[Nothing is good or bad...]
Here is a semi-correct record containing the data of chess battles in which I led an army as a king. The first entries are from recollection, so they may be flawed, but I stand convinced of their outcome, if nothing else.
First Skirmish - Proving Grounds: Trial by Combat!
Intra-Guild: Gaia Chess Organization (SwordsmanChris - Black) Vs. Gaia Chess Organization (Fabricated Heirophant - White)
Opponent: Fabricated Hierophant
Date: January 18th, 2008*
Outcome: Draw/Unfinished
Battlefield: 1 Barton 001060 - Gaia Chess Organization Home Court
Game Type: Ragtag - Misc. pieces on both sides
Casualties: MegaZero47 (Knight)
Notes: I rushed into this game thinking I could finish it, but I ended up running out of time. sweatdrop One of the things I learned about starting a fight is to always make sure you have plenty of time! However, this battle gave me a feel for what it's like to command an army of actual people... and it taught me I have to be cautious and swift in my command.
Second Skirmish - Enemy Encounter: Defend Your Honor!
Inter-Guild: Gaia Chess Organization (Black - SwordsmanChris) Vs. All the King's Pawns (White - Fanatic Priest)
Date: January 19th, 2008
Outcome: Victory - Flawless
Battlefield: 3 Barton 001065 - Unclaimed Territory
Game Type: Lightning Chess - King, Queen, Bishop, and Knight for both sides
Casualties: None - Flawless
Notes: This game was nerve-racking because there was a lot riding on it. The enemy was more disciplined than we were, and they were more confident. I had to break them psychologically by playing upon our team's ragtag nature and encouraging personality to shine through, more like an army from Fire Emblem than a chess team. In the end, we were able to beat them, flawlessly - I am proud to be the first person to represent our guild in an inter-guild fight, and to win it without any casualties! whee
Third Skirmish - Impromptu Rematch: Power of the Church Lies!
Intra-Guild: Gaia Chess Organization (Black - SwordsmanChris) Vs. Gaia Chess Organization (White - Fabricated Heirophant)
Date: February 2nd, 2008*
Outcome: Draw/Unfinished
Battlefield: 1 Barton 001060 - Gaia Chess Organization Home Court
Game Type: Ragtag - Misc. pieces on both sides
Casualties: None
Notes: Yet another tie with Fabricated Heirophant. I guess I never really have the time to beat this guy. xd I will have to go against him for real one day, to see which one of us will come out on top in the end. 3nodding
Fourth Skirmish - Casual Combat: Blitz Battle at Dawn!
Intra-Guild: Gaia Chess Organization (Black -SwordsmanChris) Vs. Gaia Chess Organization (White - res novae)
Date: February 19th, 2008
Outcome: Victory - Enemy Forfeit?
Battlefield: 1 Barton 001060 - Gaia Chess Organization Home Court
Game Type: Lightning Chess - King, Queen, Bishop, and Knight for both sides
Casualties: None
Notes: The game began normally, but things began to fall apart for both sides. People started becoming inactive, and with only 8 players, it really took its toll on the pacing. Ultimately the enemy leader, res novae, was forced to withdraw, allegedly from illness. I classified the game as a forfeit on the enemy's part, but it could be argued that it was actually a draw/unfinished match. sweatdrop Ah well, a victory is a victory, albiet an empty one. This battle taught me that I definitely need to plan better, not just strategy-wise, but in the case of elements outside of our control.
Fifth Skirmish - Honor Killing: The Holy War Continues!
Intra-Guild: Gaia Chess Organization (Black - SwordsmanChris) Vs. Gaia Chess Organization (White - Fabricated Heirophant)
Date: February 29th, 2008 - Leap Year Day
Outcome: Draw/Unfinished
Battlefield: 1 Barton 001060 - Gaia Chess Organization Home Court
Game type: Ragtag - Misc. pieces on each side
Casualties: Kari Mezmaru (Pawn), FallenWarrior92 (Knight), Articuno144 (Bishop), The Clammy Avenger (Bishop)
Note: This game reminded me that I have to work on my endgame. I'm pretty good in the beginning of matches, but I get sloppy as the battles roll onward. sweatdrop I had the upper hand for almost the entire battle, even though Fab started off with a point advantage, since he had a rook while I only had a few extra pieces as compensation. I was able to whittle down his forces while protecting my own - my chess mantra is 'a king is nothing without a kingdom', as I emphasize the retaining of pieces and abhor sacrifice - and eventually he was just down to a queen. 3nodding However, with a very complicated queen maneuver, he was able to make us even again. sweatdrop I need to keep my troops from helping out the enemy... I suspect that if they had said nothing, I would have won the match instead of resigning as a stalemate. I feel I learned a lot from this battle, though, so I am happy with it. My continual skirmishing with Fabricated Heirophant has yet to reach a conclusion... ninja
Conclusion: Records - The Swordsman's Status
Wins: 2
Losses: 0
Draws/Stalemates/Unfinished's: 3
W/L/D: 2/0/3
* = Tentative data
3nodding
First Skirmish - Proving Grounds: Trial by Combat!
