My buddy wanted me to get into magic so I bought a bunch of starter packs booster packs blah blah blah blah blah
I’m very thankful that he completely shredded me with a specialist deck that he had been slowly acquiring over the course of 5 years. I mean he beat me like a Persian rug on Nowruz
Made me realize that as much as there is a skill component, underlying it all… it is pay to win.
I’m really thankful he showed that to me, it made me realize I have zero interest.
It definitely can be pay to win although I don’t spend much on it and have good success. But I’ve been playing for decades and consider myself a pretty skilled player. I also use proxies, basically printed out images in place of real cards, especially for new decks where I’m not sure I want to spend money on them yet.
That said, your friend didn’t give you a good introduction. Your friend should have done more to help you build a solid deck and to match the power level of his deck to yours. I have many decks of different power levels for this reason, and I think good etiquette is to bring a deck that’s near the power level of your opponent’s, especially if they’re new.
Also, buying packs isn’t the best way to start out. Probably best to have a friend build you a deck or if that’s not an option or to buy a precon. Most of the cards you get in packs are bad and no one really plays with them, so if you put those in your deck, you aren’t going to have much success.
Or, just decide the game isn’t for you. That’s also valid!
I know what you’re saying but I disagree with your underlying point.
Although it is completely poor form and bad instruction to destroy somebody in a game that you’re introducing them to, he did me a huge favor by revealing the underlying flaw.
I am not trying to insult your hobby, people are allowed to spend money on things, but success is not possible without cards that you paid good money for and I’m not going to play a game like that. I know deep down that you also know deep down this is true.
There are budget leagues where they cap the value of the deck at like $70 or $100 or whatever, to keep it fair and fun for everybody without being pay to win.
Also if you find a good game shop with casual players, literally no one is bringing a thousand dollar deck to play with, and if someone does that then basically no one will play with that person.
A decent precon deck can cost like $50 and that’s all you need to have fun playing casually like that.
Your friend was kind of a dick for using his power deck on you for your first time.
My buddy wanted me to get into magic so I bought a bunch of starter packs booster packs blah blah blah blah blah
I’m very thankful that he completely shredded me with a specialist deck that he had been slowly acquiring over the course of 5 years. I mean he beat me like a Persian rug on Nowruz
Made me realize that as much as there is a skill component, underlying it all… it is pay to win.
I’m really thankful he showed that to me, it made me realize I have zero interest.
It definitely can be pay to win although I don’t spend much on it and have good success. But I’ve been playing for decades and consider myself a pretty skilled player. I also use proxies, basically printed out images in place of real cards, especially for new decks where I’m not sure I want to spend money on them yet.
That said, your friend didn’t give you a good introduction. Your friend should have done more to help you build a solid deck and to match the power level of his deck to yours. I have many decks of different power levels for this reason, and I think good etiquette is to bring a deck that’s near the power level of your opponent’s, especially if they’re new.
Also, buying packs isn’t the best way to start out. Probably best to have a friend build you a deck or if that’s not an option or to buy a precon. Most of the cards you get in packs are bad and no one really plays with them, so if you put those in your deck, you aren’t going to have much success.
Or, just decide the game isn’t for you. That’s also valid!
I know what you’re saying but I disagree with your underlying point.
Although it is completely poor form and bad instruction to destroy somebody in a game that you’re introducing them to, he did me a huge favor by revealing the underlying flaw.
I am not trying to insult your hobby, people are allowed to spend money on things, but success is not possible without cards that you paid good money for and I’m not going to play a game like that. I know deep down that you also know deep down this is true.
There are budget leagues where they cap the value of the deck at like $70 or $100 or whatever, to keep it fair and fun for everybody without being pay to win.
Also if you find a good game shop with casual players, literally no one is bringing a thousand dollar deck to play with, and if someone does that then basically no one will play with that person.
A decent precon deck can cost like $50 and that’s all you need to have fun playing casually like that.
Your friend was kind of a dick for using his power deck on you for your first time.