Entering my first tounament and I'm not sure about what to do

[Cake>Pi]

I'll be attending the Hamilton Hysteria tournament and it will be my first. I'm super excited but the only problem is that I'm not too sure how to prepare myself. I've already learned all of the basic techniques (Wavedash, Wavelanding, L-Cancels etc.) I'm just wondering if there's anything else I should know. I'm a Fox main if that helps, I also sorta play Marth and a little bit of Bowser.

Also, because this is my first tournament I'm wondering if I should bring some friends along to hang out with since I don't know anyone. Btw none of them play Smash so they would just be there to watch.

I've checked the Apex Ruleset because that's what the tournament is using and I'm still a little confused about stage banning. Like when I lose and my opponent gets to ban a stage and if I wanted to switch characters, do I switch before or after he bans a stage?

If anyone could give me some dos and don'ts for attending your first tournament those would be super helpful.

Could anyone share any stories about their first tournament? That way I could sorta see whats coming my way

 

[Signia]

Play bowser, they'll never see it coming

 

[Krynxe]

Honestly, you don't need to psyche yourself out about how good you are - just know that you probably aren't going to be winning, and you should be there with the mindset to meet new people and learn about the game rather than to win all the time. You'll enjoy yourself a lot more, especially since it an be demotivating to not win a single match (which happens to practically every new player here in my area, but that's different place to place).

As for friends that don't play smash, I'd say not to bring them unless you really want them there. What will happen with friends is that instead of meeting and hanging out with new people, and playing smash with several different people, you'll find yourself playing far less and then retreating back to your friend group instead of putting yourself out there. In general, the smash community is incredibly friendly and there's not really any reason to worry about communicating with new people - you might even find someone who lives close to you that you can meet up and play with!

In any match you start with stage striking, where there's 5 neutral stages (FD, BF, YI, FoD, DL). The person who goes first, usually picked by rock-paper-scissors, strikes one. Then the next person strikes two, and then the first person pick between the last remaining two. That's where the first match is played, with the regular 8-minute and 4-stock rules. When that match ends, in a best of 3 match, the loser gets to choose one stage they don't want to go to from the above five + pokemon stadium, and then the winner gets to pick one of the five remaining stages to play the second match on. After the stage is decided, the winner has to choose their character or confirm that they're staying, and then the loser gets to decide their character. You play the match, and repeat the same process as match 2 if it goes to a third match.

hope that helps, i'll leave other people to tell stories since I can't remembers

 

[Cinnamon bun]

When is the Hamilton Hysteria tournament where did you hear about it give me all the info if its in Hamilton i will go forsure please give me all the links and stuff i need to join!

 

[Cake>Pi]

Honestly, you don't need to psyche yourself out about how good you are - just know that you probably aren't going to be winning, and you should be there with the mindset to meet new people and learn about the game rather than to win all the time. You'll enjoy yourself a lot more, especially since it an be demotivating to not win a single match (which happens to practically every new player here in my area, but that's different place to place).

As for friends that don't play smash, I'd say not to bring them unless you really want them there. What will happen with friends is that instead of meeting and hanging out with new people, and playing smash with several different people, you'll find yourself playing far less and then retreating back to your friend group instead of putting yourself out there. In general, the smash community is incredibly friendly and there's not really any reason to worry about communicating with new people - you might even find someone who lives close to you that you can meet up and play with!

In any match you start with stage striking, where there's 5 neutral stages (FD, BF, YI, FoD, DL). The person who goes first, usually picked by rock-paper-scissors, strikes one. Then the next person strikes two, and then the first person pick between the last remaining two. That's where the first match is played, with the regular 8-minute and 4-stock rules. When that match ends, in a best of 3 match, the loser gets to choose one stage they don't want to go to from the above five + pokemon stadium, and then the winner gets to pick one of the five remaining stages to play the second match on. After the stage is decided, the winner has to choose their character or confirm that they're staying, and then the loser gets to decide their character. You play the match, and repeat the same process as match 2 if it goes to a third match.

hope that helps, i'll leave other people to tell stories since I can't remembers

Thank you so much, this post helps alot!

 

[Cake>Pi]

When is the Hamilton Hysteria tournament where did you hear about it give me all the info if its in Hamilton i will go forsure please give me all the links and stuff i need to join!

Here is the link to the thread about the tournament: http://smashboards.com/threads/apr-...weon-x-hamilton-ontario.343091/#post-16300580

I really hope to see you there! Hopefully we can play some friendlies before the tourney starts up!

 

[Cinnamon bun]

I will give you my two cents about going to your first tournament bring snacks bring water bring music to get you pumped and if you dont do as well as you wanted let that be motivation to become even greater

 

[KirbyKaze]

Remember the three rules:

1) Character beats character with move
2) Do stuff, win
3) Don't flail

 

[Cake>Pi]

Remember the three rules:

1) Character beats character with move
2) Do stuff, win
3) Don't flail

Thank you KirbyKaze, I've heard that you live in the GTA so will you be attending? That would be super cool!

 

[MVP]

win. period.