Taking a break ❤️
Posted: 08 January 2026, 09:31
Hi all,
I'll be taking a break from Battleships for a while - at least from the arena anyway - for a few reasons! I've been addicted to the game since I was a little kid, my parents used to own a 1970s/80s electronic Battleships game where you could 'program' the coordinates of your ships in (https://anythinginparticular.co.uk/prod ... nics-1977/). I used to play it obsessively, and eventually started to realise that over time each opponent (sister, dad, family, friend - whoever) had habits of placements that I could memorise. I didn't think that neurodivergent quirk would apply when Battleships appeared on BGA - but clearly, it does.
Unfortunately being good at something does make you a target of harrassment and abuse, and while the vast majority of you have been lovely and just come to play, there have been a very small number of bad apples, creating sock accounts to taunt me or styme progress. Also, thinking from the other side of the fence - something my sister said to me when we were kids - "no one wants to play with you any more because you keep winning", and naturally led to accusations of cheating. So, I know of some players who have messaged me - all of them politely - to say that they've given me a red thumb because they simply don't enjoy playing against me, and that's totally valid. So by extension, I also understand that there may be players out there not bothering to do the Arena because they feel they don't have much chance.
But really, the main reason is self-care (one of my new years resolutions!) I don't come on BGA to get abused or harrassed just for being good at something - I had enough of that growing up as a kid - it's childish. For those of you who also experience that, don't put up with it and spoil your enjoyment. Report it. Document it so you can give as much evidence to the moderators as possible. While in the end it's only a game, for some people playing on BGA is a bit of a lifeline - don't let anyone poison that for you.
I'll still administer the Battleships Champions of Champions League. And you may still come across me from time to time in 'simple mode'.
Happy New Year to you all xxxxx Anchors away!
I'll be taking a break from Battleships for a while - at least from the arena anyway - for a few reasons! I've been addicted to the game since I was a little kid, my parents used to own a 1970s/80s electronic Battleships game where you could 'program' the coordinates of your ships in (https://anythinginparticular.co.uk/prod ... nics-1977/). I used to play it obsessively, and eventually started to realise that over time each opponent (sister, dad, family, friend - whoever) had habits of placements that I could memorise. I didn't think that neurodivergent quirk would apply when Battleships appeared on BGA - but clearly, it does.
Unfortunately being good at something does make you a target of harrassment and abuse, and while the vast majority of you have been lovely and just come to play, there have been a very small number of bad apples, creating sock accounts to taunt me or styme progress. Also, thinking from the other side of the fence - something my sister said to me when we were kids - "no one wants to play with you any more because you keep winning", and naturally led to accusations of cheating. So, I know of some players who have messaged me - all of them politely - to say that they've given me a red thumb because they simply don't enjoy playing against me, and that's totally valid. So by extension, I also understand that there may be players out there not bothering to do the Arena because they feel they don't have much chance.
But really, the main reason is self-care (one of my new years resolutions!) I don't come on BGA to get abused or harrassed just for being good at something - I had enough of that growing up as a kid - it's childish. For those of you who also experience that, don't put up with it and spoil your enjoyment. Report it. Document it so you can give as much evidence to the moderators as possible. While in the end it's only a game, for some people playing on BGA is a bit of a lifeline - don't let anyone poison that for you.
I'll still administer the Battleships Champions of Champions League. And you may still come across me from time to time in 'simple mode'.
Happy New Year to you all xxxxx Anchors away!
Seems to me you got a case of FAFO and now you are whining about it. 
If you thought I was someone else, why did you carry on playing, hmm? Red thumb? Anyone can do that for any reason. Ok, I’ll clear that and let us go again… That’s unless by the time we would meet again you’ve been banned. Chitsiru chimavala nzeru 