Still on Trial ...
The Gettysburg'88 format will again this year fall under the
"Flexible Free Form" appellation. It's actually a
Swiss-Elimination event, with the Swiss rounds being played on
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday whenever entrants can
arrange games. The top four Swiss finishers will play semi-final
and final rounds on Saturday.
Swiss round games can be arranged in one of three ways:
1) send the GM your availability in advance and you will be matched
with an opponent who has the same availability,
2) report to the GM kiosk at 6 PM Tuesday, 10 AM Wednesday, 9
AM Thursday, or 9 AM Friday, to be matched against an opponent
who does the same (the game could be played at that time or a
mutually agreeable time later that day), or
3) arrange your own opponent and game time.
The default scenario will be 6F, Scenario 5, the 3-day Battle
of Gettysburg, using all optional rules except 10D, Extra Union
Generals. However, players are free to use any other scenario
and/or omit any optional rules as long as both players agree
to the changes.
Players simultaneously reveal which side they wish to play,
by using Union and Confederate counters provided in the game.
If opposite sides are chosen, play proceeds. If both players
want the same side, they bid for the right to play that side.
Players determine who has the first option via die rolls. The
player winning the roll may either accept the non-preferred side
or bid a Victory Point-incentive to play the preferred side.
Bids may begin at zero, and may be made in whole- or half-number
increments. If the first player bids to play the preferred side,
the second player may either accept the VP-incentive to play
the non-preferred side or bid a higher VP amount for the preferred
side. The option passes back and forth in this fashion until
one player accepts the non-preferred side and the VP-incentive.
The incentive is applied to the Victory Point score at the end
of each day.
After the conclusion of Friday's games, the top four Swiss
round finishers will be identified and matched in two semi-final
games to begin at 9 AM Saturday. The winners of the semifinals
will play immediately thereafter (or another mutually agreeable
time). Swiss round competitors will be ranked using each player's
three best games. (Obviously, this method will serve as an incentive
to play extra games, since a competitor has something to gain
but nothing to lose by taking on extra opponents.)
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