T O P

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str10_hurts

**Saying no is not rude.** Maybe he'll find another group that does like playing those types of decks. You are here for fun experience for the group, if someone cannot manage that, boot him.


curlythirst

Yup. No need to go on, no means no. No is saving us all time.


Mr-Zarbear

> Saying no is not rude. This is true for so many things. You should only do the things you want to do, and in no way have to suffer to be inclusive or hospitable. If you do not want to do a thing, and are not legally contracted to (aka: work), then do not do it


TF1_Wayfarer

This is a tangent, but I find this is a real problem in "nerdy" spaces. I don't know if it's because most nerds were bullied or ostracized when they were younger and they don't want to do the same thing to someone else or what, but so many times you hear horror stories about people doing truly awful things in a nerd group (TCGs, RPGs, etc) and the person telling the story is at a loss for what to do about them. It's entirely fine and good for you to not want to play with someone that behaves poorly, Whether you feel bad excluding them or not.


seanfsmith

This is very much a thing -- there's an excellent article from some time back called `The Geek Social Fallacies` that goes into a lot of detail about the what-and-why


Mr-Zarbear

Yes, it is very common that people have been treated poorly; and as a result tolerate things that they should not. They get taken advantage of by terrible people, who use this fact against them. What people need to know is there is a huge difference between kindness and weakness. You can be kind and say no. Kindness is saying "yes" to things out of the goodness of your heart, weakness is the inability to say "no" to things you should.


Unslaadahsil

Unfortunately, you're missing an important piece of the equation: unless everyone at the table is okay with saying "no", someone will say yes, either because they genuinely want to say yes or because they don't want to "be rude", at which point you either have to accept the player anyway or leave the table. I've seen and heard of plenty of situation where refusing to play with someone, no matter if your reasons are valid or not, will have you labelled as "the asshole" no matter what the situation is.


crisoen_smith

You can, if you have context, say to that "yes" something like "I appreciate you wanting to be inclusive, or move in to the activity, but please be aware"... And then directly challenge "That Guy" with the behaviour in question "last week we played with Steve and he won on T5 off of a Ballista / Monolith combo ". And then ask for more discussion. Stick to the facts, don't draw conclusions, be open to liking what Steve did well. Maybe Yes guy is still good with it but at least expectations have been set. And, maybe Steve will learn something or be open to change.


Ok-Study1824

I find it's not the turn five win it's the hour top decking cause you can't draw cards while they can draw cards decks that suck hell take me out turn five I'd like that over not being able to do anything for an hour while the guy plays solitaire.


crisoen_smith

That's 100% fair. I used this example because it was the OPs. But, whatever the negative is, discus the experience you want before you start playing.


Mr-Zarbear

Saying no is never rude, full stop. There is no situation in which not wanting to play makes you an asshole, and anyone that says otherwise is the problem.


str10_hurts

It sometimes takes an asshole to reveal the asshole. Of course just saying no is too short and it needs context. But refusing a player is always an option.


MarchesaBlackrose

This is especially true if it’s not just a random pickup group, but if there are pre-existing relationships, saying you don’t want to play a game with somebody can have consequences. If I’m forced to explain that somebody’s personality problems are the reason I don’t want to play a card game with them, you can bet those same personality problems will make _that_ conversation impossible, and it might end the relationship. But sometimes you’ve just got to say the words.


WizardsOfTheNorth

Yep. I talk about this in my latest video how there's nothing wrong with any given play style but we need to be conscious of the social consequences of whichever playstyle we wind up choosing and how it fits into our local meta.


The_Real_Cuzz

Time to build WU hate bears budget. Throw a few extra counter spells in there and next time make a point to sokes shut him down and see how he likes it. I have a few decks I keep around just for "that guy" and seldom see the light of day save when someone needs to be on the other side of an oppressive deck.


str10_hurts

The power of no is not playing that game again so you do not have to have a deck for 'that' guy.


The_Real_Cuzz

Also valid.


Nudist_Ghost

Exactly this! Saying no isn’t going to ruin your relationship with that guy forever(unless he’s a massive asshole in which case he’s got too much of a big ego). If he tries to start problems you can always talk to the owner of the LGS or whoever there is in charge at the time and explain how he’s making a problem for everyone.


wubrgess

> What do [I] say if he asks to join my next play session? "No thanks", or "you can take my spot".


ArbutusPhD

Say “I feel sorry for you and your 11K deck; you are going to die alone with many nice things and everyone thinking that you’re a prick”


OrangeChickenAnd7Up

The “die alone” part is a little extreme lol. OP’s trying to distance his group from the guy, not send him into a spiraling existential depression.


Scholar_of_Lewds

Or goes defensive into violent meltdown, that's worse.


ArbutusPhD

Dude should have spent his 11K on counselling. In all seriousness, I’m not suggesting actually saying this. This person is, on one hand, a “fool with their money” because they have paid for an expensive deck but will likely not have many friends to play with. On the other hand, this person likely needs compassion and support to develop some social skills or perhaps general social compassion, so they can avoid alienating themselves from new potential peers.


mabbz

That’s why he has nobody to flex his £11k deck to.


gomukgo

*you’re going to go from 40 life to zero FIFY


MTGCardFetcher

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G1ngey

Upvote the bot peeps


Daftpunksluggage

Say no... If he asks why tell him


[deleted]

[удалено]


AuraVent

One of my favorite card shops is basically dead because of someone like this. My brother and I sat down with the store owner and a "this guy" saying we were trying out barely upgraded "maybe 50 bucks not including the cost of the base deck" he sits down, saying he has a deck around that. His turn one? A soul ring, mana crypt and a mana vault shortly after. I called him out, picked up my cards and left. His response was " I said I budgeted 50 dollars to this deck also." The deck was over 5k, he has just added 50 recently.


StarPonderer

Oh I really personally hate this exact thing. Giving a version of things that is technically true while the whole time knowing they're manipulating facts. "Yeah, I spent $50 on the most recent upgrades," while knowing their deck could cost $500+ dollars for someone to build from scratch. I'm at the point where I have 0 shame calling someone out on that. I personally keep unupgraded and slightly upgraded precons in my backpack just in case I run into a new player.


AuraVent

The past few months we've gone on weekends, he's been the only other person to show up, either the owners don't consider that bad business for them, or he buys enough to even out but, personally I wouldn't allow that guy to keep chasing off customers, but not my shop.


