Will be in same format as usual ie last year with a semi competitive mode. It's really more friendly than competitive except "competitive" means we are keeping scores from round to round - but not "competitive" as in our previous Power Grid tournament. 
There won't be free open gaming and we do expect the gamers to sit thru all sessions - since if one or two gamers opted out of a game, it unbalances the player number and other planning. Which affects the experience for other gamers.
After8 is as usual free-as-you-go. Participants do not need even have to do any gaming if they are already exhausted after the days' gaming. 
Cool, good to know he's joining.
Anyway, I know this will be finalized when the date draws nearer, but what's the gaming format like? I'm assuming it's contest oriented like the previous retreat, and not free/open gaming (i.e. you can come and go as you please, except for after 8pm session), right?
- Damien