tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565295932127051762.post8760846077880634244..comments2023-09-01T05:36:12.079-05:00Comments on The Unstable Dice: Overrated & UnderratedJohn Gaszakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10924956544538183364noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565295932127051762.post-52280255836184623522009-06-23T11:10:33.493-05:002009-06-23T11:10:33.493-05:00Maybe you are right in the sense that it has to do...Maybe you are right in the sense that it has to do with age. (Though I do admit I would rather start referring to us as old dogs or old roses. Why do we need to be something smelly and old.) It seems to me that there are enough things in life that require a certain level of endurance and intensity, so why would I want to make my hobby one of those things. I think we both would agree that we enjoy competition, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be in a relaxing form. I agree that if I have to travel across an expo hall to go potty and I must do it in 10 minutes, that does not make for a relaxed time. Maybe as the next generation of TOs start taking the reins, they will bring back the elements we are discussing here.John Gaszakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10924956544538183364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2565295932127051762.post-19567928329365531632009-06-23T07:09:07.621-05:002009-06-23T07:09:07.621-05:00I'm with you. I've several pet peeves wit...I'm with you. I've several pet peeves with large tournaments. <br /><br /> 1. I'm a runner, but I hate having to run down a long line of tables, elbow aside other players, hurdle display bases and troop packs just to get to the other side of my game table to move a unit into place for a later assault. Then run back of course to line up shots. Anything more than four tables without an opening between is rude.<br /><br />2. I've never attended a large tournament wherein I could actually hear the mid-game announcements. In some tournaments I couldn't hear my opponent across the table. Huh? What's the point?<br /><br />3. Inadequate space between tables. Most of us take a lot of stuff to tourney. I play Orks, so I take more than most. You try squeezing a 3x2 display base under a table already packed with boxes from the terrain set up. If I leave it in the "aisle", I'm asking for the next runner (see item #1) to kick it two tables down and one aisle over. Spacing, noise, accessibility, oh yeah.<br /><br />4. Food and restrooms: At some point in the long day of gaming I'm going to need both of the above in one order or the other. Easy access to food and pottys is vital. How can I race down the arena only to find the restrooms out of service? What's the point of havning an hour for food when it takes 20 minutes to get to the food? I usually take a bag lunch to avoid the 2o minute exercise. Having available space to comfortably nosh my tea and crumpets makes a nice thoughtful touch.<br /><br />Fewer, nicely placed tables; access to food and potty; audible announcements; comfortable space to gather, nosh, and socialize means fewer players. The best tourneys I've been part of had fifty or less players. Beautiful terrain, excellent organization, and creative scenarios for me are assumed part of any tourney for which I'm charged an entry fee.<br /><br />In summary, smaller, quality venues make excellent tournaments. But I'm an old fart.Erniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17785269571545997179noreply@blogger.com