If they're really angry, then not replying seems to enrage them further. My guy, for example, tracked me down after the match because I didn't respond to him during the game.
I thought it was rather humorous, all things considered.
The thing about answering back to rude comments is that sometimes they just log off and make you wait 10 mins to win via timeout. Those are usually the people I report because it was a waste of my time.
That's why I usually don't respond because it's actually pretty annoying to them when you don't respond because their attempts off pissing you off didn't work.
Thank you for bringing this subject to light...the subject being bad manners, etc...
Nothing makes me lose interest in something faster than dealing with rude, juvenile behavior.
Years ago, a fairly well known writer on SCG wrote an article on a similar subject in regards to player conduct at paper magic tourneys, and although it may have been just wishful thinking on my part, I really thought I observed an improvement in the weeks and months immediately after that article, especially at the bigger regional events.
So I hope that your attempt at calling attention to this issue will help, it is the first I have seen. You are a good writer, I hope your attempt gets the respect (and results) it deserves...
Man, that is a loaded question if I ever heard one, haha. I'm going to try and cover as many angles as I can without going on for pages:
I'd say I'm pretty spiky in terms of playing to win, but I do enjoy a good, hard fought game. Though I definitely have a bit of a Johnny streak in me when it comes to constructed decks, with a lesser bit of Timmy in me, more for limited with that though.
As far as how good or lack thereof I am as a player - we'll that's hard to answer. In all honesty I'd call myself a good player who understands that he'll never be great due to lack of time(got to love law school...).
So I have no idea if that answers your question or not :P
I won't rip into your values of majority of these cards as I have alot of different views on these specific cards as well as most of your series. What kind of player would you describe yourself as?
thanks for the series. There's always room for debate (part of why we like this game), but this series at least let's us get compare our opinions with an outside source. Looking forward to Alara Reborn's series
that talking trash for the most part is fun. I run my mouth a lot in events in paper magic scene here in Kentucky, and most everyone expects me to do so if I am playing a friend or a team mate.
However, what is not cool, and I may be lame for reporting this, and I'm fine with that, is whenever anyone attacks me. For instance, I had a player in a recent Daily Event tell me I should stop raping my child. Before that he was bemoaning his fate about losing, which was okay, I'm going to let someone vent for as long as possible.
If it crosses my comfort zone, I'm going to report you, only because there is no technology advanced enough to deliver a haymaker to the jaw over the internet yet.
As crazy as it sounds to some players, I'm okay with losing the ones that make the play experience less fun and/or chase away other players.
I will add though that I have no problem with people commenting on my 'luck', as I am indeed quite lucky. (it used to even be in my sig... I'll probably have to put that back now...)
I have no problem with people making a remark or two if they lose to a bad hand, bad situation, whatever
In fact, in my last DE I had this happen. I didn't really care about it and I certainly didn't report that player. A little grousing isn't the problem.
Where I (again, just me personally) draw the line is swearing, flaming, attacking and ranting at another player. That's not helping MTGO, and it's not something I want to have new players experience. Which is why I mentioned that if the scare away even one player they may as well not be playing at all since they just nullified their own contributions. If they scare away 2+ then they're a detriment to the game as a whole. I'll happily help weed those players out if they're so foolish as to break the rules that everyone else must abide by.
In my opinion it's kind of weak to report anyone. You talk about chasing off players... what this guy is doing is basically talking trash over the internet to someone he doesn't even know. This is so commonplace that nobody gets offended anymore. I can't see any good players being chased off by this. Reporting him and getting him suspended definitely will cost the format one player for some amount of time.
If someone starts talking trash the best thing to do is fire right back. I would have said "hey jerk, that's why I just pwned ur ugly nub face" or something similar, and then insulted his mom. It's all good fun. I only talk major trash in response to trash talking, I never lead with it. Even when I'm really mad I just say "wow nice Topdeck" or "gg I guess, I drew nothing", which is kind of snarky but not vicious and not nearly enough to get banned / suspended.
BTW thanks for the good articles, the best MTGO specific stuff is on this site.
In my next article, which is almost done, I comment on the rest of my experiences which have been largely pleasant. I think it was just bad luck to run into such a poor sport on my first time playing in the constructed queues.
