When is it okay to bail out?

[Rivn]

So, I did a scheduled VP run last night - 8pm GMT.

The place was packed. Wanting to do the right thing, I was trying to get myself onto an elevator with a few smaller-suit toons to “balance the load”. After several failed attempts to board (I was always beaten to it), I managed to get on with a whole bunch of small-suit toons. I guess the plan slightly back-fired, because I was the only Hollywood – but I figured, “No problem”, even though my real-life wife was telling me this was a “Bad Idea”. I figured we’d be okay.

First cog round:
With a little guidance, the toons sided with me all survived and finished the first battle fully tooned. Everyone on the other side either died or bailed out. I have no idea what happened, but it clearly wasn’t “good!”

So, at this point I said “Shall we go?” This was clearly interpreted as “Shall we continue with the battle?” because the other 3 toons started to head off up the ramp to the 2nd cog battle.

For future reference, would it be fair for me to say “Let’s go back to the playground!” and promptly do so if there’s only 4 of us left at this point and my confidence level for survival is somewhat below average? Or, being the big toon in the bunch, should I just do what I did and stick with it through thick and thin?

Anyway – on with the story...

Second cog round:
Me and my partner got through with lots of guidance and my lure presentation gag. One died on the other side, but somehow the last remaining toon got through (I think some SOS cards were used!) So, three of us left for the pie round.

Pie round:
I set about stunning the VP and we actually got him all the way down to roughly the middle of the final platform. I threw another pie into his rear door and started stepping back, but there were no hits coming from the front. I ran round to see my two comrades throwing pies at each other.

This was the trend from this point on. I had no toon-up unites so could not help them without the VP making rapid ground back up the ramp. The two toons who were struggling to “Keep smiling” were stood at a distance whereby I became the VP’s single target. Mostly I was hit by cogs at every opportunity to stun and the VP was starting to make his way back up the ramp. I was able to stun from the front and knock back a few times, but the VP would always make up the lost ground with more of my laff vanishing each time.

I ran over to the others and said “Let’s go back to the playground!” but was ignored. I tried to fight on, but as my laff continued to fall and with my wife screaming at me to run, I shouted “Let’s go back to the playground!” and “Run!” and ALT-F4’d.

Problem is I feel really guilty for bailing, but we were clearly not going to succeed and I didn’t want to lose my remaining level 7’s (I used 3 to get us this far, so perhaps it wouldn’t have really mattered in hindsight).

Did I do the right thing? Oh how I wish I was good enough at the pie round to have been able to solo it to a positive conclusion

Rivn

[Rattlebones]

Since this is strictly an opinion request here it goes...

It is better to go sad with Honor than it is to run from the bosses...

Back a few years ago when the VP was the only Boss my wife's toon (RubyRed) ended up in the pie round alone after marching the VP down to the helipad. The VP marched all the way back to the top. Now she could have bailed and not abandoned anyone, instead she pushed him back down the ramp and ended up dancing.

My opinion is, never bail unless there's a bug interfering with winning chances.

[Brrlgrrl]

I have to agree with Rattlebones here.
Personally speaking, I'd rather go sad trying than not have tried at all. If you feel your pieing skills need improvement, please sign up for the close stunning training offered.

[Frostimom]

VP TRAINING RUN...look for it in March...it should be on the calendar!

It gives you an opportunity to perfect your skills in a "controlled" environment with more experienced players "watching over you"!

A real confidence builder!

[Loopy_Rainbow]

This is a tough one... it would have made life easier if the other toons had said yes or just alt-fd. I don't leave unless everyone agrees to go. But I have to say I've been where you are, and it is just not fun. You have my total sympathy. I have won the battle when just me and one other toon have survived the cog rounds, but then both of us were fighting the vp, not tooning each other up. It is very tiring frustrating to keep fighting when you know that you are not going to win. I'm so sorry!

