Little things to create a comfortable atmsophere for you and your opponent

[Julian23]

When I went to the BoM last weekend, I felt really bad about the amount of cheating that was going on at the event. Even though I had (hopefully) never been at the receiving end of this kind of behavior, the event made me question me habit of usually not calling a judge about what I usually perceive as "minor" infractions. Calling a judge in these situations sometimes creates an awkward atmosphere for the rest of the match which can sometimes even hurt the pace at which your opponent plays the game. Still, at big events where you really want to do well, you should definitely always call a judge whenever you witness something incorrect.

So when my opponent presented his deck after taking it out of his bag and only doing a single 6-card pileshuffle, I politely asked him whether this was the way he intends to present his deck. He agreed and I called a judge. The result was him receiving a warning but I that's not what I want you to tell about. When I explained the situation to the judge, I intuitively used my opponent's first name instead of just saying "my opponent presented.."

This might sound a bit weird to you until you try it out yourself. As a child I was taught to not refer to people present in a conversation with "he" or "she" but instead use their name. Doing so really helps to create a less tense and more relaxed situation during judge calls. Try it out yourself.

Maybe you might think this shouldn't be worth it's own thread but it really felt like a revelation to me.

[Arianrhod]

Makes sense actually, because it sounds less accusatory in tone. Consider:

I think Tom did not adequately shuffle his deck
vs
I think he did not adequately shuffle his deck

It doesn't seem like that big of a difference until you say it out loud, and then it hits you almost immediately. Good catch.

[dontbiteitholmes]

Yeah I had a situation at a PTQ where an opponent was playing with foil land and non-foil cards and I had to call a judge because I could tell when a land was on the top of his deck. It was pretty tense after that to say the least.

[swoop]

I usually offer them a hot beverage while we are waiting for the judge. It soothes them down.

[Dan Turner]

To really have a relaxing atmosphere I use candles and a light fragrance. It helps to set the mood for the ass wooping they are about to receive. :tongue:

[PirateKing]

You've never really played Magic until your opponent calls a judge because you won't stop playing footsie with them

[nedleeds]

I'd like a little more clarity in the shuffling and randomization area of the rules. At BoM I saw more than a few double nickels. Honestly in a no proxy vintage I'd like to handle my opponents cards as little as possible, and I certainly don't want anyone touching my beta lotus either.

[sdematt]

I'd like a little more clarity in the shuffling and randomization area of the rules. At BoM I saw more than a few double nickels. Honestly in a no proxy vintage I'd like to handle my opponents cards as little as possible, and I certainly don't want anyone touching my beta lotus either.

Define "double nickels." No idea what you're talking about.


Yeah, I don't like my opponents shuffling my cards either. Don't get me wrong, I get you want to randomize my deck, but when I do a 7-card pile shuffle and about a minute of overhand and riffle shuffling, you don't get to also riffle my cards. That's when the pimp slap is incoming.
-------------

Usually when I sit down to play, I usually ask their name, shake their hand, etc. I usually ask how long they've played Legacy, how they enjoy the tournament, where are they from, etc.


-Matt

[oarsman]

http://fivewithflores.com/2009/05/how-to-cheat/

The double nickel is explained in this article. To anyone who has heard me disparage pile shuffling during events, that article neatly sums up my objections.

I didn't read this until a couple years after it was written. After that, and after losing twice to Bertoncini and then seeing him get tossed, I started calling judges much more often. Now I call for all sorts of things with the intention of getting players warnings. It doesn't do anything to help me win, and frequently the other person gets upset. If it really was an accident the opponent has nothing to worry about. But there is no way for a judge to know if someone "accidentally" played two land in the same turn unless you call them over every time and they can establish a pattern throughout a tournament or series of events.

[Megadeus]

I dont mind people calling me by MY first name. I can see some people getting a bit awkward however. Its rough when a judge gets called over though. My first big legacy event, last years GP ATL, in my round 2 my opponent gets a deck check and apparently mis registered and got a game loss. That made him quite unhappy. Then when he had 3 Artifact lands in play and I cracked Pernicious Deed for 2 and told him the lands die as well, he disagreed and called a judge and got told he had been armageddoned. He wasn't happy at all and he was not all that happy signing the match slip.

I just think Judge calls in general, and especially the ones in your favor, probably tick people off a bit. Some people just really hate losing. It happens I suppose.

[luckme10]

This is telemarketing lesson 1. Always talk to the person you are cold calling like you've had a long standing relationship with them. Everyone is on a first name basis.

[Julian23]

Fun fact: I recently started working in marketing for a hotel in Kenya :cool:

[dontbiteitholmes]

Yeah, I don't like my opponents shuffling my cards either. Don't get me wrong, I get you want to randomize my deck, but when I do a 7-card pile shuffle and about a minute of overhand and riffle shuffling, you don't get to also riffle my cards. That's when the pimp slap is incoming.


If anyone riffle shuffles my cards, especially at a Vintage event, they are going to get asked politely once to stop and then they are getting told to stop if they do it again.

There are better ways to shuffle expensive cards that don't wear them out as much.

[Esper3k]

I usually offer them a hot beverage while we are waiting for the judge. It soothes them down.


To really have a relaxing atmosphere I use candles and a light fragrance. It helps to set the mood for the ass wooping they are about to receive. :tongue:

Make sure you warm up the lube too. Nothing is worse than cold lube.

[luckme10]

Make sure you warm up the lube too. Nothing is worse than cold lube.


3 words: Hot Stone Massage.