Two Format Changes
- imrahil327
- Tournament Advocate
- Posts: 31102
- Joined: July 3rd, 2006, 3:51 am
- Location: San Diego
Re: Two Format Changes
Yes, that is why they receive the benefit that Paul mentioned. If they'd played better ENOUGH to be guaranteed, they wouldn't have to be playing in the play-in.

Hunter wrote:Sebulba's W-L record is like...Always and 1. Tebow's is nowhere near that percentage.
allstarz97, about M:TG wrote:I feel like Michael Jordan playing baseball.
-
- LS Region: Coruscant
- Posts: 11430
- Joined: May 2nd, 2005, 3:52 pm
- Location: Somerdale, nj
- Holotable username: gogolen
- GEMP Username: gogolen
Re: Two Format Changes
just doing the eyeball test:
A- Pistone, Matt Carulli, PMJ, Wadden, Casey, Throdo, Emil, Olson
B- Sokol, Jellison, bye, Mack, Gianetti, Cal, Tacobill, Mitch
C- Vince, Chris Kelly, BFred, Jake, PMJ, Reid, Chu, Brentson
D- Bastian, Gogolen, Pistone, Keith, Barry, Chu, Turner, Chris Kelly
you can't really control getting a bye, and each of these people played some top-notch opponents, so to come away with 6 wins is still pretty impressive.
A- Pistone, Matt Carulli, PMJ, Wadden, Casey, Throdo, Emil, Olson
B- Sokol, Jellison, bye, Mack, Gianetti, Cal, Tacobill, Mitch
C- Vince, Chris Kelly, BFred, Jake, PMJ, Reid, Chu, Brentson
D- Bastian, Gogolen, Pistone, Keith, Barry, Chu, Turner, Chris Kelly
you can't really control getting a bye, and each of these people played some top-notch opponents, so to come away with 6 wins is still pretty impressive.

PC Store Manager
Now streaming games on Youtube & Twitch- please subscribe to my channels- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjqwgj ... Xu5T9vp4AQKevbozzz wrote:I agree 100% with Gogolen's responses.
Twitch- https://www.twitch.tv/gogolen
NEW & RETURNING PLAYER ARTICLES- https://forum.starwarsccg.org/viewt ... 32&t=50486
- WiseMarsellus
- Member
- Posts: 17445
- Joined: February 26th, 2007, 9:33 am
Re: Two Format Changes
obviously d is the strongest player and best looking of the four
-
- LS Region: Naboo
- Posts: 2232
- Joined: June 19th, 2005, 12:11 pm
- Location: Leicester, UK
- GEMP Username: PMcPherson
Re: Two Format Changes
I feel pretty confident that most players would choose route Bgogolen wrote:just doing the eyeball test:
A- Pistone, Matt Carulli, PMJ, Wadden, Casey, Throdo, Emil, Olson
B- Sokol, Jellison, bye, Mack, Gianetti, Cal, Tacobill, Mitch
C- Vince, Chris Kelly, BFred, Jake, PMJ, Reid, Chu, Brentson
D- Bastian, Gogolen, Pistone, Keith, Barry, Chu, Turner, Chris Kelly
you can't really control getting a bye, and each of these people played some top-notch opponents, so to come away with 6 wins is still pretty impressive.



World Championship 26th Place - 2019
European Championship 4th Place - 2013
Naboo Regional Winner - 2015, 2018 & 2019
Ralltiir Regional Runner-up - 2019
English National Winner - 2014
Welsh National Winner - 2017 & 2018
German National Runner-up - 2018
Join the Star Wars CCG UK Facebook Page
-
- LS Region: Naboo
- Posts: 2232
- Joined: June 19th, 2005, 12:11 pm
- Location: Leicester, UK
- GEMP Username: PMcPherson
Re: Two Format Changes
Does he look like Danny Rand?WiseMarsellus wrote:obviously d is the strongest player and best looking of the four



