Competitive

Competitive events require players to have general knowledge of a game’s rules. While experienced players will come to these events to compete for prizes, players should not be punished for their lack of understanding in the finer points of Star Wars: X-Wing™ Miniatures Game rules. Players can come to these events expecting a consistent experience from store to store. This tier includes Store Championships and unique, one-off events such as the X-Wing™ Wave 4 Assault at Imdaar Alpha event.

Tourney rules cover the basic issues at hand. Players should understand the level of play they are at. It comes down to sportsmanship really, who will you receive better at the next event? They guy who passed down non market trinkets to those who lost to him? Or the one who claims prizes at a dozen events just to re-sell or trade but cares none to play "casual" nights.

Only way to get better is to lose. Make note of current "meta / anti-meta". Record your matches etc. Play "meta" lists w/ friend and learn them.

I can not advise ways of Stores to control their events, currently being a troll. But not every winner / loser is there for more for the event. If you have negative players, I'm not sure many players would come back. As for supporting the store, i.e. those who buy stuff, I myself find best prices online for my money. My income is not "limited" nor "limitless", I've spent $100s of dollar on splurge games, especially star wars. Ask me about my PocketModels

What I hate about this is that it assumes that everybody that travels to participate in tournament out of town are there to get the prize and sell them on E-Bay. It might be the case for some players (although maybe they should look into another way to make money, because if we add the tournament entry fee, travel expense, food and the risk of not actually making top 4 to win those beautiful tokens... I'm not sure selling them 50$ on ebay is really worth it...) but there is also players like me that travel there just to actually get the tournament experience and meet some new players.

In my case, there was no Store Tournament in my city. The closest one was an 1h45 away. So I went there, not to steal the prize to sell them later, but to actually win them for myself. I didn't show up with a Meta list, I went there with a list I wanted to play and have fun with (Soontir (pre Autothrusters), Vessery and 2 Bombers). Once there, I bought an Imperial Assault Aces pack because I wanted a third for my collection. I did end up finishing first and came back home with the plaque and the Bye. Should I feel bad about it? I traveled 150km, paid the entry fee, bought an Imperial Ace pack and a drink at the store, and didn't come in with a meta list (all local players did played meta list though).

My story might not seems relevant, but it is. If you deny access to outsiders in your official tournament just because there might be some prize snipers coming, you're also denying access to players like me, that go there to meet new players and actually get a chance to play in an official tournament. So where is the line? I'm all for limiting access for local events and tournament, but official ones like a Store Championship is open, and should stay this way. If the community have a problem with better players coming in and winning all the prize because they are better, I think this community should just stop running official tournaments. Make your tournaments local only and have fun with your pals.

If you are casual, why should you care that your acrylic tokens are the official ones or not? As for the cards, there was 32 Soontir cards given in each Store Championship, how many actually had more than 32 players attending? The bag? The bag is cheap and I still have to figure out why would I actually need a dice bag in the first place. The plaque and Bye? We already determined that casual players that hate the meta game probably won't go to the regionals where there will be mostly meta-list and that the plaque should really go to the better player. So really, the only spoil ''stolen'' here was the acrylic tokens.

The closest one was an 1h45 away. So I went there, [...] I did end up finishing first and came back home with the plaque and the Bye. Should I feel bad about it?

Yes. You monster.

The closest one was an 1h45 away. So I went there, [...] I did end up finishing first and came back home with the plaque and the Bye. Should I feel bad about it?

Yes. You monster.

Since that day, I never could look at myself in the mirror again.... my beard is getting so big now!

Maybe the title should be amended to "are unfamiliar people with poor attitudes affecting your local tournaments?" because that seems to be the issue at hand.

Maybe the title should be amended to "are unfamiliar people with poor attitudes affecting your local tournaments?" because that seems to be the issue at hand.

FTFY. Just because he's a familiar a-hole, doesn't mean he is't an a-hole.

Wow...amazed at the arrogance of some posters. Acting as if they don't know the difference between compatitive and non-competitive gaming. Assuming that those who would prefer store tournaments to be for those who frequent the store are lesser.

