Did not happen for me.
I was prepping for this tournament for months ahead of time. I am quite disappointed that I didn't attend. 3 days before the event I canceled my place to let someone else get in.
Why?
Well it was a culmination of events and work related stresses. I have not willfully abandoned a tournament since Flames of War back in 2010.
First off there was some miss communication about time at home between me and my partner. I assumed or had previously thought until it was changed (not sure what happened first)
Thinking it was a one day 3 round steam roller I should be finsihed up by 5pm which gives me plenty of time for the 40 minute train ride back to the overnight bus to take me home.
Actually it was 5 rounds which means even with assassination all over my game play I would still miss the last round.
This wouldnt have been a problem if I had communicated to my partner that I wanted to take the bullet train home and not an overnight bus. I really cant sleep while traveling.
So there was scheduling issues, best of cases I would get in for 4 games and then have to bail. Potentially big dick move.
Secondly a Typhoon was rolling in. Typhoon number 19 was set to hit right on the day that I would be playing, not a great concern for me but I was worried about my partner again. She would spend most of the day cooped up inside either surrounded by geeks or a crammed Japanese hotel room. I felt bad about this situation.
Also my employers voiced concern about traveling during the Typhoon and expressed a desire for me not to go with the risk of the Typhoon. I'm doing a good job where I am and I'm sure the inconvenience of having to get someone to fill my position because I was injured or otherwise left unable to do my job, would greatly inconvenience my employers.
Lastly I thought I would be conveniently close enough to Hiroshima to do some sight seeing before playing some games. It was actually a 2 hour train ride between cities and playing in Fukuyama would mean I miss out on Hiroshima completely, or risk being exhausted.
Well lets be frank, I give no fucks about the typhoon. If it was just me I would bullet train down and back and Typhoon, Earthquake, Ebola or Volcano be damned there is Warmachine to be won.
The thing is I didnt want to duck out of my last game especially if I was winning and I didnt want to miss out on Hiroshima.
4 Days before the event I canceled my entry and told the girlfriend to can the tickets. But she couldn't get a re fund. So we figured what the heck lets try to dodge the typhoon, just go down take the train to Hiroshima and come back without the stress and tiredness of fitting in 4 games of warmachine in between.
My sincerest apologies
To the event coordinators and participants, I really hope my spot was filled and I am sorry I missed it. I am however not sorry that I spent 2 days in beautiful Hiroshima and saw some more of this amazing country.
I wanted to do 3 things in Japan.
- Find a well payed comfortable job that makes use of my education.
- Experience a different culture and explore foreign lands.
- Meet more wargamers and play Warmachine with them.
