Chapter 1: My Involuntary Seppuku Attempt
Season Covered: Pre-Tournament
Right before the tournament begins, several posters on Nexus Discord grumble that my play in a preliminary game, named NT 48, allowed a player named @Conq to make the top board and also forced another player @Superwerty, into eighth place, just missing out. It’s true. I threw the preliminary game to @Conq. Since this grumbling dominated pre-tournament chatter, and there was some talk that the Tournament Director, @Ajax, may disqualify me for collusion, I addressed the topic head-on.
I explained that I threw the game to @Conq because I admired his skill, and I thought he deserved to be in the finals. I did not, however, enter some side-deal with @conq to work together with him on the top board Now, did I hope @Conq would remember my kindness? Yes. Did I expect it? No. I also did it for another reason I did not explain: Table image. I wanted the finalists to think I was the kind of person who would be loyal, and who would be a good ally. I had played as a faithful ally for most of the qualifying games, and I thought that developing the image as a loyal player would enhance my chances of earning an ally.
My post seemed to quell the matter. @Villageidiot, one of the finalists, however, inquired why my play had improved so much between Seasons 1 and 2. Instead of demurring, I wrote the following, which ended up being the first of many self-inflicted wounds:
[H]ere’s how I improved:
Enhanced press.[1] I figured I would be Johnny on the Spot with my press. Always pressing; always responding. I spent 100% more time on the press in my games.
More use of Sandbox. I had not known its full capabilities last year. @Notjustmark taught me how to use it, and I was able to thoroughly examine each scenario before entering my orders.
Fewer unpredictable players. Last year, I got Italy twice, and the first time I was up against people who grunted for communications, and we just did not click, which was to my detriment. Learning how to communicate with these barbarians was a real challenge. I didn’t have that problem this time.
I played Italy like a madman. No longer content to be my conservative self, I knew I had to solo, and I knew that I had to go nuts to solo. This was WAY out of my comfort zone, but it was the only option available after I got smashed in NT14.
Some poor opponents. Both times I played Turkey, Italy played inexplicable, allowing me to gobble up the Med in no time for one solo and one time where I took 17 (although I could have soloed in that game if I wanted to; I didn’t).
I knew I risked my competitors typecasting me as a completely ignorant player. I wanted to play up that reputation because I thought it would enhance my chances of someone hoping I could be Robin to their Batman. Tried and True Diplomacy: Find a newbie, lead him along, and knife him when it hurts the most, and then twist it a few more inches. Here, I’ll play the part of the newbie, which would not be difficult, but try and stab before I get stabbed. Notwithstanding my Five Goals, in my mind, this is what I had to do to win.
As I shortly discovered, the players who made the finals were so beyond my primitive thinking. As you will soon see, some of the other players saw that post and thought, as Bodhi taught us in Point Break, “It’s basic dog psychology, if you scare them and get them peeing down their leg, they submit. But if you project weakness, that promotes violence, and that’s how people get hurt.” In this analogy, I’m the dog. And they will submit me, early and often.
Luckily though, the Tournament Director told me I was not going to be expelled for my actions in NT48.
Notes
[1] “Press” is how players communicate with each other, similar to an internal e-mail system. Players can press with one power, or multiple powers.