Calming down the irate rookies

[Obsolete]

What do you do when the rookies execute a very poor attempt at some highly risky gambit, and pay the price?

It seems lately this has been giving me the negative onslaught of being reminded every turn on how HORRIBLE the game is, and how Unrealistic, or Unbalanced, and how I'm just an UNLUCKY PUNK, etc. lol.

I often try to throw away a few units here, just to applease them a little, but even that doesn't seem to work to brighten their day. I'm just not sure about what to say when pinned to the wall in these respects, aside from wishing that there was an option to TURN-OFF the commenting ability, LOL.

Any psychologists out there know how to handle these situations better? Simply giving up the game every time someone gets mad because (they know more about tank warfare than the Desert Fox himself), and the game is just "SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BROKEN" when risky gambles don't work their way, just doesn't seem right to me.

[khill9702]

All I know is I am always very humble when I am losing because I know its because of my mistakes. I enjoy this game quite a bit, one of the few I actually am playing now in general, and in MP exclusively. I do know what you are talking about. I have had a few players that I just won't play again just because how obnoxious they are about the game or the comments they leave. I think that is all you can do. If you are enjoying the game as a whole Obsolete maybe just have to blacklist some of the jerks that seem to blame everything but their own competence.

[gortwillsaveus]

While I always strive to win,...I don't mind losing when:
A - I take unnecessary risks and pay for my mistakes
B - I play like my opponent is playing for the first time.
C - My opponent plays extremely smart and uses terrain to his advantage. (most of the time, this is the case)

There is however, some annoyance that can be associated to one or two of the scenarios.
One of the Arnhem scenarios is like this, in that one of my opponents, knew exactly where the spawn points were and stationed his forces there.
I couldn't take one step after spawning before I was cut down every turn.

I see it as a challenge to figure out a way to overcome that situation.

If it bothered me that much, I just won't play that particular scenario any more.
There are so may other scenarios to get overworked about it.

P.S. You're a better man than me to "give up a few troops" to make someone who's complaining happy. Me,..I'd really kick in with the grinding up of his troops.
P.P.S. So far, I suppose I've been lucky that no one has complained,...but then again,..I suppose I haven't won all that much either. Hahaha

[MrsWargamer]

I'd post the answer if there was one, there isn't.

Heck I have been with the game since I was asked to beta. I don't possess any secret insight, I get mauled fairly often. To me, THAT is realistic as in real life you should lose more than just rarely. War is life and DEATH.

But I suspect too long have gamers enjoyed games with god mode, cheat codes, walk throughs and hint books.

I like this game for it's chess like aspect. Make the wrong move, you get owned. Play foolishly against an experienced player, you should be trashed.

Chess players don't throw games, why should we?

Best way to learn, is to get pummelled, and then learn to NOT get pummelled.

I'd be greatly insulted if I was 'let win' in a game involving brains. I won't do it to another.

[Beakie]

Speaking as a person who loses a far share to the AI (not good enough to ever seriously think about playing BA MP).

I say try to politely point out his rashness at making those gambles, and suggest maybe you play the same scenario switching sides and showing him that the side he played was indeed not broken. And, then if he still complains kick his ***. And, don't feel bad about it because you tried to teach them a better way...

Life's too short to stress over someone else's bad attitude....

This is of course, just my opinion...

Beakie

[MrsWargamer]

Yep best way to refute someone saying a game is broken, is to kick their butt on both sides and then just flat out tell them, pay more attention to HOW to play the game and it gets more fun.

[mroyer]

Yep best way to refute someone saying a game is broken, is to kick their butt on both sides and then just flat out tell them, pay more attention to HOW to play the game and it gets more fun.

This is actually a great way to refute game "balance". Whether a game is "broken" is simply a matter of opinion and unarguable. All simulation games are simply models of reality, and every model has it's pluses and minuses - usually (unless it's a genuine bug), the designer is fully aware of issues and has implemented them as he/she did as a trade-off to some other aspect of the model.

If someone thinks a game is broken, well, fine... that's their opinion. If it's "broken" enough that they aren't enjoying the game, they should find another model that suits their opinion better. If they're angry enough that they're ruining my fun, well, that's the last time they get to play the game with me.

-Mark R.

[Gudkarma]

i'm not sure but i feel a little insulted to read this. and also rather sad.

i'm not sure but it seems like for the most part you dont simply explain it to your opponent.
what is the use in having a game that only youre good at and your opponent isnt.
if they are so upset speak kindly to them about what they might do differently.
i've played with someone again and again losing. and i just dont get it.
my opponent has offered some general tips that are useful.

no point in pissing people off..they'll just never buy a game from slitherine again..or might just not get the next expansion.

rather than complain about rookies..take them under your wing and explain things.
or you can just be a dip and complain about rookies..and see where that gets all of us.

[mroyer]

i'm not sure but i feel a little insulted to read this. and also rather sad.

i'm not sure but it seems like for the most part you dont simply explain it to your opponent.
what is the use in having a game that only youre good at and your opponent isnt.
if they are so upset speak kindly to them about what they might do differently.
i've played with someone again and again losing. and i just dont get it.
my opponent has offered some general tips that are useful.

no point in pissing people off..they'll just never buy a game from slitherine again..or might just not get the next expansion.

rather than complain about rookies..take them under your wing and explain things.
or you can just be a dip and complain about rookies..and see where that gets all of us.

I think the opening poster is talking about arrogance and attitude, more than just being a rookie.

[Gudkarma]

what i said still seem relevant. the 'poster' said to remedy the situation he sacrifices units to appease the opponent.
again it doesnt seem like it would help.

of course if someone is just going to gripe and gripe..well just move on and play with someone else.
but i think its best to nice offer some help first.

[mroyer]

of course if someone is just going to gripe and gripe..well just move on and play with someone else. but i think its best to nice offer some help first.

thumbs-up

[MrsWargamer]

There's often no accounting for how some people play some games of course.

I have beta tested wargames in the past. My usual approach is 'how much dumb crap can I expose?' because I am usually focused on removing dumb crap from a game.

I find dumb crap usually ruins games meant to be mental exercises.

Now of course, sometimes you need abstractions just to make some games work at all. And often a gamer just can't see an abstraction for what it is, a mechanic to ensure the game at least functions in a balanced fashion. Because remember, we use the term 'game' for a reason.

BA has a lot of 'Chess' to it, and thus, if you refuse to play it like Chess, you might be doomed to frustration.

But some gamers simply won't budge on some aspects of game design.

[pocketchange]

Obviously, if someone is being a jerk, they might be beyond help, or you may be to frustrated to offer.

But, the analogy to chess is a great one. Both have steep learning curves and once you start to lose a little, you've lost a lot.

If you can stomach it, however, it pays to help someone. There is a saying in chess - "if you want to get better, find a student." The idea is that by teaching you learn more than you would by simply playing.