The Quizbowl Resource Center

Posted: **Thu Feb 26, 2009 2:19 pm**

This is the announcement for Cameron and Tommy Open (aka Tommy and Cameron Open), or CaTO/TaCO to be held on Sunday, August 9, 2009, the day after VCU Open on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus in Richmond, VA. As the name indicates, this is an open event entirely written by Maggie Walker student Tommy Casalaspi and myself. The current plan for difficulty is Regionals with the expansion common among summer open events.
EDIT: After hearing this year's ACF Regionals and Nationals, I will say that our projected difficulty is closer to the latter, but will aim for accessibility in bonuses (especially the middle parts, which we will actively attempt to make consistent) and in at least 3/4 of tossups (the idea here is not to overwhelm with canon expansion while not limiting the writers to stock answers).

In terms of eligibility, this is of course Open, but depending on numbers (say, at least 3 contenders), we are prepared to recognize the top team consisting only of high schoolers (defined as having been enrolled within the last year), as the original concept for this tournament was the completion of the analogy ICT/ACF Nationals: Chicago Open :: NSC/HSNCT: ______. Therefore, this will obviously be below the difficulty of CO (and VCU Open), but "superteams" are more than welcome.

We will tentatively (and likely) use the same fee structure as VCU Open, copied here for reference:
Base fee $100 per team
Buzzers: -$10 each (no limit)
Staffers: -$20 each (no limit)
Minimum fee: $0

To get a discount, buzzers must actually work for the purpose of a normal quizbowl game; that is, they must have eight working activators, a working control box, and either a working power cord or a fresh battery, as applicable. Don't waste everyone's time bringing broken buzzers to the tournament. That's actually worse than bringing no buzzers at all! Don't bring broken staffers either.

To register, post here or email me at the address below.

As the location and timing will be based on VCU's reservations, I have for now copied the information for VCU Open here:
LOCATION/DIRECTIONS/PARKING: The tournament will take place somewhere on our Monroe Park campus (aka "Academic Campus"). We will have more details once the room reservations come back.

TIMES: Registration will run from 8:45 to 9:00 AM, with the goal of starting Round 1 as soon as possible after 9:00.

The packets will be ACF format with a similar distribution (some notable differences include a near absence of Geography). Since we should have 15 packets ready for the tournament, format will be entirely dependent on number of teams.

Until we straighten out payment information, cash is our preference. If you need to make out a check now or soon, make it out to Cameron Orth and I will make sure it gets to the right people.

If you have any questions, comments or mirroring requests, post here or let me know at outhwest AT gmail DOT com

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:37 pm**

I'm going to play this, but I'm looking for teammates.

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:41 pm**

I will assume I am playing this, perhaps with the team I play with on Saturday (?).

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:50 pm**

I'm very interested in playing this, and almost certainly not with CR (meaning I'm on the hunt for a team, if anyone will have me).

edit: clarification

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:54 pm**

GlitchYC wrote:I'm going to play this, but I'm looking for teammates.

ImaPC wrote:I'm very interested in playing this, and likely not with my team.

Hey, who's interested in a probably very pathetic high school team? I'm not sure, but I'd kinda like to play this too.

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:57 pm**

Prof.Whoopie wrote:
GlitchYC wrote:I'm going to play this, but I'm looking for teammates.
ImaPC wrote:I'm very interested in playing this, and likely not with my team.
Hey, who's interested in a probably very pathetic high school team? I'm not sure, but I'd kinda like to play this too.

Actually Aidan, Trey and i (tentatively) are thinking of playing together for this. You may join our sucky tandem...

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 9:59 pm**

Actually Aidan, Trey and i (tentatively) are thinking of playing together for this. You may join our sucky tandem...

I need a ride... but yes! [email protected], if you want to get a hold of me.

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:36 pm**

Am looking for team, yes sir.

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:39 pm**

Oh look at that, a quizbowl tournament. I'll play this with some assemblage of teammates.

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:44 pm**

Caesar Rodney HS wrote:
Prof.Whoopie wrote:
GlitchYC wrote:I'm going to play this, but I'm looking for teammates.
ImaPC wrote:I'm very interested in playing this, and likely not with my team.
Hey, who's interested in a probably very pathetic high school team? I'm not sure, but I'd kinda like to play this too.
Actually Aidan, Trey and i (tentatively) are thinking of playing together for this. You may join our sucky tandem...

May I join this suckfest? I tentatively have gluten-free cookies.

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 10:48 pm**

May I join this suckfest? I tentatively have gluten-free cookies.

Tentatively, yes! The prospect of a CR Anselm hybrid team is pretty intriguing, not to mention fairly convenient. This is working out quite well, assuming things don't utterly fall apart...

