Expansion League #4: The Princess & The Dragon - SIGN UP HERE!

[danisthirty]

Indeed, I don't think there is a limit.

No limit as such. But we're at 22 now so 2 more players would be ideal as we'll be able to split ourselves into 3 groups of 8 (28 games per group x 3 = 84 games). Or we could stay as we are and play as 2 groups of 11 (55 games per group x 2 = 110 games). Then there will be the final groups too.

Personally I think I prefer three groups of 8 so I'm going to say that we have just two places left to reach 24...

• danisthirty
• Merlin_89
• quevy
• jungleboy
• Rosco
• MrNumbers
• Decar
• Chuck
• jma03
• Jéré
• Rich_The_Fish
• Valheru
• khalidqasrawi
• kettlefish
• Andrew the Ambo
• Leven
• aenima
• zone2
• ny1050220
• Hounk
• JT Atomico
• Halfling
• someone else
• someone else

[Carcking]

Count me in danisthirty...something. See what I did there? 

[rfielder]

Count me in!

If there is still room......

Just texted monwil, waiting for her reply.

[rfielder]

monwil says she is interested as well.

[danisthirty]

Welcome aboard Carcking, rfielder and monwil - this means we're at 25 now. Which could be 5 groups of 5 (followed by 5 different groups of 5 in the second round) or we could hold out for 2 more and go for 3 groups of 9 (followed by 9 groups of 3 in the second round). We'll wait until the end of the day and see if anyone else is interested in playing, otherwise we'll stick with 25 and can start tomorrow...

[Andrew the Ambo]

Or go to 28. 3 more people gives 4 groups of 7. Makes the playoffs easier with an even number.

[danisthirty]

My preference for 3 groups of 9 rather than 4 groups of 7 is based on bigger groups = more games per person + increased variety of opposition within each group. With groups of 9, everyone would get 8 games at the first stage and then 2 more at the second stage where we're all split into 9 groups of 3 depending on finishing position within initial group. 10 games per person seems like a good number.

[Valheru]

My preference for 3 groups of 9 rather than 4 groups of 7 is based on bigger groups = more games per person + increased variety of opposition within each group. With groups of 9, everyone would get 8 games at the first stage and then 2 more at the second stage where we're all split into 9 groups of 3 depending on finishing position within initial group. 10 games per person seems like a good number.

Is there a guide or something that explains how tournaments are played? I get that every tournament is different but I'm wondering how everybody copes with the amount of games and probably the small timespan everybody has available...

[danisthirty]

My preference for 3 groups of 9 rather than 4 groups of 7 is based on bigger groups = more games per person + increased variety of opposition within each group. With groups of 9, everyone would get 8 games at the first stage and then 2 more at the second stage where we're all split into 9 groups of 3 depending on finishing position within initial group. 10 games per person seems like a good number.

Is there a guide or something that explains how tournaments are played? I get that every tournament is different but I'm wondering how everybody copes with the amount of games and probably the small timespan everybody has available...

Hi Valheru, here are some details explaining how the tournament will work:


1. All players will be divided equally among three different groups. Each player will play one game of Carcassonne against every other player in their group. The winner of the game will be awarded two league points whereas the loser gets nothing. If the game is tied, both players receive one league point each.

2. Games will be played online through the latest stable version of JCloisterZone (currently 3.4.2). Please ensure you have downloaded this and are familiar with its controls and features before the competition begins. It is also recommended that you have played at least one practice game against a live opponent (as opposed to a dead one) in order to identify and resolve any technical problems before your first game.

3. Each game will include the basic tiles plus the Princess & Dragon expansion only (no other expansions please). The starting player should be chosen at random through JCZ by selecting the “Randomize seating order” checkbox on the pre-game screen.

4. It is the players responsibility to liaise with their fellow group-members in order to find a mutually convenient time to play their game. This is expected to be done predominantly through Private Messages. Please keep any appointments you make, or at least give your opponent as much notice as possible if something occurs which prevents you from playing at the agreed time.

5. Assuming we start with a pool of 27 players, each group will contain 9 players so the first stage of the competition will end when every player has played 8 games. At this point, the pool will split into 9 groups of 3 depending on finishing position in their initial group. So, top-ranked players from groups A, B and C will form group D1, and those who came second in groups A, B and C will form group D2. The same will be true for groups D3 to D9.

6. Play in groups D1 to D9 will constitute the second stage of the competition which will run in the same way as the first except with more groups and fewer people per group. This stage will end when every player has played 2 games. Finishing positions in groups at the second stage will determine overall rank.


I hope this helps!

[Valheru]

It sure does! Merit to you, good sir.

[Chooselife]

In!!

[danisthirty]

In!!

Excellent. Thanks Chooselife!

• danisthirty
• Merlin_89
• quevy
• jungleboy
• Rosco
• MrNumbers
• Decar
• Chuck
• jma03
• Jéré
• Rich_The_Fish
• Valheru
• khalidqasrawi
• kettlefish
• Andrew the Ambo
• Leven
• aenima
• zone2
• ny1050220
• Hounk
• JT Atomico
• Halfling
• Carcking
• rfielder
• monwil
• Chooselife
• One. More. Space.

[Hounk]

One thing, we found out in our "dream team" match: there seems to be an issue with fairy scoring (the +3 bonus score for completing a feature) in 3.4.2. We all 4 agreed  and didn't found it crucial in that game, but I suppose, this should be fixed before starting the EL#4. Otherwise, we might agree on chosing an older version of JCZ, it did work before, after all. Maybe some pre-tournament testing would be needed for that.

[danisthirty]

Could you elaborate on what the issue was? I've only really played against an AI opponent recently and I've always got the +3 bonus points when I move the fairy to a meeple that is in a feature I'm completing with the tile I've just placed. Can't see why it would be any different against an online opponent...

[Hounk]

But it was the case in our game. We noticed it maybe 20 tiles into the game, when I finished a feature and didn't get the bonus +3, tried it again, then came to the conclusion, that we won't go for this points any longer. I think, this was an issue even before we first reloaded the game. Maybe it is a problem regarding playing on online server? I think, we started the game there, and only after disconnection reloaded it on a local host instance.

In case you are free for a test game now, I would be available.