I recently finished a cube for my college's club and have organized a few drafts with it. While the cube sparked a lot of interest it has created some problems for me to deal with. First is that while most people adhere to my rule of no food/drink, just yesterday one person from the club gave me a really hard time about it. He was rolling his eyes and looking at my friends like I was insane who merely shrugged. Another problem is that some people have acted like the cube is their own or not mine and get pretty pissed off if I don't want to lend the cube out while I am not present, for example. I own all of the cards in my cube and simply don't want to risk people losing/damaging cards from it. All these problems basically boil down to people not respecting my cube and my rules which has bothered me. How do I enforce my cube's rules without coming on too harsh as I doubt these same people will take responsibility for lost/damaged cards?
Since it's a case where every card in the cube is owned by you, I'd tell them, "Tough. Deal with it." Not necessarily in so many words, but make sure the message comes across. Your cards, your rules. Ask them if they'd be comfortable loaning their constructed decks to an opponent who's eating or drinking. Or worse, leaving their decks sitting around in the club so other people -- potentially complete strangers -- could play with them. Because essentially that's what they're asking you to do. Most people will be fine with this, and understand they only get to play with these cards out of your goodwill. There may be a few who don't like it, like the guy in your first example, but so long as the worst they do is groan and complain and otherwise act childish, don't worry about it.
It's interesting because I have had similar situations. I am currently a junior in university who is lucky enough to be able to go to school without paying for my tuition. (Scholarship). I also work part time which allows me to have spare money for magic. Just painting the picture. Anyways. I have and am still building a powered cube. We play with real power and am in the process of buying alpha/beta dual lands. I willingly made this decision and understand the repercussions of bringing 10k+ in public.
I built the cube to be able to play. The number one goal of cube in my opinion is to have fun. There is no point in building a cube if you cannot have fun with. Unfortunately this hasn't always been the case. My play group includes a large amount of casual players, one other serious player and myself. So you can imagine what happens. When I first built my cube, I assumed most people would understand the importance of being respectful. I have never intentionally done anything to someone’s property out of spite but…. I have had to ask players many times to stop shuffling their hands. Not just moving them back and forth but jamming the cards together spastically, bending and creasing foil cards. It came to the point where I could see him across the room and would have to get up and stop the game to say if you do it again you’re done! Of course this is one of my close friends but you have to protect your property. After that, we drafted again several days later and I unfortunately had to remove him from a draft and ban him from playing for a week. This is my friend! I couldn't even imagine some stranger. I’m not drafting to babysit or monitor everyone, I’m drafting to have fun! It’s ridiculous. I also remember a time where people would take cards out of the sleeve and double sleeve to look at them! WHY WOULD YOU EVER DO THAT?! It’s just very disappointing and has ultimately brought me to not be able to bring my cube to my local shop anymore and only draft with a select few. There are just respectful values that I assume people have. For example, don’t extensively riffle shuffle other people’s cards. Don’t un-sleeve cards, etc.
So I see where you are coming from talking about this kid. Just take a stance and say no. If he or anyone else has a problem with it, let them build their own cube. As for borrowing, I personally would say no but once again it’s up to you. That is too much of a risk for me. Maybe offer the alternative of creating a proxy cube for the club? The easiest and most manageable way for people to play.
Thanks for the input so far. @MerfolkMagic: that's basically the issue that I'm having. It's not so much that people do this out of spite, but it's that they are careless about my property especially since I sunk several hundred dollars into creating my unpowered cube. Most of the people that play in club are casual EDH players with not a lot of money, and have never played with expensive cards before.
One of my friends occasionally riffle shuffles his picks when he thinks I'm not looking even though I explicitly told him not to. He even asked me "Sorry but what are you going to do, not let me cube?" in a half sarcastic, half challenging tone. I want to protect my property but at the same time I wonder what would happen if I put my foot down and I come off as too harsh. From what I've noticed, people take drafting my cube as a right instead of my goodwill and get upset when their views differ from mine. They don't treat it as someone else's property but their own or the club's cube. Anyways I really appreciate your story Merfolk.
I think the best thing I can do is lay down and sticky my cube's rules for all to see so there won't be any future complications. If anyone refuses to follow the rules I set beforehand, I will simply ask them to leave.
Total side note but I like how people are discussing running this over itself.
Well, it has to be said that Kolaghan is clearly better than Kolaghan. Considering what BR decks usually want and how stiff the competition in this guild is, there is no way that I would run Kolaghan over Kolaghan! Kolaghan might make it in as the sixth guild card or so. Kolaghan on the other hand ranks several places below that.
It was so funny to me when they described this as a downgrade to the original Zurgo during the Pax East panel. I was thinking if this is a downgrade, they should really "downgrade" all legendary creatures. Haha.
My deck designing is quite concise at this point:
1. Come up with deck idea
2. Realize this idea is somehow fundamentally similar to another deck I have or that is commonly played in my group
3. Decide I don't want to disassemble one of my existing decks
4. Give up and do nothing
I don't see the point of this new shroud mechanic. It's strictly worse than Hexproof. Threshold is pretty bad too, Delirium is a much better mechanic and probably easier to activate.
