What do you do to reduce your competitiveness when playing in a non-competitive environment?

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**Iron_Captain**

Otto Weston wrote:
Your listed options aren't fun, therefore - Other:

You play... in character... and I don't mean just screaming WAAAAGH or FOR THE EMPEROR.

I mean, play as if this is an actual battle and you're the commander --- Maelstrom objectives are actual orders received via vox and those men under your command are real; they feel feel pain, have dreams, loved ones and hope to survive the war and receive a pension one day (lol). Hell, you may even know some of them (I name all my models after people I know, acquaintances for troops and the like and friends for special weapons/commanders/ sergeants etc.).

This creates an interesting dynamic where, for example, you need to seize an objective this turn to win the field but know it's a suicide mission for the squad that can make it (the enemy will clear it next turn).... but your best friend leads that squad. Suddenly it's personally not worth losing those men to take that point.

You're more likely to lose games because you're no longer a ruthless chess player but a considerate commander who starts making decisions based on preserving men rather than simply throwing them at objectives or to get linebreaker etc. I find it extremely fun and it works for me.

Imperial Commander, your battlefield performances have been found lacking in zeal. The Commissariat has recommended you for a re-educational course. Report to Correctional Facility IX, Room 101, where you are to sit in the BLUE chair.
++Thought for the day: It is better to die for the Emperor than to live for yourself.++

**Genesaika**

While I don't have experience in Warhammer, when I found myself in this situation in other games I would either help them out by teaching, or play less optimally. Normally I'm not running for optimization anyway, because I just like playing games for the fun of it, trying new things in games is a favorite pastime for me.

Don't get me wrong here, Im also the guy who will, usually, destroy that one jerk who plays an optimized list/deck against my casual group.

Games are meant to be fun for both parties, so don't water yourself down so it's not fun, but don't be so op that the opponent isn't having fun.

**Otto Weston**

Iron_Captain wrote:
Otto Weston wrote:
Your listed options aren't fun, therefore - Other:

You play... in character... and I don't mean just screaming WAAAAGH or FOR THE EMPEROR.

I mean, play as if this is an actual battle and you're the commander --- Maelstrom objectives are actual orders received via vox and those men under your command are real; they feel feel pain, have dreams, loved ones and hope to survive the war and receive a pension one day (lol). Hell, you may even know some of them (I name all my models after people I know, acquaintances for troops and the like and friends for special weapons/commanders/ sergeants etc.).

This creates an interesting dynamic where, for example, you need to seize an objective this turn to win the field but know it's a suicide mission for the squad that can make it (the enemy will clear it next turn).... but your best friend leads that squad. Suddenly it's personally not worth losing those men to take that point.

You're more likely to lose games because you're no longer a ruthless chess player but a considerate commander who starts making decisions based on preserving men rather than simply throwing them at objectives or to get linebreaker etc. I find it extremely fun and it works for me.

Imperial Commander, your battlefield performances have been found lacking in zeal. The Commissariat has recommended you for a re-educational course. Report to Correctional Facility IX, Room 101, where you are to sit in the BLUE chair.
++Thought for the day: It is better to die for the Emperor than to live for yourself.++

That makes it even more fun! You want to protect as many people as you can but know that if you're too cautious/ineffective you'll be sanctioned. Judging how to toe the line and save lives and making decisions like that makes it more fun

**lindsay40k**

Thinking on it further, I don't do anything to alter my game in non-competitive environments, as I don't play in competitive environments any more...

**Marmatag**

I put other, because I will tell them what i'm thinking, and what i'm trying to do on the table. "I'm going to go here next turn with this squad, because blah blah blah."

Also, before the game, i'll make sure our lists are balanced. At least, as balanced as i feel i can make them.

If you're playing to teach someone, winning is completely irrelevant to either party.

**MrPyro**

I usually don't do anything "cheesy", when I play with friends we usually agree on certain things like Super Heavies. That way we both have fairly even matched lists and one doesn't seriously outgun the other.

We play blind so there's a lot of guess work involved in building lists, very little room for making optimal counter builds. Though this can sometimes result in the hilariousness of an anti-infantry list being paired against a mech-list

**Rippy**

Don't spam cheese. I think that's about it, isn't it?

**Elbows**

If you're overly competitive...build a non-competitive list and see what you can do with it. Penalize yourself and set that as the challenge - not a table-swiping domination of the other player. See if you can win with some of the worst units in your army.

Oh, and don't be a witch.

**Booger ork**

Trickstick wrote:
I would play thematically.

I can't change list, as I pretty much just carry a single list around at any one time. It is pretty hard to carry a sideboard if you play Guard. However, I will play more like a crazy Guard general, ordering the men over the top and getting the tanks to try and crush the enemy. A full out crazy Guard linebreak. It is quite fun and usually ends up being amusing for both sides no matter who wins. Shouting at the Guardsmen as your Commissar shoots them is kinda satisfying

This. If I am playing a non-competitive game, I will do what may not be tactically best, but in my mind what looks most cinematic, like marching my mordians down into a valley and form square, spitting volleys of las-fire everywhere. ( unfortunately, its slightly less cinematic when granades, bombs, flame throwers etc make mush of them, but now I have 8th edition to make me strong!)

**Gordon Shumway**

Make sure I bring along a whole lot of bubble gum, because once I run out...