Handicap system for comps...

A forum to post news about tournaments around the world. Please post any such messages here!

Moderators: philqw78, terrys, hammy, Ghaznavid, Slitherine Core, Field of Glory Design, Field of Glory Moderators

Post Reply
ChrisTofalos
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 5:18 pm

Handicap system for comps...

Post by ChrisTofalos »

Just thought I'd post on the results so far in our handicap system as used in MAWS's Warlord Trophy this year (in three periods).

Players have been divided into three groups: 'veteran' (who get the standard 800 points), average (850 points) and less experienced/beginner (900 points). There have been fifteen games played so far. Of these ten featured a handicap but only three resulted in wins for the lower ranked player and these were all involving 50 point differences. In the three games that did feature a 100 point difference, the veteran player won in each case.

I'm quite keen on doing something to help out beginners and the less experienced players. We need to try and keep them involved, so they gain the required experience and, hopefully, reverse the overall trend of declining numbers. Although the basics of FOG are pretty simple learning the finer points does take time. I'm still getting caught out four years into playing!

There have been suggestions of a couple of possible problems:

(1) What do you do if someone doesn't want, for whatever reasons, to take advantage of the handicap? Easy enough - it's entirely their decision and they don't have to take it.

(2) Fielding an extra 100 points might present painting problems. Could be a problem for some but upgrading a TC to IC or FC and/or adding an extra general would eat up most of the extra points, so that should deal with it where necessary.

I hope the powers that be will consider using handicaps. It doesn't make a major difference (two of the three overturns we've had involved suspect army choices by the losing players) and it might just keep more players in the pool.
grahambriggs
Lieutenant-General - Do 217E
Lieutenant-General - Do 217E
Posts: 3057
Joined: Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:48 am

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by grahambriggs »

An option would perhaps be to give the beginner 800 points and the veteran 700? Less painting.

Also, it might be an idea for beginners to discuss their army lists with more experienced players. The three major advantages of veterans are list design, deployment and tactics. Reducing the differential in the first would be good.

I very much like the idea of handicap tournaments. One of the issues for a novice FOGAM tournament player is that most competition players have been playing or some time now hence the learning curve is quite long really. Something to bridge the gap would be useful. I think though that, rather than some mechanics based around ranking or similar, it might be better to rely on the benign dictatorship of the organiser as to who is a beginner.
ChrisTofalos
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 5:18 pm

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by ChrisTofalos »

I think though that, rather than some mechanics based around ranking or similar, it might be better to rely on the benign dictatorship of the organiser as to who is a beginner.
That might cause problems of its own, Graham. Different organisers could come up with different handicaps for players. A very simple formula would work: If you're in the top 20 of the current rankings you don't get any handicap; in the next 20 and you get an extra 50 points and below that an extra 100. For situations where a normally top player hasn't played for a while, if you've had a top three finish in any ranking qualifying tournament (since records began!) you don't get any handicap.

There's also another way of sorting it out. Instead of getting extra army points you could increase the value of points scored by the less experienced. For example, a player in the lower rankings might get triple points for his kills, instead of double. Care would need to be taken in calculating multipliers for the middle rankers, who could get lucky! Might work...

I'm glad you like the idea of handicaps. Anything that's going to help keep people playing FOG has got to be good...
dave_r
General - King Tiger
General - King Tiger
Posts: 3849
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:58 pm

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by dave_r »

There are issues in identifying those players that are in the top20 of the rankings - would you base this at the year end? I'd recommend that you would. That way people know how many points they can potentially use prior to the tournament starting. Might be a bit tricky as a lot of comps no longer use 800 pts as standard.

What I'd like to see is an overall number of points available for players to use in a competition - so allow players to use 3200 points over four games, but allow the player to decide how many points they will use in each game.
Evaluator of Supremacy
ChrisTofalos
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 5:18 pm

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by ChrisTofalos »

...would you base this at the year end? I'd recommend that you would?
Sounds like the logical answer and players would know exactly what their situation is at the start of each year.

Is the top 20 too large a number? What about top 15, then next 15?
Might be a bit tricky as a lot of comps no longer use 800 pts as standard
If average players get +50 and beginners/less experienced get +100 it doesn't matter whether the comp is 800 or 900.
What I'd like to see is an overall number of points available for players to use in a competition - so allow players to use 3200 points over four games, but allow the player to decide how many points they will use in each game.
Interesting! :-)

Can we get a vote on this handicap thing? As we've found out at MAWS, it doesn't make a massive difference and, at least, we're doing something to try and retain players.
petedalby
Lieutenant-General - Do 217E
Lieutenant-General - Do 217E
Posts: 3100
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:23 pm
Location: Fareham, UK

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by petedalby »

