Table talk
General forum
Posted on May 13, 2016, 4 p.m. by Argy
There's a Player at my LGS who plays FNM and constantly talks about the game to the point where he'll say, "So, I'll play this, and then you'll play that, and in response I'll ... etc."
Sometimes you didn't even think of making the plays he thought of for you, so it gives you an advantage.
Other times you feel like you might as well not be there, as he's virtually playing both decks.
Anyone else come across something like that?
I used to have a real problem with doing that, but I've gotten better over the years.
May 13, 2016 4:04 p.m.
Titilanious says... #4
I prefer those people to the ones that just grunt and maybe point at things. Even though they are both awful.
May 13, 2016 4:09 p.m.
I actually find silent magic kind of enjoyable. At least when you sit down with somebody you're used to playing with. Makes a 20 minutes process last 5.
May 13, 2016 4:17 p.m.
iBleedPunk says... #6
As nayrash5 said I also used to have a slight issue with doing this but now I rarely remind people of their own triggers, mistapped land, etc, etc.
May 13, 2016 4:35 p.m.
Titilanious says... #7
TMBRLZ Yea I know what you mean its fine if you are playing with someone that you are used to playing with, but I mean the people that are just completely non interactive . Idk I think it kinda comes off as dickish.
May 13, 2016 5:03 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #8
I find that I need to force myself to speak up at a table because I often just stop talking. If i'm talking in a game, its probably because i'm losing that game. I do expect my opponents to be able to follow what i'm doing most of the time because of the high-level setting that I play in, but I often forget that not everyone has been there as long as I have and I need to explain a lot of things, but i'm also just a very reserved person and don't usually talk in any case. But when it comes to people that like to talk at a table, Sure, go for it. I might chime in as well if we're having a good time, but i'm not going to stop you from being you and expect the same vice versa.
May 13, 2016 5:26 p.m.
Dalektable says... #9
Thats kind of annoying. I do this thing where when I know i am inevitably going to lose next turn unless the opponent tremendously misplays I'll do / say something along the lines of "Alright, cast this dude, swing with the team, you block these guys, take x damage then untap and kill me gg game 2?"
May 13, 2016 5:49 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #11
I like to keep a conversation going about the game. What I don't do is talk strategy until it is too late to matter.
May 14, 2016 12:20 a.m.
I think some people are misunderstanding my original post.
I'm not talking about having a chat, which I love, or even announcing what you are playing, which I do because I think it's polite. Unless I know the other person already knows my cards and interactions intimately.
Or even talk to finish off a game.
What I'm talking about is someone playing out two or three turns in the middle of a match, as though I'm not even there. It takes some of the fun out of, for ME.
I can't stand people who won't talk to me AT ALL, because they think everything is too srs bsns. It comes across as arrogant, most of the time.
I was playing against someone last week who had a serious amount of ramp going on. By turn five he had eight or so lands on the field. I said to him, "I don't think you've got enough land!" He didn't react. At all. No eye contact, no wry smile, not even an, "I don't really like to chat during games coz I am concentrating, sorry."
May 14, 2016 3:29 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #13
Hmm, what if specific plays are replaced with the words "this" or "that" like you did in the OP. I don't often articulate when I am playing out turns in my head. Sometimes I will mumble ok "I'll do this, then you do that, then I can do that" and then say out loud "ok, here goes nothing. Let's see if this works". I never actually say the plays just the words "this" and "that". It is also mumbled at a whisper if articulated at all.
May 14, 2016 7:46 a.m.
@Argeaux - There's some people that just don't like wisecracks. I'm Finnish. We're known to be pretty stoic around the world as silence isn't considered awkward in our culture the way it is in NA. The men in my life have always told me that if I have nothing to say then I should keep my mouth shut.
Last week, I took part in a psychological study. After signing consent forms, some of the participants were taken to sit at stations for a few minutes before the study began. One of the guys there quipped "I don't know how they're going to control for the lobotomy." Really? Is that necessary? Is that funny? I don't think so. It just makes you look like an idiot.
If one of my opponents says something dumb like "Man, your deck sure has a lot of removal" I'll probably say something like "It sure does" back at them. I get that these types of pointless remarks are more acceptable in NA culture. I won't stonewall you, but I don't think much of people who feel the need to interject into everything. It isn't even a matter of the game being a supposed serious matter.
May 14, 2016 9:05 a.m.
Firstly, I'm not American.
Secondly, I don't expect everyone to have a sense of humour.
