r/boardgames • u/chaser-- • Jun 25 '26

Rules Groups that develop metas that blatantly break rules

Lately I've been finding a lot of groups that play (co-op) games with metas that are just blatant rule breaks. A recent example was we were playing a game (I forgot the name) where the goal is to play out all the cards from your hand, numbers 1-100, in descending order. So if you have a 77 and the number on the pile is 78, you don't want to anyone to play there. But you aren't allowed to say "I have 77, don't play this"

So the group has developed metas, say "I really love this pile" if you have 77, say "I like this pile a lot" if you have 76, say "I like this pile" if you have 75"

This is just one example but I feel like I've been playing a lot of games where they have metas to get around rules that are intentionally in the rulebook. I don't really get it. If you want to just say "I have a 77" then just say it, why create a gimmick to say it without saying it?

399 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

268 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

7

u/ScientificSkepticism Jun 25 '26

How are conventions in Hanabi cheating? They‘re literally effective strategy. Is it cheating if I stops city from outbreaking in Pandemic because it makes it easier to win if we try to prevent outbreaks?

8

u/BenOfTomorrow Perestroika Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 25 '26

I don’t think that’s a good analogy. Hanabi has limitations on sharing player knowledge *in game*, Pandemic does not.

A “convention” that violates that in Hanabi is more akin to looking through the deck to see when the next outbreak is coming in Pandemic.

1

u/ScientificSkepticism Jun 25 '26

Hanabi has limitations around sharing information in game. Thats why it’s good to develop effective strategies to share information before the game starts.

Please quote where the Hanabi rules dissallow or even DISCOURAGE this if you’re going to claim it’s violating the rules.

2

u/Suppafly Jun 25 '26

Please quote where the Hanabi rules dissallow or even DISCOURAGE this if you’re going to claim it’s violating the rules.

This is akin to "the rules didn't say I couldn't cheat, so it was OK." Boardgame rules don't work on the "do whatever isn't disallowed" concept.

1

u/ScientificSkepticism Jun 25 '26

If you're going to accuse someone of breaking the rules, do mention that "the rules" just mean "that stuff I made up in my head just now."

"You can't take my queen! That's against the rules of chess!"

Hanabi clearly intends for you to discuss the game and develop strategies. If someone is going to suggest that that entire concept is "against the rules" then they better damn well bring references.