Novice Tables At Tournaments?

[Sgt Rock]

When I gain some level of proficiency at ASL (LOL!!!) I figure that I would like to try my luck at a tournament at some future date. Is there a process where newbies like me play other newbies or is it all the luck of the draw?

 

[Eagle4ty]

Each tournament is of course a bit different, but most tournament directors attempt to match players with comparable experienced opponents, at least for the initial scenario played in the tournament.

 

[Carln0130]

When I gain some level of proficiency at ASL (LOL!!!) I figure that I would like to try my luck at a tournament at some future date. Is there a process where newbies like me play other newbies or is it all the luck of the draw?

Always notify the Tournament Director and let him know you are new and would prefer not to be thrown into the deep end. They will try their best to accommodate you.

 

[Michael R]

Another option is to look for an event that has open gaming, like the ASL Oktoberfest.

 

[David Goldman]

In addition to all the previous comments which are sound observations, you will learn more and see the obvious and sometimes not apparent interactions of rules and tactics only by playing against a more experienced gamer. Don't fear being a newbie. I have yet to see a grognard who won't take the time to explain rules and help improve the play of a newbie. Go to a tournament (or participate in an online tournament). You will up your play exponentially in the first few games. You might not win, but you will rapidly improve your game.

 

[Philippe D.]

This is all very sound advice, but if the original goal is to improve one's play, and online play is an acceptable option, then finding a knowledgeable opponent on VASL is probably easier (and cheaper, depending on how much you have to travel to a FtF tournament). Of course you won't have the same competitive spirit, so if you believe you need this competition to motivate you, by all means find a tournament and enjoy the rounds after you are (likely) trashed in the first round

 

[Actionjick]

In addition to all the previous comments which are sound observations, you will learn more and see the obvious and sometimes not apparent interactions of rules and tactics only by playing against a more experienced gamer. Don't fear being a newbie. I have yet to see a grognard who won't take the time to explain rules and help improve the play of a newbie. Go to a tournament (or participate in an online tournament). You will up your play exponentially in the first few games. You might not win, but you will rapidly improve your game.

Well said and very true imo.

 

[ScottRomanowski]

I agree with all the comments above. It depends on the event; I think I've heard of some that specifically had a "first timers" track. Even if there's not such a grouping, I think you will easily find people at a tournament willing to teach you. Online play, especially live play, will help a lot.

 

[bendizoid]

When I gain some level of proficiency at ASL (LOL!!!) I figure that I would like to try my luck at a tournament at some future date. Is there a process where newbies like me play other newbies or is it all the luck of the draw?

Not many newbies at tournaments, probably looking at 5,000 hours average experience level, lol. I can however confidently state you will be treated fairly and well, nobody will want to “gotcha!” You will make a few friends. Only question is can you hang out and play ASL for 2-3 days? If so I highly recommend any nearby tournaments, ASAP. Lol

 

[Actionjick]

Try to participate in any kind of tournament or event that you can. As Bob says the majority of players at events are very experienced but under no circumstances let that deter you from participating. Nobody expects a new player to excel at their first competitive event and neither should you. Go and get your butt kicked. Odds are you will still have a great time, learn things and make new friends.

Good luck and good gunnin to you.

" Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from trying. "
Some baseball player about a century ago.

 

[Stewart]

Go to a tournament (or participate in an online tournament). You will up your play exponentially in the first few games. You might not win, but you will rapidly improve your game.

While the experienced player does have more knowledge of certain aspects of the game.
Most of the refinement of the rules is the simple task....coordinating those rules is the issue.

If you expand your play exponentially in the first few games, why don't the players that typically only win 1 or no games improve their standings in subsequent tournaments?


Failure to Integrate the rules. Knowing is the "easy" part...but When? where? why? how? etc....is the tricky part...that is repetition as many scenarios are quite different in their approaches.

Playing Michael Jordan won't make you a better player, as he is leaps and bounds above you...you won't understand the process.
Drop down to the Division III level and pick up from there...and go stepwise up the ladder.

 

[King Scott II]

West Coast Melee features a 7-0 clinic for beginners, returning, and rusty players...if there are enough, we turn it into a mini for them.