World Championship 26th Place - 2019
European Championship 4th Place - 2013
Naboo Regional Winner - 2015, 2018 & 2019
Ralltiir Regional Runner-up - 2019
English National Winner - 2014
Welsh National Winner - 2017 & 2018
German National Runner-up - 2018
Join the Star Wars CCG UK Facebook Page
-
- World Champion
- Posts: 7028
- Joined: April 1st, 2007, 2:15 pm
Re: Two Format Changes
One of those is not like the others.gogolen wrote:just doing the eyeball test:
A- Pistone, Matt Carulli, PMJ, Wadden, Casey, Throdo, Emil, Olson
B- Sokol, Jellison, bye, Mack, Gianetti, Cal, Tacobill, Mitch
C- Vince, Chris Kelly, BFred, Jake, PMJ, Reid, Chu, Brentson
D- Bastian, Gogolen, Pistone, Keith, Barry, Chu, Turner, Chris Kelly
you can't really control getting a bye, and each of these people played some top-notch opponents, so to come away with 6 wins is still pretty impressive.
- chriskelly
- Design Advocate
- Posts: 22789
- Joined: January 28th, 2003, 2:13 pm
- Location: New York
Re: Two Format Changes
Respectfully, I agree with your points (path B is the easiest and getting the bye after the first round is your own fault), but I don’t follow your logic in how you arrive to your conclusion. If player C believed player B had an easier route then why would they have to beat them in the play in game to show that when the tournament software already keeps track of it?Paul McPherson wrote:I feel pretty confident that most players would choose route Bgogolen wrote:just doing the eyeball test:
A- Pistone, Matt Carulli, PMJ, Wadden, Casey, Throdo, Emil, Olson
B- Sokol, Jellison, bye, Mack, Gianetti, Cal, Tacobill, Mitch
C- Vince, Chris Kelly, BFred, Jake, PMJ, Reid, Chu, Brentson
D- Bastian, Gogolen, Pistone, Keith, Barry, Chu, Turner, Chris Kelly
you can't really control getting a bye, and each of these people played some top-notch opponents, so to come away with 6 wins is still pretty impressive.- I'd agree that you can't control the bye in Round 1 (games 1 and 2) but getting it beyond that is your own fault. This is why the play in game is important though - if player C believes that player B has had an easier route then they will have to beat them in the play in game.
All the play in game did was give players who had a considerably easier path to their 6 wins the chance to knock off someone who was playing better players most of the tournament in the smallest sample size possible (using half of the cards they had to bring at the tournament).
Re: Two Format Changes
I only ever missed the Day 3 cut twice. If I recall correctly, I took 10th place and 11th place in those years, and both times, there were one or more players in the Top 8 who had the same win-loss record that I did.
But while I'm certain a SoS tiebreaker would have gotten me into the Top 8 in one of those years, it hadn't started being used yet. Now that it IS used...use it.
No events have more than 8 games of Swiss, right? There is no event where the SoS tiebreaker is MORE reliable than it is at the World Championship. 6-2 sounds appealing, as the arbitrary cutoff point at which every player "earns a shot." But that cutoff point IS still arbitrary.
All the "play in games" ended up doing in this instance was lengthening Day 2. But any other result from those games would have been less desirable. Again, there is no event at which the existing tiebreaker system is going to be more reliable. So I think that system should be allowed to do its work.
But while I'm certain a SoS tiebreaker would have gotten me into the Top 8 in one of those years, it hadn't started being used yet. Now that it IS used...use it.
No events have more than 8 games of Swiss, right? There is no event where the SoS tiebreaker is MORE reliable than it is at the World Championship. 6-2 sounds appealing, as the arbitrary cutoff point at which every player "earns a shot." But that cutoff point IS still arbitrary.
All the "play in games" ended up doing in this instance was lengthening Day 2. But any other result from those games would have been less desirable. Again, there is no event at which the existing tiebreaker system is going to be more reliable. So I think that system should be allowed to do its work.
- imrahil327
- Tournament Advocate
- Posts: 31102
- Joined: July 3rd, 2006, 3:51 am
- Location: San Diego
Re: Two Format Changes
I think the issue is that you're in the vast minority in believing there is any path to 6 wins at a Star Wars major these days that's "considerably easier" enough to make that distinction worthwhile. Also, holistically speaking, 8 games isn't an enormous sample size difference than 1 game. But we don't have weeks to find out who the best Star Wars player is.