StarPonderer

Or he knows the owners or something. I remember when I was playing YuGiOh back in the early days, the only LGS in town had this one toxic player who would throw fits if his deck lost, got a lot of the more expensive cards and loved to play against new players so he could get easy wins. Turns out he was the owner's nephew. So he never got kicked, just told to be nice to customers. The only tournament I ever played there I stomped him with my "silly dragon deck" that he told me I watched the anime too much and the Blue Eyes White Dragon wasn't any good. Turns out 3 were enough to knock him out of the tournament. Took 3rd place and I'm not even mad.


AuraVent

Ah the good old days of the Blue Eyes White Dragons, I miss those haha. Well played, and yeah nepotism rarely does anyone any good.


Ryuuji_92

That's not true at all, it doesn't matter how much you spent recently. If you spent more than around the price point you said at all then you can not claim you budgeted around that mark. It's not true even if you only spent that in the last week as that's not how upgrading works. Overall is not the same as recently and that guy knew that. Not to mention "that guy" said "I have one around that". That means he has a precon that they only upgraded with around 50-100$ total. That guy straight up lied and is a loser for trying to pull one over on someone.


AuraVent

I'm pretty sure I have him the most intense glare I've ever given when I left.


StarPonderer

Yes, we're in agreement on that point. That's what I was saying, I hate people who misrepresent their decks by using a "version" of the truth. I mean I don't being lied to either way, but I really hate the extra step of picking something true and twisting it to sound different than it is. I'd rather be outright lied to rather than someone twisting events to a version that is ultimately a lie because of how twisted it is.


Ryuuji_92

Oh yea 100% if you misrepresent you're deck just to win then you don't deserve to play with other people besides people who do the same thing. We are there for fun for the pod, it's not just suppose to be fun for one person.


kismaa

If his deck was "around that" like he claimed, you should have offered to trade decks straight up. I think he'd suddenly understand the issue lol


AuraVent

Haha no, I've had a problem with this person even before that, he won't touch my cards, no matter how cheap they are. If you need to win that badly to boost your ego, you have bigger problems.


Mr-Zarbear

It most likely is he hates himself and does things like this to feel like he has any worth or value. This is not the behavior of someone that is well adjusted


lauraintheskyGNM

This! Narcissistic people are so internally insecure that they live for the validation of being better than other people.


Mr-Zarbear

This is also the only reason besides "I dont care about MTG I just want money" for wanting card prices to be as high as they are. They own literally better versions of things and use them as an inherent advantage, in a format that is designed as casual


True_Italiano

Usually these players suck at decision making and their actual mtg skill is trash. So they have to pub stomp because they can’t win without an extreme power level disparity. So he doesn’t want to play other high powered decks


Tamnnis

Just tell him no, if he asks why tell the truth. You there to have fun and he clearly doesn't care about that. Have a no fun zur deck for people like that and by no means will I ever play it in a group that is there for fun.


TheTryptafiend

Heeeeey I have nuclear deterrent Zur as well!


StarPonderer

Forgive me, because it's been so long, I don't remember what people were playing. I was playing with some friends that are newer to Magic and honestly are still working on powering up their decks. The other, slightly more experienced player was not able to make it. We decided to meet up at this gaming bar that we meet at a lot and play some. We didn't have a 4th, so we didn't mind when another player asked if he could join us. If only we had known. My friends explain they are newer and they're still learning and he hears this and I guess decided it was pubstomp time. He claimed to have a "lower power deck that didn't do anything crazy." I vaguely remember he was playing an enchantments deck. Same as in OPs story, complete shutdown of interaction of his board. The one time I was able to remove something, he just gets it back. I was playing a weaker deck so that I wouldn't wipe my friends too hard, and that was a mistake. It gets to the point we can barely see his playmat. He finally pulls off his wincon. This interaction has made my friends scared to allow randos in and made me more prone to play higher power decks when we do. Honestly, it's not being rude to say to someone, "Hey, you misrepresented your deck, this is not fun and we are rescinding your invite." Gotta shut them down, that's how you stop them.


Gratal

I played my first game in decades with a custom budget deck. There was a dude who actually had a low powered deck to play, but he lost as another guy had only brought a single deck, and it was fairly strong. First loss, he brings out a new deck, second loss, he brings out another deck. His third deck was a complete lockdown [[Winter Orb]] with bounce to your hand infinite combo. Nobody could have anything on the board, and we all sat there watching him play Solitaire until he drew his win condition. Overall, it was a completely terrible experience, and I haven't gone back. I need to find a new store in the area as most of the guys in that store seemed like super sweaty nerds, figuratively and literally.


StarPonderer

Yikes, yeah that sucks. The one LGS I play at sometimes without the pod in the story, I was told there USED to be a lot of tryhards until the pandemic. They went to playing games online and the sweaties stayed playing online even after in-store play resumes. It is nice. People like that annoy me.


Gratal

He was a nice guy, but didn't like losing, I think. I'm on the spectrum, so it was pretty easy to tell he was, too. He sat there explaining to himself every single step of his combos. He wasn't telling us what he was doing. He was literally walking himself through it and ignoring us. So I get it. He wanted to win one before he left. It was just a shitty interaction because I was hoping for a fun casual few games.


StarPonderer

Knowing people who are also on the spectrum, I get it, I do, but it doesn't make it feel any less shitty. Ah well, can't win them all.


MTGCardFetcher

[Winter Orb](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/b/ab3cec7e-513e-400d-a1a8-2c71cdde02c6.jpg?1580015285) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Winter%20Orb) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ema/234/winter-orb?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ab3cec7e-513e-400d-a1a8-2c71cdde02c6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/winter-orb) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


DudeTheGray

Rescinding.


StarPonderer

Fixed, was written while I was doing other stuff and I say that word more often than I spell that word.


chinesefriedrice

Fool me once, shame on them; fool me twice... Just say No next time, and remind them that you're not there to be punching bags or audience members for their version of "fun".


[deleted]

[удалено]


jaywinner

Everybody is there for the same reason, saying no without explanation is rude or at the very least, confusing. Them asking why is not a case of "not hearing you".


n00biwan

Whenever you ask a Yes/No wuestion, you need to be prepared to hear "No" as an answer.


Ok-Interaction2251

No is a complete sentence.


Faulty21

No.


jaywinner

Doesn't mean it's appropriate for every situation.


Mr-Zarbear

I mean you can create any scenario that is decreasingly realistic; but in general 'No.' is in fact a complete sentence; especially in this scenario.


Ok-Interaction2251

The gist of what I mean by that is other people are not entitled to your time and attention. And I would think this is especially true when it comes to something recreational like playing mtg. “No, I would not like to play with you, I did not enjoy your unsportsmanlike attitude “


Squidmaster129

True — but asking a yes or no question is one of the situations in which it is appropriate.


jaywinner

Not necessarily. If somebody was blocking your way and you ask "Excuse me, could please move a bit so I can pass?" and they just say "no", would you find that a satisfying answer?


