I was wondering if simulating a combat is allowed.
Imagine there’s a complicated board state with several creatures in play, and I’m considering making an attack, so I ask my opponent if I may simulate a combat and attack with different creatures and test blocking combinations to more clearly see if it’s worth it to attack or not, and if it’s not, I get to revert the attack.
If he agrees to this, am I allowed? What if he doesn’t agree with it, can I do it anyway? Or at least just tap my own creatures in a simulated attack?
You could sort of do that while you declare attackers. The attacker declaration isn't finished until you settle on a set of attackers, so you could go through various combinations and scenarios. Your opponent can refuse to help you, though you doing this may very well help him. But you cannot actually go forward in the game until you choose a set of attackers and stick with it. Keep in mind, that with such a "simulation", you are making all the decisions, but what your opponent will do in the end after you choose your attack is up to him.
Also, you must be careful about not messing up the game state, which lands and creatures are tapped/untapped, have summoning sickness, etc., especially with a more complicated board. Taking too long for this may also be judged as slow play.
Choosing which creatures your opponent will declare as blockers, and how they will block, is also a shortcut you can do (under C.R. 719.2a, you propose decisions for all players when you propose a shortcut, though only when you have priority). Your opponent can respond to this, though, by casting a spell in between or declaring a different configuration of blockers, for example (C.R. 719.2b-c).
You should always ask your opponent before touching his cards, it's just the polite thing to do. So long as you're not handling the cards in ways that could damage them, simply pairing off your creatures with his as a blocking possibility is no issue. Usually, his creatures would sit in a line on the table anyway, and you could just place your creatures in front of them.
The important thing is to keep the game state clear and to keep your simulation brief.
I was wondering if simulating a combat is allowed.
Imagine there’s a complicated board state with several creatures in play, and I’m considering making an attack, so I ask my opponent if I may simulate a combat and attack with different creatures and test blocking combinations to more clearly see if it’s worth it to attack or not, and if it’s not, I get to revert the attack.
If he agrees to this, am I allowed? What if he doesn’t agree with it, can I do it anyway? Or at least just tap my own creatures in a simulated attack?
Also, you must be careful about not messing up the game state, which lands and creatures are tapped/untapped, have summoning sickness, etc., especially with a more complicated board. Taking too long for this may also be judged as slow play.
Former Rules Advisor
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge
(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)
The important thing is to keep the game state clear and to keep your simulation brief.
Former Rules Advisor
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge
(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)