Subject: Cheating in Magic and Other Random Comments Date: Tue, 14 Jul 1998 14:14:59 -0400 From: "Zehner, Eugene SFC" To: "'fkusumot@ix.netcom.com'" Hi All! So Brian Hacker and the Hitmen are going to cheat, eh? I don't think so. I watched Hacker play during the National qualifiers at Origins and his style is cool, confident play. I'd say he's pretty dang good. The cards weren't falling for him and he was gracious in losing. It is evident to me that his post was written as a wake up call to the Magic community and the Powers That Be (WOTC in general and the DCI specifically) to, as Nike would have it, Just Do it! Do what? Get control of the "game." First, M:TG grew big, FAST. Faster than Adkison and Garfield ever imagined it could. No one was even supposed to own all the cards available. The playtesters became interpreters of the rules (kind of like inbreeding) and the rules definitely needed intrepretation (wasn't there once a card that said: "Target opponent loses next turn"). And like any beta program the end users found the "bugs" in the program. Second, the game is complicated. There are many, many things to keep track of: life, cards in hand, cards in library, cards in graveyard, cards on the playing surface, ad nauseum and that's just on your side of the table! No formal record keeping (unlike Chess or actually any other organized competive activity. Who's great idea was that?) is allowed so M:TG devolves to the lowest denominator of he said, she said. The squeaky wheel gets the grease (however, sometimes the spouting whale gets the harpoon). Third, a Pro Tour. Money available for playing cards to all who qualifiy to join the ranks of the chosen. How will we pick our chosen? We'll have tournaments for points and tournaments for qualifiying in, says the Wizard. Those who have the most points or place highly enough in qualifiying tournaments get to come to the table. There are two ways to accomplish this: Play honestly and fairly or cheat. A couple of steps are involved in reporting results. An honest tournament organizer must promptly and accurately report tournament results and the Great Result Keeper in the Sky (DCI) must establish or append the official results. Cheating occurs when dishonest tournament organizers report fabricated information and when players mana weave, stack, false shuffle, draw more than, hide cards, tap and/or untap repeatedly, play more than, ad infinitum. Well, what to do? Nothing could or should be done with M:TG growth. This is capitalism, fair and square. However, to keep growing M:TG needs to keep on refining their processes. Make honest efforts to untangle the skein of rulings and intrepretations and bring the game into focus for wide, market appeal. How many Advanced Squad Leader players are their out there? A great game that grew quickly (by gaming standards) but expanded so rapidly with so many changes to rulings that only the most hardened of gamers delve into the complexities of the game now. Otherwise M:TG may become just another blip on the "great game but unplayable" radar screen. And as for cheating and the tournament system? Establish mature gaming guidelines like other competitive activities have. Baseball has rules, lacrosse has rules, chess has rules. . M:TG should have rules that govern not only the mechanics of the game but the conduct of the game and the penalties incumbent on infraction of the rules. For example, 60 minute rounds, recorded with a workable notation. Each player must complete at least twenty complete turns each game or defeat their opponent earlier with best out of three winning each round. Games not completed are draws. Three points for the win, one point for a draw. Infractions are adjudged by reasonable doubt. Disqualification should be a very real opportunity for cheating. Don't forget this is for tournament competition. M:TG can be played like Calvinball if you want to! I have witnessed first hand at Origins and PTQs the rampant cheating in M:TG. Hacker, Hammer and all the others who stand up and say we want our game back should be listened to. Each and every one of us should strive for fair and competitive play. And each and every one of us should keep on hammering away on WOTC to mature our game. Eugene A. Zehner Pretty Good Deck Builder Nice Guy And Most Importantly, A True Gamer