Pfft, all I'm hearing are excuses.

Pack a lunchbox. Drive 5hr overnight and nap in the car once you get to the venue. Get a friend or carer for your wife if she can't be independent for a day or so.

If you want something bad enough, you do it. All I'm hearing is 'I can't go to a Regionals because I can't do it in comfort!'

You don't need a plane ride, a hotel, or a fancy restaurant.

Also, temper your expectations. If you don't play in tournaments often, don't expect to do well in your first tournament.

Pfft, all I'm hearing are excuses.

Pack a lunchbox. Drive 5hr overnight and nap in the car once you get to the venue. Get a friend or carer for your wife if she can't be independent for a day or so.

If you want something bad enough, you do it. All I'm hearing is 'I can't go to a Regionals because I can't do it in comfort!'

You don't need a plane ride, a hotel, or a fancy restaurant.

Also, temper your expectations. If you don't play in tournaments often, don't expect to do well in your first tournament.

You must not be married or have kids? Am I right?

Having kids is a lifestyle choice. Getting married is a lifestyle choice.

If getting married and/or having kids is affecting your ability to play, and you can't find a way to compromise, then you've already made your choice/bed. Now go sleep in it.

I've been playing less than a year and 3 guys I play with are going from SC up to the Regional in Raleigh, NC. About 300 miles from me and they are staying at one of the guys parents house to minimize costs.

For me entry fee $25 + $25 gas + $25 food = $75 - is not bad, but right now I don't have the extra $75 to spend.

Mine is a situation of bad timing with car repairs and other bills coming due - plus I had not really thought about it or planned it out.

Right now I am content to run different lists against them to help them prepare for the tourney - which means I am playing more now than I have in the past.

Maybe next year...

So your saying this game is pay to win!

Pfft, all I'm hearing are excuses.

Pack a lunchbox. Drive 5hr overnight and nap in the car once you get to the venue. Get a friend or carer for your wife if she can't be independent for a day or so.

If you want something bad enough, you do it. All I'm hearing is 'I can't go to a Regionals because I can't do it in comfort!'

You don't need a plane ride, a hotel, or a fancy restaurant.

Also, temper your expectations. If you don't play in tournaments often, don't expect to do well in your first tournament.

Having kids is a lifestyle choice. Getting married is a lifestyle choice.

If getting married and/or having kids is affecting your ability to play, and you can't find a way to compromise, then you've already made your choice/bed. Now go sleep in it.

Wow, empathy fail. I hope neither of you ever vent about anything. The hypocrisy would probably be lethal.

Having kids is a lifestyle choice. Getting married is a lifestyle choice.

If getting married and/or having kids is affecting your ability to play, and you can't find a way to compromise, then you've already made your choice/bed. Now go sleep in it.

I just don't know what to say that won't get me banned.

Having kids is a lifestyle choice. Getting married is a lifestyle choice.

If getting married and/or having kids is affecting your ability to play, and you can't find a way to compromise, then you've already made your choice/bed. Now go sleep in it.

I just don't know what to say that won't get me banned.

How about poopballs, works in any situation.

Pfft, all I'm hearing are excuses.

Pack a lunchbox. Drive 5hr overnight and nap in the car once you get to the venue. Get a friend or carer for your wife if she can't be independent for a day or so.

If you want something bad enough, you do it. All I'm hearing is 'I can't go to a Regionals because I can't do it in comfort!'

You don't need a plane ride, a hotel, or a fancy restaurant.

Also, temper your expectations. If you don't play in tournaments often, don't expect to do well in your first tournament.

Having kids is a lifestyle choice. Getting married is a lifestyle choice.

If getting married and/or having kids is affecting your ability to play, and you can't find a way to compromise, then you've already made your choice/bed. Now go sleep in it.

Wow, empathy fail. I hope neither of you ever vent about anything. The hypocrisy would probably be lethal.

It's all good. I don't expect everyone to understand the situation. It's hard to know what things are like if you haven't been there or haven't experienced it yourself.

Everyone is on their own journey, only they can decide what's acceptable in their life.

"You must do what you feel is right, of course." - Kenobi

I'm actually trying to be encouraging to the OP here.

all I'm hearing from the OP are excuses. If you really wanted to do something, find a way to do it. Sacrifice sleep. Sacrifice comfort.

Don't come onto the forum and make excuses about something you and only you have the power to change. When there's a will, there's a way.

The question is, what's this list??

Where there's money, there's a way.

Fixed.

If you aren't bringing a fat turret, then don't even bother.

I want to go to Hawaii. I love the beach and snorkeling. I live in the desert. I cant drive there. And a week trip will cost around $2500.

Instead of lamenting the things you can't have, have you tried celebrating the things you do have? I hope your wife and child bring more joy into your life than X-Wing ever could.

Can I just ask where you live where the closest regional event is 350 miles away and what list you were thinking on running?

He's in Utah, I think Utah county if I remember right which adds about 20-30 miles to his trip from where I am at in Salt Lake. Boise is the closest one followed by Bloomsfield. Our closest in region is Mesa Arizona.

