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So, firstly, thanks for taking a look here for me if you're reading along here.

I have, as of last month, kicked off a local escalation league for 8th edition. We have a LOT of new players and a good number of returning players to 40k, and I felt like the most prudent thing given the situation & players would be to have an escalation league that focuses on getting games in against a variety of opponents, and also encouraged painting a full 2000 point list over the course of 7 to 8 months. We're starting at 500 points, and every 5 to 6 weeks (first two phases are 5 weeks, the remaining phases are 6 weeks) we escalate 250 points up for the next phase.

Overall things are going really well, with over 25 people registered in the league, of which we have over 15 truly active. We're using the FLGS as a base and paying them league dues every phase, with the majority being returned as prize support and a portion being held back each phase to be given out as overall league awards at the end of the 2000 point phase. As a side note, I also work part time at the very same FLGS (a few shifts a week) so I can help oversee and run things while I'm there working.

As with any social group, I have a few problem children in the league and, for lack of a better term, am already somewhat frustrated with several, and one in particular. I can't expel him from the league without the store owner's approval (and am okay with that, they're the ones providing the space to play and prize support, they should get final say), and the main problem child player's bad behavior will eventually catch up with him, because it isn't going away, that much is sadly obvious at this point.

My problem children consist of: One player who quite literally nobody likes, myself included. I've played him twice, and refuse to play him again. He just sucks the fun out of the game with his attitude, and his abject lack of social graces. I've talked to him about it one on one, the store owners have tried to talk to him with me present as well (as the 40k community leader for the store, prior to becoming an employee) to no avail. His most recent infraction was against one of our very new Death Guard players where he cheated in a league game and essentially 'stole' a win from his opponent by claiming that at the end of the game, since there were no infantry on the game's one objective, the game ended in a draw. However, there was a chaos rhino from the Death Guard player's army on the objective and it was still alive. There were no other models anywhere near the lone objective. On TOP of that, on turn 5, the newbie Death Guard player tabled the problem child's Tempestus Scion army, which resulted in a win for the Newbie automatically. Rather than accept his loss with grace and congratulate the newbie DG player, he said that since it was turn 5, they consult the (open war deck) mission card to see who wins, and then said that it was a draw because no infantry were on the objective. Newbie DG player trusted the problem child (not knowing he was a problem child) as this problem child is one of the guys who's been playing a long time. However I reviewed the mission they were playing after the fact and it was not one that said you could still win even if all your models were killed, and also the Death Guard player did in fact have a model on the objective, and it was not contested of course, since all the Scion models were removed from the damn tabletop.

Suffice to say, this caused me no small amount of upset. I've poured months of prep into this league and put a lot of work into running it so far. I've yet to be given the go-ahead to remove problem child from the league, but hoping I'll get it if something this egregious occurs again.

Next, I have someone who is a nice enough guy and I actually enjoy hanging out with him unlike the first problem child. He's enthusiastic, and also something of a veteran-but-returning player to the hobby. That said, he tends to let how he's doing in a game, be it win or lose, REALLY effect his mood. To the point where he becomes dejected and just isn't much fun to be around. He's also rather defeatist in that if he perceives he cannot win against an opponent, he goes into the game assuming he's already lost it and is quite the downer on his own list (despite making very competitive lists and having a good grasp of the game). I've had several people tell me that they don't mind playing him but just would rather find someone else because when the dice start rolling he tends to go dour as soon as things start going even a little bit south for him. I'm going to try and play him soon and have a sit down with him afterward to try and address the issues I'm seeing.

Next, I have another veteran-but-returning player to the hobby, who only joined recently. He's a pleasant enough guy on the outset, but is somewhat off-putting in his demeanor. I've had several people come to me after a game with him and privately tell me he was a bit of a rules lawyer and that they didn't enjoy the game with him. I've yet to play him so I hope to get a game with him and address anything I see with him directly soon, knock on wood, but I've already had to correct him on a couple of rules interpretations he mis-read/misunderstood. Nothing drastic, nor was he cheating I don't think, but he was rather argumentative when I initially corrected him and had to delay the game he was playing to show him in black-and-white where he was incorrect. I tried to do this politely as I could, while being firm in the face of his initially heated disagreement, but apparently he took offense to being corrected/shown he was wrong and later told me so via e-mail correspondence, stating that I had some kind of vendetta against him because of that, and how I scored the painting of his force at being table-top standard (which it was, his models were painted decently but it was not clean nor precise enough to be what I consider above table-top standard, which he claims his army is painted to). I've tried to be easy going and of course assured him I have no grudge or vendetta at all, but I'm trying to keep things fair and equitable for all league members. He joined late, and also due to playing the Yinnari faction I allowed him to break a league rule regarding list building for the first phase with a minor penalty since he was getting a slight advantage as a result. We'll see what happens with him. He's an odd duck, doesn't own a cell phone, doesn't believe in debit/credit cards, has no facebook or other social media (This one I understand, and wish I could say the same some days) and my only way to interact with him other than in the store/in person is via e-mail. I think he'll come around, I just have to sit down and explain things a little more clearly if I can ever get there when he's there. I've tried to explain things via e-mail, and hope I've gotten at least some of the stuff explained to a point. We'll see.