Intra-Guild: Gaia Chess Organization (SwordsmanChris - Black) Vs. Gaia Chess Organization (Fabricated Heirophant - White)
Opponent: Fabricated Hierophant
Date: January 18th, 2008*
Outcome: Draw/Unfinished
Battlefield: 1 Barton 001060 - Gaia Chess Organization Home Court
Game Type: Ragtag - Misc. pieces on both sides
Casualties: MegaZero47 (Knight)
Notes: I rushed into this game thinking I could finish it, but I ended up running out of time. sweatdrop One of the things I learned about starting a fight is to always make sure you have plenty of time! However, this battle gave me a feel for what it's like to command an army of actual people... and it taught me I have to be cautious and swift in my command.
Second Skirmish - Enemy Encounter: Defend Your Honor!
Inter-Guild: Gaia Chess Organization (Black - SwordsmanChris) Vs. All the King's Pawns (White - Fanatic Priest)
Date: January 19th, 2008
Outcome: Victory - Flawless
Battlefield: 3 Barton 001065 - Unclaimed Territory
Game Type: Lightning Chess - King, Queen, Bishop, and Knight for both sides
Casualties: None - Flawless
Notes: This game was nerve-racking because there was a lot riding on it. The enemy was more disciplined than we were, and they were more confident. I had to break them psychologically by playing upon our team's ragtag nature and encouraging personality to shine through, more like an army from Fire Emblem than a chess team. In the end, we were able to beat them, flawlessly - I am proud to be the first person to represent our guild in an inter-guild fight, and to win it without any casualties! whee
Third Skirmish - Impromptu Rematch: Power of the Church Lies!
Intra-Guild: Gaia Chess Organization (Black - SwordsmanChris) Vs. Gaia Chess Organization (White - Fabricated Heirophant)
Date: February 2nd, 2008*
Outcome: Draw/Unfinished
Battlefield: 1 Barton 001060 - Gaia Chess Organization Home Court
Game Type: Ragtag - Misc. pieces on both sides
Casualties: None
Notes: Yet another tie with Fabricated Heirophant. I guess I never really have the time to beat this guy. xd I will have to go against him for real one day, to see which one of us will come out on top in the end. 3nodding
Fourth Skirmish - Casual Combat: Blitz Battle at Dawn!
Intra-Guild: Gaia Chess Organization (Black -SwordsmanChris) Vs. Gaia Chess Organization (White - res novae)
Date: February 19th, 2008
Outcome: Victory - Enemy Forfeit?
Battlefield: 1 Barton 001060 - Gaia Chess Organization Home Court
Game Type: Lightning Chess - King, Queen, Bishop, and Knight for both sides
Casualties: None
Notes: The game began normally, but things began to fall apart for both sides. People started becoming inactive, and with only 8 players, it really took its toll on the pacing. Ultimately the enemy leader, res novae, was forced to withdraw, allegedly from illness. I classified the game as a forfeit on the enemy's part, but it could be argued that it was actually a draw/unfinished match. sweatdrop Ah well, a victory is a victory, albiet an empty one. This battle taught me that I definitely need to plan better, not just strategy-wise, but in the case of elements outside of our control.
Fifth Skirmish - Honor Killing: The Holy War Continues!
Intra-Guild: Gaia Chess Organization (Black - SwordsmanChris) Vs. Gaia Chess Organization (White - Fabricated Heirophant)
Date: February 29th, 2008 - Leap Year Day
Outcome: Draw/Unfinished
Battlefield: 1 Barton 001060 - Gaia Chess Organization Home Court
Game type: Ragtag - Misc. pieces on each side
Casualties: Kari Mezmaru (Pawn), FallenWarrior92 (Knight), Articuno144 (Bishop), The Clammy Avenger (Bishop)
Note: This game reminded me that I have to work on my endgame. I'm pretty good in the beginning of matches, but I get sloppy as the battles roll onward. sweatdrop I had the upper hand for almost the entire battle, even though Fab started off with a point advantage, since he had a rook while I only had a few extra pieces as compensation. I was able to whittle down his forces while protecting my own - my chess mantra is 'a king is nothing without a kingdom', as I emphasize the retaining of pieces and abhor sacrifice - and eventually he was just down to a queen. 3nodding However, with a very complicated queen maneuver, he was able to make us even again. sweatdrop I need to keep my troops from helping out the enemy... I suspect that if they had said nothing, I would have won the match instead of resigning as a stalemate. I feel I learned a lot from this battle, though, so I am happy with it. My continual skirmishing with Fabricated Heirophant has yet to reach a conclusion... ninja
Conclusion: Records - The Swordsman's Status
Wins: 2
Losses: 0
Draws/Stalemates/Unfinished's: 3
W/L/D: 2/0/3
* = Tentative data
3nodding
[...but thinking makes it so.]
