Willem Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 As a new director I have some questions about directing a tournament. Maybe they have been asked before, but I am also new on this messageboard, so I am sorry if they are already have been discussed. 1. When you want to replace a player and click the sub-list, the replace-screen disappears. When you go back to the replace-screen, the sub-list disappears. So you have to remember or write down the name of the intended sub. That’s diffult and time-consuming, expecially when players use crazy names or names with I and l, or o and 0 in it. Very often I receive an error-message. Isn’t possible just to be able to click on the sub-name to replace a player? 2. Isn’t it better to allow a player to get a sub him(her)self? It will speed up the tournament when there are many disconnections and you won’t get complaints like “what crazy partner did you give me now?”. 3. Is the sub replaced by the original player when he/she returns? If not, shouldn’t is be (after the board or round has finished)? 4. I noticed it’s not possible to remove players (pairs) from the tournament when you know they won’t return (for whatever reason). You have to replace them. I would prefer to have them just out of the tournament and continue with less tables in the next round, especially when there are only a few subs available. 5. In my last tournament I had many problems with a few players hitting the director-button constandly. I received 20 or 30 calls from the same table and couldn’t do my work at another table I was attending (directing of replace; you just can’t type anymore). Also I was booted from BBO several times because of it, I think. Of course I won’t allow these players in my tournaments anymore. But the harm has been done. Isn’t it possible to reduce the number of director-calls to let’s say 2 each player/a board? I know these proposals need software change. I also know software change is difficult and expensive. But maybe the management can consider them when preparing a next version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inquiry Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 Welcome Willem, I am sure the other, more experienced directors will jump in on your questions. But let me have a starting shot at some of your questions. 1. When you want to replace a player and click the sub-list, the replace-screen disappears. Position the little screen with subs so that it does not overlap the gaming window. Now you can click on either one without obscuring the other. 2. Isn’t it better to allow a player to get a sub him(her)self? People can't talk with players in the game so they have trouble getting yes or no answers from subs. It is ok if they message their buddies and ask them to contact you. 3. Is the sub replaced by the original player when he/she returns? If not, shouldn’t is be (after the board or round has finished)? If you make a habit of kicking subs out when the original player returns, you will have trouble finding subs when you need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uday Posted October 27, 2003 Report Share Posted October 27, 2003 1. When you want to replace a player and click the sub-list, the replace-screen disappears. The sub list was a quick hack to see if people would use the list. It appears they do. This will be replaced in the next client. I don't know yet if we will allow the TD to leave the new name blank ( and let the server find a sub) or whether we will create a drop down list from which you can simply select the replacement. 2. Isn’t it better to allow a player to get a sub him(her)self? Two issues; we can't really have random lobby players exchange private msgs with a player (too easy to cheat - not that it is hard now, but why make it easier?). So we could possibly do this by making the player interact with the server to find a sub for himself (perhaps using the sub list). But this would be hard for the player, and leaves the opps reliant upon an opp instead of the director. So no good answers - but ... 3. Is the sub replaced by the original player when he/she returns? Entirely up to the TD. But as Inquiry points out, it would not be sensible for the TD to do so; this would reduce (over time) the number of players willing to sub (why bother, if it is only for 1 board) and damage the event. I never allow the player back in unless the sub asks to be excused. I suspect this is the norm. But this is not a house rule. 4. I noticed it’s not possible to remove players ... I would prefer to have them just out of the tournament and continue with less tables The current movements are not smart enough to handle this. but... 5. In my last tournament I had many problems with a few players hitting the director-button constantly. We'll fix this in next version. 6. Maybe the management can consider them when preparing a next version. My goal for the next version is to support unattended (directorless) tourneys. To do this, I will define a new movement (call it "Survivor"). At the end of each round, missing pairs are discarded, along with the lowest scoring pairs (Host sets the percentage of discards at setuptime). We need to do a little more than this, but if we can achieve this goal, we can run automated tourneys every xx minutes. Then, if a TD is present he can focus on real TD issues. I also expect to alter the DIRECTOR button - to popup a list of common complaints - so that the server can handle some of them itself. If this works - big if - our TDs lives will be much easier. It is true that an automated tourney might be a bit of a zoo, but nothing stops us TDs from creating Survivor movements for our own tourneys. This is all in the air at the moment, but this I know - the next release is aimed only at Tourney / Private club issues. We'll keep you posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willem Posted November 16, 2003 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2003 Thank you Inquiry and Uday for your replies to my post. I believe the changes announced by Uday will be a big improvement. Two remarks though: I don’t see why the lowest scoring pairs should be removed (I remember winning a tournament after scoring less then 20% in the first round). I hope the host can set the percentage of discards to 0%. As a player I don’t think I like to be thrown out of a tournament because of a bad result. I have another opinon about subbing. When I volunteer as a sub I do so to help the players and the director. I don’t expect to play the whole or a large part of the tournament, and most of the time I don’t even want to. Usually I am doing some other work at my computer. If I want to play a tournament I will find myself a partner and just sign up. I also wonder who is happy with the arrangement. The player who temporary lost connection can’t return. His/her partner has to finish the tournament with an (most of the time) unkown partner. And the sub is forced to play the rest of the hands with an partner he/she didn’t choose either (unless the sub askes the director te be excused). Willem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uday Posted November 16, 2003 Report Share Posted November 16, 2003 1. The percentage to be discarded is an option. For my automated tourneys, I expect to set it quite high; 10-20%. Bear in mind that the reason I'm doing this is to allow the server to discard pairs to eliminate half-tables. So the criteria for selection is relatively unimportant, but when (say) a player loses a connection, two pairs must be discarded. One is easy - the missing player and his partner, but where do I get the other one? I think selecting the lowest score is reasonable but i welcome alternative schemes 2. My thinking was that a player who invests time and energy into being a sub doesnt want to be tossed after a board or two. He is free to inform the TD if that is what he wants. Mosts subs (i think) want to play. If we routinely forced subs out, a) subs will be less likely to sign up:) we're going to see another call for a sub, likely enough, in a minute; players with poor connections are more likely to have more problems down the road But I don't know that I'm right about this. I think I am, but welcome dissent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr1303 Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 I also have a question. Some tournaments are organised for several days in advance. How is this done? I have an option for the number of minutes in advance, but my maths isn't that brilliant, so calculating the number of minutes in 5 days is something I'd rather not do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csdenmark Posted December 30, 2003 Report Share Posted December 30, 2003 A good solution for you will be to use the count down feature in world clock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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