I have been playing magic for about 2 years now and have really enjoyed it. At first our play group consisted of dozens of players, but since then our group has shrunk. The biggest problem our group has been facing is people getting mad at the game or other players. We usually go to a local card shop to play EDH. We will play with anyone who wants to join us and we prefer to play group games over one-on-one games. It seems like every single game someone gets mad and starts throwing a fit. They will scoop or go out of their way to screw up one person. For example, A player puts out Kalia the Vast and tries to pass turn... at the end of that players turn someone lightning bolts her. The Kalia player throws a fit saying "Why am I always focused and blah blah blah". This kind of behavior seems to make less people want to play magic with us and it ruins a lot of the fun.
Is there a way to fix this issue?
I understand that some people are just more irritable than others, but it's starting to get annoying.
We've tried to make more "Casual" EDH decks, but no matter what something pisses someone off.
It's not the decks that needs to be more casual, it's the players. You can have casual games with supercombo-decks facing off and you can have cuttthroat competitive games with decks thrown together from draft-leftovers.
Are there specific people that tend to throw these fits whenever someone stops what they are doing in-game? If so you migth need to talk with tehm about easing up a bit. If it's several players I still recommend you talking it through and the reason for the people throwing fits.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Quote me for replies.
Did I write something useful? Leave a like.
Any new cool Daretti cards printed in the latest set? Tell me about it!
Rules Advisor
Try going to a different shop that attracts more mature players, perhaps? Different stores do often have different dynamics. At mine, we occasionally get someone raging over the game, but not nearly enough to be noteworthy.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Formerly Angrypossum over at the now-defunct WotC forums.
there is the inherit problem with EDH, some commaders/generals are more prayed upon because of the power of the creature, ive just learned to accept my general Zo-zu the Punisher is target every game, thus making me a target. my suggestion is incorporate otherthings into your EDH game such as Planechase, vanguard or archenemy
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Currently playing in Modern: BBB8Rack
Currently Playing in Legacy:
Foil BELCHER
"Never interrupt your opponent while he's making a mistake"
Most of the people that seem to get upset have fairly good decks themselves. Some of the people that play in our group are better than others, but we tend not to try and screw up the game or anything. Most of the time people just really want to win and get frustrated when they don't. It seems that some people take the game too seriously. The deck that I play is kind of dumb, but I try not to be too mean with it. I just recently built an Azami, Lady of Scrolls control/combo deck, but I try to be fair about my counterspells/removal. There is a mono-green player in our group that completely counters me, but neither of us get mad at one another. I could counter 5 spells of one player's in a row and he won't care, but I counter a Wrath of God someone else plays and the rage begins. My other deck is Ghave, Guru of Spores, which is a combo deck. Ghave still seems to piss people off (even after I removed my field wipes)
Maybe a key EDH strategy is not playing a commander that draws so much ire? Like you can play whatever you want but then don't complain when your high powered yet fragile commander is killed.
Seems like what you are talking about usually stems from fundamentally childish "me first" attitudes. They come from people who aren't prone to putting themselves in the other players' shoes (or you could view it as a lack of empathy) which has a couple of unfortunate side effects:
- They often don't understand why an opponent does what they do, such as killing their Kaalia or whatever. So they rage because from their perspective the opponent is being dumb/irrational/unfair/whatever, when of course most of the time the opponent probably has a fine motivation for their action (maybe every Kaalia they have faced has been followed up with crazy Angels and Geddons).
- They have trouble enjoying themselves when games aren't going their way. Everyone having fun together doesn't really work all that well for them, as they don't get much joy out of the other guy pulling off a sweet comeback, combo, win, whatever. So they whine and moan and even do the kind of stuff you describe, trying to screw up a game on the way out.
I'd also add that bigger picture, beyond the EDH scene, I think the large luck factor in Magic is a huge contributor to the complaining. Good players learn to recognize that luck plays a large role in results, accept it, and focus on the things that they can actually control. But bad, and even semi-good (i.e. plenty of PTQ grinder types), haven't really reached that level of understanding yet. So they are quick to rage out when luck inevitably turns against them.
