History Main / ComplacentGamingSyndrome

* In ''ComicBook/FionnaAndCakeCardWars'', the unbeatable Floop Master turns out to have stumbled upon one GameBreaker opening card combination, and is completely helpless when Cake becomes the first player to find a card that can beat it.

** In the German version ''Glücksrad'', RSTLNE was so widespread they simply called it "ERNSTL" — a diminutive of the common German name "Ernst" — without naming the individual letters anymore.

* In a curious example, ''Film/TheGamers: Dorkness Rising'' has Leo, who has decided to break tradition and play a bard named Flynn. However, Flynn turns out to be an insta-kill magnet, so Leo has some friends make up fifty identical back-up bards. Lampshaded later on when Leo throws bard after bard in the way of harmful spells to give Luster enough time to get off a major spell with a long casting time, and afterwards another character suggests they take cover "behind the pile of dead bards".

* Often happens to Matt's sessions in ''DorkTower''; even when they try to change games/genres/systems for variety, the gang inevitably falls back to their usual ''Warhamster'' fantasy standby. In one strip, Matt tries to get them out of the rut of Igor always playing a paladin, Ken always playing a cleric, and Carson always playing a halfling thief by launching an oriental-themed campaign. Igor was a lawful-good samurai, Ken was a wise holy man, and Carson was a short daimyo who picked pockets.

* In ''EndersGame'', most (if not all) of the Battle School commanders use the same formations that have been in place for years, due to fear of launching a failing strategy and tanking their army's standings. Ender's success is mostly due to him realizing this and coming up with new ways to innovate in every battle.
** This series also provided the former trope name for InstantWinCondition, "TheEnemyGateIsDown", by subverting this trope. Standard practice was to take out all of the enemy soldiers before passing the win condition. However, clearing out the enemy soldiers was at no point necessary ([[ObviousRulePatch before this battle]]). Ender uses diversion and suicidal tactics to win an otherwise unwinnable battle. He does this again, [[spoiler: subverting traditional military reason to win the war against an alien species.]]

* TabletopGame/{(Poker}}: In the early days of Texas Hold'Em, serious players would only play statistically powerful starting hands such as big pocket pairs (Aces, Kings, Queens, etc.) and fold all others. It wasn't until certain players-- most notably Doyle Brunson-- figured out that that small to medium suited connectors (e.g. a seven and eight of spades) could win huge pots against those "stronger" hands when they managed to make a straight or flush while losing only small ones when they missed that Hold'Em became the deeply strategic game it is today.

* In any given ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' tournament, you can generally expect three out of every four armies to be SpaceMarines. This has a good deal to do with the fact that the Astartes are the de facto gateway army almost everyone starts out playing (you can get a minimally playable Astartes starter kit as a box set), as well as the fact that they're the only army guaranteed to be updated first every edition due to canonical CreatorsPet status. This has only gotten worse in recent years as variants of the Space Marine list have gotten their own standalone books, so the previous roadblock of buying two books to play one army is now gone. There are now enough books that the company's publishing schedule is basically one marine book for every two non-marine books.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}''. Tell the truth: Have you ''ever'' seen anyone decline to buy a title deed and put it up for auction?
** Only when they can't afford to buy it.

** Fourth Edition has been [[BaseBreaker both praised and vilified]] for the fact that every class build has a "primary" and "secondary" characteristic, which can be found spread across at least two or three races as coincidental bonuses to those characteristics. However, due to the prevalence of MinMax builds and most modules running on the assumption you will play as such, this either means you ''have'' to pick a complimentary race/class combo with a severe stat focus, or you'll find yourself unintentionally handicapped. Many players feel they're ''forced'' into Complacent Gaming Syndrome in order to be even passably effective; then again, some players intentionally build characters not min-maxed specifically [[SelfImposedChallenge for the added difficulty]].

* During the Big Sweep in ''Series/SupermarketSweep'', most contestants were GenreSavvy enough to grab the expensive stuff — Farmer John hams, gallon-sized jugs of Bertolli olive oil, diapers, macadamia nuts, giant steaks, cheese wedges, frozen turkeys, medicine, etc.

** The term "MEQ" is a shorthand for "Marine Equivallent", which is usually used in Mathhammer (speculative calculations for listbuilding) to gauge whether or not a list is good enough. The non-marine equivallent is "GEQ" (which stands for Guard Equivallent) and is often considered to be secondary to MEQ-based calculations.

** Lately the DCI is less ban-happy (though they still come on an annual basis), while R&D has more freedom to nudge the game environment with every new card set - sometimes subtly, sometimes less so. Case in point: during the 2012-2013 season, strategies that abused the graveyard, particularly using [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=227676 Snapcaster Mage]], dominated the standard environment. That entire archetype fell apart as soon as WotC printed the next set, Return to Ravnica, with [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=277995 Rest in Peace]].

