Tabletop Bellhop Gaming Podcast by Moe Tousignant

April 16, 2019 Episode 37 - The Spirit of Competition

At Tabletop Bellhop we answer your game and game night questions, go "Ask The Bellhop" at https://tabletopbellhop.com/. The Spirit Of Competition, an unscripted discussion on competition and competitiveness at the game table. Also, a review of Demon Lord’s Companion and a look at 8 different games played by the hosts this past week.

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This is the 37th episode of Tabletop Bellhop Live, an edited version of our live show recorded on April 10th, 2019. Join us as we stream live every week Wednesday’s at Nine Thirty Eastern: https://www.twitch.tv/tabletopbellhop.

Disclosure: Some links below are affiliate links. As an associate, it costs you nothing, but we earn a small amount from qualifying purchases.

This episode includes:

---Viewer/Listener Feedback---

We read off and respond to listener feedback. Send feedback to [email protected] or [email protected]

Games mentioned and other links:

Race for the Galaxy,

Board Games at a Wedding, Why Not? Blog Post,

---Ask The Bellhop---

This week we are discussion a question from Tabletop Bellhop Patron Brian Kurtz:

"Hi Moe and Sean,

as you know I'm a Tabletop Bellhop megafan - I've loved your show from the very first episode. From your patient explanations of different mechanics in games to reviews and recommendations, I have gotten a lot out of the show and the website, and I've bought some fantastic games on your recommendation. Thank you so much.

My question today is a little different than some other questions you've had which look for specific suggestions of games that meet certain criteria.. Mine is a bit more.... philosophical. I want to know what you think about competition, and gaming.

While I encourage you to go wherever that vague prompt takes you in your discussion, the source of the question comes from some experiences I've had watching friends or acquaintances get nasty in competitive situations. Dating back from my childhood playing Monopoly or Atari games and observing the "sore loser" phenomenon in family members or peers, to the first time I played Settlers of Catan in the late 1990s, to trying to weather the mood storms of children (and sometimes grownups) who struggle with competition,

I've been struck by just how bad this can get.

As two people who game with family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers all the time, what insights do you have into this phenomenon? How do you anticipate when competitiveness can go awry and head it off at the pass? How do you handle people who want to game but aren't good at checking their zest for winning when the situation requires it? Do you have any rules - explicit or implicit - that set the tone for gaming at your house or your events? Apart from sticking to strictly cooperative games, any tips for choosing games based on what you know about your fellow gamers and their ability to handle competition?

Thanks guys!

Brian

Links:

Teaching New Gamers vs. Experience Gamers article,

How Do you Approach Teaching Board Games? Article.

Francis Plays Magic the Gathering NSFW,

Breakout Con 2019 Safety Tools,

Five Geek Social Fallacies,

Sunk Cost Fallacy

---Announcements---

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