I've never really been one to give a game by game recounting at a tournament. Part of that is just the fact that I don't want to take notes during the game or after; I want to enjoy the whole gaming experience, win or lose. Good sportsmanship was important to my father and he instilled that in me. Also, I've developed friendships in the 5+ years I have played this game competitively and some of those have long since eclipsed the game itself in importance. So...I have a top ten experiences at GenCon.

Before I give that list, let me first say a big thank you to James for once again making GenCon a success. Him, Jason and Laura, Eric and a host of others worked very hard this year to make it an even better experience than last year.

1. Weeks wins the championship. With apologies to ATM Salad, he's a fellow Black Polo. He's also become quite the good friend over the last few years. There are a lot of deserving and classy people in our community and he's one of them. Besides, he texted me earlier this summer and asked me to borrow my minis and map. You see, last summer Weeks traded me his minis for my Heroclix, because no one in his area plays anymore. Our champion doesn't even own the minis he plays with and couldn't practice for the championship. Pretty impressive.

2. Travelling with ThereIsNoTry. While I drive for a living, it's a 10 hour drive and pretty boring alone. Trevor and I enjoyed Laugh USA on XM radio as well as religious, social, and minis discussions along the way. Ask him about getting a square meal at Cracker Barrel.

3. Making a second straight top 8. While winning is secondary to sportsmanship in my book, it's always a great feeling to win, be it in sports or our tabletop game. Since I am getting too old for Softball and Table Tennis, it's all about tabletop gaming for me now. Also, changing my playstyle by moving away from high activation squads and trying to better myself by playing an 8 activation base squad and still making the top 8 was exhilirating.

4. Meeting ATM Salad. I know some of you have known him for some time, but for me, he came out of nowhere on the boards. The polite, insightful, and friendly demeanor you see on the boards is exactly what you get in person. Make no mistake, though...he brings it no matter what he plays. He'll smash you to a pulp but will shake your hand afterwards. (Or whatever is left.)

5. Beating Timmerb123 in the swiss rounds of the championship. I first played Tim in the Jedi Challenge 200 in 2009. He absolutely crushed me, introducing me to the proper way to build and play a high activation squad. I patterned my own playstyle after his over the years. Only BillIV and Weeks had a greater influence on my game than Tim. It was like beating a mentor. Winning with 10 activations (2 massifs brought in by Lobot) against like 29 told me that I was doing something right in my new playstyle.

6. Seeing The Godfather (Jim Frazier) again. Jim had a major role in getting our game to where it is today, and anyone who knows him knows what a great guy he is. Although he no longer plays, he still stops by and visits every GenCon. Another old goat like me, it was inevitable that we would eventually meet in the bathroom at some point this past week and then start lamenting about our bladders.

7. Playing the Bounty Hunter Challenge as a Protector. 'Protector' was a term we created when we created the format, but my approach has always been more of provinding an introduction to our new character. Winning isn't important; giving my opponent a positive gaming experience and possibly bringing a new player into the game is. This year's PPE (Positive Playing Experience) was meeting Nate. (I think that was what his name was...forgive my old feeble mindedness.) My aggressive play gave him fits early on but he stuck with it and eventually dropped Vader. He was so thrilled he wanted to take pictures of the prone black figure on the board. Great stuff.

8. An hour talking to BillIV. Bill and I have social and political differences...I've always known that. I've always suspected from actions and words that not everyone has seen that he has a good heart and a tender spot for those less fortunate. That suspicion was confirmed...I don't care about what we disagree about; what we agree on is so much more important.

9. FingersAndTeeth's crop dusting story. You'll just have to ask him yourself.

10. Playing a Star Wars Miniatures tournament with a living plant. Yeah, I was the first player ever to make the top 8 running an all fringe squad, but being the first to play with a living mini is what really makes me stand a little taller.

Great read. Missing out on hanging out with you guys was absolutely the worst part of missing GenCon, way more than missing the gaming. I was really happy when Gerry called me Wednesday night and I got to talk to you four for a couple of minutes, and I was so glad to have you to bug for updates during the championship while I was sitting at work. You're a great guy, and we're all happy to have you on Team Black Polo.

9. Hope it was a crop duster and not something more sinister.

No apology necessary! Weeks is a great player and a awesome guy! I thoroughly enjoyed mine and weeks first game and was happy to meet him at the top. He out played me and got the win, congrats!!

Thank you! It was great getting to meet you to. I thoroughly enjoyed our game, even in our less than optimal state lol, and what you said afterward still sticks with me. I only wish we could have finished that game of Warlords of Europe. Hanging out with you and bill was priceless. I hope I am so fortunate as to be able to hangout with you all next year.

and bowing to the porcelain god

And having the zacklies. I said TOP 10.