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I think the issue of choosing captains won't be a major one, because, essentially, the captains in this tournament will only have one function: to initially select the teams. However, to ensure this selection is done properly, it would be best to choose players who are reasonably familiar with the game capabilities of most participants.
I didn't quite understand the group stages and their purpose in relation to the idea of this tournament.
Now, specifically. The option hidden in my group stages was taken from a tournament I'm planning for the third game (1*1*1), and there must be 6 in each group. (Yesterday, during a tournament game on Heroes of Might and Magic, my opponent told me that the selection had begun. When we switched to turn-based mode, I quickly went over the topic, so I apologize in advance for the pun.)
1. After thinking about it, I figured that 4 in a group in the initial stage is not too few; no matter how balanced it is, it won't eliminate the element of chance. 8 is already too many, and 7 games "without progress" would be a bit boring, and it would take approximately almost 2 real months.
Furthermore, in standard group formats, there is already an imbalance in the advancement of more or less prepared players. And here, the optimal number is 4 people in a group: 2 are eliminated, and 2 advance, but a fairly strong player may end up in 3rd place by chance, simply because they were unlucky (even though Heroes of Might and Magic resembles chess... colorful and interesting..., but it's not chess). And if we talk about 8 in a group, then only 2 advance... no comment.
2. I remembered the TV show "Weakest Link."
3. I realized that the tournament is a team one and that the game always needs intrigue – that's what I came up with.
....
Let's say there were 24 participants at the start. I'm skipping the distribution. The result is 4 groups I, II, III, IV, each with three participants from the team. Therefore, in the first stage, each has three games with each member of the opposing team in the group. They played. The following table-like result was obtained:
group I
team A team B
1st place 1st place
2nd place 2nd place
3rd place 3rd place
group II
team A team B
1st place 1st place
2nd place 2nd place
3rd place 3rd place
group III
team A team B
1st place 1st place
2nd place 2nd place
3rd place 3rd place
group IV
team A team B
1st place 1st place
2nd place 2nd place
3rd place 3rd place
The third places are eliminated from the tournament. Next: we create 2 groups of 8 people according to the following principle: first, we distribute the first places, then the second. From group I, the first place of team A goes to the first in the new I group, the first place of team B goes to the first place in group II, and so on. This is what will happen (read as: from group... team... who took... place):
I ........................................ II
=A=..........=B=........................=A=...... =B=
1. I A1......1. II B1..................1. II A1.....1. I B1
2. III A1....2.IV B1..................2. IV A1....2.III B1
3. I A2......3. II B2..................3. II A2.....3. I B2
4. III A2....4. IVB2..................4. IV A2....4. III B2
Now, each has 4 games with each member of the opposing team in the group
There are many possible scenarios next.
You can eliminate the fourth places and repeat, starting with the upper scheme (yes... a game within the teams in their group between 3rd and 4th place may be needed)
You can... it's not worth going further for now, until it's accepted (even with changes)
The most interesting thing about this option: 1. It's unclear who your opponent will be in the future – I think this is a great intrigue. 2. A good player won't be eliminated due to a random loss. 4. In the team, there are 2 first and 2 second places, and everyone will have to play against two first and two second places. 3. It will not be possible to "throw" a game to your teammate, as the game is only with members of the opposing team((( I don't understand why I wrote the last one, probably just in case)))
The disadvantage is that it will still take about 2 real months, assuming one week per game.
Thank you for reading, I apologize for my inexperience.
Sincerely, leosnow.