[Community Discussion]: Is "RTFC" ever not rude?
General forum
Posted on Sept. 16, 2014, 7:46 p.m. by Epochalyptik
It's been a long time since the last Community Discussion.
Magic's Comprehensive Rulebook is pretty daunting, especially if you're a new player. Many players haven't even opened it. But for the purpose of this question, we aren't concerned with the Dark Depths of the CR. We're going to be talking about things like asking if you can respond to a removal spell with Birthing Pod 's ability, or if you can bounce your own permanent with Cyclonic Rift .
Generally, it's best to be helpful when answering questions like this (i.e. those that are addressed by the written text of the card), but is there a point at which the RTFC response is admissible? That is, is there a point at which you would stop trying to explain something and just tell the other player to read the card?
Magic is a game of learning. You learn rules. You learn "proper" plays. You learn matchups. Most people would probably agree that the learning process is easier and more fun when other players are helping you through it. But how much patience do you have with this process?
Feel free to share stories, anecdotes, or philosophies! You're welcome to expand the topic to include other teaching experiences if you find you'd like to comment on some more general ideas.
ChiefWannaHacka says... #3
I tend to be patient and explain with new players, whether new altogether or new to a format. Everyone deserves a chance to become familiar with everything.
Where I lose patience and generally get irritated is when my opponent casts something that doesn't do what they want, in competitive play, and begins forcing it on me or immediately getting defensive/arguing when I ask how or point out politely they can't. If they start jumping down my throat I usually resort to "RTFC". They should know what their cards do at a certain level of play.
It's only happened a handful of times, one distinct memory is when I cast a Fused Turn targeting my opponents Stormbreath Dragon . He tried to cast Boros Charm in response to the "Burn " half of my spell. I tried explaining how Fuse worked, and he started getting loud and cursing. I finally gave up and just said read the card, while I called the judge over to explain. Granted it was my spell, he got way too belligerent at a IQ.
September 16, 2014 8:02 p.m.
Honestly, I have been playing Magic for longer than some players have been alive, off and on, and I will admit I do not know everything there is to know. If you don't know, the only way you are going to learn is to be taught by someone who knows more, or by reading the rules/cards. That is how I have learned how to play, and how I suggest to others they learn, by playing the game and enjoying Magic. If they can ask questions, learn card interactions, and all that jazz, they will begin to see the nuiances and the little hidden gems in the game. That is what this game is all about, the variety and the depth and the hidden beauty and the limitless possibilities that you can brew in this wonderful game. This RTFC bullshit is just some people's way of being arrogant snobs and elitist jackasses.
September 16, 2014 8:04 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #5
I've had that done to be so many times....I'm a guy who used to brew new decks a lot and a lot of the time i would get minor details of adv interaction wrong of which the online community is very rude about to my experience It's a reason i stay away from playing online anymore. The anonymity afforded turns maybe decent people into asshats
September 16, 2014 8:06 p.m.
lemmingllama says... #6
I find that RTFC is typically not rude if you have tried to explain it to them first and they are deliberately fighting for their point to the point of stupidity. Still, it is normally better to simply have another person confirm that they are making a misplay rather than just insulting them.
Also most players are accepting of what you are saying, especially if it makes sense after they do reread their cards. So it is typically not an issue
September 16, 2014 8:22 p.m.
GreatSword says... #7
Man Epoch, that guy in the Q+A section must've really tee'd you off.
It depends on the situation. If I'm at a competitive event, I'll just call a judge and let him sort it out; it's not my job to explain why you can't regenerate a creature with 0 toughness. If it's a friend I'm invested in, I'll take the time to explain when regenerate works and when it doesn't. And if it's the Q+A forum here on Tapped Out, I'll just cite the rule and give a layman's explanation to help them make sense of it.
September 16, 2014 8:24 p.m.
miracleHat says... #9
My way of teaching isn't the nicest, but it is the way that sticks with the other player. Instead of telling them flat out, "you can't cast Duress and take a land card". I would say something on the lines of, "as much as Strip Mine is an annoying card with Crucible of Worlds , Duress won't do anything to stop the combo because i will play it from my graveyard. Second, i suggest that you reread Duress . There is only one card that uses targeted discard on land (that being Encroach ).
