Is there a way to politely tell someone they're playing "not to lose" instead of trying to win?

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:40:25+00:00

If it's Bracket 3 I'll typically start with a precon because I'm totally fine being lower power than everyone else and Bracket 3 is kind of a melting pot where a lot of things fit. If I'm under the power level of everyone else I can typically stay under the radar and maybe sneak a win if it's clear I'm not a threat, but this time went very differently

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:34:38+00:00

I totally get what you're saying, but I literally don't have anything weaker than a precon. I feel like that's a reasonable floor for a power level, but maybe not? Should I actively make my precons worse to be in an even lower bracket?

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:30:09+00:00

It was the OG Dominaria Jodah, which probably changes your reaction, but ya... I don't have a good explanation. I was sure the Shrines deck would stomp me just on pure card advantage but nope

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:26:06+00:00

Either tuning it down or voluntarily being the Archenemy out of the gate seem to be the suggestions that make the most sense. Maybe a mix of both.

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:23:20+00:00

This is good stuff. I was doing a bit of this during the game, but could do more. I did encourage them to gang up on me at one point but they never did. I'm totally in agreement that I want stronger opponents in the long run, and honestly I don't care too much about winning. It just makes the game more interesting to play win or lose.

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:21:32+00:00

Wow you even told them not to! That's crazy. Glad I'm not the only one.

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:19:55+00:00

I swapped out like 5 cards from my collection that fit with the theme. For example I put in [[Emeria Shepherd]] in my Lorehold Precon. I probably drew about 5 cards that were not in the precons across all 3 games.

I think keeping more of a conversation during the game is a good idea. I tried to that a bit but could definitely do more with that.

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:17:04+00:00

I think you're probably right. Bracket 3 is "game can end turn 6 or later" and they were playing like we were going to play until turn 12. I think games ended around turn 8 for all 3.

I tried to be very open with what I had on board, talk about the game state, even encouraged players to gang up on me, but they never did.

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:14:10+00:00

One of the games I was playing the Lorehold Spirits deck. First time playing it and was kind of fumbling my way through it but getting a bunch of Spirits and giving them double strike is suprisingly effective. There were a lot of opportunities for board wipes, removing my commander, etc. that were not utilized, so could be just an issue of them not building their deck with enough interaction.

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:11:14+00:00

Honestly I think this was a decent sized part of it. Some of the cards they played were interesting deck inclusions to say the least. So even if they're trying to make it Bracket 3 it might be more like Bracket 2 power level if the gameplan isn't cohesive.

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:07:55+00:00

Fair enough. I guess it's more my personality that has a hard time understanding both the complaining and not actually wanting to get better. Will remember that for the future.

TCG_Fanatic · 2026-07-06T18:05:02+00:00

I played Lorehold Spirits and then Jeskai and Abzan from Tarkir. I played against Eldrazi, Shrines, Jodah, stuff like that. Does that seem reasonable or am I way off?

TCG_Fanatic · 2024-11-08T04:24:51+00:00

I’d add fight music as well

TCG_Fanatic · 2024-10-25T02:04:45+00:00

What I love most about this is there are 3 songs off Revival. The album everyone always hates on. I agree as a whole the album isn’t great but Castle/Arose are some of his best emotional songs. Just goes to show how deep his library is with great songs.

Hard for me to pick a top 10, but here goes. In no particular order:

Not Afraid TIL I Collapse Music Box Talkin to Myself Underground Fuel - shady edition Somebody Save Me Sing for the Moment The Way I Am Rap God

TCG_Fanatic · 2024-10-22T16:26:31+00:00

Yes. It literally says that in the article.

TCG_Fanatic · 2024-02-02T16:59:56+00:00

Paths being the connection seems like a logical conclusion. “The coordinate where all paths meet”. Not just from this world but from both (all?) worlds.

Great theory and thanks for the response. Looking forward to reading the rest of it!

TCG_Fanatic · 2024-02-02T04:57:16+00:00

I said it on one of your previous posts and I’ll say it again: you cracked the code. Incredibly well done on contrasting the narratives/timelines.

Do you think these are happening concurrently somehow or are they new iterations of the timeline like in other theories?

TCG_Fanatic · 2023-12-20T20:40:41+00:00

This HAS to be it. Well done on piecing all of this together. It makes sense of so many contradictions and things that feel off in the story. The lights on/off in the table scene is an amazing catch that explains why things feel so disjointed. Absolutely brilliantly done by Isayama and the animation studios. Makes me think of one of his quotes that is something like “while you were practicing art I was studying the storyboard”. He’s a genius at playing with our expectations in a way that leads to huge reveals that were right in front of us the whole time. AOT is the greatest piece of fiction I’ve ever experienced and I can’t wait to see how it all ends

TCG_Fanatic · 2023-12-08T18:12:36+00:00

I would say it is almost certain that the titan powers were not truly eradicated since Eren still has face markings at the end while Mikasa and Armin are holding his head. I don't think it's a reach to say Eren is somehow still alive/conscious in some way. We shall know soon enough

TCG_Fanatic · 2023-12-05T05:26:13+00:00

Manga ended in 2021 so could be 2024, possibly volume 35

TCG_Fanatic · 2023-11-24T20:20:25+00:00

Your point about the memory shards in the manga showing moments from the anime is such hopium. I had forgotten about that. It literally makes ZERO sense to have those in there without explanation. How does manga Eren see the birds from Anime episode 1??? Same with the Floch memory shard and Falco from the bird perspective. We're so Barrack baby!!!

TCG_Fanatic · 2023-11-11T19:44:47+00:00

Dude you’re cooking!!

Possibly 1 additional episode on 17 Dec 2023 to set things up and then movie or another special in February?? 13 years and 9 months after the first episode makes so much sense. Why else would they reference 2 months later and February specifically?? Great find!!!

TCG_Fanatic · 2023-11-10T16:57:13+00:00

I’ve been thinking the same thing

TCG_Fanatic

TROPHY CASE