The Quizbowl Resource Center

With dates finalized and rooms reserved, I'm happy to announce that Illinois will be hosting a summer open on August 11th and August 12th.

Ideally, I'd like to run one "main event" on Saturday, but that's pending a possible Cambridge Open / Oxford Open mirror since many Illinois players will have played/heard NASAT by August. If there's interest, we could also run Canadian Hybrid.

For now, the format will likely be 3 to 4 side events on Saturday and 3 on Sunday. I'd like to gauge people's interest on 1. if they plan on attending, 2. what events they'd like to play/staff, please help by filling out this google doc. If there's an event you would like to see played that isn't listed, please let me know.

EDIT: The date of this event may be changed to August 18th. If you have any issues with availability, please fill out this form


EDIT:

We will begin promptly at 8:45am in Armory 333 on both Saturday (August 11th) and Sunday (August 12th). Please arrive early -- especially so if you are bringing buzzers.

Armory is right next to the main library. Lot E3, surrounding the library, is available for free parking during the day. Note that you will be unable to park here overnight. Should you need overnight parking, there are several free lots available that you can find here. Hyperlinks on that page should take you to a (hideous) graphic design where the letter / # of the lot is somewhere on the figure. Should you still have concerns about finding parking, feel free to get in contact with me.

Discounts:
Main event will have $10 discounts for each functional buzzer (2 sets of 4 working buzzers that have no noticeable issues) up to -$20.

Waived admission into one of Words and Objects, WORLDSTAR, Human Use, FILM or RAPTURE for each event staffed with own functioning laptop (laptops will be provided as needed. You will need to make a neg5 account for preliminary stat tracking if you don't have one already)


*This does not apply to FTP3, Imaginary Landscape No.4, Chomping Down at Shoney's where set writers will directly handle payment from individual players. If you see your set listed and you wish Illinois to handle the responsibility of collecting payments from players and getting you paid in short order, please get in contact with me.


Pricing:

Cambridge open will be $25/player ($100 for a 4 person team).

For side events:

Worldstar, Words and Objects

$12/person

RAPTURE, FILM, Imaginary Landscape:

$10/person

Chomping Down at Shoney's:

$5/person

Human Use of Human Beings:

$2/person

Sounds like fun.

I would personally prefer no main event and go for all side events, although I'll defer to the masses on this. An abbreviated main event, though, could probably still allow for most of the side events, especially if Sunday is completely free.

I wonder if you want to do some sort of ranked system that indicates what people REALLY want to play (I did this on my choices).

Outside of the potential Americanized hybrid, will there be entry fees? I'm working on getting a gang of high schoolers together.

Yeah, the ranking system worked pretty well last year, provided you can set up the form and read the results properly.

Another option is of course "shootout to cram in remaining events." My terrible event might be best played in that format, for example.

I'd be down for a british main event
much less inclined for the canadian event

Thanks for putting this together Mike and Illinois. I'm planning on driving to this from the Detroit Metro area so let me know if you need a ride if you live in Michigan (or maybe Indiana idk).

I'd also be down for a British "main event". CamO was pretty fun last year. On the topic of our set FTP 3: I think it would be best played at a Saturday night get together after dinner or something. It's only 5 packets long, and the bonuses don't have to be read if people don't want to, so it could work as a shootout. I would definitely like it to be played if I come out to UIUC though :)

I'm going to this, I'd definitely prefer an all-side event slate to a main event, though of course would gladly play a British main event if that's what people want.

I'm definitely going to this if there is an all-subject main event in addition to side events, but there's a good chance that I'll come to an all side-event weekend as well. If I do come, I'll try to bring some WUSTL people as well.

Also, if OCTAVIAN is going to be played (since it will apparently be done by the end of June), I will 100% be there.

I'll play this site if there's a British event + any number of side events.

Would anyone be opposed to this event being pushed back to August 18th? Seems that may accommodate some people busy the weekend of the 11th, but if this adversely affects more people, I'd be against doing so.

I would prefer the 11th. Obviously I'm just one person though, so maybe a poll is in order.

John Ketzkorn wrote:Would anyone be opposed to this event being pushed back to August 18th? Seems that may accommodate some people busy the weekend of the 11th, but if this adversely affects more people, I'd be against doing so.

Perhaps a Google poll where people could indicate their likeliness to come on each date would be good.

EDIT: Didn't see Mike's post.

I've created a form here

Looking at form responses, we've ultimately settled on keeping the dates as is.

When do you think you'll have a schedule of events finalized?

Cheynem wrote:When do you think you'll have a schedule of events finalized?

We should have a schedule of events out sometime within the next two weeks. Not necessarily "finalized" since I'd like to give people another week or two to make suggestions before cementing our plan for the weekend.