Otherwise this card is a pretty neat guy. Dodges removal and grows into a Primal Huntbeast. 3/5
He even asked me "Sorry but what are you going to do, not let me cube?" in a half sarcastic, half challenging tone.
I don't even care what they were doing, if someone said that to me my immediate response would just be "yes, bye"
I wish it were that easy, but saying that to my current roommate wouldn't fly well with him.
Well, what he said to you doesn't fly well with you. And also, that is a really disrespectful thing to say to you and nothing "mates" say to eachother.
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
I would just talk to him on a personal level and say. Hey man, I put a lot of money and time into this so please just treat my cards with respect. If it continues mail it home to the folks and say we can play again after winter break.
Sounds like a entitled petulant brat. It would be like driving someones car and getting it scratched up and then saying "what are you gonna do, not let me drive it?" The answer would be Yes.
But I have to ask about the no drinks/food rule, do you mean literally nothing? Even Water? While we somehow just never eat while playing (we make extensive breaks when ordering food) drinking just belongs to the cube experience for us, especially alcoholic drinks. Yes sometimes (rarely) something gets spilled but honestly when the cards are doublesleeved it's never a problem. I once accidentally poured a cup of fire tongs punch over a few cards and while I had to chance the sleeves for stickiness, the cards didnk't take the slightest damage.
My cube is only single sleeved at the moment due to lack of funds. I think it's best to not allow any food or drink till I get some perfect fits. The person that I previously mentioned argued that the food he was ordering wouldn't be a mess and it would be in a box. When I wouldn't budge he got annoyed and just told him to meet us when he was done. I think if I allow light snacks and water it will eventually become any food or drinks is allowed. People will push it gradually like: is snacks ok? Ok snacks are fine, what about a salad? Ok salad was fine, how about pizza? How about greasy fries?
As for my roommate, the only way I can enforce my rules on no riffle shuffling is to clamp down when he tries to do it. Otherwise everyone else will think the rules aren't really rules but suggestions. I think he was trying to get a laugh when he did it after I said not to, but he tried it a few more times in front of me like he was testing how I would respond. This is college by the way and I find it hard that people are still not mature enough to treat other peoples property with respect.
I mean, no food or drinks on the same table. If they want them on the floor, fine. Don't eat over the cards. Don't drink over the cards. Wipe your hands before handing cards. Be careful.
These are all human and completely reasonable things, and people who can't follow them when they are using your property that you are providing for their enjoyment are selfish animals. These are all things that my all my Cubing friends understand inherently (universally, from state to state), and it sounds like you are just dealing with immature children who haven't learned how to behave like an adult yet. This sort of entitlement is rampant among people high school-undergraduate age, along with being unable to help themselves (besides having all the information in the world at their fingertips).
Bottom line is, your stuff your rules. Be reasonable, but also make them understand that someone screwing up ruins it for everybody. Use what I like to call in teaching, 'positive peer pressure'; get it so that you aren't the only one enforcing the rules.
What the hell! Do you play with children? Even if they're casual players they should still understand and respect your property and rules. You better believe when people play with my powered cube they respect my rules no matter how heinous they may be which they aren't - I have only a few simple rules to protect the integrity of my cards and sleeves. If you're toting around a couple thousand dollars then it isn't worth it to host your cube with those people, man. Find a card shop nearby or just hold on to the thing until you find a solid group of people who can respect your property.
Credit to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the Avatar & Miraculous Recovery for the Banner.
My 540 Card Cube (WIP)
BRG Kresh Crush You - UB Wrexial Wrecks Y'all - WUBRG Taste the Rainbow Allies - URW Zedruu Claus - RGW - Wrath of Rith - WU Annoying Dar
GU Mighty Morphin Bluezuri - RWB Alesha, the Revolving Door - R Norin the W- - UR Arjun's Scrambled Eggs - WUB Zur the Cyclist - GW Cara Mia Karametra
UBR Kess's Eccentric Spell Slingers - B Endrek's Thrilling Thrulls - BGU Tasigur, Fly for a Sultai - GWU Tuvaasankin Veri Vapisee - U Can't Thop the Saignal
RW Feather's Heroes of the Storm - G Map of Titania - W Quipping Sram - BR
CharlieGreven Work - BG Old School Vhati - GUR Riku's Little FriendsWBG Abzan All-Stars - WB Kambal's Lifegain Soup - RG Ruric, Ogre Surgeon - B All Them Little Bones - RWB Megan, the Gold-Blooded - G Does This Look Infected?