I've only really run into one poor sport since then, and even he was nowhere near as belligerent as the player in this article.
Most are silent with very few saying anything at all. Usually just the simple 'Hello and good luck'.
I play in the constructed "8 man" room almost constantly and really never get that many jerks, they're not the norm. I can only remember one off the top of my head "Internet Random" who goes completely berserk every time he loses in Pauper which is every match I've played against him at least.
I personally don't bother reporting because I think it's hilarious, but good article - can't wait for more.
if this were paper id slap half those dudes anyway. I DOUBT THOSE GUYS ARE THAT GOOD RATING ASIDE IM NOT OVER 1600 BUT I CONDUCT MYSELF W/ CLASS. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO PLAY WITH SOME REALLY GOOD AND GENTLEMEN LIKE PLAYERS MOST OF WHICH WRITE FOR THIS SITE. i wish there was something more than reporting them that could be done but lets face it they take advantage of the fact that most ppl dont report and laugh it off and yes it does hurt new players from entering.i have seen ppl enter with a very low rating and a non t1 deck and seen ppl post comments on the main event chat like nice rating loser,sux to be u, etc
I liked it ham, it makes me want to start competitive constructed. But I don't know if I have the time to get into it.. maybe after Gen-Con (gotta playtest Legacy)
Hehe, I agree with Elder Mastery - I really hate creature enchantments, and you certainly have to be very careful when trying to resolve it least something really bad happen. Though if your careful, and you need to do something big to help win games, then the aura might just do it. As was said above though, It'll come around late often too - so take it if you really need some power - otherwise hope that it might wheel around.
My only point of criticism is Elder Mastery. I've done probably 25-30 AAC drafts on MTGO and it's fairly common for that card to go 8th-12th. It seems very bomby at glance, but it just has all sorts of things going against it. If they have instant removal or bounce for it, you're down an entire turn worth of mana, a card from your hand and a creature off of the board. I've managed to connect with it once or twice (meaning, successfully casting it onto my critter, and swinging for damage) and it's indeed game-changing... if they still have cards in hand on turn 6.
This is a great article! I am in your same shoes in starting new with constructed. I'm getting my experience in the 2-mans before tackling the tourneys. Fun stuff! And I agree with your take on dealing with lame players. I find it laughable that they resort to name-calling. Reporting them is the way to go. Good luck in your continuing battles (unless you face me, of course... ;-)).
Until I realized what he was doing to the format I enjoy. Which is to say that if he chases off even one other player, he's a net zero for the format. If he chases off two players, he's actively HURTING the format.
I have no qualms attempting to remove these players from the system. If they're hurting MTGO, and I believe they are, they need to be removed. If not by his own accord then by the Conduct Department.
If that makes you (or anyone else) think of me as a baby I have one word for ya:
I certainly did report him, as that type of behavior is completely unacceptable. It was that experience that made me go into that entire tangent about how to report inappropriate behavior.
It's possible that he's a nice guy in real life. It's possible that he's just having a bad day. There's lots of excuses for going off on another player. But that's all they are, excuses. There's no reason to attack or insult another player like that.
Be angry.
Be upset.
Be mad.
But be quiet.
Complain to your friends, complain to your clanmates, but don't take it out on the other player. Because it's highly likely you'll get reported. Enough reports and you'll lose your cards, at least for a while.
Getting this one out took me a lot longer than I wanted it too - and I just wanted to apologize for that again. I had the first article on black done about two weeks before the set was released online...but due to a problem with the card pics it didn't get published until the set was already out... Then life just got in the way and kept me from getting these all out within a few weeks of the sets release. So, I hope that if nothing else, this one helps people think of drafting the set a little bit more. For ALR though, I hope to get the set done within a few weeks - I should have less going on at that point that will get in the way too.
Anyways - keep the comments/debates on the cards coming and stay tuned later in the week for my last smaller article in this seris - Colorless.
Did you offer him a shovel to assist in the hole he was digging himself for your report to CS?
If they're really angry, then not replying seems to enrage them further. My guy, for example, tracked me down after the match because I didn't respond to him during the game.
I thought it was rather humorous, all things considered.
The thing about answering back to rude comments is that sometimes they just log off and make you wait 10 mins to win via timeout. Those are usually the people I report because it was a waste of my time.