There are issues in identifying those players that are in the top20 of the rankings - would you base this at the year end?
Having mentioned the year end rankings how are you getting on with them?
Pete
davidandlynda
1st Lieutenant - 15 cm sFH 18
1st Lieutenant - 15 cm sFH 18
Posts: 822
Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:17 am

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by davidandlynda »

I quite like the idea of rankings , the Society of Ancients had a good system back in the 70''s and 80's .people were ranked as 3,4 ,5 pointers etc and there was a comparitive points difference in games , of course this was before organised competitions and it was to for the SofA league.
For a modern competition Dave's idea would work better, Ilford ran this type of competition a few years ago , Rampage ?
What is needed is a willing club and volunteer to run and organise ,I would think you would get enough takers as long as it fits in the calender
David
nikgaukroger
Field of Glory Moderator
Field of Glory Moderator
Posts: 10287
Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2006 9:30 am
Location: LarryWorld

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by nikgaukroger »

davidandlynda wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 7:33 pm
For a modern competition Dave's idea would work better, Ilford ran this type of competition a few years ago , Rampage ?
It was indeed Rampage - it was an excellent format IMO.
Nik Gaukroger

"Never ask a man if he comes from Yorkshire. If he does, he will tell you.
If he does not, why humiliate him?" - Canon Sydney Smith

nikgaukroger@blueyonder.co.uk
dave_r
General - King Tiger
General - King Tiger
Posts: 3849
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:58 pm

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by dave_r »

Well, as I've seemingly inherited the organisation of the Godendag competition, we could try it there.
Evaluator of Supremacy
ChrisTofalos
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
Sergeant - 7.5 cm FK 16 nA
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 5:18 pm

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by ChrisTofalos »

Well, as I've seemingly inherited the organisation of the Godendag competition, we could try it there.
Good man! :-)
philqw78
Chief of Staff - Elite Maus
Chief of Staff - Elite Maus
Posts: 8812
Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:31 am
Location: Manchester

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by philqw78 »

dave_r wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:36 pm Well, as I've seemingly inherited the organisation of the Godendag competition, we could try it there.
Handicapping?
phil
putting the arg into argumentative, except for the lists I check where there is no argument!
dave_r
General - King Tiger
General - King Tiger
Posts: 3849
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:58 pm

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by dave_r »

philqw78 wrote: Tue Sep 11, 2018 8:17 am
dave_r wrote: Mon Sep 10, 2018 9:36 pm Well, as I've seemingly inherited the organisation of the Godendag competition, we could try it there.
Handicapping?
No variable points for each game. I'll mail you.
Evaluator of Supremacy
philqw78
Chief of Staff - Elite Maus
Chief of Staff - Elite Maus
Posts: 8812
Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:31 am
Location: Manchester

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by philqw78 »

dave_r wrote: Tue Sep 11, 2018 9:44 am No variable points for each game. I'll mail you.
Translates as
Dave R wrote: I'll dick you with some job I can't be arsed with
phil
putting the arg into argumentative, except for the lists I check where there is no argument!
dave_r
General - King Tiger
General - King Tiger
Posts: 3849
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:58 pm

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by dave_r »

Why? Are you volunteering to be list checker?
Evaluator of Supremacy
philqw78
Chief of Staff - Elite Maus
Chief of Staff - Elite Maus
Posts: 8812
Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:31 am
Location: Manchester

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by philqw78 »

You said you'd mail me. I have no idea what you have volunteered me for
phil
putting the arg into argumentative, except for the lists I check where there is no argument!
dave_r
General - King Tiger
General - King Tiger
Posts: 3849
Joined: Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:58 pm

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by dave_r »

You must have been included in about 20 emails today????
Evaluator of Supremacy
philqw78
Chief of Staff - Elite Maus
Chief of Staff - Elite Maus
Posts: 8812
Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:31 am
Location: Manchester

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by philqw78 »

That wasn't my email address
phil
putting the arg into argumentative, except for the lists I check where there is no argument!
azrael86
Sergeant Major - Armoured Train
Sergeant Major - Armoured Train
Posts: 596
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:55 pm

Re: Handicap system for comps...

Post by azrael86 »

Not sure about the handicap idea as such, if you look at the rankings then there are a number of very good players outside the top 20 (however did Chris think of 20 as the cut off, I wonder...) - who typically play only at Britcon, or in 2 or 3 local tournaments.....

As a secondary point it didn't appear to have much effect, although reducing the points for the experienced player may have more impact than giving the inexperienced competitor more points.

But the Rampage event was good, though you need a fiar sized field to makeit work - in reality this is probably the heart of the problem in that currently fields(particularly in 25mm) are sometimes too small for the Swiss system.

One idea I recall being mentioned way back was a "pick the army your opponent will use" - under DBM I think, because you had commands made up of strange combs,likedifferent speed impetuous troops.... unlikely to work wellin FOG I suppose.
Post Reply

Return to “Tournaments”