Introduction
Board games can be a fun way to spend time with family and friends. However, when tensions rise due to conflicting opinions or emotions, these playful activities can quickly turn into heated arguments that can cause irreparable damage to relationships. This is especially true when it comes to board games that are based on strategy, decision making, and luck. These types of games often create powerful feelings of competition and rivalry which can strain relationships and lead to intense arguments. The stakes become even higher when the players have different levels of experience playing the same game or when player’s egos clash in pursuit of victory. Whatever the case may be, such heated disputes are unfortunate but all too common scenarios for some board game nights.
Popular Board Games
Monopoly is one of the most popular board games, but it also has a reputation for being a bit divisive. The game consists of buying and trading properties to build houses and eventually hotels. The rules or “house rules” can often differ from family to family, which can lead to heated arguments about how much money players start with, which properties are up for sale, and most notably who determines if someone is bankrupt.
Battleship involves two opponents competing to guess the coordinates of their opponent’s ships in order to sink them. This game can be a intense experience as one person will end up holding all the power when they have spotted their opponent’s vessels first. This can lead to arguments concerning whether or not a ship has been sunk correctly and even who was first player in the first place.
Chess may seem like an elegant game, however there are many complicated strategies that need to be remembered that can leave players feeling out of their depth during gameplay which could potentially cause arguments between players with different levels of skill. Chess offers no room for compromise – either you win or lose – so tempers can easily flar when working through each move and looking at potential outcomes!
Mysterious and Complex Games
Board games like Clue, Betrayal at House on the Hill and Mysterium are popular for their unique and mysterious features. In these games all players must cooperate to solve an enigma, but that cooperation often leads to confusion and tension. For example, in Clue, each player has detailed information about a murder case but no one knows who the murderer is until all pieces of the puzzle fit together. As more clues arise from multiple angles, it can be difficult to discern who did what. This complexity can spur debates among friends which may turn into physical and emotional disputes as accusations towards individual players align with personal feelings and belief systems.
Similarly in Betrayal at House on the Hill and Mysterium agents go on separate paths as they investigate a thrilling incident. Because these games rely heavily on strategy, there is room for competition between players whereby each person is keenly constructing theories surrounding their opponent’s personality or motives instead of solely focusing on solutions. Of course this potentially creates a stressful atmosphere when alliances become strained due to deceitful tactics or hostile maneuvers. At such times fights may ensue amongst participants and ultimately sour relationships between them.
Games with Multiple Strategies
Catan is a popular family strategy game that involves players attempting to build and maintain settlements. The objective of the game is to gain enough points through building roads and settlements, as well as development cards. As players near the end-game, competition can increase as they try to be the first player to reach a specified amount of points. Often, disagreements can arise due to opposing strategies, such as one player stealing resources from another or trying to block another player’s road.
Scrabble is a popular word game in which two or more players use their individual letter tiles to create out words on the board. Players take turns placing their tiles on the board in order to add up points for their words. Sometimes arguments can start because players are unable to agree on whether certain words are legitimate or if someone is trying to score too many points off of other’s words.
Pandemic is a cooperative game in which two or more players work together against an infectious disease outbreak. The main objective is for each player to help treat all four diseases before they spread and overrun the world entirely. With different roles assigned to each player and varying strategies depending on current needs within the game, there is potential for conflicts between players when someone’s actions do not align with everyone else’s goals. This can lead discourse among the group as strategic decisions must be made quickly and without everyone’s agreement at times.
Games Centered Around Deception
Werewolf, Coup and Secret Hitler are all popular board games centered around deception. In Werewolf, one or more players take on the role of “werewolves,” while the rest take up different roles such as villagers and seers. During the game, players must identify who the werewolves are before they succeed in killing every villager. To protect themselves, players may use lie and intimidate others”which can create tension between players leaving to accusations of cheating and angry outbursts.
In Coup, each player is given two cards which represent characters with unique abilities. During their turn, players can choose to bluff about what cards they have or simply bluff about any action they don’t have the card for”which can make it difficult for other players when trying to deduce what someone actually has or plans on doing. This can cause arguments amongst players who begin suspicious that other people are not playing fairly or who get impatient waiting for other people to finish their turns.
Secret Hitler also pushes its players toward using intentional lies in order to deceive other players into trusting them when they shouldn’t, since the majority of their cards should remain secret until revealed at a strategic moment during the game. As they are trying to hide their loyalty status between Liberal or Fascist teams, misunderstandings, wrongful accusations and alternating trust might become themes during heated debates where tempers flare up – setting off arguments (or even fights).
Games That Put Players in Difficult Situations
Board games that put players in difficult situations can lead to heated debates and fights. One such game is Twilight Struggle, a strategic two-player game about the Cold War. Players adopt the roles of either the United States or the Soviet Union and score points by aligning countries and regions with their own influence to achieve superpower dominance. To control a region, you must use your available resources strategically, which is not easy since these resources are limited. As a result, tough decisions must be made and arguments can arise if one player feels they have been denied what they desired.
Another game that puts players in difficulty decisions is Diplomacy. This game simulates negotiations between 7 countries vying for global domination during World War I and involves a lot of strategy and back-and-forth discussion between players. While each country begins with similar power levels, it is difficult to manage alliances without losing something valuable in return, as every move must be carefully costed and considered before executing it. Disputes are bound to happen when dealing with politics, particularly when negotiating on behalf of another country or person’s interests.
Finally, Risk requires players to think tactically when attacking territories; this creates challenging choices which can quickly become an intense battle between those making plans and attempting to outsmart each other in order to conquer new territories and secure victory. Players are pitted against each other as they fight for control over the board and take turns attempting to capture land from opponents with varying levels of success dependant on how one strategizes their moves; this often leads to disagreement between players as nobody likes having their declared plans thwarted by an opponent’s clever tactics causing them to lose out on potential gains..
Other Causes of Fights
Rule Lawyering: When players start searching for loopholes in the rules or try to twist them for their own personal advantage, it can lead to fights. Arguments can quickly break out over what is and is not allowed, along with interpretations of the rules and if they are being followed correctly.
Game Length: Players who have different expectations over how long a game should take may find themselves in conflict. Some people might want to rush through games while others might want to play more leisurely, but neither side willing to compromise. Long games can also cause irritation among players if they become too drawn out and protracted.
Swearing: Swearing at other players or using language which offends them can put people on edge and quickly ruin any sense of fun in a board game session. Even if done casually, swearing has the potential to insult others or insult the game itself, no matter how comical the intentions were. It is important to mind your language when playing board games with others!
Conclusion
Board games can be a great way to spend quality time with friends and family, however, it is important to understand how to keep arguments from arising. Board games usually bring out the competitive streak in us, which can often lead to disagreements and fights. To reduce these potential issues it is best to set expectations at the beginning of each game. Make sure everyone is aware of the rules and discuss possible house rules beforehand. Additionally, make sure that everyone knows that respect should be maintained throughout the game and that there should be no cheating. Lastly, if tensions start to rise during the gameplay, take a break and remove yourself from the situation until emotions have subsided. With these tips in mind, you will have an enjoyable board game experience free of fighting or bickering.
I love playing all kinds of games – from classics like Monopoly to modern favourites like Ticket to Ride.
I created this blog as a way to share my love of board games with others, and provide information on the latest releases and news in the industry.