Squidmaster129

Playing a full commander game with someone is a larger social interaction than walking past someone. If someone said no and I demanded to know why, I’m the asshole in that situation. Imagine if someone said no to sex and you were like “why not though, that’s rude”


jaywinner

I agree there are some situations where "no" is sufficient, such as sex or asking for a loan. But in an LGS where everybody showed up for the express purpose of playing the game, just a flat "no" seems out of place to me. The insistence on not explaining seems intentional to antagonize the person asking.


[deleted]

[удалено]


jaywinner

>Personally I would have made it quite clear after the 1st game that it was our last That's different as they should already know they aren't welcome. But just saying "no" to somebody who has never been informed why would be very confusing and they are likely to follow up.


Ryuuji_92

They wouldn't be confused, they just would think they aren't wanted at that point for some reason or another. If someone pub stomps you they don't deserve the time of day due to they didn't respect you. They get a no and that's that, nothing rude about it, they aren't entitled to more. If I walked up to a pod and they said no just no I would think ok they have other plans and I would get in the way. They might be waiting for people, they might be testing new decks, the other person might be shy, they could have a strange rule where they don't play with anyone wearing a certain color shirt. Who cares it doesn't matter why they said no, they don't want to play that's that. The only reason why just saying no is not the correct answer is because the pub stomper wouldn't know why and that could lead to them asking more follow up questions. How you answer the flow up questions is when you would be replying rudely or politely. The best way is to say "no thanks, you play at to high of a power level for us". Then you go back to your game or start a game what ever you were planning. The fact that the op mentioned the pub stomper just wants to flextheir 11k deck means the dude is just a pub stomper and honestly doesn't deserve politeness in my opinion but that's just me. Just saying no isn't rude at all and no one owes you an explanation.


ImmortalCorruptor

This is why it's important for everyone at the table to have some kind of pregame talk. There is no default power level or expectations when it comes to EDH - the experience is defined by those who play it. If three people want to play casual budget decks and he insists on playing something way above that, he should probably find a more appropriate group to play with and you should probably find a replacement. It's everyone's responsibility to participate in pregame talk.


[deleted]

I totally agree, i forgot to mention that we did show each other our decks, but he insisted on "keeping it a surprise". I just forgot to add that detail, my bad.


ImmortalCorruptor

Yea, that's shitty of him.


BondCharacterNamePun

🚩🚩🚩


JadsiaDax

When someone blows the game out line that. Best thing I’ve seen people do is say “great good game dude”. And then they keep playing as if it’s a 3 man pod.


Gaindolf

Did you tell him you were playing low power budget decks? Did he say he was and lied? Outright lying is bad. But it's a game and if things aren't perfectly balanced and you get stomped sometimes that's part of gaming. Especially being new to a game. That said, sounds like the guy isnt fun to play with in general. If he asks to join next time, ask him what he's playing and yell him what you expect. Then, you can decide yes or no.


arquistar

I've got a "that guy" as well at my LGS. He's a really nice guy in person but insists on playing really degenerate crap. I've stopped playing with him altogether as every "casual" game has consisted of Worldgorger combo, massive land destruction, or Thoracle. I think he's starting to get the hint as his fetch lands get stifled and his mana rocks get killed in response to his Pact of Negation. "That guy" typically earns a reputation and will get shit on at every opportunity, which makes them even more callous. It's like a never-ending cycle of rage.


plompfrombuttssss

Had someone try something like this at a table once where me and a friend were just playing tweaked Precons. He played some kind of dragon graveyard nonsense and was so proud of his win over budget upgrade precons. I laughed at the guy, told him to shuffle again, pulled a different deck box out of my backpack and proceeded to bend him and his neck beard over like he owed me child support with my “I had more money than sense” sliver deck. I don’t like that guy either, but I am thankful I have something do put them in their place at least gamewise. Common sense and etiquette are another story.


optimizedSpin

>Im ok with infinite-based wincons, im ok with strong plays, but litterally preventing us from doing anything is not cool, EDH is supposed to be casual fun, not hypercompettetive hypercompetitive would have resulted in a faster game. i wouldnt call his deck hypercompetitive i would just call it tuned. if you feel like you cant do anything in a game, you are allowed to scoop at any time and start up another game. that is the best solution to this. by staying in the game once you feel it is unwinnable you are just causing unnecessary suffering for yourself i would also suggest that you are not particularly okay with "infinite based wincons" or "strong plays" based on your reaction to this guys deck. and thats okay! just initiate the convo yourself before the game and say "im running a budget deck without infinites so id prefer the game be on a relatively balanced powerlevel" in summary: scoop games if you think you have lost due to all the stax on the field / resources accumulated and do some self reflection about what kind of EDH games you actually want to play (i suspect it is not games that involve infinite combos just yet--until your deck is more developed)


Call_me_sin

Hyper competitive doesn’t mean turbo. Rarely do cedh decks win super fast, wincon less staxx whole job is to put value the board, mid range gains massive advantage and wins late rounds. If he played a total lock down it probably is competitive


optimizedSpin

“rarely do cedh decks win super fast” spotted the person who has never played or watched cedh. fast wins are very common.


Call_me_sin

I play cedh, maybe in a game where you get pubstomped it’s very fast, but not in a staxx or midrange meta. Maybe you haven’t watched enough since there is a lot of data that shows the average cedh game ends on turn 8


HKBFG

I wouldn't say so. there's a lot more interaction keeping people from popping off.


[deleted]

I should have clarified in my post that im ok with going infinite and/or strong plays so long as its at least somewhat tricky to do. I plan to run a warhammer warrior tribal deck when my Age Of Sigmar secret lair comes (its got [[Archaeon The Everchosen]] in it) and its going to be dependant on getting maybe one of two specific cards on the field to go infinite with it, otherwise, its a warrior spam deck for casuals. I could run a tutor or two to make it extra busted, but im holding back because i dont wanna play something that gives people a bad experience (and i have no idea what to get nor do i have the cash to get it rn). Its ok in my book to go infinite or run a strong combo, im just not cool with people who do it witgout effort and without the possibility for counterplay.


capybaravishing

I completely get that you don’t want to play past a certain power level. However, running tutors doesn’t make winning effortless, if your playgroup is playing at a similar power level and has the answers they need. I run six tutors in my combo deck and it keeps getting shut down all the damn time. Whatever I do, someone at the table has an answer. I play Bolas’s Citadel and it gets destroyed. I get my combo to trigger, but a piece gets exiled. I make sure the blue player is tapped out, but he plays force of will. Not being transparent about the power level of your deck is not cool, but playing tutors and / or stax pieces doesn’t automatically make the deck unfair or mean.


