Cardfight Etiquette

So I mentioned in my "How to win more in Vanguard" post that I was was going to do that post, because it is something I wanted to address based on experience, and this one has very little to do with actual game-play! This article will look at how you should and shouldn't treat your opponent.

What is Cardfight Etiquette

Well put simply it is how you conduct yourself during a game of Vanguard (or actually any cardgame). Some of this stuff will seem very obvious, but may not be something that you even think about. So i'm going to give 3 things you should do, and 3 things you shouldn't do!

Things you should Do

1. Pay your opponent attention. 

  Seems really obvious but it is easy to get distracted, especially in a casual locals environment, as the T.O (tournament organiser) and judge of my locals, it can be hard for me to focus on my games, because I need to be available for any ruling issues, and to be solely responsible for keeping track of time. Even then I make the utmost effort to pay my opponent the attention they deserve, and I expect the same back. As mentioned before, paying attention is a good way to play better. 

2. Respect your opponent's cards

  Again, seems obvious. But it is the little things. Don't touch your opponent's cards without permission. Obvious that doesn't including splitting the deck, but if you are unsure of what a skill does, just ask your opponent. Or ask if you can look at the card. 

3. Be gracious in victory AND defeat

   Sometimes games can be frustrating. You might have your next 4 or 5 turns planned out, but that is made redundant by a triple crit drive check, or you may be about to win, but then your opponent checks a heal trigger as their sixth damage, then wins the next turn. These things happen. And yes they are frustrating. But nonetheless, the game happens how it happens. There is nothing you could have done to change it, so don't take that frustration out on your opponent. Because it is unpleasant for them, to be punished with your scorn just for playing the game, and in all honesty it makes you look like a dick. It comes down to you being unsportsmanlike, salty and unable to handle losing a game. We have all won and lost to crits or heals or both. But saying "You got lucky" or "You only won because.. " is just unnecessary. As an example someone at my locals said "I would have won easily next turn. " And I just looked at him blankly and said "But there wasn't a next turn, because I won this turn." But he persisted with "but if i had another turn." He couldn't understand that it was irrelevant. In that situation, he lost because he couldn't guard my attack. If he couldn't get to the next turn with guard, then that turn doesn't matter. But. Following the advice here, I just shook his hand and said "Maybe next time". 

 Because on the other hand you should be humble in victory as you are gracious in defeat. In the same way that losing to a triple crit is something you can't change, winning by a triple crit isn't a reason to gloat. Or be smug. (Of course there is never a need to be gloat in a game. Again. It makes you look like a dick.). Not only does it make you look pretty bad but gloating when in a strong position can compromise the game. If you are so confident you have won, you may stop trying as hard, meanwhile your opponent is doing everything they can to wipe that smug grin off of your face. As another example from my locals, I was playing my Regalia CEO deck against a guy who was playing Aurageyser Shadow Paladins (I have no hate for shadow paladins, it could have been any deck, it just so happens that he was playing shadow paladins). Of course any deck with Aurageyser can build up a lot of hand. So when he was sat on about nine or more cards in hand, he got arrogant, dropping comments like "I wonder if I have enough to guard". You know the sort. Smug. Already written the game off as a win. Not concentrating. So therefore not paying attention to what I was doing. So therefore not seeing the three Norn in my soul, or the Ordain Owl on my field. And guess what? While he was busy gloating. He didn't remember CEO's skill. And guess what else? No. He didn't have enough to guard. So this also ties in to focusing. There may have been things he could do the turn before to change the outcome of the game. Regardless of that, he made himself look like an ass and didn't win the game anyway. Just something to think about. 

Things Not to Do

1.) Spend the whole game looking at your phone. 

  

  When someone sits down opposite me to have a cardfight with their phone in their hand, and don't put it down even after the round has started and we have drawn our cards, I feel pretty disregarded. It's the same with someone who spends the whole game with their headphones in. It's just rude. You've both come to the event to cardfight. So I don't understand why you wouldn't put your all into it. I have another example. Two friends of mine sit down, one is playing a Bermuda Triangle deck, the other Shadow Paladin. (it looks like i'm hating on shadow paladins but i promise i'm not). They sit down to play. And Mr.Shadow Paladin puts his phone on the table and puts his earphones in. He then proceeded to play the whole game alternating between looking at his own hand, doing his moves and looking at his phone. Needless to say the Bermuda player won. But it get's better. The Shadow Paladin then scoops the entire match after one game because he "Simply cannot beat Bermuda Triangle". Ladies and Gentlemen I know I am opening a whole other can of beans with that but that is for another time. Thankfully this is not something that happens very often. But again this can go back to my previous post. One way to win more at Vanguard. Is to play Vanguard. Of course in card games there are different skill brackets, people have strengths and weaknesses, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a go. If you don't even want to try why even bother playing the game? 

2. `Make the game awkward for your opponent to play. 

 I have had this done to me on more than one occasion. Let me explain. If your opponent is playing against you and winning. They aren't doing anything wrong. So don't make them feel like they are. You are both playing the game to meet the same objective, which is to win the game. If you are not getting the cards you need, or are grade stuck that is not your opponent's fault. Or your deck "hating you". It is chance. It is unfortunate, but again it is not something you can control. How good you are at the game is not determined by the outcome of one game. Or even one event. You might be having the worst game ever, but win every other game you play that day. Or you might have unlucky games all day, but then come back the next week and go undefeated. Being mad because you are losing is no excuse to make your opponent feel bad about winning. I had been insulted at locals before by an opponent who had disadvantage in the game because of being grade locked. Think about how you would feel if the tables were turned, if you were having a good game and your opponent made you feel bad about that. It feels pretty shit, and you almost feel like you should hold back. Here's the thing. You shouldn't hold back. You are playing the same game as your opponent, if they want to essentially sulk because they are losing then let them get on with it. Just be the bigger person. Win the game then move on. 



3. Be Mature/Appropriate


Yes Vanguard is designed to be played by people from ages 6 and up, and yes it is supposed to be fun, but when it comes to it you are both there to play the game and try and win it. The point is pretty general and all points before sort of wrap into this one. 
As for being appropriate, it's something that should be obvious, if you are playing a younger person don't swear. This obviously counts more at events then when playing with friends. Imagine how nail-bitingly nervous you would be as a parent. Don't let that parent's worst fears about organised tournaments be true. 



There are probably many more things that could be added to these lists, but the short version is think. Exactly the same as it is in-game, it's the same when interacting with other players. 




Thanks for reading and let me know what you think!