Valerie Putman:  Prose on Cons—Tournaments

Recently Tom Vasal posted a Musings On…Conventions that turned into a discussion of tournament game play.  Little did Tom know that I had been working on this article that very week!  The Musings On discussion took a very divisive direction with gamers weighing in for or against tournament play based on why they enjoy gaming as a hobby.  I’d like to argue that the issue is not so black and white and that many gamers who don’t generally seek out competitive opportunities might still want to consider exploring the tournament scene at gaming conventions.

When most people think of gaming tournaments, the World Boardgaming Championships is the first event that springs to mind.  Tournaments are the primary focus of this convention and the importance of winning is an obvious part of the rich history of this event with complex scoring mechanisms and a healthy reverence for past champions.  Some people attend WBC with a quest to “bring home the woodâ€? (the plaque prizes) and this can definitely bring a different atmosphere to the game table.  This is the very atmosphere that some gamers in the Musings On discussion described as the reason that they avoid tournaments.  For others, it is this atmosphere that gives tournaments their appeal.  But the WBC if a very unique class of convention tournament play and certainly doesn’t accurately capture the tournament experiences available at other events.

The WBC has inspired a number of smaller events based on the same tournament model.  These are events organized by gamers who have attended and enjoyed the WBC for more than a decade and are looking to capture some of that flavor in a smaller, regional event.  Some examples include Euroquest, Prezcon, Buckeye Game Fest, Conquest LA, and other Conquest events.  These conventions tend to have a much smaller selection of tournament events and more open gaming.  You may encounter many of the same gamers that attend WBC.  You can try a tournament or two and see if the WBC is something worth traveling to.  If you realize that serious tournament play isn’t for you, then there is plenty of open gaming instead.

But what about some tournament options that are not as intense or that attract skilled, but less competitive players.  In other words, where can you engage in tournaments without that tournament “atmosphere?â€?  Origins and Gen Con both have a number of options.  The folks at Mayfair run their Settlers of Catan tournament every year with the winner earning a spot in the national championships at Essen.  I also competed in a Domaine tournament run by Mayfair one year—the finals were played on a gorgeous 3-D board and the winner won a real sword!  Puffing Billy runs a series of train game tournaments and Looney Labs holds tournaments for several of their icehouse games.  The gamers that play in these tournaments are primarily there “just for funâ€? and the atmosphere is much more laid back.  While an ubercompetitive WBC devotee did scoff that my Union Pacific plaques from Origins aren’t “real wood,â€? I enjoyed these tournament experiences and met some very nice and very skilled gamers.

Pros
In the end, there are many good reasons to participate in tournaments and attend tournament focused conventions.  The gaming tends to be very well organized.  Events occur when the program says they will occur and there are knowledgeable game masters at hand to answer any questions and ensure that everything runs smoothly.  This makes it very easy to get into a game and may be the perfect solution for introverts who are less comfortable asking a group of strangers if they can join a game.  Generally you will get to play a game that you know and love with like-minded players.  If you’re tired of always having to teach new games to your game group and you are looking to sit down with several other high quality players with a game that moves along because everyone knows what they’re doing—tournaments provide this very experience.  And come on, we can’t forget the bragging rights.

Cons
So why might you decide to stay away from tournaments at a game convention?  For one thing, some people don’t enjoy that competitive atmosphere.  There can be pressure to play well and unusual or sub-optimal choices can bring criticism from fellow players and on-lookers.  But even if you find more relaxed tournament opportunities, you may still decide to pass.  Tournaments often require several rounds of play and may interfere with your other gaming plans.  I have often had to pass on the chance for open gaming because I had a tournament scheduled in 1 hr.  Then I’ve had to twiddle my thumbs for that hour as my friends started a game without me.  I have also found that there are just too many opportunities to try new games at larger conventions and I don’t really want to commit to several hours playing a game I already own.

These days I play in fewer and fewer tournaments at conventions.  I’ve even stopped playing in the Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments (which once earned me the nickname “ice queenâ€?).  I find that tournaments are a great way to meet new people or to get my feet wet at an unfamiliar convention, but as I make more and more friends and feel more comfortable at new venues, I find that I’d rather have the time flexibility that I get with open gaming.

Games played… This week I played Evo, Cartagena, and Die Macher.  The Die Macher game was amazingly close with 1st and 2nd place separated by just 2 points.  It was one of those perfect gaming moments that left me with a gamer’s high for the next 3 hours.  It’s a shame that Die Macher is treated like the fine china of gaming—it only tends to come out for special occasions.  I encourage you to dust off your favorite “fine chinaâ€? game and make the time for quality gaming experiences.

I’d rather be gaming,
Valerie Putman

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