Intimidating in chats

[Willow12345]

Hi,

Do you also encounter players who intimidate others in chat to not put a robber on them? How do you deal with it?

As an example, I am player A with 4 points and players B and C have 6 points each, but one has more development cards or more cities. When I put a robber on player C who may be better off they write "seriously/wtf/why me again" etc. basically trying to bully others by discouraging putting robber on them.

The same happens with players with 3 points + 4 development card shouting at others in the chat that player B has 4 points, how do you dare robbing from them...

It happes so often I wanted to ask whether this is common.

[mimmeli]

I've encountered a lot of people like that and at first I put way too much energy on getting into discussions about it. But I've learned to keep robbing according to what I think is most beneficial for me, that's my strategy, and when the game is over I give them a red thumb so I won't have to play with them again. I rarely encounter this type of player now

[Jellby]

Just imagine you're playing in real life with friends, and someone whines "why me?" or points threateningly at you... Would you take those seriously or part of the game, sort of playing into a character?

As long as it stays there, you can ignore those remarks. If it annoys you, you can red thumb. If it goes farther into insults or aggressive language, you can report. In any case, be aware that if you rob someone, they might decide to only rob and block you for the rest of the game, and that's also part of the game.

[Theana]

In real life you know the people you are playing with or at the very least you had small interactions before starting, you can read the body language, the tone and such. so it doesn't seem a fair comparison to me. I agree if out of the blue someone in chat starts complaining about the robber, it can be intimidating

[euklid314]

In my country one of the best players had this tactic in real life tournaments (even national championships). He would always complain - right from the start of the game -whenever he was robbed. He was playing a mind game in a way that others felt guilty whenever they robbed him. In the end he would win often because he was a very good player. He also was representing my country at World Championships (many many years ago).

On BGA I would give him a red thumb because it is really annoying. But it is within the rules and a "legitimate" tactic...

[Willow12345]

Interesting take

[Kaladry]

I wouldn't call that comment alone as intimidating, its the same as banter you'd see at a standard table. If it gets more aggressive than that then sure, report but I wouldn't report or red thumb for just that comment alone. Sometimes people truly don't understand why you consider stealing from them. When I get asked this I respond with something like "you have more development cards" or "you have wheat and I needed it." But yeah as Jellby said you can choose to steal from anyone you want for whatever reason, even if its a petty reason. Part of the in person game is conversation to sway people though so imo it goes with that.

[Willow12345]

Thank you for the suggestion. I do not give red thumbs for the comments alone. Maybe as a woman I find these comments more intimidating - getting wtf while playing is not a nice experience, because it does communicate anger.

[aloof-rabbit]

yes it happens. But not sure why you are referring to it as intimidating. it might be whining or it might be a tactic to try and make you think there was a better option. intimidating would be them saying in the chat "if you put the robber on me i'll put it back on you and won't trade with you"

[Cheylocker]

Yeah I just had a few like that. When I reasonably explained that 1) no player in their right mind would put the robber on a hex they have too and 2) usually you either go for the player with the mist cards or the most lucrative hex. Had someone who challenged that with "if you like to steal my resources why do you put a robber on my hex?". Uuuuhhhm maybe because a 7 comes once in a while but we all get cards every day turn. The dude was so convinced everyone was against him. He was so mad about my remarks he kept targeting me even when I was in last place.