So Ashes is, like, a really fun game. When I faced against my siblings and cousins we only played the Pre-cons and Draft. We never really got big into the constructed. We played some and had a couple games with constructed decks, but we didn't go deep into the building process. The game was only an okay game at this point for me. I had the interest to get more into the competitive constructed games, but no way to do so.
During this phase, I began my journey with a small step into the early Ashes community. On a forum, someone was holding a mock Ashes draft. The person who was in charge gave us the options of what we can draft. Collectively we voted on which card we would pick by posting on the forum. I was one of those people. On the forum, I had conversations about which pick was the best pick. Eric was also there rereading my posts to make sure I didn't say anything stupid. Here was where I got the first taste of what it's like to be in a larger than you community. Talking with people you don't know, but still having fun talking about a game you enjoy.
The second step of my journey into the Community of Ashes was Ashes: Online. This is a closed Facebook group (but if you ask they let you in) which is the center of the Ashes Community. This is where everyone posts their questions, sees if anyone is in their area among other things. I have posted a few posts on there and was even the one to post the link to PlaidHat's solution to the Promogate problem. I joined the group when there were around 700 members (or less, don't remember). We are now over 1,500 strong. Due to it being a closed group no one except the people in the group can see the things I liked. That means I can like what I actually like and not be afraid of my friends judging me about how much I'm into board games. :)
The next step comes with the release of the expansions. The deck building possibilities grew substantially thus making deck-building an even bigger and more exciting part of the game. Seeing other people on Ashes: Online talk about their experiences with the new cards got me pumped to play some games. And I finally found the way to play with people online.
I face people who I find online, specifically people who are in the League that Erik (spelt with a 'k') Rodriguez (someone who, if you are any into Ashes at all, you probably know his name) created. This is my biggest step into the Ashes community. You sign up and get matched up with other people who have also signed up. You get two matches per week. We play our games through a steam game called Tabletop Simulator (tts for short). I use the mic that I bought to talk to the player I am facing. Over the course of many weeks, you end up playing everyone who is in the league. You get points depending on how well you do (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss). Your points rank you against the other players. The person with the most points is the top and the person with the least at the bottom. Here's what Ashes looks like on tts (I played part of a round with myself and then took a snip):
This layout if for playing games. There is another layout with all of the cards where you build your decks.
Random thing that I think is way cooler than it probably is: Another guy and I didn't get to play our match, so Erik marked it a draw and in the notes of the game, he always says "Match expired" or something to that effect. On mine he put this:
Erik has read The Stormlight Archive!!
Anyway, at one point I was 2nd in the league.
This is especially exciting due to the fact that I am higher than players such as Erik (creator of the league and winner of the tournament at Tulsa (the biggest tournament that has ever been held (later lost to him in a match. (I made quite a few misplays plus he's a really good player, so I'm not surprised at all about the outcome (apparently he posted our game on youtube. Was not aware that I was being recorded, but I guess I'm cool with it. It's actually cool to see the game play out while seeing his cards. Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoqKMqwDgpg))))), Elliot (winner of the first ever online tournament), Nick Conley (known for being a very good player (I later lost to him in a league match)) and Papa Pratt (who I and others consider the 'wise sage' of Ashes, father of Christian Pratt (member of The Main Action Podcast who is also beneath me in the league)). Only second to Kian Jones (member of The Main Action Podcast (beat him in a league match (guys, I beat Kian Michael Jones... that's crazy awesome!! (super exciting game too, where it came down to the last move where I double pinged (ping = deal one damage to) my unit killing it allowing me to play a card that when one of my units die I could deal two damage thus winning me the game!))))
Right now (6/12/16) on the league I am in spot number 12 with only 3 points. Many of the people I won against dropped out of the league making me drop points like crazy. I wish the league was set so it kept my points, but I guess it's not ment to be.
One thing about the league is rule number 8, which states, "This league is just for fun so don't take it too seriously." I think I might be breaking that rule a little...
However, recently Erik has created another league. This league is a ladder league. Where you are put into the league and can challenge whomever you want. Before it was set up that if you win you take their place and they go down a rank. The thing was you could challenge whomever you wanted. This is where I come in (well where Joseph comes in) he mentioned that there was little incentive to challenge any player except the top. I brought this up on ashesrules.slack.com (a place where you can talk anything ashes, similar to Ashes: Online but has more specific topics, I put in my thoughts every once in a while). Erik mentioned how he was thinking about that problem and shortly after changed it so you get ranked depending on your ELO ranking (a ranking system that gives you points/takes them away depending on the win-lose ratio of the opponent (and whether you win or lose, of course)). I helped make that happen!
Above I acted as if being a member of The Main Action Podcast is a high title, but what is The Main Action Podcast? The Main Action Podcast was the first podcast created on Ashes. (Only one other podcast has come out since then entitled: The Ashtray.) Here is the link to The Main Action's latest podcast: http://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HtWXpCYQ. They release a new podcast every two weeks with a new one coming out this Wednesday.
I even have a part in this too. I have been mentioned several times on their podcast (they ask questions and I respond to some they then read off my answer along with other people's answers). Here are the times and episodes on which I was mentioned in case you randomly wanted to check it out. On Episode 13: Jessa I even won a Dimona Promo!
Episode 7: Summon Spells: 79:14
Episode 13: Jessa: 63:03 (build up) 63:56 (if you just want to hear them say my name)
Episode 15: Tulsa Wrap-Up: 83:29
Anyways, hope you enjoyed that lenghty read about my part in the Ashes community!
Sounds sweet! Whenever we get together next we'll have to play each other. I'll look up the rules online somewhere. I actually have a long list of games I'd like to play once we get together again, including Ashes, Terra Mystica, Castles of Burgundy, Village, Five Tribes, any games I've invented, Agricola, etc. etc. Maybe this Summer, maybe Christmas time if not.
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