Got this in the mail yesterday
It is with some regret that I am announcing the Rankings HQ miniature gaming rankings web site is shutting down.
As you know I made a public announcement recently that unless adequate funds could be raised I would be winding it up and despite some willing supporters out there at the end of the day not enough users were willing to part with $10 to keep the site going.
Thanks to those that supported!
![[Image: ImageProxy.mvc?bicild=&canary=fIBbuJ3U%2...mbs-up.jpg]](http://blu168.mail.live.com/Handlers/ImageProxy.mvc?bicild=&canary=fIBbuJ3U%2FGYODiCNPeictFw1rOWm35%2FboUQjlRLeA38%3D0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.rankingshq.com%2Fthumbs-up.jpg)
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you that decided to support RHQ with a donation. I appreciate it.
As promised in my previous email all money will be refunded since I am shutting the site down.
I wish everyone the best in their gaming pursuits as I look forward to taking a break from running rankings, tournaments and masters events after 15 years! It has been a rewarding experience as well as a hard slog.
Regards,
Andrew Galea
Let me explain the background on this in regards to Flames of War:
Prior to the 2008 season, Battlefront (Flames of War maker) tournament system worked like this. A player participates in his local tournament and if he places high enough, he qualifies for the Nationals. Of which there was only one. There were a few problems with that system. The Nationals was held in Lancaster Pennsylvania, which hard to get to if you live west of the Mississippi. To qualify, you had to chase tournaments until you do qualify. And of course, the casual gamer can't compete, which drew a lot of complaints. And it was a pain for the events coordinator to keep track of who was qualified are not. The event coordinator was also an arsehole in my dealings with him.
So to rectify that situation, Battlefront decided to change the system. One, the qualification was eliminated. Anyone can enter the Nationals. Two, there are now 4 Nationals, each in the East, middle section, texas and west coast of the U.S. Three the winners of those tournaments and anyone ranked in the top 18 are invited to the Masters tournament. They would be the top dogs. To be invited to it and wear the green shirt makes you a big dog in our circle.
So, how do you keep track of those who played and ranking them? Meet Andrew Galea, founder of RHQ. BF announced that they would be using his site. Using his site has two advantages. It frees up the tournament director from having to do it (and enabled Battlefront to eventually removed that position) and since the players do not have to pay, no problem from that quarter.
So what happens when you have a bunch of competitive, obsessive-compulsive, anal gamers in a game system where you compete for an artificially generated number? Where you have a bunch of middle age men suddenly decide to re-live the worse moments grade school or high school? All I can say is that the back-stabbing and shenanigans was something else. And this was over a green T-shirt mind you. I heard the 40k tournament system was even worse, since money was involved. It feels like a scene out of "Lord of the Flies" at times.
Well, last month Andrew emailed those in the system and stated he needed financial support. He needed $10 dollars from at least half the community members to keep things going. I put in my 10 bucks. I was ranked 65th out of about 1756. There was one more in the 50-100 range who placed in money. There were definitely none in the top 50. You would had thought that those with the most to lose would had been more than willing to pony up 10 bucks. Maybe more. These guys chase tournaments all over the country. They have money to spend.
I got a call from the guy who is 4th and he was moaning about RHQ shutting down. I asked him how much he paid when Andrew emailed everyone. Deafening silence. And then he whined he didn't see the email. I told him that I paid. And you get what you paid for.
Battlefront's tournament structure in the U.S just went down the tubes. The West Coast tournament might not happen ( disagreement with the local gaming group). Now the ranking structure is gone. I am now laughing at the those whose raise d'tre for all those backstabbing and shenanigans just went bye-bye. Now we wait and see what sort of tournament structure comes up.
__________________
Into terror!, Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell
It is with some regret that I am announcing the Rankings HQ miniature gaming rankings web site is shutting down.
As you know I made a public announcement recently that unless adequate funds could be raised I would be winding it up and despite some willing supporters out there at the end of the day not enough users were willing to part with $10 to keep the site going.
Thanks to those that supported!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those of you that decided to support RHQ with a donation. I appreciate it.
As promised in my previous email all money will be refunded since I am shutting the site down.
I wish everyone the best in their gaming pursuits as I look forward to taking a break from running rankings, tournaments and masters events after 15 years! It has been a rewarding experience as well as a hard slog.
Regards,
Andrew Galea
Let me explain the background on this in regards to Flames of War:
Prior to the 2008 season, Battlefront (Flames of War maker) tournament system worked like this. A player participates in his local tournament and if he places high enough, he qualifies for the Nationals. Of which there was only one. There were a few problems with that system. The Nationals was held in Lancaster Pennsylvania, which hard to get to if you live west of the Mississippi. To qualify, you had to chase tournaments until you do qualify. And of course, the casual gamer can't compete, which drew a lot of complaints. And it was a pain for the events coordinator to keep track of who was qualified are not. The event coordinator was also an arsehole in my dealings with him.
So to rectify that situation, Battlefront decided to change the system. One, the qualification was eliminated. Anyone can enter the Nationals. Two, there are now 4 Nationals, each in the East, middle section, texas and west coast of the U.S. Three the winners of those tournaments and anyone ranked in the top 18 are invited to the Masters tournament. They would be the top dogs. To be invited to it and wear the green shirt makes you a big dog in our circle.
So, how do you keep track of those who played and ranking them? Meet Andrew Galea, founder of RHQ. BF announced that they would be using his site. Using his site has two advantages. It frees up the tournament director from having to do it (and enabled Battlefront to eventually removed that position) and since the players do not have to pay, no problem from that quarter.
So what happens when you have a bunch of competitive, obsessive-compulsive, anal gamers in a game system where you compete for an artificially generated number? Where you have a bunch of middle age men suddenly decide to re-live the worse moments grade school or high school? All I can say is that the back-stabbing and shenanigans was something else. And this was over a green T-shirt mind you. I heard the 40k tournament system was even worse, since money was involved. It feels like a scene out of "Lord of the Flies" at times.
Well, last month Andrew emailed those in the system and stated he needed financial support. He needed $10 dollars from at least half the community members to keep things going. I put in my 10 bucks. I was ranked 65th out of about 1756. There was one more in the 50-100 range who placed in money. There were definitely none in the top 50. You would had thought that those with the most to lose would had been more than willing to pony up 10 bucks. Maybe more. These guys chase tournaments all over the country. They have money to spend.
I got a call from the guy who is 4th and he was moaning about RHQ shutting down. I asked him how much he paid when Andrew emailed everyone. Deafening silence. And then he whined he didn't see the email. I told him that I paid. And you get what you paid for.
Battlefront's tournament structure in the U.S just went down the tubes. The West Coast tournament might not happen ( disagreement with the local gaming group). Now the ranking structure is gone. I am now laughing at the those whose raise d'tre for all those backstabbing and shenanigans just went bye-bye. Now we wait and see what sort of tournament structure comes up.
__________________
Into terror!, Into valour!
Charge ahead! No! Never turn
Yes, it's into the fire we fly
And the devil will burn!
- Scarlett Pimpernell
