Chatter Behind the Bike Shed - Competitive Edge

One of the things I like about basing up figures and the like is that it leaves the mind to wander off where ever it wants. Whilst mine was doing so I fetched up on the memory of a post by Tamsin regarding here recent performance at the World Wargames Championships and then turned to the looming Analogue Painting Challenge possibly because we are running partners as last year we raced each other to the finish line where I just pipped Tamsin through not having to get up the next morning for work  ;-)

Anyway back to Tamsin and that run of play at the Worlds. Seems Tamsin had a great time and she certainly looked the part when I met her at the show. Well she had a great time apart from ONE opponent. From reading her posts I would say anyone she played after the joker would have seemed a true sport. What grabbed my attention at the time and what I was thinking as I scattered sand onto my base was that Tamsin suspected the guy of out and out cheating. Even having different measure sticks that would measure long or short dependant on the need of the time. Whilst almost all wargamers I am sure would never do such a thing I wonder if the one's doing so think about what they are doing and how do they rationalise it? For instance did that turd think it was up to his opponent to check out his measuring sticks so it's their fault if he used these? Or is it simply a competitive edge in his warped mind? 

ASL is an amazingly complex set of rules that in reality you do not need to know that many rules to play but greater knowledge certainly gives you an advantage. I think it's a fair comment that if your opponent fails to take advantage of a rule you should not feel the need to inform them of said rule, especially in a competitive game. However I often do so as to increase both sides enjoyment of the game and to hopefully help to make future games that much better. However I have witnessed players allowing someone to use a rule wrongly (firing main armament whilst crew exposed with one man turret) whilst it suited them (opponent keeps missing) but once they get a hit inform them they can't fire the gun as crew exposed. On the first attempt at firing the more knowledgeable player should explain you can't fire whilst the commander is up in the cupola and that he needs to get back inside the turret and load the bloody thing.

Again you can excuse your actions citing in this case A0.2 which states mistakes in the past have to stand. Mistakes yes, but when you know your opponent is using a rule incorrectly and you don't point it out your cheating mate.

Most games rely on a honour system between opponents and lets face it often you know your opponent so it's got to be a fairly low act to cheat yourself to a win. Another wargames related pastime is the soon to start Painting Challenge. Curt has always insisted we Police ourselves and whilst this is the only way to do it, it's ore than a little possible to cheat your way to victory by wheeling out fully painted units left right and archive but really why would you? Recent sledging had the very accidental upsetting of one of our fair crowd about his style of priming with lavish jokes about using many colours of primer that resulted in a finished figure. Of course this was supposed to just be good natured leg pulling but it was ironically the upset parties high level of fairness and good play that made the fun into a group of rather abashed boys (and odd girl). If last year is anything to go by this is one event that is more about the journey than the finish line, the friendly banter and support we all get and give really makes the event a joy to belong to.

Well these last few units are not going to finish themselves and I still have a few evenings of prep left in me so until tomorrow, have fun.