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rhane
Underboss
1412 Posts
    
 | | 05/28/2006 10:05 PM |
| Hey all,
I JUST got home from the CO qualifier, and I had to get my thoughts written down. Based on my state of mind right now, there is a 80% chance that the rest of this post will be nothing but a ramble.
First and foremost, CONGRATS to Michael Clasen. He is a great player, came with a great warband, and did a great job...man, that's alot of greats. Well played!
Congrats also to Felagund (Jacob Lujan), and the Doninator (Don Adkins). Together, the 4 of us defended Colorado's honor from the invaders...hehe...Just kidding, California and Utah crew....thanx much for making the hurculean effort to pay us a visit.
Okay, now to the meat.
Rather than boring you all with a long discussion on the matches I played, etc, I'll just say that I had what I thought was a good warband, I had some favorable matchups, more than my fair share of luck, and I was able to go 4-1, and be top seed in the finals. My warband was Young Master, Gith Monks x4, Lantern Bearer, TWolf, Man at Arms on Kings Road.
Instead, I want to share with you all the worst game of ANYTHING, I think I've ever played. My matchup was with Jake (Felagund), and his Marut/Coualt/Ballista. When we sat down, I was really thinking it was a formality...I'd drop 80 Unavoidable on the Marut and then clean up. I know Jake's a great player, but at the time I felt it should have been a slam dunk.
Anyway, once the pieces were placed, and we got underway, 2 thoughts kept coming into my mind. Make sure he can't shoot anything with the Ballista, and "he can move 12 and attack, and then attack twice at the beginning of the next round".
So, I parked much of my force in the center forest, and proceeded to completely break down. The best description I can give, is that I literally sat there for 45 minutes like a deer in the headlights, and then, down on points, I panicked and served up my monks like lambs to the slaughter. It was surreal...I was absoutely paralyzed...the thought of him moving the Marut and SS-ing, and then getting 2 more attacks at the beginning of the next round had me feeling like Michael's Shuluth had hit me with a mind blast. I really don't know how else to describe it...I just literally couldn't think of anything to do.
So, obviously, I didn't advance, and Jake went on to have a great final match.
Anyway, like I said, this was a going to be a total jumble. The lesson that I learned that you have to just play your warband and do the best you can. Any action is almost always better than inaction...at least on the offensive you have the chance of a few lucky breaks and a possible win. If you sit and do nothing, you're still going to lose, and like me, look like an inept boob doing it.
So, once again congrats to all! Please learn from my mistakes, and good luck to those of you with qualifiers to come. Now I gotta start buttering up the Mrs. so she'll let me go to GenCon!
Take care,
Mark
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Rhane
"The focus is sharp in the city..."
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AesophDarkfable
Warlord
5628 Posts
| | 05/28/2006 10:12 PM |
| Congrats on the top 4 finish.
Good luck with convincing the wife :) | |
Im out- find me on Hordelings if you want to chat. | |
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Eliminator53
Sergeant
628 Posts
| | 05/29/2006 8:27 AM |
| | Congrats Mark! Way to represent. Seriously though, you need to go to Gen Con w/ us. | |
Champion of Tavern Stripper
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Squire of Death Giants
Somethin-or-another of Big Arse Swords | |
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memphisto
Warrior
213 Posts
| | 05/30/2006 12:34 PM |
| Don't be too hard on yourself, Mark. This sort of situation has happened to many, if not all, competitive skirmishers.
When I went to GenCon last year I faced BShugg in round 2 and had a similar experience only in the "deer in headlights" sense - my actual warband sucked and it wasn't a good matchup. However, after the match I couldn't remember what happened. I just froze up, made a bunch of meaningless moves during the match, and then Brad handed me my head and said, "Good luck, guy." I tanked the rest of the day and had no confidence. It was a below average experience for me, but I learned from it.
You learned from yours as well, you still qualified and did a hell of a job winning swiss, and all that's left to do is get the misses to OK your trip to GenCon. [)] | |
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Dagni
Sergeant
870 Posts
| | 05/30/2006 7:23 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by memphisto
Don't be too hard on yourself, Mark. This sort of situation has happened to many, if not all, competitive skirmishers.
Yep, exactly.
quote:
Originally posted by rhane
Instead, I want to share with you all the worst game of ANYTHING, I think I've ever played. My matchup was with Jake (Felagund), and his Marut/Coualt/Ballista. When we sat down, I was really thinking it was a formality...I'd drop 80 Unavoidable on the Marut and then clean up. I know Jake's a great player, but at the time I felt it should have been a slam dunk.
I've had such a similar experience. It was the fifth round of the 2004 Championships. I'm 3-1, and probably need to win to make top 8. This round is Quickstrike, which is my worst format - I've got a titan band with Aspect of Demogorgon. There's one player who's 3-1 that I really want to face this round, he's my best chance to win this round, because his band really can't handle mine. I even tell him that I hope I face him this round.