A lot of people are just competitive in nature. It doesn't matter if it's Magic, sports, etc.
Indeed.
The problem is when this attitude is carried over to casual formats like Commander that are supposed to be about fun and not about winning. The outcries whenever a change like the new tuck rule is implemented come solely from people with a competitive mindset. I don't really know if there is a fix for that besides just looking for other players who don't have it.
The key is discussing it beforehand, while people aren't raging yet. We had one glorious week a while back when we put a box of tissues in the command zone for crying. It really helped people not take themselves so seriously, and we had some fun games.
Not sure what happened to the tissues, maybe someone burned them in secret..
What's with all the recent topics about the terrible behavior of Magic players? This isn't anything new people.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
A lot of people are just competitive in nature. It doesn't matter if it's Magic, sports, etc.
This.
Plus variance. You can be doing everything right, and get flooded with lands or not draw that 3rd forest to drop that rattleclaw. I've had the greatest hands against people and it's a slugfest then poof... 5 lands in a row. Then the same thing happens and then again and you go 1-3 that night.
People naturally need to separate if their ideals and values don't align with the group. If people instantly kill your commander, and that upsets you personally (which is already a problem) you have two choices: don't play the commander, or don't play with the group. Whining is never an option.
There are two things that make Magic in particular have more hostile responses to gameplay.
1. Variance. Variance is a fantastic tool for people to get wide misconceptions of their skill levels. You see this in the person who calls their topdecks "good deckbuilding" and other people "lucksacks". If you get mana screwed/flooded, you can tell yourself that you would have totally won the game if it wasn't for that. All of this leads to more anger when variance doesn't go your way, because then you aren't showing your best or something like that.
2. Customization. Unlike a game like chess, there is a lot of customization in how you and your opponent build your deck in MTG, so when people play decks you don't like, you may find yourself lashing out. Again, there's a level of "I can always blame my deck", which insulates people from their own shortcomings again. I mean, can you imagine if you were practicing chess online and someone saw your opening and just auto-conceded because they don't like playing against the Cambridge Gambit?
Kaalia isn't competitive? I understand stuff like Grand Arbiter and decks like that are competitive, but i'd think that Kaalia could be a decent competitive deck. What commanders do you consider competitive Izzetmage?
Being competitive doesn't mean acting like you're 4.
MtG does attract a lot of socially underdeveloped degenerates. It's just a part of being that perfect storm of dorkdom: a collectable fantasy-themed strategy game.
Kaalia isn't competitive? I understand stuff like Grand Arbiter and decks like that are competitive, but i'd think that Kaalia could be a decent competitive deck. What commanders do you consider competitive Izzetmage?
It's not a tier 1 commander, that's all I'm saying.
Pro tip: take anything I say with a pinch of salt if I use this emoticon
Salt.
Salty is a word used in the Fighting Game Community to describe someone who is upset, mainly because of their loss to someone. Though the word's primary use lies in the FGC, it is now commonly used in other gaming contexts to describe being upset.
Understand, Dredge is not really a Magic: The Gathering deck. When a card is playable in it, it doesn't mean it's a tournament playable card. It means it's playable in whatever crazy fantasy world that Dredge operates in.
Kaalia isn't competitive? I understand stuff like Grand Arbiter and decks like that are competitive, but i'd think that Kaalia could be a decent competitive deck. What commanders do you consider competitive Izzetmage?
Here are a few commanders that I'd consider to be more competitive than Kaalia
Any time people pay money to do something and then don't get the outcome they want, they will naturally get upset. Commander decks can get expensive, and if someone pays a lot of money for cards, they may expect to win more than they actually do.
Magic players get mad over losing? What else is new. I've seen a handful of people who don't get mad when they lose in the 8 or so years I've been playing this game. Some are moodier than others though.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Yawgmoth," Freyalise whispered as she set the bomb, "now you will pay for your treachery."
I think the honest answer is for that person to not play Kaalia. Seriously. I'm pretty sure it is the actual most-overplayed general in magic. Nekusar might be up there, but everyone seems so fascinated by the idea of cheating in a master of cruelties for an instant kill, or just going lolIona and pretending that there's still a game of magic to be played. People don't want to play against stupid things like that, so they'll go out of their way to beat up on that person. I don't blame them.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Is there a way to fix this issue?
