Saying "Good Luck" before a match: Weird, or no?
General forum
Posted on Oct. 30, 2014, 4:09 p.m. by meecht
In a lot of matches, I've had my opponent say "good luck" as we're drawing our cards. Does this strike anyone else as being odd?
I know it's a sign of good sportsmanship, but it seems weird to me for somebody to wish their opponent luck.
Monteleone says... #3
It does seem weird because it can sometimes come off as arrogant
October 30, 2014 4:16 p.m.
VampireArmy says... #4
Tone of voice counts here to me. I hate ass-hats who smirk and give you that sarcastic "Gooood luuuuuck"
October 30, 2014 4:19 p.m.
@TheMagi - That's how I take it. The sentiment isn't so much "I hope you win" as it is "I hope you draw well enough to put up a fight."
October 30, 2014 4:24 p.m.
miracleHat says... #6
As VampireArmy said, it all depends on the tone of voice. If your/opponents voice is casual, "hey man, good luck", then it's cool. You might not say exactly good luck if it is a higher stakes game, with a handshake or whatnot. If you/they are playing somebody and you/they say, "good luck" distractedly as though you don't care because you know that you are going to win, then yes it is awkward. The other scenario is when they are so obnoxious that you shouldn't be playing them anyways.
October 30, 2014 4:39 p.m.
You have to be pretty bad to not want to say "good luck" to your opponent for the fear of them winning...
October 30, 2014 4:49 p.m.
I always wish my opponents good luck before beginning and after the match (if it's not the last one), regardless of any other variable. As much as I like winning, I prefer earning them through good gameplay from both ends; it is a much more enjoyable experience for me that way. What's there to gain by being a strict know-it-all in FNM where packs or minimal store credit are only what's at stake?
October 30, 2014 4:50 p.m.
I used to wrestle in high school, and in wrestling you shake your opponent's hand before the match, after the match, and then you shake their coach's hand. Because of this I've always liked to show good sportsmanship before, during, and after a match. In the case of Magic, I almost always say "Good luck." if I'm in a competitive setting, and I sometimes say "Good luck." if we go to a Game 3. I don't always shake hands after a match, but I feel like I should do that more often. Either way, it's all connotation, but if someone says it sincerely, I'm more likely to give them the benefit of the doubt when game situations come up.
October 30, 2014 5:25 p.m.
MindAblaze says... #11
I think it takes a real knob to say "good luck" in a demeaning manor at any level of competition. TBH I think TheMagi hit the nail on the head, you want to win with your opponent putting their best foot forward, not because of say...mana screw.
October 30, 2014 5:35 p.m.
HorrorAvengers says... #12
Pretty much what's been said above. The most memorable games of my life were the nail-biters. Games where you get down to less than 5 life, and somehow eek out a victory.
October 30, 2014 5:42 p.m.
Yeah it feels weird to me. I think some good reasons have been stated above but it still feels weird.
October 30, 2014 5:54 p.m.
JonathanSamurai says... #14
I usually say it'll be over fast one way or the other. Or if I'm already in the loser's bracket I'll say Hi, I'm your next free win.
October 30, 2014 7:31 p.m.
FalkensteinAZ says... #15
I find it's weird not to shake hands or wish good luck before a match. You know, when you sit down and shuffle up like you're ready to kill a guy, that handshake is the 'yeah, but just for funsies in a card game' at the end. Feels like shit gets real pretty fast when we're not good sports.
October 30, 2014 7:33 p.m.
I always say good luck to my opponent before a match, then maybe a little light banter, or whatever. Honestly I believe in sportsmanship in any and all contests of skill, from M:TG to chess to basketball. Sometimes it is luck of the draw (like both of us being down to 3 life game 3, him dead on the board next turn, and he top-decks a Lightning Strike for the win), sometimes it is a better build, or sometimes it is a bad matchup for your deck. But no matter what, the contest is what is most important, and most enjoyable. That is what keeps me going back, playing.
October 30, 2014 8:43 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #17
So, it's weird now to wish people good luck before you play a game? We're not professional boxers (unless we are). You started playing this game for fun. When did that leave?
TheMagi says... #2
A true warrior always wishes to test himself against his opponent at their highest peak of strength. He's wishing to test his best against your best so that the the strongest may win. The stronger you are, the more he can test his deck and the more he will grow as a player whether he wins or loses.
So... Good luck!
October 30, 2014 4:15 p.m.