Bell of Lost Souls - Latest Comments in Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

fluger — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:42:48 -0000

Here's hoping!

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

Chaosgerbil — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:10:26 -0000

I'm so torn between taking Orks, Traitor Guard or Tzeentch "Space Wolves". Models from all of those armies are competing for attention on my painting desk.

Well, if the con sucks at least it will make TSHFT look better. ;)

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

fluger — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:50:57 -0000

Yeah, well hopefully this year's ConQuest Northwest (the GT you speak of) will be run better. Last year it was kind of a hodgepodge of rules issues and such. Prize support was excellent though. Gerry (who games at Fire and Sword with us) took best overall with his mech Blood Angels.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

fluger — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:10:49 -0000

Friday night at Fire and Sword. We start at 2 PM and stay until 2 or 3 AM. It's BYOB as well.

I'm there nearly every Friday night, and there's always a crowd of people of varying skill/experience levels.

We'd love to have you guys come up to TSHFT next time (we run it twice annually, so the next one is in Spring '10). We do a team style event in which you can make a team of up to 3, and that means you won't play each other on the first day; unless, like what happened with my team, we were all winning, so we had to play each other for the last two games.

Comp and Sports are factored in for Best Overall, and you can win things for those prizes, but the Best General prize is just as good as Best Overall, so it's basically the same thing.

Take a look at tshft.com for the scenario rules and scoring for the missions; there are secondary and tertiary objectives to really space out those who win and those who win big... (Pardon Zen's poor grammar/spelling, he's not a native English speaker).

Anyway, let me know if you're ever in the area and I'd love to throw down! :)

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

mkerr — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:36:02 -0000

I'm going to pin it on the two ex-wives, lol! :)

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

Chaosgerbil — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:52:36 -0000

"I think that Nick saying that he could beat 3500pts of Tau was stupid -- but I also know that he was joking around."

"He never claimed to have the best list. No one ever claimedi it was the best list."

"And how is it threatening to you that our one little gaming store in Austin swept those three major tournaments?"

Ah, the internet. Things that seem harmless or joking come across way differently to a relative stranger on the other side of the series of tubes. To many people (myself included) it did come across as bragging. Apparently it wasn't Nick's intention or yours to boast, but that' how it appeared. The claim was made "this may be the deadliest build in 40k" (slight paraphrase) and how are 40k gamer egos supposed to handle that? It inspires nerd rage, in some. That's a backlash you will have to deal with when egos are on the line and things aren't crystal clear. Also, what people might intend as constructive criticism might seem like hate to you. Ah yes, the internet.

That would be great if you came out to the Seattle area sometime. I think there is a GT coming up in January and also plenty of people down for a casual game.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

Chaosgerbil — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:45:41 -0000

Either I'm losing my touch or Stelek + BOLS comments + Texas have toughened you up.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

mkerr — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:39:11 -0000

I've got a lot of friends in Seattle and I've been reading about your events. I'm definitely bringing up some models to throw around the next time I'm heading your way.

It'll be like one of those business guys that always travels with his golf clubs!

You guys have a regular game night?

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

mkerr — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:55:32 -0000

No worries, I'm always here. :)

1) I don't think that joking that he could beat 3500pts of Tau (he's also a Tau player, by the way) is any different than someone else saying that he could beat Nick's list with 1850pts of Dark Eldar.

When you have a "my guys vs. your guys" perspective, you miss things like that. I think that Nick saying that he could beat 3500pts of Tau was stupid -- but I also know that he was joking around. You don't know him so you thought he was being a jerk -- but you also accepted it at face value because assuming the worst fits your worldview better than giving the guy the benefit of the doubt.

2) That's actually not true. GW's design studio supervises the FW rules. Your second point is also not true -- the guy that got second in the Gladiator had vanilla marines with no FW stuff.

It's easy to make assumptions about an event you've never been to, but it's kind of pointless. Who cares if you don't like the Adepticon Gladiator? Why take the time to shit on someone else who does like it?

It's going out of your way to attack and belittle someone who's proud of their accomplishment that boggles my mind. If you won YTTHcon and I thought it was because you were buddies with the organizer, I wouldn't say anything.

As a matter of fact, I've never picked a fight on the internet over 40K. I've defended myself from time to time, but I've never singled out a player, an event or a blog for my vitriol.

3) Yes, he did win and that's very good for him. He never claimed to have the best list. No one ever claimedi it was the best list. The fact that it's not the best list is completely off-topic. He won and we posted the list that he played with (and explained why it worked for him). End of story.

He doesn't honestly think he can beat 3500pts of Tau. He was making a joke. But even if he did, who cares? Why is that something you have to mention no less than a dozen times a day? Are you Mr. Tau?