In a variety of multiplayer games, there are many modes, characters, weapons, techniques, and stages that people can use at their disposal. Plenty of options, tools, and the like.

** [[AvertedTrope Changed]] for Third Edition, WordOfGod confirmed that they don't like RocketTagGameplay either, and the new system will be about leveraging bonuses and penalties in combat (Higher ground, crippled limb, getting winded) and ''then'' you get to hit your enemy for massive damage by cashing in those effects for a major attack, in a similar vein as SuperAttacks in fighting games.

** Unless the DM tells you no and hands you a randomly made character, yes this is a suggested way to play. Also a new six-pack cost a lot and adds new mutations (unless you pay more) making it only useful for Blue-class up.

-->-- '''''SpongebobSquarepants'''''

* Often happens to Matt's sessions in ''DorkTower''; even when they try to change games/genres/systems for variety, the gang inevitably falls back to their usual Warhamster fantasy standby.

* One of El Disgusto's primary traits in ''Literature/BinderOfShame'' is his refusal to play anything except a [[InstantAwesomeJustAddNinja ninja.]] Even if the game is a medieval pseudo-European setting, a 1930s America-set ''CallOfCthulhu'' campaign, or ''StarTrek.''

** [[AvertedTrope Changed]] for Third Edition, WordOfGod confirmed that they don't like RocketTagGameplay either, and the new system will be about leveraging bonuses and penalties in combat (Higher ground, crippled limb, getting winded) and ''then'' you get to hit your enemy ForMassiveDamage by cashing in those effects for a major attack, in a similar vein as SuperAttacks in fighting games.

** A small but vocal minority has pushed getting the extra point removed from the game, due to the high probability of a kicked extra point being good leading to teams always kicking the single over going for two unless absolutely necessary.[[note]]Specifically, teams never go for two in the first three quarters, and only go for two in the fourth in two scenarios: When they were down 8 before the touchdown (in which case 2 points ties the game), and when they were down 5 before the touchdown (in which case the risk of missing the 2 point conversion is eliminated, while the reward of getting it is immense: It means the opponents can only tie with a field goal rather than take the lead.)[[/note]]

* In any given ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' tournament, you can generally expect three out of every four armies to be SpaceMarines. This has a good deal to do with the fact that the Astartes are the de facto gateway army almost everyone starts out playing (you can get a minimally playable Astartes starter kit as a box set), as well as the fact that they're the only army guaranteed to be updated first every edition due to arguable CreatorsPet status. This has only gotten worse in recent years as variants of the Space Marine list have gotten their own standalone books, so the previous roadblock of buying two books to play one army is now gone. There are now enough books that the company's publishing schedule is basically one marine book for every two non-marine books.

** Speaking of Races, in 3.X ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', [[HumansAreAverage humans]] are this when it comes to optimizing characters. They're a top pick in all online class guides because of their [[MasterOfAll immense versatility]]. No penalties, outside of any miscellaneous ones a DM might throw their way as part of the plot, a stat bonus anywhere the player wants, bonus skill points at every level[[note]]much of the "role play" aspect of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' lives and dies by your skill points and areas of expertise[[/note]], a bonus feat at first level, which is a rare commodity that can jump start any character build. The only classes humans do ''not'' excel in are race-locked or badly-designed in general. It took the creation of alternative class features, and additional sub races of the main races to make them be considered as high tier "viable" builds before that changed, and ''Pathfinder'' took lessons from that to instead give a lot more flexibility and power to the other main races.

* The original regular format of the ''Series/WheelOfFortune'' BonusRound gave a blank puzzle, for which the contestant had to provide five consonants and a vowel to assist in solving within 15 seconds. Before long, most people were choosing R, S, T, L, N, and E (five of the most common consonants, and the most common vowel, in the English language). Beginning on October 3, 1988, both versions changed the rules to ''give'' players these letters and their choice of three more consonants and a vowel, while also making the puzzles harder (now, it's very rare for R, S, T, L, N, and E to reveal so much as half of the answer) and slashing the time limit to 10 seconds. Even then, a very large number of contestants pick C, D, M, and A, because those are among the next most-common, even though this combination doesn't work most of the time. Since about 2012, a few GenreSavvy contestants have selected B, G, H, and O.
** Also, contestants used to have the option of picking their own prize. When a $25,000 cash prize was first offered in 1987, the vast majority of contestants would go for either it or a car. This was finally circumvented in September 1989 (but only on the nighttime show) by making it a random draw from five enveloped labeled W-H-E-E-L — one concealed $25,000, the other four contained prizes that changed weekly, and any prize that was won was removed for the rest of the week. Beginning in September 1998, the $25,000 envelope was kept in play even if won. On September 3, 2001, the prizes changed to three different cars and two $25,000, all of which remained in play all week; on October 22, this changed again to the current 24-envelope Bonus Wheel.
** In the German version ''Glücksrad'', RSTLNE was so widespread they simply called it "ERNSTL" — an often used callname for someone named Ernst (a common German male name) — without naming the individual letters anymore.

