See, I told you it was confusing...  

Fee Structure:

Due to a mistake by the treasurer last season the league started out in the negative this season.  The treasurer forgot to include the cost of food which is provided by the league for playoffs before he handed out the cash prizes for the A and B division.  So unfortunately this year we are requiring that people pay an additional $5 on top of the usual $5 host fee in order to pay for food.

As for participating in the playoffs.

For members who have paid their season fee's (That's the $30 each season) The playoffs are included but you will still need to bring $10 for the Food/Host fee ($5/$5)

For any member who has previously paid the $30 season fee but has not paid it this season and would like to participate in the playoffs the cost is $20 plus the $10 for the Food/Host Fee

For anyone else who would like to participate and has never paid the $30 season fee (Paying for the playoffs does not count as paying the season fee) the cost to enter the playoffs is $30 plus the $10 for food/host fee.  

Also of note is that any person who would like to participate in the playoffs and has not played in the minimum 5 weeks per season required to get a valid % you will automatically be slotted into the A division.  

Wayne as for how long it takes, because you have only attended 1 week this season you will be slotted into the A division.  Typically depending on the number of players, to get right down to the final, it takes about 5 - 7 hours.  So if you want to try and make it all the way to the final match you should allot yourself that much time.  

Quoted from Vengeance

Also of note is that any person who would like to participate in the playoffs and has not played in the minimum 5 weeks per season required to get a valid % you will automatically be slotted into the A division.  

So hows does that work then?  Because I'm far, FAR from an A-division player... does that mean I'm kinda wasting my money at that point?  Or would I slowly be moved down to a more suitable division throughout the night?

Just curious, I've never been to a tournament other than the CPC's

**edit** I don't mean "wasting", per se.. as I'd hardly consider hours and hours of pinball, mingling and food a waste of money.. but you know what I mean.

Quoted from Vengeance

... because you have only attended 1 week this season you will be slotted into the A division.  

Ha! Wayne, don't forget to bring a surgical mask, scarf or whatever or you'll be eating my A-list dust! Hey, you never know, maybe I'll be playing you in the finals!

Quoted from machine.slave

So hows does that work then?  Because I'm far, FAR from an A-division player... does that mean I'm kinda wasting my money at that point?

Hardly! Aside from Charles or Zeus, A-division could probably be consider B+ division. You'll do juuuuust fine! Hey, maybe I'll be playing you in the finals!

Quoted from machine.slave

So hows does that work then?  Because I'm far, FAR from an A-division player... does that mean I'm kinda wasting my money at that point?  Or would I slowly be moved down to a more suitable division throughout the night?

Just curious, I've never been to a tournament other than the CPC's

**edit** I don't mean "wasting", per se.. as I'd hardly consider hours and hours of pinball, mingling and food a waste of money.. but you know what I mean.

TOPL provides a B division for our lesser skilled players but in order to participate in the B division a player needs to have a valid percentage.  

TOPL use a percentage calculation to identify a players skill level.  We require a player to show up for a minimum of 5 weeks over our 15 week season in order to obtain a valid %.  The percentage is calculated by how many points you achieved in the 5 weeks you have come out to league.

So as an example, the maximum point value any one person can get at a league night is 16 and the lowest point value is 4.  If a person were to come out to 5 weeks and get 16 each week there percentage would be 100%.  Same as if they came out the 5 weeks and only got 4 points each week their percentage would be 0.  

Example:

Brock if you came out to 5 weeks at TOPL and received the following scores: 5, 11, 14, 10 and 7 your percentage would be 41.7%

TOPL treats the B division as a nice to have.  We use it as a division that our lesser skilled members can face off against each other so they aren't forced into competing in a division that they never have a chance in winning.  TOPL doesn't feel that it is necessary to accommodate players who aren't willing to put the effort into the league and make it out for the required 5 weeks in order to be eligible for the B division.  

As for not wanting to waste your money, I understand where you are coming from but you can come out and just spectate if you don't want to participate in the playoffs.  You would only then be responsible for the $10 host/food fee.  

Just want to note that anyone can win the playoffs at any time, it's pinball anything can happen.  I know 2 or 3 seasons ago MonkeyBug came out and ended up in 3rd place which got him a cash prize, I don't remember the value but it at least paid for his entry and then some I think.  So anyone can make it into the prize money.  It's also a double elimination tournament so you are at minimum guaranteed two rounds of tournament play.  

Quoted from OTTOgd

Hardly! Aside from Charles or Zeus, A-division could probably be consider B+ division. You'll do juuuuust fine! Hey, maybe I'll be playing you in the finals!

Yea that Sean O'Neil guy (NONESOVILLE here) he is nothing to worry about either

Quoted from Vengeance

Yea that Sean O'Neil guy (NONESOVILLE here) he is nothing to worry about either

Hmmmm, you're right. I wasn't aware of that. Sean might make taking home the trophy slightly more difficult.

Anyone have Tonya Harding's number?

The more confusing part of the fee structure for me is the one about people who pay their membership fees on a TOPL night by TOPL night basis.  They have to pay the full $30 on top of past fees (or $20 if they paid out a whole season once - like I did once.)