Megan
_________________________
Loopy Rainbow Blubbersnooker
Goliath
Hedwig

[Scout]

What a story and thanks for sharing! Congratulations to those who made it to the pie round, that obviously took a great amount of teamwork to get that far!

To answer your question simply...
CCG guidelines state: *No <alt>-<F4>ing from the elevator unless there are less than 6 toons after the doors close.

Though I will tell you I know many toons who be delighted to do any of the bosses with less than 6 toons at anytime (ESPECIALLY, if it's the last load and there are toons seeking promotions on the steps).

I have found the situation as you have described to be the perfect training opportunity, so as long as the VP provides unlimted pies, why not give it a try? As long as real life time constraints permit, and physical endurance holds up that is. (I remember early days of LAWBOT HQ lag that had me exhausted from stunning cogs!) I guess every situation is different, don't be so hard on yourself though, it sure sounds like you tried your best!

[Lady Gigglesnout]

Originally Posted by Rivn

Problem is I feel really guilty for bailing

Did I do the right thing? Oh how I wish I was good enough at the pie round to have been able to solo it to a positive conclusion

Rivn

RIVN , I've seen how you play and I know you rock at close-pie stunning ....

As for me, am always up for a challenge...I prolly would've stay, tried...and be sad or dance than not to have tried at all My level 7 gags doesn't mean to me....if I went back to the pg looking down at my toes, no biggy.

P.S. Don't feel guilty....maybe next time you can try staying , try a different approach at the VP,win or no win Always have fun!!!

[cputnal]

Just be realistic - if you are down to below 20 laffs, and he has managed to jump his way back up to the top, unless you are exceptionally good a gear dodging, you aren't likely to win.

I have solo'd and finished off the VP solo on an occasion like you described -but wouldn't have done it simply for another SOS card - I personally wouldn't have jeopardized my 7s unless I was in a better situation than described above...

Now if you have a few 10-20-40 unites, then by all means, practice like crazy - you may get him over, and that would be a cool accomplishment...

Just be realistic!

Craig

[Little Trixie Huckleboing]

My own opinion...

I stick it out. This is partly because 75% of the players on TT don't know how to altf-f4 to close the game. It would seem so unfair for me to take off after they spent all that time battling. So I don't leave unless everyone present agrees on leaving, eve if there's just two of us left, if they say no then I stick it out. I'm part of a team and if they choose to go down, then I'll go down with them.

The other part of it is that to help the kids keep a level head about all of this we relaly push that this is just a GAME. All gags are only one jellybean or a half dozen buildings away. All we really need is time. And that's somethign we have, becuase this isn't a race.

Especially in the VP....When my son was on the team of four last week he got worried. And I just told him....We've finished the pie round with two toons. Toons have solo'd this. If one toon can do it alone, then your little team can do it together.


I was in one VP with CCG last year when they took a vote to leave. We were really terrible. Two of us wanted to go and one wanted to stay, so we stayed. He had rolled all the way back up (for the second time) and we were actually under the cage again pieing him....And much to my shock, after the longest VP ever we actually danced. So even when the situation looks hopeless, you can't be certain. I got much better at pieing that day.

However, one an average day I wouldn't have been able to stay for so long. I would have had to alt out with apologies to care for the kids, go to work, or run errands.

Also, sometimes it depends on how you're feeling emotionally. There are just times when you can't. I understand that, and I think that all the mature players do. Sometimes its just too much.

You all ready did what the CCG was supposed to do, got them into the VP. So don't feel bad over the choice you made to leave. Hopefully they learned something more about teamwork, pieing, and the VP and will be able to do better next time.

[princessglitter]

This is a tough one! My poor baby! I'm so glad you had a good CFO. I would probably side with you on this one and would have bailed because no one was battling but me. If the others are just taking care of each other that makes it a solo battle and in my opinion that makes it your choice since your the only one battling.

