I did not know this.
But it seems that archon does not care about having people play at least one 5 player game.
I just played with 9 and I got to play all 3 games with 4 players. 2 players played all 3 games on 5 player tables.
Can this please be fixed to guarantee that at least everyone gets to play at least one 5 player game?
Reasons for the seatings are provided in the archon file:
Optimal Seating Criteria, with additional previously-unformalized criteria included:
1. No pair of players repeat their predator-prey relationship. This is mandatory, by the VEKN rules.
2. No pair of players share a table through all two rounds, when possible. (N/A in some 2R event.)
3. Available VPs are equitably distributed.
4. No pair of players share a table more often than necessary.
5. A player doesn't sit in the fifth seat more than once.
6. No pair of players repeat the same relative position[], when possible.
7. A player doesn't play in the same seat position, if possible.
8. Starting transfers are equitably distributed. [NOAL]
9. No pair of players repeat the same relative position group[^], when possible.
[] "relative position" relationship values:
A) prey
B) predator
C) cross-table at a 4-player
D) grand-prey at a 5
E) grand-predator at a 5
Note that repeating A and repeating B is already handled (prohibited) by criterion #1.
[^] "relative position group" values:
i) Adjacent (prey or predator)
ii) Not adjacent
I suppose that another seating (one where player X would have played at least a 5 players game) would break rule 1.
Prince of Paris, France
Ratings Coordinator, Rules Director