Hunter wrote:Sebulba's W-L record is like...Always and 1. Tebow's is nowhere near that percentage.
allstarz97, about M:TG wrote:I feel like Michael Jordan playing baseball.
- darkjediknight11
- Communications Advocate
- Posts: 23047
- Joined: April 17th, 2005, 5:26 pm
- Location: Chicago
- GEMP Username: djk11
Re: Two Format Changes
I was really grateful for the chance to sneak into the top 8 this year, despite my initial reaction being negative to the play-in game. But I really feel like Tom or Cellucci would have every right to be like "damn, I just made top 8, but my grueling day still isn't over?" What this boils down to is that it's great for the 9-10 finishers and sucks for the 7-8 finishers.
My initial reaction to the play-in format was negative, mainly because you either break up playgroups going out to dinner, doing Day 3 prep, etc, or make the rest of them wait on you while you play the 9th game (major props to the Pittsburgh crew who waited it out for me).
Honest question - how much of the post-day 2 prizes/wrap up went on while the play-in games were being played? If it was a half hour or more of overlap there, then I don't feel like it would ultimately add too much time to Day 2.
My initial reaction to the play-in format was negative, mainly because you either break up playgroups going out to dinner, doing Day 3 prep, etc, or make the rest of them wait on you while you play the 9th game (major props to the Pittsburgh crew who waited it out for me).
Honest question - how much of the post-day 2 prizes/wrap up went on while the play-in games were being played? If it was a half hour or more of overlap there, then I don't feel like it would ultimately add too much time to Day 2.
- spideyguy0
- Member
- Posts: 7589
- Joined: January 1st, 2003, 1:57 pm
- Location: New York, NY
- Contact:
Re: Two Format Changes
One thing I'll say, as a participant who wasn't involved in either the play-in-game, or Day 3, was that it was kind of cool to wrap up your day, and then have the option to relax and watch a couple games of high-stakes, high-level SWCCG. I know a lot of people may not want to look at a Star Wars card after playing for 10 hours, but I found it therapeutic to just be able to sit back and watch and be entertained for a bit.
Casey A. - New York, NY



Re: Two Format Changes
Another way to look at this is that it is like playing the wild card game in baseball...except that you play 1/8 of a season.chriskelly wrote:It put better players at risk of not making it by fluke loses to inferior players in an unscheduled half of a round.
It was like the wild card game in baseball.... except you only play half the game.
- chriskelly
- Design Advocate
- Posts: 22789
- Joined: January 28th, 2003, 2:13 pm
- Location: New York
Re: Two Format Changes
Sure, so long as that 1/8 of a season is one-and-done and you declare which half of your players you will use before you know who you play (even if you’re the 3rd best team when 8 make the play offs)
- imrahil327
- Tournament Advocate
- Posts: 31102
- Joined: July 3rd, 2006, 3:51 am
- Location: San Diego
Re: Two Format Changes
This seems like a fictional scenario where there are that many play-in games...chriskelly wrote:Sure, so long as that 1/8 of a season is one-and-done and you declare which half of your players you will use before you know who you play (even if you’re the 3rd best team when 8 make the play offs)