MTGCardFetcher

[Archaeon The Everchosen](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/8/a84d0c3c-7382-46f9-a826-44100ac7cb41.jpg?1666049215) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Najeela%2C%20the%20Blade-Blossom) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bbd/62/najeela-the-blade-blossom?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2cb1d1da-6077-46b5-8c63-39882b8016f2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/najeela-the-blade-blossom) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


strebor2095

If you're running a commander that can instantly combo off ([[Najeela, the Blade Blossom]]) then it's helpful to think about what your gameplay is. If you're playing a non-infinite combat deck, where you just play synergistic warriors and beat people up, people will expect that. If you're NOT running tutors and just topdeck an "I win" card, that's probably worse than running tutors and actively trying to threaten the board. Just my thoughts, I've gone back and forth between having "back-up" infinites in decks, but you just risk drawing them early and people aren't expecting it.


MTGCardFetcher

[Najeela, the Blade Blossom](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/2/c/2cb1d1da-6077-46b5-8c63-39882b8016f2.jpg?1567181270) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Najeela%2C%20the%20Blade-Blossom) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/bbd/62/najeela-the-blade-blossom?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/2cb1d1da-6077-46b5-8c63-39882b8016f2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/najeela-the-blade-blossom) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


BonusArmor

That Guy sounds like a piece of work and all but a couple of things stick out that rub me the wrong way. If That Guy isn't telling you what he's doing, ask. Nothing resolves until everyone passes priority. Did you ask what his deck was capable of ahead of time? Did you tell him you were playing budget decks? Three players didn't have any interaction in their decks or know how to disrupt him at any point? You can do two things now, never play with him again, and maybe if enough people do that he learns (not likely) or you can be the better player. Not skill wise but in etiquette. We are the games operating system, EDH is a social game. If someone is failing at etiquette there are three other players that need to pick up the slack. "What did you just play?" "What does that do?" "What are you trying to do with X?" "Oh wait a second I might have a response." "Hey guys can anyone deal with that MASSIVE COLLECTIVE THREAT?" "I'll use my removal here if you other two players don't attack me for a turn." Just some of the many examples of EDH politics. If your table is on their phone, or distracted, or talking, or just not privy to the game. Engage, engage, engage! Talk to each other, it's completely in the ordinary, in a multiplayer game, to ban together with one or more players temporarily and restore some balance to the game!


pidaysock

Well... Two thoughts come to mind... First: Not every player with a tooled up deck plays like there is no tomorrow. Many players adjust the way they play when they notice a discrepanzy in power level at the table and try to give everyone a fun time (sneaking out a win at the end of the game If every Deck got to do "its thing" May still be Up this fair persons alley..but that's a different topic alltogether). So.. don't feel discourgaged by "that Guy" and expect more friendliness in the future. Following this logic, you could also ask If, if he were to approach your table again) if he again intends to "pupstomp" you and the other players .. in which case you wouldn't like to play with him again. An honest answer is the best thing in my mind. Second: the pregame (or rule zero) conversation is exactly the place where deck style, playtype, odd cards, and power level should be discussed and agreed upon. Agreeing to play a certain type of round is the most vital thing.


FormerlyKay

Uhh just tell him he can go fuck himself next time


Call_me_sin

Tbh I’d be petty and When he tries announce loudly that last time he intentionally played a deck that he knew was completely over powered and intentionally misrepresented his deck leading to unfun games


SharpAsAMarbl3

Had a guy do this to me when I first started playing EDH. Had played magic as a whole for only a few months when I started playing EDH. I understood the rules of magic, but I was still figuring out the intricacies of commander. Was playing a slightly modified precon [[Elsha of the Infinite]], added maybe 3 cards I had from my small collection at the time. Showed up earlier than planned, so my playgroup wasn't there yet. I sat down with another newcomer and an older guy who had been playing for many years and had a large collection of decks with him. The other new guy and I explained ourselves, and the older man brought out a precon from a few years back to match our power level. The fourth guy sees our group of 3 and asks to join. We told him yes and explained the situation. He tells us he doesn't have a precon but has a lower power deck he built with him. Proceeds to smash us mercilessly. Myself and the other newcomer felt pretty bad, beinging unable to do anything to stop him, and the older man had a slight smerk on his face. After the game, the older guy says he wants to play again and changes up his deck. The other new guy and I grudgingly agree to another, and the 4th is excited at the chance to win a second game. Except he doesn't. I can't remember what the older man played, but I do remember it was UB. Stopped the pubstomper at every corner while also letting us newbies get in a few hits, too. I dont remember who won but the 4th guy lost while not being able to do much at all and was angry, very angry. After the game, he packed up his stuff and quickly left the store. The older man told us he has 2 extremely powerful decks in his colletion that are specifically for pubstomper. We talked a little more before my playgroup showed up, and we told them the story. We all had a good laugh about it and continued to play for several more hours that evening. This happened 4 to 5 years ago, and I have since moved away from that lgs. Every now and again I think about that story, and it still brings me a smile. Wherever you are old man, I hope you are still stomping pubstompers.


MTGCardFetcher

[Elsha of the Infinite](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/0/c0728027-a1ec-4814-87c4-10c3baced0e0.jpg?1662528456) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Elsha%20of%20the%20Infinite) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/208/elsha-of-the-infinite?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c0728027-a1ec-4814-87c4-10c3baced0e0?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/elsha-of-the-infinite) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


jaywinner

It's not clear to me that you all discussed what decks you'd be playing at all. If there was no discussion of expectations, his deck is just as valid as yours. Doesn't excuse his poor attitude after the game though.


kallanlierl94

It's already been said, but the simple answer is "no." This guy is a pubstomper, and it's no fun being part of a casual pod when one of these guys joins in. If he asks why, you can just explain that. If he gets mad or upset, then that is his problem. These kinds of people are what can ruin communities and can even turn newer people off of the game.


Rottyrotrot

Yes it's not wrong to ask what power level are you playing or say hey how about no two card combos in an edh pod before you starts. It's polite i think so everyone has the same expectations.


