Board 8 > I decided to quit Magic today. [BlogFAQs, Whining like a Bitch]

(+) Yeah! (+)

I feel like I've lost a part of myself, but... I don't actually have friends in the community. I have people who tolerate me. Because I'm an asshole. I didn't realize I was that much of an asshole. I wish people had told me more straightforwardly, but hey, it's hard to be direct to an asshole. It's a social game, and when I'm around, they're not having fun. By proxy, neither am I.

A year ago I prepped for an RPTQ every week. It burned me out. I switched to Commander. Wow, was that a mistake. The format has changed from "let's put ALL the dragons into a deck" into "Who can masturbate to their infinite combo first?" Instead of winning with my "all the dragons" deck that couldn't compete, I won with my mouth, bullying or manipulating people into attacking each other then sweeping up the pieces. Effective? Yes. A good way to make friends? Not as much.

I switched just to playing Limited. I'm kind of a draft specialist, though nowhere near the pros who are actual draft specialists. But I got frustrated there, too. Not as much, but enough for people to hate me more.

Work picked up. I'm not sure if I'm happy about it. Maybe it contributed to me being more toxic. Maybe it helped me be less.

Will I come back? Probably. Nobody quits forever. Maybe people will forget about me, or I'll move. But for now, they deserve better. And in some way, so do I, even though I'm the common denominator for all the shit.

I feel like most of the board either feels the same way to me or doesn't know me. But I don't know anywhere else I can put this. So here it is. Histrionics, woe is me, etc. I just need to say it somewhere.
---

trdl23 posted...

Instead of winning with my "all the dragons" deck that couldn't compete, I won with my mouth, bullying or manipulating people into attacking each other then sweeping up the pieces

can you give a scenario?
---

hey for what it's worth I'm pretty sure I've told you before that you're an asshole
---

I don't play and trading card games in any format other than limited.
---

trdl23 posted...

The format has changed from "let's put ALL the dragons into a deck" into "Who can masturbate to their infinite combo first?" Instead of winning with my "all the dragons" deck that couldn't compete, I won with my mouth, bullying or manipulating people into attacking each other then sweeping up the pieces.

...That's basic Grand Multiplayer strategy.
...Why that would be seen as "asshole" is kinda bullshit.

Grand Multiplayer is all about threat manipulation and gaming the players to leave the pieces to yourself.

...Although, I think that's why Spheres of Influence gained popularity.
---

Punnyz posted...

trdl23 posted...

Instead of winning with my "all the dragons" deck that couldn't compete, I won with my mouth, bullying or manipulating people into attacking each other then sweeping up the pieces

can you give a scenario?

Player A: *Goes to attack me*
Trdl: Uh... there is an Azami player at the table.
Player A: Okay, but you're open.
Trdl: And I don't lock down the entire game and draw infinite cards on turn 5.
Player B (Azami player): Let him attack who he wants to attack.
Trdl: There's an optimal choice here, and a suboptimal choice. Is it in my interest? Sure, but it's also in yours.
Player A: Fine, fine. Swing at Player B for 7.

MariaTaylor posted...

hey for what it's worth I'm pretty sure I've told you before that you're an asshole

You're not wrong.
---

Airship_Canon posted...

trdl23 posted...

The format has changed from "let's put ALL the dragons into a deck" into "Who can masturbate to their infinite combo first?" Instead of winning with my "all the dragons" deck that couldn't compete, I won with my mouth, bullying or manipulating people into attacking each other then sweeping up the pieces.

...That's basic Grand Multiplayer strategy.
...Why that would be seen as "asshole" is kinda bullshit.

Grand Multiplayer is all about threat manipulation and gaming the players to leave the pieces to yourself.

...Although, I think that's why Spheres of Influence gained popularity.

trdl23 posted...

Effective? Yes. A good way to make friends? Not as much.

---

commander sucks
---

Sounds like you need to take a break. We all do sometimes. I haven't played in months, but don't doubt I'll be back soon.

And commander is probably not the format you want to be playing.
---

well yeah Magic is terrible.

Play some L5R instead.
---

trdl23 posted...

MariaTaylor posted...

hey for what it's worth I'm pretty sure I've told you before that you're an asshole

You're not wrong.

