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Gauging Interest in Chicago Open History Singles

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:14 pm
by trphilli
The other thread has gotten kind of side-tracked with HSCNT discussions, plus I wanted to run a poll.

I could potentially be the lead writer & editor for a history singles event for Chicago Open. The availability of 1 co-writer would increase the length of the tournament.

If I decide to do this solo the distribution would maybe look like this (I reserve the right to tweak this slightly based upon whim and your comments):

5 rounds prelims of some sort; 3 round single elim finals
16 questions per round
(The addition of a co-writer would increase this to 10 rounds OR 20 questions per round.)

Geographic Distribution:
5 USA
5 Europe
5 Other
1 WildCard

Area Distribution (Sorry these are kind of vague):
3 Military
3 Political
3 Social
3 Biography
3 Events
1 Geography

Timeline (This is for tournament overall, no committment for distribution per packet):
10% Early Civ
15% Classic Civ
15% Middle Ages
15% Rennissance
20% Industrial Revolution
20% 20th Century
05% Current

Sorry for the recent bent, but that is where most of my coursework is from. Again all of this is my crazy ramblings which may change based upon how question writting goes, input from co-editor, and feedback here.

I think that about covers it.

If you are interested in co-writting about 40 questions, please let me know. For inquiries about this tournament please e-mail [email protected]

Please comment and vote

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:11 pm
by Mr. Kwalter
Tom, while I sincerely admire your desire to do this, it seems like the potential side events at CO are racking up already. Your event would almost definitely need to be Saturday night. I'd personally rather play a lit singles, but if there's room for both that's great. Most people would probably be willing to play your thing regardless, since why go to CO if not to have a full weekend of quizbowl? You should talk to Seth Teitler to see who has formally requested to run a side event and when they intend to do them. Good luck, though.

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:18 pm
by Mike Bentley
I would be very interested in playing in this tournament.

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:22 pm
by DumbJaques
I think there's room for everyone in Seth's big house of love. But cmon, let's see some more ancient history. Geez.

Also, I would really like to do this.

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:54 pm
by grapesmoker
DumbJaques wrote:But cmon, let's see some more ancient history.
Let's not and say we didn't.

Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:32 pm
by Important Bird Area
I can't play, but would be happy to help with editing.

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:00 am
by No Rules Westbrook
If it exists, I'll play it and so will plenty of other people, I'm sure. So, best of luck with the endeavor.

Re: Gauging Interest in Chicago Open History Singles

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:47 am
by Matt Weiner
trphilli wrote:10% Early Civ
Maybe I'm getting a little ahead of the game since you're just asking if people want to have this tournament at all, but 2 questions out of a 20-question round being on "early civilization" when "ancient civilization" is a separate category sounds like quite a lot. I don't know how much figure-out-the-archaeological-site or tossups on "bronze" I can take. If this topic is what I think it is, 1 question every other round should be plenty.

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:25 am
by Captain Sinico
Of course, I'd play.

MaS

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:13 am
by Awehrman
Since this event seems to be in limbo, I would also like to announce my intention to play.

You might consider including a sub-category on historians and historical writing. A tossup and bonus or two per round on significant historians such as C. Vann Woodward or Quentin Skinner or on some of the so-called "great books," such as E.P. Thompson's Making of the English Working Class to give but one example. Inclusion of some of these would make for a richer tournament and could certainly fit, with minor adjustments, to the current distribution. Of course, this would make the tournament a bit less accessible to generalist players, but it's the CO, isn't that part of the fun?

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 10:27 am
by theMoMA
I'm in too. I will even play science doubles if that's an open event. Good quizbowl is good quizbowl regardless of how hard it rapes you.

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:26 am
by grapesmoker
Oh yeah, quizbowl. I play that.

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 7:37 pm
by Skepticism and Animal Feed
I will play this.

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:37 pm
by ulls66
Count me in.

Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 11:54 pm
by Mr. Kwalter
If I'm there I'll staff if needed.

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 1:39 am
by Sima Guang Hater
I'll staff too.

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2007 7:01 pm
by trphilli
Hi all,

So everybody's positive. So I will give this thing a go.

Formal announcement will follow as the date draws closer.

Until then, please continue to voice your support in this thread and the poll above to hold the spot in the CO lineup.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 12:40 am
by Chris Frankel
Let me know if you need any help editing/proof-reading/organizing the packets; I can't make any sort of writing commitment, but would be happy to offer advice or guidance based on my experience last year if you need any.

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 8:57 pm
by trphilli
Bumping this back up to the top. If your interested, please continue to vote in the poll.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:30 pm
by trphilli
Thanks for all the interest everybody.

Unfortunatelyt stuff has come up and I can no longer handle the tourney.

http://www.hsquizbowl.org/phpBB2/viewto ... 0827#50827

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:03 pm
by Skepticism and Animal Feed
Since there seems to be significant demand for this, I'd be willing to take over if nobody else steps up.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 9:32 pm
by Mike Bentley
trphilli wrote:Thanks for all the interest everybody.

Unfortunatelyt stuff has come up and I can no longer handle the tourney.

http://www.hsquizbowl.org/phpBB2/viewto ... 0827#50827
Sorry to hear this.

I would still be interested in competing in this tournament if someone else picks it up.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:11 pm
by DumbJaques
Bruce Bruce Bruce Bruce Bruce

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 10:52 pm
by Skepticism and Animal Feed
How many rounds would such a thing be likely to go? Say if it were a doubles tournament, like last year.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:10 pm
by Mike Bentley
Bruce wrote:How many rounds would such a thing be likely to go? Say if it were a doubles tournament, like last year.
When is it going to be? The trash tournament is pretty much taking up Sunday, and the lit tournament is taking a lot of one night I assume. I imagine it would have to be somewhat short so be fit somewhere.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:19 pm
by Skepticism and Animal Feed
Last year it was the night before Chicago Open. People bitched and moaned that it took way too long, so I was thinking I'd only make it 15/15.

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:24 pm
by Matt Weiner
Bruce wrote:Last year it was the night before Chicago Open. People bitched and moaned that it took way too long, so I was thinking I'd only make it 15/15.
It was full 20/20 packets, though. How about making it tossups-only instead, and using a traditional singles format (seeding rounds of 60-80 tossups followed by one-on-one rounds of 20 tossups)? That will go quicker and will probably be more suited to the one or two person teams, plus it's easier on you.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 3:06 am
by Skepticism and Animal Feed
OK, so I talked to Teitler, and he says that the CO schedule is not yet decided, and that it will be decided depending on "how long they're projected to run, when the people staffing/playing the event can be there, etc."

You people who are interested in playing the History tournament...when would (or could) you play it? You people who are running other CO side events...when are yours scheduled for?

I'd like to do this on Friday night, but it's ultimately up to you guys.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 3:13 am
by ktour84
I'm in provided that it doesn't conflict with the trash tournament or the lit singles.

Kelly

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 3:15 am
by Skepticism and Animal Feed
I imagine the Trash Tournament is on Sunday as is traditional.

That leaves Science, Lit, and History competing for Friday Night, Saturday Night, and Maybe Next Year.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 8:22 am
by Awehrman
I'm glad that this seems to have been picked up. Friday night would work better for me, but Saturday night would be fine. I think 15/15 rounds would work ok, but also wouldn't particularly mind a tossups only fomat. You see, I have strong opinions on these things.