That's why I usually don't respond because it's actually pretty annoying to them when you don't respond because their attempts off pissing you off didn't work.
Thank you for bringing this subject to light...the subject being bad manners, etc...
Nothing makes me lose interest in something faster than dealing with rude, juvenile behavior.
Years ago, a fairly well known writer on SCG wrote an article on a similar subject in regards to player conduct at paper magic tourneys, and although it may have been just wishful thinking on my part, I really thought I observed an improvement in the weeks and months immediately after that article, especially at the bigger regional events.
So I hope that your attempt at calling attention to this issue will help, it is the first I have seen. You are a good writer, I hope your attempt gets the respect (and results) it deserves...
Thanks for the article!!!
Absolutely right. We need more players. We don't need jackasses like him at all. Report away.
Man, that is a loaded question if I ever heard one, haha. I'm going to try and cover as many angles as I can without going on for pages:
I'd say I'm pretty spiky in terms of playing to win, but I do enjoy a good, hard fought game. Though I definitely have a bit of a Johnny streak in me when it comes to constructed decks, with a lesser bit of Timmy in me, more for limited with that though.
As far as how good or lack thereof I am as a player - we'll that's hard to answer. In all honesty I'd call myself a good player who understands that he'll never be great due to lack of time(got to love law school...).
So I have no idea if that answers your question or not :P
I won't rip into your values of majority of these cards as I have alot of different views on these specific cards as well as most of your series. What kind of player would you describe yourself as?
Thanks
thanks for the series. There's always room for debate (part of why we like this game), but this series at least let's us get compare our opinions with an outside source. Looking forward to Alara Reborn's series
that talking trash for the most part is fun. I run my mouth a lot in events in paper magic scene here in Kentucky, and most everyone expects me to do so if I am playing a friend or a team mate.
However, what is not cool, and I may be lame for reporting this, and I'm fine with that, is whenever anyone attacks me. For instance, I had a player in a recent Daily Event tell me I should stop raping my child. Before that he was bemoaning his fate about losing, which was okay, I'm going to let someone vent for as long as possible.
If it crosses my comfort zone, I'm going to report you, only because there is no technology advanced enough to deliver a haymaker to the jaw over the internet yet.
As crazy as it sounds to some players, I'm okay with losing the ones that make the play experience less fun and/or chase away other players.
I will add though that I have no problem with people commenting on my 'luck', as I am indeed quite lucky. (it used to even be in my sig... I'll probably have to put that back now...)
I have no problem with people making a remark or two if they lose to a bad hand, bad situation, whatever
In fact, in my last DE I had this happen. I didn't really care about it and I certainly didn't report that player. A little grousing isn't the problem.
Where I (again, just me personally) draw the line is swearing, flaming, attacking and ranting at another player. That's not helping MTGO, and it's not something I want to have new players experience. Which is why I mentioned that if the scare away even one player they may as well not be playing at all since they just nullified their own contributions. If they scare away 2+ then they're a detriment to the game as a whole. I'll happily help weed those players out if they're so foolish as to break the rules that everyone else must abide by.
But I do appreciate your comments!
In my opinion it's kind of weak to report anyone. You talk about chasing off players... what this guy is doing is basically talking trash over the internet to someone he doesn't even know. This is so commonplace that nobody gets offended anymore. I can't see any good players being chased off by this. Reporting him and getting him suspended definitely will cost the format one player for some amount of time.
If someone starts talking trash the best thing to do is fire right back. I would have said "hey jerk, that's why I just pwned ur ugly nub face" or something similar, and then insulted his mom. It's all good fun. I only talk major trash in response to trash talking, I never lead with it. Even when I'm really mad I just say "wow nice Topdeck" or "gg I guess, I drew nothing", which is kind of snarky but not vicious and not nearly enough to get banned / suspended.
BTW thanks for the good articles, the best MTGO specific stuff is on this site.
In my next article, which is almost done, I comment on the rest of my experiences which have been largely pleasant. I think it was just bad luck to run into such a poor sport on my first time playing in the constructed queues.
I've only really run into one poor sport since then, and even he was nowhere near as belligerent as the player in this article.
Most are silent with very few saying anything at all. Usually just the simple 'Hello and good luck'.
