breaking promises and being a jerk

[backstabby]

Originally Posted by Clipper

We are to a similar degree. Most of us are just arguing against lying or reneging on deals or promises. You're a jerk if you do either of those. These are the key points mentioned in the first post, which is why it keeps getting discussed, but we do all seem to be generally happy with bluffing, provided the bluff does not involve lying.

You're right. I think we just got confused (in part because I was unclear about what I was trying to say).

[thedag]

Originally Posted by Mister Negative

Player A needs help winning a combat. Player A asks Player B for help in winning the combat. Player B agrees to help A for a mutually agreed price. Player B is not affected by the Bad Stuff, and after being selected as the helper, boosts the monster using a Monster Enhancer. Player B has lied to Player A, because he agreed to help him win the combat. Is this poor sportsmanship?

For me this one comes down to wording. Normally in our group we say will you help in this combat. That means joining the combat. if one was to say will you help me win this combat then i would say it is reneging on a deal.

The rest are just normal game play. Best way to deal with people who bluff is to always call their bluff. Soon they will learn there is no point.

[thedag]

Originally Posted by backstabby

This is perfectly ok. Although player A deliberately MISINTERPRETED his promise, Player C did not BREAK his. That is the difference between being a jerk in this game and not.

the bigger problem here is that someone was happy to take the line "i won't be a jerk". one should always be clear about deals made.

[Ash Plissken]

Originally Posted by thedag

For me this one comes down to wording. Normally in our group we say will you help in this combat. That means joining the combat. if one was to say will you help me win this combat then i would say it is reneging on a deal.

Yeah, "Help me (in this combat)" doesn't necessarily mean "help me win this combat," but actually saying "help me win this combat" is pretty unambiguous with respect to not helping the monsters (and doesn't even necessarily imply becoming the "helper" in the combat, it could just mean playing cards in their favor).

[backstabby]

Originally Posted by thedag

the bigger problem here is that someone was happy to take the line "i won't be a jerk". one should always be clear about deals made.

People learn quickly not to do that.

[backstabby]

Originally Posted by Urist

I was gonna ask the question in another thread but it seems very appropriate here: What's to keep someone from kicking down a door, getting a monster, and then just putting it into his/her hand? Nothing. I think we all agree THAT's cheating (even people like me and Mr. Negative above who lean towards being munchkinly).

I had a friend who did that for the first three games he played, and then lied saying, it was a class or he was looting the room that we should pay more attention to what he was doing. When we caught him, he said he was confused, which is very possible in your first or second game, but your third? During our fourth game he drew The Great Cthulhu in the dungeon that allow Cthulhu to be played any combat. Next turn he played it on another player and was politely asked to leave. He refused. He did things like this several more times and everyone was fed up. We quit, took our hands and cards to a different table, and restarted, not allowing him to come back again.

[mfranko88]

Originally Posted by thedag

the bigger problem here is that someone was happy to take the line "i won't be a jerk". one should always be clear about deals made.

That's actually not an uncommon deal in my group. It happens where someone will help another player out for "good will" if there is nothing substantial to offer. This usually only happens early game, when munchkins aren't fighting very high and are more susceptible to higher-level monsters (and even lower-level monsters). Other times the deal is for "a favor". I usually agree to it if the monster isn't too rewarding simply to help get the game moving. And it's helped me out a lot. That good will has helped me dodge quite a few nasty wandering monsters and curses over time.

But it's all about your group. I don't think I could get away with that in any other group.

[backstabby]

Originally Posted by mfranko88

That's actually not an uncommon deal in my group. It happens where someone will help another player out for "good will" if there is nothing substantial to offer. This usually only happens early game, when munchkins aren't fighting very high and are more susceptible to higher-level monsters (and even lower-level monsters). Other times the deal is for "a favor". I usually agree to it if the monster isn't too rewarding simply to help get the game moving. And it's helped me out a lot. That good will has helped me dodge quite a few nasty wandering monsters and curses over time.

But it's all about your group. I don't think I could get away with that in any other group.

No you couldn't, at least not in mine

[thedag]

Originally Posted by mfranko88

That's actually not an uncommon deal in my group. It happens where someone will help another player out for "good will" if there is nothing substantial to offer. This usually only happens early game, when munchkins aren't fighting very high and are more susceptible to higher-level monsters (and even lower-level monsters). Other times the deal is for "a favor". I usually agree to it if the monster isn't too rewarding simply to help get the game moving. And it's helped me out a lot. That good will has helped me dodge quite a few nasty wandering monsters and curses over time.

But it's all about your group. I don't think I could get away with that in any other group.

yeah couldn't get away with it in my group. We make deals in same situation but we are specific about what is meant and offered. I have told a number oftimes on these forums the story of offerring to help a player for no reward if they help me when i ask for it. I then waited till I was level 9 and called in the favour and won the game! Everyone now is always quick to say as long as it isn't the winning level!