APTOBASH I: Enter the Dragon

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:27 pm

The time for a new breed of online tournament has arrived. This is the Twenty20 of online Countdown. Not a night for the purists, Monday 22 December sees the advent of APTOBASH.

Osmose the following details:

- Kirk-off will be at 7pm on Monday 22 December. The whole tournament will be played in just one evening. WOO!

- Each round will last 15 minutes, which should be plenty, and there will be a break every few rounds so you can get away from your computer and have a stretch. Don't Tournoff your computer between rounds though! AWESOME!

- The matches will be in the Speedgoat format; that is, Goatdown with 10 second rounds, LLLLLLNLLLLLLNC. I know this is intimidating to some, but as you Wills see, it's something different and the tournament format (below) is structured so that everyone has a chance to Fell a few opponents. So come along and see Howe you do. Even if you're not normally a Speedgoatista, I guarantee you'll enjoy it. YEAH!

- The tournament format is Swiss-paired round robin; in other words, everyone is guaranteed plenty of games, and the match-ups are adapted so that each person gets an opponent who is doing roughly as well as themselves. HOW ABOUT IT!

- The exact number of rounds played will depend on the number of entrants. I'll be running a live scoreboard online so everyone can see who's demonstrating their pa-Nash. SWEET!

- After a fixed number of rounds have been Traversed, the top two players will play a best-of-3 final, which should draw a fair few spectators if the usual standard is anything to go by. The winner of that will be crowned Aptochamp The First and will receive some kind of exciting item to mark the occasion. YAY!

Roll-up, roll-up, register here! Entry is now closed.

[Editor's note: All puns and excessive capitalisation herein are the responsibility of J. O'Neill and do not necessarily reflect the comedy opinions of C. Reams.]

Final line-up: J. Bentley, J. Bolas, I. Carson, J. Corby, O. Garner, M. Green, J. Gough, P. Howe, B. Hunter, J. Hurrell, C. Laddiman, K. Laddiman, G. Male, J. O'Neill, K. Pearson, B. Pugh, C. Reams, C. Travers, D. Vanniasingham, M. Wallace, N. Wainwright, B. Wilson. [22 players]

Jon O'Neill · Post by **Jon O'Neill** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:32 pm

I'm in!

Debbi Flack · Post by **Debbi Flack** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:36 pm

Charlie Reams wrote: - Kirk-off will be at 7pm on Monday 21 December

Sorry to be pedantic, but isn't the 21st a Sunday?

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:38 pm

DebbiF wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote: - Kirk-off will be at 7pm on Monday 21 December
Sorry to be pedantic, but isn't the 21st a Sunday?

Haha @ kirk-off. Yes it is and I hope it's the Sunday as Monday nights I'm busy.

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:44 pm

I think I'm in although I need to check if I'm leaving town that day or the day after...

EDIT: Looks like I'm out actually, unless my mum surprisingly buys a laptop in the next week.

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:46 pm

I'm in.

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 1:47 pm

It's 22 December, apologies for any confusion.

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:07 pm

Count me in, though I do have to question how a 'swiss paired round robin' would work.

Innis Carson · Post by **Innis Carson** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:17 pm

Count me in.

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:36 pm

I'm in (as long as I get the easiest opponents entered)!

Oliver Garner · Post by **Oliver Garner** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 5:39 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:I'm in (as long as I get the easiest opponents entered)!

That would be me because i want to be in

Debbi Flack · Post by **Debbi Flack** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 8:02 pm

Love to, but I'll be on stage as Mrs Santa - good luck to everyone though.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:28 pm

Count me in too.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:25 am

Wouldn't be able to make 7pm, so I'm out

Dan Vanniasingham · Post by **Dan Vanniasingham** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:48 am

I'm currently available that eve (and that's unlikely to change

) so I'm in too

Lee Simmonds · Post by **Lee Simmonds** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:15 am

Would love to but can't do this date.

DebbiF wrote:Love to, but I'll be on stage as Mrs Santa

Would love to see that.

Julie T · Post by **Julie T** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 1:01 pm

Goatdown - fine. 10 sec rounds - I'm out.
Good luck to entrants.

Jimmy Gough · Post by **Jimmy Gough** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:19 pm

Sounds great !

