Slow play

[afstandopleren]

I love how you go on about this while you yourself are highly renowned for taking your sweet time with your actions. In between your plays rearranging your cards to tidy them up, for example.

Intriguing statement coming from the only person to ever have said that to me, and not even during the games we played! Yes, I am a slower player, but I do have my moments and I always try to keep everything within the acceptable limits even if it means making mistakes.:lol: Atleast I'm not doing it intentionally... >_>

 

[Scipio]

Intriguing statement coming from the only person to ever have said that to me, and not even during the games we played! Yes, I am a slower player, but I do have my moments and I always try to keep everything within the acceptable limits even if it means making mistakes.:lol: Atleast I'm not doing it intentionally... >_>

Im the one saying it to your face, and I do clearly recall telling you to put a bit more pace in your game at least once or twice. But thats neither here nor there, the rest of the points I'm trying to make are more important anyway.

 

[afstandopleren]

True, I'll give you that with all the gossipers in the Dutch Pokémunity. I agree on the extra turn thing as well btw.

 

[Misdreavus]

I know the judges are quite busy and can't be everywhere at once, but I'd like to see them try to pay a bit more attention to the speed of games, particularly in top cuts. I know many players, myself including, are hesitant to call a judge or even tell your opponent if he or she is playing too slow because they don't want to seem impatient and don't want their opponent to feel like he or she is being forced to rush and become stressed.

 

[Ness]

If I ran this message board I would ban every person who used the term "slowroll" to describe someone playing slow. For the sake of my sanity, learn what the term means before you say it.

 

[trainerjeff]

^just like the term meta.....


i believe the annoying part is just that its a slap in the face to the people who plan everything out a few moves ahead and have practiced and know how to use their deck to its potential. i've only been to 1 official tournament and my turns never took more than a minute unless i got a perfect hand for my deck and if a newbie like me can do it, i'm sure most experience players can pick up the pace.

overall its kinda disrespectful.

 

[Lawman]

I get called on stalling a couple times per tournament. I'm not trying to stall, but I am somewhat slow and thoughtful in the things I do during a game. And it really makes me mad when you're trying to focus and search for something or do something else and your opponent is telling you to hurry up, then turn around and take their good sweet time. Or, they basically yell at you as soon as it's your turn to hurry up and go so it can be their turn again. I have NEVER told somebody to hurry or rush through something. I don't see the point, unless they're taking more than 2 minutes (the legal limit) doing one or less actions. And your opponent will only call it when you're ahead, so I think that people who call you on stalling (again, unless they're over the legal limit) are just sore losers looking to try to squeeze in a cheap win. :nonono:

I really wish people would read the penalty guidelines before they stick their foot in their mouth. Sheesh.

Keith

 

[Kayle]

So what happens if a player DOES naturally play slowly, and not out of any desire to stall the game? I know a couple of players who physically can't speed themselves up because that's just their natural pace - which FEELS to most players like stalling/slow play. They don't hover over energy attachments for ninety seconds, but they do stare at their hand, read several cards in play, read cards in their deck as they search, etc... They aren't as familiar with the format or aren't very good at memorizing cards, or maybe they just like to make sure they know EXACTLY what the card does before they play it when it's really important.

I know a friend I took to States actually got chastised for her slow play (though a judge wasn't called - time was called against her favor and she was told she needs to speed up) and I'm a bit concerned now, with Regionals coming up. What do you do with such a player, both to help opponents feel at ease and to help her speed up a little?

 

[Lawman]

So what happens if a player DOES naturally play slowly, and not out of any desire to stall the game? I know a couple of players who physically can't speed themselves up because that's just their natural pace - which FEELS to most players like stalling/slow play. They don't hover over energy attachments for ninety seconds, but they do stare at their hand, read several cards in play, read cards in their deck as they search, etc... They aren't as familiar with the format or aren't very good at memorizing cards, or maybe they just like to make sure they know EXACTLY what the card does before they play it when it's really important.

I know a friend I took to States actually got chastised for her slow play (though a judge wasn't called - time was called against her favor and she was told she needs to speed up) and I'm a bit concerned now, with Regionals coming up. What do you do with such a player, both to help opponents feel at ease and to help her speed up a little?

