3 Player Games - Ethics?

[lefton4ya]

See Three-player free-for-alls: how to structure them. My revised advice (what I do in multiplayer games):

In FFA games at the end of the round, each player should count up how many players he/she rolled attacked dice against (not used special powers to wound/kill) that round and roll a 20-sided die. Follow the below chart to either wound one of your figures or bring back a squad member or remove a wound from a hero (but not resurrect a hero).

3 Players (or 4+ after down to 3 players):
Attacked  D20:	0 - 5	6 - 10	11 - 15	16 - 20
0		Wound	Wound	-	-
1		Wound	-	-	Heal
2		-	-	Heal	Heal

4+ Players:
Attacked  D20:	0 - 5	6 - 10	11 - 15	16 - 20
0		Wound	Wound	Wound	-
1		Wound	Wound	-	-
2		Wound	-	-	Heal
3+		-	-	Heal	Heal

Once it is down to 2 players, the wound/heal roll goes away. It makes the game last longer but stops turtling, and people go out of their way to attack 2 or 3 different players a round. Squads/bonders and multiple special attackers usually end up splitting which players they attack. Truces still form between 2 players but they don't last long (say until a dragon or Q9 from another player is dead).

My original idea:

Spoiler Alert!

• In FFA games at the end of the round if you attacked at least one figure in the round, roll a 20-sided die to try to either bring back a squad member or remove a wound from a hero (but not resurrect a hero).
• In 4+ player games, if you attack one player the round you need 16 or higher, if you attack figures from two players you need a 11 or higher, and if you attack figures from three players you need a 6 or higher.
• In 3-player games (or after a 4+ player is down to 3 players), if you attack one player the round you needed 16 or higher, if you attack figures from two players you need a 11 or higher.
• Once it is down to 2 players, the resurrection/heal roll goes away.

[lefton4ya]

I revised this below in the last couple years. I do same rules for Magic:AotP. This is the only tolerable way for me to do 3+ player FFA games, but honestly if 4 players I prefer team games, but the below is almost a necessity if Free-For-All 4 player.

Originally Posted by lefton4ya

See Three-player free-for-alls: how to structure them. My revised advice (what I do in multiplayer games):

In FFA games at the end of the round, each player should count up how many players he/she rolled attacked dice against (not used special powers to wound/kill) that round and roll a 20-sided die. Follow the below chart to either wound one of your figures or bring back a squad member or remove a wound from a hero (but not resurrect a hero).

3 Players (or 4+ after down to 3 players):
Attacked  D20:	0 - 5	6 - 10	11 - 15	16 - 20
0		Wound	Wound	-	-
1		Wound	-	-	Heal
2		-	-	Heal	Heal

4+ Players:
Attacked  D20:	0 - 5	6 - 10	11 - 15	16 - 20
0		Wound	Wound	Wound	-
1		Wound	Wound	-	-
2		Wound	-	-	Heal
3+		-	-	Heal	Heal

Once it is down to 2 players, the wound/heal roll goes away. It makes the game last longer but stops turtling, and people go out of their way to attack 2 or 3 different players a round. Squads/bonders and multiple special attackers usually end up splitting which players they attack. Truces still form between 2 players but they don't last long (say until a dragon or Q9 from another player is dead).

My original idea:

Spoiler Alert!

• In FFA games at the end of the round if you attacked at least one figure in the round, roll a 20-sided die to try to either bring back a squad member or remove a wound from a hero (but not resurrect a hero).
• In 4+ player games, if you attack one player the round you need 16 or higher, if you attack figures from two players you need a 11 or higher, and if you attack figures from three players you need a 6 or higher.
• In 3-player games (or after a 4+ player is down to 3 players), if you attack one player the round you needed 16 or higher, if you attack figures from two players you need a 11 or higher.
• Once it is down to 2 players, the resurrection/heal roll goes away.

[TREX]

Here is a simple yet fun approach. Keep all the figures you have defeated using partial card scoring. If someone has respawnable units just track those on paper. Whichever player has the most points at the end wins. It works pretty well. There could still be the gang up factor but its not likely to make any particular force win.

[flameslayer93]

Originally Posted by TREX

Here is a simple yet fun approach. Keep all the figures you have defeated using partial card scoring. If someone has respawnable units just track those on paper. Whichever player has the most points at the end wins. It works pretty well. There could still be the gang up factor but its not likely to make any particular force win.

We did this before. Someone rolled Cyprien, and I farmed him for points.

[jschild]

If you want to do a 2v1, I recommend doubling the points (or a bit more, maybe 10-20% additional if everyone is equal skill) for the single player and letting him use the X marker as a 4th turn only he gets to take.

[habs1009]

I pretty much everygame get teamed up on and win about 60% of the time even out numbered

[Son of Arathorn]

Ah, 3 player games. I have only done this a few times. Therefor, my experience is limited. However, I find that I ALWAYS. GET. GANGED. UP. ON. Sorry, had to blow that steam off.
Anyway, Alliances are tricky. In a 2 vs. 1, extra OM's, advantageous terrain, or first dibs in a draft can be useful.

[lefton4ya]

3 Player maps/scenarios from the All Official Maps & Scenarios compilation:
Deadly Waters at Durgeth Swamps (3 players).
A Desperate Rescue Attempt at Trollsford Swamps.
The Stand at the Wellspring of Obsession
The Fall of the Dumutef Bridge at The Forgotten Forest
The Deadly Frozen Wellspring at Thaelenk Tundra
Ambush at the West Barbican & The Siege of West Barbican
The Battle for Aaryglynn & Total Destruction at Aaryglynn
The Return of the Exiled Defenders at The Outpost of Malodorr Swamp.

Other scenarios and maps are for 3-4 player games but are where everyone drafts the same amount and are kill-them all. the above have special scenarios where one team usually has more points than another.

[rommel1369]

My group usually plays alot of 3 way. I have found that isometrical maps, glyphs in the center, and building terrain in such a way that helps funnel everyone to the center work best. However their are still instances where 2 gang up on 1. Now it should be that way if someone controls the center glyphs but people often bypassed them, instead going straight for an opponents start zone. Ultimately (and as others have stated) in order to make it as fair as possible it is best to simply give 1 player 2 armies (2v2).

[The Disciplined Soldier]

I've played in a few three player games, and it starts out as team up but then devolves into a an all out brawl, sometimes physically and verbally between the players themselves. But I still enjoy 'em.

[Dad_Scaper]

One of my favorite tournament formats is the multiplayer FFA the way Clancampbell runs them.

It's what Lamaclown suggested right at the start of the thread:

Keep track of the point value of what you kill/wound. A single Krav Maga Agent is 33 points, for instance.

At the end of the game, the guy who's done the most damage is the winner.

The *great* thing about this format is that it discourages turtling in a way that traditional 2 player games do not.

[kolakoski]

Originally Posted by Dad_Scaper

One of my favorite tournament formats is the multiplayer FFA the way Clancampbell runs them.

It's what Lamaclown suggested right at the start of the thread:

Keep track of the point value of what you kill/wound. A single Krav Maga Agent is 33 points, for instance.

At the end of the game, the guy who's done the most damage is the winner.

The *great* thing about this format is that it discourages turtling in a way that traditional 2 player games do not.

I really wanted to attend the last one! I may have to institute it for The Rapture of Raelin! if the Gang of Four turns out to be only Three this week.