I guess I actually play this game to "play the game" not sit around and advance for not playing

That's the thing though. The result of this match hurt both players. And I've already given Ryan plenty of grief over it

Yo, KT, Kelvan. Yup, that's what it all comes down to right? The win at any cost. Well, I'm with Barriecritzer on this. That situation was about as lame of a story I've heard, but you calling this guy a "keyboard warrior" just doesn't make sense. Are you supposed to be some kind of real veteran looking down his nose at an unblooded civilian? If you are, thank you for your service. If not, whateves. Barriecritzer is entitled to share his opinion about the effete antics of the players of that particular game.

How about this: They were characters in a Star Wars story. The return to report to the Dark Lord of the Sith.

"What Happened?" glowers Lord Vader.

"My lord, we spotted the enemy."

"And then," coaxes Vader.

"We left, my lord,"

Cue the scene of several Imperial fighter pilots being force choked.

Frankly that ID at Hoth is what made me realize this podcast isn't for me. Great guys, good energy, they just have a different focus on the game than I do. My opinion is just that. Mine. Some people share it, some don't, but I think we can still get along together.

Still, they have the best opening of all the X wing podcasts.

I've discussed how people misconstrue or misrepresent "Fly Casual". I think this is likewise an unfair application of "Win at All Cost". Neither player did anything unsportsmanlike. I too wish they had engaged. (I am one of the most aggressive tourney players you'll run into; when TC has their vids up check them out. I gave Ryan a hard time about it too, because he knows I would've moved in, win or lose.)

WAAC has the implication of Machiavellian "end justifies the means" breach of ethics, which simply doesn't apply to this example.

Ryan, I just want to comment that you seem like a really mature player. It takes a lot of integrity to say that you made a bad decision especially on the Internet. I've made a few bad decisions in my life as well. It's not a single bad choice for one game at one tournament that defines us. What defines us is how we learn from our failings and move forward. Thank you for having the courage to share that with the rest of us.

This does remind me of something we should practice. Approach vectors when an opponent fortresses...

Ryan, I just want to comment that you seem like a really mature player. It takes a lot of integrity to say that you made a bad decision especially on the Internet. I've made a few bad decisions in my life as well. It's not a single bad choice for one game at one tournament that defines us. What defines us is how we learn from our failings and move forward. Thank you for having the courage to share that with the rest of us.

The thing is, I totally understand the decision. Your opponent fortresses. You think maybe if you storm the gates, you give your opponent a free win. Is what Ryan did wrong?

Definitely not my style, and thoroughly unwatchable X-Wing, but I don't see an argument for the case that the choice was objectively wrong, either strategically or ethically.

EDIT: And thanks for that post Diggity. Ryan and I wear our hearts on our sleeves. When we're smug, we're intolerable. When we screw up, we have our spoons at the ready for the humble pie.

No. Ryan broke no rules, he stretched no boundaries, and his opponent was dong the exact same thing. But Ryan has expressed he felt like he could have done Something different. He feels like he made a wrong decision. I don't know what I would have done in the same situation. Ryan has to follow his heart. It also takes courage to say "I could have done better" in a public forum. I was merely offering him my support.

Ryan's kick ass mea culpa really answered every question I had about the situation.

It's easy to just ignore the stress of such an event when you are on the outside, that has since become very clear to me.

I see MD's point about my use of "Win at any cost," but any implication of a Machiavellian plot is not what I had in mind.

Diggity Dug really hit the nail on the head, and I feel the same way.