I started playing Magic around when Prophecy came out, and my brother, who already had a collection of some cool type one cards, decided to share his cards with me. We soon decided that it were worthwhile to play type two like some of our friends, so we promptly gathered some money and started in on this new, strange environment. We played for hours at a time, tweaking our decks to be the best we thought they could, until we felt we were ready to enter our first type two sanctioned constructed tourney. I entered the tourney with a black green deck that, unknown to me, was highly irregular and had no chance at success in the environment at the card shop. So I happily walked in and sat down for my first round and got absolutely stomped around by a Morphling both games one and two. Needless to say, I was dejected when everyone saw me get hammered and made fun of the "crap" I was playing in my deck. I immediately dropped the tourney and found my way home to pout.

I didn't play another tourney for awhile. I instead did my homework and built myself a very interesting deck including the Tide/Ankh combo and some Masticores and Morphlings; quite a difference from my first try needless to say. Well, I entered my next tourney with a new DCI number (I lost my old one) and a new attitude. I was skeptical of my odds, as I knew nothing about what everyone was playing, but I had a positive attitude nevertheless. I ended up getting eighth out of thirty five, and although I was extremely happy about my success, I was very troubled by some qualities of many of the players around me.

Being new, between rounds I found it interesting to eavesdrop on other conversations going on around the store. I was appalled when I heard at least two regarding me and my "rogue deck" (a term with which I was unfamiliar) and how I was such a newbie and didn't belong there. This hurt me, but I simply trudged on through the tourney. I ended up playing one of these arrogant individuals, and I beat them mercilessly, but unfortunately I was berated constantly during the match about my bad plays and my "awful" deck. I may have had some success, but I felt at the day's end that it wasn't enough to make me want to come back.

Well, I ended up going back numerous times, making numerous top eights and making myself a name in my Magic community. I stormed my way into the top twenty in my state and gained the respect of those who mocked my inexperience only months earlier. However, now being in the midst of those who I loathed so much previously allowed me to understand the mentality that those with success generally had. Ego was everything. When the question was asked "what's your record," the responses were almost always "3-0, of COURSE." I couldn't stand it. Why couldn't one be modest? It really hurt me to see newbies, most much like I when I began, being mocked in game for their bad plays and odd decks. Although I said nothing at first (something you should NEVER try) I eventually began to help these newbies by tweaking their decks to make them more competitive. They ended up becoming better players because of this. I e-mailed them back and forth, helping them with trades and whatnot, giving them the confidence I never had. However, those who were now my so-called peers did nothing but mock.

quote:

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Originally posted by Preacher:
But, stay rogue. Play your own decks even if they lose. And one day they'll start winning

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That isn't necessarily a good idea at all. A truly good Rogue deck can't be built until a certain level of experience and adjustment to the game has been made. Thus, for newer players, net decks are actually probably the best learning tool around. Remember, there's a good reason why they're net decks to begin with: if it's being played heavily, odds are it's a great deck.

As for the topic, every new player is different. When I first started playing, it was WAAAAAAY in the beginning (we're talking towards the end of Alpha here), and everyone was pretty much on equal footing. This really meant no berating when it came to card choices and playstyle, because there was nothing to base the berating on. However, when it comes to advancing in Magic, I've always learned better when the lessons were coming in the form of berating. If you can't take it at the casual level, you'll never be able to take it at the Pro level. That's a lesson I learned early on, and it's a lesson that's stuck with me all these years. And it's absolutely true. Speaking from experience, there's a lot of trash talking on the Pro Tour, and you have to be able to take it without it affecting your game.

However, not everyone learns best this way. It's the mark of a good teacher as to if he or she can figure out what the best teaching style is. Therefore, it's entirely possible that berating someone is the best way for them to learn.

However, it sounds as if these guys were just being jerks, in which case you should inform them that you'll be sure to inform the DCI that they are being abusive to other players without any real reason, including newer players. It would be interesting to see the reaction.

I lend cards to kids at my fnm when I go, ones I trust fairly well. Its a easy going place as far as berating goes, but Ive got it so much for playing Sligh in my Magic career, since alot of people around here seem to hate it. I found the best revenge is keeping quiet the whole time and then swiftly giving them a early exit out of the tournament, so they have more time to think of something to berate or whine bout. I dont mind people talking smack bout me, as long as they're chocking on my dust when they open there mouth to!

What can you do? People are people, I dont like losing but I take it in stride and every loss I take I learn something new that can help make my next match a win. No one usually says anything top mean to my face though, must be something bout my look?

haha, people

Jay

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irsih31
Pygmy's build character

Member of Team Guvenors

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For what are leaves but countless blades
To fight a countless foe on high.
And what are twigs but spears arrayed
To fight a monstrous sky
Skyshroud hymn

I had a conscience once but, allas i seem to have forgotten where i put it.
Chandler

However for serious competition I realise my limitations and take what I consider a good netdec along, one that fits my play style and make sure that I have playtested it out for quite a while and against as many different decs as possible - this is to maximise my chance of finishing well (no illusions of finishing top 8 - yet )

But to make fun of people for playing a dec they enjoy and taking the game as fun is really sad - too many immature egotists around

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