Recently at a tournament I happened to be sitting next to the same player for the first two rounds, since I multitask a lot I was keeping an eye on what was going on around me. I noticed he was being extremely precise about every asteroid placement, I thought this a bit over the top. I do understand some people try to use them for gauging ranges, I don't need to do this myself but to each his own. third round I was paired against him, as he went to place the first asteroid in his left corner measuring exactly range 2 from each edge.

I waited til he had finished and tossed (literally) my first asteroid toward the opposite corner on his side in just enough position to prevent him from placing his next one exactly in that corner. The look on his face was priceless. next he went to place his 2nd one in my left corner trying to get it exactly range 2 from both edges, again I tossed (literally) my 2nd a debris field towards my right corner and blocked him from making his third placement in the precise corner.

Now I really could care less where the obstacles are normally because I know how to judge distance, but this was just too funny

I have never actually seen a person go through apoplexy, but I believe if he wasn't then he was as close as someone can get to it. He accused me of being unsportsmanlike for my careless attitude towards the placement of obstacles. I knew it would throw him off his game, which it did and his minor meltdown was entertaining for everyone else there.

Was I really being unsportsmanlike?

I can handle being called a Jerk or worse for doing it, but I though unsportsmanlike was going too far.

You can place your obstacles as precisely or imprecisely as you like, provided they end up in a legal spot. Neither of you were wrong, and your play was actually excellent. If you know where he wants the rocks, prevent them from going there. It's really rather obvious.

I will say, though, that I have seen an ultra-precise obstacle placement (took the player ~30 seconds to finalize the position) win a Regional final, so while it isn't strictly necessary to be extremely scientific with them, it certainly doesn't hurt your chances.

I play against a guy who does what you do. I am more precise with my own. I dont really have an issue with him doing this, but I know he is a less experienced and isnt as in to game theory, so I always chalked it up to that. With you on the otherhand, if placing them extra leisurely is your strategy to throw your opponent off, and in a competitive environment I could see that being especially effective, I think its brilliant.

When placing obstacles here is what I do.

1. Try to create lanes and turns in the middle of the board (not in range 2 of edge).

2. Place obstacles at least range 1 but less than range 2 from another to prevent placement of an obstacle in between.

3. I bring Obstacles sized/typed for the ships I am running. For example, when taking large base ships (or swarms) I tend to use smaller obstacles, and when taking small base ships or a 3 ship build type thing, I take larger asteroids. Also, when taking Dash/Soontir/Tycho I take debris tokens instead because they don't care about them.

Do I have to get precise with anything above? No. Just a general check of range to make sure that they are legal is all. However, while I don't care about the overall token placement, I to take a moment to place its general location to satisfy 1 and 2, or to setup interesting things with 3. The best thing I love to do when playing Dash is to bring the 3 largest debris tokens and try to get them placed as close to the center of the field as possible. Dash loves them and it discourages opponents from getting to close of my range 1 void.

I've always been taught you're not playing the game, you're playing your oponent. In a competition the games begin and are won weeks ahead of time, with planing, research and practice. At the event you keep your eyes open listen to what people say and do, and find ways to counter their plans. Placing obstacles to mess with someone's plan is no diferent then deciding you are going to k-turn behind them rather then block them. I commend your move and have done similar things myself.

He accused me of being unsportsmanlike for my careless attitude towards the placement of obstacles.

It's amazing how people will abuse a concept like Sportsmanship to get what they want. Which ironically makes them the ones suffering from poor sportsmanship.

It's clear you were trying to block his placement of asteroids, which is IMO a completely valid and even brilliant turn zero tactic. Myself and most people I've played tend to place them to make lanes, or a danger zone, or even try to spread them out enough to not be a factor.

But placing yours in such a way to derail someone else game plan, because they clearly are counting om them being in a exact location is truly a great tactic to use.

