Questions for those who were at TeX-Ball

[Albinonewt]

There's a big difference between losing and being dominated every game by a group of folks that come to a semi-competitive event in order to dominate. Remember that in SC a factory team showed up just to crush all of us happy Ao'ers. Now, it didn't work, and they didn't crush us all, but there is that intent in some people out there. And the reason to go random is to avoid that kind of thing. I really don't mind getting beat, in fact I'm getting used to it. When I go play rec ball with my friends that don't like tournament play I have no problem losing every game in a day out in the woods, so long as my buddies are having fun. But, when there's a 40 man pickup game and my team is myself, my friends, and a bunch of rentals it's no fun playing 20 guys on a scenario team with communications equipment that are practicing beating up on rec players. There's a differnece between losing and getting taken advantage of. I would use picked teams in order to play with my friends and form the more perfect drinking team. Others might not. And while it's very possible nobody would form a team solely to dominate there is a risk.

Is the risk worth telling me I can't play with my friend who i see twice a year? Maybe. I am going to hang out with that person all weekend, and as an AO event I am techincally there to play with all of AO, not just one or two specific people.

There's pro's and cons. Personally, i think random is the way to go. It not only eliminates the possibility of a team rolling up and dominating everyone else that was prepared for a friendly day, it forces everyone to meet new people, cause some people are shy like me.

[GoatBoy]

There's a big difference between losing and being dominated every game by a group of folks that come to a semi-competitive event in order to dominate. Remember that in SC a factory team showed up just to crush all of us happy Ao'ers. Now, it didn't work, and they didn't crush us all, but there is that intent in some people out there. And the reason to go random is to avoid that kind of thing. I really don't mind getting beat, in fact I'm getting used to it. When I go play rec ball with my friends that don't like tournament play I have no problem losing every game in a day out in the woods, so long as my buddies are having fun. But, when there's a 40 man pickup game and my team is myself, my friends, and a bunch of rentals it's no fun playing 20 guys on a scenario team with communications equipment that are practicing beating up on rec players. There's a differnece between losing and getting taken advantage of. I would use picked teams in order to play with my friends and form the more perfect drinking team. Others might not. And while it's very possible nobody would form a team solely to dominate there is a risk.

Is the risk worth telling me I can't play with my friend who i see twice a year? Maybe. I am going to hang out with that person all weekend, and as an AO event I am techincally there to play with all of AO, not just one or two specific people.

Eh, I think you actually wound up supporting my arguments rather than contradicting them...

There's pro's and cons. Personally, i think random is the way to go. It not only eliminates the possibility of a team rolling up and dominating everyone else that was prepared for a friendly day, it forces everyone to meet new people, cause some people are shy like me.

If I were to tell you that being shy/reserved was "your own damn fault", and was neither the problem nor responsibility of the organizers or even the other AO'ers attending, how would you feel?