Walking around the tables at the U.S. National Championship this month, I was really impressed by how far the World of Warcraft TCG and its players have come in so little time. We’re less than a year into this game’s existence, and the level of play and professionalism that was being demonstrated at Nats was truly admirable.
The habits I observed actually made me think about what defines a good TCG player. Now, I don’t mean the factors that make a competitive player win—that’s something different, and we’ve examined that before. But we haven’t really looked at what behaviors define a professional hobbyist in the TCG world, and that seems long overdue. TCG courtesy is mostly just a matter of common sense. But there’s a lot to grasp, so I’d like to help you make sure you’re putting forth the best image possible. Doing so is good for you because your opponents will know that you mean business when you sit down to a table. It’s good for your opponents, too, because they’ll be treated with the proper amount of respect. And it’s good for the game because it’s easier for new players to get involved in a game when the participants are well behaved and polite.
So, let’s look at some simple points of TCG courtesy that you can integrate into your play habits. I’m sure that you already observe some of these, but there might be a couple topics that you’re not sure of or issues that never occurred to you. Let’s start at the beginning.
Greet Your Opponent
Always greet your opponent in a friendly fashion. You don’t need to bubble with glee, but a simple salutation and maybe a handshake is certainly called for. If you opt for the latter, let the opponent get seated and comfortable before you offer your hand; if you don’t, you could wind up waving it foolishly while your opponent adjusts his or her backpack or searches for a deck box, totally oblivious.
The next thing you should do is introduce yourself. If you’re at a major tournament, you may already know your opponent’s name because you saw it in your pairing, but confirming it with your opponent is more than just a nicety—it ensures that you aren’t at the wrong table. Bad things happen if you play the wrong person, and even if you score a 2-0 victory, you’ll still probably receive a match loss. Laugh, but I’ve seen it happen more than I’d like to remember, so do the polite thing and swap introductions. It’s courteous, and it averts one of the worst TCG disasters that could befall you.
Keep the Table Clear
When you go to set up your main deck, side deck, and health tracking gear in your play area, try not to crowd your opponent. If you’ve got a playmat, remember that it only takes up half the play field for a reason: your opponent needs space too. While it’s okay to bring a couple lucky charms to each match, remember that the priority for the play area is just that: playing. There’s a big difference between bringing one lucky coin and your entire lucky coin collection.
I think my favorite gaff of this type that I’ve witnessed came at a tournament I covered in Florida, at which one highly ranked player had over two dozen statues of Buddha. He arranged them into a sort of tabletop Zen garden before each match, and while it was an admirably tranquil little setup he created each round, it also left both him and his opponent with almost nowhere to place their cards.
Coins, figures, and statues are one thing, but beverages are even worse. Most tournament venues (big or small) have a “no drinks on the table” rule, and for good reason: water is the natural enemy of paper products. In my days as a judge, I heard it all—every excuse from “but we both have card sleeves” to “I’ve never spilled anything in my life,” and they’re always moot points. Presenting any sort of risk, no matter how minute, to your opponent’s belongings is bad form. He or she needs to be worrying about the match, not the precarious footing of your soft drink. You certainly don’t need to create distractions for yourself, either.
Even bottled drinks with the lid tightly closed can cause problems because condensation can bead up on the bottle over time. I’ve seen it happen more than once. Somebody’s soda forms a puddle of moisture beneath it, the bottle’s moved, and then someone plops a card right into it. Card sleeves? Not waterproof on at least one of their four edges. They’re designed to protect cards from dirt and friction, not the might of the evil Dr. Pepper, so don’t rely on them to keep your cards dry. Even if condensation doesn’t harm the cards in play, it can do a number on table surfaces that your venue would really prefer to keep pristine. If you have to have a drink with you, always be sure to keep it in your bag. If that’s not feasible, set it by your feet during a match and be sure not to kick it over.
The table is a shared space between you and your opponent. It’s owned by the venue, not you. Be sure to respect it.
Don’t Touch Your Opponent’s Cards
. . . At least not without asking first. It’s very common to have to read a card’s text, and any players worth their salt will probably want to check their opponents’ graveyards at least once a match. Again, this is an issue of respect for the other person’s belongings. Ask to see what you need, and give the opponent time to hand it to you. Don’t just snap it off the table once your opponent has nodded his or her head. Many opponents will be fine with you reaching over to their side of the table, but some will be irked by it, and it’s polite to let them establish the protocols involving their cards.
This tends to draw the same type of courtesy in return, which is something you’ll appreciate. I’ve had a lot of cards snatched and crumpled over the years; it’s not a pleasant experience, and it doesn’t only happen with kids. A player gets overeager, moves too fast, and wham—a card gets mishandled and bent. Make sure that when you do handle your opponent’s cards, you do so with the utmost care. When you return it to your opponent, place it back where it was or hand it directly to the player.
Clear communication and a bit of care will keep everybody’s cards in the same condition in which they arrived to the table, and you’ll also save yourself from any suspicions of shadiness. Nobody wants to be accused of theft, but if you reach over to your opponent’s side of the table during a match and snatch up a card, sometimes it can cause legitimate confusion. Save yourself that trouble.
Next week, we’ll finish up the list of common TCG courtesies to which you should adhere, but for now, think over these few points and the philosophies behind them. All of these tips are based around respect for your opponent and your venue, which is a simple concept to grasp. You might be surprised at how much of an impact your habits can have on others, and that means a better time for everybody.
