I’m sure that the suggestions put forth in this article will already be second nature to many of you… But on the off chance that intarweb social graces aren’t your area of expertise, I’ve taken the time to provide a simple guide to help you test online in a courteous and efficient manner. I’ve taken some excerpts from TheManaDrain.com’s MWS/APPR Horror Story thread and my own experiences to highlight some specific examples of some infractions of these rules.
Rule 1: Whoever Creates The Table Dictates The Use Of Phases.
There has been much dispute over whether or not it is standard practice to make use of the phases on Magic Workstation – and what I have concluded is that there is no right answer, since both sides make a valid point. Personally, I find the use of phases to be a time-consuming and unnecessary practice and feel there are enough indicators of a phase change without the little buttons atop the screen.
However, there are those who feel that a game needs greater structure and need this “safety net” of strictly-announced phases in order to proceed with their game. As such, I think the fairest means of settling this dispute is to yield to the preference of the player who initially created the table.
Just to be on the safe side, my join note has been “I don’t use phases – deal with it” so that my opponents are forewarned.
Rule 2: Always Excuse Yourself Before Leaving A Game.
methu plays Fact or Fiction from Hand
methu puts Black Lotus into play from Library
methu puts Mox Pearl into play from Library
methu puts Recoup into play from Library
methu puts Island into play from Library
methu puts Flooded Strand into play from Library
The Coat is now the controller of (the cards)
(he splits the piles)
methu puts Fact or Fiction to Graveyard from Play
methu is now the controller of (the piles)
This is a simple courtesy issue folks. I’m sure we’ve all been there — the Storm count’s at ten-plus, you’re right about to play a Tutor for Tendrils of Agony…And then
Personally, I find it both rude and unsportsmanlike. What did we spend all those years learning in little league? When you lost the game, did you hop in your mother’s mini-van and speed away while giving your opponents the finger? I certainly didn’t; a handshake and a congratulations on a well-played game is the proper way to end a contest. It’s not hard — a simple GG or “I concede” will suffice.
Rule 3: Be Humble In Victory As Well As In Defeat.
It happens to the best of us every once in a while. We lose to some deck so bad that we’d be ashamed to admit to having lost to it. It’s quite easy to write these losses off as a “fluke” or call our opponents lucksacks, and this assumption might be correct; however, it is important to analyze the causes of our loss. If we lost to mana screw/mana flood, it suggests that perhaps the mana base needs to be reworked. If we lose to some early pressure, perhaps it indicates how ill-suited the deck is to face fast paced aggro decks. If we lose to random “silver bullet” hate cards, perhaps the deck needs to be made more flexible in order to respond to these threats. Even these fluke losses may be symptomatic of a greater problem. That said, it is also important to take each victory with humility
Rule 4: Be Nice To The Noobs.
It is now the Precombat Main Phase
juaooooooo plays Island from Hand
juaooooooo taps Plains
juaooooooo taps Island
juaooooooo plays Echoing Truth from Hand
<Meddling Mage> read Trinisphere
Everybody was new at Magic at some point. There’s a regrettable tendency to lash out at those who are still in this stage…. But I ask you to resist this temptation and attempt to be more constructive with your criticism.
Just today, a gentleman who joined my Extended game online played a Llanowar Elves and immediately tried to tap it to play an Elvish Pioneer, clearly not understanding the subtleties of summoning sickness. I was tempted to say “Wow, even if you didn’t suck this would be a huge waste of my time” – but instead, I calmly explained to him that even tap abilities were subject to summoning sickness, and suggested he become more familiar with the rules before attempting to play more experienced opponents. Then I excused myself.
I have always felt that making fun of the people who are just joining the game will dishearten them, possibly robbing the Magic community of valuable members. I was fortunate enough to find people willing to help me improve upon my game with patience while I learned the subtleties of the game. Without them and their understanding, I may have never become part of the Magic playing community.
