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Jan 15, 2013 -- 12:21PM, RxPhantom wrote:

My current group currently only consists of three players.  When we get together, the situation always tends to be this:  there is no way for me to win, but I can decide who does by knocking the other out.  I can't remember the last time I won a game, but I can remember several that turned out this way. 

I used to have the same problem, until we found more players. My best advice is to look into house rules: A) Someone plays two decks, and it becomes 2v2 B ) You can only attack in one direction C) Games are scored (points awarded for damage dealt or some such, not the best option).

So yeah, three way games almost always end like that, but there are solutions ^^ 

Jan 15, 2013 -- 2:39PM, Tsukino_Kaji wrote:

Jan 15, 2013 -- 2:30PM, Apollo_8089 wrote:

B ) You can only attack in one direction

I loath this idea, it defeats the purpose of multiplayer.


Instead you should play assassins. Everyone would need 2 of one card, with everyone having a different card. You keep one, that is your marker, the other are dealt randomly face down. The face down card you recieve is your target. You can only attack your target or retaliate against people who effect you. If you get your own card, you can attack anyone. When you kill your target, you get their card and that becomes your target. If you end up with no target or your own card, you have to pay and 5 life you buy a hunting licence. A hunting licence is an artifact and subect to such.

Actually, things become surprisingly tactical when you have to figure out how much pressure to apply - the more you attack Player B, the less they can attack Player C, who can now attack you more. Swings and roundabouts.

That said, I think I like your variant, although that may just be for having a hunting license  

Jan 15, 2013 -- 9:29PM, Tremor88 wrote:

to the OP:
I've met a few guys like that and have no patience for it. Actually one of the dearest people I've ever played games with (my brother) can be like that at times. Usually they just don't realize how shallow their attempts to manipulate the table are, or how blatantly selfish their perception of the game is. Is he also the sort of guy who gets really impatient during other players' turns and yet drags his own out and slow-rolls nearly every play he makes?

If it's someone you just met, sometimes direct response has a huge effect. I remember one game I attacked with an inferno titan and assigned 2 of the 3 damage to kill an oracle of mul daya and the last point to Phil's face "for being a whiny b*tch" as he was trying to persuade me to instead torch something problematic for him (I think gaddock teeg maybe?). He was quiet and sullen for the rest of the game. Might have ruined his enjoyment to be demeaned by a stranger like that, but at least it stopped him from ruining ours. I played with that guy again another time and made a point of being friendly with him and it was actually a great game experience. Some people don't respond well to that though, and I think the approach only works if it's done as soon as the behavior reveals itself.

If it's behavior you've been tolerating for a while though, it's much harder to suddenly make it unacceptable. You can try the Oprah method of having some sort of intervention and talk it out but that's awkward and lame and will just make him feel singled out.

Assuming it's a person you all actually like and want to keep involved with socially, you need to get your group on board with a plan to patiently steer his behavior (and if not...then just don't invite him anymore haha). You've got to use both the carrot and the stick. When he whines about no one else answering a troublesome permanent for him, have someone flash a nature's claim they just drew and make a point of saying "...and I'm NOT going to use it on that necrogenesis just because I like hearing Phil moan" Thar's the stick portion. Make it clear that the behavior is NOT getting him what he wants. But the carrot is FAR more important. When he does things in good spirit, make sure to recognize them and let him know they're appreciated. If someone does something that cripples him, say things like "well at least Phil's being such a good sport about it", even if he really isn't. When he plays a deck that doesn't do anything particularly broken, let him know you guys enjoyed it more than usual. And when he isn't fussing too much, make a point of helping him out here and there. Reward good sportsmanship, and discourage the bad.

He's probably still going to try to 'manipulate the table' to get what he wants. But if you've been consistently teaching him that the way to get what he wants is to shut up and play nice, isn't that preferable to what you're currently dealing with?

Really make sure there are the rewards though. They don't have to be tangible or anything that would impact the game, just a compliment or show of appreciation will go a long way. Too much stick just validates his feelings of being victimized. You gotta have some carrots to give too.

LOL, you're funny, "and this point to Phil's face", I'm stealing that if you don't mind for the next time i ping something for 1.

But, what you say in the first paragraph is EXACTLY this guy, he does get on some people for taking long turns (but these guys really do take long turns, like 7 minutes shuffling through their hand reading cards they've seen billions of times before so we all do, but in general outside of that not really), his turns don't really last that long honestly. 

He is always trying to manipulate people to do his bidding or make plays for his benefit, thinking he's some kind of evil genius and people are buying into it. No one does, and it's hysterical. He gets upset at people for playing their decks, as he did at the guy playing the necrogenesis. That guy basically was sarcasticly apologizing for playing cards in his deck and that he'll consult him next time he's putting something in to see if it's ok. I was also flashing the desert twister I had in my hand to him .

He's an adult, he's old enough, and smart enough, I think to make the connection, that if he's screaming and throwing hissy fits and doesn't get his way, to maybe try a different approach, maybe one that doesn't have such an "aggressive posture" we call it.  

I'm guilty of being a bad player sometimes too, but it's mostly when someone makes a play that I thought made 0 sense at the time. Like, there will be a "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!!?!", and I would maybe pout, after a while though I feel I just start playing again and move on. This guy though, a play on first turn, wouldn't be forgotten.