Who will be doing the global 1940 tournament?
Do you mean running the event? That would be me. And it is not 1940. It is G42. There will be G40 events, just not a tournament…
Gregory J. Smorey
Event Organizer/GM - GEN CON/Origins/Spring Gathering
www.headlesshorseman2.com
“The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself” - MacArthur
Greetings AA Gamers/Dave,
Just wanted to thank everyone that came out and made the Spring Gathering
another great big success especially those that traveled across country to
the event.
I also would like to again, thank all the sponsors: WotC/AH, Larry Harris,
12-7 Games, HBG.com, Art of War, Craig Yope, FMG, GameTableOnline, and last
but NOT least, Axis & Allies.org. No way the SG would make it without your
continued support.
I am still in the process of uploading pictures, so if anyone has any they
would like to send along that already has not done so, please feel free to
do so.
Now, onto Origins. An Update will be coming soon.
Peace,
Gregory J. Smorey :-D
Axis & Allies Event Organizer/GM - GEN CON/Origins/Spring Gathering
www.headlesshorseman2.com
“The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself” - MacArthur
You know, if is funny, we get back from a fantastic CON.� Things went almost flawless.� Had great discussions about how to possibly make things better for the future, etc.� Chess clocks, time, rounds etc. In every single case where we discussed the events in length, we had civil discussions because those talking about whatever the topic was, understood first hand what we being discussed.�
And I know that some of you have been to GEN CON and have experienced events first hand.� But I am not sure why there is so much negativety when it comes to the discussion on the boards vs. when one talks about it FTF.� Again, I believe MM might have said it somewhere bad in a thread long ago, it sure is nice to hide behind the screen of your computer when one really doesn’t know understand the concept of what is being discussed? :mrgreen:
I’m going to be very blunt/honest/direct here. But hear me out.
it sure is nice to hide behind the screen of your computer
This is exactly the problem Smo, you hit the nail on the head. But unfortunately, you are also a primary contributer to the crime yourself.
Look for example here…
“I guess that what boards are for, so people can make aimless random comments about things that aren’t really relevant, and then proceed to start a debate over the issue.”
People tend to get offended when you paint them all with the same brush. Just like you get offended when people have anything to say (constructive or not) that deviates from your own personal Agenda for Gencon.
At the end of the day, it’s your gig, your tournament, and your deal, thus the way you want to see it - is the way it will be. The tournament is a favour to the fans. So stop caring about what people you’re having disagreements with (who often don’t attend your event) think…
More importantly stop GENERALIZING that everyone who’s from the forum side of the world has a hate on for you, or is stupid, foolish, incompetent, and unable to contribute value. Guys like Questioneer mean you no harm/foul. But it’s constantly interpretted by yourself ‘as such’.
That’s on YOU.
You’ll learn that YES there are idiots who HIDE amongst the community of the internet, in places like this, and who whine about everything…
but there’s no reason to burn down the house just to kill a few mice.
Realize this:
- Gen Con was a success,
- MORE people will come next year - likely including me,
- and this forum is NOT YOUR ENEMY.
The problem is just one or two people who are VERY JEALOUS of your success and popularity. People who are just as jealous of other personalities on the internet, as they are of the ones in real life. Ignore their spit spat - and DON’T ENGAGE them. It just fits to make you look bad, because when you strike out, you tend to strike at all of us here; and that’s not cool.
Gar,
I heard you out. Fair enough. You make some good points, but I really want to comment on some of the things you said but don’t have time…will have to wait till tomorrow…thanks for the thoughts and opinions though.
The only thing I will say now, is that maybe it is I just don’t understand where you guys are coming from?
My point is, whether you want to think I accept constructive critism or not is your view point. I accept all thought and suggestions openly. It is when people start attacking the systems that gets me in a defensive mood. More later…
By the way, you can go to the Swamp and check out the photos from GEN CON on my end. Dave did a great job on his end…
Thanks,
Greg
You know, if is funny, we get back from a fantastic CON. Things went almost flawless. Had great discussions about how to possibly make things better for the future, etc. Chess clocks, time, rounds etc. In every single case where we discussed the events in length, we had civil discussions because those talking about whatever the topic was, understood first hand what we being discussed.
