[Stone Mill]

Originally posted by Pax:
Feh. Remind me ... NEVER to play a game of SE4 against you.

If you can't seperate player from character, then IMO, you have no business playing anything more advanced than checkers, except against an AI.

Yikes! I guess I may be insulted... but rather I think it is a case of our understanding of what is backstabbing and the points we both were trying to make.

First let me say clearly that my policy is to enter every game with a clean slate, to win, and to have fun. I also strive to play with a great deal of character.

But- Ah-ha! I've think got you to prove my point, Pax! My entire point is that as objective as you try to be, you are still human. Deny it if you please, but you will remember that player who has "backstabbed" you, and on a subconscious or conscious level, you will be cautioned about leaving yourself vulnerable to them again.

You don't seem to be able to separate your emotions from this message board. You refusing to play me is based on a general impression... were you as close to being objective as you claim, that should not matter. They player list assigned to a game should be of no consequence.

What you are talking about is striving toward an ideal: that every game can be played purely without prior history, prejudice, or learning. Some players may come close to this ideal, but we all have a nature to deal with. Humans are complex animals. You have no control over this, nor can PBW enforce it.

Players have a right to see who is assigned to a game, and decide to play in the game based on things like:
1. experience level of the players
2. how long it takes them it to upload turns (slow or fast)
3. whether that player is a risk to bail out suddenly
4. whether that player has cheated or perhaps is suspect
5. whether that player is obviously carrying a vendetta against you (do you just turn the other cheek and ignore someone who is always gunning for you because you are "roleplaying"?)

Prior knowledge is part of learning... Scouting out oponents can be crucial (at least in KOTH). For instance, Played a game against a good Talisman player, and waited for him to unload his strategy and kick butt. You lost... but next time you are going to do something about it... that is certainly carrying over into the next game, isn't it? It has nothing to do with roleplaying and race details. If you don't adjust, this game will be quite boring, as that player's tactics will incinerate you time after time.)

When you've been around PBW for a while, you get an understanding of who the good players are, and who to be on-guard for during a game. That's just plain natural and intelligent.

I've been in KOTH and PBW games since inception, an I love nothing more that my opponent doing their VERY BEST against me; playing to win... to take me out. It it obvious by my Posts that I love nothing more than to share tactics and strategy to make players better. Becuase when the challenge is stepped up, the game is more fun. Plain and simple.

When you play checkers, do you play to win, or just move the pieces around in random directions?

If we ever have a convention, I'd buy every opponent I've ever had a beer and shake his hand. That includes you Pax. That is separating player from character.