I have"nt competed in season 2 online yet(Holidays), but i have read these posts with interest as they bring up a couple of valid points which members feel strongly about ie,
1) some wanting a quality tourney with a bigger than normal starting stack enabling creative play, so we amateurs can develop a better game.
2) but concerns from some others regarding growth in numbers which will effect some members ability to play due to the length of the tourneys?
I have a couple of solutions which need forum discussion;
1) Why can"t APAT/Blue Square look at running 2 tourneys alongside each other on the THURSDAY ONLY both starting at the same time. One keeping the current format and the other with less chips/faster blinds(whatever is agreed). Players would be able to CHOOSE which format suited them that night and play in ONE only-not both? Obviously player numbers would have to rise upto 300+ for this to be feasible and perhaps a consensus taken on members choices to give a guide as to the number of players wanting which option?
This would obviously double the APAT points available on this night which needs to be carefully thought thru and of course a check to ensure members do not enter both?
I think that Saturday could be left as we are, but that can also be open to debate?
2) Another option is for APAT to split the membership in 2, via email addresses or surnames etc and allocate one half into a "BLACK TEAM" the other the "WHITE TEAM", or "A TEAM" & a "B TEAM" or "DES"S DRUNKS" & "TIKAY"S ANORAK"S"!?
On THURSDAY ONLY Blue Square has both tourneys open for Apat members to join their allocated tourney and all new members are allocated a team which keeps them equal in size etc.
Option 2 has the tourneys running at the current status and can be split further as online participation grows. Perhaps into the regional groups we currently have for live events which throws up the possibility of online regional points-just an idea?
Okay a lot to take in and i am sure it can be improved upon-what do you think?