New 4hr DC League Format

[Steel Lugnuts]

While at first I was in favor of the new 4hr timer with the clock pausing overnight, but I've noticed these drafts can take longer than the previous 8-hr drafts. My current league we are 1/2 way and on a pace of almost 4-weeks.

We have an owner who always seems to be on the clock about 2-hrs before the clock pauses, then doesn't pick until the next morning with 20 min left on the clock, so instead of him taking the full 8hrs or so, he's taking almost 12hrs to make a pick.

I also wonder if some owners don't think they can make a pick with the clock paused.

I wouldn't mind seeing the 8-hr option brought back, and maybe the 4-hr without the clock pausing (as much as I travel, I probably wouldn't take this option, but I'm sure many would).

[Steel Lugnuts]

Well, this drafter is now going to take the full 4-hrs on this next pick, so a total of 16hrs for two picks...so basically, it's the same as him taking the full 8hrs for both rounds if this were an 8-hr draft. Six of one, 1/2 dozen of the other I suppose...a bad apple or two will ruin any slow draft.

Greg/Tom, go ahead and delete this thread if you want, I'll be sending an email soon.

[Deadheadz]

I’m in a 4-hour Cutline where the same thing happens occasionally. Started Feb 12 now in round 35. Roughly 30 picks per day.

I try to give the benefit of the doubt in case someone is in a time zone where they’d be in bed for the night already when the clock still runs prior to the overnight pause. But if you see your pick is going to come up soon and you have to get your sleep, it’s the perfect time to use the Auto-1 function.

But we still have a lot of owners who will be on deck for 1+ hours and refuse to set Auto-1 and then leave the draft room.

Is it too much to ask you to know which player you’ll want as a backup in case you get sniped?

[Gekko]

Even if everyone only took 1 hour to make a pick, only 1 round a day would get completed. Is it any wonder that some 4 hour leagues are taking a while? 2 hour leagues will be the standard soon enough. The only people left for 4 hour leagues will be the folks who don’t mind a 3-4 week draft. Fine with me.

[Money]

At this point it's all about expectations. I'm doing one 2 hour draft as prep. The guy on the turn burns 4 hours at the 6/7 turn and it feel like an eternity. It almost feels the same as the guy who burnt 16 hours during the 8 hour draft. I signed up expecting 4 rounds per day and it will probably be close. I should be happy, but the delay's that occur for inattention on a Saturday at the turn are tough to take.

Everyone uses these slow drafts for different reasons. I love this part of the season (kind of) but can't wait to get to the real deal. It's all part of the process for some of us.