Gaming rant coming in because-

There is nothing wrong with min/maxing
There is nothing wrong with being competitive
There is nothing wrong with being casual
There is nothing wrong with prioritizing RP over mechanics
There is nothing wrong with prioritizing mechanics over RP
1/

There is something wrong with not looking at the person across the table and asking what they're looking for and knowing what you are looking for.

You know why I landed on Warmahordes so many years ago? The store I was at made a habit that you asked - Casual or Competitive? 2/

Because sometimes you are playing a list for its fluff and its aesthetics, that's awesome. Its a minis game, aesthetics are are a big part. Sometimes you are working a list for an upcoming tournament. That is also awesome. Its a strat game, go hard! 3/

But it does neither player any good to play each other if that's the case. The competitive players doesn't really get to learn about their list because its not playing into a competitive list, and the fluff player may be disheartened to get fucking wrecked. 4/

And it was ALWAYS okay to say, "sorry that's not the game I'm looking for tonight."

No hard feelings, you go ask someone else.

See how easy and fucking beautiful that is? 5/

So D&D or whatever game isn't dead because "boohoo no one lets me min/max."

Someone will. Go find that someone. Or be that someone and start a group and make it really clear, that combat is going to be hard and playing for keeps and bring your best matchups.
6/

This goes for boardgames, Gloomhaven you could absolutely choose to min/max and/or RP. Same with Nemesis, honestly. It goes for Warhammer and Warmachine and every tabletop wargame. It sure as hell goes for all RPs.

7/

Once that game is in your hands, you decide how you like to play. You can also decide who to play with. How you want to play and who you want to play with may not always match. Then its time to be a fucking grown up and TALK ABOUT IT INSTEAD OF WHINGE ONLINE THAT THE GAME IS DEAD

Unnecessarily driving home my point-. I was having a bad run with Khador. Hadn't won a game in MONTHS. Decided to just take a break, play other games in the store while Aaron was playing Warmachine. Good fun, everyone invited me in, made the terms of their table clear 9/

But a out-of-state visiting player came in late and had no one to play Warmachine with, so I said, hey I'm willing to do a lowkey casual game if you want? I made it very clear- I was bringing an unplanned list just so they could get a game in because my stuff was in my car 10/

This asshole brought a list he had used to win nationally against me

I tried to be a good sport. "Hey great roll!" and "that's a fantastic move can you explain that" because we weren't on the clock

At the end of the game he looked at me and said "Wow, what a waste of me time."

No, you ass, you wasted *MY* time. I was going to play a fun card-flop game with my fucking friends, and instead, to be nice, I spent an hour getting utterly humiliated by you. I had stated what I was up for, and he ignored it.

12/

A short Warmachine break turned into a months-long break. At no point is this the fault of the game or the company. In fact, the gaming store kicked his ass out for being so fucking rude to me. He broke the rules. He broke the social contract of gaming.

13/

And that is what will truly kill a game. People being assholes. Insisting their way is the only way to play. Steamrolling anyone else who likes to play a different way. Not listening when they are being communicated with. /Fin