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Ok so over the last year and a half i have suddenly realized that one of my good friends has turned into a TFG. I will give a bit of a background in a minute but I am wondering what the most friendliest way to deal with him is?

1) Missinturprets/bends/doesn't know the rules - he often forgets that my basement isnt his FLGS that he plays at and I play less loosely with the rules than he's use to. (I go to school out of state and play at a different FLGS so not sure how flexible the people he plays against are)

2) When we point out he is doing something wrong he gets really off and we usually wind up rolling off for it to satisfy him (to some extent)

3) He must win at any cost - or draw - i beat him badly (over 600 vp in my favor and kp by 3) and he still wanted to call it a draw.

4) He wont shut up about how is strategy is perfect (hes on his 3rd army in a year and a half sold other 2 when he found weakness in their strategy and we beat him) not really a game issue but rather anoying (i have yet to face his eldar since he just got them).

I have known the guy for about 10 years and would rather not see my friendship deteriorate due to his 40k antics, however its getting to the point where i wind up lieing to him about not being able to play a game (when actually i am).

Here is what I have been doing
1) offered to let him borrow the rulebook so he can learn more
2) when rules descepencies come up we look them up after game we just roll off unless its absoulty critical.
3) I do non 40k things with him as well - so its not always stressful to be around him.

Any other suggestions on how one can peacefully/freindly deal with a TFG would be greatly appreciated, I try to still have fun playing against him but its starting to wear me down.

Usually my opponents either go around them or find a way to debuff their movement.

Oh, not Temple Flameguard? Well, crap, I don't know.

Stop rolling off. Straight rules, tell him to learn it or don't play him. Honesty is the best policy in situations like this.

Personally, you might just sit him down and tell him that you won't play him any more because of the reasons listed above and that you'd rather not jeapordize the friendship. Tell him that he's a little too hypercompetitive (makes the negative sound like a positive vs. calling him an ass) and that's detracting from your ability to enjoy the game.

Someone's going to wade in with a violence-based interweebs solution here in a minute, I can smell it coming.

Anyway, the way I used to have to deal with it was to look the rule up. Take the time, do it "right" (whateveerr that means), and get the rules right. Only way anyone will learn. I find that looking it up after the game is over is counter productive, because the next time they have the same question, they will remember getting away with it "that other time we played". They may not remember looking it up later, though. That's how the mind of TFG can work.

I know.

I ussually have diferent friends for diferent Hobbies/activities because ( and your case seems to support this) everyones diferent and has diferent tastes, etc... so no need to impose something to someone hes not willing to accept it lightly( in this case confront him and tell him he is a moron at 40k)

Seems simplistic but I would avoid playing 40k with him and get togheter in other more peacefull occasions doing other stuff...

Ifurita wrote:Personally, you might just sit him down and tell him that you won't play him any more because of the reasons listed above and that you'd rather not jeapordize the friendship. Tell him that he's a little too hypercompetitive (makes the negative sound like a positive vs. calling him an ass) and that's detracting from your ability to enjoy the game.

Thats the best. Otherwise, if he's not a long time friend then don't play him at all. If all else fails, then "phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range." Movie quote!

Hell, tell him that he's better off selling his armies and playing World of Warcraft or some other MMO.

With someone like that, it's obvious that he can't handle the thought of losing (hence the cheating)

The solution is to tailor your games with him so that there are multiple objectives (campaign and narrative play is good for this), that way he can still feel like he's won no matter what and that will chill him out and allow you both to have a good time.

You can also help him learn to handle loosing by playing scenarios where the objective is not to win, but to hold out as long as you can before you lose against an overwhelming force.

Rearguard (think Thermopalye) missions like this can help inoculate him to the idea of losing, and find fun in defeat.

If all else fails, then "phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range." Movie quote!

Terminator!

Well, I'm going to assume that this isn't really a case of TFG. This is a friend that is developing some troubling habits and traits around the game. I'm guessing from your comment about school and that both of you are roughly college aged, which is a stressful time for a lot of guys and they can often have trouble expressing or focusing their emotions. That stuff can come out in really weird, negative ways. In my early 20's I had all kinds of academic troubles, and I took it out on the people around me in pretty nasty ways. I'd just keep in mind that his 40k shenanigans might be a sympton, and not a cause.