And I know that some of you have been to GEN CON and have experienced events first hand. But I am not sure why there is so much negativety when it comes to the discussion on the boards vs. when one talks about it FTF. Again, I believe MM might have said it somewhere bad in a thread long ago, it sure is nice to hide behind the screen of your computer when one really doesn’t know understand the concept of what is being discussed? :mrgreen:
You cannot use electronic calculators. Period.
This was painful after nights of very few hours of sleep and your opponent hits you with a strategic bombing. A calculator would’ve speed up some of my purchase optimizations. Beyond that, I didn’t see much need for it.
With a calculator, the rule should be like the dice. Feel free to bring one but if you opponent requests to use it, you can’t say no. If both players don’t have one, no problem.
Point being it would speed up the game to some extent- not a lot- but some. There’s really NO valid reason why these can’t be used. Haven’t heard one yet. Foolish but hey, not my tournament.
Bidding on rounds and IPCs is interesting but if you bid 6 rounds and don’t get that far- what happens.
4-7 rounds for a 42 game DOES NOT determine a true winner- that’s ridiculous. I’m so glad I did waste my money to go down there. That makes AA.org tournaments so much better IMHO
Q, a calculator is fine. All one does with that is make sure their math is correct. It is NOT a dice roller or odds calculator. There is a big difference. If you feel that it is needed to speed things up, have at it…But the math in most cases should be simple enough…the point is, and Dave hits it on the head, when you are in a situation as one is in one of the tournaments, knowing what to buy, how much, and when is part of the strategy. Having to go to a calculator to see if one should attack a certain area on the board based on an odds calculator is a whole different story.
And what do you mean you haven’t heard a valid reason yet? You just aren’t listening. And no, it is not foolish, the only thing that is, are statements like that.
Any of you guys take pictures?
Will be posting shortly…though, my pics fail in compairison to Dave’s! :roll:
@Imperious:
Maybe it’s different now.
Maybe some people hold grudges…
Maybe some people have trouble letting things go?
Maybe I will attend Gencon indy next year… :)
Love to have you Gar…next year will be our 20th year officially running AA events for AH/WotC, so, expect some cool stuff.
@Imperious:
How so…?
On Thursday nothing happens. Nothing really open.
Experience from Gen Con LA in which you had to break in the empty game room in order to get that mysterious “4th” day of gaming.
Id like somebody to tell be it was actually open on Thursday at 8am… who actually played a game that day.
Maybe it’s different now.
IL, yeah, you can’t even begin to compare the two…GCLA was like one room at GCI. It was packed from Thursday morning until Sunday at 4pm. I am with Dave on this. I went into the dealer hall on Sunday at 3:30pm, and it was still packed.
We had events start at 9 am on Thursday morning and by noon, the board gaming hall was packed. I would have to say that Thursday was more busy than I had ever seen it…
Again, just like most things on these boards, one can’t even begin to compare the two and make comments accordingly?
@Imperious:
But it’s only 3 days….
They pretend it’s 4 but it is really three.
Then
@Imperious:
How so…?
On Thursday nothing happens. Nothing really open.
Experience from Gen Con LA in which you had to break in the empty game room in order to get that mysterious “4th” day of gaming.
Id like somebody to tell be it was actually open on Thursday at 8am… who actually played a game that day.
Maybe it’s different now.
I just don’t get it? I guess that what boards are for, so people can make aimless random comments about things that aren’t really relevant, and then proceed to start a debate over the issue.
@Imperious:
But it’s only 3 days….
They pretend it’s 4 but it is really three.
How so…?