And how is it threatening to you that our one little gaming store in Austin swept those three major tournaments? To me, it's like a single store selling three major lottery winning tickets -- an interesting story.

5) It's extremely easy (and cheap) to Monday morning quarterback an event. You can't say that a game was a "gimme" and IN THE SAME BREATH say that you aren't trying to detract from his win.

My gaming club is awesome. Awesome. We have incredibly talented players here that win huge tournaments. That's pretty freaking cool. So how does that affect you? I'm not saying that your gaming club isn't awesome -- it might be. I don't know if it is or not. Why is it worth your effort to try to take the wind out of my sails? Who appointed you the Great Pride Equalizer of Warhammer.

"Uh oh, these guys are too happy and proud of their accomplishments... I need to point out that they are actually worse than players who didn't even attend the event."

6) Can you quote me as saying that we're the greatest of all time? Because I'll fix it if I did. What I said is that we swept all of the major, non-soft score tournaments in the US this year. It's a fact. Not a boast -- a fact.

It's a fact that I'm proud of and that few other clubs can claim (especially a club as new as ours). But why is it your job to try to figure out a way to prove that something we've worked hard to accomplish for four years now is nothing but a pile of crap?

I just don't understand people that hate people they've never met so much that they'll spend hours picking holes in their happiness. You've got to be empty inside to do crap like that.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

mkerr — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:32:15 -0000

I don't feel heckled by you. Maybe I'm getting desensitized to it, lol.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

mkerr — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 01:31:02 -0000

I'm sure there are a lot of talented players that can't or choose not to come to events in the US. I know that I've always wanted to, but have never found the time to go an event in the UK.

But Adepticon attracts players from all over the world (something like a dozen countries, if I remember correctly) and many of those players are top players in from countries.

I do know that the best tournament players in the US generally attend Adepticon (mainly because the prize support is unreal and the competition is fierce).

Now I'm sure there are a lot of talented players that never leave their basement, but saying "the most talented players in the world that actually bother playing the game with other people" doesn't flow as nicely.

I'm still working on the Sportsmanship model, but it's coming along -- I expect to have something very effective by the next BOLSCON.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

Chumbalaya — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:37:51 -0000

Sorry I didn't get to this sooner, soap opera drama and all that.

1) Great, I'd like to think I'm one of those too. No game is worth getting riled up over, it's a fun way to kick back with some friends. Chest thumping about the "best list evar" that can beat Tau with a 1000 point handicap is stupid. And recent events have given me some very interesting insights on his character. I know you weren't involved, but be careful who you put up as a paragon of virtue.

2) Forge World doesn't balance their stuff, they don't check back with GW. It's like having an Apocalypse tourney, pointless. You can have a Gladiator event or Apoc day, but throwing unbalanced stuff into the game and turning it into "biggest wallet wins" doesn't impress upon me your level of skill, just the depth of your pockets.

3) He won 'Ard Boyz, good for him. He doesn't have the best list of all time and he couldn't beat Tau with a 1000 point handicap. I'm more than happy to call out that kind of silliness. Be happy for your friends, congratulate their wins, but don't bust out with the "Austin sweeps every 40k tourney, we're so cool"

4) Good for you, I respect that.

5) Winning Gladiator is great, doesn't make you the best 40k player ever (maybe most financially secure ;) ). Winning against 180 Ork foot lists is such a gimme, playing people who don't understand how reserves work, and matching up with said expert strategists is lucky. I'm not trying to detract from his win, he's got it and nothing can take it away. I'm talking about the crowing from the rooftops about how super awesome your club is. I'll detract from that claim all day.

The best way to have a competitive event, to me, is to cut out all the crap. Unbalancing points totals, restrictive composition, easily abused soft scores, FAQ/rules rewrites, "wacky" scenarios that unbalance the game, and the like. What's so wrong with playing 3 games, 1 of each mission, 1 of each deployment type? I don't want to be the guy who won because the scenario favored my army, I don't feel like I accomplished anything. The core mechanics of the game are sound, everything works pretty well, so it baffles me that most tournaments decide to just throw it out.

Be proud of your friends, be happy for them, revel in their greatness. I'm happy for them as well, like I already said. But don't tell me you are the greatest of all time because your buddies won 2 messed up tournies.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

TheKingElessar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 21:47:48 -0000

Sorry, crossed wires. We both said 'Best' as in, players. I made no comment on the quality of the event.

As regards Sportsmanship, following this thread I read the one below, I commented there, but, in summary, good idea.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

Chaosgerbil — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 19:10:51 -0000

As long as you don't mind being heckled and keep putting out interesting posts, I'll keep coming back.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

fluger — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:58:41 -0000

Too bad you guys are in Austin, it'd be awesome to get some games in against y'all with the group we have up here in Seattle.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

mkerr — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:35:47 -0000

Well, then I hope you come back and hang out a bit!

