Folks, I've been noticing a tendency lately for the online X-Wing community to raise their torches and pitchforks over various issues. Recently, this ire seems to be directed toward a call a TO made at a Regional. In listening to reports from a few other TOs around the community, it seems like there are more and more reports of players acting in a hostile manner toward the people running the events. A few things to remember:

1. Most TOs are serving as unpaid volunteers. We sacrifice one of our weekend days (or in some cases an entire weekend for larger events) to allow other players to have the chance to play the game we all love. We usually don't get any special compensation from the store and infrequently get special compensation from the tournament kits (which we really only get if we're running a Store Championship event or higher). Even then, a lot of us take those prizes and give them out to players instead. Often, our only payment is the satisfaction of running an event and (hopefully) the appreciation of the players participating in it.

2. We have to wear a lot of hats. Despite whether or not there are various level of judges available, pretty much everyone is needed to run logistics, input results, double check player information, makes rules calls, etc.

3. We're often under some form of time pressure. Stores usually can't stay open forever, so we need to keep things moving in a timely fashion.

4. There will be occasions where a TO needs to look something up or double check information. As that's happening, there's a relatively decent chance that their attention will be needed elsewhere. Sometimes we need to make the best call we can in a given situation. Sometimes that's the "right" call. Sometimes it could be a better call. Sometimes it's an unpopular call. Sometimes it's the wrong call, but it's the call that gets made because a call needs to get made.

5. If we make the wrong call and you're trying to advocate for yourself (or someone else), do so in a calm manner. Your attention is likely on your game and your performance. Our attention is on the event as a whole, the other dozens of games going on, and what we need to do at that moment to keep it all going smoothly. If you find out a call was wrong and nothing can be done about it, talk to us after the event.

6. For every little mistake we might make, players make a dozen more. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten score sheets from players where the numbers don't match each other, or where a player has accidentally flipped their score with their opponent. In addition to doing our job, we often have to double or triple check the jobs that everyone else are doing at that moment.

7. Let us do our job and keep things going smoothly. If you're in a venue where pairings need to be announced verbally and can't be printed or displayed on a screen, please quietly listen as table pairings are announced.

8. Imagine how fried you are after playing 6 rounds of X-Wing during the day. Triple that and it's how your TO feels at the end of the day.

It's a little bit disappointing just how venomous some of the reactions are to what happened at the WI regional. TOs are human too. Next time you see your local event organizer, clap them on the back, thank them, and offer to buy them a beer. It's hard work, long work, and often goes unappreciated and unrecognized.

TO's are human, treat them as such.

Should be simple enough to remember.

Hear, hear!

It's a little bit disappointing just how venomous some of the reactions are to what happened at the WI regional. TOs are human too. Next time you see your local event organizer, clap them on the back, thank them, and offer to buy them a beer. It's hard work, long work, and often goes unappreciated and unrecognized.

I completely agree with the majority your post, though I really wouldn't use the word "venomous" to describe the discussion (unless there are other threads I'm not aware of). No one is saying anything negative about him as a person. People are focusing on discussing whether the consequences were appropriate and the inconsistency between the rationale given at the time and later (which sort of rekindled a mostly completed discussion).

Compared to one I remember from last year where the TOs were called all sorts of "incompetent," this is pretty focused etc...

I will also add that This is a GAME! If a TO, judge or Marshall makes a ruling against your opponent that seems harsh or you know it to be incorrect then you need to say something. Judging is hard and both players have a responsibility to make sure the rules are followed. Even if you have to call out something that could be costly to yourself. If you let something happen you know to be wrong and win because of it that is just as bad as cheating.

I will also add that This is a GAME! If a TO, judge or Marshall makes a ruling against your opponent that seems harsh or you know it to be incorrect then you need to say something. Judging is hard and both players have a responsibility to make sure the rules are followed. Even if you have to call out something that could be costly to yourself. If you let something happen you know to be wrong and win because of it that is just as bad as cheating.