This way, instead of me forcing them to hate me for yelling at them for making a mistake about Duress
, they instead learn four lessons.
1. Duress
doesn't target land cards
2. discarding Strip Mine
to deal with Crucible of Worlds
+
Strip Mine
doesn't do anything
4. If they ever make a misplay, i will probably not yell at them saying that they are stupid and that they should learn the game. Instead, i will have them learn by themselves what the mistake was that for they remember that they found it out, and not from some magic player reciting a rule from a textbook.
That is how I like to be told about my mistakes (especially with strangers). If i do have a question, i will normally ask because I do some stuff and when something isn't 100% sure, there is nothing wrong with asking. If and when you do ask a question, don't name the actual card. If you want to use Ulvenwald Tracker and you have a question, don't say the tracker. Say Pit Fight to hide your real information.
September 16, 2014 8:37 p.m.
I used it once, when the person who misplayed had the sleeves that said RTFC. I thought it was very ironic.
September 16, 2014 8:40 p.m.
Nigeltastic says... #11
I don't remember who or why, but someone on here used the acronym and I hadn't heard of it yet, so I had to look it up, and I was rather upset that someone felt it was necessary to use it when I simply overlooked something. I find "read the card" to feel differently than a dismissive RTFC , even though they're functionally the same.
September 16, 2014 8:55 p.m.
asasinater13 says... #12
on this website specifically, I've never seen it being necessary.
In competitive magic, which I have very very limited experience playing at, I would expect people to know how to play cards, or to read cards, but would always think politeness should be there, and if there's a problem I would rather call a judge than trying to explain to a stubborn opponent.
in casual, well, I would assume casual is with friends so treat your friends how you treat each other.
September 16, 2014 9:59 p.m.
Named_Tawyny says... #13
The thing about Magic though, is that a lot of the rule interactions won't really become clear just by reading the card - there's background and rules behind it.
I mean sure, if they're asking if their Lightning Strike can do 5 damage, that's a RTFC situation. But things like stack, or planeswalker damage redirection, or even how to assign combat damage with tramplers aren't really spelled out clearly on the cards.
People learn. Be patient.
September 16, 2014 10:09 p.m.
KnightsBattlecry001 says... #14
I've never said RTFC to anyone. I'm usually pretty easy going about it. New players I show them what a card does and what it won't. Players that have played for a long time I don't rail on either. I've messed up on what a card does before, like such and such does this when I thought it done that, or whatever reason.
I have had people say RTFC to me before. Hell almost yelled it at me. Some that say it to me I just brush off by saying to myself well this guy is an asshole. Others I've wanted to punch their teeth down their throat. Just depends on the person. I've never actually punched someone over a game a magic btw.
September 16, 2014 10:44 p.m.
The acronym is rude, but the sentiment isn't inherently.
September 16, 2014 10:46 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #16
It took me a good five minutes before I realized what RTFC meant....
Anyways, if a new player (or any player) misreads a card or doesn't understand how it works, usually I'll just explain it or correct them and move on with the game. When people get snarky about it or try to argue, though, then I will take pleasure in telling them to read the damn card.
The worst issues I've had are usually when I play a card (can't think of the worst offenders off the top of my head), and some cool kid at the table says "hey that's not legal that creature has hexproof", at which point I will either say " oh, whoops, my bad " or "no, I'm not targeting it".
What really gets to me is when they try to argue the point and it's just "RTFC and tell me where is the word target in there".
//rant over
There's a guy in my playgroup that's really bad about it, so it annoys me just a little.
September 16, 2014 11 p.m.
I think Jp3ngu1nb0y said it plain and simple.
If I'm hanging out with a couple buddies and they make a misplay or something I can say RTFC and no one gets upset because it's done in jest.
If I'm playing with a new player and they mess up, RTFC can be the reason they stop playing the game. What would I gain from that?
