This is a great format to get started with. Group play and 8 rounds is a good amount.

You’ll be paired with different people on a different game each round.

Get there early and try to get a practice ball or two on the games to get warmed up.

Then have fun! Try and meet new people and just have a good time. The NY crew is great. I met some of them at the 24 hour battle in CT this past year.

Once finals start you’ll be paired with a group again but this time you’ll play 3-4 games and the top two from each group advance until the final 4 where that will be the final round.

Rock Fantasy seasonal opens are tiered Swiss match play. What this means is that you will be playing 8 rounds (so, 8 games) of three or four people together. The exact scores don't matter; you just need to report who got first, second, third, and fourth. The system awards points accordingly. (Swiss means, by the way, that you are going to be grouped with people who have a similar amount of points to you.)

After the eight rounds, there's usually a dinner break. If you made the finals (which will be determined by how many people are in the tournament) then you'll play it out as the poster above said; if you're not in the finals, you can leave, or you can play in the optional B finals, which are head-to-head (so, one person vs another) knockouts. If I remember correctly, Rock Fantasy TDs usually use double-elimination, so if you lose two games in this format, you're out.

What to expect:

- Expect to find yourself on pretty much any game. When the computer tells you where to go and whom you're with, try to find that game and those people as soon as you can. It might be a little hectic as rounds start, especially since this is a new location for Rock Fantasy, but do your best.

- Pay attention to your player order. When the computer assigns your match, it specifies an order. You do NOT want to play out of turn. This disqualifies you for that round and you automatically get last place. (If you do play out of turn, though, don't feel too bad -- it happens to everyone, newbie and veteran alike. It's just something you want to try to be mindful of.)

- Similarly, pay attention to whether you get an extra ball. The house rule for Rock Fantasy in match play is to plunge your extra balls. You can set up your shots - so, for example, you can choose which lane is lit at the top, if the game has that, but, once you plunge, you cannot touch the game. (If you're on Tales of the Arabian Nights and this happens, I would get a TD -- the way that game is set up, someone has to flip for you to make the game register the ball. Just an oddly specific piece of advice.)

- Expect rounds to take some time, especially after the first one. Each round is just one game, but some games tend to go quickly, and some take forever.

- Give active players their space. Don't try to engage in conversation with someone while they're playing, or hover right next to them while they're playing. Some people don't mind this, but some can be VERY competitive and take their bubble while playing VERY seriously. It's more respectful to err on the side of standing politely behind them if you want to watch them play, or chat with the other people waiting to play their turn. (Also, just be aware that some players kick out while playing -- if you need to pass by someone, I would either wait for the ball to end or do it swiftly.)

- When in doubt, grab a TD. If a ball is stuck or something happens with the game that's unexpected (like your ball ends randomly, for example), don't hesitate to grab someone. The people available to make rulings or do basic tech work will be pointed out before the first round; they will be able to help you out. Tournaments tend to be a lot more...stringent? about how to deal with unexpected occurrences than, say, a casual league night.

- Expect to meet new people! This tournament is the first one at the new Rock Fantasy, so a lot of people might be coming from far-flung places (at least throughout the northeast) to come play. The pinball community is a worldwide one, and tournaments bring a ton of different players. Don't be afraid to approach people and strike up a conversation.

That's not the most comprehensive guide, but I tried to think of some pointers. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

You comment reminded me of this one. Make sure if you’re leaving the group to go get a drink or bathroom, let them know where you’re going so they don’t have to look for you. Make sure to keep an eye on your phone and make sure you’re checking often when the next round is posted up so your group isn’t looking for you to start a game. I assume this tournament will be using matchplay.events. I would make an account on your phone now and play around in it a bit.

You are going to want to be there BY one. Registration is technically 12-1 implied, and the eight rounds are scheduled to start at one.

It's hit-or-miss whether the Opens start on time. I've seen it start half an hour late, easily. That said, DO NOT bank on them starting late. Bank on them starting at 1 sharp if you want to be sure you get to participate in all eight rounds.

If you or your friend miss the first round, when you come in, speak to Greg or Howard ASAP. You can come in after missing a round or two. It basically guarantees you won't make A finals, but if you're just there to hang out and have fun, that's fine. They're usually not opposed to letting people in late. (Registration is basically writing your name down on a sheet of paper and paying the entry fee. The TDs will put you into the matchplay system.)

And don't worry too much about pissing people off -- people are usually pretty lenient to newbies. We know it's a lot to take in at first. Howard may have first-timers raise their hands when explaining the rules at the start so that the more experienced players know to be ready with an extra helping hand.

I'm excited to hear how your first tournament goes! And I'm excited for it to be at Rock Fantasy of all places I'm terrible with names/faces, but if you've been coming to the Stern bimonthlies, we've probably met, lol. So...hi!