My understanding is that relative "newcomers" are seeded into "A" in order not to allow a ringer to monopolize the "B" division (which gives members with a good attendance record but lousy scores a chance at a trophy).  I understand the need to "recruit" new members by allowing them into the tournment rather than excluding them, it just all seems so complex. It's one of the reasons why I (and some other casual players) have given competitive tournaments a pass.

I also thought that we voted last year to include the last 5 games played in any season into the qualifications and most improved status, but that was also a bit complex so I lost track of the status (and it doesn't really matter to me that much, I liked playing with Sean, one can learn a lot by watching a humble master at work!).

My question was, on average, if a lousy player (like me) gets seeded into the "A" division, on average, how long can they expect to play if they're not lucky?  I reminded a friend of mine that if one tires of the tourney and wants to go home, you just have to start losing on purpose....  

Quoted from Vengeance

... but you can come out and just spectate if you don't want to participate in the playoffs.  You would only then be responsible for the $10 host/food fee.    

Theoretically, if you jsut came out to spectate and not play you'd only be responsible for $5 food fee right?  If the tourney were at a pay per play location only players put their loonies into the machines when they play, right?    (I like to test Vengance on TOPL rule interpretation ... it's a kind of sport.)

Quoted from websherpa

The more confusing part of the fee structure for me is the one about people who pay their membership fees on a TOPL night by TOPL night basis.  They have to pay the full $30 on top of past fees (or $20 if they paid out a whole season once - like I did once.)

My understanding is that relative "newcomers" are seeded into "A" in order not to allow a ringer to monopolize the "B" division (which gives members with a good attendance record but lousy scores a chance at a trophy).  I understand the need to "recruit" new members by allowing them into the tournment rather than excluding them, it just all seems so complex. It's one of the reasons why I (and some other casual players) have given competitive tournaments a pass.

I also thought that we voted last year to include the last 5 games played in any season into the qualifications and most improved status, but that was also a bit complex so I lost track of the status (and it doesn't really matter to me that much, I liked playing with Sean, one can learn a lot by watching a humble master at work!).

My question was, on average, if a lousy player (like me) gets seeded into the "A" division, on average, how long can they expect to play if they're not lucky?  I reminded a friend of mine that if one tires of the tourney and wants to go home, you just have to start losing on purpose....  

I would think something like 3 rounds (maybe 4 if you are on a good run .. I got knocked out two straight last playoff) .. probably a couple of hours or so but at Nick's it's not tough to find a machince so they're won't be much waiting unless you are only willing to play a very specific play list)

Quoted from websherpa

The more confusing part of the fee structure for me is the one about people who pay their membership fees on a TOPL night by TOPL night basis.  They have to pay the full $30 on top of past fees (or $20 if they paid out a whole season once - like I did once.)

It's not really all that confusing once you understand it.

The $2 fee is for players who don't think they are going to make it out for many league nights.  So rather then forcing someone who only wants to come out to one or two night to pay $30 they can only pay $2 for each night.  But yes that $2 does not contribute to the cost of participating in the playoffs.

What I usually tell members is this.  If they plan to play in the playoffs and are planning to show up for more then 5 nights then pay the $30 as it's going to cost them more if they don't.  

If you have previously paid the $30 and want to play in playoffs but are only going to be out one or two nights pay the $2 as you would have to make it out for at minimum 5 nights before you ended up paying the total $30 anyway.  

Quoted from WebSherpa

My understanding is that relative "newcomers" are seeded into "A" in order not to allow a ringer to monopolize the "B" division (which gives members with a good attendance record but lousy scores a chance at a trophy).  I understand the need to "recruit" new members by allowing them into the tournment rather than excluding them, it just all seems so complex. It's one of the reasons why I (and some other casual players) have given competitive tournaments a pass.

That is one of the reasons yes, the other thing is in order for TOPL to be eligible for WPR points the Tournament has the be considered open.  so that means that anyone can participate regardless of if they have never come out before or are a long time member, the A division needs to open to everyone

Quoted from WebSherpa

I also thought that we voted last year to include the last 5 games played in any season into the qualifications and most improved status, but that was also a bit complex so I lost track of the status (and it doesn't really matter to me that much, I liked playing with Sean, one can learn a lot by watching a humble master at work!).

That was discussed recently and it's been decided that it becomes too much of an administration headache to accommodate players by keeping track of all their previous league nights.  Also as I said the B division is a nice to have, as an example if we didn't have enough players to support a B division, the B division wouldn't happen.  Also like I said previously we also don't feel it's necessary to accommodate every Tom, private and Harry off the street and offer them an opportunity to play in the B division, we have the B division so that people who are willing to put the effort into the league are given a chance to win something.  Considering 5 weeks is only 33.3% of the entire season I don't think it's that unreasonable of a request that if you want to participate in the B division you make it out for 5 weeks.  Every league night is open to anyone, there are no restrictions on attendance anywhere and anyone is welcome to come out at any time.  So if you want to play in the B Division make the effort and come out for 5 weeks, that's all.  

Quoted from websherpa

My question was, on average, if a lousy player (like me) gets seeded into the "A" division, on average, how long can they expect to play if they're not lucky?  I reminded a friend of mine that if one tires of the tourney and wants to go home, you just have to start losing on purpose....  

Hypothetically speaking if a person were to go out in in their first two rounds they would most likely be done within an hour to an 1hour 1/2