Can I just ask where you live where the closest regional event is 350 miles away and what list you were thinking on running?

He's in Utah, I think Utah county if I remember right which adds about 20-30 miles to his trip from where I am at in Salt Lake. Boise is the closest one followed by Bloomsfield. Our closest in region is Mesa Arizona.

Actually I need to update that, I'm in Salt Lake now.

350 miles to Boise, ID.

520 miles to Denver, CO.

680 miles to Mesa, AZ.

Fun times.

When there's a will, there's a way.

Instead of lamenting the things you can't have, have you tried celebrating the things you do have? I hope your wife and child bring more joy into your life than X-Wing ever could.

They certainly do, however this is my hobby. A person needs a hobby to maintain sanity. And I figure if there's one place where I can find people who understand my point of view better than anyone else, it would be here.

Part of the reason I can't afford to go currently is that my son will be turning 2 years old next week, and his happiness will trump mine for the rest of my life. I'm looking to get him some (toddler sized) musical instruments, as I feel the introduction to the love of music is something that should be in any child's life.

If I was a worse person, I wouldn't have anything to complain about.

I'm actually trying to be encouraging to the OP here.

all I'm hearing from the OP are excuses. If you really wanted to do something, find a way to do it. Sacrifice sleep. Sacrifice comfort.

Don't come onto the forum and make excuses about something you and only you have the power to change. When there's a will, there's a way.

I appreciate the encouragement, but trust me, I don't need the desire, I already have that. I'm more than willing to sacrifice sleep and comfort. I do it quite often in my day to day life as it is.

The problem is that being married with a family I can no longer just up and leave and do my own thing. My wife has personal issues being left alone, despite the loud dog we have. She also has issues with trust, we have yet to find a babysitter yet that fits the bill. Also we're pretty introverted people, so not many friends, at least none that have the free time to devote to an all-day adventure. Not to open the door to my fantastic personal life too much, suffice it to say that I've already tried the 'friends and family' avenue. Many times. If it were an option I wouldn't have written this in the first place.

If it were just me I would be more than willing to sleep in my car either before or after the event to save the cash. And while someone earlier also mentioned spending less money on day to day crap, the truth is I already don't do that.

I have no Starbucks addiction, I have no fast-food addiction, I rarely eat lunch - if I do it's a can of soup or instant something I picked up at a discount store. As we speak I'm eating a microwavable rice thing that cost $0.50 from there. I do sacrifice, and I do it for my family.

I have to question how much joy Regionals would actually bring. You might be happier setting up an ultra hobby weekend with your local game store. Have epic matches of X-wing all weekend long. Personally, I think that sounds more fun than Regionals.

Will yall just give this man a break he just wanted to vent. All people are different and live different lives you can't judge a person without being in their shoes. Some people like to play casual epic games, some like to compete at the highest levels, everyone's different.

Life is a winding road, and it doesn't always go where we'd like. The limitations of our circumstances can be quite angering, but have faith and one day things will turn around and you'll get your shot, much like those commandos who got into Danny Glovers face at the end of Predator 2, you'll get your chance, another shot at glory.

Hope is the first step on the road to disapointment -- The Emperor of Man

Can I just ask where you live where the closest regional event is 350 miles away and what list you were thinking on running?

He's in Utah, I think Utah county if I remember right which adds about 20-30 miles to his trip from where I am at in Salt Lake. Boise is the closest one followed by Bloomsfield. Our closest in region is Mesa Arizona.

Actually I need to update that, I'm in Salt Lake now.

350 miles to Boise, ID.

520 miles to Denver, CO.

680 miles to Mesa, AZ.

Fun times.

If you ever do make it to Denver let me know and I'll buy you a beer.

For those of you without kids you have no idea how much money and time they eat up. All the things that have been did about digging a little deeper or saving on avoided luxury items, those techniques are just day to day survival. I'm lucky to sleep six hours in a row. Usually is 5 or 4.something. My kids are both over 5 so I'm almost to easy street where I only have to eat day care over summer. My vacation time is theirs, of they hey suck either my wife or I have to take off to Get them better.

I'm not complaining, I signed up for it and nothing in my life is more meaningful or rewarding. Just understand the things that work even you are without kids are not available to those of us with them.

No amount of positive thinking can overcome lack of money. Until you try to pay for health insurance for 4 or cloths or food... that kind of advice is just insulting.

Instead of lamenting the things you can't have, have you tried celebrating the things you do have? I hope your wife and child bring more joy into your life than X-Wing ever could.

They certainly do, however this is my hobby. A person needs a hobby to maintain sanity. And I figure if there's one place where I can find people who understand my point of view better than anyone else, it would be here.

Part of the reason I can't afford to go currently is that my son will be turning 2 years old next week, and his happiness will trump mine for the rest of my life. I'm looking to get him some (toddler sized) musical instruments, as I feel the introduction to the love of music is something that should be in any child's life.

If I was a worse person, I wouldn't have anything to complain about.

Is X-Wing not your hobby just because you can't make it to Regionals? Are there no local tournaments or online tournaments you can play in?