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

Chaosgerbil — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:52:47 -0000

I like the layout too, and the photoshopped pics are priceless.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

Chaosgerbil — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:48:50 -0000

TMI.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

mkerr — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:03:29 -0000

Lol! And you should know that I only wear my helmet in bed...

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

mkerr — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:02:27 -0000

I'm not aware of any major tournament in the US that uses Sportsmanship only as a tie-breaker.

I have no idea if Adepticon is the _best_ tournament in the world. I don't even know if it's the _best_ in the US (I'm sort of partial to BOLSCON myself). It helps to actually read what I said before going off on me. :)

Adepticon is the _largest_ 40K tournament in the world (as in number of attendees). I've been three times and had a great time every year. If you get a chance to come to the US to any tournament, that's a good one to choose (BOLSCON is also a good choice).

The Flywire is a micro-blog -- designed for really light blogging, but I have a tendency to write longer posts that I intend when I sit down.

Glad to have you TKE and I'd love to get your feedback on my posts!

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

TheKingElessar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:00:51 -0000

Depends. Do you consider there to be a total absence of Sporting Score as a requirement, or can it be used as a tiebreak? If so EVERY major Tournament in the British Isles qualifies.

Saying the best in the WORLD go to Adepticon is frnakly bullshit, for the simple reason that players cannot afford to fly to the US for an event, however large, from across the globe, in toy soldiers + bigger toy soldiers. You can (arguably) say US. World is misleading at best, and at worst an outright lie.

As this is my first visit to the flywire, I should add I like the layout. It's very simple and efficient looking.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

Chaosgerbil — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:21:45 -0000

All I can say now is that it's really sad there there is only one tournament that meets those standards for 40k.

Well done, that is quite a sweep.

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

Chaosgerbil — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:24:44 -0000

How about this:

1) I did the dishes last week and it is your turn
2) We never go out anymore
3) I hate Spike TV, let's watch Bravo
4) That hurt my feelings, apologize or else
5) No soup for you!
6) Why does that creepy Bigred fellow keep looking in our windows?
7) Not everything is bigger in Texas
8) Your friends are idiots
9) Does this make me look fat?
10) More models? Are you fucking kidding me?
11) You're wearing that yellow helmet again! NOOOOOO!

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

mkerr — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:29:16 -0000

Oh, and good luck at the GT. Seriously. I hope you kick some ass and please, please post battle reports on your blog!

Re: Bitter Nick-Shaped Pill

mkerr — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:20:34 -0000

Sweet, a numbered agument! I'm so happy -- I wish I could do this with the wife!

1) Neither Jordan nor Jon boasts about their gaming skillz (Nick, however, is a bit of a trash-talker, but a lot of fun to play). I'm guessing it's their humble, southern upbringing. Jordan did post his first article for BOLS last week (after much cajoling). He's going to be an awesome contributor.

The thing that strikes me the most about playing against Jon, Jordan and Nick is that they love the game and they have fun no matter how important the game is. They'll laugh and joke with you, share stories from their lives, and tell you not to do something stupid in the final round of the tournament. All three are great guys and deserve a pat on the back.

2) Jon didn't define the Gladiator rules, but Bigred and ) were involved in the planning committee for Adepticon. We repeatedly warned the Gladiator organizers that the Reaver was going to be a problem and that is should be banned.

I don't see how you can consider an event that allows Forgeworld to be less competitive. All of the players that attended had the same access to the army lists and models. They built the most abusive lists the could imagine and played their hardest.

It was a completely even playing field with no comp, no painting and no sportsmanship -- that's the essence of competitive.

3) Take some responsibility for the things that you say. The internet isn't a hole that you can throw shit into without getting a little on yourself. The 40K community is very small.

You sure use the phrase "butthurt" a lot. Anything you want to share?

Nick isn't "butthurt" that people are making fun of him -- he's actually having a great time with all of the attention. I, however, think it's childish to try to detract from another player's win.

4) I have no idea how many were at our first round of the 'Ard Boyz, but I suspect that it was around 30. It wasn't a small event and the competition was fierce. I knew it was going to be tough (I came in 5th) and considered going to an easier venue, but decided that playing with my friends was more important than an easy win.

5) Do you really think you aren't trying to detract from other player's wins? Saying things like winning "means precisely dick" and "he lucked out" and winning 'Ard Boys was like "winning at the Special Olympics" is detracting.

So what's the best measure of a competitive player's skill? Apparently not winning games and tournaments against players from all over the country. So enlighten me, Chum - help me understand why I shouldn't be proud of my friends that are excelling at the hobby.