Hunter wrote:Sebulba's W-L record is like...Always and 1. Tebow's is nowhere near that percentage.
allstarz97, about M:TG wrote:I feel like Michael Jordan playing baseball.
Re: Two Format Changes
You don't control your SOS. Just your wins.
The player who won 6 with a better SOS vs another player who won 6 did deserve it more--they played better players.
But that doesn't mean the other player with 6 wins doesn't deserve it, too. They both won 6 games.
I think Justin Carrulli, going 6-2, deserved a shot at day 3, even if his SOS placed him on the bubble.
Now, you could say he doesn't deserve to be in, because he didn't have a better SOS, but that's what the play-in game determines. If he wins, he obviously DOES deserve to be in. If he loses, he doesn't.
The player with the better SOS "deserves" it slightly more because they played better players, so why not give them the huge advantage of picking their favorite deck (through game 7)? Then they, with that advantage, prove they deserve the slot over the lower SOS player via the prove it game.
I think it's a fantastic thing for fairness.
The player who won 6 with a better SOS vs another player who won 6 did deserve it more--they played better players.
But that doesn't mean the other player with 6 wins doesn't deserve it, too. They both won 6 games.
I think Justin Carrulli, going 6-2, deserved a shot at day 3, even if his SOS placed him on the bubble.
Now, you could say he doesn't deserve to be in, because he didn't have a better SOS, but that's what the play-in game determines. If he wins, he obviously DOES deserve to be in. If he loses, he doesn't.
The player with the better SOS "deserves" it slightly more because they played better players, so why not give them the huge advantage of picking their favorite deck (through game 7)? Then they, with that advantage, prove they deserve the slot over the lower SOS player via the prove it game.
I think it's a fantastic thing for fairness.
- chriskelly
- Design Advocate
- Posts: 22789
- Joined: January 28th, 2003, 2:13 pm
- Location: New York
Re: Two Format Changes
It’s so subjective to say it’s more fair.
I didn’t think it was unfair Phil got in over me last year and we were literally tied on sos. We have tie breakers to break ties. I was bummed, but didn’t feel it wasn’t fair.
I think it’d be more unfair to force someone who would normally make it risk losing it to someone who back doored.
But just my opinion.
I didn’t think it was unfair Phil got in over me last year and we were literally tied on sos. We have tie breakers to break ties. I was bummed, but didn’t feel it wasn’t fair.
I think it’d be more unfair to force someone who would normally make it risk losing it to someone who back doored.
But just my opinion.
Re: Two Format Changes
Sure, it's all opinions. I respect that you view it as more unfair the other way.
My view is someone with a high SOS having to do a one game play in versus another player with the same number of wins, and getting the huge advantage of choosing sides, doesn't deserve to be in over that other player (who now has more wins than them after beating them).
My view is someone with a high SOS having to do a one game play in versus another player with the same number of wins, and getting the huge advantage of choosing sides, doesn't deserve to be in over that other player (who now has more wins than them after beating them).
- marines28
- Member
- Posts: 3942
- Joined: December 12th, 2009, 10:35 pm
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
- GEMP Username: marines28
Re: Two Format Changes
gogolen wrote:JarJarDrinks wrote:12.6
well that would be only 18.2% of the players in the tournament, so that's not very conclusive.








Steviegets112 wrote:The same 5 people are going to win consistently and there really isn't much any of you can do about it.
3MW0J8 wrote:better damn believe it.xblack: from now on it will be
xblack: gl/hf/nr
DTartagOne wrote: Yeah I agree with @marines28
- marines28
- Member
- Posts: 3942
- Joined: December 12th, 2009, 10:35 pm
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
- GEMP Username: marines28
Re: Two Format Changes
Very "College Football Playoff-y" and that is just fine. Love the competition, "get in & win" mentality, and the scrapiness.arebelspy wrote:I love the play in, and pretty much everyone I talked to think it was a good idea.
Now, if only the Superbowl were 2 out of 3 then Brady wins EVERY year.

Steviegets112 wrote:The same 5 people are going to win consistently and there really isn't much any of you can do about it.
3MW0J8 wrote:better damn believe it.xblack: from now on it will be
xblack: gl/hf/nr
DTartagOne wrote: Yeah I agree with @marines28