Greetings AA Gamers,
WOW…what another great GEN CON. I hope everyone had as a great of time playing AA as we did running events for you…
I believe, and IMO, GEN CON was a great success. From the new 1941 events, to the new 1942 2nd Ed. tourney, and we can’t forget the AA mini’s/WAS events, by all accounts of the comments from those that attended, things went very well. I believe we only managed to piss off, one, maybe two people but then those ended up coming back anyhow, but for the most part, a big, big success.
I also want to thank every single one of you that did make the trip and played in any event. A big “your welcome” to all those that have thanked me thus far. And I can’t forget my two GM’s Kelly and Mike. You guys are awesome. Without you, I would have fallen off the deep end a long time ago…
Soon, as I finish getting settled from GEN CON, I will get all postings and results up on the Swamp. Though not as fast a AA.org. Dave Jensen was present this year at GEN CON and he was a world of help taking pics as well as playing in the 1942 event…with that, I will also start a thread at AA.org on the GEN CON results for 2012. I have taken down my the SmoreySwamp Forum so, AA.org and Larry’s forum are the place to be on comments and the like regarding all things AA…
Thanks again and talk to you soon. :-D
Peace,
Gregory J. Smorey
Axis & Allies Tournament Director/GM - GEN CON/Origins/Spring Gathering
www.headlesshorseman2.com
“The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself” - MacArthur
Not sure, what were we talking about? FTF tournaments?
You might be right…all I know is that I can’t find it. Regardless, that is my story and I am sticky to it…
The point I am trying to make is the use of AI in a FTF event. �� I would like that a professor of your stature would understand the simplicity of why I typically don’t permit electronic devices in tournment games at the CON’s. �� If one wants to do the math in their head and right it down, AND IT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE GAME AT HAND, then have at it. �� **And as long as your opponent can do the same thing without taking away from the game at hand, have at it.� **
But I don’t care if an app on ones phone is free, or easily accessable to you and the other 5% that might be intersted in that, if your opponent sits down and doesn’t have their phone with them, and doesn’t have the app you have, then I am not going to permit it. ��
Ok, long overlydrawn Batman analogy aside, your saying here that if I play in your tournament and I also allow my opponent to use my phone also with the AACalc, giving him “equal access to the tool” (heck I’ll even show him how to use it) then all is fair and I can use it right???� That’s what it sounds like to me.
Greg,
Looks like you tried to answer but the forum didn’t pick it up for some reason…answer to this???
Yeah, can’t find what I wrote now? Oh, well…
The point I am trying to make is the use of AI in a FTF event. �� I would like that a professor of your stature would understand the simplicity of why I typically don’t permit electronic devices in tournment games at the CON’s. �� If one wants to do the math in their head and right it down, AND IT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE GAME AT HAND, then have at it. �� **And as long as your opponent can do the same thing without taking away from the game at hand, have at it.� **
But I don’t care if an app on ones phone is free, or easily accessable to you and the other 5% that might be intersted in that, if your opponent sits down and doesn’t have their phone with them, and doesn’t have the app you have, then I am not going to permit it. ��
Ok, long overlydrawn Batman analogy aside, your saying here that if I play in your tournament and I also allow my opponent to use my phone also with the AACalc, giving him “equal access to the tool” (heck I’ll even show him how to use it) then all is fair and I can use it right???� That’s what it sounds like to me.
You cannot use electronic calculators. Period.
Yeap…it is now in the rules as well. Thanks Q…
http://smo63.fatcow.com/pdf/G40rules81.pdf
and
http://smo63.fatcow.com/pdf/2012EndTimeRules730.pdf
Dave, Also above is the stalling rules that you asked about…
Greg
Yeah,
That was my thought as well. UK needs to get a minimum bid of 8 to by a destroyer in the hopes of even having a chance. Other wise, the UK should never have a fleet to do anything in the Atlantic. And the US gets its units killed by the two subs floating out in the Atlantic as well, then they come back and kill the remained of the UK fleet on T2…
I havent seen someone ever try to use an app like that in a FTF game. If you know it cant be used…then follow the rules.