Here's our schedule as of today (June 12th). If you'd like to discuss possible reordering / evens I missed that you feel I should try, feel free to post here or email me.


Informal:
FTP 3 - Harris Bunker will presumably be organizing the logistics of this

Saturday:
Cambridge Open (no forum post, but distribution is same as last year) - Teams of 4
Words and Objects - Teams of 2
SNICK - ??? open to suggestions for now I'll leave it at teams of 4
Extra time for Trash events

Sunday:
WORLDSTAR - Teams of 4
The Human Use of Human Beings - Teams of 4
RAPTURE - I like the idea of running this as a tiered shootout of rooms of 6 to 8, but I'm open to suggestions

Events with time remaining on Saturday/Sunday (most likely as shootouts) - we can go as late as people please and hopefully we can get through a lot of quizbowl:
FILM
Chomping Down at Shoney's



Here's a team formation sheet for all side events

Seems good. I will say that three events, if one of them is a full tournament, seems perhaps a lot on Saturday, but you did choose both a small event (Words and Objects) and a trash event (SNICK), so good scheduling there. Perhaps just plan on a late day. In contrast, I think Sunday could probably even work in another event, but we do have two events to perhaps be played as shootouts, so that also could be good scheduling. In short, overscheduling Saturday and underscheduling Sunday seems like the best plan--things can be moved to Sunday and there's always late night shootouts.

I am looking for teams for all events except WORLDSTAR, which I plan on staffing (and I might have a team for SNICK already).

Is there a chance of any Friday events (perhaps some of the informal ones)?

Cheynem wrote:Is there a chance of any Friday events (perhaps some of the informal ones)?

If there's enough interest, there's a very good chance we can run events Friday -- either at someone from the Illinois club's apartment or in a classroom on campus. I'm gonna hold off on doing a survey at the moment, but people should feel free post their thoughts on possibly holding events Friday evening.

Cheynem wrote:Is there a chance of any Friday events (perhaps some of the informal ones)?

This was the plan for FTP 3. I'd be fine either holding it in a hotel room or in a class room depending on interest and what people want to do.

I will lobby for my event to be guaranteed at least the first Sunday shootout slot after the other events, as I will actually be in attendance.

Words and Objects is a pretty well controlled and concise event - I definitely think you can comfortably fit it in after a main event.

Can we get some information about the prices for these various events?

My event will be $5 a person, assuming a shootout. I do not know if Illinois needs to charge anything more in order to pay for the cost of hosting.

Cambridge open will be $25/player ($100 for a 4 person team).

For side events:

Worldstar, Words and Objects

$12/person

RAPTURE, FILM:

$10/person

Chomping Down at Shoney's:

$5/person

Human Use of Human Beings:

$2/person

Erik has unfortunately decided to pull the Illinois mirror of SNICK, and I'm sorry to all those who were looking forward to playing it at the Illinois site.

This should at the very least mean we have plenty of time to get through both FILM and Chomping Down at Shoney's.

If people (myself included) are disappointed by this lack of non-film trash, I'm going to highly encourage the writing of a (hopefully mostly non-film) Guerrilla Trash Tournament. Obviously people may be busy writing for other things, but I'd gladly contribute a packet of questions if people show interest in something like this replacing SNICK.

John Ketzkorn wrote:Erik has unfortunately decided to pull the Illinois mirror of SNICK, and I'm sorry to all those who were looking forward to playing it at the Illinois site.

This should at the very least mean we have plenty of time to get through both FILM and Chomping Down at Shoney's.

If people (myself included) are disappointed by this lack of non-film trash, I'm going to highly encourage the writing of a (hopefully mostly non-film) Guerrilla Trash Tournament. Obviously people may be busy writing for other things, but I'd gladly contribute a packet of questions if people show interest in something like this replacing SNICK.

Luckily, me and my other writers already have 5 packets of 20/20 trash in FTP3. Could this take the time slot that used to be occupied by SNICK?

In any event, I'd happy submit some amount of guerilla trash if ends up happening I like guerilla events.

Can I push for Shoneys or FILM to get the Saturday night slot that SNICK had, and move the guerrilla trash tournament then to late Sunday? (I am not sure if late Saturday is enough time for a full tossup/bonus set like FTP, but I'll defer to the masses)

I also agree that the guerrilla thing would be mild fun. Do you mind if I set up an announcement for that?

Since there is now time for it, if there is any interest in a one-room shootout of Imaginary Landscape No. 4, please let me know.

ThisIsMyUsername wrote:Since there is now time for it, if there is any interest in a one-room shootout of Imaginary Landscape No. 4, please let me know.