Rule 5: Don’t Get Upset When You’re Beaten By A “Netdeck.”
asdf plays Tinker from Hand
asdf puts Mana Vault to RFG from Play
asdf puts Tinker to RFG from Play
asdf is looking its Library…
asdf puts Darksteel Colossus into play from Library
asdf shuffles library
asdf stops looking its Library…
asdf taps Underground Sea
asdf taps Mox Pearl
asdf reveals a Mana Drain
asdf reveals a Misdirection
asdf reveals a Mana Drain
asdf reveals a Misdirection
roberto puts a 0/0 a-hole token into play
asdf is now the controller of a-hole
The fact of the matter is, the vast majority of people who play competitive Magic didn’t create their decks from scratch; they’re looking to play others with competitive decks in order to master the matchups they are likely to face.
If you want to experiment with a new idea for a deck, that’s excellent – but you should be glad to face “netdecks,” since they’re what you are likely to see in a tournament setting. Your results should help you discern whether or not your deck can “play with the big boys,” so to speak.
Rule 6: Know What Is Legal In The Format
I marked the game “Extended, please speak English.”
Antigonus plays Tolarian Academy from Hand
…
<Meddling Mage> for future reference, academy is definitely not legal in
xtended
…
Meddling Mage plays Cunning Wish from Hand
Serum Tank now has 3 (+1) counters.
Meddling Mage is looking its Sideboard…
Meddling Mage puts Disenchant into play from Sideboard
Meddling Mage stops looking its Sideboard…
Meddling Mage puts Cunning Wish to RFG from Play
Meddling Mage puts Disenchant to Hand from Play
Meddling Mage untaps his/her permanents
Meddling Mage draws a card
Meddling Mage taps Sacred Foundry
Meddling Mage taps Plains
Meddling Mage plays Isochron Scepter from Hand
Disenchant is enchanting Isochron Scepter now
Meddling Mage puts Disenchant into play from Hand
<Meddling Mage> Pass
To anybody reasonably experienced with constructed magic, this should be obvious, but unfortunately I’ve seen this come up too many times to not include it. For the love of God, please read and memorize the banned/restricted lists for the various formats before constructing a deck for that format.
Rule 7: Know The Rules, And If You Don’t, Don’t Claim You’re A Level Infinity Judge – Just Find A Ruling Online
Meddling Mage taps Island
Meddling Mage taps Forest
Meddling Mage taps Island
Meddling Mage plays Arrogant Wurm from Hand
<Meddling Mage> eot
Meddling Mage untaps his/her permanents
Meddling Mage draws a card
<Meddling Mage> yeah, I pitched it to my Wild Mongrel
One of the most common MWS horror stories involve people who grossly misunderstand the rules of Magic and will then try to validate their position by claiming to be a level 3+ judge. I myself have been guilty of jumping to conclusions about my opponents’ readings of the rules, and finding myself in the wrong after a bit of research. As such, whenever a rules dispute arises, use some of the fantastic online resources provided online (preferably StarCityGames.com “Ask The Virtual Judge”) to settle the dispute.
Rule 8: Leave The Trash Talking At Home.
Matt has entered.
Matt: hello
MWS Asshat: you want to DIE
MWS Asshat: cmon die
MWS Asshat: die you bitch
MWS Asshat: why dont you lose
MWS Asshat: you ho
MWS Asshat: lose you damn ho
MWS Asshat: cmon die already
MWS Asshat: cmon you want to LOSE
Matt: Does that ever work on ANYBODY?
For starters, MWS games don’t really matter, so trying to psyche out your opponent is pretty much pointless, if not downright counterproductive. All trash talking will get you is a reputation as a jackass; it won’t get you productive playtesting.
Rule 9: Patience Is A Virtue.
Smmenen plays Duress from Hand
To begin with, you should not sit down to play a game of Magic on MWS unless you’ve got time to spare. These are untimed matches, and the time saved by auto shuffling should be more than adequate to keep the game moving at a brisk pace if both players are at least reasonably familiar with the various commands and hot buttons on MWS. Also, the Internet is often inconsistent, and at times it can cause a slowdown in play that is isn’t the player’s fault. As such, it is always a good thing to err on the side of patience, provided your opponent doesn’t take this liberty to the extreme.
So there it is: Nine easy rules to Magic Workstation bliss. Know them, love them, and remember – a little courtesy goes a long way.
Michael Lydon
Meddling Mage on TMD
Lydonmh@BC dot edu
Team Reflection
Thanks to Chris Dibiase and my teammates for helping to edit