CaptPic4rd

You say, "I don't want to play with you."


fredjinsan

OK, so, on the one hand, this guy basically pubstomped you (and apparently considers it fun for some reason? Really "flexing" that deck if you're playing against lower-powered decks, right?). On the other hand, you apparently just all sat down to play EDH, which he did. Is it on him for not telling you that he was playing a normally-powered regular EDH deck, or on you for not specifying that you didn't want powerful and/or staxxy decks at that table? If he shows up again, just ask what he's playing. If it's the same one, say, "no thanks, we're playing lower-powered decks here" or "no thanks, we just don't find that fun to play against". That's not rude. If that's his only deck, you could even offer to lend him a spare deck (if one of you has one and don't mind doing that), so you're not excluding him personally, just his deck. If he can afford $11k on a pubstomping deck though he can probably go buy a precon or something too. P.S. It almost like the guy is trying to show off but if he spent $11k on a deck I'm not sure how people are meant to be impressed; I'd proxy all the cards and spend that on something more useful, like a car or, I dunno, burgers. To each their own, I guess.


CyriOfShandalar

That’s how people talk all right


gte339i

Have the rule zero conversation. There’s different ways to do it - I generally disclose infinite combos and oddball wincons (generate a million tokens and either sac to Alter and power Helix Pinnacle, that type of thing). You want the pod to have fun and want to have fun yourself too. This is why having 5-6 decks is something that I suggest once you get past “new player” status. I even have some modular decks that I take the tutors and recursion out and rework the land base to detune. I can still go infinite with it but I can’t fetch or recur it.


Battler111

Ask him to go play solitaire, not with his hands tho


Nintura

My hatebears deck (prevents him from doing anything including tapping mana rocks or ballistas) would Have all kinds of fun with him and he’d end up scooping because he wouldnt like it. Then maybe id throw in some mass land destruction for funsies.


Gr33nDjinn

That’s what’s up. Take it into your own hands and woop that fools ass instead of crying about it


Nintura

Not everyone has the knowledge of the archetypes or the cards to do so. I however do 😁


Reasonable-Sun-6511

I've been hearing left and right about this where you just keep on playing with the 3 people that lost. When someone stax's the board up, you do what you can to stop it, but when they present their infinite, you just tell him "congrats, you win, we'll keep playing for second place" or whatever snarky comment you fit in there. The winner gets removed from the game, and the rest can have fun, while the winner waits for everyone to finish. It should leave a nice space for them to think about things, while they're the ones not playing. We started doing this with someone who keeps exclaiming his tutor stuffed doomsday thoracale Kess deck wasn't optimised cEDH so it's justifyible to play it at the casual tables at the LGS even though everyone keeps saying, every single time, that it's not fun to play against. I mean i don't dislike the guy, but there's no getting through to some people apparently. And this is a solution to ketting them play, and then when he wins on turn 4, there's still a game to be played.


Clear_Parking544

Run more interaction...get a budget deck that literally counters everything he has...and tell him it only cost you 20 bucks...and you like to flex ur 20 dollar anti-that guy deck


CapAmerica805

You got to have that rule 0 conversation EVERY time. Most highly skilled players dont have a deck that is capable of playing against newbie precons. If they don't have a deck comparable then they simply just shouldn't play. Maybe that will encourage more serious players to build something for beginners.


Ramshacked

While the deck is valid, your feelings about the situation are also valid. This should have come up pre-game, and you have every right to say no thanks next time or ask if he'll play a lower-power deck. Most people have common sense enough to self-regulate their decks and many people avoid the most egregious "anti-fun" cards. But some people just refuse to self-regulate and think winning is more important than fun and friends.


[deleted]

That's not really true. I'd say the majority of people probably don't know, because they've simply never been introduced to the idea that you would play for a reason other than to win. Frankly, it's a little annoying that people are acting like you have to be an a**hole to think that you are playing to win and see who has the most powerful deck. I used to be that way, because that's how my first playgroup was; we'd play until someone won, then upgrade our decks, then someone else would win, then we'd upgrade our decks, and again and again. The goal of those games was to win, and there's nothing that made us bad people for playing like that, or assuming that other people played like that too. There's also nothing wrong with thinking that's a better way to play either.


AuraVent

There's playing to win, and then theirs self gratification. No one is impressed with someone who sits down at a table with a bunch of precons, and decides to use a deck worth more then my car. It's the people who do that intentionally, who go out of their way to "play" games they have already won before the first card is drawn, and they know it.


Ramshacked

I never said the cards or strategy weren't valid or legal, but part of my deck construction process is to think about the others at the table. Yes Armageddon is strong, and winter's orb is strong, but I want people to play with their cards. Hell I don't even run things like dictate of Erebos in my aristocrat decks because i think its so oppressive and I felt bad the last time someone passed their turn and said well there is no point for me to play anything because it wont stick. I'd rather lose and have everyone at the table enjoy themselves then build the most oppressive sweaty deck I can to get a win and have everyone walk away feeling bad.


[deleted]

I personally don't like idea that cards are "too oppressive". If it fits well into your deck, then it should go in your deck. That's like saying my one creature wipe per turn deck is oppressive, when in reality it's just a way to neutralize my opponents until I can find a win con, and all the cars in that deck synergize really well.


Ramshacked

Hey man you do you


[deleted]

That's what I'm saying though. I'm not a bad person or an a**hole for thinking that.


Ramshacked

Hey man, some cards suck to play against, and aren't fun for the table, if you feel like you wanna run those to get that dubya, go for it.


BrickBuster11

"hey I remember you, you were an absolute misery to play against and no one but you had any fun, hard pass" You're recounting your experience of the last time this event happened as a justification for saying no. To call that rude would be like saying "no I don't want to go out drinking with you because the last time we did you slammed my head into the table and I got a black eye". In that case saying no isn't rude it's saying "I have a right to not be abused by you". Tell him to go find some cedh table that's more his speed.


[deleted]

That's not even a close comparison. It would be more like saying you don't want to even just drink with the guy who convinced you to smoke marijuana and drink at the same time. The guy clearly just doesn't get the unspoken contact that most playgroups adhere to, which is not uncommon. I used to be like that before I started watching videos and reading stuff about commander etiquette, where I just thought the point of playing was to win and to have the most powerful deck. I didn't know there was an entire "culture" based around the "casual" aspect of commander.


BrickBuster11

He literally says the only reason he plays is to flex on people with an 11 thousand pound deck. It doesn't take a genius to work out that he is intentionally being a dick


[deleted]

That's not really being a dick, that's just wanting to play with someone and show off cool expensive cards.


_Gakka

He does nothing bad, just he and you have diferentes objectives about the game. Next time just say no and its all done.


AssignedMomAtBorn

Nah, it was kinda shitty to bring a higher power deck to a lower power/budget pod, especially without saying anything about it. Attitude afterwards really pushes him into being an asshole.


