Re: Why intentionally bomb a game?
Posted: 01 October 2025, 23:37
I do not agree with or defend players intentionally bombing, but if you are asking for reasons why; there are some possibilities:
1) I would surmise that each player joins a game having "agreed" to play by the listed conventions, and then either does not play by them or does not know them.
--- Two problems with this, too many people don't bother to look at the table settings. Why, I don't know. Many games someone joins and bombs a 5 and then says "oh, I thought we were playing with black" (or doesn't play a 1 on chop for same reason) when there is no black. If people can't even get that right, expecting them to know and pay attention to "layered" or "finesse" or whatever might be too much to reasonably expect.
2) Lack of manners
-- Some people don't try to be better than others in terms of behavior, they join them. So if they ask you to respond or apologize and you say that was a bad clue, they may just quit or bomb out. I am NOT saying you did that, but just saying "oh that game ended with them bombing" doesn't always tell the whole story.
-- There are no required "manners" but in a team cooperative game, it is polite and helpful to simply apologize for a mistake. If you mess up playing Stone Age, no one cares b/c it benefits your opponent. If you mess up in a team game, simply saying "my apologies" or "sorry for my error" can go a long way. Again, it does not excuse bombing out if you don't, but you might find it helps. Sometimes lack of acknowledgment leads to added frustration.
3) Lack of chat
-- Not everyone will agree with me on this, but the # of people who won't chat or accuse others of cheating b/c they explain a clue that led to a bomb is crazy. How do you learn? How do you get better? Sure, you can "stay after" the game but will they remember that clue from 13 mins ago and all the cards and placements of cards that made that clue valuable? How many people actually stay after a game and dissect the plays? I know on HGroup they do, but here very rarely does anyone stay after and discuss the game. I think MOST (hopefully) players just want to enjoy the game and I think MOST players are interested in helping others improve, more good players means more enjoyable and more higher level games.
I myself would play with a beginner if they are willing to chat and learn. If you are just going to do your thing and ignore messages and give invalid clues without a care in the world, can't say I would bomb out like the OP is talking about but that makes the game really not enjoyable.
1) I would surmise that each player joins a game having "agreed" to play by the listed conventions, and then either does not play by them or does not know them.
--- Two problems with this, too many people don't bother to look at the table settings. Why, I don't know. Many games someone joins and bombs a 5 and then says "oh, I thought we were playing with black" (or doesn't play a 1 on chop for same reason) when there is no black. If people can't even get that right, expecting them to know and pay attention to "layered" or "finesse" or whatever might be too much to reasonably expect.
2) Lack of manners
-- Some people don't try to be better than others in terms of behavior, they join them. So if they ask you to respond or apologize and you say that was a bad clue, they may just quit or bomb out. I am NOT saying you did that, but just saying "oh that game ended with them bombing" doesn't always tell the whole story.
-- There are no required "manners" but in a team cooperative game, it is polite and helpful to simply apologize for a mistake. If you mess up playing Stone Age, no one cares b/c it benefits your opponent. If you mess up in a team game, simply saying "my apologies" or "sorry for my error" can go a long way. Again, it does not excuse bombing out if you don't, but you might find it helps. Sometimes lack of acknowledgment leads to added frustration.
3) Lack of chat
-- Not everyone will agree with me on this, but the # of people who won't chat or accuse others of cheating b/c they explain a clue that led to a bomb is crazy. How do you learn? How do you get better? Sure, you can "stay after" the game but will they remember that clue from 13 mins ago and all the cards and placements of cards that made that clue valuable? How many people actually stay after a game and dissect the plays? I know on HGroup they do, but here very rarely does anyone stay after and discuss the game. I think MOST (hopefully) players just want to enjoy the game and I think MOST players are interested in helping others improve, more good players means more enjoyable and more higher level games.
I myself would play with a beginner if they are willing to chat and learn. If you are just going to do your thing and ignore messages and give invalid clues without a care in the world, can't say I would bomb out like the OP is talking about but that makes the game really not enjoyable.