Here is what I wrote the owner of the 9-store chain:
John,
[1] Please note that I have [Asperger's] (high functioning Autism, with a high IQ), and my written communication often comes off as harsh. It is not my intention to sound harsh, but only to present the facts in such a way as that I can better understand the issues at hand, as well as express my thoughts. The circumstances I find myself in are stressful, and unwanted. This email I suspect is longer than one would tend to be inclined to read. Please feel free to call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx for more affable verbal communication. I also have ADD and Dyslexia. I am more than willing to bring in my diagnosis for you to verify.
[2] Alex insist that making a mistake is cheating. I have looked up the definition, and its synonyms. The notion that cheating can occur without intent is not the correct use of the word. I have asked a person with BA in English, an English professor, an editor, a game designer, and some other friends, and they all said that cheating requires willful intent. Having ADD, and Dyslexia I find the notion of equating a mistake to cheating to be extraordinarily offensive. A judge should know the definition of cheat.
[3] Alex has made the claim, and I have heard it verbatim from Rick, that one cannot be good at something and make a mistake. Rick seems like an intelligent, understanding man, and I think the words were not his own. I do not understand this logic. It does not take much effort to find a multitude of examples of professionals who have made errors, much less an amateur playing with plastic models on the weekends. The notion is quite ludicrous. Additionally people make mistakes under stress. Those [with] dyslexia, and ADD are more prone to make mistakes under stress.
[4a] As previously mentioned in our phone conversation Alex changes the rules, and provides a moving target. This is quite stressful. He does not follow the official FAQ. Not knowing what is legal, or how it works makes planning difficult. After winning 3/5 in a series going into the 6th scenario I would have won the series and the grand prize simply by showing up. To be told that the rules for awarding the grand prize were changed was unsettling. I was told that they were changed to make sure the kit was paid for via admission.
[4b] I specifically asked about the rules for awarding the grand prize in the second multi-month event. I received a response of something to the fact "it depends if the final kit has a normal and a grand prize". Of course every kit has a normal prize. I was a bit distraught when Alex told me that my wins did not count towards the grand-prize, again. This kit with the grand prize was a normal-sized ship, and I would wager not nearly as expensive as the DS9 kit mentioned in 4a. The grand prize was to go to the winner of that months tournament, and apparently the normal prize was to go to the second-place winner.
[5] Alex had an odd system where we would build a 100-point fleet, randomly select a ship, and rebuild a 100-point fleet with the randomly selected ship. (a) I randomly, and consistently drew combat viable ships, while my opponents often drew ships that were often non-competitive, (b) I planned for this wonkiness by making my builds point-efficient no-thrills small bundle of points that were easy to work with, and (c) by building and re-building the fleets under time, and competitive stress was defiantly a contributing factor in the error I made.
[6] I made a mistake that I suppose could have been a disqualifying event, but it was not cheating. I called out the error. I do not believe it affected play. I made moves assuming I had the correct manipulative. When approached with the issue by Alex I volunteered to re-run the tournament. Alex's solution to the dilemma, was to tell me to let it go. It seems as if this is a solution he no longer agrees with.
[7] Your store runs ST:AW events later than all other stores I attend. As such I have usually played the scenario 2-4 times by then. This provides an distinct advantage. Additionally it would seem that I log a considerably more time playing this game time than the other players at your venue. As such I have won ~7/10 of the tournaments.
[8] While not a genius, my IQ is in the 90%, I have a tactical mind, and I am apparently good at judging distance (an essential component of the game). I have entered tournaments for games that I have never played, and have won, on multiple occasions (HEX, WEG's Star Wars Miniature Battles, and BattleTech HeroClix stand out).
[9] The reasons verbally submitted to me for my request to not play anymore at your venue is quite unsubstantial, and quite laughable. I trust you can call up other stores that host Star Trek: Attack Wing, and ask them if these reasons are substantial. I have no doubt that you will find that they are, as mentioned in my letter to Alex, laughable.
[10] Tom threatening to punch me was unacceptable [Tom's personal reasons edited out]. Alex's comment that he wanted to punch me was also unacceptable. As judge he should have handled the situation differently, and not have said those words to me. I do not appreciate being bullied, and being bullied only set the notion of winning to spite these words firmly in my mind.
[11] The gentlemen at your store in Wheaton are upset that an outsider is winning the prizes. I am disappointed that they are lowering themselves to this level in order to remove a skilled opponent. There are definitely means to communicate the desire that are not offensive. This method is wanting, and hurtful. Randomly distributing all prizes would have been preferred to this heartache. I have lost sleep over this catastrophe.
[12] It is quite likely that they are misreading the traits associated with Aspbergers. A lack of eye contact, and awkward body language can be a disconcerting circumstance to be in if one navigates social situations primarily via body language for judgment on another. Unfortunately this is not the first, or the last such event I will be subjected to. It is quite tiresome.
[13] I have a desire to confront these bullies non-violently.
Thank you for your time,
Rich Gray
(I don't mean that you're there to be mean, but to win easily and decisively!)