Callum Laddiman · Post by **Callum Laddiman** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:29 pm

I'll join in with the tournament as long as i dont get my bro in the first round

Eoin Monaghan · Post by **Eoin Monaghan** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:25 pm

Callum Laddiman wrote:I'll join in with the tournament as long as i dont get my bro in the first round

Who usually wins at home between you two?

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:48 pm

I'll have to opt-out, as I think I'm getting a coach home to Oxford that day, and even if I did get back in time I doubt my mum would appreciate me visitng home for the first time in weeks and spending the whole evening in front of the computer...

Gary Male · Post by **Gary Male** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:21 am

Twenty20 is the spawn of the devil, and should not be entertained under any circumstances. It's like playing snooker on a 6 feet table with 3 reds. Ahem.

I'm in.

Karen Pearson · Post by **Karen Pearson** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:20 am

I think I should be around so please count me in. I'm bound to get massacred though as I'm rubbish at goatdown even without the 10 second handicap.

Matthew Green · Post by **Matthew Green** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:10 am

Yes please.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:12 am

I want to play but I have to put the kids to bed. Generally I'll be getting them ready etc between 7 and 8. Will I be able to play? Will I be able to bugger off for the odd 5/10 minutes, or do I need to be permanently on from 7pm?

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:55 pm

Jon Corby wrote:Generally I'll be getting them ready etc between 7 and 8. Will I be able to play? Will I be able to bugger off for the odd 5/10 minutes, or do I need to be permanently on from 7pm?

That should be fine, 15 minutes is actually quite a lot for a game of speedgoat.

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:09 pm

Okay, sign me up for APTOBASH I then! (Complete with some kind of "Enter the Dragon" gag based around penetrating the missus)

Kai Laddiman · Post by **Kai Laddiman** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:31 pm

Ooh, ooh, ooh, can I be the dragon? Pick me! PLEASE!

Jon Corby · Post by **Jon Corby** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:47 pm

Kai Laddiman wrote:Ooh, ooh, ooh, can I be the dragon? Pick me! PLEASE!

Ask Tony Warren

James Hurrell · Post by **James Hurrell** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:34 pm

Please put my name down. Hopefully should be OK.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:29 pm

Jon Corby wrote:Okay, sign me up for APTOBASH I then! (Complete with some kind of "Enter the Dragon" gag based around penetrating the missus)

This really disturbs me considering Kai's immediate reply.

JimBentley · Post by **JimBentley** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 6:07 pm

It has always been my dream to be repeatedly massacred at online speed Goatdown on the Monday before Xmas! I'm in! WOO-HAH! etc.

Naomi Laddiman · Post by **Naomi Laddiman** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:14 pm

The ask TW was enough to disturb me!!!

John Evans · Post by **John Evans** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 9:31 pm

Mrs Kai wrote:The ask TW was enough to disturb me!!!

Don't worry. Kai could always walk away, literally.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:59 pm

*Throws hat into the ring*

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Tue Dec 16, 2008 1:03 am

We're going back on Tuesday, so I'm in now

Conor · Post by **Conor** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:01 pm

Jimmy Gough · Post by **Jimmy Gough** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:40 pm

Conor wrote:In?

Conor

Yeah I'm definitely in now

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 9:55 pm

Conor wrote:In?

Play Paul (Howe) first.

Seriously.

Paul Howe · Post by **Paul Howe** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:09 pm

Ben Wilson wrote:
Conor wrote:In?
Play Paul (Howe) first.

Seriously.

Maybe Saturday evening at 8 is OK for you Conor? Can do Sunday as well but would have to be later on as I'm going to see Arsenal v Liverpool and don't know exactly when I'll be back.

Dan Vanniasingham · Post by **Dan Vanniasingham** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:54 pm

Paul Howe wrote:Can do Sunday as well but would have to be later on as I'm going to see Arsenal v Liverpool and don't know exactly when I'll be back.

Bastard bastard bastard bastard bastard bastard bastard!

(Sorry Kai)

(Also just to raise my "profanities per post" count)

A friend of my brother works for the club, so I may still sneak a ticket - even thought it'll probably end up a dull 0-0.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:29 am

Sign me up (if there's room left).

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:47 am

Ben Hunter wrote:Sign me up (if there's room left).

Let's say I'll make room if you get an avatar that doesn't make me want to punch myself in the face with the stupidity of it.

