PACG as a "tournament" for a local convention

[Richard Edwards]

Our local gaming group (Olympia, WA) is hosting a small gaming con in October and since several of us are enjoying the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, I am thinking about sponsoring a "tournament" and could use some advice.

My current thought is to allow any group from 1-6 players sign up. They run their characters through all 8 of the current scenarios (3 from Perils of the Lost Coast, 5 from Burnt Offerings).

They record the number of character deaths, the number of failed scenarios, and the number of cards left in the Blessings deck when they succeed.

The team with the fewest failed scenarios wins. In the case of a tie (which is likely if more than one get through with no failed scenarios) then the one with the fewest character deaths wins (and again, this may result in ties), in which case the one with the most Blessing cards total from all won scenarios wins (this should definitely break any ties).

Does that sound fun? Fair?

If they want to "fail" scenarios in order to keep characters alive or build up boons, they will lose to parties who go for it and win straight through. If the party has any characters killed, they just replace the lost characters and keep going IF the rest of the group wins the scenario. Total Party Kills have to start over at scenario 1!

Does that sound reasonable? Any suggestions?

Thanks!

joyfully,

Rich

[Thrawn007]

Normal tournament slots are 4 hours at most cons. I don't see this fitting in there.

I don't think it works well as a competitive game like this. It's far too random.

[J Scot Shady]

I have actually considered how to do this myself. Here would be my recommendations:

1. Limit it to groups of 4 people. No more, no less. If someone has a group of 3, they would have to find a 4th to join. I know this may limit the number of groups playing but the dynamics of the game change so much with the number of characters.

2. Consider haveing them run through just the first three scenarios. All 8 is a long tournament. 4-5 hours to complete the first 3 seems like a good fit.

Two questions...

1. What are you offering as prices?

2. Would they need to supply their own game?

[Charles Scholz]

It might work if you have an impartial judge at each table keeping track.

There should be 4 catagories.

Solo play - 1 person playing 1 character.
Partnership play - 2 people playing. (Do not allow 1 person to play 2 characters.)
3-4 person team.
5-6 person team.

Assign points based on how the game turns out.

Example:
10 pts for defeating the villain.
5 pts for defeating each henchman.
3 pts for defeating each monster.
2 pts for overcoming a barrier.
1 pt for each blessing left in the deck.
0 pts for the whole game if the villain escapes.

As for time, a solo or partnership table should be able to get in 3 games in a 4 hour slot while a team table should be able to get in 2 games.

[Richard Edwards]

Thanks for all the great suggestions!