c4countdown

Hi all

I've been toying with what to do for CoLei in 2010, but before I show my cards, have you people got any preferences or changes that you'd like to see?

Jeff

A nice date, so I can attend this time

Maybe we could play textcode

Kai Laddiman wrote:Maybe we could play textcode

Yay, like the last time!

Oh, no, wait ..

If it were up to me, I would:-

Drop the "qualifying" round, and use that time to have another normal round. The one-of-each practise rounds are enough.

Adjust the pairings so that people play someone on (approximately) the same number of wins as themselves. There are programs out there that can do this for you.

Use software an English letter distribution (I can help with this) and an English solver, so you can do adjudications electronically, which is faster.

James Robinson wrote:A nice date, so I can attend this time

Interesting definition of 'a nice date'.

play a fun round, using a phone book or an Atlas index, in place of a normal dictionary.

Charlie Reams wrote:If it were up to me, I would:-

Drop the "qualifying" round, and use that time to have another normal round. The one-of-each practise rounds are enough.

Adjust the pairings so that people play someone on (approximately) the same number of wins as themselves. There are programs out there that can do this for you.

Use software an English letter distribution (I can help with this) and an English solver, so you can do adjudications electronically, which is faster.

^This. Also the duel puzzles were fun as well, especially the ones where you had to find 2 words eg LANCASTER and ANCESTRAL, AER LINGUS and GRANULES etc

Similar to what Charlie said - if we could start playing proper games much earlier without the need to qualifying rounds/other bits and bobs then timings would be a bit easier. Sometimes I wonder if getting up at 6am is a good idea when we get to start round 1 at like 1pm or something.

I'd like to come to CoLei. If only to satisfy DC.

No suggestions.

Ian Dent wrote:I'd like to come to CoLei. If only to satisfy DC.

Since I couldn't attend this year it's a bit ungentlemanly of me to comment, but I'd expect more than 4 games after giving up my Saturday to play Countdown / travel costs etc.

I'm guessing the qualifying rounds were the reason for this, and I'm not exactly sure what form these took, but I think a straight 6 (or more!) game tournament would be better.

I agree about dropping the qualification round. If we want to have seedings, they can be based on apterous ratings or simply knowledge of the player's skill level (they are never going to be perfect anyway).

But overall, it is an enjoyable day and I'll certainly be there if I can make the date.

Karen Pearson wrote:If we want to have seedings, they can be based on apterous ratings or simply knowledge of the player's skill level (they are never going to be perfect anyway).

I think the tournament Idea Charlie suggested does away with the needs for seedings, as it sorts out the best and worst players round by round.

JackHurst wrote:

Karen Pearson wrote:If we want to have seedings, they can be based on apterous ratings or simply knowledge of the player's skill level (they are never going to be perfect anyway).

I think the tournament Idea Charlie suggested does away with the needs for seedings, as it sorts out the best and worst players round by round.

The trick is working it out for the first round, especially important at a tourney like COLIN where you don't really want to wind up with, say, a Corby/Howe/Bevins table in round 1. Fortunately that won't be the case.

In other news, having had a pint with Jeff on Sunday afternoon, I can safely say that CoLei in 2010 will be particularly exciting, especially if a particular idea of his comes to fruition.

Ben Wilson wrote:I can safely say that CoLei in 2010 will be particularly exciting, especially if a particular idea of his comes to fruition.

Strip Countdown?

Will the next Colei also be around the October time of year?

Re textcode, Kai, are you old enough to remember a series called Britain's Brainiest as hosted by Carol Vorderperson.......?

I take it everyone is happy with the venue?

A good range of feedback from everyone - thanks very much. If you want another October-Countdown-fest then I'm happy to do that and open it up to everyone again, but with just the nine-round games, some English language software (happy to take you up on your offer, Charlie - we can discuss offline) and generally more clarity/efficiency in the proceedings.

But I'd actually like to run two tournaments and for sometime around April, I'd like to run a "masters" tournament strictly for sixteen contenders: a qualifier, four 15-round games and an exhibition final between the #1 and #2 ranks proper. And if you fancy some pomp and ceremony, then what about a formal dinner / formal attire and we can make a real spectacle of a Saturday evening?

Food for thought....??

Jeff

Jeff Clayton wrote:Re textcode, Kai, are you old enough to remember a series called Britain's Brainiest as hosted by Carol Vorderperson.......?

I take it everyone is happy with the venue?

A good range of feedback from everyone - thanks very much. If you want another October-Countdown-fest then I'm happy to do that and open it up to everyone again, but with just the nine-round games, some English language software (happy to take you up on your offer, Charlie - we can discuss offline) and generally more clarity/efficiency in the proceedings.