** When Same Name was introduced in 1988, many people began by calling D and N, then buying an A because those puzzles always had "And" in them. This was averted completely by using an ampersand which would also be used in Family and Husband & Wife puzzles. Beginning around 2008, the writers gradually began reverting to spelling out AND.

** If a contestant lands on Free Play, they are permitted to call any letter or attempt to solve the puzzle with no penalty for an incorrect guess; consonants are worth $500, and vowels are free. With very few exceptions, contestants tend to go for the free vowel if any are left, even when it would not be beneficial to do so.

** And its sister, the 7-11, offered either $50 per word or $1,100 for getting all 7 right. Almost no one ever took the former, so the latter quickly became the only option.

** Speaking of Races, in 3.X ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', [[HumansAreAverage humans]] are this when it comes to optimizing characters. They're a top pick in all online class guides because of their [[MasterOfAll immense versatility]]. No penalties, outside of any miscellaneous ones a DM might throw their way as part of the plot, a stat bonus anywhere the player wants, bonus skill points at every level[[note]]much of the "role play" aspect of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' lives and dies by your skill points and areas of expertise[[/note]], a bonus feat at first level, which is a rare commodity that can you jump start any character build. The only classes humans do ''not'' excel in are race-locked or badly-designed for everyone. It took the creation of alternative class features, and additional sub races of the main races to make them be considered as high tier "viable" builds before that changed, and ''Pathfinder'' took lessons from that to instead give a lot more flexibility and power to the other main races.

** Speaking of Races, in 3.X ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', Humans are this when it comes to optimizing characters, as they're a top pick in all class guides created by players. No Penalties to them, outside of any miscellaneous ones a DM might throw their way as part of the plot, bonus skill points at every level[[note]]Much of the Role Play aspect of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', your character's RP ability lives and dies by your skill points and areas of expertise[[/note]], a bonus feat at first level, on top of the normal 1st level feat, which is one of the rarest commodities of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' as it lets you jump start any character, or combat build. The only bad classes for humans, are ones which are racially locked, or a poorly designed, low tier class. It took the creation of alternative class features, and additional sub races of the main races to make them be considered as high tier "viable" builds before that changed, and Pathfinder took lessons from that to instead give a lot more flexibility, and bonus stats to other main races.
** Charisma as a Dump stat, Unless you're playing a class that uses Charisma for an ability (such as Sorcerers and Bards for spells and music, Clerics for Turn Undead, and Paladins for Charisma Modifier to Saves check bonus), most people consider it unneeded, especially when high Intelligence, and skill points can let you easily make up for having a Charisma Modifier of 0 to -2. Yes, an ugly jerk of a mage can conduct diplomatic peace talks better than most characters. Plus they have spells when that isn't enough, beginning with "polite" mind control such as Charm Person, and leading up to the much more blunt "Give me control of the kingdom, or I will call down Meteors on your head, send you to an alternate dimension, or just kill you outright if I'm pressed for time"
** Furthermore, in ''3.5'' and earlier, many people (beginners especially) will demand to re-roll their character if there is even a hint of it being best suited to be a primary spellcaster. Who wants to read another two chapters of 8-point text just to be able to make a simple attack? Give me a Barbarian called Gnar or Blarg anyday.
** The fourth edition has released two books containing literally hundreds of magical items each; if the game's forums are any judge, only a handful of those items are actually "worth" playing with: a handful of those items are generally useful for a range of characters, a substantial amount of them are useful only to certain specific builds, and a disappointingly high number are nearly useless.
** Strongly encouraged in traditional high-level games when one of a [[PlayerParty party]] is [[KilledOffForReal dead beyond recovery]], in which case, the slot open is for a specific set of skills, and all the (suddenly available) [[MagicWand magic items]] that no-one else can use are specific to that particular class. Ergo: ''Sorry 'bout Alcor the Illusionist, Chuck...You should create a new character. We need another wizard.''
** Most of the criticism of ''3.5'' centers on how AC and HitPoints are meaningless, while [[LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards spellcasters]] run rampant. These are only really problems at high level (level 9 or so, when clerics gain their [[OneHitKO Slay Living]] spell), which is where many players seem to be complacent.
** Also from 3.5, with melee builds that don't include the Tome of Battle rule book, expect every Optimizer on forums to immediately point you to a 2 handed weapon build, typically of the Great Sword (Power Attack Builds) Halberds and similar polearms (Trip and Reach Attack of Opportunity Build) or Spiked Chains (All of the above).

* ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}''. Tell the truth: Have you ''ever'' seen anyone decline to buy a title deed and put it up for auction?