From: skillian@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (Seth James Killian)
Subject: Re: Being a Master?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 18:06:39 GMT




	Here is a little bit of my own personal SF2 history, which I feel 
	may be relavant to our current discussion.  My origins lie in the
	Chicago burbs as the classic example of "master no throw".  I went
	so far as to enter and place in SF2 tournaments (although looking
	back on it, I think it must have been a good deal of luck.) and I
	could not tick to save my life.  Strangely enough, I did have a
	semi-ability to counterthrow, and this saved my butt more than once.
	I was one of the several resident "no ticking enforcers", in that I
	could not really tick, but I could play a _real_ cheap Bison right
	from the beginning (strong torp/throw/repeat).  I just brushed ticking
	under the rug as the strategy of losers and cheats.  I accepted this
	as THE way to play, ticking was not, could not have been intended by
	this wonderful games creators.  What purpose could it serve.  Well, 
	I learned the purpose, in two tough lessons.  After dominating my
	home arcade with a DP happy Ken (yeah, I used to DP all over the place,
	maybe I've figured something out that you guys haven't ;)) I began to
	"study abroad" and eventually arrived at Galaxyworld.  I went out of
	my way to go there because they had about 4 CE's and 3 classics with
	a couple of them hooked up to big screen TV's.  Cool.  My first few
	times I did great, not losing much, if any, and just basically playing
	crazy.  One time I decided to head out there on a saturday during the
	day.  It was then that I met the "good 'ole boys".  A really good
	bunch of Guile's that were also adamant no throws.  Great no problem.
	Wrong.  They landed two forward sweeps and retreated to the corner where	they hid for the rest of the round.  I couldn't throw.  What could I do?	FB's were not enough, as anyone knows you cannot throw FB's all round
	and not get hit (unless you're Ryu :)).  They also had a few good Blanka	that played this same way.  Incredibly frustrating.  I had not even 
	considered this before, but of course, it is the logical conclusion to 
	the no throw style.  Sure, it's unsportsman like as all hell, but you
	can't turn that around now and say that that is cheap.  You are caught
	in the same rules that you chose.  Most no throw places do not play
	like this, but why not.  It is the best winning strategy, under the
	artificial rules set up by SF2 ethicists who cannot counter throw.
	I just stopped playing there, end of story (aka I ran and hid).  I
	did go back since learning to counter/throw (sort of a personal vendetta 	for me) and I ticked the hell out of all of them.  Extremely ugly, 
	shameless ticking.  This time they got the manager to do what they could
	not and tossed me out in violation of the unwritten "house rules".  It
	was fine with me, I had had my revenge.  This is why no throw SF2               players will always be second class.  They fear throws, and subsequently	turn their backs on a large and necessary part of the game.  Also, my
	experience at UIUC, in a sort of SF2 Darwinistic kinda way, forced me
	to become a good thrower.  I got my ass kicked by Ming and all the rest
	of you seniors who had done nothing but tick for the better part of the
	previous year.  I said I can either not play this game anymore (GASP!no)	Play at the spaceport (crappy joysticks), or I can show these guys who
	is the better man.  Well, I persevered and my hard work has payed off.
	Regardless of the fact that I used to play in tournaments, I would say
	that my game is easily twice as good as it was before I got here.  So
	many subtleties that escape those who do not play the game to it's 
	fullest potential.  Oh well, the choice is yours, but as a former no
	throw, I realize the error of my ways.  Without throws, CE should
	logically degenerate into Guile kills everyone, Sagat kills Guile, 
	Blanka kills Sagat, Guile kills everyone again.  If it is not like
	this, then you guys just aren't good enough yet.  But don't worry
	they'll improve and eventually suck every last ounce of fun from the
	game.  Also, your local Enforcer had better be damned good or get
	your arcade manager to remove me, cause you guys sure won't.

		Seth Killian


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