Picking your opponent's maneuver in a tournament

By jesper_h, in X-Wing

In a casual setting (and assuming its a genuine mistake): let them choose the maneuver (Fly Casual Dude)

In a competitive tournament vs a capable opponent: off the board you go (Welcome to the Void)

In a competitive tournament vs a new / young player: 2 forward (as suggested by Marinealver a few posts above; its important that we each make our play environment welcoming to new players)

For anyone except against a brand new player: 1- Send them off the board if you can, 2 - onto an asteroid or on a bomb if possible, 3- whatever is most advantageous for you.

Had I made the same mistake and wasn't sent off the board (when it could have been done) and I came back to win, I would honestly feel like I didn't deserve the win. My opponents act of mercy was his undoing. I would not want to win that way.

I flew a defender off the table once, 3 right turn in the wrong direction. It was a casual game, and I almost asked if I could flip it, but then I would be putting my opponent in an uncomfortable position: Do I let him stand with what he selected or look like a jerk by not letting him switch it. I didn't ask my opponent, I fly it off the board, but I won the match, just barely. I've since learned to pay extra attention to the dials. I even turn my body sometimes to match the way the ship is facing to make sure I do the dial correctly. (And if I am playing a new player, I tell them to do the same thing if they aren't sure.)

Letting me correct my mistakes, my lapses in judgement, do not make me a better player. I become a better player when I learn from those errors and don't do them again.

I made this mistake once and my opponent during a tourney sent my A Wing off the board with a green 5 maneuver. He showed no remorse and didn't care either way. Part of me was annoyed but more angry at myself. Thankfully he made a mistake later in the tourney and his opponent saw what happened to me and nailed him to the cross and explained that showing some sportsmanship will garner good karma later on

You will run into people who play for the competitive aspect and nothing else.

I also concur, your solution was the best way to handle it

I really don't like the WaaC attitude I'd rather win or lose and have fun than be a d**k, OP I think you did the right thing you put him at a disadvantage but didn't remove a big part off his list.

I let my opponents fix mistakes if they want because being honourable is more important than winning to me, a win through dirty tricks is no win at all.

Dirty tricks? Are you serious? It's stated in the rules that you get to select the dial. Yeah fun casual games and local tournament definitely be lenient but at things like world's if you k-turn, dint clear the stress next round, and then try to k-turn again you made a mistake that gets punished. You learn from those mistakes and probably never do it again but if you can't laugh it off or you act mad and upset at the other person for following the rules then you're a bad sport. It's not WaaC at all. If it really sickens you and you enjoy seeing them get nailed to the cross then I would say grow up. It's plastic starships on giant mouse pads. Just gotta laugh the mistakes off.

Flying off the board is totally acceptable, even if it is a cheap shot. However, choosing the high road and forcing him to turn without killing him outright was a totally noble thing to do. A Fly Casual solution.

Now if he had attempted a red while stressed, near some rocks, I would advocate for parking on the closest one. Because, you know, it's satisfying to see an enemy parked on a rock.

I made this mistake once and my opponent during a tourney sent my A Wing off the board with a green 5 maneuver. He showed no remorse and didn't care either way. Part of me was annoyed but more angry at myself. Thankfully he made a mistake later in the tourney and his opponent saw what happened to me and nailed him to the cross and explained that showing some sportsmanship will garner good karma later on

You will run into people who play for the competitive aspect and nothing else.

I also concur, your solution was the best way to handle it

"Sportsmanship" is a dirty word used by people who don't like the rules.

Depends on the tournament. At a premier event, I would have flown it off the map. At that level, those sorts of mistakes should be punished. Anything else, I would have done what you did. There's no reason to punish like that at those casual tournaments. If regular casual play, I'd just let my opponent pick the move.

No, sportsmanship is understanding its a game, people are human and make mistakes and taking everything into account and acting in an honorable fashion, the rules were followed in my example and as a good sport I accepted the result...

I never said anything about not like the rules and you are tying to put words into my mouth so back off

Edited by Green Rabid Monkey

In a tournament game I once misplaced the wheels on my two Dagger Squadron Pilots. One had stress and the other didn't. This was against one of my best friends. The result was that my stressed ship took a red maneuver, and the other flew away from the action. My friend choose to turn my stressed B-wing away so it would fly off the table, and I was fine with it. You might even say that I was happy with it. The reason you ask, well I don't only expect myself to play good, I expect my opponent to bring his best game. If I am not able to beat my opponent when he play the best he can, then I am not very skilled, which is fine to me, but to be beaten by someone who is pulling his punches, that is not very fun for me. I would rather play and lose vs a good player who plays hard than play and win against a player that play sloppy and pulls his punches. That to me isn't winning at all, rather being given a win. I don't accept wins as gifts, I try to take them as prizes. It would be no difference if it was a tournament game or a casual game at home.

This has helped me to beome much better at the game, and I have never since made that mistake. I was sloppy, and still am sometimes. Countless times I have forgotten to use advance sensors and just flipped the wheel over. That is on me, and I should be penalized for it. Hard.

