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I was in the store today and they happened to be running a school league 600pt tourney across 4 tables. While I waited for it to end (Secretly feeling very sad about my school not wanting to take part ) I ended up seeing quite a lot of 'forgetting' and out and out cheating in a few of the games and I was very much torn if I should of pointed it out. I watched this one kid over 3 games he Heldrake gained Vector Dancer, D6 Vector strikes at AP 2 and an AP 2 bale flamer. I pointed this out game 2, he stopped after getting some very bad looks from his enemy, then I found out after the tourney finished he did the same thing game 3 as well as a few other complaints. This child and his team ended up winning, the other two players winning fair and square on his team, and I was hesitant to tell the manager that the team shouldn't win because of 1 guy. Near the end the Manager asked me if he saw any 'unsportsmenlike' behaviour and I pointed out the culprits I saw, but he still gave them the victory. If you saw cheating, even if its none of your buissiness, would you intervene?

I would like to intervene but id feel like "tell tail". So noooo.

I probably would, especially if they were playing for any kind of prize or competition. I'd hate to see a player lose because of his/her opponent cheating, and would certainly intervene if it was obvious. If they were just making a mistake, then there's no harm correcting them, and if they were genuinely cheating then it should be pointed out, for the benefit of their opponent.

A diplomatic way is to feign ignorance

"Can it/does it do that/have that?" With a puzzled and surprised look on your face. Then politely ask to see the codex, as your level of knowledge "clearly isn't what you thought it was"

Done right, nobody gets accused of anything and won't be embarrassed (including you if you've called it wrong!) but it allows you to call an issue to the attention of both players.

If, after the problem has been resolved, the issue continues, you are on much more solid ground making accusations.

"Excuse me, do either of you mind if I comment on something?"
Normally I get a "Go ahead."
"That weapon isn't actually AP2 I'm pretty sure."

Haven't had a negative reaction yet.

 ALEXisAWESOME wrote:
Near the end the Manager asked me if he saw any 'unsportsmenlike' behaviour and I pointed out the culprits I saw, but he still gave them the victory.

Wow. I would have banned them from the store for that. I can't imagine how anyone could let them keep a win when they're cheating that blatantly.

If you saw cheating, even if its none of your buissiness, would you intervene?

Obvious cheating? Yes. Accidental rule mistake that I'm not really even following that carefully? Maybe not.

A cheat is a cheat, period... Yes I would have embarrassed the cheat and if the manager had not thrown him out I would make sure another dime of my money was not going into his store ever again.

Telling both the person doing the cheating or any store manager about it isn't tattling, it's enforcing rules of fair play yourself

<drunk, shouldn't be posting>

Most "cheating" is just mistakes - the game has a very complicated rules structure which is then further complicated by additional rules in each codex which is then further complicated again by regular updates to the core and codex rules.

I've seen older experienced players make the same mistakes with a model even when reminded because its how the model used to play an edition or two ago.

Similarly if someone plays a model a certain way then if that is found to be in error they might well take a while where they repeat the error and require reminding before the correct process really settles into their mind.


In the end treat all situations like this as accidental and raise the subject in a polite manner. At an event its tricky as if you're a spectator you're not really supposed to intervene and should call the tournament organiser/judge/officials over - however it depends on the scale of the event and at a smaller club scale where things are much smaller pointing things out yourself should be fine. Most players should be accepting of corrections to their gameplay where they are making mistakes - the only time people get shirty is if they are making a lot of mistakes (and thus being called up a lot).

Best thing in that situation is to consider offering the person a game or two after with a view to helping them learn the rules a little better - a friendly offer to help them improve their game.

 azreal13 wrote:
A diplomatic way is to feign ignorance

"Can it/does it do that/have that?" With a puzzled and surprised look on your face. Then politely ask to see the codex, as your level of knowledge "clearly isn't what you thought it was"

Done right, nobody gets accused of anything and won't be embarrassed (including you if you've called it wrong!) but it allows you to call an issue to the attention of both players.

If, after the problem has been resolved, the issue continues, you are on much more solid ground making accusations.

Are you a politician?

Jokes aside, this is pretty good advice.