participation EAs are also smart, and I think the choices for EAs have gotten a ton better from previous ones (*cough* Sovereign Superior *cough*)

The big disadvantages are not being able to play Sealed if you don't have a deck for the current Age, and not being able to drop to play another PCQ if you have a bad start.

I'm also concerned that the number of total PCQs have decreased. I think moreso than other events (Hobby League included) PCQs do the best job of fostering community. The Chicago/Madison area has a fun crop of players who regularly show up to each others PCQs.

I think your confusing PCs and PCQs.....

As a judge I like being done earlier, and not having to worry about having to run two PCQs myself if we are short handed.

The increase in PCQs wasn't supposed to happen till '07, but the switch to one format happened a while ago. We haven't had any fewer PCQ dates then we would have had they stayed in the same format.

You'll notice the increase in '07

If we have the same amount of dates but play only one PCQ a day instead of two, that means the number of PCQs have decreased ;)

I hope so!

The lunch break thing is just an Alan thing.


"Mwuahahaha More money!"


Okay maybe not the more money part.

I once won back to back PCQs ... and I did like the chance to crap out for Constructed and switch to the other one, or vice versa.

But having the event end at a good time means we can ussually get a quick draft off afterwards anyway, so that's good.

Oh and I forgot:

6. Time For Alternate Formats:
We started doing Team Sealed at Sneaks because the main flight usually ended around 4pm. At the last PCQ we starting doing the Supervillain Smackdown (Raid-Style 3-on-1 format) during the Top 8. I would like to run a Team-Up format at either the next PCQ or Sneak.

Amateur prizes were a stroke of genius. However, I went to a PCQ last weekend and it didn't end until 10:30-10:45pm. It was a sealed event with about 23 people. I drove about 2 and a half hours to get there, so I didn't make it home until after 1am. Maybe we started late or maybe everyone there was slow, but I never went to a dual format PCQ that saw me get home after 1am.

Id love for more people to show up to SL PCQs. I remember a Sealed MAV PCQ a while back that had about 50 people enter. Lately I have yet to attend a PCQ with even 30 people.

Sealed events take longer. It takes almost an hour of opening packs and registering them before playing. Then another 45 minutes to an hour in top 8 for the draft. I attended one this weekend that had 22-25 people and it ended with a split around 8:30 pm. It started at 11:00 am. With 6 rounds this was a little long but not to bad.