[FSPA] League questions - player opinions wanted

[Jules McLaugh]

I am throwing in my two cents from the infrequent or bad player position. I
don't care about the ladders because I don't really expect to climb them
significantly. As long as I am usually grouped with a group of people that
aren't going to wipe the floor with me, I'm good. I think it is fun to have
a mix of player skills in the beginning because I have learned a lot from
the really good players.

I play because it is fun and to give myself a break from a stressful job.
That said, I liked the drop 2 format because I don't want to cause a
problem (or get a bunch of shit) if I can't make it for one or two weeks. I
think there are others like me who aren't looking to embrace major
commitments and want to enjoy it. Other than that, I'll leave it to you
guys to figure out how you want the format set up to make the majority of
people happy.

Speaking of location, consider whether there can be two smaller groups in a
league rather than the location having 60 people. (Either the same night or
different nights.) Maybe all the pinballers from the mid to the top of the
ladder are in one group and the other group is the bottom to mid of the
ladder. People could move up in future seasons. Having smaller groups with
people you play more often might lead to more socializing, which could lead
to stronger leagues. I'm sure this idea brings up a whole batch of problems
but I figured I would toss it out there.

For the party, is it feasible to consider having it at someplace like
Reclaim Arcade in Fredericksburg? It would be a different group of games
and might motivate people to go. It is out of town, but people travel for
pinball all the time, and the party is optional. Reclaim would probably
love to have the business, but if you needed to rent it out, maybe the
end-of-season party fee can go towards the rental fee. They sell food,
beer, and wine and I wouldn't care if I had to buy my own food and drink.
(2324 PLANK RD FREDERICKSBURG VA 22401)
https://reclaimarcade.com/

On Thu, May 9, 2024 at 11:36 AM Dave Hubbard via FSPA <fspa at fspazone.org>
wrote:

> On Thu, May 9, 2024 at 10:41 AM Sergio Johnson <lostinthezone at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the feedback Dave and everyone else who has sent me direct
>> emails. Not a ton of responses though so far, so please keep the opinions
>> coming or it will be assumed that most of you are perfectly fine with the
>> way things are going… :)
>>
>
> Bad assumption.  You can't assume that a non-response is a positive one.
> Many people don't even know this mailing list exists.
>
>
>> In regards to the party, a lot of the feedback so far is that a
>> commercial location doesn’t have the draw that a home party does.
>> Understandable, however one of the goals for the party as originally
>> designed was to give people a chance to meet others from different leagues.
>> Is it better to have a smaller home party with people you know already or a
>> commercial location where you have larger capacity but are seeing the same
>> ole games you may have played in league?
>>
>
> I'd say it's time to revisit the party goals.  Those of us that are still
> active in competitive pinball see plenty of people as we attend area
> tournaments.  Mixing with others in the DMV pinball scene isn't a problem,
> if that's what you desire.  The parties were a good way to mix 20 years ago
> when there wasn't much of a competitive scene, but we're not living in that
> world now.
>
>
>> @dave I’m intrigued by your comment about attending when the party is
>> “interesting” again. Can you expand on that? What would make it interesting
>> to you?
>>
>
> Anything that doesn't amount to just "hang out at a bar that I can go to
> any time I want."  Now that Spinners is temporarily down, I 100% guarantee
> that the "party" will just be hanging out at either Carpool or MSB for an
> afternoon, and it's been this way for years, just cycling between the same
> public locations.  Yawn.  If this is what people want, fine, I'm just one
> person. Give me an opt-out please.
>
>        --- Dave
>
>
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