Cactus Game Design Message Boards

I would like to see Cactus implement a "Type X' for tournaments. Type X would be any experimental format that a host wanted to try out. It could include things like Type 3, Ban List, Set Rotation, Retro, limited card sets, etc.

There would be no prize support for this from Cactus (organizers would provide their own prizes), nor any RNRS ranking (which would be impossible anyway). Type X could only be run as a local tournament or part of a local tournament, and would require the same fee as any other local event. What Cactus could provide is promo cards for participants, which would be offset by the fees.

I know in my area there are a few players who would like to try some other formats, but we have no regular playgroup, and players don't want to play in tournaments where they don't get the promo card.

The rules of each Type X event would be listed on the tournament application. This would give Cactus a file of formats that have been played and tested, and perhaps some of them might become official events some day.

(It's a pipe dream, I know, but I can try...)

Redemption already has one lightly-played format (Teams) and one dying format (T1 Multi). I'm trying T2 for the first time, but it's generally an expensive format if you're trying to be anything like competitive (much less trying to become a top player). Even T1 2p has started to get pricey if you want to even attempt to win an occasional game. (The casual deck I played at NE Regionals wasn't anywhere near competitive, and even it required some expense to put together.) That leaves the Closed Deck formats as the only cost-effective ones for players with limited cash on hand-and those require the biggest tournament fees (although you get cards for the cost). Now, this is probably true of all competitive collectible games (although I know one non-card game in which an army of common and relatively cheap pieces can make a competitive army  ), but I would like to provide a way to have some kind of "official" format in which cost-effective deck rules could still get you a promo card without having to suffer the humiliation of getting trounced by half a dozen versions of the current meta.

Teams is lightly played? Last nationals we had 48 people. Not the 65 for T1 or 66 for Booster, but still, third most played category is good.

What was the category order last year?

But it's another category that adds a layer for the newer or less financially well-off player, in that you need a partner who also can build a competitive deck.

What category isn't like this?

1 - I agree that TEAMS is very popular in most parts of the country and has been top 3 in attendance at almost every Nats since it started iirc.

2 - I agree that T1-mp is dying (which is too bad, because I used to love that category).

3 - I personally think that T2-mp has also just hung on for years.

4 - As I think about it though, it is nice to have some categories that most people DON'T want to play so that almost everyone can play the main events on those days (like T1-2p on Fri).  If all of the events were equally popular, then there would be less available people for T1-2p

5 - I don't think there is a need for Type X to be official.  Hosts can always run experimental events whenever they want.  At the Redemption for Micah tournament last fall, the host ran a Sealed TEAMS tournament that was super fun.  I'd love to play that again, and I don't care that there were no RNRS points on the line.  Most tournament hosts that have been doing this for a while have extra promos lying around anyway and could just give those to players of their own personal Type X.

DDiceRC,

I see you concern for giving people a chance to experiment but I agree other in this thread that there are draw backs.  With that said though it might be kind of fun to try with local playgroups before attempting in an official category.

In Christ,

forgiven1