Spectator Interference

echiang wrote:

Brum wrote:

No need to do anything about it, since spectators can't talk with players.
They can only talk to a Judge.
Those spectators where breaking the Tournament Rules.

Tournament wrote:

A spectator of a game is defined as any person other than a judge or an organizer who is not playing in that game. A player who is ousted from a game is considered a spectator for the remainder of the round. All spectators are expected to remain silent during the course of a game and are not permitted to communicate with players in any way while a game is in progress. Spectators who believe that they have observed rules violations should inform a judge, but they must not interfere with the game. Players have the right to request that any spectator not observe their game. All such requests must be made through a judge, who may grant or deny the request as he or she sees fit. The judge or organizer may choose to prohibit all specatators at any table(s) or round(s) of the tournament.

Well, the problem is that there is the formal rule (no communication from spectators) and what actually happens (there is plenty of communication).

It's kind of like how there are plenty of laws against speeding or jaywalking, yet those are rarely enforced and people largely ignored them. For example:

- You're ousted (and now a spectator). "I have to go, so can you proxy the Coven so I can take my card back?" (Rules violation!)

- "Hey Joe, the rest of us are going for lunch. Do you want us to bring you something?" (Rules violation!)

- "Honey, can I borrow the room key?" (Rules violation!)

Technically, these would all be rules violations. Practically, I have *never* seen someone get sanctioned for any such of these incidents.

Of course those aren't treated as rule violations. It would be ridiculous for a judge to disqualify someone for something like that. Rules should be treated with discretion so that events like this do not occur.

KevinM wrote:

echiang wrote:

Technically, these would all be rules violations. Practically, I have *never* seen someone get sanctioned for any such of these incidents.

What is your suggestion?

I don't have one. Which is why I started the thread, in the hopes that wiser people might be able to provide a good one.

Pointing out that it's already against the rules is true and a good point, but that doesn't solve the problem if in reality minor infractions are happening all the time. Most of the time, the impact is very negligible but the problem is when there is a disproportionate impact (which is more likely if there are only a tense couple of minutes left in the round).

Shoot all violators. Last man, woman, child or dog standing wins.

echiang wrote:

KevinM wrote:

echiang wrote:

Technically, these would all be rules violations. Practically, I have *never* seen someone get sanctioned for any such of these incidents.

What is your suggestion?

I don't have one. Which is why I started the thread, in the hopes that wiser people might be able to provide a good one.

Pointing out that it's already against the rules is true and a good point, but that doesn't solve the problem if in reality minor infractions are happening all the time. Most of the time, the impact is very negligible but the problem is when there is a disproportionate impact (which is more likely if there are only a tense couple of minutes left in the round).

why don't you:
1. time your own table.
2. that way you know how long you have left.
3. pause it and shoo away onlookers as required or fetch judge as you see fit.

Squidalot wrote:

why don't you:
1. time your own table.
2. that way you know how long you have left.
3. pause it and shoo away onlookers as required or fetch judge as you see fit.

I do like this idea. It does make sense for a lot of reasons. I actually ended up doing this for the storyline tournament (though mainly for practical reasons since I was also playing in the tournament).

However, I can also see that some judges/organizers would prefer there to be an official clock. Having every table on a slightly different timer could be a logistical nightmare for large tournaments. It could also create timing issues for the next round (what do you mean your entire table agreed to take a 30 minute break? that's going to hold everything up!).

Squidalot wrote:

echiang wrote:

KevinM wrote:

echiang wrote:

Technically, these would all be rules violations. Practically, I have *never* seen someone get sanctioned for any such of these incidents.

What is your suggestion?

I don't have one. Which is why I started the thread, in the hopes that wiser people might be able to provide a good one.

Pointing out that it's already against the rules is true and a good point, but that doesn't solve the problem if in reality minor infractions are happening all the time. Most of the time, the impact is very negligible but the problem is when there is a disproportionate impact (which is more likely if there are only a tense couple of minutes left in the round).

why don't you:
1. time your own table.
2. that way you know how long you have left.
3. pause it and shoo away onlookers as required or fetch judge as you see fit.

I might have misread the initial post, but it seems to me like this is exactly what he did.

EDIT: Oh, I'm sorry, I misunderstood. You mean for everyone to do this as a rule. In that case, exactly what echiang said before me.