September 16, 2014 11:07 p.m.
In person I only use it a hand full of times. Most of the time during EDH. And with the same player. Because he rarely plays correctly and when he does finally do something, he makes the play wrong. So because of this RTFC has become a staple when we play with this specific gentleman. Sadly, its not always in jest.
On the transverse of that, I've known him for years now, and he is still a dumbass :P
I really believe that Spootyone and Jp3ngu1nb0y are on the right track.
September 16, 2014 11:28 p.m.
I've only used it once, to a former friend. The guy just loved to argue, even when he was blatantly wrong. Which was most of the time. He stopped playing MtG soon after that (none of us could put up with his BS) and the rest of my friends and I stopped hanging out with him in general. He's the only person that's ever legitimately made me angry and I'm glad that's over.
In general, I think the phrase is unnecessary except in extreme situations. Such as the above scenario. Even among friends, we look up rulings to make absolutely sure. When playing against people I don't know, I explain the rules calmly, then move on.
September 16, 2014 11:39 p.m.
Ive had it used against me, and I took it a little offensive. It did answer the question I had about a card that I thought I knew how it worked, but it came off as a bit brash. I would say its more appropriate when someone is being annoying or pushy about the way a card works when clearly theyre wrong, as opposed to when someone has a legitimate question about a card, and they have the card text wrong in their head.
September 17, 2014 12:02 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #21
It looks like I am going to come out on the lesser represented view on this discussion.
RTFC is an admissible response as soon as someone argues with you over how it works. If a question arises that can be answered by reading the card and someone argues then they need to read the fucking card instead of arguing. I see no reason to spend time trying to explain how a card works when it is printed on the card. If say they try to hit a land with Thoughtseize and then argue when I tell them they can't there is nothing to do except refer them to the card where it says they can't do that. MTG isn't a game about memory, it is a strategy game built around using cards effectively. There is no reason to memorize that only one specific card allows targeted discard of lands, if a card allows it the text will indicate as such.
Now the hostility level of it needs to be commiserate with how hostile they are being to you. Anything from "dude its on the card" to "read the fucking card asshole" are RTFC responses in my opinion. Which one someone gets is dependent entirely on how hostile they are being.
September 17, 2014 12:23 a.m.
asasinater13 says... #22
for everything I was thinking, saying something like "nah, it says nonland" is different than "read the fucking card" and I was thinking about the second response. not the first one.
September 17, 2014 12:38 a.m.
I completely agree with Gidgetimer. If they're being rude about it, RTFC is an appropriate response. If it's something more casual (ie. an FNM), I'll just explain it to them. If it's a PTQ top 8, I'll be more inclined to say something along the lines of, "RTFC dude." All considered, if they aren't reading the card when it is clearly printed, there, RTFC is a reasonable response. If they're asking about a ruling on something like Cone of Flame , I'll explain it to them in a civil manner.
September 17, 2014 1:22 a.m.
If you're in a competitive situation, and your opponent makes a mistake that you then point out, here are the two possible reactions your opponent can have after you politely explain why they are wrong.
- They see their mistake as you explain it, or they call a judge and the judge explains it.
- They are rude, disagree, in which you simply call a judge.
Problem solved. No need to say RTFC at all.
If you're playing non-competitively, the solution is simple. Before you play, establish a rule that if any player makes any mistakes, they have the shotgun a beer. Problem solved.
September 17, 2014 3:03 a.m.
ColdHeartedSith says... #25
MTG is doing better now with explaining machanics on the card now more than ever but there are alot of surprising rulings you simply can't know without research which catch you off guard with new cards at competitive meets. That time is nearing again and we have morph to deal with so keep your panties from bunching and hold the RTFC. Magic is a fun game.
September 17, 2014 5:38 a.m.
