How would you handle this player?

[Drogga]

Hello Hive I've been playing against a nearby "friend". His brother and cousin play with us usually at his house. (Only one with an actual wooden board) I've ran into quite a problem. I've been playing the old chaos codex and this "friend" I was talking about is playing his necrons. He has a huge anger issue and sometimes it just ruins the gaming experience. I would get hit by a deathray and save 4 out of 8 invuns on my termi's he would then continue to rage, complaining about how many invun's I can make in one game. When one of his WBB rolls fails he complains about how it never does anything then starts complaining about how it used to be better and that maybe he should play old necrons. He is just really starting to get on my nerves. This is just a little bit of what he does. Of course there is always the snarky looks when I do something that will be very effective. I have no clue how to play or try to have fun against such a player. His family are really cool and don't care if statistics don't work out just right they are just there to have a good time. We just have the problem that he is always there and playing are ruining some games when things don't go his way. Any help on this problem will be much appreciated.

[gigasnail]

tell him to grow up, or piss off. nobody want's to play with an asshat. try letting him know his behavior's unacceptable and he needs to check his mancard, and perhaps not be a little (please do not swear). this works occasionally, but most of the time with people like this they just don't get it until they're no longer invited to (insert social function or convention) anymore.

you at least have his brother and cousin to game with, seems like you guys get along.

[coredump]

Politely refuse to play against him. When he asks why, you can explain that is anger and continual complaints makes the game much less fun and thus not worth playing. Be polite, but be firm. Don't say he is doing anything wrong, just that what he is doing is not how you enjoy the game. When he makes excuses, or tries to explain why his actions are reasonable, don't argue about it; say that whyever it happens, it just isn't enjoyable.


Granted, in a different situation I would probably be more harsh about it, but if you are playing at his house it's a good idea to be nice about it.

[tanagra]

Sept 20, 2013 3:20:42 GMT coredump said:

Politely refuse to play against him. When he asks why, you can explain that is anger and continual complaints makes the game much less fun and thus not worth playing. Be polite, but be firm. Don't say he is doing anything wrong, just that what he is doing is not how you enjoy the game. When he makes excuses, or tries to explain why his actions are reasonable, don't argue about it; say that whyever it happens, it just isn't enjoyable.


Granted, in a different situation I would probably be more harsh about it, but if you are playing at his house it's a good idea to be nice about it.

This.
When the game takes you into 'enemy territory' (someone's home) vs neutral ground 'local store', It pays to be polite in all things. I'm not not just talking WH40k here.


If something like this were to happen in my local store, something would be done about it. We tend to shun players who bring negativity to the table until they show they can be mature about getting/giving a beatdown on said table.

[whitetail]

Go to your local hardware store, purchase a 6" x 4" wood board. Start to make your own terrain, use a green bed sheet/table cloth and books to start with. Until you have a collection of wargaming terrain.

Play games at your place and only invite said friend when he learns to play the game without being a tool.

[Overread]

Few thoughts:

1) Sometimes players complain a lot more than they think they do during a match; they don't always realise that their behaviour is casting a negative experience on the game for themselves and their opponent. As a result polite discussion about the matter to them should at least give them the option to get their behaviour in check.


2) Swap armies - sometimes people get fixated on the fact that the other army has a better codex and that their codex is ultra weak. As a result they blame loss and win far more upon balance and codex content than upon their game style (this can be very true if they got used to one tactic with a previous codex that isn't as powerful in a newer edition - or if they change playgroups and are suddenly against people who play differently to what they are used to). Swapping armies at least lets them play your hand in a game and see that maybe its not all the codex's fault

[tylertt]

Try talking with the other players in your group too. It may be easier to say have his brother sit down and talk with him if everyone else feels the same way as well. You can even talk with them too to discuss ways to approach the situation as I am sure they may know this player on a more personal level then yourself.

Regardless, approach the situation with a positive mindset, and don't let him get the better of you or push your buttons.

If all else fails, build your own table as suggested already, and invite him once he stops acting like a young child.

[Inquisitor Stingray]

Just regurgitating what has already been said, but talking to the rest of the group about his issues should at least give you someone to confide in. Surely the have had similiar experiences with him, if this is how he often acts during games. If you chose to politely confront about it, I'd suggest doing it before or after a game. Not during. During a game, depending on whether he is losing or winning the game, he'd likely be too ignorant or arrogant respectively, to realize what you're trying to get across.

Coincidentally I used to play with a Necron player who'd whine and rage on any occasion before, during and after a game, regardless of the outcome. It was as if he was only capable of seeing bad things about the game, id est him failling an armour save on an important character or getting a vehicle popped, and not him wiping out an entire squad of enemies or the like. He's the kind of guy who couldn't possibly appreciate or acknowledge the comedy of something horrible happening to his units, and yet insisted on exclaiming things like 'Hah! You suck!" to his opponents, whenever he lucked out. I love this hobby so very much, but I have never played a game that attracted so many sore losers and terrible winners. Maybe it's because they love the game a little too much as well.

[Drogga]

Thanks I will definitely take all of this into my decision. I think my first action will be to confront his brother and cousin about if they have had similar experiences and try to sit him down and talk to him about his attitude toward us and the game. If this fails I am sure his brother and cousin wouldn't mind a 5 minute drive to my place where I am currently working on my own board anyway.

Sept 20, 2013 9:02:43 GMT Overread said:

Few thoughts:
2) Swap armies - sometimes people get fixated on the fact that the other army has a better codex and that their codex is ultra weak. As a result they blame loss and win far more upon balance and codex content than upon their game style (this can be very true if they got used to one tactic with a previous codex that isn't as powerful in a newer edition - or if they change playgroups and are suddenly against people who play differently to what they are used to). Swapping armies at least lets them play your hand in a game and see that maybe its not all the codex's fault

What is said here is a very good idea because I think that is probably where most of his frustration comes from. Well that and he openly admits that his codex is really hard to beat when he wins but complains about its shortcomings when he loses. I will try my best since we have a relatively small group (besides the local store) I wouldn't want to lose a player but if his attitude keeps up and he refuses to even try he will leave us no choice.

[Silegy]

Sept 20, 2013 21:53:32 GMT Drogga said:

he will leave us no choice.

You can... silence him. ^.^
You can... silence him.  lˇ