I understand that some people are just more irritable than others, but it's starting to get annoying.
We've tried to make more "Casual" EDH decks, but no matter what something pisses someone off.
Are there specific people that tend to throw these fits whenever someone stops what they are doing in-game? If so you migth need to talk with tehm about easing up a bit. If it's several players I still recommend you talking it through and the reason for the people throwing fits.
Did I write something useful? Leave a like.
Any new cool Daretti cards printed in the latest set? Tell me about it!
Rules Advisor
Currently playing in Modern:
BBB8Rack
Currently Playing in Legacy:
Foil BELCHER
"Never interrupt your opponent while he's making a mistake"
Standard: BG Golgari Midrange
Modern: U Merfolk GWUBR 5 Color Humans UBW Esper Gifts GW Bogles
- They often don't understand why an opponent does what they do, such as killing their Kaalia or whatever. So they rage because from their perspective the opponent is being dumb/irrational/unfair/whatever, when of course most of the time the opponent probably has a fine motivation for their action (maybe every Kaalia they have faced has been followed up with crazy Angels and Geddons).
- They have trouble enjoying themselves when games aren't going their way. Everyone having fun together doesn't really work all that well for them, as they don't get much joy out of the other guy pulling off a sweet comeback, combo, win, whatever. So they whine and moan and even do the kind of stuff you describe, trying to screw up a game on the way out.
I'd also add that bigger picture, beyond the EDH scene, I think the large luck factor in Magic is a huge contributor to the complaining. Good players learn to recognize that luck plays a large role in results, accept it, and focus on the things that they can actually control. But bad, and even semi-good (i.e. plenty of PTQ grinder types), haven't really reached that level of understanding yet. So they are quick to rage out when luck inevitably turns against them.
Indeed.
The problem is when this attitude is carried over to casual formats like Commander that are supposed to be about fun and not about winning. The outcries whenever a change like the new tuck rule is implemented come solely from people with a competitive mindset. I don't really know if there is a fix for that besides just looking for other players who don't have it.
Not sure what happened to the tissues, maybe someone burned them in secret..
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
This.
Plus variance. You can be doing everything right, and get flooded with lands or not draw that 3rd forest to drop that rattleclaw. I've had the greatest hands against people and it's a slugfest then poof... 5 lands in a row. Then the same thing happens and then again and you go 1-3 that night.
—Karn, silver golem
1. Variance. Variance is a fantastic tool for people to get wide misconceptions of their skill levels. You see this in the person who calls their topdecks "good deckbuilding" and other people "lucksacks". If you get mana screwed/flooded, you can tell yourself that you would have totally won the game if it wasn't for that. All of this leads to more anger when variance doesn't go your way, because then you aren't showing your best or something like that.
2. Customization. Unlike a game like chess, there is a lot of customization in how you and your opponent build your deck in MTG, so when people play decks you don't like, you may find yourself lashing out. Again, there's a level of "I can always blame my deck", which insulates people from their own shortcomings again. I mean, can you imagine if you were practicing chess online and someone saw your opening and just auto-conceded because they don't like playing against the Cambridge Gambit?
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
MtG does attract a lot of socially underdeveloped degenerates. It's just a part of being that perfect storm of dorkdom: a collectable fantasy-themed strategy game.
Pro tip: take anything I say with a pinch of salt if I use this emoticon
| Ad Nauseam
| Infect
Big Johnny.
Salt.
Salty is a word used in the Fighting Game Community to describe someone who is upset, mainly because of their loss to someone. Though the word's primary use lies in the FGC, it is now commonly used in other gaming contexts to describe being upset.
Modern:
Something new every week
Legacy:
Something new everyweek
Here are a few commanders that I'd consider to be more competitive than Kaalia
Sharuum the Hegemon, Azusa, Lost but Seeking, Riku of Two Reflections, Narset, Enlightened Master, child of alara
Currently Playing:
Retired