Did you check out their laff? I might have refilled their laff points, had them refill mine and started all over. It would have been an interesting experience. I honestly can't say for sure what I would have done. I guess it would depend on my mood. You're better at the VP than me so I bet you could have won but please don't feel guilty. You are one of the sweetest people I know and wouldn't intentionally hurt anyone. Love ya doll! You are a sweetheart! Keep smiling

[chocoholic1415]

There are so many variables here, I don't think anyone can fault you for leaving. Kudos for getting on the elevator and staying on.

As the only "big" toon, my speedchat at intermission would have been something like "Which way?", "Where should we go?" "Let's go fight th VP, Let's go back to the pg, Let's play again.", "Which way?", etc. On a big toon, I'm pretty sure I can survive the skeles regardless of who else is there, so I leave the decision up to the smaller toons. I've been in numerous VP battles where 2 mid-laff toons with half-way decent gags were able to hold their own at the skeles. All it takes is team work and a little luck.

As for the pies, I personally probably would have stayed until I was beyond the point of thinking it possible. Where that point is may vary by day LOL. As for the 2 toons having a pie party, that's a whole different story. I recall seeing another thread about that yesterday and will post my opinion on it there. . .

[Summer Solstice]

I have a question alone the same lines, as to what the correct action would be. Recently I was in a vp and during skeles, there was a 111 laff toon that kept trap dooring the left cog, every single time. Between the 4 of us, 1 would lure left, he would trap door, one would pie right and that left me unsure what to do. I ended up helping the toon kill right as that is the written strategy. So basically every single turn we were getting hit. The toon trapping did have maxed trap as i looked after we finished. Finally after taking about 5 hits and tu ing every other turn, cogs started unluring etc. After the first few times I mentioned nicely "You should use a different gag" to which he responded, No problem, Have fun! We were losing quite a bit of laff so finally I trapped his trap. I kinda felt guilty doing so but enough was enough. What is the correct thing to do? We had one toon who was onnly 56 laff and it was to the point to where he was not gonna make it unless someone was going to unite.

[PurplePenny]

This is why I dont run with ccg.

The rules say you have to stay until death? The toons with you are doing nothing but helping themselves? Did they try and toon you up?

Call me mean, call me a griefer, call me whatever you want. I would have let the vp jump and send them back to the pg then send him back down the ramp to victory. I dont feel that toons standing around doing nothing to help should take part in the reward. Sounded like you almost had it and if they were helping rather than tooning each other you more than likely woulda won. Just my opinion, take it or leave it.

[chocoholic1415]

Originally Posted by Summer Solstice

I have a question alone the same lines, as to what the correct action would be. Recently I was in a vp and during skeles, there was a 111 laff toon that kept trap dooring the left cog, every single time. Between the 4 of us, 1 would lure left, he would trap door, one would pie right and that left me unsure what to do. I ended up helping the toon kill right as that is the written strategy. So basically every single turn we were getting hit. The toon trapping did have maxed trap as i looked after we finished. Finally after taking about 5 hits and tu ing every other turn, cogs started unluring etc. After the first few times I mentioned nicely "You should use a different gag" to which he responded, No problem, Have fun! We were losing quite a bit of laff so finally I trapped his trap. I kinda felt guilty doing so but enough was enough. What is the correct thing to do? We had one toon who was onnly 56 laff and it was to the point to where he was not gonna make it unless someone was going to unite.

Don't you just hate that? I had a toon doing that last week, sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. If that means throwing a banana peel on a trap door, that'll learn 'em. Usually my response is just to refuse to lure him, if the left cog is going to be angry anyway, might as well take out the right one so there aren't 2 angry ones. Depending on the level of the left cog and the other 2 toons with me, I might also opt to kill him off without luring - hose and piano works well if the remaining toon has enough to kill right.

Sometimes a little tough love is the only way they'll listen.

[canadianloonie]

Rivn, I think in your situation what added to it was the wee pressure from you wife hee hee