raging suiciders

[waauw]

So I got this game where this little kid keeps(or so I presume) raging and now just starts suiciding himself in me because I made a joke. I consequently tried to appeal to his rational side to reconsider his move, unfortunately that just made it worse

Any advice? Have you guys ever succesfully calmed such a person down or is it just futile to even try?

[clowncar]

link?

[waauw]

link?

I actually meant in general. How do you calm down a suicider?

[Mr Changsha]

Ah, the joys of public standard.

Sometimes it is impossible to talk down a 'suicider'. Suicide they are determined to do and suicide they will. However, it IS possible to save yourself and one should probably try to...

1. Admit culpability. Even if you aren't in the wrong at all, publically accepting just how 'right' the potential suicider is may just give him the moral victory he craves.

2. Remember the average suicider is most intent on having some effect on a game he is going to lose. How can you find some way to make him see that all is not in fact lost?

3. Soft words should be combined with hard play. If possible attack him immediately, if not then fort heavily up. The suicider is to an extent living up to a 'stand up to the bully' style fantasy. While one should speak reasonably, one's actions should make it clear that you have no problem with throwing down. This will get the suicider's respect.

[BigBallinStalin]

The Logic of Total War

1. Threats of extreme force may attain one's intermediate goals (being left alone, securing a bonus) and final goals (winning the game).

2. Retaining the credibility of that threat sometimes requires 'suiciding', or more accurately: engaging in total war. However, total war can vary in degrees because one's goal can be attained after a brief display of total war. In these moments, the rational adherent of Total War is open to diplomacy (e.g. a ceasefire). The irrational adherent continues to ravage the lands at the detriment of himself and the other---but this may be rational if one's goal is to display that credible threat deterrent for other games, or for the long-run of a particular game.

3. Success can be attained if both parties understand that the consequences of mutually assured destruction are certain, and that the the total war advocate possesses the capability of inflicting MAD. However, Total War fails when emotions (e.g. vengeance for the sake of vengeance) control either player.


Advice:
Over the course of games with such people, it's best to understand how much they estimate the effectiveness of #1 and #2. Understand what their intermediate goals while remaining talkative and diplomatic (i.e. polite--because many adherents of total war are easily offended jerks, who don't understand the proper use of total war. These jerks are properly labelled as 'suiciders', to be clear).

[jsnyder748]

This is why I despise public standard escalating/flat rate/ no spoils games. If they haven't learned from prior experience what is truly in their best interest strategically then there is not much you can do. Some people are willing to learn and can immediately understand the advice you give them. Others do not care or don't have the mind to see past their own thoughts on what is the best move.

^^ What Mr Changsha and BBS said was spot on as well ^^

[AslanTheKing]

make him to your best friend,

appologize, offer help vs the others, give him compliments, offer him your beautyful wife,
use him to do havoc on the others, cheer him up while doing so,

and when the time is right, kill him and leave 1 troop of him,

then tell him what u did to him

[lt.Futt]

link?

I actually meant in general. How do you calm down a suicider?

Foe. Foe. FOE!

[Lord_Bremen]

Call them out in chat, other people might gang up and finish them for you.

Other than that, just make sure you're strong enough to kill them and then foe (if you can't kill them they probably aren't suiciding, just killing you).

[Gillipig]

Call them out in chat, other people might gang up and finish them for you.

Other than that, just make sure you're strong enough to kill them and then foe (if you can't kill them they probably aren't suiciding, just killing you).

Hm, never played 6 man escalating?

[Lord_Bremen]

Call them out in chat, other people might gang up and finish them for you.

Other than that, just make sure you're strong enough to kill them and then foe (if you can't kill them they probably aren't suiciding, just killing you).

Hm, never played 6 man escalating?

Escalating is all luck without suiciders, I'll pass on that noobness.

[Gabriel13]

Call them out in chat, other people might gang up and finish them for you.

Other than that, just make sure you're strong enough to kill them and then foe (if you can't kill them they probably aren't suiciding, just killing you).

Hm, never played 6 man escalating?

Escalating is all luck without suiciders, I'll pass on that noobness.

Escalating is on the original American Risk game, but you know.. It's also the most played setting. Just because you suck at something doesn't mean it's all luck.

[Lord_Bremen]

Call them out in chat, other people might gang up and finish them for you.

Other than that, just make sure you're strong enough to kill them and then foe (if you can't kill them they probably aren't suiciding, just killing you).

Hm, never played 6 man escalating?

Escalating is all luck without suiciders, I'll pass on that noobness.

Escalating is on the original American Risk game, but you know.. It's also the most played setting. Just because you suck at something doesn't mean it's all luck.

6-8 player escalating 90% of the time end in one big turn because some noob let himself get eliminated and a card cascade starts. How does that involve skill?

[AAFitz]

All part of the game. Next time, dont make a joke, or...make it funny.