But again to call it unsportsmanlike is really trampling on the whole concept of sportsmanship. When you're playing any sort of competitive event, part of the whole idea is trying to deny the other person every advantage you can.

If that guy had have called me for bad sportsmanship, I would've asked him to call the TO over and the TO decide. I'm sure there would have been much eye-rolling. I would loved to have heard his "minor melt-down". It's as bad as if he places his ship near one corner of the board and you place yours diagonally opposite. "OMG, how could you do that?!? It's clear you're not going to engage in combat, so you're just going to run the clock out!! You #@%&!! That's so unfair!!"

Dudes like this are so amusing.

Whenever I play at home, I almost always literally just toss asteroids (and debris) onto the board. At tournaments, I've done nearly the same, though I do "toss" with strategy in mind (mainly spacing to block other placements). Whenever I've thrown a piece, half-ass measured to make sure it's kinda-sorta where I wanted it, and then shrugged and said, "Eh, good enough," I've gotten good-natured chuckles out of my opponents.

Forget the 10th-of-a-millimeter precise placements, let's fly around and shoot each other already!

I only care about placing my first obstacle precisely in order to keep one of my corners as clear as possible (about Range 3 from two edges, making sure nothing else can be placed nearer to that corner). After that, I tend to toss them.

I do what the OP does. If my opponent is being meticulous, I'll be sloppy in the hopes of messing with their head. I really don't find obstacles to be difficult to get around, so that plays into my strengths.

I only care about placing my first obstacle precisely in order to keep one of my corners as clear as possible (about Range 3 from two edges, making sure nothing else can be placed nearer to that corner). After that, I tend to toss them.

If I can get both this way on my opponents side, then I pick which sode of the board I run up based on lanes. It is very rare I dont want to go head first with my build.

My advice on asteroid placement:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/129066-strategy-session-5-asteroid-placement-strategies/?hl=%2Bstrategy+%2Bsession

I'm guessing it wasn't your intent to offend him; asteroid blocking is a legitimate tactic and certainly comes into play right there in the beginning with initiative.

That said, I know many folks, myself included, that don't like having things tossed at them. It can be interpreted as a dismissive gesture. When I worked retail, customers that would toss their debit/credit card at me across the counter seemed to project an air of dismissive superiority. Handing cash or card to a cashier acknowledges their humanity in a way; I could draw the same parallel with someone tossing obstacles on the board.

I'm a novice strategist when it comes to obstacle placement, but I do make a point of placing them with care.

Or, the guy was just pissed about your blocking his placements, which is actually kind of funny.

I have place asteroids just inside of range 3 of the corner edges to prevent an opponent from getting them any closer.

I think what you did is humorous and definitely threw him off.

Some people take the game way too seriously.

I played with one guy this past weekend who really creeped me out because he didn't verbalize anything from moves to actions and didn't have any reaction when I blew up his first ship. He just sat across and scowled with very little verbal communication.

I had to look across the table to see what Crit I placed on him in order to know what the actual effect was. (Still not sure if he actually played with the crit effect.)

I ended up losing to him, but it was a relief just to get the game over with and get away from him.

Unless I see him in a tournament, I don't plan to play him again in a casual match.

There are other people that I have won against and lost to that I would rather play because they make it fun and realize it is a game.

When placing asteroids, I prioritize forming a fish... If my oponent denies it, I try to form a flower... If everything fails, I try to form a bird...

When placing asteroids, I prioritize forming a fish... If my oponent denies it, I try to form a flower... If everything fails, I try to form a bird...

As long as there's a method to your madness then.

When placing asteroids, I prioritize forming a fish... If my oponent denies it, I try to form a flower... If everything fails, I try to form a bird...

Is it sad that I can see exactly what you're talking about?

When placing asteroids, I prioritize forming a fish... If my oponent denies it, I try to form a flower... If everything fails, I try to form a bird...

Is it sad that I can see exactly what you're talking about?

Yep, sad and more than a little disturbing.