Lastly, I've got two people (a married couple) whom I once was on very good terms with but, due to some personal issues, I've fallen out with. It had nothing to do with the game, or gaming in general, but I have ZERO desire to interact with them outside of mandatory requirements while working at the FLGS. This sucks, as they were once very close to my wife and I, but them's the breaks and they made their choice. They've not done anything in the league to warrant any issues, this one is more of a purely personal issue. I can separate my distaste for them while at work and be able to treat them with due respect as a customer should be treated. This one just sucks because outside of that, I'd almost rather spit on them than talk to or have any interaction with them. It is what it is.

Thanks for reading along, any input or advice regarding the second and third guys would be appreciated. The first guy just needs to realize that nobody will play him any more. He's burned enough bridges at this point, sadly, and the last couple I just have to tolerate being around as much as I don't want to be around them. C'est la vie.

Take it easy.

-Red__Thirst-

Kick the first guy, keep and eye on the next two (continue to be firm, fair, and engaged) while acknowledging the concerns of all involved, and unfortunately you'll just have to eat the gak sandwich on the final couple and live with 'em.

I pretty much agree with Vaktathi.

1 - Appeal the store to drop this guy

2 - Idk, just try to convince him it's worth keeping his spirits up somehow. Keep to your plan of having a sit down and try to explain how he can come back from taking some hits.

3 - He just wants to be right all the time, wants to play victim - with any luck, he'll quit himself before you have to kick him, if he's anything like an old friend of mine (who had similar tendencies). He may even be forced to quit if people start refusing to play him due to his attitude.

4 - This one just unfortunately is what it is. You can't do anything against them as long as they don't start anything with you, but I'm surprised they're even participating if there's mutual animosity at the level you describe

Your problem is the fact that money is involved and the FLGS is profiting directly from the league's existence. People change, fundamentally, when there is money involved.

Everyone can be in a bad mood. It happens. And usually it's not even the game. As a general rule i don't play more than 2 games anymore because i start to hungry and tired, and thus cranky.

My personal suggestion would be to talk to the FLGS and explain that you'd like to alter the arrangement. You're doing most of the work for them. You should not cede power to them. Manage as you see fit.

You seem to have an extremely good grasp of running this league, to which I doff my cap good sir!

So, in regards to the first guy, I'd petition to get the person banned, for say 3-4 months, rather than a total ban. Hopefully he'll see sense and improve his attitude, or he'll go to another store. Either way would be a win.

The second and third person's probably need more interaction. The second person just reds to have his spirits raised, and to get him there it's a game of fun. I'll hedge my bets and say he's returning after quitting in the past due to loosing, and it may be rather Deja Vu for him. Get your friendliest, funniest guys to play him who can make a commissar smile and hopefully he'll snap out of it.
Third guy is rather odd, and I agree with you. Keep an eye on him, and never compromise with him - he strikes me as a guy who when given an inch will take a mile. Nip it in the bud ASAP or he could become very problematic if he continues the way he is.

The couple, well, I know the feeling of falling out and dome people refuse to see sense. Keep it neutral, treat them as a customer and give the the rope to hang themselves if they start creating stink.

I would think that the cheat should be warned about his conduct and if it happens again he should be thrown out. From this point on you or someone of authority should monitor his games. Not only is cheating dishonest but it also could influence how a new player feels about the game in general.

I think I'd agree that I wouldn't kick person 1 out. Give them a warning and last chance, and then ban them if they do something again.

For the middle two, if possible, just try to have a chat and talk about the situation - might be able to resolve something.

As for the couple, not much you can do now to be fair, but if they cause issues in the league for others, then go nuts.

Revoke the problem child’s win where he cheated the DG player. Sit him down. Ask if this really is how the match ended within eye sight of witnesses of the game. When he admits it tell him he has to forfeit his win.

I recently forfeited 2 games in a local league because I called the store asking if I could use a unit. They told me I could on the phone. Other players were not party to that phone call so they assumed my list was illegal. Games are supposed to be fun so rather than cause issues i ceded my victory.

I'm not sure if you have implemented this in your league or not, but is there some sort of "Spirit Score"/"Player Points" system?

If not, you could implement something like that starting next month. Explain to all the league players that this is a new category and there could even be a "Spirit Prize" at the end of the phase to reward players who are great to play against. I would have some objective measurables (Is there army fully painted? Is their list legal? Did they start on time? etc.) and some subjective measurables (were they fun to play against? etc.

Also, you would make this anonymous, so that only you/the Store Director see the scores. The higher ones aren't the ones you're looking out for (except for any spirit prizes), it's the lower scores. You can explain to players that if any player gets below x points for their "Spirit Scores" during the month, you/the Store Director reserve the right to suspend them for the next month of gaming.

This way, all players get fair warning and there is an objective system/set of rules and expectations for them to follow.

Outright ban for the first guy. People like this are toxic and they will not change. This was not a one-off either. Get rid.

The others seem like some degree of management will bear fruit. The argumentative rules-interpretation guy, you'll just have to 'referee's decision is final'. If he persists, ban him.

Its your way or the highway with these things. I'd make that very clear from the outset.

I used to have a similar situation to the second and third guys. The second guy... this is something you can't really change. It's part of who they are. It's part of the way they enjoy the hobby. They are happy on their turn blowing stuff up, and unhappy on their opponents' turns when their stuff is being blown up. They may not be the best person to have a match against, but they're not the worst.

The third guy, so long as they see that you're being fair and treating other people the same way, they'll come around. Just keep a cool head. Maybe even invite them into a discussion where you're "having difficulty with someone" so they can see and respect the problems you're going through. Try to have this guy maybe help you out with the second guy or the last couple.

Remember, you're part of a community, and the community can help you as much as you help them.