Event/Organizer Resource Thread

1. Regardless of what you do, remember that the current foreign scene is anything but professional. Understand it like I mean it. Nobody is going to play for the glory of eSports, nor do we need a super serious business plan, we deal with anything. Remember that you should do this for fun, not to promote your own ego, a new company or anything else. If you don't, there's a huge chance you stumble and fall right away. This isn't meant as downside, but as glimpse of hope for you – it doesn't matter what your experience is, if you already have a name or not, people will most likely appreciate your effort.


2. Know your limits. There are few people with enough time to do everything on their own. The larger your event will be, the more help you will need. Accept help where it is offered, also accept that your helpers will have limits as well. It's not unlikely you will suffer periods of demotivation – know that before you start. Be sure you can follow through with your plans. Hence, rather start small and slowly work your way up, than trying to do a monstrous plan right away.

Related: If you ask for help, remember that you should be approaching your helpers with respect. They will sacrifice their free time. Being impolite is a no-go and will get you nowhere. At the same time, some of the helpers (me included) have a huge ego. Even if you're disappointed, or not satisfied, try to not spread stupid rumors in the open or try to heat up a giant discussion. I can guarantee you: nobody but you will be interested. Argueing in the internet is stupid. It will also only help you to burn bridges. Ask yourself if you want to go down in flames or have the opportunity to try again. If you're really, really mad, switch out your computer and go for a walk before you do it again. E.g., if you get into rage about one person, don't copy that behaviour on an entire portal like Defiler, ICCup or Teamliquid. Hence, keep your cool and try again later or don't contact them and let it be for a while.


Futhermore: Most organizers miss one thing – that they're the leader. It's often a trap for both sides – helpers and organizers – to be just a little too polite. The second someone wants to help, explain IN DETAILS what you expect and WHEN to expect it. If you have writers, tell them everything they need to know: Results, links to replays/VODs, who they can ask for an interview. Set dates. It's rather hard to define a line, but being clear of your expectations helps. If nobody knows what to do because of overly polite conversations, it's rather likely you'll end up not doing a thing and everyone gets slightly disappointed. Don't be that organizer, be the ruler. A generous god. Also, always thank for the work you got.


3. The general consens as of late is that you need certain requirements before doing anything. This assumption is only partially true. You have to know exactly what you want to do, this much is correct. However, you do not need a super serious CSS-styled post as front page news on Teamliquid with three translations on broodwar.de, netwars.pl and reps.ru to make it work, nor do you need a trailer, banners and the best commentator. Start with the core and accept that the details are just details.
      Note: In my opinion a cast isn't that important. Do never skip an event because a caster is missing. Most players can stream anyways. Commentators are the least interesting thing in your planning, especially since they're so hard to get. Your first and foremost task should be to serve the players, not the consumers!


4. Following up, be sure you deliver your message – the design needs to be crystal clear; this means, that any announce HAS to feature this information:

• Button for Registration
• Date and Time (with time zone like CET)
• format (e.g. 16 DE Tournament)

5. Don't just copy and paste things you seen Teamliquid or the Koreans do. Ask yourself it makes sense to host a ladder stage, group stage and whatnot, if a small open grid on Defiler would do the trick as well. Keep it simple. At the same time, don't try to force new inventions. There's a reason 16 SE Grids are filled on ICCup within ten minutes, whereas the satellite ISL 3 mode was a huge failure in terms of quality and quantitiy.
      In case you plan really big, I suggest you also read: Tournament Design by Itsjustatank – very good thoughts on simple things, things which make a difference.


6. Post Tournament Analysis: This is something everyone does, knowing or not. Do not meassure the 'success' of your event by the responses you get from random people not participating. Sadly, in nowadays net culture the consume-only effect is big – meaning people enjoy your contribution, but will not tell you they did. Keep your head up high and don't selectively ignore the good responses you get. Vice versa, if you read this out of pure interest, don't ever forget to write a simply thanks for the tour if you liked it – it makes a large difference.

7. Time: Try to find out how much time you will need to host a tournament (e.g. by asking other hosts). Realize that more than seven hours is too much for most players. This is somewhat of an arbitrary line, but it works.

8. Scheduling: Schedule your tournament in a way it does not clash with any other event. This is easier said than done, because everyone wants the spots on Friday – Sunday nights, when everyone has time. Preferably Sundays.


