So you’ve finally arrived at the tournament venue after a long drive with two or three of your friends. What should you expect to find there besides other Trek players? Preparation for a six-round tournament is essential to success, so here are some tips on common challenges faced by tournament directors and players:
•Expect to travel around the block a couple times when you arrive.
Parking can be scarce sometimes in urban areas where card stores are often located. You may have to settle for a piece of curb a few blocks away if it’s a weekend or there’s a community event going on. Card stores also have a reputation for being well hidden among its neighbors in a strip mall: don’t give up if you don’t see Al’s Card Barn at first glance. Double check your directions and GoogleMaps printout, and remain observant for other gamers (teenage/young adults with backpacks or card bags).
•Expect to find nearby restaurants, gas stations, and/or taverns (for older players).
You will need to eat during the course of the tournament. Even with a big breakfast (also highly recommended), most players will tend to fade around the end of Round 4 without some further sustenance. Keep in mind that more players means more rules questions, more bookkeeping, and more logistical difficulty for the TD, which slows things down, increasing round times to 70, 80, and even 90 minutes. By the beginning of Round 5, most TOCs will be well past the 5-hour mark, and you will wish that you had either packed a lunch or had some time to hit that McDonald’s around the corner. Some considerate TDs may go the extra mile of ordering food for his/her players to be delivered to the TOC site; don’t depend on your TD to do this. Provide for a food break sometime during the tournament so you can play consistently throughout the event.
•Expect to share table space.
One luxury that very few venues have enough of is table space. Game stores often overbook their game rooms on the weekend so that they will be assured a full house, even at the expense of alienating smaller player groups. Instead of resenting the fact you may have to sit next to a Magic player, introduce yourself to your neighbors, and find out if you might have anything else in common. Most players of other CCGs/TCGs are curious to know about Star Trek; it supposedly “died” a few years back, and with a little luck, you might spark their interest to demo 2E sometime soon.
•Expect the best from your opponents.
Too many times, I have seen players of other card games look around the room with mistrust, wondering who will be short-changed next, and thinking how to best deal with pushy opponents. I am proud to be part of the 2E community, where that sort of thing rarely happens. Most 2E players I’ve met are congenial and love to see part of a new combo that they can try at their next local tournament. While some 2E players may talk more than others, almost all of them share their love of the game, and it behooves you to put some measure of trust in your opponent until they do something to jeopardize that trust.
•Expect to have fun!
Whether you find fun in pulling off an impossible combo, matching wits with a formidable opponent, or winning a close match, remember that you’re at a TOC to have fun. You’ve spent a considerable amount of time and money to attend a TOC; you deserve to enjoy yourself for the day. If anything is making you uncomfortable, consult the TD for possible solutions; he/she may be able to accommodate your request without much trouble.
Next time on Captain’s Personal Log: Dealing with problem players.
Until then, Kirk out.