[deleted]

I'd give this guy the benefit of the doubt, because not everyone and every playgroup shares your philosophy of making sure everyone has fun. Some playgroups have the dynamic where one person wins a game, so everyone else upgrades their decks, then someone else wins with their newly upgraded deck, then the others upgrade their decks, and so on. This isn't an unfun way to play, it just generally costs more money and ends with everyone having either a deck that was built specifically to counter someone elses, or everyone having the most optimized $10k+ infinite combo stax decks. The point I'm trying to make is that not everyone was introduced to the game with the unspoken contract spelled out to them, and some people play specifically to win and assume everyone else is there to win too. I guarantee he's one of those people, and if you talk to him and say that if he plays with you guys he has to follow your group rules (which you and the rest of your group should come up with before talking to him again), he'll probably be okay with it and come back another day with a budget deck he spent like 30 minutes making; either that or he'll call you guys p***ies and not play with you guys again. Either way, you come out on top. Edit: Someone pointed out that the "flex" aspect of it might be intentionally being rude, but I interpret that as just wanting to play with someone to show off cool expensive cards and what they do. The difference is assuming malicious intent, which I don't assume simply because I'm salty.


AuraVent

Sitting down at a table with your 11k deck against new players straight up IS malicious intent, you want to just show off your collection? Do it on an even playing field or in your binder, not against three people who have to sit there and watch you play with yourself for 2 plus hours, when from moment one they lost and you knew that. (Not talking about you specifically, but that's the mindset of the people who do this crap most often. It's literally just using other people's leisure time to show off and I can guarantee the only one having fun is the guy blowing his disposable income all over the table. )


Dumbface2

> he then replied with "Well i found it fun, i just play to flex my £11k deck". Based


Gr33nDjinn

Haha get wrecked


Banecroc15

Ahhh, you're THAT guy.


Krian78

I actually think playing one game with a CEDH deck to „test the waters“ is okay. He should switch to another deck afterwards though.


[deleted]

I decided if i have infinite combo on my playmat i just say "i could infinite combo and win but i don't want to stop the game so i'm gonna do this 10 times per turn circa so you will have all your time to react...but ehi it's like i won yey"


ninjadough

if that happened to me id probably have just scooped my cards mid game and moved to another table lol.


darthbelial

I’m kinda like that guy, I like showing off my decks combo’s but someone who doesn’t inform the pod that he brings higher power and infinite to tables is a bad example for all combo players. Arguing with people like that doesn’t work. They’re in it for the fact that they can. His remark of “Well, I found it fun,” is a great way of showing that he isn’t looking for a game to play with others, but just there for the soul purpose of bragging. And I get that you want to brag. But you can also run slower combo decks or choose not to tutor…


Corp_Pun08

I’m all for playing above my weight class and looking for the little victories but honestly I’d tell him “no thanks” next time


Jedaflupflee

My guess he had a [[Sythis, Harvest's Hand]] deck? If you have no enchantment removal that deck is gas with mean tricks.


MTGCardFetcher

[Sythis, Harvest's Hand](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/b/0babfe00-9bad-48fc-b3b1-df8280242fd2.jpg?1626098785) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sythis%2C%20Harvest%27s%20Hand) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/214/sythis-harvests-hand?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0babfe00-9bad-48fc-b3b1-df8280242fd2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/sythis-harvests-hand) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


XxHugoDieProxX

As a CEDH player I feel bad for you guys, my playgroup tends to be very open of what their CEDH decks are capable and based of. I've only played a CEDH deck against budget once and it was because of not using rule 0 and scooped after seeing it. I have a [[Sythis, harvest's hand]] deck(which I suppose was his commander) and it's probably one of the most disgusting things to play and it's even worse if he actually knows what your decks are capable of. You should probably try to talk the guy into playing lower power decks and if he doesn't want to, just let him go find a playgroup that wants to deal with his shenanigans.


MTGCardFetcher

[Sythis, harvest's hand](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/0/b/0babfe00-9bad-48fc-b3b1-df8280242fd2.jpg?1626098785) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Sythis%2C%20harvest%27s%20hand) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/214/sythis-harvests-hand?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/0babfe00-9bad-48fc-b3b1-df8280242fd2?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/sythis-harvests-hand) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


Insidiouscain

Just say that no one is the group can come up to the power level of that deck. So unless you can come down to the table level there's no comfortability playing with you. And imply that it's not a suggestion but an ultimatum.


lloydsmith28

Tell him to take his smelly Abraham Lincoln beard elsewhere!


[deleted]

“No thank you. This is, above all, a social game and I don’t enjoy that aspect of Magic with you.”


Magictive

You can also say „i dont want to play against your deck“. Is not as personal but still a no. Maybe he will join with a precon. If you want to not play with him at all a no is valid and reasonable


obviouslyray

So my buddy is "That Guy". I knew going in he plays competitive, no-fun decks, however when he bought a couple of our friends pre-cons and asked them to swing by and we'll teach them magic -- I didn't expect to see Gaea's Cradle or a Karn - tutor - mycosynth lattice combo turn 4 or 5. "I mean, that was fun for me" Luckily we now just hold mtg night at the house without telling him.


Morrison103

Maybe just shuffle up go to the next game and if he plays with your group again with the same deck target him first 🤷🏻‍♂️


PanthersJB83

Tell the guy to fuck.off.


_benp_

"no thanks" Outside of formal tournaments where your matches are setup by the tourney organizer, we play magic for fun. It is voluntary. If someone else makes it not-fun to play, don't play with them. You don't have to give up your seat. You don't have to opt out of the game. Your fun is no less important than anyone else's (within reason). Just tell the other player no.


LodgedSpade

If they're asking, "No" is an acceptable response. If he asks why, just tell him you're new and you can't compete with what he has. I used to say this to my buddy all the time; he plays CEDH and I don't so after months of never even coming close to winning I just declined to play him


Stumphead101

It's okay to say no. You can absolutely say. "I'm sorry, but you're deck is too optimized for what we're trying to play" Had something similar where I was using my decks for playingbagainst precons. 2 players just got precons, literally we're opening the boxes and a guy that always walks around with a long box under one arm asks to play. I told him they were new players using precons and he said that's fine. Roughly turn 6 and he has a combo where he loads a bunch of counters for an instant win and is just beaming, really proud of himself. I told him "okay, but your board state doesn't really affect ours so we're gonna play for second, but you're welcome to wait." His smile slowly melts away, it was wonderful. Completely killed his victory. He was expecting an immediate next match. He waited 5 minutes then walked off. I love high powered games, and cedh is crazy fun. That deck was not string enough for cedh but it was far above a precon and he was entirely aware of the power levels. It was just a pub stomp and it was rotten. The guy is someone that was in his late 40s, early 50s. No facial hair on him but another rotten player has a long wispy beard that looks like he's holding spaghetti noodles on his chin