Rob_the_Taavi says... #26
Roast This Fresh Chicken! ;- D
Personally, when I first started playing MtG. I made sure to read every single card that hit the battlefield. Despite all the "Oh! We got a reader here!" jokes. My first playgroup took every chance they had to take advantage of me being new. The word ruthless comes to mind for some reason. It was only after hours and hours of reading and research that I finally felt comfortable enough to buy my first deck of cards from a friend. He said, "Hey you like this deck? Want to buy it from me?". I said, "Sure! How much do you think it is worth?" He responded with, "Probably around $80, but I'll give it to you for $20" Me thinking he was really trying to be a nice guy and get me into a good group of people, jumped on it. Needless to say. I could have ordered every single card in the deck for about $25. Swindled for the first time. The second and final time I got swindled by a "friend". Was right after I pulled my first ever Planeswalker, Garruk, Caller of Beasts
. This was when M14 was first released, maybe a month into my "initiation" to MtG. $35 at the time the card was worth. A "friend" offered me an entire Angel deck for it. Telling me it was worth twice what Garruk was. Lies. But I didn't know any better at the time, so I took the deal.
Neither of those two people play MtG anymore. The one who ripped me off for my Garruk when I first started playing. Had all his cards stolen. I still play just about every day, and plan on going competitive as soon as I have the available resources.
What my point is with all of this is. If people can't handle criticism or slightly bad circumstances, and want to quit based on one or two people's actions. Then they were never really that interested in the first place.
My current "playgroup" consists of me and a single friend who doesn't have very good reading comprehension. Possibly Dyslexic, but tell him I said that! haha
Whenever he asks me a question with an obvious answer. I usually respond with a, "What do you think will happen?" or something along those lines. Then I listen to how he interprets the card(s) or interaction(s), and I correct him accordingly. Sometimes politely, sometimes not so much. He asks me to play more than I want to sometimes, so this tells me I am on the right track for teaching him. Despite any rude answers I give him. He still wants to play and learn more. He has that hunger, and I make sure to let him know the in's and out's of trading/buying cards, and I never, I repeat NEVER, take advantage of his lack of knowledge. I won't ever withhold knowledge that is detrimental to someones growth as a Magic player. If there is a play that lets him win the game or really screw me over, and he's not sure if it works the way he is thinking. I tell him the God honest truth.
I think if everyone, and this goes for way more than just MtG, shared the knowledge and experience they have. Without prices, fees or attitude. We would have a much more enjoyable environment.
September 17, 2014 6:58 a.m.
gnarlicide says... #27
I was at a super IQ not too long ago, and I witnessed a dude, whom has been dci banned twice before, use Vraska the Unseen s second ability to destroy a regular old shockland to keep a dude off his mana.
The other player was new and didn't read it. I called the guy on his shenanigans, and told the kid he can pick up card to read them whenever they want. I felt like he needed to know.
I also needed the good karma, it was the end of round 2 and just took my second loss.
September 17, 2014 8:41 a.m.
gnarlicide says... #28
Furthermore, my match conduct is a bit OCD. At the end of all turns, I compare life totals out loud, to ensure everyone is on the same page. If life totals change, I say it aloud, (I am half deaf). When I play a card, regardless of what it is, I offer it to the opponent to look at it and likewise when a card is played I ask to read it. I also announce the phase changes aloud. I am sure it gets annoying for some, but I would rather everyone understand what what's happening and nobody miss an opportunity or get hit from a judge for game state issues.
I have been playing almost seventeen years, and I have seen a lot of shenanigans and fallen victim to them.
When I make a mistake, it's mostly because I got caught in the moment... Like the time I forgot to pay for Slaughter Pact during game 3 of the final match.
September 17, 2014 8:50 a.m.
TL;DR all the comments... :D
Well.... I guess "RTFC" means, "read the fucking card" right? My oonly question is, why does people say Fucking? Why not jsut say/write "RTC" (read the card)? I think that "RTFC" is kind of rude. Whenever you use the word "Fucking", it's rude....
September 17, 2014 8:52 a.m.