You know this cuts the other way too right? If a group isn't interested in competitive play, they shouldn't be surprised when their store signs up for what is clearly stated to be a competitive event by FFG Organized Play and they get people showing up looking for a competition.

Maybe the title should be amended to "are unfamiliar people with poor attitudes affecting your local tournaments?" because that seems to be the issue at hand.

FTFY. Just because he's a familiar a-hole, doesn't mean he is't an a-hole.

That's actually a reasonable edit.

Maybe the title should be amended to "are unfamiliar people with poor attitudes affecting your local tournaments?" because that seems to be the issue at hand.

FTFY. Just because he's a familiar a-hole, doesn't mean he is't an a-hole.

Seconded, both the original sentiment and the edit.

Unfortunately, that's a common problem in gaming: what do you do when someone with whom you'd prefer not to share a species, let alone a room, shows up at an event you were planning to enjoy? I haven't found a satisfactory solution yet, and I've been trying on and off for... jeez, like 15 years now.

Unfortunately, that's a common problem in gaming: what do you do when someone with whom you'd prefer not to share a species, let alone a room, shows up at an event you were planning to enjoy? I haven't found a satisfactory solution yet, and I've been trying on and off for... jeez, like 15 years now.

This might sound glib / new-age-y, but I just try my damnedest to not to give them the power to ruin my day. There's plenty of other things for me to do besides dwell on the fact that someone I don't like is nearby. It helps that there are typically a number of people I like at events, so it's not hard to distract myself with pleasant conversation between games, etc.

I do wish that some people could be quieter when they play, though. It's annoying when you literally cannot hear your opponent speak because of the next table over only having diaphragms stuck on 11. :/

This is one of the reasons I don't play competitively, so I can avoid this kind of drama.

If your playing competitively and traveling from large region, to large region, that's the nature of game. In every sport or hobby competitive players travel.

However, I think it's in very poor taste if your your a player from large metro areas (ie: Dallas, Austin, Atlanta, Boston, etc) traveling 2 or 3 hours to play in prize tournaments in a smaller city.

If you have someone from Atlanta traveling to Augusta, or Tampa to Melourne, It's perfectly legal, but it's poor sportsmanship IMHO. It would be like a division 1 football team playing a division 3 team.

This is one of the reasons I don't play competitively, so I can avoid this kind of drama.

If your playing competitively and traveling from large region, to large region, that's the nature of game. In every sport or hobby competitive players travel.

However, I think it's in very poor taste if your your a player from large metro areas (ie: Dallas, Austin, Atlanta, Boston, etc) traveling 2 or 3 hours to play in prize tournaments in a smaller city.

If you have someone from Atlanta traveling to Augusta, or Tampa to Melourne, It's perfectly legal, but it's poor sportsmanship IMHO. It would be like a division 1 football team playing a division 3 team.

So the big bad boys shouldn't come from the big bad city to roflstomp the other leagues if they can get an easy win for the bye to a regional?

If you need that bye bad enough that your traveling 2 hours from a metro area with a dozen or more stores to a town with a single store, thats just distasteful.

That would be like a pro-team playing the last week of the season against the minor leagues just to get that bye.

I don't think the 'pro player vs minor league' analogy is applicable. What makes the players in the smaller town comparable to a minor league team (which, really, is mostly disadvantaged against a major league team because of the difference in training time & games played)? They should have access to more or less the same table time and product that a player from a larger city has. What is the supposed unfair competitive edge that Out of Town Person has if we assume everyone at the venue is playing competitive lists with the intent of moving on to the next level of the tournament with their bye?

So the big bad boys shouldn't come from the big bad city to roflstomp the other leagues if they can get an easy win for the bye to a regional?

If you need that bye bad enough that your traveling 2 hours from a metro area with a dozen or more stores to a town with a single store, thats just distasteful.

That would be like a pro-team playing the last week of the season against the minor leagues just to get that bye.

Right, but a bye is a bye, regardless. It may be distasteful in your opinion, but the bigger prize, a regional bye for increasing your chances of winning at a higher-stakes tournament, might be worth the hours long drive and cost to beat a less experienced meta.