I think everyone can be an asshole sometimes.

but the ability to recognize when you're being an asshole is a great first step towards fixing it. nobody is perfect and, in my personal opinion, you should strive to better yourself every day. that's the standard I try to live up to. although even then I don't always do it.

anyway I guess my point is that the people who think there is nothing wrong with themselves are the ones who stagnate and never improve.
---

people smell bad at card game tournaments (besides my dear pals Boko and Ulti who i am certain have good hygiene habits) so you aren't missing out on much i bet
---

trdl23 posted...

Airship_Canon posted...

trdl23 posted...

The format has changed from "let's put ALL the dragons into a deck" into "Who can masturbate to their infinite combo first?" Instead of winning with my "all the dragons" deck that couldn't compete, I won with my mouth, bullying or manipulating people into attacking each other then sweeping up the pieces.

...That's basic Grand Multiplayer strategy.
...Why that would be seen as "asshole" is kinda bullshit.

Grand Multiplayer is all about threat manipulation and gaming the players to leave the pieces to yourself.

...Although, I think that's why Spheres of Influence gained popularity.

trdl23 posted...

Effective? Yes. A good way to make friends? Not as much.

Given that the general method of play is mind games, anyone playing the overall format should be going in and expecting mind games.

I'm failing to see where this leads you to being seen as an asshole comes into play.
---

You're assuming players are strictly logical. They aren't, especially when the game has no stakes.
---

Haven't played magic in a bit. Just been keeping up w/ cards and story. Nothing wrong w/ stepping back tho from it or moving on.
---

trdl23 posted...

You're assuming players are strictly logical. They aren't, especially when the game has no stakes.

You'd have to be exceptionally aggressive to be really ticking people off with stuff like "Hey, attack him over there because X" in a Grand Multiplayer format.

Or are that guy who has a huge ace in the deck and everyone around you knows it.
---

trdl23 posted...

Player A: *Goes to attack me*
Trdl: Uh... there is an Azami player at the table.
Player A: Okay, but you're open.
Trdl: And I don't lock down the entire game and draw infinite cards on turn 5.
Player B (Azami player): Let him attack who he wants to attack.
Trdl: There's an optimal choice here, and a suboptimal choice. Is it in my interest? Sure, but it's also in yours.
Player A: Fine, fine. Swing at Player B for 7.

this was how my college roommate won like fifty million games of Catan in a row

I'm not sure what my point is but it's worth pointing out he's still my best guy friend
---

The Mana Sword posted...

commander sucks

FWIW I think the format of the deck in commander, 99 unique cards +1 commander, is awesome. It's the actual game type of playing with more than 2 people that sucks. I went to a pre-release for that one set that was based around politics and pacts and such, and it sucked ass for that reason.
---

Commander is a toxic format. It is specifically designed so that, no matter how you lose, it wasn't really your fault and you get to complain.

It's a kingmaker game and a way to practice making salt.
---

Emeraldegg posted...

It's the actual game type of playing with more than 2 people that sucks. I went to a pre-release for that one set that was based around politics and pacts and such, and it sucked ass for that reason.

Commander doesn't dictate that.
Commander/EDH can be 2-player.
Standard can be Grand Multiplayer.

Multiplayer is not quite for everyone.

And then there's a few types of Mutliplayer on top of that...
With Grand Multiplayer being the one that's going to be the most "political" because playing it is entirely about using words and mindgames to create favorable situations.
---

Airship_Canon posted...

Emeraldegg posted...

It's the actual game type of playing with more than 2 people that sucks. I went to a pre-release for that one set that was based around politics and pacts and such, and it sucked ass for that reason.

Commander doesn't dictate that.
Commander/EDH can be 2-player.
Standard can be Grand Multiplayer.

Multiplayer is not quite for everyone.

And then there's a few types of Mutliplayer on top of that...
With Grand Multiplayer being the one that's going to be the most "political" because playing it is entirely about using words and mindgames to create favorable situations.

No I get that, and I have played 2 player EDH and it's great. I just meant that the most common format, and what it's "meant" to be played as, is a multiplayer game, that's all.
---

Tom Bombadil posted...

trdl23 posted...

