Opinion on no robber until 3 points in ranked?

[Kaladry]

We have a fun house rule. When you put the robber on the desert you get to pick up any resource you want.

I love that as a house rule! Will have to tell my friend I play with in person.

[Mathew5000]

I know it’s a house rule and so can’t get implemented, but I think a better option is “re-roll 7s (during first round or until all players have 3 vp)”. Otherwise, the person rolling a seven gets penalized by not getting a resource when they otherwise would have (16.7% probability).

ALL players 3? I had games with that bad luck that i ended with 2 or 3 at end maybe

It would not work well at all to have a rule that the robber is inoperative until all players have 3 VP. Because suppose one player takes an early lead and has 4 or 5 VP when everyone else still has 2. You absolutely need the ability to use the robber against the player with a big lead; otherwise the game gets determined very early.

That said, I'd agree that if you roll a 7 and because of the Friendly Robber it's impossible for you to steal a resource from an opponent, then you should reroll the dice until it's a non-7.

[Miss game play]

I was just in a ranked game where someone suggested no placing the robber on someone until they had 3 points. I wasn’t in the mood to chat and also that is more of a friendly play than something to do in ranked imo so I just didn’t respond. This player then runs his clock down to 5 seconds while spamming the chat trying to get me to agree to it and also asking to abandon the game if I didn’t want to. Then the whole game that same player only blocked me with the robber (even whilst I had only 2 points) and yet I actually didn’t get a chance to even use the robber until the other player had 3 points and I stole from him anyways. He was just very petty and trying to provoke me in the chat over it. Of course I red thumbed him but what do others think of not using the robber until 3 points in a ranked game?

can't do anything bout it. they are the worst toxic players.

[Fa_5]

I just played a game in the Arena and it was the third one and my first play I rolled a 7 and put it in a place that had both opponents and stole the one that had already made a road. He said the following sentence: "Ok. All rubbers on you". He threw 100% of the rubbers at me, and the other opponent did the same thing, even at the end of the game, when I only had 4 points and the opponent was obviously going to win. It was a terrible game and they told me this rule, as if it were a universal rule and everyone should know and apply it. It ended 10 to 8 to 4 and they wished them a good game. Pure kingmaking. I gave them both a red thumbs up.

[Zerstörer3000]

i think that the robber is part of the game, its based on luck and sometimes its against you, but it should be used rigth at the start of the game also...

[Not Anubis]

I just played a game in the Arena and it was the third one and my first play I rolled a 7 and put it in a place that had both opponents and stole the one that had already made a road. He said the following sentence: "Ok. All rubbers on you". He threw 100% of the rubbers at me, and the other opponent did the same thing, even at the end of the game, when I only had 4 points and the opponent was obviously going to win. It was a terrible game and they told me this rule, as if it were a universal rule and everyone should know and apply it. It ended 10 to 8 to 4 and they wished them a good game. Pure kingmaking. I gave them both a red thumbs up.

I dislike this "rule" too because if you say no you will be a guaranteed target.

Who were the two players?

[jonnyp29]

people should assume that if a 7 is rolled at the start then theyre going to get robbed (like in real life catan). However, if being friendly at the start is so important to someone then they should propose 'friendly til 3?' during the placements of the settlements at the start. if everyone agrees then great. If someone doesnt agree then thats fair as those are the rules of the game (8/10 people would agree to be friendly til 3 anyway).

I think that we should accept that some people like to be friendly at the start of the game and some are competitive. personally i am competitive, early game development is so important, and choosing to steal or be friendly could make a huge difference as to who cuts a rival off with a road or a key settlement. But at the same time being friendly til 3 has its advantages too, you can buy loads of dev cards for example.

[Stroom]

I think that we should accept that some people like to be friendly at the start of the game and some are competitive.

But ranked IS competitive...

[Miss game play]

unfortunately it became popular from people teaching others before it was officially open on here (when certain people can play before becomes public) and someone was teaching it as a real rule. it doesn't work as if all the places are taken someone gets taken from only near the end or as someone else says one person may have a bunch of good cards. or someone just doesn't get a chance because needs 1 card and never gets it. it's not the rule so why?

[Fromper]

Honestly, I'd prefer if the official Friendly Robber rule was implemented on the site as an actual game option. Then, if people want to play that way, they can. And those that don't want to play that way won't. It's the negotiating about it whenever someone suggests it that's the annoying part right now.