Like the others said, if you have so little confidence in your game…you can try to cheat.
So far no one at gencon has tried that.
Yeap…agreed. I can’t remember one case? Hey, played 1942 again last night. Not sure how the UK ever builds a Navy in Atlantic. Or US for that matter?
Hey and the Optional rules does have interceptors?
Yeah I guess these are the kind of things that I would clear up before the game started. “Are we going to use paper and pencil for anything???” “Will it be OK to change the buys after a combat move if no dice for any battles have been rolled.” With the improvement of technology- especially phones it will be harder and harder to accuse someone of “spying” or calculating.
For example, say I’m playing and and there is a key battle. My partner can slip out to the bathroom or down the hall and use the AA app to calculate- even text back the results. There is no way to be able to micro-manage or enforce these “no technology” rules. You can’t force people to put their phones away or stalk them. Same with spying. You can’t stop. There will always be people who can find the tech angle to anything especially with people who are fluent in the latest technology. That’s why its best to just allow it IMO.
See Q, you are living in another world when it comes to how these things are played. NO ONE, in their right mind has ever nor would ever think about doing that unless you are an online enabler and can’t think for yourself when it comes to playing a game…
I personally don’t think nor should I, have to worry about something like that. Come to and event now, and you will understand.
No I won’t tell anyone to put their phones away, but if you have that little confidence in your game play that you have to resort to that kind of lack of sportsmenship…that is why I won’t allow it IMO. And again, if your opponent doesn’t have their phone with them, then why should anyone be able to use it…
Ok, onto the topic of online calculaters etc.
First off, I want to start off with a boring story that I heard on the radio the other day regarding the Colorado shooting at the Batman movie…
The guest was talking about one of the biggest problems we have in society has to do with the younger generation not being able to cope with society and a lot of it has to do with the fact that they are so techniologically driven, it is like don’t know how to interact FTF with others. THey were saying that it is so sad that the younger generation doesn’t know how to communicate with others because it is so much easier to text and avoid any type of relationship FTF. From dating, to friends at school, Work etc…
Where I am going with this is that what we are talking about is kind of the same thing when it comes to FTF vs. online play. I AM NOT TRYING TO SAY ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER, just that, with online play, people do it because one, they have a hard time getting games to play just period, and then there is the factors that they get used to playing without human interaction, when it does happen, they have no idea how to deal with it.
Ex. I believe somewhere back I used an example of a guys that would rather play Settlers online because when he plays FTF, he hates the interaction with others and the possiblity of something completely off the wall that might be logical in a ftf setting but when playing online, would never happen.
The point I am trying to make is the use of AI in a FTF event. I would like that a professor of your stature would understand the simplicity of why I typically don’t permit electronic devices in tournment games at the CON’s. If one wants to do the math in their head and right it down, AND IT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE GAME AT HAND, then have at it. And as long as your opponent can do the same thing without taking away from the game at hand, have at it.
But I don’t care if an app on ones phone is free, or easily accessable to you and the other 5% that might be intersted in that, if your opponent sits down and doesn’t have their phone with them, and doesn’t have the app you have, then I am not going to permit it.
And that has nothing to do with “getting with the times”. It has to do with learning how to play a game for what it is, playing well and without all the ads that one can get off line.
If one can’t understand that, then I have to question anyones understanding of the learning process and means to be good at something in ones head and not using AI to aid us in our decisions.
That is what I call getting with the times and being good at what you do.
2. Prizes- I know you have a nice prize stash for the winners at Gencon and Origins. However, having a prize for everyone there is huge. For example at the Dominion qualifier, we charged $5 for the tourny. With that cash I was able to buy prizes for everyone. RioGrandeGames gave me free promos for everyone+ we had free raffles for the new Base Cards -$11 a piece- we got 8 of them. Plenty of prizes went out and people left the tournament at least getting something and several others much more. This made people very happy and I got rave reviews about the tourny online and in-person.
