Competitive play vs Just for Fun play

Title of this post could also be "Tournaments Some Do, Some Don't" or "Just for Fun Play Some Do, Some Don't."  To me it seems there's an arrow of playing 40k.  Arrow starts at "Just for Fun" and goes to "Competitive Play."  Kind of like time it's difficult to go backwards.

Rules: If you can't do something smart...

This is something I've waxed on before and believe it to be very important when it comes to what we do.  When it comes to rules you can either run them incorrectly or correctly.

Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Oorah!  Was laying down last night taking a rest from my less than active Sun.  Thurs nights battle started going through my head.  Thinking about what I did wrong.  Hoping not to perform the same mistakes next time.  Also hoping to remember what was successful in the first game months ago and use it in the next game.  Several things occurred to me that would've made the game much easier.

Grey Knights deployed first.  Eldar deployed second.  Do you see the mistake that gave Eldar the game that I see?

Editions, Editions, Editions.

Not that long ago was talking with a fellow 40k'er about commissions, gaming and tournaments.  During the conversation he brought up that feeling many of us have had.  Specifically he mentioned how he's not putting anymore energy into 40k because of the new edition and the money involved.

Your model has to be removed from the table

Recently I was playing against Chaos Space Marines.  Guy had these Obliterators at the edge of the table.  Deployment was Hammer and Anvil.  I've seen him use these before.  Last time was during a 3k battle some months ago.  They were on the second floor of a building.  Didn't move all game and shot occasionally.  One of the points I gave him was to have his Obliterators at the 24" deployment line.  "Yes they will take shots, they maybe removed but what are they doing at the end of the table?"  I asked.

These are my Golden Boys.  They are always in my army lists.  Asdrubael Vect.  Olonora my Eldar Farseer.  Orikan the Diviner.  Would put my Master of the Forge up but haven't used my Noir Engels enough to justify it.  Same goes for Crowe, haven't used him at all.  Will probably end up changing my Grey Knight list the more I play them.

Will the Real Army List Please Stand Up

Just like the Joker card in Dark Knight.  How come army lists are all the same or extremely similar?

Temet Nosce (Know Thyself)

You're in a game.  Rolling some dice.  Playing for the first time against a new player.  Every turn there has been some sort of rules thing to figure out.  You are there for fun and to enjoy yourself.  This is supposed to be an escape.  However you quickly realize you'll be ice skating up hill what do you do?