Im struggling with the thought process here. Avoid Playing an open game on vassal where you literally deal with nothing in the outside but go ahead and play att gencon. ... seems.... crazy

Actually, come to think of it, if people want to "watch" a locked game after it has completed (because it won't have sound anyway) then it's relatively simple for one of (or both of) the people playing the game to just create a Logfile of the game, and then afterward post the file on Facebook so that people can download it and "play" it at their leisure. The benefit with this option is that they can even re-watch it multiple times if they want to!

To start and save a logfile:
1. At the start of a game, after the map is chosen (perhaps after Setup, but certainly before the first Initiative roll)....
2. With your mouse choose "File"-->"Begin Logfile"
3. Give the file a name (ie, "ABC vs XYZ") and click "Save." You don't need to add any Logfile Comments, so just click Ok.
4. Play the game as normal. [Hint: it plays back best when there's not a lot of "Undo"ing going on...or if there is, then it's helpful to have one of the players simply write a brief explanation in the main chat window before or after the Undo-ing happens.]
5. When the game is finished and you go to close the game, a window will pop up, asking, "You are writing a logfile. Save now?"...just click Yes. Then choose a location where you want the logfile to be saved (I usually choose my Desktop), and it will be saved there: "ABC vs XYZ.vlog". (NOTE: This is not the same as Saving a game.)

To play a logfile that has been saved (ie, completed):
1. Start the Vassal mod normally
2. With your mouse, choose "File"-->"Load Game"...then navigate to the place where you've saved or downloaded the logfile. NOTE: Make sure the file is a ".vlog" file (not a ".vsav" file).
3. The map will load. To advance the playback, look at the top-left corner of the main Vassal window, right beside the "Undo" button, and under the "File" and "Tools" and "Help" menu buttons...in that place you will find the "Step Forward through logfile" button.
4. Each time you click that button, the logfile will advance by 1 step. There will be hundreds of steps throughout the course of the game, because each die roll, each movement of a piece from 1 location to another, to another, etc...will register as a step. NOTE: you can also press the "Pg-Dn" button on your keyboard to have the same effect.
5. Watch through the game by pressing Pg-Dn or clicking the button. You can also Rewind by 1 step by pressing the "Undo" button.

Easy as pie! Enjoy!

Believe me, I am as competitive and eager for fairness as the next guy. :)

But please check out the post that I wrote which follows my first one here (the one right above yours), because I think it actually offers a very viable and trustworthy way of ensuring that there's no cheating or shenanigans going on. There's no reason for anyone to suspect such things if one or both of the players in the game simply makes a Logfile of the game.

In fact, in other Vassal events that I've played in, the TO has required that the winner of each game sends him a Logfile of the completed game so that the TO can review it to ensure that everything was done fairly and that no glaring rules issues were compromised.

Man, this took off fast! So I agree with both sides.

Last night I didn't ask to join the room, because it was locked, Darth_Jim asked me why it was locked, I said I dunno, but that Spry was giving me updates at random. At first I didn't see anything wrong with this.

Then I thought, this is a tournament, why would any room be locked anyways? Even at a tournament. If Trevor and I are playing each other, I am not required to sit at my chair the whole time. At any point during the game, I can get up, and go look at someone else's game. Trevor can call clock, or time or stalling, but then I could just go back to our game, move my pieces, and walk away again. There is no requirement forcing me to stay at my table. So in theory, I could watch any game I wanted while playing mine as long as I made my moves within the time frame.

Every tournament I have ever been in for any game, if I finished early, I went to an opponents game, that I thought I may play later, and I watched the rest of their game. It is a strategic advantage, and to be completely honest, if I was at a real tournament, and someone asked me to leave because it made them uncomfortable... I would not leave. Thats my competitiveness. I would sit there, and make them as uncomfortable as I possibly could. Part of the battle, is the mental battle before.


And for you guys who don't think I would. My very first tournament I ever went to, and TheUltrastar can back me up on this, and anyone else who was there. Was in Virginia, about 6 years, maybe 7 years ago. And I brought two girls with me, who I had dress up as scan-tally as you can imagine, and got them both drunk, they sat next to me, talked to me, and made as many sexual innuendos as you can imagine during my games. And I mean they said some things I had to Google to find out. But, I beat GMLS with Whiphid Trackers. I beat a Cad Bane swap squad, b/c my opponent forgot to swap out. Twice. They were distracted by what I brought. And I would do it all over again for the advantage.

