"What Makes Your Blood Boil?" Topic

While playing a miniature wargame on the tabletop, what sorts of things upset you? Gaming related, of course.

People who argue a rule that clearly states what is correct, but they think the rule is stupid, not historical or they just don't like it.

Cheaters

Cheaters and people who are ignorant and know better

Players who are clearly not interested in a game and who do dumb things, just to p**s off everyone else.

People who would rather argue than play.

Pots calling kettles black

Those who get quick to assume that you are of their political persuasion because you are playing a game with them and start spouting off.

People who like to "learn while playing" rather than read the rules and then whinge when they get thrashed and refuse to play again with said rules.

People who want to chat about general stuff during a game, save your current affairs/politics/whatever until after the game.

Nothing in wargaming should " make your blood boil", such hyperbole should be reserved for serious stuff (health, crime, relationships, world problems). If it does make your blood boil then that is very bad for you. having said that , a topic title "what irritates you" would not be so hard hitting and exciting.

Mobile phones "irritate" me. Along with the chap at Historicon that threw a unit of British infantry (my figures) across to the other side of the table because he could not physically get out of his chair to move them.

Blimey Martin, that's shocking. What did you do to him? Use the figures bayonets as acupuncture needles on his eyeballs?

MG: +1

Wargaming snobs. Those who feel that theirs is the only proper way of playing a game.

Thanks for the sympathy chaps.
We were playing a game of patrols in the Sudan 15mm. The British units had good rate of movement. 15 inches in column. The chap was quite substantial and could not reach the 15" needed. The table was 5x3 playing surface upon a a 6x4 table.
So he picked the bases up in a handful and threw them another 18" to get them closer to where he wanted them. It did take me aback as most historicon players do not do that on games I put on. After the game I straightened out the bayonets and rifles and prepared for the next and nicer gamers. This was at the first f/burg Historicon. Maybe it was "the heat, the damned heat, i can't go on Chivers, the dervishes have done for me. Just better throw in my last troops (literally)!"

Mishandling of figures.

Invisible rules. It's mostly a convention thing. "The rules are too long to read before the game, or we don't have a copy. Just go ahead and play, and we'll tell you when you do something wrong. Isn't this going to be fun?"

In a word, no.

Rules lawyers who constantly stop the game to read the rule book.

A Burning Cauldron?

I like to play "beginners welcome" and "teaching" games at cons. Usually have a good time. I appreciate it because I do the same thing when I run games, mostly because I have been pleasantly surprised the half-dozen when someone I don't know knew INLGames QILS rules.

What I don't like is such games that really aren't:
– All the other players are from the same game group that plays this game all the time.
– They don't tell you rules until they go into effect.
– They don't explain rules when you ask.

212 degrees F or 100 degrees C…..

I think some forget it's just a game. I.e. playing with toys. And if you don't like the rules, etc., … don't play that game/version. It's no Big deal …

My favorite dumb joke in college was "You wanna know what burns my butt? Flames this high!"

So I agree with StoneMtnMinis.

People who abuse my miniatures. I mean REALLY abuse them. Like in Martian's case….

That and Bystanders who know best. Those who begin giving advise AND moving the miniatures round. Even though they aren't involved in the game….

One incidence I hope I never re-experience involved a GameMaster who threw a Deus-ex-Machina at the gamers because we were not engaging each other more energetically. The game may be called, but should not be shoved in any direction by the person who is supposed to be in charge of it.

Other players who try to inflict their goals/tactics/plans on you more than a simple "If you do this, then we can…." suggestion.

People outside of gaming who equate the interest in military history with warmongering, political extremism, a propensity toward personal violence, and similar unpleasant and (in my case) untrue assumptions. People who miss the point that chess, checkers, parchezi, backgammon, Chinese checkers, monopoly, and even trivial pursuit are a form of conflict simulation.

and even trivial pursuit are a form of conflict simulation.

Amen. I have seen violence erupt in said game.

(Not your point, but there are some cutthroat TP "enthusiasts".)

Only time I really got ticked off was when a guy was moving my miniatures around and trying to tell me what to do. This ties in with the discussion about rage quitting…

Vary restrained on your part 'Martian'? Goddard (see PzGeneral post above.) Obviously some 'far flung' corner of the empire.
I abhor people who show no respect to figures or terrain, also people who insist on moving figures/units multiple times, until they achieve to 'optimum' position for them.

MG +10.

Appreciated!

Bad education and greasy fingers.