Player A: *Goes to attack me*
Trdl: Uh... there is an Azami player at the table.
Player A: Okay, but you're open.
Trdl: And I don't lock down the entire game and draw infinite cards on turn 5.
Player B (Azami player): Let him attack who he wants to attack.
Trdl: There's an optimal choice here, and a suboptimal choice. Is it in my interest? Sure, but it's also in yours.
Player A: Fine, fine. Swing at Player B for 7.

this was how my college roommate won like fifty million games of Catan in a row

I'm not sure what my point is but it's worth pointing out he's still my best guy friend

In Catan, people aren't so pissed off because the game forces interactivity and politics as a core aspect of gameplay. Most people just want to fap to their combo pieces. That's the format, and people are happy playing it.

EDIT: But now I'm making excuses for myself. Fuck off, me.
---

trdl23 posted...

Player A: *Goes to attack me*
Trdl: Uh... there is an Azami player at the table.
Player A: Okay, but you're open.
Trdl: And I don't lock down the entire game and draw infinite cards on turn 5.
Player B (Azami player): Let him attack who he wants to attack.
Trdl: There's an optimal choice here, and a suboptimal choice. Is it in my interest? Sure, but it's also in yours.
Player A: Fine, fine. Swing at Player B for 7.

This isn't being an asshole lmao.

This is how me and my friends all play. The politics IS the game in free for all formats.
---

pjbasis posted...

trdl23 posted...

Player A: *Goes to attack me*
Trdl: Uh... there is an Azami player at the table.
Player A: Okay, but you're open.
Trdl: And I don't lock down the entire game and draw infinite cards on turn 5.
Player B (Azami player): Let him attack who he wants to attack.
Trdl: There's an optimal choice here, and a suboptimal choice. Is it in my interest? Sure, but it's also in yours.
Player A: Fine, fine. Swing at Player B for 7.

This isn't being an asshole lmao.

This is how me and my friends all play. The politics IS the game in free for all formats.

To be fair, this uses more mild language than I typically use.
---

trdl23 posted...

pjbasis posted...

trdl23 posted...

Player A: *Goes to attack me*
Trdl: Uh... there is an Azami player at the table.
Player A: Okay, but you're open.
Trdl: And I don't lock down the entire game and draw infinite cards on turn 5.
Player B (Azami player): Let him attack who he wants to attack.
Trdl: There's an optimal choice here, and a suboptimal choice. Is it in my interest? Sure, but it's also in yours.
Player A: Fine, fine. Swing at Player B for 7.

This isn't being an asshole lmao.

This is how me and my friends all play. The politics IS the game in free for all formats.

To be fair, this uses more mild language than I typically use.

Also I took trdl's thing to be that he was doing this with random people who aren't his friends. When you're in a group and you all know how you all are you can get away with a lot more than if you walk into the shop and on your first day start trying to throw weight around.
---

hey fair enough.

Usually these things are less about politicking itself, but the tone you use when you do it. Or in other words, you have no charisma for this and take it too seriously I guess.
---

I've never found politics to be a problem in Commander. It's fun to wheel and deal and try to survive. Then again, I don't play super-competitive decks. I'm sure people have had salt in dealing with me, but every person I play with tends to say they hope to play again; I'm a goofy person at the table and make lots of jokes during the game. But I definitely play for the political aspect of Commander.
---

So does this mean you'll have time to finish your Block ranking?
---

redrocket_pub posted...

So does this mean you'll have time to finish your Block ranking?

Fuck. Yes, yes it does.

I do still love this game dearly. I guess I just need to find a new community where I don't have any baggage. And also stop playing fucking Commander.
---

You should come to my shop.
---

scarletspeed7 posted...

I've never found politics to be a problem in Commander. It's fun to wheel and deal and try to survive. Then again, I don't play super-competitive decks. I'm sure people have had salt in dealing with me, but every person I play with tends to say they hope to play again; I'm a goofy person at the table and make lots of jokes during the game. But I definitely play for the political aspect of Commander.

Which honestly, is why I'd say Grand is the better of the FFA formats.
Spheres [either round table, or left/right], you might as well play a tournament or round robin, except winners don't recover LP.

In grand, there's way more strategy.
---

This topic resonates with me.
---

It's fun if you have a group that's all on the same page

If you're not, you'll have people complaining that someone's deck is "too competitive" or a player is a "tryhard"

It's one of those things where everyone just wants to be the best by a little bit
---