New event idea: 20 moves

EO might be worth it as a first step since unsolved edges at the top layer will at least be oriented and count as one point:

Scramble: L' B2 F2 U2 L' B2 L2 R B2 L2 F2 U' R F2 R B D2 L' U2 B' U2
B R2 L' F // EO
B2 // DB
L2 U L2 // Block
R U F2 // DF
L' U2 L // Pair
R U2 R // Edges
alg.cubing.net

17 moves, 43 stickers
 
I count 44 :)

Not counting centers, it's 38.

Are centres counted? Aren't they the point of reference for other stickers?

An interesting variant might be to aim for the lowest possible score.

I'm guessing that centers aren't counted. That's how I judge my solves, anyhow.

Has anyone found some decent strategies yet? I tried 20 moves a few times but got a bit bored because I don't really know how to improve :p

I usually build a 2x2x3 block, which usually requires less than or equal to 10 moves, then I see if I can finish F2L-1 along with several corners in 10 moves. If not, I just try to solve corner-edge pairs and finish some LL corners. When I finish my attempt, I usually end up with 6 corners solved and a bunch of edges solved or oriented relative to a center. Example with 40 stickers solved (not including centers): here.

The first time I tried 20 moves, I went with a Waterman-esque approach, building an FL-1 and seeing if the FL could be finished in 3 moves. Then I moved onto CLL, and I used an 8-move commutator to finish up some of the remaining corners.
 
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First ever attempt: 33 stickers (excluding centers)! I used a corners-first-style solve.
Here's the solve.

Scramble: B' L' B R B' F2 L2 R2 D' F L2 B' D U' B2 F' D2 U2 F' U'
2x2: z2 U2 R' U B' L' D R' B' R (9 moves! wow!)
Edges: x2 M' F' M' B' M B' E B2 E' (9 moves. I didn't use the last two.)

If I have to use the last two moves, add a U U' to that solve.
 
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First ever attempt: 33 stickers (excluding centers)! I used a corners-first-style solve.
Here's the solve.

Scramble: B' L' B R B' F2 L2 R2 D' F L2 B' D U' B2 F' D2 U2 F' U'
2x2: x2 y2 U2 R' U B' L' D R' B' R (9 moves! wow!)
Edges: x2 M' F' M' B' M B' E B2 E' (9 moves. I didn't use the last two.)

If I have to use the last two moves, add a U U' to that solve.
The metric used stated in the OP is OBTM, so slice moves count as 2 moves rather than one.

(also x2 y2 = z2, if you want to know, but that's not important :p)
 
The metric used stated in the OP is OBTM, so slice moves count as 2 moves rather than one.

I spent a literal 1-2 hours on that solve. Can this one solve count? :'(

Also, if slice moves count 2 moves, then my corners-first method I used will do down the drain. 50% of turns past the 2x2 stage are slice turns.
 
I spent a literal 1-2 hours on that solve. Can this one solve count? :'(

Also, if slice moves count 2 moves, then my corners-first method I used will do down the drain. 50% of turns past the 2x2 stage are slice turns.

I suggest using a hybrid method (Roux? Waterman?) if you want to use CF. Solve corners and edges at the same time.
 
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I suggest using a hybrid method (Roux? Waterman?) if you want to use CF. Solve corners and edges at the same time.

On my last competition, I tried FMC just for the experience. 63 moves, last place (Petrus method). I guess that's what you get for doing literally one FMC solve ever before the comp.
 
I've been contemplating the 20-move event with a scoring system similar to the card-game Bridge. Here's what I cam up with so far:
A sticker is consider solved if it matches the center face color. 2 points for each corner sticker that matches the center face color. 3 points for each edge sticker that matches the center face color. Thus each sub-cube has a total point contribution of 6 points. For placing and orienting all 20 sub-cubes, 120 points.

for each unused move +4 points. As a tie-breaker, and a consideration of the quarter-turn metric, count the number of double faceturns (U2, F2, D2, etc.), and subtract one point for each two double faceturns submitted. Here is the table for this:

double face turns | penalty
0 | 0
1 | 0
2 | -1
3 | -1
4 | -2
5 | -2
6 | -3
7 | -3
...

I additionally feel that this should be a speed-type event. Thus, for instance, each contestant is given five scrambles, and each contestant has one hour to submit the best partial solution to all five scrambles on the 20-move budget. The total points of all five partial (or even complete :-) scrambles is then compared across all contestants in the event.
 
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