Quadsimotto says... #30
I know i am most likely one of the worst about asking stupid questions and phrasing things all wrong. I will say though that the people who admin and answer my questions here are extremely helpful,thorough, polite and in most cases quite kind in the way they deal with my nonsense.For that i am grateful. It has made me want to keep playing and learning(the correct way to play)
September 17, 2014 9:51 a.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #31
"RTFC" is a rude and unhelpful response, just like the "RTFM" that preceded it in other topics. The person saying it is communicating that they feel the question/issue is blatantly stupid, to the point that they can't be bothered to spend time explaining it. I'll only use this phrase among the friends I've been playing with for 10+ years who know I'm just saying it to draw a laugh.
If I need to point out the fact that a card's printed text already has the answer, a short response of "that's a sorcery", "it says nonland card", etc. is almost always sufficient. If I have to go more in-depth then it turns into "look, the card specifically says (N)". In a tournament setting, I call a judge if that doesn't work. Otherwise: "If you don't believe what the rules and card text actually say, then I don't know what to tell you".
September 17, 2014 10:03 a.m.
MindAblaze says... #32
I feel like RTFC is something that only has a place when you're critiquing yourself. I was involved in a Q&A recently where I gave an answer re: Convoke that reflected the old rulings, when in fact right on the card, it said something different.
I think people have covered all the bases here.
Our tendency is to meet people where they are with regards to their level of aggression. Rarely does this serve our purpose. I think no matter the setting, calmly explaining why they can't regenerate their Thrun, the Last Troll
after you cast Damnation
should suffice. If they disagree with you, call the judge, or hand them the card to read if there are no judges to be had. There's no need to boil your own blood over somebody else's arrogant ignorance.
September 17, 2014 11:01 a.m.
I just stick to RTC. I've only seen RTFC on sleeves, and seeing as how I make sure to RTFC most of the time, I've never had it said to me in competitive play. For the ten years before I started playing Standard, I was playing casual; and in that context it was always "Sh*t, well, let's google it."
September 17, 2014 11:06 a.m.
trentfaris242 says... #34
I used to do this with Mizzium Mortars . For some reason I kept thinking it was cast at Instant speed and I could never remember that it's actually a Sorcery. I made a lot of people mad.
September 17, 2014 11:54 a.m.
I came to this thread because I didn't know what "RTFC" meant (I figured it out). Anyway, no need to be rude when someone isn't sure how it works.
September 17, 2014 3:40 p.m.
Never heard the phrase before but I feel it's relevant. I have a very good friend who does this on the regular. Great guy and a born strategist. His mind always attacks a problem from every angle possible. The downside to this is he'll often read into the rules rather than just follow what they say. He'll go so far as to make up some really far fetched situation to illustrate a point and make a case for some really bizzaro application of the rules to justify something he wants to do.
At times, even as one of my best friends I just want to tell him to stfu and yes... RTFC. In that situation I feel completely justified. I'm sorry for being rude but stop making it more complicated than it already is.
September 17, 2014 4:26 p.m.
JakeHarlow says... #37
I only say it to my buddies because we are always jokingly harsh to each other.
The exception is when somebody who is obviously wrong and tells me that I screwed up a rule in a particularly rude fashion. Then I tell them to RTFC and STFU.
September 17, 2014 5:10 p.m.
I wouldn't use it unless the opponent was also being rude, or if it was a friend I can be harsh to without feeling bad lol. I personally think rudeness in any game is poison though, regardless if it's mtg or a sport or anything else. When one person is rude, it makes the opponent have a bad time, people around the match have a bad time, and exasperates the bad time they're already having.
September 17, 2014 6:10 p.m.
Gidgetimer -- we may be on 'opposite sides' of this so to speak, but I'm glad you spoke up :) You make a good point about proportionality.
But even in the face of hostility, RTFC just feels too tilt-y and aggressive for me. As a more gentle option, I've used "Reread the card" or "Review the card." Short enough to not need an acronym, easy to say and calmly repeat (which helps avoid tilting in reaction to them). Re-read is the most important change -- it implies you're assuming in good faith that they've read the card at least once already.