Semper Fi!
Scott

 

[Sparafucil3]

Playing Michael Jordan won't make you a better player, as he is leaps and bounds above you...you won't understand the process.
Drop down to the Division III level and pick up from there...and go stepwise up the ladder.

Being a big fish in a small pond won't see you improve much either. Human beings are experiential learners. Recent studies suggest you learn more from your successes than you do from failures. I think there may be truth in that. Long standing tradition holds we learn more from our failures. I imagine there is some truth in that too.

BUT IMO, success or failure doesn't mean anything compared to a willingness to learn and a capability for honest self assessment. If you can't see you rolled really well and he rolled really bad, you will learn the wrong lesson. If you can't see his setup was bad and instead think you steamrolled him on talent, again you could learn the wrong lesson.

I think the best learning comes from deliberately setting out to learn rather than "just playing and hope it sticks". That probably involves playing a mixture of better and novice players. Better players expose you to new things and novice players give you a chance to put them into practice.

I am not a genius ASL player. I am probably no more than above average. I say that because I have written an article on how I think it is best to learn ASL on my blog. It probably won't work for everyone, but some might find it helpful. -- jim

 

[trailrunner]

I'll add to all the other posts and also say that you shouldn't let a lack of experience stop you from attending a tournament. When I first attended ASLOK a few years ago, I had just moved up from SK and was still learning my way around concealment and VBM and fire lanes and a million other rules. I was struggling just to understand the rules, let alone apply any tactical competence.

But my opponents were patient and gracious. I made some boneheaded moves but oh well. Over the four days I was there, my opponents had a combined 100 years of experience, so what did I expect? The most important thing was that I had fun. Win or lose, that is what matters.

 

[Ric of The LBC]

West Coast Melee features a 7-0 clinic for beginners, returning, and rusty players...if there are enough, we turn it into a mini for them.

Semper Fi!
Scott

This is exactly where and how I played my first games. I won the first game too! I like to remind Nicholes about that.

 

[von Marwitz]

My advice:

Just take the dive!

No better way to learn the game than playing a number of opponents that are better than you.
As mentioned before, VASL is a way to do it.

But if you attend a tournament, you get to know the people and the community much better as well. VASL has its limits when it comes to that. And in VASL, everybody has the identical storage system for counters. What I am saying is, that it is also interesting for a newbie to have a look on the gear people bring. It might inspire you on how to organize or expand your kit, which is not directly related to the game components themselves.

Furthermore, attending a real tournament has a different feel. Did anyone spend an entire week-end or longer playing VASL without pause? A real ASL tournament offers an entire week-end of ASL.

von Marwitz

 

[Kijug]

My advice:

Just take the dive!

...A real ASL tournament offers an entire week-end of ASL.

von Marwitz

 

[Sparafucil3]

My advice:

Just take the dive!

No better way to learn the game than playing a number of opponents that are better than you.
As mentioned before, VASL is a way to do it.

But if you attend a tournament, you get to know the people and the community much better as well. VASL has its limits when it comes to that. And in VASL, everybody has the identical storage system for counters. What I am saying is, that it is also interesting for a newbie to have a look on the gear people bring. It might inspire you on how to organize or expand your kit, which is not directly related to the game components themselves.

Furthermore, attending a real tournament has a different feel. Did anyone spend an entire week-end or longer playing VASL without pause? A real ASL tournament offers an entire week-end of ASL.

von Marwitz

You left out the part where you expect the new player to be your aide de camp. Set out the brandy, take off and clean your boots, the usual stuff. -- jim

 

[Actionjick]

You left out the part where you expect the new player to be your aide de camp. Set out the brandy, take off and clean your boots, the usual stuff. -- jim

You are a man of insight, wisdom, and a great judge of personality. At least as far as von M is concerned.

 

[Actionjick]

How you approach an event depends on what you are looking to get out of it. If you want to improve your game seek out and play the best players you can find. If you just want to enjoy gaming play who and what you want.
Either way you should have a great time and possibly learn something.
Good gunnin to you!