Subject: In Response to Nate's article
Date: Wed, 6 May 1998 09:51:56 CST6CDT
From: "Dequan A. Watson" <gccwatsd@wagic.tstc.edu>
To: fkusumot@ix.netcom.com

I ahve to agree with Nate at some point.  I tried to explain the same
thing to people.  No every initiates cheating, but people do things
and are involved in actions that can be considered to be cheating.  I
persoanlly am against cheating.

I try to help new people instead of taking advantage of them.  I
usually beat them anyway.  Sure, it cost me a loss once, but the
person thanx me every time they see me.  That's what this game needs.
 People to encourage and "bring up" the young new players....not take
advantage of them.

I do however treat older players differently.  If I play some one who
sits down and believes they know everything and every rule, and
something happens similar to one of Nate's examples (#1-#3)  I let it
go.  Sur eit may be wrong, but this guy is a jerk and I am returning
the favor.

If some one just sits down and offers a competitive match, then  I
treat them as I do a new person with respect.  I expect the same.
Sur ei don't always get it, but oh well, i'll keep them on the
$#!+list file till next time.

Before I go I want to bring up one more thing and I know that no one
wants to here it.........

COLLUSION!!!  There, I said it.

How far does collusion go before it is considered to be cheating.  Or
is it cheating at all?  I personally don't see why people complain
abou tit, cause is every sport buddies help each other out.  there
will also be random people that drop or have to leave or whatever
reason causes them to have to quit in the middle of a match.  I have
an incident to examine.

during your reading of the following I would like you to keep in mind
that collusion ( to honestly be called that), must be a two way
street.

Two weekends ago me and two of my team members ( Waco Flatliners)
went to visit a buddy of ours from New Orleans.  During the course of
the weekend, we decide to play in a tournament at Comic Cosmos.  It
was origianlly scheduled to be a booster draft tournament, but the
tournout did not meet up to par, so they decided to have a
non-sanctioned T2 that day.

In the last swiss round, I had to play Ben Bleiweiss.  At a table
next to us Chris Huang was playing Vinnie Falcone, both team members
of Team Distinguished.  I believe that we were the last two matches
in progress at this point if my memory serves correct.  Ben ended up
beating me ( with soooo much luck I might add, seeing as how I never
drew anything in my last 5 cards   ;)     ).  We finished an dI
walked over to watch the last fwe rounds of the Huang/Falcone
matchup.

I noticed that Vinnie could have put the game away.  He had two
incinerates when Chris was at 6 and also have a winter orb in hand.
Vinnie uses the incinerates to kill 2 phids that Chris casts.  Later
his winter orb gets countered.  Chris casts Silver Wyvern and wins.

Ben immediately after finding out the winner of the match claims it
was collusion and that they should both be disqualified or something.
Here's the deal :

>From what I saw Chris and Vinnie never said anythign to each other.
Niether of them made suspicious eye contact with the other either.
As a matter of fact, Chris was watching the board most of the time.
They also tell me the same thing.  Apparently Vinnie was not
even 100% sure what was game situation was.  He also never once
in the time frame of the three palys he had the incinerates
asked Chris wha tlife he was at. What if Vinnie purposely
decided to collude and did this on his own without telling
Chris? Whose to say Vinnie didn't lose cause he was toying around
with him or was playing defensive?

I hardly callthat collusion.  if it is, then oh well, I am all for
this I suppose. If not, WotC or soem one needs to come out with
abetter way to define collusion.  Make your own decision about the
situaiton.  i believe that it is perfectly fine.

just for the record Chris later went on to win the tournament. ben
wasn't happy.

This is post is not to make allegations of anyone cheating or
colluding ( which i belie  eis seperate form cheating).  It is just
here fro you to examine and take into account. I decided to do this
after reading Nate Clarke's post.  Examples are always the best way
to make people pay attention to what you have to say.

P.S.  Keep an eye out for my "Everything You Didn't Think You Needed
to Know to Prepare For a Tournament" reports...

e-mail repsonses to DuQeR@aol.com ( my other more used account)
And then DeQuan step forth......hrm....still no reaction :(