Sure enough, I draw Jesster's Too Many Puppies band. He has the Moon Elf Fighter, 3 Evermeets, and a few other ranged units like a Graycloak or two and cheap fodder. I have Aspect of Demogorgon, pretty much immune to his whole warband, and 2 Driders, which can lightning bolt through his stuff really fast, or transpose Demogorgon on him in an instant.
I proceeded to decide to try to keep him from getting my weak stuff, like the Orcs or even the Driders. Then throw Demogorgon out there at the end. Had I moved Demogorgon out first, and the Driders behind him, I probably win, though it wasn't a sure thing. But I was so afraid of screwing up what I thought was a unloseable matchup, that I gave myself a very weak chance to win, that relied on winning at least one init in three rounds with commander 2 vs his commander 5.
The biggest single problem was that my strategy was dictated by what I thought my chances were when I first sat down - not what I thought they were once I had the chance to evaluate his weapons more carefully. So, somehow still believing this is my game to lose, I try to avoid EVERY way he has of winning, even after I've figured out that he has too many options to be avoided.
The good news is I learned so much from my disappointment with myself in that tournament. Indeed, had I won that game, I might not be as good a player today, because I might not have evaluated my mistakes in that game nearly as closely.
We always learn more from losses, though I also recommend trying to look for mistakes even in wins.
- Dagni | |
Proud member of the GRUUMSH fan club! | |
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10425 Posts
United States
| | 05/31/2006 10:42 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Dagni
quote:
Originally posted by memphisto
Don't be too hard on yourself, Mark. This sort of situation has happened to many, if not all, competitive skirmishers.
Yep, exactly.
Dave's confidence has just improved. Here on this thread are some extremely excellent players admitting to sometimes freezing up or otherwise having cloudy minds. Wow.
So it's not just me.
Dave | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
My Trade Thread and My Reference Thread; Winner of WBC IV, IX and XIII; Rule #0: bshugg is always right! | |
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sienar
Sergeant
640 Posts
| | 05/31/2006 11:26 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Dagni
quote:
Originally posted by memphisto
Don't be too hard on yourself, Mark. This sort of situation has happened to many, if not all, competitive skirmishers.
Yep, exactly.
quote:
Originally posted by rhane
Instead, I want to share with you all the worst game of ANYTHING, I think I've ever played. My matchup was with Jake (Felagund), and his Marut/Coualt/Ballista. When we sat down, I was really thinking it was a formality...I'd drop 80 Unavoidable on the Marut and then clean up. I know Jake's a great player, but at the time I felt it should have been a slam dunk.
I've had such a similar experience. It was the fifth round of the 2004 Championships. I'm 3-1, and probably need to win to make top 8. This round is Quickstrike, which is my worst format - I've got a titan band with Aspect of Demogorgon. There's one player who's 3-1 that I really want to face this round, he's my best chance to win this round, because his band really can't handle mine. I even tell him that I hope I face him this round.
Sure enough, I draw Jesster's Too Many Puppies band. He has the Moon Elf Fighter, 3 Evermeets, and a few other ranged units like a Graycloak or two and cheap fodder. I have Aspect of Demogorgon, pretty much immune to his whole warband, and 2 Driders, which can lightning bolt through his stuff really fast, or transpose Demogorgon on him in an instant.
I proceeded to decide to try to keep him from getting my weak stuff, like the Orcs or even the Driders. Then throw Demogorgon out there at the end. Had I moved Demogorgon out first, and the Driders behind him, I probably win, though it wasn't a sure thing. But I was so afraid of screwing up what I thought was a unloseable matchup, that I gave myself a very weak chance to win, that relied on winning at least one init in three rounds with commander 2 vs his commander 5.
The biggest single problem was that my strategy was dictated by what I thought my chances were when I first sat down - not what I thought they were once I had the chance to evaluate his weapons more carefully. So, somehow still believing this is my game to lose, I try to avoid EVERY way he has of winning, even after I've figured out that he has too many options to be avoided.
The good news is I learned so much from my disappointment with myself in that tournament. Indeed, had I won that game, I might not be as good a player today, because I might not have evaluated my mistakes in that game nearly as closely.
We always learn more from losses, though I also recommend trying to look for mistakes even in wins.
- Dagni
This is why I try to never underestimate my opponent. Even a noob with some PORC (pile o' random crap) band. It doesn't take much to have a game swing the wrong way.
My biggest problem is getting flustered when one or two die rolls that should easily go my way don't. I'll tend to play desperate way to early and pay for it.
My worst example I can think of similar to this was in Track, not DDM. I was racing the 800m in Districts in High School. Top 3 qualify. I was in 3rd place with about 100 meters to go. I was ahead of a guy whom I had never beaten. The thought crossed my mind 'What am I doing ahead of him?' As soon as that thought happened, I was doomed to 4th place.
Never think you are too good to lose or not good enough to win. Both thoughts are very dangerous. | |
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Felagund
Sergeant
922 Posts
| | 05/31/2006 2:19 PM |
| Like the others said, Mark, don't feel too bad. After all, you got to witness the very same thing happen to me immediately afterwards!