Thirdly, what I objected to was the response of NOTHING. As you pointed out above, you would have responded. I in turn would have realised you don't have a sense of humour and would not have tried again.
As for your comment about remarks being "pointless" that is a value judgement that not everyone shares. You don't live in my country; you don't understand how our culture operates.
If I was playing in your country I would adapt, just like I did recently when playing in Japan.
Gidgetimer I was using a broader example in my first post. He doesn't make vague comments to himself.
I didn't give a specific example so that people wouldn't become overly focused on it. I will now.
Person who likes to play for you: So I'm gonna attack with Drana, Liberator of Malakir, and then you're gonna Exile it with Anguished Unmaking this turn, or Declaration in Stone on your turn. If you use the Declaration I will get a Clue, so I will leave two mana open so I can spend that on your turn. Or you might Flash in Archangel Avacyn Flip, which will kill my Drana right away. If I don't attack wih it, that won't happen. If you don't have Avacyn or any removal I'd be better off attacking. I would then have no blocker if you play Avacyn on my End Step. Pass turn.
May 14, 2016 10:21 a.m.
McSleuthburger says... #16
I dont go to FNM that often (I might start going more if I have time) but when people talk about 2-3 like they know what Im going to do it makes me laugh. Im hoping to play mono white humans (without avacyn because im cheap) and leave 5 mana up so somebody scoops because they think i have avacyn.
But with talking or not im find either way, if my opponent prefers to be quiet ill watch what they are doing and figuring out my board state.
May 14, 2016 10:30 a.m.
Gidgetimer says... #17
Yeah I realize that you were using a broad example. It was fairly obvious that you were talking about his saying specific plays since you mentioned getting a strategic advantage. I just like to probe into exactly what kind of behaviors irritate people. I personally would never tell anyone how something was going to play out because they may make some other decision that may not be as good or they may have a way to counter what my plan is if they know what I intend. I was just trying to understand if mumbling to one's self without any specifics given was on the list of things that some people may not like.
I guess a small exception to never mentioning exact plays is post board when I am playing a deck that is easily hated out. An example of this is that I was playing UB Legacy Reanimator against a guy that was on mono-white enchantments. After we were done mulling I said "I hope I can stick a threat before you stick a Rest in Peace." Both of us know that RIP hoses Reanimator. He also knows that I know it so he should be expecting me to play around it. I don't feel that comments like that are out of line. What is your take on stating an obvious play to be made like that?
May 14, 2016 10:43 a.m.
I hear that type of thing too, but it personally doesn't phase me.
Back when I was playing my Triple A Allies deck other Opponents would say stuff like, "Look out, here comes the Butcher!" when they could see that I had the cards on the field to play Butcher of the Horde.
Sometimes people will see me cast Forsaken Sanctuary and say, "Uh oh. Avacyn alert!" To me that's more said in a friendly manner.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not tearing my hair out over this guy playing the game out loud. It can just be irritating. He's a very nice guy and fun to play, apart from that quirk.
May 14, 2016 12:28 p.m.
Gidgetimer says... #19
If he is pretty reasonable and altogether agreeable, have you tried casually mentioning it to him? Obviously not when you are on edge about it, but like outside a game. If he is someone who might take offense you could phrase it in a way that makes it about yourself than him. Something along the lines of "When you are planning ahead would you mind not doing it aloud? You sometimes see plays I don't and I would prefer to play the game with my own skill."
May 14, 2016 1:32 p.m.
GreenYawgmoth says... #20
@thedevicer - That's totally funny, and the witty response is "that's why you're here." Lighten up.
As to the OP, I've never really had that happen but I generally don't object to my opponent talking unless it's slowing down the game. I absolutely loathe the mimes, though. Announce what you're doing! Say what your target is! Tell me how much damage I will take from your attack! MAKE WORDS AT ME. >:[
May 19, 2016 2:35 p.m.
I would also prefer that people say what is being triggered, eg. "life gain from the Healer triggered," rather than just pointing at it and saying "trigger".
If a deck has multiple triggers it can up end up like this, "Play a land. Trigger, trigger, trigger."
TMBRLZ says... #2
Typically players who like to hear themselves talk and flaunt their knowledge of the game and the meta.
There's a handful of EDH players/casuals who like to hang out on the nights I work at the shop. One of them in particular is very similar to what you've described, and also very loud.
I tend to just tune him out unless he's buying something.
May 13, 2016 4:03 p.m.