Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Here's the backstory.

Earlier today, Matt was telling me how he feels like he doesn't matter in this community at all. Then just a bit ago he was stressing out about his deck. Red asked to see the decklist so he could help out... Here is what Matt said to me on AIM in response:



Matt
do people really think im that stupid
to give out my decklist and let it be used against me

Me
you mean Red wanting to see your deck?
he wants to help you -.-

Matt
or fix his own deck and kill me

Me
and you wonder why you dont feel welcome in this community.
people offer to help and you spit in their faces.

Matt
thats because no one truly wants to help
red has already said in past he thinks judges are better then kings
so thats proof he just wants it so he can prove hes better then me
i have to defend my property



I can understand not showing people decks just before a tournament, or if you have some ultra-strong secret combo... but neither one applies here. I'm not the only one who finds this to be overly defensive right? This is not the first time I've seen this lack of trust and aggressive attitude.

From my experiences here, people in this community are honest when they offer someone help. So, I'm asking you guys, is there anything you all can do to help Matt be more trusting around here?

I had his permission.

im just paranoid over sharing anything cause its always better if no one knows what your playing exactly it makes it easier to win by surprise. and if i have to see you at nats in tennesee then i could lose just because you remember every detail of my deck and play specifically play by play just to counter me.

[watch the language Matt]

I've tried to tell him that what he believes about people isn't true, but he just doesn't seem to get it. I don't really know what else to try because words don't seem to be working.

I was wondering seeing as you are on this forum and haven't posted anything Redemption related.

That is probably true, but I've sure appreciated his advice in my laptop thread

But as a whole this is the most paranoid gaming community on the planet when it comes to revealing decklists and such.

I disagree.  All of the top 3 decks for the last several years of Nats are available for anyone to see and copy.  On top of that, most of the top players also post decks during the year for people to learn from, and many of the beginning players post decks for advice (which many top players offer freely).

As for the first question as to how to make Matt feel more trusting of others, or less critical of himself as a person just because he sometimes loses Redemption games, I don't have any ideas.  I think it is just a personal issue that Matt is going to have to pray about, because really it is going to take a significant internal change, and only God is capable of doing that in his life.

(A) I don't think gabe and co hide anything when they do post those decks.
(B) you don't have to post them, but sharing it with a single person who wants to help you is a completely different thing.

Your first two points are valid, however, since Redemption doesn't run elimination style tournaments at the higher levels your last two points aren't actually applicable to this situation.

Matt,

You and I have had plenty of conversations about this in the past, and I can't really do much more than to echo what Prof U is saying.

I think these guys are making some good points as well.

Gabe could post his Nats deck the week before Nats, and still win Nats.  He is just that good at not making mistakes, and his decks are just that well built.

Matt, I love you as a Christian brother, but you can keep your deck top secret until Nats, and you still won't win Nats (baring extreme providence on God's part).  You just aren't quite up to that level yet.  Neither am I for that matter.  So at this point, sharing your deck is only going to help you.  You'll get some good advice that will probably improve your chances of winning (especially at smaller level tournaments).

And no one is going to tech against your deck at Nats, because the people who are going to be at the top 10 in Nats won't expect you to be there.  If you are there, then they won't expect to have to play an "anti-Matt" deck to beat your regular deck.  There's just really no downside here.  (Again the same could be said for me).

Skill level has nothing to do with the makeup of the deck. I can play with some of the best put together decks of my friends and I will not do well with them because I have no clue what I am doing or what I am supposed to be doing.

Matt,

If you feel like your deck has the ability to beat the fairly standard meta of fast offenses and stand alone defenses, you're going to need a ton of testing - You freely admit that you're not at Gabe, or Tim's level, so again, like Mark says you really have nothing to lose by sharing your deck. For all you know the base idea will be taken and improved upon by the community at large and speed will actually be stopped.

hmm you may have a point john but id rather it done thru private discussion with me and maybe yourself on aim or skype ill talk but i won't go as far as a public post and as far as the red situation hes getting there and hes a rising star but at this point i need a tested vet

not exactly apple your kinda coming in new to a 5 year old debate

It's more like:

People realized drawing cards wins game.

People yell at speed players, claiming they have no skill

People try to win games, so they play speed.

Pol claims that balanced decks are good

Speed wins nats and every other major tournament

Repeat every year.