You might have the better approach, though. Saying "reread the card" doesn't seem to help very often. Once someone starts arguing with you, especially once they start interrupting you and shouting over you, they've tilted and that's that. At that point it's better to just let them be and RTFJ - "request the f**king judge." :)
September 17, 2014 6:42 p.m.
Most of the people at FNM whom I play with who don't RTFC are like 12 or something. It would be rude, in my opinion, to berate some kid or even some adult over not playing a card game exactly perfectly. MtG is meant to be fun, and even if some douche cannot RTFC then I'm not gonna let it spoil my fun.
September 17, 2014 8:23 p.m.
Generally, I'm a pretty forgiving person if a person makes a misplay every once in a blue moon. Like missing a trigger and quickly realizing it and addressing that sure, go ahead and get your draw with bob. That being said when they DO miss their trigger with bob and pass the turn, then RTFC comes into play pretty heavily with me. It's your deck, you picked out the cards, you played them. It's up to you to remember the triggers and the intricacies and in situations like that, like i said, RTFC. Even among friends I do this, because forgiving sloppy play and cutting corners doesn't help anyone get better at anything. Plus it's pretty annoying to hear things like 'I forgot to draw' over and over.
Personally I learned in a group that took off my training wheels, so to speak, pretty quickly. They wouldn't let me draw a card if I forgot, play a land if i forgot or forgot to regenerate something to keep it from dying. etc. It's honestly the best way to learn.
As for people telling me to RTFC, I've had a few funny incidents in my time, like people thinking Spellstutter Sprite was an effective Mana Leak and they will pay mana as if it is. I will tell them it's not a soft counter and they in return say RTFC, only to get embarrassed very quickly were they themselves read it again carefully.
September 17, 2014 8:50 p.m.
HorrorAvengers says... #42
Me and my friends after a while get very jokingly verbally abusive during games. It sounds horrible but it's pretty fun to be involved in and pretty hilarious to watch. Anyway. At this point we use RTFC fairly often, with a few more words thrown in. It's all in jest and laughs though, I haven't seriously used it since a kaalia EDH player tried to play Worldspine Wurm with kaalia.
Wrong on so many levels, and the guy was a cocky ass. It was fun thrashing him into the ground.
September 17, 2014 9:02 p.m.
I feel like this has been touched upon somewhere in these comments, but here's my take. RTFC, as a phrase/initialism, is rude under nearly every circumstance. The idea behind the phrase, that is, "If you just read the card/Oracle text/rulings on Gatherer/ relevant section of the Comprehensive Rules, the question answers itself", is not rude.
The fact that RTFC is the way a good chunk of the community has chosen to get that point across is kind of telling and kind of sad. There might be points in time where a belligerent opponent needs to be told "Stop arguing, read the card again closely, and see that you're wrong here", but you gotta be the better person and not resort to "Look, just RTFC and STFU".
All that said, there's obviously context to everything. If you're in a group of friends that have been playing together for years, and you've used RTFC to get someone in that group to realize they're being an ass, I'm not gonna tell you to stop. Just, like, don't use it for general rules questions from anyone else.
September 17, 2014 9:06 p.m.
miracleHat says... #44
@HorrorAvengers, i feel as though i am a very dedicated Kaalia of the Vast player. Sometimes though, when i am bored, i will add Emrakul, the Aeons Torn without Conspiracy for one game :)
September 17, 2014 10:16 p.m.
HorrorAvengers says... #45
It was funny when he did it for like, 3 seconds, then I realized he was serious. I'm not a deticared kaalia player, I have the deck, but I like my epharia deck better personally, But it still hurt.
September 17, 2014 10:19 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #46
So I just noticed that there are 2 different questions asked in the discussion starter, One in the title and one in 2 different ways in the body. Most people are responding to the title and I responded to the one I think is more interesting in the body.
I don't think that anyone would argue that the exact initialism "RTFC" or the exact phrase it stands for is not rude to a stranger or acquaintance for 90% of the population. Now there are groups who aren't overly offended by the word "fuck" and to them RTFC is the exact same as RTC except with an emphases that it is imperative to do so.