Posted: **Wed Jun 10, 2009 11:22 pm**

I will play this tournament not alone.

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:25 am**

everyday847 wrote:I will play this tournament not alone.

Remember, you, me, Hannah, and Rob are playing this.

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:26 am**

tetragrammatology wrote:
everyday847 wrote:I will play this tournament not alone.
Remember, you, me, Hannah, and Rob are playing this.

I wasn't lying!

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:40 am**

I'm playing this with Charlie R, Sarah, and probably Lily, and it will be exciting.

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:50 am**

tetragrammatology wrote:
everyday847 wrote:I will play this tournament not alone.
Remember, you, me, Hannah, and Rob are playing this.

Oh good, wasn't sure if this was still happening so I was hesitant to post it.

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:01 am**

I will play this if any team will have me, or staff it as needed.

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:22 am**

Okay, so I definitely will need at least two other teammates, maybe three depending on what Silberman is doing. Hook me up either here or at cheyne AT wmis DOT net.

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2009 10:39 pm**

ImaPC wrote:
May I join this suckfest? I tentatively have gluten-free cookies.
Tentatively, yes! The prospect of a CR Anselm hybrid team is pretty intriguing, not to mention fairly convenient. This is working out quite well, assuming things don't utterly fall apart...

Yeah, I'm so down for this.

Posted: **Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:45 pm**

Since the field magically appeared over the last couple days, here is a tentative field that will (maybe) be updated:
Teams (buzzers):
Andy/Hannah/Rob/Bernadette
Carter/Rosenthal/Angelo/Chen
Taraila/Chrzanowski/Mehigan/Bollinger (1)
TJ "B"
Nathan/York +2
Cheyne/Guy/White (Evan?) +2

(Free) Agents:
Jerry
Carsten
George
Dan

People who will likely show up but haven't said anything:
Evan Adams
Will Butler
Matt Weiner

Staff that definitely won't play:
Cameron
Tommy

I'll try to update this regularly.
EDIT: Difficulty section of the original announcement has been updated. Also, I will announce that virtually all science clues will be coming from textbook knowledge of which advanced students are likely to have heard.

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:22 am**

Tower Monarch wrote:(the difficulty section, specifically)

Whatever you might say, I am going to assume that this tournament will in fact be harder than VCU Open itself.

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:29 am**

BuzzerZen wrote:
Tower Monarch wrote:(the difficulty section, specifically)
Whatever you might say, I am going to assume that this tournament will in fact be harder than VCU Open itself.

Hey, I'm writing half of this tournament and editing the other half. If Tommy did the whole thing, then you would probably be correct.

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2009 12:37 am**

I will happily play with any of the people in the current free agency pool. Evan, are you playing this?

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2009 1:07 am**

Put me down as a free agent. (Note: If I end up driving to Richmond that weekend instead of getting a ride, I will have to leave relatively early, no later than 5 or 6. If I do Amtrak, then I'm probably only in for the morning rounds, if I remember their schedule.)

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:14 pm**

TJ B would possibly be interested in coming to this.

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:36 pm**

I will either play or staff this.

Posted: **Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:40 pm**

Frater Taciturnus wrote:I will either play or staff this.

Posted: **Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:56 pm**

I'm planning to play this, and have currently formed a team with York Chen. We're eagerly looking for other team members; feel free to contact either one of us.

(Edit: also, I should be bringing a buzzer.)

(Edit #2: Carsten Gehring and Zihan Zheng have now completed the team.)

(Edit #3: I'm not bringing a buzzer anymore, because I'm flying, it's a Judge, and I'm worried about airport security.)

Posted: **Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:47 pm**

I'm planning on playing this with at least Guy and perhaps Evan--anyone interested in joining this configuration is welcome to get in touch.

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2009 1:08 pm**

Cheynem wrote:I'm planning on playing this with at least Guy and perhaps Evan--anyone interested in joining this configuration is welcome to get in touch.

Looks like I'll be the fourth (third?) on this team.

Posted: **Sat Jun 20, 2009 1:43 pm**

Tower Monarch wrote:Taraila/Chrzanowski/Mehigan/Bollinger

Oh, we will be bringing a buzzer set, by the way.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:17 pm**

Since it looks decreasingly likely that I will be able to attend VCU Open, I do not believe I will be able to play this tournament.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:32 pm**

Crazy Andy Watkins wrote:Since it looks decreasingly likely that I will be able to attend VCU Open, I do not believe I will be able to play this tournament.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:41 pm**

Ukonvasara wrote:
Crazy Andy Watkins wrote:Since it looks decreasingly likely that I will be able to attend VCU Open, I do not believe I will be able to play this tournament.

This is true for me as well.

