Game Table Manager

Comprehensive User Manual

Learn how to effectively manage game tables, players, and tournaments

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Game Modes Explained

The Game Table Manager offers four different assignment modes. Each uses a different algorithm to assign players to tables.

R

Random Mode

Completely random player assignment

How it works: Players are randomly distributed across tables while respecting player pairs and table size limits. No consideration is given to skill levels or previous interactions.

Advantages

  • Fastest assignment method
  • Completely unpredictable pairings
  • Simple to understand

Limitations

  • May create unbalanced tables
  • Doesn't prevent repeat matchups

Best for: Casual play and icebreaker sessions.

S

Social Ranked Mode

Balanced competitive play with social considerations

How it works: This sophisticated mode:

  1. Groups players by skill level into buckets
  2. Preserves player pairs throughout assignments
  3. Minimizes repeat player interactions
  4. Balances tables by skill level
  5. Groups top performers together in later rounds

The algorithm uses a penalty system to avoid undesirable assignments:

  • High penalty for putting players together who played in the previous round
  • Penalty for any previous interactions
  • Penalty for skill imbalance within tables
  • Extreme penalty for separating top players in the final round

Advantages

  • Most balanced competitive experience
  • Minimizes repeat interactions
  • Preserves player relationships
  • Creates exciting final rounds

Limitations

  • More complex calculations
  • Slightly slower assignment

Best for: Competitive tournaments where balanced play is important.

T

Ranked Mode

Pure skill-based competitive matching

How it works:

  1. Players are strictly sorted by their current scores (highest to lowest)
  2. Player pairs are preserved
  3. The system fills tables in order:
    • Table 1: Top-ranked players
    • Table 2: Next group of players
    • Continues until all players are assigned

Advantages

  • Clear skill-based groupings
  • Top players compete against each other
  • Simple to understand rankings

Limitations

  • Can create unbalanced games at lower tables
  • Less variety in matchups
  • Lower-ranked players may feel discouraged

Best for: Competitive leagues and skill-based tournaments.

RR

Round Robin Mode

Systematic rotation ensuring everyone plays together

How it works:

  1. Creates a round-robin schedule where each player plays with every other player exactly once
  2. Player pairs are preserved throughout the tournament
  3. Number of rounds is mathematically determined based on player count
  4. Uses a fixed rotation pattern to ensure fair distribution

Advantages

  • Maximum player interaction variety
  • Mathematically fair distribution
  • Predictable round count

Limitations

  • Long tournaments with many players
  • Less flexibility for player changes

Best for: Small groups where social interaction is the priority.

Setup Options

Player Names

Enter one player per line. To pair players (e.g. couples), use format: Player1 & Player2

Tables

Number of game tables available. The application will distribute players accordingly.

Seats per Table

Maximum players per table. Determines player density at each table.

Games per Table

Number of simultaneous games at each table. Affects how players are grouped within tables.

Timer Minutes

Duration for each round in minutes. Timer appears during gameplay.

Balance Games

When enabled, attempts to redistribute players to remove small tables

Overflow Handling

How to handle extra players beyond table capacity:

  • Add to Tables: Distributes extra players across tables
  • Generate Tables: Creates additional tables

Game Play Controls

Shuffle Tables

Randomly reassigns players to different tables while maintaining your configuration settings.

Next Round

Advances to the next round of the tournament. New assignments are generated based on selected mode.

Final Scores

Ends the tournament and shows the leaderboard with final rankings.

Edit List

Allows modification of player list during the tournament. Useful when players join or leave midway.

Start Timer

Begins the countdown timer for the current round. Appears in top-right corner when active.

Move Players

Enables manual movement of players between tables:

  1. Click "Move" to enter move mode
  2. Select a player to move
  3. Click on destination table
  4. Click "Done" when finished

Add Table

Creates a new table during move mode. Only appears when "Move" is active.

Assign Players

Buttons on each table for manually assigning placements in games within a table.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Function Description
Shift + D + B Toggle Debug Mode Shows additional scoring information
Shift + D + M Toggle Interaction Matrix Shows player interaction history
Space Start/Pause Timer During gameplay screen

Note: Shortcuts must be entered quickly in sequence, not held simultaneously.

Tournament Progression

Starting a Tournament

Configure settings, enter players, and click "Start" to begin round 1.

Between Rounds

After each round:

  1. Assign placements at each table
  2. Click "Next Round" to generate new assignments

Completing a Tournament

After the final round, click "Final Scores" to see the leaderboard with overall rankings.

New Tournaments

Options after completion:

  • Play Again: Restarts with same players/settings
  • New Game: Returns to setup screen

Recommendations

Casual Game Night

Use Random mode with 3-4 rounds for maximum variety and social interaction.

Competitive Tournament

Social Ranked mode with 4-5 rounds provides the most balanced competitive experience.

League Play

Ranked mode works best for ongoing leagues with clear skill rankings.

Small Group (6-12 players)

Round Robin mode ensures everyone plays together at least once.