R15 Championship 2012/13: Round 5

[hopeful traveller]

I urge Z1-6! Will enjoy the short commute.

[Sam]

Epping local to you then?

[hopeful traveller]

M25.

[Sam]

I am on the M25 as is Epping as you say. I wouldn't say it is local to me though...

Well, I live near it, I am not literally on it, I am not that mental!!

[tractakid]

Everyone please kindly remove their votes for other options and pick National Rail stations please

[nozzacook]

If all goes well will make this round.

[tractakid]

As far as I can tell 'don't leave the network' will simply create a challenge without imagination, full of double backs, restricting creativity in favour of simply deciding on who wins based on the amount of time people will wait for trains. I feel people are probably voting this way purely as an anti-Andi measure.

[Going Underground]

Just to confirm are we just using 1 x twist being the top voted for one?

[hopeful traveller]

I urge you not to vote for the two envelopes idea. I absolutely hated it last time.

[The Raven]

I quite liked it last time. Would have won it with Peter if he hadn't got the jump on me at Goldshawk Road

[tractakid]

I don't object, but I have already stated my preferred option

[hopeful traveller]

The last time we did two envelopes it lead to probably the dreariest R15 ever, as everyone except Myles and me took the same route. Exactly the same route.

[tractakid]

I can see why that would happen... it's essentially an R7 to begin with- the small number of stations means route planning from the first envelope will likely be simple, meaning that the same route is likely. Following is another R7, in the situation that everyone finishes the first envelope at the same station, the same thing can happen. The only thing that could make this interesting is when there are teams that finish at different stations. Then, it's just a matter of luck whether the station you end up at is more conveniently located to proceed to the second set of stations. I think multiple envelopes might work better with a greater number of stations, perhaps if it became an R21 the increased number of stations to plan for in each station (10) might make variation more likely. Of course, this means the challenge will be longer, but is it worth it? I quite like long challenges, so if this option wins (which is very likely), I would make a suggestion that the number of stations is increased, per the reason above.

Thinking about it more, even perhaps a weighting towards the first envelope might help. 7 stations in the second envelope, but an increase to 10 in the first? This is because the more spread out people become sooner, the more variation there is likely to be.

[Going Underground]

I would like to try the 2 envelopes scenario with having to select 7 from 10 stations in each... The 1st envelope has 8 stations in as the starting point would be included...

[tractakid]

That would work