Rounds 3 and 4?

[Diplomat]

Just opening up a topic for discussion as to when the next rounds will start.

Do we start early, then play through the holidays? Start later, say in January, and avoid the problem? Start sooner and then change tempo (Radishes and I can do that) during the game so that the game provides set times off (ie no moves or advancement from 12/20 to 1/2 for instance) that everyone agrees to?

What do you guys think?

[Master Radishes]

Well first of all, we need to wait for Samarkand. And he mentioned to me that things are busy in real life, and he may have to even leave the site for a bit. (He hasn't been around much lately, has he?) So rounds 3 and 4 may be on hold till he finds time to get back.

[mdmuff]

A break over the holidays would be ideal I think... I know I would prefer it.

[Diplomat]

Blah blah blah. You can run this tournament can't you MR?

[Master Radishes]

Sure I could. But I'd need Samarkand's lists and stuff, plus a replacement for my spot.

But I think most people would echo mdmuff, and prefer a break over the holidays anyway. I suppose we could start it soon and just extend the deadlines like you suggested to give that break (and hey, if I was running it, no problem about me seeing the games and doing that), although the last three round 1 and 2 games haven't finished yet...

[22.rhathaway]

I would prefer to wait until January to start. By the time we would get things started now it would be just about time to take a break for the holidays. You figure at least another 2 weeks before the current games are done and then another week to get things set up and started and we only get to play 3/4 years before the holidays.

I think it would be better to just wait. Get the games set up so that January 4/5 we can get them started right away.

[Diplomat]

I am flexible and of course it does mean we wait for Samarkand.

However, if he does not return for some reason I would be willing to step out and take over and allow someone to take my spot, just so we can continue.

[bitwise]

I'm in favor of a January start too.

[Spitfire]

It may well be a Jan start, or close to it, since the original "rules" said that we wait for all the other games to finish first...

[Master Radishes]

Of the three remaining games, if they all go the distance to 1915, the last one to reach the end would be Viking. By my very brief, very rough calculations, if Viking does go till 1915 with weekends off, no finalization of orders, and all possible retreat phases necessary...it should finish around mid-late December, possibly the 22nd or so, only a few days before Christmas.

So if it DOES take till then, and we have to wait for all games to finish, then yeah, waiting till January is just a smart idea.