But I'd actually like to run two tournaments and for sometime around April, I'd like to run a "masters" tournament strictly for sixteen contenders: a qualifier, four 15-round games and an exhibition final between the #1 and #2 ranks proper. And if you fancy some pomp and ceremony, then what about a formal dinner / formal attire and we can make a real spectacle of a Saturday evening?

Food for thought....??

Jeff

That all sounds ace...although I'm not too sure about the formal attire although Countdown clubbing does sound ace.

Jeff: Carol "Vorderperson"? Is that general parlance round here or a 1990s Lee & Herring reference (I think it was them, with their Tim Henperson sketch, etc.)? If it's the latter, then very nice...

As for COLEI2010, Leicester is only an hour away from me, so I shall probably turn up regardless of the format.

Kirk Bevins wrote: That all sounds ace...although I'm not too sure about the formal attire although Countdown clubbing does sound ace.

Agree, except the other way round.

Jeff Clayton wrote:...what about a formal dinner / formal attire and we can make a real spectacle of a Saturday evening?

Food for thought....??

Excellent. May I suggest the name Count Down With Me?

Charlie Reams wrote:

Kirk Bevins wrote: That all sounds ace...although I'm not too sure about the formal attire although Countdown clubbing does sound ace.

Agree, except the other way round.

Disagree, but also the other way round.

Man - you youngsters should love clubbing. Losers.

Kirk Bevins wrote:Man - you youngsters should love clubbing. Losers.

I'm pretty sure most "youngsters" actually think clubbing is a fairly boring chore and only go because 1) everyone else is going 2) they can get off with drunk girls. Neither of these are much motivation for me personally.

Charlie Reams wrote: I'm pretty sure most "youngsters" actually think clubbing is a fairly boring chore and only go because 1) everyone else is going 2) they can get off with drunk girls. Neither of these are much motivation for me personally.

I love clubbing because 1) I love dancing to great music, and when I saw great I mean the shit from the 80s and 90s like Vengaboys and Steps and I'm a Barbie Girl and other homosexual songs and 2) girls think I'm gay and don't feel threatened to come speak to me, find out I'm not gay and I end up getting off with them. In theory anyway.

Charlie Reams wrote:

Kirk Bevins wrote:Man - you youngsters should love clubbing. Losers.

I'm pretty sure most "youngsters" actually think clubbing is a fairly boring chore and only go because 1) everyone else is going 2) they can get off with drunk girls. Neither of these are much motivation for me personally.

This^ zomg this. I'm having a function room booked for my 21st in January for a get together with family and friends and I'm sure a lot of people will probably want to go to a club after for the reasons you said above, and the decision will fall on me to either keep the party going somewhere load and kerrazy, or head home about 1amish when all my relatives want to go to bed. tbh I'd much rather go home as well and enjoy the rest of the night in comfort at home with Emma, but will probably feel obliged to head to a rave instead.

I've often liked the idea of geek 'clubs', where at 1am on a Friday night you can go to a room with a bar Internet, loads of board games, comfy chairs and (most importantly) no loud music. You could even have some sort of test to get in to keep the riff raff out.

I'm with you on that one, Michael!!

Dinos Sfyris wrote:...head home about 1amish...

This has conjured the wonderful image of Dinos being accompanied home from a glitzy club by a Mennonite gentleman berating him for his hedonistic lifestyle...

Matt Bayfield wrote:

Dinos Sfyris wrote:...head home about 1amish...

This has conjured the wonderful image of Dinos being accompanied home from a glitzy club by a Mennonite gentleman berating him for his hedonistic lifestyle...

Haha, amazing.

Michael Wallace wrote:I've often liked the idea of geek 'clubs', where at 1am on a Friday night you can go to a room with a bar Internet, loads of board games, comfy chairs and (most importantly) no loud music. You could even have some sort of test to get in to keep the riff raff out.

Where do I sign up?

*Bump*

Any further thoughts, anyone?

And what's your availability like in April? Asides revising for exams or washing your hair?


Jeff

Jeff Clayton wrote:*Bump*

Only really works once you've got everyone in the conversation in the first place. I for one have only just discovered this thread.

Jeff Clayton wrote:Any further thoughts, anyone?

Not really, but I agree with most of the sensible stuff that's been said so far.

Jeff Clayton wrote:And what's your availability like in April? Asides revising for exams or washing your hair?

Availability would be OK as long as it isn't too close to Easter, but from my point of view it might be a bit early for other reasons. That said, May would probably be even less easy....

Hands up who's got exams this summer?

Hmm, Leicester seems to be about as close to me as these things come, but April's about my busiest month of the year. Ho hum.

*Hand up*