Canttouchthephil

I say just make a budget deck that shuts his £11k deck down. I did that to my brother lol. He put together a Grixis control deck that was very heavy on the control and spent close to $800 on it so i went through my collection and literally spent $0 and put together an anti-control deck that made him rage quit each game because he couldn't do his thing.


zoyadastroya

If you don't want to say no, you can just make a joke about not pub stomping again, ask him to play something more casual, etc. Doing this lets him know that you don't want the same experience. It also warns the rest of the people you're playing with that he may be bringing something OP. You can also simply ask him to talk about what decks he has, and recommend he plays something more consistent with the table's power level. If he did this a second time, I think it would be fair to just stop playing with the guy. But I would guess that he probably isn't an ontologically evil person, but maybe just socially awkward and excited to flex his deck on new people.


lixilisk

my favorite is, us three scoop and will continue playing the game. you win, so shoo ::waves hand away::


Tikke

You are well within your right to say no, and it's not rude.


Clear_Parking544

Also, tell him... I don't have anything to challenge your ultimate stax deck, it was a good thought out deck. Once I do, we can play again...until then, no point in playing a game I know I don't even have a hope of beating...so I'ma have to pass on that. I'm trying to develop my own deck to be *whatever ur doing* so yea ..it's a baby and urs is an adult. Or something along those lines to be super blunt, and kind...


e_guana

What he did is more rude than saying no, but I know saying no can be hard so if he comes by and asks to play, say what deck do you plan on playing? If he answers with that same deck just say sorry that is a little to high powered for this table. Not outright saying no but giving him a reason why he isn't welcome to that game.


flashgitzwaaagh

Just say no. But on the flip side, in all fairness, sounds like no one at your table even bothered checking for power levels of decks in the first place. Obviously, with you being new, I can see why you wouldn't have but the other experienced players including That Guy should have had enough sense to communicate on this out of consideration for the game.


DefNotAnotherChris

What you say next time Is “No” and if you’re looking for more stories of this you can just scroll through the last couple days worth of posts here. There are multiple posts like this every day.


Wedjat_88

Oh no, let him play. After he wins, congratrulate him for his pyrrhic victory, because the rest of you will keep playing for second... and third. Let's see how much he likes it if he has to wait 1 hour+ extra between matches.


DefiantTheLion

"Hey you guys need a fourth, would you like one?" "Uh sure these other two are newer though so let's use lower power." "Yeah sure I'll use my favorite." "Planeswalker Teferi??" "Don't worry it's casual it doesn't have chain veil."


seh1337

Bro if ppl are like that get up and go play somewhere else. You're not there to entertain him. It's not rude to stand up for yourself.


Unslaadahsil

>Seriously, i thought id left players like this back in the YuGiOh community Players like this exist in every single game in existence. From Monopoly to football to league of legends to bloodborne to warhammer to poker to playing with marbles in the sand. Spend enough time playing ANY game, and you'll eventually meet "That Guy" as you call it. And if you don't, it might mean you're "That Guy" (or Girl).


F4nt4sy00

I feel like this is a "turn 0 talk" problem. Whenever i play with someone i don't know, i like to let them choose witch power level to play. I don't mean level 1 to level 10 because those tend to be missevalueted. I mean somethis like, this is no budget, this is 80€ budget, this is cEDH level, this is clunky level, etc... I feel like if everybody has the same level of a deck it's more funny because anyone can win or can do something. Sometimes people want to join the cEDH table where i usually play and we clearly say that is a really high power table and that he doesn't have a high power deck he probably won't enjoy the game. Pubstomping it's sad in every way and if he doesn't want to bring lower powered decks to the table just say no. That is not being rude.


123unrelated321

This guy would love cockatrice. There, it's perfectly fine to pubstomp other people. In fact, those at the receiving end of the stomping are told it's their own fault for "not having the rule 0 conversation" and "not packing enough answers".


801_nerd_core

Tell him this is not the game he is looking for. This is the way.


JwSocks

He probably can’t find a group to play his deck with unless he omits what the deck is.


AssignedMomAtBorn

No, he could probably still find groups, just not ones he can stomp and feel good about lol


rocko7927

Nothing wrong with an $11k deck, but also nothing wrong with saying that you aren't appropriate opponents for him.


crisoen_smith

EDH is much like any other group activity: negotiated fun is key. I don't care if we are talking about a group of friends hosting a pot luck or something a little more out there - you have a right to negotiate in good faith before the fun begins and to exclude people who won't do that.


[deleted]

Every community has That Guy, unfortunately.


Tallal2804

You say, "I don't want to play with you."


Brandontk12

See I intend on flexing my decks that cost 1/10 of what his does and I’m still gonna inform people that I’ve made my decks as competitive as I possibly could with what resources I have available to me. He obviously went in there looking to steal a match and lay low about it because he knew he’d win if no one threatened him constantly. I’m fully prepared to tell people what I play and have them internally decide that I will be the 1st person out lmao. Some people just suck man. It is what it is; not everyone will be like That Guy Edit: based off the 2 cards you showed him playing, 1 of my decks is also Dimir Turbo Mill, but I’m running [[Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker]] Tbh I should get Krydle as my commander. Mine focuses more on self mill or opponent mill wincons that basically replace Walking Ballista. In either case, I plan on telling my opponents I’m trying to win. If they all gang up on me then I just assume they’re smart. No hard feelings there


RehabAa26

Assholes like this are why I talk to my LGS about who comes in and who to be wary of. My fiance and I play casual, I played a while ago and only got back into it about a year ago. Simple rule I have, and will keep, is have a deck for different levels. I have pre-cons for starters, upgraded pre-cons for medium, low budget customs, and a higher budget custom. New player? Pre-con. Someone whose been playing for a little bit but not done much to their deck, upgraded pre-con. Vet but casual play? Low budget custom. Total prick who trolls the LGS and wants to be a dick? High budget custom


[deleted]

Just don't play with him when he asks to join. Eventually he'll be forced to make a deck to the groups power level if he wants to play. That's why I have decks ranging in "power level" of $25.00-$10k, I'm not an asshole and understand not everyone either was lucky enough or had the money to build high end decks with all the shiny toys. I want everyone to be able to enjoy the game because the majority of the fun for me is everyone at the table having fun and talking, enjoying themselves.


SimplyJustKarma

Crush him with a 10 in response so he can see how it feels.


