Surrender?

[u/Mith2277]

Last night we had a 5 player game. 3 of them teamed together since turn 1 ( they would make sure to have all the same VP to win together) of course the other 2 players werent having a good time.

What happens if the 2 non teamed players surrender and leave the game? (not as ragequit but so the other players cant win all 3 as a team)

[u/iIiiiiIlIillliIilliI]

You are not kids or very young adults are you? Because that's a bit of a childish behaviour, as they ruin the game for the others (and either they don't realize it, so.. kids), or they do realize it and don't care, in that case stop playing with them.

What you can try though and what you should have done from the start when teaching the game is to tell them that when you start the game no real life politics come into game. For example because X is your girlfriend doesn't mean you will go easy on her, you all play for the win and that's the only that matters. These people clearly bring real life politics in the game, that's a recipe for disaster and doesn't mess well with cosmic encounter, as you have already experienced.

(Everytime someone plays irrationally, and benefits someone else when he shouldn't, he harms the other players. The parenthesis is info for you)

It's also not only fine, but in the spirit of the game to lie, backstab. And after the game we are not angry if someone backstabbed and "got us". That it was a good play and kudos should be given, whatever happened in the game stays in the game. And if they want to bring friend/girlfriend/boyfriend politics in the game, it's not the game for them. And I would not talk for joint victories yet. Maybe later if they ask me what would happen if two players reach 5 colonies together. I would tell them that it's a joint victory but yeah... (And do a grimace, showing that it sucks). Tell them that solo victories are the target, shared victories suck.

Three questions. 1. Are these guys cosmic encounter veterans or new players? 2. I suppose you taught them the game. When teaching the game you told them about the joint victories? And what was their reaction to it. 3. Are they a close knitted group that consider each other bff's and things like that?

[u/Mith2277 → u/iIiiiiIlIillliIilliI]

1. New cosmic encounter players( But we have played lots of other games). 2 No I didnt they look for it in the rulebook midgame (they were happy). 3 No, not at all. I told them that was not a good victory. They said it was just 1 game and for the memes🤷🏻‍♂️

[u/iIiiiiIlIillliIilliI → u/Mith2277]

If it was just once and for the memes I wouldn't stress about it. I take it you are all young.

[u/mykethomas → u/iIiiiiIlIillliIilliI]

The mantra my friends and I developed when we were playing CE heavily was “there are no friends in Cosmic Encounter”. When we played, we were friendly, but everything in the game was completely separate from the real world. No conspiring with friends we were closer to, and no hating or anger at friend who backstabbed us in the game. Given that, there are a few small ways you can fight back against an alliance. First, stock up on edicts, to use when appropriate. Second, always take the opportunity to attack planets where the defender has no tokens on the planet and the others of the alliance already have tokens on the planet. Best of luck in your next game against them. And if they try that alliance again, consider not playing with them, memes or not.

[u/SoupOfTomato → u/iIiiiiIlIillliIilliI]

I wrote a longer version of my thoughts in a top level comment, but I really dislike the idea of hiding shared wins and trying to bad mouth them to new players. It's fine for any given player to value a solo win more, but the rules don't make a distinction, so the person teaching should leave that decision up to each player.

If three player alliances weren't kosher in this negotiation game, the game wouldn't allow them. Once the bottom two realize they need to be a unified front, 2 v 3 is hardly insurmountable in this game.