However; there is a point at which you stop explaining it and tell them to read the card. For me that point is as soon as they try to argue with you. It is not a MTG player's responsibility to be able to win a debate over cards in order for them to have their printed text, and only their printed text as effects.
September 18, 2014 6:43 a.m.
NotSoLuckyLydia says... #47
I say it to friends who I've known for a very long time. Usually when it's them casting a sorcery at instant speed. I've also said it to myself, after siding in Solemn Offering . I was upset about that.
September 18, 2014 4:11 p.m.
While I have played Magic for over a decade, I never had any group of friends who ever took me under their wing to explain everything. Nor was I truly savvy to research online (including not acquiring a full comprehensive rule set), shy on the forums; contented to read for hours late into the night regardless of where it took me until I found a thread that addressed what I was looking for in the first place. I'm also tremendously bad at acronyms. Players should not assume everyone knows any given acronym dropped.
I became bold enough to play my first ever tourney this past Spring. It was a Theros/Born of the Gods sealed, and I had a very limited knowledge of this card block. I started every match with, "I'm new. Please let me know if I'm doing something wrong." Many players were kind and accepting. One in particular even knew that I had the cards to beat him even though I made a mistake and conceded the match to me. That act taught me a lot. He could have called a judge over and had me forfeit. Because that is what we need right? Call a judge over on the new guy solely to win the round, rather than offer a little coaching.
The point. Well, it was at that tourney that I learned RTFC, and I had to ask the player who kept repeating it what it meant. A few players were visibly affronted by the fact that they had to play with 'the noob'. It was very offensive. Despite these players being a minority, it was nearly enough to persuade me from ever playing Magic again. A new friend from that experience said something I'll never forget. He said, "Just ignore those types. They're the ones who are first to point out another's mistake, but argue 'til they're blue in the face they didn't make any mistake. Or ever made a mistake playing Magic."
September 18, 2014 4:33 p.m.
I use RTFC when my knowledgeable EDH friends who have been playing with their decks for a long time derp out hard. I'm talking about when I've learned what the cards do simply by playing against the deck and they can't recall rulings. I also really dislike being asked what a card does if I play with it regularly (it's seen play maybe 6 or more times in the past) and I've announced and read it while casting it.
Now if I'm playing with newer players, that's a whole different story. Even in more serious games, I'll explain stuff. Don't be a dick.
September 18, 2014 7:06 p.m.
mowservision says... #50
As I am trying to shift my EDH meta away from budget decks and into more intermediate builds, I am becoming more versed in the comprehensive rules. It's taught me that no matter how much you've played, no matter how good you think you or your deck is, mistakes are always possible. I don't really play with anyone outside of my playgroup, but if I did, I would certainly show them the patience and understanding that I have shown others, and has been shown to me. With only two years under my belt, I am still in my infancy as a magic player and enthusiast. There is so much to learn and relearn; I don't expect everyone to make perfect plays. While the full "RTFC" phrase is a bit harsh, the real meaning behind it is necessary for development, as a deckbuilder and/or player. That being said, when someone does point out a poor of incorrect play in a rude manner, there's nothing to do but brush it off and see what can happen differently the next time around. If I was playing at one of my local card shops against another random patron, and I misplayed a card, that slap in the face would only stoke my fire of becoming a better player. Some people play magic to win, some to have fun. It doesn't mean we can't open up to criticism, be it constructive or destructive. There will always be more cards to discover, more interactions to see, more rules questions to answer. Each player has their own way of dealing with wins/losses, incorrect plays, and realizations that flip perspective upside down. Thanks
GlistenerAgent says... #2
A lot of the time when I play, I am unfocused and forget that Slaughter Pact can't kill Dark Confidant , Show and Tell can't put in planeswalkers, etc.
When I do this in person, my friends are kind enough to simply point out my stupidity rather than saying RTFC.
Online, people just say "nonblack" or whatever it may be, and I'v never heard someone explicitly say RTFC to me.
I still feel that it's permissible in an environment where people know the tone with which you say it and are OK with that, i.e. in person.
September 16, 2014 7:59 p.m.