UR Hellbent Storm - GWU George - RG You Can Be a Big Pig Too - RW Decent Decisions - UBR I Contain Myriads - W My Friend Flicka
WU Eagles on Pogo Sticks - UB Yes Thieves Can - WUB Election Fraud - RGW King of Pain - GU Feel the Earth Move
Retired: WUB Zur the Douchebag - GU Crazy Kraj - U Braids the Borrower - W Wham Bam Enchanting Sram - U Unesh's Flying Circus - WUBRG Oops All Lands
I built the cube to be able to play. The number one goal of cube in my opinion is to have fun. There is no point in building a cube if you cannot have fun with. Unfortunately this hasn't always been the case. My play group includes a large amount of casual players, one other serious player and myself. So you can imagine what happens. When I first built my cube, I assumed most people would understand the importance of being respectful. I have never intentionally done anything to someone’s property out of spite but…. I have had to ask players many times to stop shuffling their hands. Not just moving them back and forth but jamming the cards together spastically, bending and creasing foil cards. It came to the point where I could see him across the room and would have to get up and stop the game to say if you do it again you’re done! Of course this is one of my close friends but you have to protect your property. After that, we drafted again several days later and I unfortunately had to remove him from a draft and ban him from playing for a week. This is my friend! I couldn't even imagine some stranger. I’m not drafting to babysit or monitor everyone, I’m drafting to have fun! It’s ridiculous. I also remember a time where people would take cards out of the sleeve and double sleeve to look at them! WHY WOULD YOU EVER DO THAT?! It’s just very disappointing and has ultimately brought me to not be able to bring my cube to my local shop anymore and only draft with a select few. There are just respectful values that I assume people have. For example, don’t extensively riffle shuffle other people’s cards. Don’t un-sleeve cards, etc.
So I see where you are coming from talking about this kid. Just take a stance and say no. If he or anyone else has a problem with it, let them build their own cube. As for borrowing, I personally would say no but once again it’s up to you. That is too much of a risk for me. Maybe offer the alternative of creating a proxy cube for the club? The easiest and most manageable way for people to play.
Twitter
Youtube Channel
Cube Podcast
Draft my Cube!
One of my friends occasionally riffle shuffles his picks when he thinks I'm not looking even though I explicitly told him not to. He even asked me "Sorry but what are you going to do, not let me cube?" in a half sarcastic, half challenging tone. I want to protect my property but at the same time I wonder what would happen if I put my foot down and I come off as too harsh. From what I've noticed, people take drafting my cube as a right instead of my goodwill and get upset when their views differ from mine. They don't treat it as someone else's property but their own or the club's cube. Anyways I really appreciate your story Merfolk.
I think the best thing I can do is lay down and sticky my cube's rules for all to see so there won't be any future complications. If anyone refuses to follow the rules I set beforehand, I will simply ask them to leave.
Credit to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the Avatar & Miraculous Recovery for the Banner.
My 540 Card Cube (WIP)
I don't even care what they were doing, if someone said that to me my immediate response would just be "yes, bye"
I wish it were that easy, but saying that to my current roommate wouldn't fly well with him.
Credit to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the Avatar & Miraculous Recovery for the Banner.
My 540 Card Cube (WIP)
Well, what he said to you doesn't fly well with you. And also, that is a really disrespectful thing to say to you and nothing "mates" say to eachother.
Did I write something useful? Leave a like.
Any new cool Daretti cards printed in the latest set? Tell me about it!
Rules Advisor
Yeesh, looks like you need a new playgroup :/. I totes come cube with you, I think we have pretty similar cube rules.
Twitter
Youtube Channel
Cube Podcast
Draft my Cube!
It sounds like you need a new roommate. Living with someone who is so blatantly disrespectful of you and your belongings is a recipe for disaster.
450 card Peasant cube thread. Draft it here.
My cube is only single sleeved at the moment due to lack of funds. I think it's best to not allow any food or drink till I get some perfect fits. The person that I previously mentioned argued that the food he was ordering wouldn't be a mess and it would be in a box. When I wouldn't budge he got annoyed and just told him to meet us when he was done. I think if I allow light snacks and water it will eventually become any food or drinks is allowed. People will push it gradually like: is snacks ok? Ok snacks are fine, what about a salad? Ok salad was fine, how about pizza? How about greasy fries?
As for my roommate, the only way I can enforce my rules on no riffle shuffling is to clamp down when he tries to do it. Otherwise everyone else will think the rules aren't really rules but suggestions. I think he was trying to get a laugh when he did it after I said not to, but he tried it a few more times in front of me like he was testing how I would respond. This is college by the way and I find it hard that people are still not mature enough to treat other peoples property with respect.
Credit to Heroes of the Plane Studios for the Avatar & Miraculous Recovery for the Banner.
My 540 Card Cube (WIP)
These are all human and completely reasonable things, and people who can't follow them when they are using your property that you are providing for their enjoyment are selfish animals. These are all things that my all my Cubing friends understand inherently (universally, from state to state), and it sounds like you are just dealing with immature children who haven't learned how to behave like an adult yet. This sort of entitlement is rampant among people high school-undergraduate age, along with being unable to help themselves (besides having all the information in the world at their fingertips).
Bottom line is, your stuff your rules. Be reasonable, but also make them understand that someone screwing up ruins it for everybody. Use what I like to call in teaching, 'positive peer pressure'; get it so that you aren't the only one enforcing the rules.
-AA
I use descriptive language. Assume that I'm being nice and respectful. (I'll tell you when I'm not.)
My Cube: http://cubetutor.com/viewcube/9029
My 540 Powered CubeTutor Page