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:17 pm**

HKirsch wrote:
Ukonvasara wrote:
Crazy Andy Watkins wrote:Since it looks decreasingly likely that I will be able to attend VCU Open, I do not believe I will be able to play this tournament.

This is true for me as well.

Double

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2009 7:24 pm**

tetragrammatology wrote:
HKirsch wrote:
Ukonvasara wrote:
Crazy Andy Watkins wrote:Since it looks decreasingly likely that I will be able to attend VCU Open, I do not believe I will be able to play this tournament.

This is true for me as well.
Double

So I guess B and I are looking for some teammates now! (assuming, of course, that Andy and Hannah will be sadly unable to come.)

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:27 pm**

Happily, things worked out, and the two of us will be coming! False alarm...

Posted: **Tue Jul 14, 2009 8:34 pm**

Forgive me, Rob and Bernadette; Colorado Springs knew not what it did. I'm coming!

Posted: **Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:13 am**

I'm officially declaring free agency.

Posted: **Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:08 pm**

Two weeks to go. Is there a field update to this, and maybe specifics on locations and stuff?

Also what time can we expect to be finished? We've got a long drive back to Dover and a couple guys i gotta drop off on the way.

Really looking forward to going, and i know i can speak for Trey (actually and Matt and Aidan) on that one as well.

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2009 6:17 pm**

BuzzerZen wrote:
Tower Monarch wrote:(the difficulty section, specifically)
Whatever you might say, I am going to assume that this tournament will in fact be harder than VCU Open itself.

Matt Weiner wrote:For various reasons, the difficulty for this tournament is now "between normal/Regionals and Nationals" rather than "CO level." Take that into account if you are writing a packet. The harder end of Cardinal Classic, Terrapin, etc is what I have in mind here.

Considering this tournament is supposed to be pretty close to Nationals in difficulty, Evan may end up being right. Wow.

Posted: **Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:12 pm**

I'm looking for a team for this tournament. Email me if you are interested in playing with me.

Posted: **Fri Jul 31, 2009 12:47 am**

Prof.Whoopie wrote:
BuzzerZen wrote:
Tower Monarch wrote:(the difficulty section, specifically)
Whatever you might say, I am going to assume that this tournament will in fact be harder than VCU Open itself.

Matt Weiner wrote:For various reasons, the difficulty for this tournament is now "between normal/Regionals and Nationals" rather than "CO level." Take that into account if you are writing a packet. The harder end of Cardinal Classic, Terrapin, etc is what I have in mind here.
Considering this tournament is supposed to be pretty close to Nationals in difficulty, Evan may end up being right. Wow.

Oy. Let's just do our best, Aidan. If it helps, Trey really has gotten good over the last couple months... he's our best hope on a lot of the impossible history questions here (yeah, he's better than me, probably, at least in terms of depth of knowledge, but as a history teacher i guess i have more breadth). We'll see what happens.

Posted: **Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:50 am**

Oy. Let's just do our best, Aidan. If it helps, Trey really has gotten good over the last couple months... he's our best hope on a lot of the impossible history questions here (yeah, he's better than me, probably, at least in terms of depth of knowledge, but as a history teacher i guess i have more breadth). We'll see what happens.

Uhhh... probably not... I'm just hoping to have a stats in the black.

Posted: **Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:28 pm**

Magister Ludi wrote:I'm looking for a team for this tournament. Email me if you are interested in playing with me.

Wow, this just gets worse and worse. My goal: get 2-3 myth questions over the course of the entire tournament.

Posted: **Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:55 pm**

Hey, I guess I need a team for this. Email me if you're interested.

Posted: **Sun Aug 02, 2009 12:08 am**

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew wrote:Two weeks to go. Is there a field update to this, and maybe specifics on locations and stuff?

Also what time can we expect to be finished? We've got a long drive back to Dover and a couple guys i gotta drop off on the way.

Really looking forward to going, and i know i can speak for Trey (actually and Matt and Aidan) on that one as well.

Alright, no update then? Cool. Hopefully things are all coming together.

Posted: **Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:47 am**

If this tournament is fully staffed I will play, likely solo. Otherwise I will read.

Posted: **Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:26 pm**

Charlie Dees, Phil George, and I are tentatively playing this and looking for a fourth.

Posted: **Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:42 pm**

Current Field:

York / Carsten / Nathan / Zheng
Caesar Rodney / St. Anselm
Guy / White / Silberman / Cheyne
Andy / Hannah / Rob / Bernadette
Chris Carter / Charlie Rosenthal / Sarah Angelo / Lily Chen
Charlie Dees / Phil George / Jason Loy / Trevor Davis
Jonathan / Richard Mason
Byrne / Graebner / Evan Adams
Matt Weiner / Will Butler
Dan Goff / Morlan / Ike

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