That all said, there's no reason for him to behave that way, or you to tolerate it. I would talk to him in a neutral place (like at a diner or something) about how he's becoming a jerk at the 40k table. Make sure to have concrete examples of his behavior to illustrate your points, and don't let him cut you off with excuses, reasons, rationales, etc. Say your piece, and then tell him that you value him as a friend, but unless his attitude towards the game changes you simply can't play 40k with him any more. I'd make it clear that he has to decide what's more important: gaming like a jerk or gaming with you.

If you feel comfortable and you know his family or other friends, you may want to check and see if his behavior has changed in other ways, and if so perhaps look into some sort of help for the guy.

Most likely it's just a guy taking out some steam in a way that's hurtful to you. Most people that do that only do it as long as they get away with it. Once called out and faced with an ultimatum, they back down.

Thanks all, going to be playing him tommorow most likely (going to batton down the hatches just in case). So we'll see how it goes. If it doesn't go well i'll wind up talking to him (i head back out of town till may again so he'll have plenty of time to think.

@ Polonius - probably right, we're both juniors in college, so it wouldn't suprise me knowing him now that you mention it.

Anyway thanks again. Nice movie quote btw.

Do you have a paintball gun/marker? If so, pop him a few times with it when he acts up...


No seriously, it appears you are doing the best you can. Keep it friendly, and don't be afraid to remind him that it's only a game, someone has to lose and he can't win all the time. Even the best of friends, sometimes, have to bite the bullet and take TFG friend out back and introduce him to the boot.

He is not TFG but rather sounds like someone who doesn't want to lose and is ignorent to the rules.

I think the idea of looking up the rules during game play is a good one. If you can't find an anwwer just dice off and wrte the question down to be addressed with people at your game store or here on dakka.

I really like the suggestion of a campain or long running battle if he is someone you play against a lot. Plus you can do different sized forces or difference force restrictions. Try playing a 1500 point game with no heavy support choices and required to take at least two fast attack choices. Totally changes the play style.

I hate playing against people who don't WANT to learn the rules. If they don't know the rules that is one thing, but not wanting to learn. Not fun for me.

Dude, it's *your* basement.

That means, *your* House Rules.

ShumaGorath wrote:Stop rolling off. Straight rules, tell him to learn it or don't play him. Honesty is the best policy in situations like this.

Yes indeed!

Casper wrote:
1) offered to let him borrow the rulebook so he can learn more

So he is so good at the game and does not own a rulebook? Sock of quarters or pillowcase of doorknobs should do the trick.

Show him why the Rulebook is hardback.

Or hell, even softback edition can work. Ever see Alien?

Can do some serious damage with the mini-rulebook rolled up tight. Used to work in a prison, you can make an effective weapon out of anything!

Actually, the SM codex, being filled with gratuitous SM praise and parading, is quite thick. I'd use that. Not like you'll get any better use out of that book.

And the gameboards a rockin weapon too.

Start only hosting Bring-your-girlfriend games. Most likely he won't be able to come, but if he does, he'll probably be more cheerful, and also he'll want to act mature.

Might mean you'll have to take the occasional shower yourself, but hey...

lol,but I think you should sit down with him and have a chat,tell him you are unhappy with what he does and that if he plays with you its by your rules and if he doesn't like it then you and he should find another activity to do together!

A minigun cause you don't want to miss.


PS: If you get the reference you've earned yourself a cookie.

Fafnir wrote:Actually, the SM codex, being filled with gratuitous SM praise and parading, is quite thick. I'd use that. Not like you'll get any better use out of that book.

He should set the Chaos codex on fire and burn him with it.

You could kill two birds with one stone.

Get a voice recorder, and keep every annoying thing he said to you. After getting about 1 hour worth of his annoyance compiled, burn it onto a CD, and play it during your gaming session with him.

It'll be a rude awakening .

Ratbarf wrote:A minigun cause you don't want to miss.


PS: If you get the reference you've earned yourself a cookie.

GOAT's are not awwoled on this forum