For AA, I would ask WOTC if they have any cheap giveaways and for all the players that come- free raffle them off. For example I would ask them for things like the old IC pieces or IPC money maybe. For an event like yours they should be putting out some things for everyone coming. Personally if it was me I would get the cheap extra AA pieces and money at HistoricalBoardGaming.com. It pays to have a lot of cheap, mass quantity items to give away by the dozens. Its nice to have the big prizes (trophies, games) for the winners but that can get expensive I’m sure unless WOTC is putting out the $$$$ for that. Maybe you already do this- just wanted to share some thoughts on what worked with us on the Dominion side of things.
Q, I know you have not been to GEN CON in awhile, but basically, we do this now. We have a prize give away on Sunday around noon-1pm for all those that participated in any 1 AA event. I give out door prize tickets and give away tons of stuff for everyone.
And with that being said, I always trying and have enough for most if not all that come and play. Like a pen or something…and a lot of stuff does already come from vendors like HBG (thanks Doug!)…
I guess this brings up a point that must be brought to light regarding anyone that questions what we do and why we do what we do at the CON’s. If someone hasn’t been there, and hasn’t been there more recently, how can anyone say anything negative about players, the rules systems, prizes etc. for anything we do for FTF play without knowing all the facts? And then proceed in making comments on threads and eventually causing a big stir…?
Hey, we will be the first ones to say we don’t know everything about FTF play and AA in general and are ALWAYS OPEN to new ideas, suggestions and the like. It is just when onlinerss (and that includes those that play FTF online, I guess if that is possible, but then that is where my lack of knowledge about playing online starts and stops and I won’t make comments on how that version of AA is played or what works better for that crowd) start jumping the gun before they really know and can comment on the experience first hand.
Then again, like you said we may be getting ahead of ourselves here.� � We haven’t played the new game yet or know if it will bring in a good draw. In either case, I am against AA50 winners getting an automatic bid to a Masters that has a completely different game- assuming that its 42 2nd ed.
FWIW I agree with this.
Squirecam,
Excuse my limit of texting vocabulary but what is FWIW?�
As for the Masters and AA50 if the game ends up being 1942 2nd ed.� I don’t see a problem with it in the first year.� We did that the first time we did the Masters wit the old game.� And you have to admit, if you win a AA50 tournament, you are good enough to get into the Masters…wouldn’t you think so?
So, we need to see what the numbers are like and go from there.
Again, the main reason for the Masters was to pick out the top players and give others a chance to win at another event.� This should be no different.� With QT’s it would get us to hopefully have more show at the CON.
As for MM, he is completely spot on regarding alternates.� Normally we needed 2 if not 3.� Some years we needed them, while others, everyone showed…
As for the non-CON QT’s, yes, again, it would have to be under the same time frame and conditions.� I guess if someone wanted to cheat they could, but it would only hurt them in the long run when it came time to play FTF without all the support systems, calculators as well as the time factor…
FWIW = for what its worth
As for the games you shouldnt mix. You wouldnt let the winner of a bulge or d-day tourney into the masters, would you?
Sure the winner of AA50 is just as good…but its a different game. Whatever the masters game is, it should be uniform to qualify.
Charles,
I agree here with the premise by which you are going on, but again, this being the first year back to the Masters, I believe you can make exceptions and if the games are similar enough it shouldn’t be a problem. Your example for Bulge and D-Day in reference to choosing the game is like comparing applies and oranges.
And I agree with your line of thought that we have to first see how the 1942 event this year is even attended. Meaning, If we have 4 teams again like last year, what good is it having the top 3 go? And because of the situation with AA50, I don’t really see that being the game of choice for the Masters, even though, I would prefer that…
So, I don’t see a problem having the top 2 AA50 teams, top 2 1942 teams, and then go from there…
Also, if we are taking QT’s from other locales that I don’t run, it won’t really be the same either. There will be differences…so, not sure I see the harm?
Now, you haven’t been dancing with any dragons lately now have you…three weeks. Can’t wait…