in solidarity with Darth Jim if locked rooms are allowed I will also be out.

I had the great pleasure of watching your game against Naarkon. It was a fun time for me. I enjoyed watching a good player play unique vong.

If you would have let me know that I was not welcome I would have left without any ill feelings. I want to be able to watch your game and be apart of mini's happenings, but if you are stressed I would put that above my desire to watch.

As a human being I respect your request, but I would also like the time of day from you requesting it.

I had no idea this would cause any sort of a stink. Quite frankly I locked the room because of who my opponent was in this round. When you play this game, there is already some sort of tension that goes into the match. The games I have played with Etienne have been some of the most intense games I have ever played, ranked right up there with Weeks, Graham, TINT, some of my games with Jason, Bronson, and Bryan a few times. The tension of those games often times causes me to get a headache and when you add people to the mix to watch sometimes it brings about some minor shaking for me. I remember being a pile of anxiety when I played for the championship in 2011, and often times matches I played in Top 4's.

I think it's worth noting that Etienne essentially asked me not to hover at GenCon when he played for the championship this year and I acceded to his request. I think also its worth noting that no one actually asked me if they could watch the game last night of the ones who were on Vassal. Shmi asked for updates but never said he wanted to watch, Jim didn't mention wanting to watch either, he just asked about why the room was locked. If people had asked I might have been a little lenient and invited people into the room. I felt though that given the circumstances and everything going on, that locking the room for this game would be better for me from a health standpoint. I'd probably lock the room if I played Bronson too because of how intense the games can be. Its never been meant as a slight to anyone, but moreso for my mental well-being.

It's also worth noting that my first round game against Caedus the room was not locked and people could come in and watch. I think it should be ok to lock the rooms for matches that could have a negative impact on a persons health. Maybe put something in there about getting Naarkon's approval prior to a match to lock the room and go with that. I certainly dont want to offend, but if I have to choose between allowing my anxiety to spike and playing with an open room, or locking a room and not dealing with the spike, I'm going to lock the room, because it's just a better option for me. And if I am required to play all my matches with open rooms and it causes my anxiety to spike or to become an issue then I would likely drop because I refuse to allow myself to go down those roads again.

Edit; Not that anyone would actually do this, but if people are mentioning unfair advantages, whats to stop someone who is watching from helping the opponent by giving them advice and moves simply because they don't like a player or a squad. Again I don't think anyone would do this, just as I don't think anyone would lock the room just to cheat also, but its worth putting out there.

You're right. If I'm not comfortable, it's on me to say no. But sometimes it's hard to turn down what seems like a reasonable request for seemingly insubstantial reasons. You had no reason to think I wasn't okay with your watching, and I'm not blaming you for that at all. Just saying that pressure can come from a lot of places, including ourselves.

Spryguy, this is competition and quite frankly if it is causing you personal harm you should probably not play.
This is a serious thing if you are getting headaches and shaking. But to act like the rest of us have to just buck down and be ok with it is not cool either. There are no accommodations in competition. I know you know this because you take every advantage you can. This is no secret.
Even locking the door gives you an advantage. (just like r7)

if an open vassal room is causing your anxiety to spike you simply should not be playing. It is as frank as that. Or you should recognize that you are going to have to deal with potential observers, prepare yourself for it, and move on. But this is a public game full of a public community. I like when you are in the room watching me play. I like having observers, I like joining in on the fun with others. It makes the tournament more fun for me and, I would imagine, others that have the time to watch.

That should not be taken away. We are a community, a team. If you have a personal reason to ask others to not be around than ask and they will most likely respond respectfully. But to be barred from the start when someone was looking to enjoy the game is rude.

I would argue that the comfort level of the players involved (who might not want to be observed for any number of valid reasons) should usually take precedence over the ability of people not involved in the game to "enjoy themselves" by watching it. I've been in tourneys where it was understood the TO would be stopping in to observe matches, and that was no big deal. But an audience there specifically to be entertained by you when you weren't intending to be entertainment is a different thing (or, I guess, to learn from you when you're just there to play a game). If you like or don't mind having people watch, good for you. But that shouldn't mean a free pass to everyone else's games. The preferences of the two people actually playing the game should be respected. And if they prefer to have the room locked rather than deal with requests to watch the game, I don't have a problem with that.

Bro... we are living in the give em a trophy for showing up era.... I mean this is like telling a sports team, sorry you can't watch their LIVE game on television, or nope you can't use game film... lol. I am actually sad for humanity when people are so weak they want to make concessions during a tournament.... I just don't understand people anymore.

could you imagine Paulo saying...hey guys we aren't game planning for Lindsey Wilson because it makes them uncomfortable HAHAHAHHAHA

No one's looking for a participation trophy. Vassal is different from live tournaments in several important ways, and one of them is the ability to set up private games. To think that that functionality will be usable in a Vassal tourney seems to me to be at least as reasonable as assume all games should be open because that's how they are IRL.

And btw, knowing your limits and enforcing them is not weakness. It takes a lot of strength and courage. I'll be happy to expound if you want.[/quote]


forcing others to give concessions during a tournament to you is not strength. I like spry, heck he spent the night at my house and is welcome anytime for w/e the reasons, but this is a tournament with winners and losers and some people are right to take this as a high level competition and I just don't understand why those competitive people want to make concessions and allow someone to have an advantage, and yes playing your game in secret and not allowing people is in secret. what if jim could have learned how to beat spry by watching the game? you took that right away from him... its pathetic.

Spry get professional help, they will tell you that the safest route is hardly ever the right route.

Also, I have already stated multiple times that if you request that I leave the room, I would respect your request.

That is not the issue.

The issue is the ruling that locked doors should be allowed in a competitive tournament. Even as an accommodation with those struggling with anxiety.

It is a help, its like giving someone a benefit that others do not have. Where is my "lifeline"?

is it harsh? possibly, but competition is always harsh.

Craig I've been getting professional help for a while and one of the things Ive been instructed to do is to minimize things that could trigger possible additional anxiety, exactly what I did in locking the room. The other is take my daily meds which I also do. So for you to assume I haven't gotten any help is ridiculous. If you had seen where I was 6 months ago and where I am now you'd realize that holy S**t he has gotten help he's far different than he was then. He's made huge strides in coping with this obnoxious disease that he's dealt with most of his adult life. I locked the room because quite simply it goes hand in hand with the things my therapist recommends in avoiding additional stressors.