I would definitely staff this if people are interested!

Another thing is possibly doing like a tossups-only running of that trash set the Florida people produced (John Charles Daly).

I made a poll for when FTP3 should be played for those interested. I'd prefer it be a casual event on Saturday night maybe after dinner because I'm driving from Detroit on Friday and will probably be pretty tired Friday night. I want to maximize the amount of people who'll play so let me know what you think!

I just finalized my plans to make it to this, so I'd like to find teams for the following events:

Cambridge Open
WORLDSTAR

If you want to team up, let me know!

For what it’s worth, I’d prefer to move one of the two film tournaments to the Saturday night spot previously occupied by Snick and keep everything else the same.

I agree with Tejas that two consecutive film events is not ideal. I'd definitely play anything, but I think it would be good to not hyperconcentrate the film.

My preference might be--if we have a decent amount of time on Saturday, do FILM as doubles or teams. If we don't, do my event as a shootout. Then, do the remaining event (probably as a shootout of some sort?) on Sunday.

Cheynem wrote:My preference might be--if we have a decent amount of time on Saturday, do FILM as doubles or teams. If we don't, do my event as a shootout. Then, do the remaining event (probably as a shootout of some sort?) on Sunday.

I'd highly recommend the FILM as some kind of teams, doubles or whatsoever--the set tends to cover a couple different niches of interest simultaneously, which works well for teams--but it's obviously up to the TDs to decide.

Per Raynor's advice, I've now made FILM doubles so feel free to start taking partners. All changes have been updated on the spreadsheet. The current plan is as follows:

FTP3 on Friday (I presume Harris would prefer teams, so I've added to the spreadsheet as such).

FILM as doubles following Words and Objects on Saturday.

Imaginary Landscape for those interested on Saturday either concurrently or following FILM as probably a 1 room shootout.

Shoneys on Sunday as a shootout.

If people want, we can alternate guerrilla packets with Shoneys on Sunday to break up the monotony of film (which is meant with no disrespect to either Raynor or Mike's set).

John Ketzkorn wrote: Imaginary Landscape for those interested on Saturday either concurrently or following FILM as probably a 1 room shootout.

Definitely not concurrently! (As if I would miss a film tournament...)

I just put my name down as a free agent for some things. Let me know if want to team up.

We can see how people react, but I think Shoneys will go pretty fast as a shootout, has gotten good reviews at playtesting, and is just eight packets, so I'd like to be able to just read the event straight through. If people are shellshocked though, we can throw in some gorilla trash (or alternatively, people who don't want to play Shoneys can do some of that?).

I am looking for a partner for FILM, preferably someone who knows some combination of contemporary, foreign, or art film.

(Update: FILM partner is Math Laser)

ThisIsMyUsername wrote:

John Ketzkorn wrote: Imaginary Landscape for those interested on Saturday either concurrently or following FILM as probably a 1 room shootout.

Definitely not concurrently! (As if I would miss a film tournament...)

Cheynem wrote:We can see how people react, but I think Shoneys will go pretty fast as a shootout, has gotten good reviews at playtesting, and is just eight packets, so I'd like to be able to just read the event straight through. If people are shellshocked though, we can throw in some gorilla trash (or alternatively, people who don't want to play Shoneys can do some of that?).

These points sound fair to me. If people are interested in non-film trash, they're welcome to start convincing people to write some questions.

For my tournament, unless we're short on time, I will probably do the tiered two-room format in which people are sent up and down accordingly to try to pair appropriate skill levels.

FTP3 is going to be held Friday, August 10th on campus at probably around 6 o'clock. Please use the last tab on the team formation sheet if you wish to play! Doubles or quads would be okay with me.

Thanks and I hope to see people there.

Where on campus is everything taking place?

Hey everyone,

We will be holding the event in room 146 of the Armory. We recommend people park at the main library.

We will be aiming to start at 8:45 on both days so try to arrive at 8:15-8:30.

Additionally, anyone who staffs, and brings a laptop, will be given a free entry to a side event for each event they staff. We will also be giving $10 discounts for bringing buzzers.

I like the staffing discount thing, although that almost seems like a too generous discount (seems like staffing a couple events will result in not having to pay much on the weekend).

(Not that I am bothered!)

Illinois Admin wrote:Hey everyone,

We will be holding the event in room 146 of the Armory. We recommend people park at the main library.

We will be aiming to start at 8:45 on both days so try to arrive at 8:15-8:30.

Additionally, anyone who staffs, and brings a laptop, will be given a free entry to a side event for each event they staff. We will also be giving $10 discounts for bringing buzzers.

Could you update the OP with this (and other relevant logistics information, like perhaps the schedule) so it's easier to find?