( This story is 100% true)



I understand Spry's PoV tho. And I in no way think he did it maliciously, or with any ill thought behind it. BUT. I do know he has watched games. And I feel like, in my eyes, if you watch someone else play, you lose the ability to lock anyone else out of your games. That is an advantage, to watch someone else's game, and not allow someone to watch yours. I think at this point, there is no way to say games can be locked. The precedent is there in this tournament, where people have already watched other peoples games. If we stop it all of a sudden in round 3, then those round 1 and 2 games those people have an advantage. I will live with either ruling, but whatever Naarkon says, I say it goes.



I do think issues come up with this. Because, like Trevor or Craig said, what happens if I play Trevor, and I want it locked, and he wants it unlocked? Who wins? This question is for anyone who thinks locking doors is ok.

Also, I agree, if someone doesn't want to be watched, just say it... But they then shouldn't go in and watch any other games.

Spryguy, if this triggers you, like I said before, stop playing.
Your anxiety is not an issue when it comes to locked doors or unlocked doors.

You do not get to say if the door can be locked or not is the point.
Your professional, i 100% guarantee you has told you to find the important things and than prioritize the other stressors. Which you claim to do by keeping the door unlocked for the majority of your games. But... this is a tournament, you have to follow the precedents set. Anxiety or not.

I suggest finding strategies to help your anxiety that allow you to play

Like Trevor said... top 4 in gencon with people everywhere....
vassal observer....

not really comparable in terms of stress.

@TINT

I think everyone agrees with the sentiment that once someone presents their reasons for asking you to leave they would do it.
I know I have said it multiple times. I would not leave because I wanted to or I thought it was necessary but just out of respect to the person asking.

@urbanjedi
it is different because you were given a reason why.
Its like this. someone says there is a party. You get excited and go, but the door is locked. They knew people might drop by but locked you completely out. even shut the blinds.
You call them, but they dont come to the door.

Or, there is a party and you drop by and they say "sorry man, I am having some serious issues and really only want one person with me. I know it sucks, but I am asking you to respect my request on this one."

OR, hey guys the party is only for me and the other person because I am having some issues, so please don't stop by.


One is rude and is reasonable and one is thoughtful.

Locking the door is rude

Agreed.

To be fair, Naarkon literally solicited feedback.



That said, repeating the same arguments ad nauseam is unnecessary.

I welcome opinions from those who have not weighed in.



Either way, this will clearly have to be stated one way or another at sign ups for every Vassal tournament from now on, along with time limits (70mins?),"2 or 200", how of lack of commication between players setting up games will be handled, etc.

As best as I can figure, this is the tournament rankings (not power rankings)

Name record (tournament score) - opponents combined records (Opponents combined tournament score)

Ranking:
Tournament score
Record
Head to head
Strength of schedule (opponents combined records)


Spry 2-0 (6) - 2-2 (7)
Tint 2-0 (6) - 1-3 (5)
DB 2-0 (6) - 1-3 (3)
Ultra 2-0 (5) - 2-2 (6)
Kezza 2-0 (5) - 1-1 (4)
UJ 1-1 (4) - 3-1 (10)
Frenchy 1-1 (4) - 3-1 (9)
Pnktd 1-1 (4) - 2-2 (7)
Darth O 1-1 (4) - 1-3 (5)
Jim 1-1 (4) - 1-3 (5)
McNizzle 1-1 (3) - 2-0 (5)
Shmi15 1-1 (3) - 3-1 (10)
Caedus 1-1 (3) - 2-2 (7)
UShmi 1-1 (3) - 2-2 (6)
FlyArrow 1-1 (3) - 1-3 (4)
Timmerb123 0-2 (2) - 2-2 (8)
Jen'ari 0-2 (1) - 3-1 (10)
Naarkon 0-2 (1) - 2-2 (6)
DRattle 0-2 (0) - 3-1 (9)

Torunament ranking tie breakers get tougher after simple SoS. Usually the computer figures that out.

Technically TINT and DB are tied in tournament ranking (same record, tournament score, and SoS) - so it could flip either way.

Likewise Frenchy and UrbanJedi are tied, so that could switch matchups.


Same goes for Caedus and UShmi as well as Darth O and Darth Jim - but in both of these cases they'll play each other regardless

Well I'm out. Thanks for the decision and work naarkon.