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This weekend, we went to Chicago for the current Ingress Anomaly series. Managed to get there on time despite our outbound flight being last-minute cancelled; was able to rebook on a different airline for not much more than the refund of the cancelled flight.
This event was the final and deciding contest in the current series. Our team played well, and we had substantial advantages on the ground, sometimes controlling upwards of 90% of the play-area. But the opposing team had the superior strategy and prioritization this time. They played each of their advantages to the fullest, keeping our lead just narrow enough. And they devoted substantial resources to a winner-take-all mechanic that we didn't prioritize highly enough, allowing them to eke out a narrow victory.
Despite the outcome, I'd gladly trade this one for some of the events where I've been on the winning side. The contest was really dynamic and exciting, there wasn't too much sitting still, and it was great playing together with the wider community, which included teammates from far and wide. It was three hours of action, a far cry from the "45-minute stroll, 15-minute game, repeat times four" of the early Ingress Anomalies. (Conveniently, Eris napped through the first two hours, though she got a bit impatient towards the end of the third.)
Chicago was a lot of fun to walk around, and we managed to get some good weather. Definitely want to go back some time for a longer trip.
We got back yesterday, and have the holiday off today, but I'm down with a bad cold. Hazard of traveling.
This event was the final and deciding contest in the current series. Our team played well, and we had substantial advantages on the ground, sometimes controlling upwards of 90% of the play-area. But the opposing team had the superior strategy and prioritization this time. They played each of their advantages to the fullest, keeping our lead just narrow enough. And they devoted substantial resources to a winner-take-all mechanic that we didn't prioritize highly enough, allowing them to eke out a narrow victory.
Despite the outcome, I'd gladly trade this one for some of the events where I've been on the winning side. The contest was really dynamic and exciting, there wasn't too much sitting still, and it was great playing together with the wider community, which included teammates from far and wide. It was three hours of action, a far cry from the "45-minute stroll, 15-minute game, repeat times four" of the early Ingress Anomalies. (Conveniently, Eris napped through the first two hours, though she got a bit impatient towards the end of the third.)
Chicago was a lot of fun to walk around, and we managed to get some good weather. Definitely want to go back some time for a longer trip.
We got back yesterday, and have the holiday off today, but I'm down with a bad cold. Hazard of traveling.