I play in the constructed "8 man" room almost constantly and really never get that many jerks, they're not the norm. I can only remember one off the top of my head "Internet Random" who goes completely berserk every time he loses in Pauper which is every match I've played against him at least.
I personally don't bother reporting because I think it's hilarious, but good article - can't wait for more.
if this were paper id slap half those dudes anyway. I DOUBT THOSE GUYS ARE THAT GOOD RATING ASIDE IM NOT OVER 1600 BUT I CONDUCT MYSELF W/ CLASS. I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO PLAY WITH SOME REALLY GOOD AND GENTLEMEN LIKE PLAYERS MOST OF WHICH WRITE FOR THIS SITE. i wish there was something more than reporting them that could be done but lets face it they take advantage of the fact that most ppl dont report and laugh it off and yes it does hurt new players from entering.i have seen ppl enter with a very low rating and a non t1 deck and seen ppl post comments on the main event chat like nice rating loser,sux to be u, etc
I liked it ham, it makes me want to start competitive constructed. But I don't know if I have the time to get into it.. maybe after Gen-Con (gotta playtest Legacy)
Hehe, I agree with Elder Mastery - I really hate creature enchantments, and you certainly have to be very careful when trying to resolve it least something really bad happen. Though if your careful, and you need to do something big to help win games, then the aura might just do it. As was said above though, It'll come around late often too - so take it if you really need some power - otherwise hope that it might wheel around.
My only point of criticism is Elder Mastery. I've done probably 25-30 AAC drafts on MTGO and it's fairly common for that card to go 8th-12th. It seems very bomby at glance, but it just has all sorts of things going against it. If they have instant removal or bounce for it, you're down an entire turn worth of mana, a card from your hand and a creature off of the board. I've managed to connect with it once or twice (meaning, successfully casting it onto my critter, and swinging for damage) and it's indeed game-changing... if they still have cards in hand on turn 6.
Otherwise, nice job. I enjoy articles like this.
This is a great article! I am in your same shoes in starting new with constructed. I'm getting my experience in the 2-mans before tackling the tourneys. Fun stuff! And I agree with your take on dealing with lame players. I find it laughable that they resort to name-calling. Reporting them is the way to go. Good luck in your continuing battles (unless you face me, of course... ;-)).
I did indeed laugh. At first.
Until I realized what he was doing to the format I enjoy. Which is to say that if he chases off even one other player, he's a net zero for the format. If he chases off two players, he's actively HURTING the format.
I have no qualms attempting to remove these players from the system. If they're hurting MTGO, and I believe they are, they need to be removed. If not by his own accord then by the Conduct Department.
If that makes you (or anyone else) think of me as a baby I have one word for ya:
gaaagaaggooogooo.
no point in reporting someone... if i were you, his comments would have just made me laugh. reporting is babyish
I certainly did report him, as that type of behavior is completely unacceptable. It was that experience that made me go into that entire tangent about how to report inappropriate behavior.
It's possible that he's a nice guy in real life. It's possible that he's just having a bad day. There's lots of excuses for going off on another player. But that's all they are, excuses. There's no reason to attack or insult another player like that.
Be angry.
Be upset.
Be mad.
But be quiet.
Complain to your friends, complain to your clanmates, but don't take it out on the other player. Because it's highly likely you'll get reported. Enough reports and you'll lose your cards, at least for a while.
So many good cards in Stronghold. Some of my favorites for the wacky decks they inspire:
Horn of Greed
Intruder Alarm(8th ed ugly)
Bottomless Pit
Contstant Mists
And the Kor creatures will be so much fun to go with Stuffy Doll.
Getting this one out took me a lot longer than I wanted it too - and I just wanted to apologize for that again. I had the first article on black done about two weeks before the set was released online...but due to a problem with the card pics it didn't get published until the set was already out... Then life just got in the way and kept me from getting these all out within a few weeks of the sets release. So, I hope that if nothing else, this one helps people think of drafting the set a little bit more. For ALR though, I hope to get the set done within a few weeks - I should have less going on at that point that will get in the way too.
Anyways - keep the comments/debates on the cards coming and stay tuned later in the week for my last smaller article in this seris - Colorless.
Cheers
Nice article and I hope you reported that jerk.