Might be interesting that he won the game 100-0, but we both made it to the finals, where he later won in a tight game.

There are exceptions though, but for me that depends who I am playing. If I am playing a new player, at home or in a tournament I would be nicer. But it has to be a new player, one that maybe have played one tournament tops. Then I often ask when he misses to make actions for instance, "Don't you want to make an action?". But just a few times, and I tell him I won't remind him again. I also really likes to talk about matches after. Getting input from my opponents on my list and my performance, I also offer the same for them if they want, but don't force the issue. I have never had an opponent be angry at me in or after a game.

No, sportsmanship is understanding its a game, people are human and make mistakes and taking everything into account and acting in an honorable fashion, the rules were followed in my example and as a good sport I accepted the result...

I never said anything about not like the rules and you are tying to put words into my mouth so back off

It's the same word used by those who like to guilt other people for playing to win, which happens a little too often around these parts. You can play the game however you want, but there's absolutely nothing dishonorable or unsportsmanlike about flying your opponent's ship off the board. Being 'thankful' that your opponent got some kind of comeuppance during a later match, on the other hand, might be one or both of those things.

Edited by WonderWAAAGH

Once again you try and place words in my mouth.

I never have tried to "guilt" players for the win. You seem to try and misinterpret everything I say in response. So I will put it in simple terms for you.

I believe sportsmanship is playing a game by the rules, respecting your opponent, winning and losing with dignity and humility, acknowledging and adapting to different situations that may arise and above all realizing its a game of Plastic Ships (in regards to X Wing).

Do a good deed and it will be repaid down the road. If you "rub" people the wrong way don't expect leniency especially if your actions demonstrate this.

You as a player were not there in regards to the originally stated example. Therefore you don't know the whole situation, but I will state the unnamed opponent had annoyed many people and was known for being an individual who would use rules for their own good and want some "slack" if they didnt suit them.

You may call me unsportsmanlike but your opinion matters to me as much as I care about the weather on Jupiter. I used an example from personal experience and you are the only individual who seems to take issue with it. I just know my status in my local area as soneone who plays to enjoy the game, to relax and enjoy the commraderie. That is why we play games, to have fun with people of same manner

Some people play games to win, and shouldn't have to suffer the judgment of those who don't hold the same values.

Hey all. Thanks for all the replies to this thread with thoughts, opinions and suggestions on you might handle a situation such as this in a tournament. I don't understand why everybody is slowly becoming more hostile toward each other. My question was; what would you have done? I wasn't suggesting one "way of playing" was better than the other. It wasn't an attack on Fly Casual, it wasn't an attack on competitive play and it sure has heck wasn't a suggestion that everybody should "behave like xyz in tournaments".

Those of you who play firm and expect firm play back to better yourselves? That's awesome.

Those of you kick it all casual and laugh off little mistakes together? That's great too.

If both players have fun, who seriously cares what the other group does?

How on earth did we go from "I would have picked maneuver X" to accusing each other of being unsportsmanlike. Everybody gets so bloody defensive here. This forum, man. Sheesh.

Edited by floof

Welcome to the internet where people think they can be a combination of Jack Bauer, James Bond and Detective John McClane lol

Wonder how that combination would turn out on screen lol

Wow, this forum has some nasty pieces of work in it. 'Sportsmanship" is a dirty word used by people who don't like the rules' I mean come on.

If you'd rather end the game on turn two before any shots are fired, I have to ask: why are you even playing the game?

You haven't proved anything by ending the game turn two, except maybe that your priorities are out of whack.

I'm playing the game to have fun, and bieng in a tournament doesn't change that. If I win, I want it to be bacause I outflew my opponent, not because I maliciously threw away a third of their points on turn 2.

Edited by jimmius

Wow, this forum has some nasty pieces of work in it. 'Sportsmanship" is a dirty word used by people who don't like the rules' I mean come on.

If you'd rather end the game on turn two before any shots are fired, I have to ask: why are you even playing the game?

You haven't proved anything by ending the game turn two, except maybe that your priorities are out of whack.

I'm playing the game to have fun, and bieng in a tournament doesn't change that. If I win, I want it to be bacause I outflew my opponent, not because I maliciously threw away a third of their points on turn 2.

That's just it, there's nothing "malicious" about playing by the rules or playing to win. You may not like it, but that's not a justifiable reason to hold contempt for people who do.

Edited by WonderWAAAGH

Some people play games to win, and shouldn't have to suffer the judgment of those who don't hold the same values.

Well sorry but WaaC don't tend to be the nicest of people and their the ones that put winning over fun, if you see an opportunity to screw someone and take it then I have to say that speakers volumes about what kind of player you are.

I don't cheat, I don't punish mistakes and I don't turn into a rules lawyer when a game does not go my way and I still win much more than I lose, and I never feel even a little bad about a victory because I won clean and fair.

If you feel judged maybe you should reconsider your attitude to the game.

I don't only expect myself to play good, I expect my opponent to bring his best game. If I am not able to beat my opponent when he play the best he can, then I am not very skilled, which is fine to me, but to be beaten by someone who is pulling his punches, that is not very fun for me. I would rather play and lose vs a good player who plays hard than play and win against a player that play sloppy and pulls his punches. That to me isn't winning at all, rather being given a win.

