Fellow SIEVEr here. I was playing against the bosses with different combos of heroes as we were messaging back and forth to decide what teams we would go for. Once we made the final decision on teams, I did the "final battle," but I had often played that team against that boss in my preliminary trials. If Pydro thinks that's not kosher, then we'll step aside.
As a side note, I went up against Cosmitron last time convinced it was going to be a wipe. Only a fluke draw of Ground Pound and double Hypersonic Assaults made that battle remotely possible. Then Unity's bots ate his robot face.
Last member of SIEVE reporting in here. I personally haven't played test games specifically for this event (though I have certainly taken note if a relevant team came up in my own games when using random+advanced) and I've recorded my first play after team composition was decided each round. We've talked extensively about what heroes should go to which battles, however, and I've played out most the potential interactions out in my head thoroughly before making that decision, every time.
There's been some pretty spectacular luck in a couple of games, true, but I feel like we've put a lot into the planning phase that's helped make that possible. I'll gladly to post some of those discussions to show what I mean after we've wrapped up the final round.
That being said, I absolutely stand by the will of the group if anyone feels that, as a team, we've stolen an unfair advantage by having some of the matchups "pre-played" before finalizing the teams. I don't have an emotional attachment here, I've really just thouroughly enjoyed the whole thing as a puzzle-solving exercise.
I also would have done some preliminary testing if I'd known other people were doing it.
In at least one of my games it became clear quite quickly that my team wasn't really working that well for that villain (I'd left the choices up to my teammates and taken what was left, since I'm used to playing random anyway). We could totally have swapped heroes out after a couple of test rounds, but of course we didn't.
I'm torn now, to be honest. I don't want to be a dick and say I think you guys had an unfair advantage and be all sore loser since you obviously haven't cheated, but it does feel like we've been playing two different challenges.
After the kerfuffle, I decided to play the last round cold. I'll spoil only that it was the Cosmitron game, and I drew a first round EPE. I won by the skin of my teeth.
I did try to figure out how to broadcast the game, but couldn't. :(
Edit to add: Not that it would have been an interesting broadcast; the camera/microphone we got for the Windows tower that died last fall doesn't play nicely with the Mac Mini that replaced it.
I have discussed this matter with MigrantP and the Mods, and everyone agrees that it is my fault (which is why I will never ask for their opinion again ).
I didn't anticipate this idea, and it should have been spelled out in the rules from the beginning. Either saying you could practice or you couldn't, just so everyone is on the same page.
That being said, after the fact, in our case, since it wasn't specifically spelled out that you couldn't, and since we are on the honor system I believe it when it was said that no cheating happened, I do not want to disqualify anyone.
I understand the frustration, and I apologize. I will try to make things clearer next time.
I'm not blaming you Pydro because it's not your fault, but I can't seem to kick this childish "but it's NOT FAIR" response. It feels like I wasted my time.
I mean I wanted to win because I like winning and I wanted the prize. It's not that important though, the winning thing, and I'm totally good with losing if the winners played better than me. I just want to feel that we had a chance. It's like if we're competing to climb the Blackpool Tower and it turns out that someone's climbed a smaller tower which happens to be in Blackpool in a shorter time - not against the rules since the exact tower wasn't explicitly specified, but still... I'm disappointed. I feel cheated even though no-one actually cheated.
It was an extra kick in the teeth going into my final match against Voss knowing that we couldn't possibly win now, and hitting two Guards on the flop. Game over, and game over.
I'll make public action already taken: I have asked Pydro to change the result of my game against Baron Blade (which appears to be the primary cause of controversy) to a loss due to moonfall. In the event I had to predict the likely outcome of the practice match, this is it.
let the rest of the scoresheet fall where it may. We had what I think was a fairly strong final round.
If I just submitted my game twice, I'm sorry. I was rushing to get it finished before work, and can't remember if I had time to submit it this morning or not. And I just wanted to say that I had fun playing. It was interesting trying to pick the different heroes for the fights, especially because I'm not used to playing so many solo games. But it was a fun event, so thanks for putting it on.
As much as I would like to say yes, that could ruin it for anyone else invited don't you think? Plus I don't think Ms. Montgomery would approve, and well, let's just say you want her to approve.
).
