Magic the Gathering Etiquette Part 2 December 6, 2009
Posted by James in : all, random, theory , trackbackThis is a list of my personal etiquette rules for Magic: the Gathering. These are rules of thumb based on my personal experience. They are only rules to follow “if you want to have good etiquette” and/or “want to make Magic: the Gathering more fun.” (An obligation of etiquette is only a requirement to have good sportsmanship.)
I don’t actually expect anyone to have good etiquette, and there can be moral considerations that override etiquette. Sometimes honesty is of greater importance, but not always. Philosophers have found out that questioning people’s beliefs is often taken as an insult, but sometimes it is morally praiseworthy to do so anyway.
However, we do want people to have good etiquette in general. We just can’t demand it of others. Etiquette is not a moral obligation; it’s just a way to help others have a good time.
I will use the following categories to list the etiquette rules: obligations, impermissible behavior, encouraged behavior, discouraged behavior, and indifferent behavior. Impermissible behavior is behavior we are obligated not to do. Encouraged and discouraged behavior are both “above the call of duty.” Indifferent behavior is basically neither good nor bad as far as etiquette is concerned.
Obligations
- Treat everyone with respect.
- Maintain a satisfactory level of personal hygiene. (Wear deodorant. Wash your hands. Take a shower every once in a while.)
- You can make a mess, but if you do, clean it up.
- You can eat pizza and other greasy foods, but if you do, don’t touch the opponent’s cards. Even if they are in sleeves.
- Untap your permanents before your upkeep.
- If you shuffle the opponent’s cards, you must be gentle. Especially if they are not in sleeves.
Impermissible
- Insulting people.
- To require others to have good etiquette, or even to tell them about their rude behavior.
- To refuse to give the opponent a handshake.
- To make small talk with an opponent who is trying to concentrate on playing the game.
- Complaining to the opponent. (Don’t tell your opponent that you only lost because he or she got lucky, or that you got unlucky.)
- Demand that the opponent have good etiquette.
- To require the opponent to describe every play in a precise way.
- Questioning someone’s religious or political beliefs.
- Doing a victory dance in front of your opponent.
Encouraged
- Be polite.
- Help your opponent (realize your creature is untapped when he wants to attack).
- Let your opponent take a move back immediately after he declares to do something if he wants to take it back right away.
- Have pleasant conversations with your opponents before and after the game.
- Try to behave in a way that doesn’t bother your opponent.
- To give the opponent a handshake after the game.
- If the opponent is a self-professed novice, you can offer to take a look at his or her deck after the game to let him or her know if you have any advice involving deck construction.
- If you don’t play by the rules and win because of that fact, you can offer a rematch or concede.
Discouraged
- Complaining to your friends.
- Showing signs that you are frustrated or angry.
- Leaving your food in front of a hungry opponent.
- Trying to distract the opponent.
- Talking about region or politics.
- To brag about doing well or getting lucky.
- To use the opponent’s dice to determine who plays first without permission.
- To pick up an opponent’s card without permission.
Indifferent
- Bluffing
- Criticizing the game design (with constructive criticism).
- To mislead the opponent by carefully worded sentences that “don’t technically” imply what an opponent might assume is implied. (There is a fine line here. If you really do imply you have a fireball in your hand and the opponent is at 2 life, that might be cheating.)
- Requiring your opponents to play by the rules. (To make them untap their permanents before their upkeep.)
You can now download my etiquette ideas here as a PDF.
Comments»
If I can’t do a victory dance in front of my opponent, then what good is playing Magic, really?
Alex,
There is some truth to that. It’s rude to do it to someone you don’t know well, but it can be a lot of fun with closer friends.