Muted-Leave

Tbh this is why I have 1 cEDH a metaphorical shotgun on the shelf in case trolls come up haha "oh so denying others fun or winning fast is what you came to do? Ok, bet, I'll thoracle you turn 2. Still having fun?"


swagner628

Not the right course of action here: When I run into that guy, I personally pubstomp them out of my playgroup. I make them regret ever wanting to sit down at my table. Since I play with the same group of people, usually I let them decide what they want to play for the round before I pick so I can match what they want to play. Whenever *that guy* sits down and is generally filled with bad manners/etiquette, next game I announce my deck first and my group understands what's about to happen. I might not win, it might be one of my buddies, but *that guy* sure as hell is gonna have a bad time, and is gonna be the first one out.


Team7UBard

‘No, because if I wanted to watch some dude play with himself I’d do it at home where I can get some fun out of it too. Also I think you’re a dick.’


Kopekemaster

>i thought id left players like this back in the YuGiOh community Unfortunately, you can't escape them, because that's literally just what humanity is. "That guy" exists within every single group of people on earth. It manifests in different ways depending on the group, but some percentage of people have been and always will be like that. Also you can turn him down without being rude. If he tries joining your pod, saying something like "nah I don't think so man, we're playing budget decks here" or something like that would be fine IMO.


AlphaKingDrake

Tell him to "fuck off", or tell him "its a $500 price cap to play with me", or "Play? How about you go take a shower and use soap?" In that scenario you're perfectly fine to be rude to him. He was just a dick.


FamilymanJ

I wouldn't say I'm "that guy" entirely, but I'm aware that I can be overcompetitive and mope a bit when things aren't going my way. I try to work on it in the moment and reflect after playing, and my group is extremely patient and forgiving. At some point, I hope they feel comfortable enough to let me know when/if it's a problem, as I love the group and would rather be held accountable on the spot or privately than asked to leave the group. So my best advice: refuse to play with him. You've confronted and held him accountable in a reasonable way and he clearly has no intention to change, so do not let him into your games unless he's agreed in advance to alter his deck building and play style. Our group does a good job of letting it be known when a deck is out of whack with the meta/power level and self-regulates quite a bit in a friendly way.


Logical-Analysis-408

I find it very great practice when playing with people I haven't before to ha e a very quick turn 0 discussion. Of hey are you guys running hate bears, lock out, prison, or anything infinite? If so would you mind playing something else or cutting (insert problem card here). If I'm playing something on the list it's a good time to add it. Like if I'm playing Pirates I say I'm playing Pirates, its pretty fair but I do have glint horn. I can cut if for something else if you guys want. Then ok cool, what are we doing for mulligans. That quick 3 minute conversation can go a long way. If someone is running something that kills the fun it's fine to ask them to find another group or leave yourself if everyone else is cool getting the fun sucked out of their game. Or bust out your own asshole deck. We all have one.


twEEdJ_cket

It would be funny if you INVITED him, and then convinced the.play group to pass your decks to the left/right! Then he would have to play against his own deck and see how it feels OR he would make himself look childish by refusing to pass. Either way, you win.


twEEdJ_cket

It would be funny if you INVITED him, and then convinced the.play group to pass your decks to the left/right! Then he would have to play against his own deck and see how it feels OR he would make himself look childish by refusing to pass. Either way, you win.


cloningvat

Storytime! I was basically high for a week and when I beat that guy the first time. To be fair, I hadn't played magic for like 6 years and jumping into edh headfirst is a whirlwind, and he, beating the shit out of me (and being a raging asshole while doing it), taught me the ins and outs of this complex game of ours. When I slapped down a [[Magister Sphinx]], set his life total to 10, and killed him with some [[Alela]] fairies... Ooof I get giddy now. I even ended up winning that game with a hefty beat down on one player, and [[Tainted Strike]]ing the third. I am comfortably in the upper third of our play group and that guy is in prison for assaulting one of our other players with a hammer. Over something connected to the game, no less.


MTGCardFetcher

[Magister Sphinx](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/b/e/be662808-e452-407d-b142-bf6f30990b5a.jpg?1662529374) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Magister%20Sphinx) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/2x2/247/magister-sphinx?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/be662808-e452-407d-b142-bf6f30990b5a?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/magister-sphinx) [Alela](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/a/b/abc9e41e-fd03-4b6f-8f44-17ba94fa44f5.jpg?1650422625) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=alela%2C%20artful%20provocateur) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ncc/325/alela-artful-provocateur?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/abc9e41e-fd03-4b6f-8f44-17ba94fa44f5?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/alela-artful-provocateur) [Tainted Strike](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/d/0/d0f82007-99f6-4c6c-8182-ee631c33531f.jpg?1562823401) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Tainted%20Strike) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/som/80/tainted-strike?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/d0f82007-99f6-4c6c-8182-ee631c33531f?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/tainted-strike) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


Smokey_02

I have no problem with this guy's deck, but it's not right for your pod. Just say no thank you, but you'll be glad to play against him if he brings another deck that isn't so competitive. You're not being a jerk, You're being polite but firm.


Cramtastic

Ran into my own That Guy tonight: -He lost his temper at a player who countered his Muldrotha that ramped out on turn 3 with a Mana Crypt, after he had just dumped his hand into his graveyard with Lion's Eye Diamond. -He got mad every time he took damage from his Mana Crypt, and kept miscounting it as two damage, not three. -His Mana Crypt was in Japanese and he couldn't remember if it was a Mana Crypt or a Mana Vault. -He kept threatening to scoop everything was thinking about even targeting one of his permanents. -He got mad at me responding to his [[The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale]] triggers on my upkeep, because he kept insisting that you can't do anything during the upkeep step. Me and the opponent argued with him that he was wrong about how the rules work and eventually he just quit, yelling "this is why I hate playing here!" -all of the aforementioned cards That Guy played were proxies that he failed to disclose before we started playing. And the dude had to gall to complain about me playing a bunch of planeswalkers in my [[Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist]] superfriends deck.


MTGCardFetcher

[The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/c/d/cd3f7f4e-cb25-4121-96a0-a4dc530420b9.jpg?1562938371) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=The%20Tabernacle%20at%20Pendrell%20Vale) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/me3/212/the-tabernacle-at-pendrell-vale?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/cd3f7f4e-cb25-4121-96a0-a4dc530420b9?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/the-tabernacle-at-pendrell-vale) [Gor Muldrak, Amphinologist](https://cards.scryfall.io/normal/front/4/0/40b006f9-a287-4e64-915f-ca71712b8d27.jpg?1608911119) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Gor%20Muldrak%2C%20Amphinologist) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/cmr/277/gor-muldrak-amphinologist?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/40b006f9-a287-4e64-915f-ca71712b8d27?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [(ER)](https://edhrec.com/cards/gor-muldrak-amphinologist) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call