Warhammer 40K: How Nice Is Being Too Nice?
Goatboy here asking the question are we being too nice in our 40k games? We’re all trying to win after all.
Goatboy here asking the question are we being too nice in our 40k games? Are we striving for sportsmanship so much that we are removing the skill from the game? Is there really a skill for a game where all options/rules/abilities are always available to look at and review? Are we living in a game world where Gotchas are equal to cheating?
I am asking as this as I have seen some chatter online about this and the perceived lack of skill being presented in games. I am of the opinion that anytime you are playing on the tabletop you are playing together not versus each other. I have never been of the mindset to like the “Gotcha Moments” aspect of a trick play somehow tearing the game state apart during the game. I strive to give as much info as I can on what I can do and hope that my opponent gives it back to me. I think the skill in the game is based on knowing all of the options available and picking the one that has the best chance to succeed or the one that can give you the win when you are desperate.
How Much Should You Help You Opponent?
But still – this type of thought lingers. Is it ok to not remind your opponent the 3rd time they have come near a unit that can reactive move? Should you remind them you might have a brutal overwatch if they get too close or why you might want to place your models so close when you’ve explained your threat range a lot. When is it ok to just let them make a bad decision when you’ve presented all the threats on the table for them?
Or how about all the times you let a player go back on something? Or gently remind them of the clock that could be ticking down for their turn? Or notice they misplayed a rule to their disadvantage? Or just remind them of their own rules since it is an army you play?
Can Being Super Helpful Dumb Down the Skill of Playing 40K?
It is hard to really think how far you will bend to try and get a decent game out of it. I’ve played this game long enough and have had success that I feel a better experience more than makes up for winning a trophy in the end. I know my days of being a mean competitive 40k player are long gone and would rather just be a decent player that people have fun rolling dice with.
The comments on some of the videos I have seen talk about how the battle reports are not nearly as exciting as they used to be as players talk about what they are trying to do. I love to hear the chatter and thought processes as it shows different ways to think of the mission. I like to hear both players discuss their options and what they could try to do. Heck until the dice are rolled you have no idea if you will succeed or not. Or your opponent will succeed to save versus the damage you throw.
No Matter What – The Dice Ultimately Decide
I think that is where I am at right now as most of the time I make the right decision – the dice just don’t want to agree with me. This is where the game works for me as the math will enforce what the game will be. I think it is also why when my opponent just makes all their saves I am not nearly as mad as I at least caused them to make saves. I look at it that his math was just more powerful than my math. The odds can be damned, but sometimes Goatboy is just not meant to win.
As a new player I think you should always ask questions and be prepared to answer anything about your army. If the player asks “Do you have a reactive move” you should answer it. You should always be forthcoming about what your army can do and what you could do if you had the options available. To me, the “Gotcha Moments” just don’t feel nearly as good as just making sure your math rocks do better than their math rocks.
What do you think? Where do you draw the line at being helpful when playing the game?