Gary Male · Post by **Gary Male** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:01 am

Charlie Reams wrote:Monday 22 December sees the advent of APTOBASH.

Charlie Reams wrote: Roll-up, roll-up, register here! Entry closes at 23:59 on Sunday 28 December.

That's the whole of 20th century physics completely fucked then.

(Sorry Kai).

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:24 am

Charlie Reams wrote:
Ben Hunter wrote:Sign me up (if there's room left).
Let's say I'll make room if you get an avatar that doesn't make me want to punch myself in the face with the stupidity of it.

No can do. We come as a pair. You make room for me, you make room for the fat, East Asian baby.

Oliver Garner · Post by **Oliver Garner** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 7:07 pm

Ben Hunter wrote:
Charlie Reams wrote:
Ben Hunter wrote:Sign me up (if there's room left).
Let's say I'll make room if you get an avatar that doesn't make me want to punch myself in the face with the stupidity of it.
No can do. We come as a pair. You make room for me, you make room for the fat, East Asian baby.

Countdown doubles would be an interesting idea.

Ben Hunter · Post by **Ben Hunter** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 11:12 pm

Charlie Reams wrote:
Ben Hunter wrote:Sign me up (if there's room left).
Let's say I'll make room if you get an avatar that doesn't make me want to punch myself in the face with the stupidity of it.

Thank you to the man responsible for editing my avatar so that it meets the requirements for entry into this tournament. I look forward to playing you all on Speedgoat.

Michael Wallace · Post by **Michael Wallace** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 7:43 pm

How last minute can I pull out of this? I've woken up at 6pm on Sunday, and need to be on a coach to Oxford at 2pm on Tuesday, and between these two points need to sleep, so staying up for the aptobash may not be the best idea... How long is it expected to take?

Nick Wainwright · Post by **Nick Wainwright** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 11:58 pm

Put my name down too if it's not too late to sign up.

Ben Pugh · Post by **Ben Pugh** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:55 pm

I'm currently having problems signing in to Apterous, sorry to Kai and any others I'm holding up.

Oliver Garner · Post by **Oliver Garner** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:56 pm

After my game against Matthew Green, I logged off and couldn't log back on again so I can't play my next game.

Joseph Bolas · Post by **Joseph Bolas** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:18 pm

I don't know about anyone else but that was good fun indeed. Well done to Charlie for setting it up

Gary Male · Post by **Gary Male** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:32 am

Thanks Charlie, and everyone who played for a great evening.

Kirk Bevins · Post by **Kirk Bevins** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:59 am

Thanks Charlie for organising it - was extremely manic. Absolutely loads of games going on - all 10 seconders so it was so quick. As soon as one game was over, the draw was made and you were playing another top player at speedgoat. Non stop action for nearly 5 hours. Thanks for making it run so smoothly (despite a couple of cock-ups en route) - I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Congratulations to Paul who is a worthy champion - quite clearly the best speedgoatist there is.

Karen Pearson · Post by **Karen Pearson** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 8:52 am

Great evening. Thanks Charlie. And I'm pretty certain I wasn't last - which is a massive result for me!!

Charlie Reams · Post by **Charlie Reams** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 10:45 am

Karen Pearson wrote:Great evening. Thanks Charlie. And I'm pretty certain I wasn't last - which is a massive result for me!!

16th of 18 - not bad at all. You were also the top female player!

Ian Volante · Post by **Ian Volante** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 12:58 pm

Do you think it would be worthwhile scheduling somethign like this quarterly? That way, the geekier among us could make sure we were free for the event.

Karen Pearson · Post by **Karen Pearson** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:19 pm

Charlie Reams wrote: You were also the top female player!

That's right! Would have been embarrassing to finish any lower amongst the females!!

JimBentley · Post by **JimBentley** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 1:56 pm

Thanks for organising the Bash, Charlie, it was excellent fun. I'm far too slow to realistically challenge any of the top players at Speedgoating, but all the games were played in such good spirit that even the bad beats were enjoyable in a way. Many thanks also to my opponents, especially the ones kind enough not to beat me!

Ben Wilson · Post by **Ben Wilson** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 2:03 pm

This looked like it was really fun- kudos to Charlie for the organisationing, here's hoping next time I'll be well enough to participate!