In a lot of ways, I think it was almost easier for me going into our matchup. Like everyone else, I was pretty sure it was an auto-loss for me. This meant that I was under a lot less pressure to succeed.
Furthermore, as we played, I realized that getting that 80 auto-damage on the Marut isn't as easy as it seems. It takes three phases to do (move YM into position, attack with 4 Giths). This means the Marut will get to activate, as well as receive a SS from the Couatl. He can likely get to the YM, and/or move out of attack range of the unactivated Giths. It's a more difficult setup than it seems at first. Plus, the Ballista meant you couldn't risk exposing any figures before you made your move.
Be sure to give yourself credit for sticking it out even after things went bad for you. I totally wrote myself out of the game with Michael after some bad rolls set me back. I honestly thought I had no chance at winning. This led to some really sloppy mistakes on my part. I learned a lot from losing that game, and I'm sure you learned a lot from our game as well.
Good luck sweet talking the wife! | |
Champion of Gnomes | |
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rhane
Underboss
1412 Posts
| | 05/31/2006 9:04 PM |
| Thanx for the kind words all...its nice to hear that its happened to other folks. My terrible final game aside, I still had a great time at the tourney. We need to find a way to play more often with the Longmont and Denver crews, and playing with the out-of-staters was awesome too!
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Rhane
"The focus is sharp in the city..."
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Eliminator53
Sergeant
628 Posts
| | 05/31/2006 10:51 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by rhane
Thanx for the kind words all...its nice to hear that its happened to other folks. My terrible final game aside, I still had a great time at the tourney. We need to find a way to play more often with the Longmont and Denver crews, and playing with the out-of-staters was awesome too!
You gonna go to the Colorado Open Round 2? I am gonna drive up there if anyone else wants to go.
We should have a game @ Attactix like once a month or something. That way the southerners can syphon off the northerners DCI points[:p] | |
Champion of Tavern Stripper
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sienar
Sergeant
640 Posts
| | 06/01/2006 9:29 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Eliminator53
quote:
Originally posted by rhane
Thanx for the kind words all...its nice to hear that its happened to other folks. My terrible final game aside, I still had a great time at the tourney. We need to find a way to play more often with the Longmont and Denver crews, and playing with the out-of-staters was awesome too!
You gonna go to the Colorado Open Round 2? I am gonna drive up there if anyone else wants to go.
We should have a game @ Attactix like once a month or something. That way the southerners can syphon off the northerners DCI points[:p]
We'll be ready. The pickets have been erected.
I've been looking at another site in north Denver to have one once a month. We'll try to get on Jonathan to be more consistent running ones at Attactix (and report them). | |
[http://www.hordelings.com/frontend/profiles/profile.php?user_id=22] | |
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Eliminator53
Sergeant
628 Posts
| | 06/01/2006 11:56 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by sienar
We'll be ready. The pickets have been erected.
I've been looking at another site in north Denver to have one once a month. We'll try to get on Jonathan to be more consistent running ones at Attactix (and report them).
Pickets? It's gonna take more than that. We can have Travis break those down for us because as he claimed all day [)]friday, "I'm Juggernaut B***h!" | |
Champion of Tavern Stripper
Knight of Knights
Squire of Death Giants
Somethin-or-another of Big Arse Swords | |
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Dagni
Sergeant
870 Posts
| | 06/02/2006 6:42 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by sienar
This is why I try to never underestimate my opponent. Even a noob with some PORC (pile o' random crap) band. It doesn't take much to have a game swing the wrong way.
Hehe, no, that's a totally different story! As far as the one game, I knew I was facing an awesome opponent with an awesome band - a band that had a terrible matchup against my band.
The other story, it was only my 4th tournament ever, and only my second day of playing in tournaments. You might think I'm the noob with PORC in this story. Nope, it's only the 4th DDM tournament ever, also, and I've won 2 of the first 3. (The other one was a pickup tourney, and I switched warbands, little realizing that the 'pickup' tourney would have insane prize support.)
This tourney is maybe a 14 person pickup tourney, single-elim. I'm using the band that's won two tournaments: 100 pt Harbinger only: Drow Cleric, Troll, 2 Worg, 3 Orc Warrior. 14 people single elim, so 2 people get first round byes. Myself, and another player, who's never played the game before, and just threw together a warband with what he and his friend bought. He had a Mummy, Half-Orc Fighter, at least one Human Executioner, and some other stuff. He hasn't played, so I help him out during the bye and show him how the game works, and the rules, etc.
We play second round. I totally assume I'm gonna win, and make some big mistakes. I'll still probably win... but then my Drow Cleric of Lolth routs (+11 morale check). Middle of the board, speed 4, remember? Routs slowly! Fails to rally... fails to rally again! Off the board! So 3 failed morale checks, and I lose the game.
I have yet a third story about getting mad and thus playing like a headless chicken for the rest of the game, but I'll save it.
- Dagni | |
Proud member of the GRUUMSH fan club! | |
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