The most unfortunate thing about games today is that people's desire to win is greater than their need for fair play. Which is sad, a bit of a community generalisation, but it has been my experience.

I would like to TO an event one of these days but I don't get to play anywhere near as often as I would like (I've played twice since the beginning of October); I don't think I could sacrifice a chance to play at an event just to officiate it. But I appreciate that there are those of you out there who do that. I haven't been to an event yet with a TO but I would hope that I wouldn't see anyone trying to give a TO any guff.

Agreed, however I have beef with the FFG system of allowing a TO to interpret rules. There should be rules and no personal calls about them, only about things about the circumstance and player behavior.

Link to referenced thread, anyone?

Agreed, however I have beef with the FFG system of allowing a TO to interpret rules. There should be rules and no personal calls about them, only about things about the circumstance and player behavior.

That'd be nice, if we had a tight enough rule set to allow it. Unfortunately FFG are pretty notorious for writing cards that can be interpreted a couple of different ways and require immediate FAQ'ing, and if you hold an event between FAQ updates you just have to make a call as best you can.

Agreed, however I have beef with the FFG system of allowing a TO to interpret rules. There should be rules and no personal calls about them, only about things about the circumstance and player behavior.

That'd be nice, if we had a tight enough rule set to allow it. Unfortunately FFG are pretty notorious for writing cards that can be interpreted a couple of different ways and require immediate FAQ'ing, and if you hold an event between FAQ updates you just have to make a call as best you can.

Not really. Everyone in every games system pretty much says that. They can playtest all they like (though more would have helped in a few cases lol) but nothing compares to a hoard of gamer geeks trying to squeeze any advantage they can out of rules that weren't written by lawyers.

RoV

Agreed, however I have beef with the FFG system of allowing a TO to interpret rules. There should be rules and no personal calls about them, only about things about the circumstance and player behavior.

You also can't exactly spell out what to do with every human interaction. Because humans.

Agreed, however I have beef with the FFG system of allowing a TO to interpret rules. There should be rules and no personal calls about them, only about things about the circumstance and player behavior.

There's no sport where the ref doesn't have to make a judgement call or two.

Good job TO's keep up the good work!

TO's are human, treat them as such.

Should be simple enough to remember.

Makes as well for a lot less stuff to read.

Now I could start going on a rant how the op is doing it all wrong, but I guess that would be the wrong moment for it. °_^

I don't see a general negative behaviour against TOs. But like in every area there are people who should not get too much "power". These few black sheep can ruin the reputation of all the others. These are just individual cases, I see nothing more here. But they exist and it is normal to be upset about them (especially when they don't want to leave and make room for more skilled and enthusiasic, just better TOs).

As someone who TO's regularly myself; I do agree. However; there are also a number of people who want to TO for some weird perceived prestige and don't actually know the rules or how to do math correctly. These people shouldn't run events as they can't. Simple.

Never had any issues + we have the best TOs.

Do TOs bring cans of air fresheners?

Do TOs bring cans of air fresheners?

Why would we?

Do TOs bring cans of air fresheners?

Why would we?

So what is the vetting process? How many questions on the test? What about oversight? Is it a group or just one person at FFG?

So what is the vetting process?

There isn't one really. They had talked about some sort of judge system where people would have to take a test of some sort to be recognized as officially sanctioned judges by FFG but that's never happened.

So it's up to the people hosting the Regional or other even to make sure it runs smoothly. I'd assume if an event goes poorly enough then FFG would step in and do something about it.

But the tournament document does say that the TO/Judge/Marshall has the final say on everything.

Yeah, makes sense, that system could never be abused.

Do TOs bring cans of air fresheners?

Why would we?

Sweaty gamer odour. It ain't nice.

TO'd generally are great people just trying to run great events. That said, over the years I've had a few charge a lot for not much prize support, and not much better attitude, but that's rare.