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Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




Not so much with 40k but in my college games I would win a lot in Risk or Chess to the point where people would wake me up at 5 am to play and even grab pieces out of my hands. It got to the point where I just let them win and tried to be diplomatic about it. In a group of 4-5 for Risk, as an example, I'd just get smash drunk and stop paying attention. Eventually though, it does feel like I'm insulting the other person so I really don't like doing it. Have you ever done this in 40k just to keep friends or maintain a civil atmosphere?
   
Made in gb
Decrepit Dakkanaut




UK

First up I'd say people playing you at 5am or you getting yourself blind drunk to play at a lower skill level - that all sounds like a really unhealthy gaming environment and I'm glad you're no longer doing it.

That kind of approach is very toxic and not at all healthy.



What you are talking about is a complex issue that many of us face on both sides. The issue of skill divide in the playerbase. It's a serious issue in many hobbies, especially as we get older because many hobby groups as you go past school/uni ages tend to end up with more and more skilled people - even if just by virtue of how many years they've been doing the hobby.


Now how do you bridge that with lower skilled people? I think throwing games now and then can be ok, esp if someone is new and just playing casual. However I think its not the best approach and it can be insulting to both sides.
It can also mean that someone of lower skill has less chance to improve because those games you throw teach them and reinforce bad tactics and practice they are doing to win those games. So you'd be teaching them bad habits that would reinforce their weaker position.




In the end there's a few approaches I think are valid

1) Teach. Learn to teach and help them advance their game to a higher level. This requires you (or someone in the group of skill) to be a good teacher and communicator as well as those who have less skill having the desire to improve. Some people don't want too - and that's fine - others do.

2) Advertise. Expand the playerbase. More players means more skill spread and more attitude spread. You might gain a lot more newbies, but some might have more aptitude and desire to learn and improve. Get enough and each skill level can settle within itself.

3) Mitigate. So you've got higher skill in something like Warhammer 40K. If everyone accepts that then use handicaps. Let them take more points; play missions that have unfair deployment setup; play campaign games etc... Basically change and shake things up a bit. If you're always winning take a handicap on points and suddenly you're playing a harder game for you so its giving you more challenge; and they are playing an easier game so it bridges some of the skill divide.

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Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




I'm just curious what college you went to where people were waking other people up at 5 am to play chess and risk. This sound like one of those "and then everyone clapped" stories posted on Reddit. If this story is somehow true it sounds like less of a problem of "if/when to let people win" and more of telling people "don't wake me up at 5 am to play a board game, you psycho"
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




 Overread wrote:
First up I'd say people playing you at 5am or you getting yourself blind drunk to play at a lower skill level - that all sounds like a really unhealthy gaming environment and I'm glad you're no longer doing it.

That kind of approach is very toxic and not at all healthy.



What you are talking about is a complex issue that many of us face on both sides. The issue of skill divide in the playerbase. It's a serious issue in many hobbies, especially as we get older because many hobby groups as you go past school/uni ages tend to end up with more and more skilled people - even if just by virtue of how many years they've been doing the hobby.


Now how do you bridge that with lower skilled people? I think throwing games now and then can be ok, esp if someone is new and just playing casual. However I think its not the best approach and it can be insulting to both sides.
It can also mean that someone of lower skill has less chance to improve because those games you throw teach them and reinforce bad tactics and practice they are doing to win those games. So you'd be teaching them bad habits that would reinforce their weaker position.


Tbh I kinda like getting crazy drunk during games.

On a more serious note, thanks for the advice and I think you make good points about reinforcing bad habits. I think you made three good points. Unfortunately I think sometimes competition can bring out the worst in people. I am still friends with all of them, especially since I no longer play games with said people though now I try to avoid competitive scenes like tournaments in general. It's just a lot of stress and I hate seeing people upset when they lose.
   
Made in us
Member of a Lodge? I Can't Say





Philadelphia PA

Asmodios wrote:
I'm just curious what college you went to where people were waking other people up at 5 am to play chess and risk. This sound like one of those "and then everyone clapped" stories posted on Reddit. If this story is somehow true it sounds like less of a problem of "if/when to let people win" and more of telling people "don't wake me up at 5 am to play a board game, you psycho"


Oh, you know kids these days and their all night chess playing binges.

Somebody should really do something about it.

I prefer to buy from miniature manufacturers that *don't* support the overthrow of democracy. 
   
 
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