Board Game Arena

What is with almost everyone I play against crying about the bad luck of the game? Do people not understand that that is going to happen in a game that draws cards from a deck and rolls dice?

To me, its part of the game and what makes it enjoyable. I can imagine in real life war, there are circumstances that seem play out opposite to what the odds would indicate. And in some way, this game is meant to replicate real battles.

Not to mention, there are ways to make plays that don't let bad luck destroy you. I've seen players bank all their hope on moving into close assault position hoping for a complete unit kill. Then when they dont and I kill their unit, and they have no cards left to respond they complain about their bad luck and my good luck. No buddy, the bad luck exposed your poor decision.

I always say: if you blame your losses on bad luck then you can't say its skill that wins game for you. And that's not a game I would want to play either.

Thanks for reading my rant.

I totally agree. When a player complains my answer is it is part strategy,cards and dice rolls. You win some and you lose some. Stop crying when you lose some.

Glad I'm not the only one!

The significance of luck is the main thing that has kept me from really playing this game. I've kept my eye on it, looks like it could be neat, but the player ratings not being that high have made me worry the luck factor might be too significant.

We, the community of players, estimate that Memoir’44 is about 25/30% luck and 70/75% skill.

If you look at the tournaments IRL and the top players here you wil see certain players are always in the top.

I feel complaining about your luck with cards and dice mostly hinders yourself from trying to see the best you can do with those cards and dice. Also it does not improve the atmosphere at the table.

You can hit a bad streak of luck. But you need to persevere and play your game as good as you can.
In the most recent Belgian Open last year I needed only two rounds to end up at the last table. Just kept having fun and playing my best game I mounted 44 places (get it ) and ended up 17th of 62 players. Quite the rollercoaster.

I feel the most important is having fun and thinking what you could have done better after each match/game/move to improve your game.

Negativity at the table and blaming the dice and cards mostly distracts players from seeing the small things that could improve their game.

Happy olayingbeverybody.

At the same time a winning player should acknowledge that luck may have figured in their favour in their victory.

Luck can and does go both ways.

Some winning players are unempathetic and unsympathetic in their final comments.

Be more generous in your victories, acknowledge that you may have had the better cards and/or die rolls.

Waikirikiri wrote: ↑12 January 2024, 21:54 At the same time a winning player should acknowledge that luck may have figured in their favour in their victory.

Luck can and does go both ways.

Some winning players are unempathetic and unsympathetic in their final comments.

Be more generous in your victories, acknowledge that you may have had the better cards and/or die rolls.

That is true also. You or your opponent might have had more luck. Iris the gentlemanly way to point that out also

Yesterday I played a game in which my partner had pretty awful rolls throughout. They moaned and complained for the entire game, whining in the chat after every bad roll and going so far as to accuse me of cheating. Seriously pathetic behaviour and tiresome to play with.

As far as the role of luck goes in the game, I like it. One reason I like Memoir 44 is that it is so easy to put a narrative to pretty much every turn and the luck adds to this. A single infantry figure charges into no man's land and wipes out three tanks with one roll? Obviously a supremely heroic act, perhaps led by an inspirational officer. Same single figure survives and onslaught from several tanks and retreats into a town? Tenacity and courage in the face of death. I like that chance allows for an outcome in complete contrast to expectations.

I've often been able to connect an interesting in-game event to a common trope from war movies, such as the last stand, the suicidal charge, the ineffective barrage, the last minute rescue...