+1 So glad there is someone else just like me. I want to be an awesome player, not a common average player. I want to dance and weave through the asteroids, dodge their arcs, and light them up. I'm not going to get there if my opponents play with kid gloves on.

As for the OP's most recent comment, maybe you should have said "Leave all sportmanship discussion out." There is too much variance in what that word means to people. (Read the thread on the Worlds match where one guy fortressed his x-wings.)

One problem I can see is, imagine if they make a mistake with their dial setting, and it falls to you to set it. You decide to be nice and choose an okay-ish manouver when you could have flown them off the board. Now, imagine that that happens again later in the match, only it is you that makes the mistake.

This puts your opponent in a tough position. If it is a tornament and they are playing to win, they may think it is perfectly reasonable to fly you off the board. The problem then is that it makes them look like kind of a jerk not to return the favor that you extended to them earlier; even though they never asked for the favor in the first place. Especially if there are observers, they may feel pressured to do something they wouldn't normally do, and then that will leave a sour taste in their mouth if they end up losing; more than if they had lost because you flew their first ship off the board earlier.

I think the rules are very clear on the issue, so that is how it should be played. Of course, this is only for competative play; in a friendly against my mates I would either choose a good manouver or simply let them change the dial themselves. At a tornament though, anything which is within the boundaries of the rules is fair game, and no one should ever be punished for doing everything that they legally can to win.

Well sorry but WaaC don't tend to be the nicest of people and their the ones that put winning over fun

There's a huge difference between full advantage of someone's mistake and Winning at all costs. You can take advantage of a mistake and still be a friendly and polite person, who is interested in a fair and fun game.

My solution to this is usually to pick the most unhelpful move possible, up to and including flying them off the board, (although that would only be in a Nationals or Worlds event where most people are playing to win).

In a friendly game, I usually pick a neutral outcome and play on.

I gotta be honest, my answer depends hugely on context.

Is the player a ****, an unknown, or a chill person? A new player or a veteran?

Is the tournament a casual tournament, a standard tournament (say, a store championship), or a premiere event (Regionals, Nationals, Worlds)? (In a friendly game, it's always, "Oh, just set it now.")

What are the prizes? (New unreleased ships? Acrylic tokens that are high in demand?)

Did we discuss situations like this, pre-game? (I dunno about other people, but sometimes my opponent and I do talk about "walk-backs" and the like.)

So my answer would range from, depending on context:

"Oh, just go ahead and set it now," through the most typical "this ship's out of the fight for a couple of turns," all the way to "Oops, off the board." The latter would be perishingly rare. (I've never done it in my few chances so far.)

BTW, I think a more interesting question is:

"My opponent selected a maneuver that has his ship's corner hanging off the board by a fraction of a millimeter. Do I insist the ship is destroyed?"

I saw many people in the Twitch feeds saying this like, "I'd just let him stay on, 'cause I Fly Casual."

I dunno why, exactly, but for me, every time, the ship is gone. (If I were the one with the ship hanging off by a thread, it wouldn't even occur to me to ask or let my opponent decide; my ships would be gone.) I suppose the big difference is that the opponent chose that maneuver for a reason -- either to gain some tactical advantage or because he had to -- and if he succeeded in it, he gets the reward. If he doesn't succeed in it, he pays the price for a risk or he loses the ship because forcing ships off the map (directly or indirectly) is part of X-Wing tactics.

Edited by Jeff Wilder

Wow, this forum has some nasty pieces of work in it. 'Sportsmanship" is a dirty word used by people who don't like the rules' I mean come on.

If you'd rather end the game on turn two before any shots are fired, I have to ask: why are you even playing the game?

You haven't proved anything by ending the game turn two, except maybe that your priorities are out of whack.

I'm playing the game to have fun, and bieng in a tournament doesn't change that. If I win, I want it to be bacause I outflew my opponent, not because I maliciously threw away a third of their points on turn 2.

That's just it, there's nothing "malicious" about playing by the rules or playing to win. You may not like it, but that's not a justifiable reason to hold contempt for people who do.

I have to agree with WonderWAAAGH, here. Calling people out for having "whack priorities" isn't helpful. Nor is questioning why they are even playing the game. People enjoy different aspects of gaming - there's no need to suggest the aspects they enjoy are somehow better or worse than the aspects you enjoy.

The final point I would like to try and make is this one:

"Playing for the win" and "flying casual" are not mutually exclusive concepts. If anybody believes that there are somehow two diametrically opposed schools of thought on "How to play X-Wing" then it's only because they are making it so.

Edited by floof

"Playing for the win" and "flying casual" are not mutually exclusive concepts. If anybody believes that there are somehow two diametrically opposed schools of thought on "How to play X-Wing" then it's only because they are making it so.

But surely you must see a difference between 'playing to win' (which I do) and 'preventing my opponent from winning by turn two' (which I don't). And I can definitely question why you want to play a game when your actions show you don't.