Moral Luck and 40k. John Rawls you are a beautiful mind.

We have all experienced luck in our games of 40k. Obviously as this is a game that uses dice and therefore has semi-random outcomes in terms of any individual roll. However one notices that some players are 'Luckier' than others. They may seize the initiative more often than anybody has right too, or they may wound far better than average. We have such a few players at some of my local game stores. Normally this doesn't bother me. Luck is what it is and sometimes it is with your opponent. You as a player must use your skills as a general to beat out a player that is luckier.

However there is one player at a local store who is luckier than the average. For some reason this individual has always gotten to me. I never had a concrete reason until I started reading John Rawls and his idea of "Moral Luck." As stated everybody has luck, good or bad, it is what you do with that luck that matters. If somebody finds a wallet with 10,000 dollars in it and ID what is the moral thing to do? Obviously it would be to return it to the owner. However it is still a choice one must make. 10,000 dollars is a lot of Ork Boyz after all. Anyways getting back on track this player doesn't always demonstrate good "Moral Luck" he complains when something may not be perfect. IE Complaining he failed 1 out of 10 5+ saves instead of making all 10. The idea is that you shouldn't try to to belittle your own rolls and point out to your opponent that he/she did not do much at all to your unit in one go. It is not good sportsmanship and it is not good morals. 

Player A "Why couldn't I have rolled 6 rends. :( :(" Player B "... You only had 5 attacks"

To be a "Morally Lucky" player there are a few simple things you need to do in my opinion (your going to be hearing that phrase a lot):

1. Recognize your own luck. If you roll well above average and EVERYBODY notices it, realize you roll better than most.

2. Don't get cocky. The rolls will not always save you, a better player is still a better player and will find a way around your dice.

3. Don't be proud of yourself. They rolled well, you had nothing to do with that. Realize that luck is good for you but don't brag or be an asshat about it.

4. Be happy with good luck when it happens. If you are the lucky player realize that most people see themselves as unlucky. Be happy with your luck and don't degrade your opponent when your rolls are better than his. Actually never degrade your opponent under any circumstances...that just makes you a jerk. 

So remember students in your next game demonstrate "Moral Luck". 

Good Night and Good Luck!