9. Always give announcements one week before the event starts. This is a good rule of thumb. Last Minute tournaments work only so-so, depending on your reputation and your ability to reach a bigger audience on your own.


10. Related: Try to spread the word. See the Resources spoiler for places you can advertise in order to reach the biggest base of players!

Now for some real important advice: Writing a set of rules.

In almost all cases, no special rules are needed or required. Especially small tournaments can live completely without them. However, a few very general things you should definitely do or avoid:


1. The target audience is most likely not from a country with English as first language. Hence, the rules should be written in a way everyone can understand them. For example, surrendering IP nobody understands (especially since it's a rape of the English language). Avoid difficult phrasings. Don't worry if it is kindergarten English.


2. The more important your tournament is, the more the problem arises that players will find loopholes in your set of rules. This will magically happen, you definitely have to live with it. Partially because of what is written under Point 1, partially because people are sometimes idiots. Consequently add a Right of Admission clause – meaning you (and your helpers) can do any ruling. Stress this out, make this your rule #1.
      This sounds as if you are a dictator, but it makes it clear you're not going to argue over long; trust me it will help you out a ton. You will also realize VERY soon your set of rules will be incomplete – e.g. when someone indeed flames the shit out of a player.


3. Disconnects needs to have a ruling as well. ALL rules I know state that a disconnect means a win if one player has an advantage. This is bullshit and almost all leagues I played in, worked with or for do ignore this ruling, because they have the right of admission. Make it so that a disconnect in reality means the game has to be replayed; only grant a win if the situation is more than clear, e.g. if someone has 12 expansions, while the other player has only one worker and a burning CC left. Do not even try to judge the situation, both players will protest. Even if one player is behind by two expansions, has 50 supply less – he still can come back. The underlying logic will be: if he was good enough to have taken the lead in the disc game, he will have the skill to do it again.


4. Walk Overs: Make two times for walk overs; usually 15-30 minutes for the first round (opening round), 5-15 minutes for walk overs during a tour. However, I recommend doing the yoda/DRaW approach for actually granting walk overs. In most grids you can only give the walk overs, but not take them back. It sucks to throw out one player at minute 15, to see him coming into the channel 10 secons later. Just sit out the situation. As long as the player to receive the walk over has no opponent yet, he will not receive the walk over. If his opponent shows up, let them play.



5. Flamers: Flamers will appear sooner or later as well. It's up to you how you handle the situation. Please note that I'm argueably the most draconic admin in ICCup's history past 2010. I don't make any compromises, but act according to the 'quid pro quo' logic. Anyhow, you should treat with care here. Your job is to de-escalate the situation. This usually has for steps:

• Remind the players to keep their cool and don't do anything
  
• Kick the flamer and remind him again it'll end badly if he does it again
  
• Ban the flamer and the situation is over; if it is not, then
  
• Blacklist the flamer and don't bother with him again
  

The same logic should apply to anything you do in reality – try to find a solution, offer alternatives, only ban/grant walkovers if nothing else works.

Grids can be hosted on the following pages:

Defiler.ru – Anyone is allowed to. Contact yoda (See point 1). Works fine, also allows you to have the replays done.

ICCup – Same as for Defiler; however does not feature DE grids and might need help of an admin

Binary Beast – Free afaik, offers grids as well

Dang. There is nothing for you – there is literally no page really helping you out here. You have to do that manually and it will cost you some nerves. I suggest making an Excel page or, the better solution, use the Google Drive functions. This looks the nicest with the least work required.

You can also try to use Liquipedia – there are tons of people willing to help you out and doing updates for you if you ask nicely. Go to Liquipedia IRC Channel #Liquipedia at Quake.net. I promise you, all people there are super nice.

You will want to advertise your event. Sure thing, it's easy, here are some pages you can use:

Teamliquid – obviously. You'Re already here. Just make a thread and maybe ask some mod if it is enough to get a community news. Also, don't forget to use the Calendar Submission button!


Defiler – Create an account; Log-In; Top left, the + Symbol – Create Thread. Do it. Post in English. Done.


http://www.reddit.com/r/broodwar/ and http://www.reddit.com/r/starcraft → create account, link to your Teamliquid topic, submit.


soon: tutorial for netwars.pl (need help here!), reps.ru, broodwar.de