What is the supposed unfair competitive edge that Out of Town Person has if we assume everyone at the venue is playing competitive lists with the intent of moving on to the next level of the tournament with their bye?

See this;

And this is where my problem is. Purposely traveling from a larger market to a much smaller market with hopes of getting an easy bye by beating less experienced players.

And this is where my problem is. Purposely traveling from a larger market to a much smaller market with hopes of getting an easy bye by beating less experienced players.

But that doesn't actually demonstrate a competitive edge, only that some players (rightly or wrongly) assume they will have one if they travel out to a smaller town.

Do you have good figures that support the idea that there is a statistically significant advantage for players traveling out of the city to compete in small town store championships?

What is the supposed unfair competitive edge that Out of Town Person has if we assume everyone at the venue is playing competitive lists with the intent of moving on to the next level of the tournament with their bye?

See this;

And this is where my problem is. Purposely traveling from a larger market to a much smaller market with hopes of getting an easy bye by beating less experienced players.

I don't see a problem, it's a competition. Just because the Cobra Kai comes to town doesn't mean you can't beat them.

If you need that bye bad enough that your traveling 2 hours from a metro area with a dozen or more stores to a town with a single store, thats just distasteful.

That would be like a pro-team playing the last week of the season against the minor leagues just to get that bye.

And it's not distasteful for a group of locals to expect to keep the loot for themselves, as if earning it is a fait accompli? Tell me that doesn't smack of self-entitlement.

might be worth the hours long drive and cost to beat a less experienced meta.

It's less about figures, as it is the mentality of going in hopes of beating of a less experienced meta

That's what drives me up the wall. The hopes of finding less experienced players to get that bye. You honestly don't have anything wrong with that mentality?

If your already traveling 2 or 3 hours from large Metro with a large competitive market, why not travel to another large market with a comparable market & player base?

might be worth the hours long drive and cost to beat a less experienced meta.

It's less about figures, as it is the mentality of going in hopes of beating of a less experienced meta

That's what drives me up the wall. The hopes of finding less experienced players to get that bye. You honestly don't have anything wrong with that mentality?

If your already traveling 2 or 3 hours from large Metro with a large competitive market, why not travel to another large market with a comparable market & player base?

This is one of the reasons I don't play competitively, so I can avoid this kind of drama.

If your playing competitively and traveling from large region, to large region, that's the nature of game. In every sport or hobby competitive players travel.

However, I think it's in very poor taste if your your a player from large metro areas (ie: Dallas, Austin, Atlanta, Boston, etc) traveling 2 or 3 hours to play in prize tournaments in a smaller city.

If you have someone from Atlanta traveling to Augusta, or Tampa to Melourne, It's perfectly legal, but it's poor sportsmanship IMHO. It would be like a division 1 football team playing a division 3 team.

Of course, there are those that actually like playing with a different group of people. From what I have observed, the very best in this game are the ones who truly love it. Sure, they may win if they go to different stores, but that isn't the primary goal. Don't let a very few bad apples ruin the enjoyment of playing a good game of X-wing.

Hell, Alex Davy can't even use his bye, and theoretically could easily get any and all prize cards and acrylics. Yet, he still played in 2 Store Championships. What was his motivation for travelling to another store to play in a Store Championship?

might be worth the hours long drive and cost to beat a less experienced meta.

It's less about figures, as it is the mentality of going in hopes of beating of a less experienced meta

That's what drives me up the wall. The hopes of finding less experienced players to get that bye. You honestly don't have anything wrong with that mentality?

If your already traveling 2 or 3 hours from large Metro with a large competitive market, why not travel to another large market with a comparable market & player base?

Beating a less experienced meta is a strategy in itself. In MtG, we called it "clubbing baby seals" because there'd be prizes such as promos and credit on the line to get what we wanted. Once prizes are involved, there is nothing wrong with this kind of mentality.

