Hello again. Grandpa here. This is in General. I am going to be taking a little detour, a field trip you might say. Because of our friendship and healthy level of respect for each other, Uncle Landdrops has awarded me more or less carte blanche here on the blog. I often treat this blog as my soap box. I share my opinions. I am proud and vocal about them. Even when they differ strongly from the other contributors that I share this space with or the community at large.
I am embarking on a two part series. In lieu of my weekly discussion of cards, or strategy, or psychology, or tangentially related nonsense, I will instead be talking about myself. About how I play the game. Now, if you have been reading my columns on TGZ for any length of time or peeked in at my set reviews you will have heard plenty of my opinions about how OTHER people play the game. To the savvy reader, this may have painted a very clear picture of who I am...or at least who you think I am. I am all business in the game, but as a person I am quite different. Today, I will share with you some personal philosophies. In next week's follow-up piece, I will give share some advice for players who are new to the game, to the format, or just entering a new play group.
Enjoy yourself.
I enjoy the game. It has been in my life for a long time. More than a decade, but there was a time when it wasn't in my life. I was into the competitive scene. I was juggling a lot of activities and balancing a variety of commitments on my time. Something had to give, and at that time, it was Magic. You see, I had become so engrossed in the struggle to be a strong competitive player that I had really stopped enjoying it, which was a primary factor in my decision to stop playing and pursue other endeavors. That's right, it was easy. At the time I didn't feel bad about stepping away from the game because I wasn't enjoying it.
Now I see the beauty of the casual game. It is still the same complex mental test I wanted, but now I share it with my friends. I do it in the comfort of my home, local stores, or online (when the events are actually firing I guess). This was a roundabout way of saying it, but remember to have fun. Enjoy the game. Enjoy learning. Enjoy being challenged. Enjoy yourself.
Play Optimally
I do the right thing. Not in some grandiose moral sense, but make the right play. I think things through. I don't miss the details and don't screw up easy stuff. I want to play to the best of my ability all the time. Regardless of how the game is progressing, I always make the play that I think gives me the best chance to win. I rarely get cute. I don't slow roll, I don't bluff often, I don't try to cheese my opponents either. I find that it is more fun for everyone involved if I just play optimally instead of worrying about hurting someone's feelings or coming off as a jerk. Which leads me to my next point...
Don't take it personally
I see far too many people become emotionally invested in the particulars. Of a game. Of their decks. Of their pet card. Don't be disappointed if your idea doesn't work out. Don't get angry if you lose. This is all pretty childish. There really isn't any room for this kind of behavior in a strategy game. Part of maintaining a friendly environment is not being a jerk...to yourself. If you combine this idea with the idea of playing optimally you will arrive at a central pillar of my philosophy. Don't play the deck that you like the most. Play the deck that you think gives you the best chance to win. I might have the most fun playing a whacky combo deck...and that is fine. I do not, however, delude myself into thinking that it is competitive. Read some decklists on TCGplayer or Tapped out. Take a look at the comments. You'll get an idea of how protective people get about their favorite things. When you get emotionally invested, you get defensive. You start skewing reality. Take criticism objectively and professionally. It's how I get better. It's how the pros went pro. It is just cardboard. You are a person. I believe that I can and should be above this. So I hold myself to a high standard of impartiality.
I play by the rules.
I do my absolute best to know all I can about the rules and to abide by them at all times. Magic is a huge and complicated game. I get things wrong just like anyone else. UL can confirm that I am, in fact, not right 100% of the time, but I don't withhold knowledge of the rules for strategic reasons. Consequently, I also don't let my opponent's cheat. No peeking at your top card. No friendly mulligans. No giving away extra information. And most of all NO TAKESIES BACKSIES! Which is how, in my circle at least, we refer to changing your mind about something after you get new information. Announcement is a structured procedure within the game. There are rules about it. It is binding. If I make a mistake, I own up to it. I don't ask my opponent if I can have a redo. People will often say things like, 'you know what I meant to do!"...which is absolutely true. I usually know what the correct play is, but they obviously don't understand, otherwise they wouldn't have made such an error. To some people, this may seem cutthroat. It may seem like all I care about is winning, but that isn't true. This is only part of the story. I will further illustrate with this next point.
I am helpful and honest.
If you ask me how to make a certain play I will tell you. If you are confused about sequencing, or a peculiar rules interaction, or what layer Characteristic Defining Abilities fall in...well I can tell you that too. BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK! If you play crisp and quietly, I am going to assume you know what you're doing. If you put your hand on your chin and go super deep into the tank before making a play, I am going to assume you came up with the best answer you could. It can be strange and embarrassing to admit that you are confused or that you need help. Often people won't be helpful or receptive. Sometimes, Magic players can be real jerks. I DO NOT act like this. If you Thoughtseize me and ask me what I should take. I WILL TELL YOU.
That example may seem really strange and I will qualify it with this explanation: I know what I don't want you to take, but not what is in your hand. I know what is in my deck, but not yours. I will happily advise you on this choice, but I may not be able to fully explain it until the game ends without jeopardizing the integrity of the contest. If you play with me enough though, you will see that I really do answer these requests honestly and in good faith. Alternatively, if you want that explanation of why right when it counts, I am also always willing to take this game 'face up' and have a "coaching moment." We can both honestly discuss our thoughts on the game state and our strategies in order for us to both learn from each other about how to better play this game we are sharing. It is even more fun then, when we begin a new game armed with new knowledge and superior skills. That just feels good and it breeds a bond of trust that helps our game and our skill grow. In keeping with the flow of this article, this is the jumping off point for my final thought.
Be friendly...for heaven's sake.
I want a competitive game. So I play competitively. I try to win. Makes sense, eh? If you want to make friends, then you need to play in a friendly manner. There is absolutely no excuse for being rude, ill-mannered, short-tempered, derisive, insulting, inconsiderate, selfish, cocky, or scummy. Not at my table. Not in my house. Not in earshot or eyesight. Unless of course you are ready to give a full explanation of your behavior and account for your antics in full view of the public. There is just no place for it in this game or this world. There is no need for it and no benefit to it. If your ego is inflated by demeaning others: You are not a predator. You are a parasite.
The people who know me, know that I can be an abrasive personality. They may not always comprehend my methods, but I think they understand that I like to egg people on. Get under their skin a bit to push them. Light a fire under them if you will. When I am out at events I try to leave my opponents with a positive image. Of me and themselves. If they play well, I will tell them. If I think I can help them improve I will do my best to inform them of that in a tactful way, although this is often tough. They may be disappointed for losing. They may be taking things personally. They may view me as an enemy instead of an opponent, but I try to avoid that and keeper a lighter atmosphere. This is super tough in the instance of children...
This has happened to all of us at one point I'd wager. You're at an event and you get paired against someone who is not just new to the game, but pretty new to the Earth. Basically anything under 18 makes me nervous to play against. I will admit...I am horrible with kids. My inner child isn't real, that's just a phrase people use when they want to justify still watching Disney movies at 30 years of age.....so I have a tough time relating. I want these little guys to succeed and learn and feel confident and have a blast doing it, but I don't always know the best way to make that happen. I don't have much advice about this except to say be careful. You never know what emotional state your next opponent will be in, so try to act like a decent human being, they might just need you to be one after all.
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