Board Game Arena

ryanlas wrote: ↑08 October 2022, 23:19 The goal of playing a game is to win. Blocking (especially in a 2 player game) is a very good strategy towards winning. I don't see the issue with it.

Actually, from the creators of the game, the goal is to get the most points by building the longest trains or getting the most tickets. Blocking, especially the way I'm sure OP is talking about, is not in line with those goals. It's just to be a jerk.

Jade1977 wrote: ↑29 November 2025, 20:46 Actually, from the creators of the game, the goal is to get the most points by building the longest trains or getting the most tickets.

Right. "The most points" = more than other players, "longest trains" = longer than other players, "most tickets" = more (or more profitable) than other players. Anything that increases your score or decreases you opponents' score is contributing to your win. Other games such as Yahtzee are multiplayer solitaires, and you can't win by blocking (because actually you cannot block). This is not, so blocking is part of the game, just like using the queen to capture pieces is part of chess.

Jade1977 wrote: ↑29 November 2025, 20:46 Actually, from the creators of the game, the goal is to get the most points by building the longest trains or getting the most tickets. Blocking, especially the way I'm sure OP is talking about, is not in line with those goals. It's just to be a jerk.

Actually, no.
"The object of the game is to score the HIGHEST number of total points".

Your goal is to score more points than your opponents. Doesn't matter how.

I agree that blocking is an intentional part of the game deign, and a perfectly fair strategy.

But when I get "red thumbs" from people who don't like being blocked, that does seem unfair. My reputation is penalized for playing the game according to the rules.

Rather than try to police legal play, I'd suggest eliminating the red thumbs feature, or at least make it only apply to reportable abuse.

Jade1977 wrote: ↑29 November 2025, 20:46
Actually, from the creators of the game, the goal is to get the most points by building the longest trains or getting the most tickets. Blocking, especially the way I'm sure OP is talking about, is not in line with those goals. It's just to be a jerk.

Actually actually, from the creator of the game Alan Moon, the goal is to get the most points full stop. If that's by building the longest trains, fine. If that's by diminishing your opponents' opportunities, also fine. Blocking is part of the core mechanic.

GuntherB wrote: ↑02 December 2025, 08:38 But when I get "red thumbs" from people who don't like being blocked, that does seem unfair. My reputation is penalized for playing the game according to the rules.

Your reputation is not penalized by red thumbs.

Perhaps not my reputation as a term of art, but it is certainly a form of penalty if I keep getting red thumbs, just for playing by the rules.

Jellby wrote: ↑02 December 2025, 09:39

GuntherB wrote: ↑02 December 2025, 08:38 But when I get "red thumbs" from people who don't like being blocked, that does seem unfair. My reputation is penalized for playing the game according to the rules.

Your reputation is not penalized by red thumbs.

Maybe not, but it can be somewhat harder to find games ?

Cournot wrote: ↑03 December 2025, 01:38

Jellby wrote: ↑02 December 2025, 09:39

GuntherB wrote: ↑02 December 2025, 08:38 But when I get "red thumbs" from people who don't like being blocked, that does seem unfair. My reputation is penalized for playing the game according to the rules.

Your reputation is not penalized by red thumbs.

Maybe not, but it can be somewhat harder to find games ?

For Ticket to Ride? I wouldn't count on it. I usually set rating filters for levels to avoid the games being too lopsided while still getting a reasonable pairing pace. When I'm at the 500+ range for a game this tends to cut off anyone below 300 from my games. This has the added effect of banning nearly all anti-blockers from my game, certainly far more than anyone getting red thumbed by anti-blockers could be cut off from in player-number. I don't generally have issues getting opponents.

Cournot wrote: ↑03 December 2025, 01:38

Jellby wrote: ↑02 December 2025, 09:39

GuntherB wrote: ↑02 December 2025, 08:38 But when I get "red thumbs" from people who don't like being blocked, that does seem unfair. My reputation is penalized for playing the game according to the rules.

Your reputation is not penalized by red thumbs.

Maybe not, but it can be somewhat harder to find games ?

Harder to find games against people who don't play the way you want to.

Enough red thumbs and we'll split up naturally into blockers and non-blockers.