You should think about your analogy of the boxers in the ring. The smaller dude is there because he wants to be there. Competitive miniatures game tournaments shouldn't restrict participation based on experience. You wouldn't get the crowds that Store Championships attracted if you divided them up for locals and experience levels. The furthest I drove for SCs was from my dinky suburb to a more urban area 40 miles out, and then my local boonies store. Other competitors I met drove over 100 miles out from, a lot of people from LA to San Diego and everywhere in between, and these were some of the best players in the region. My lesser-experienced friends played among them as well, but they had fun even after getting stomped. Hell, it made them want to play more. And on top of that, some dude from over the mountain won that store championship, he'd already won a store championship, but it didnt matter because we all got to play X-Wing for 8 hours and had a great time.

All this frustration is all on your own part, not the other players. Your xenophobic perception of out of towners tends to be hindering your ability to realize that its all just a game in the end. When incentives are added, it fuels competitiveness. Competitiveness brings out the better, or worse, sides of people, but it shouldn't make you act more exclusive to a different crowd that wants to play X-Wing, be it for the prize or not. As for the boxer, if you step into a ring knowing your ass is gonna get handed to you, you're the fool for not being better prepared for that fight. Same goes for X-Wing, (and since were using metaphors and analogies) you better expect that you'll be swinging at a baseball thrown by a pitcher, not off a tee.

That is assuming that players from big city is better than small town players, which is simply not true. Unless you're crazy enough to take the time to go scout the local store 2 hours away from you prior to the tournament, you have no idea what the caliber will be. You go there hoping to win, but you don't know.

When I see that group of players are starting to form to go from competition to competiton, I can only see that as a good sign for the health of the game. You don't play X-Wing for money, the tournament prizes are not worth that much. You play this game because you love it. If a group of players form to travel from Store Championship to Store Championship, it's probably because they can't get enough of the game, not because they want to ''steal'' the prize and sell them on ebay. Players probably sell their stuff on ebay to cover for their travelling expense.

Maybe they also want to know where they stand. Get out of town to see if you are really good, how you compare against other group, other meta. When you always play against the same people, you tend to get bad habits, a certain comfort zone created by the local meta. Getting out to play against other players is a very good and challenging experience. You get to see other way of playing, some move or cards that might surprise you. I personally love the feeling of playing against someone I never played against. Same goes for when I participate in a Fencing tournament. Just for that, I will travel for 2 hours to play some X-Wing or compete in a Fencing Tournament. Meet new players, meet new fencers. I love to know where I stand, push myself to the limit.

Wow. I can't believe this thread is still going 14 pages later.

I like to travel and play. I have attended a quite a few store championships this season (8?) and sat out a couple more while my wife and daughter play. Some venues are very small, one town has less than 8000 people in it and is the largest town in a 60 mile radius. I do this because I enjoy playing against different people in a relaxed but competitive environment, which is what I have found in X-Wing.

I lost 2 games in my first SC and missed the cut, lost one game and won the whole thing in my second, and have just been showing up to play since then. This is not because I "snipe" small stores, it's because I play more than most people so I get a lot more practice. Other than the first SC win, I have made the cut but dropped after the swiss rounds every time so that there would be room for a full top 4/8 people without having me "mess things up" by dropping in an elimination round. I did once ask to get the tokens before I dropped, because I wanted some more so that my wife and daughter would have enough to play with them the next week (11 ships total in their lists so they needed more than one pack). I don't feel guilty about asking for the prize, nor do I feel noble for dropping. I play because I enjoy it, I travel because I like meeting and playing different people, and part of "different people" is the fact that those people are motivated by different things.

If 3 or more of our league were to travel to a small venue, as happens from time to time, we could easily wind up with the top 3 spots. This isn't sniping, we travel in order to SUPPORT those smaller venues. We show up, spend money in the store, make sure to post about our experiences in order to promo them, name the outstanding players we meet, and answer questions/give some advice when asked. We have never been made unwelcome, and have always had a very positive reaction to our taking the time and expense to travel to smaller venues. We also play to the best of our abilities, it would be patronizing and obnoxious to "play down". Wins earned against us are real wins, no caveats, and those wins are what teach us how to play even better in the next town we travel to.

The most disturbing thing about this thread is that I cannot make up my mind who is worse. The guys who walk into a new place with an arrogant attitude or the guys who play there with a feeling of entitlement. Fortunately, I have yet to run into these people IRL despite the seemingly endless supply of them on the forums.