The clock is there for BOTH players. Even if there isnt an "evil bone in her body", if she takes too long on her turns repeatedly, she should be warned and then penalized. Not to sound harsh, but with tourneys, we HAVE to have timed games or we would never get out of there.

Practice with her with a timer in the background for 40 min rds. Get her in the habit of moving a bit faster.

Keith

 

[Kayle]

I think maybe timing her moves/turns would have a greater effect, but I get the idea. Thank you.

It seems a bit harsh, if not somewhat uncalled for, to penalize a player who was warned but was incapable of speeding herself up. Especially if she had no idea what the deck she was playing against was capable of, and was trying to figure it out. >>

 

[Lawman]

I think maybe timing her moves/turns would have a greater effect, but I get the idea. Thank you.

It seems a bit harsh, if not somewhat uncalled for, to penalize a player who was warned but was incapable of speeding herself up. Especially if she had no idea what the deck she was playing against was capable of, and was trying to figure it out. >>

And why should we allow a player that didnt test at all MORE time to figure out the match up vs those that practiced and knows the match ups and how to play ag'st them??

Now, if a player has a "handicap" that slows them down, some accomodations can be made to both players, but a tourney does have it limits too.

Players can play faster if they want. They may make more mistakes that way too. Pokemon is a game where the person who misplays the least usually wins. Give me an hour and a half and I wont make any mistakes!

Keith

 

[Jaeger]

Retreating THEN SSU-ing the Poke you just retreated CAN be suspicious. Under NORMAL circumstances, you're going to want to save your 1 retreat rather than waste it on a Poke you're going to scoop. Obviously, there CAN be situations where you want to retreat first (ie., getting some energy in the discard pile). Just because you CAN do something, well, that doesn't always mean you're not slow-playing.

I didn't realize judges were supposed to step in and stop bad plays to :wink:

 

[Rikko145]

I really wish people would read the penalty guidelines before they stick their foot in their mouth. Sheesh.

Keith

That's what a judge at CC told me during Top Cut. If you don't do anything for 2 mins you are probably going to get a loss or something like that.

 

[Kayle]

And why should we allow a player that didnt test at all MORE time to figure out the match up vs those that practiced and knows the match ups and how to play ag'st them??

Players can play faster if they want. They may make more mistakes that way too. Pokemon is a game where the person who misplays the least usually wins. Give me an hour and a half and I wont make any mistakes!

Keith

It's not lack of playtesting experience, or unfamiliarity with the matchup... she played this slow with an Abomasnow/Scizor deck she made at a very casual League and had been playing for almost a year, too... >> It's just how she plays.

Point taken, though, I understand. Thank you ^^

 

[kwisdumb]

I think it's easy enough to tell whether your opponent is just a naturally slow/thoughtful player, or is trying to slowplay you. That being said though, I think when you choose to take part in a tournament you choose to abide by the rules to the best of your ability. There are naturally slower players out there but in a tournament you've got to be able to keep up a decent pace.

 

[rokman]

Slow playing is perfectly legitimate to an extent. I feel it's illegal when the person is 'acting' by saying "uhhh" or whatever. That just infuriates me. But when you make legitimate moves, that take time to think, it isn't against the rules. All you're doing is preparing for a potential comeback.

But, look at professional football, you're going to tell me taking a knee to run the clock is unfair? It sure feels unfair when it happens to you and it has happened to me. But the clock is apart of the game and you just need to understand that.

Play to win, kids. Play to win

 

[totoro]

To be clear:
"Slow play" implies no manipulation intent on the part of the player. It is simply that--slow play.

"Stalling" is where we get into conscious clock manipulation issues.

both carry penalties.

 

[rokman]

To be clear:
"Slow play" implies no manipulation intent on the part of the player. It is simply that--slow play.

"Stalling" is where we get into conscious clock manipulation issues.

That's a very good point that should of been brought up earlier.

:thumb:

 

[SteveP]

The Penalty Guidelines (Game Tempo) clearly state that game tempo needs to be "lively" with each player taking about "half the allotted time." So, in this context, well-known slow players need to beware. Playing slow, even when under stress, CAN attract the attention of the judges, causing them to "make corrections," even giving penalties.

 

[The Knee]

Quick question regarding something that happened to a friend of mine at a recent State championship.

If you allow your opponent to go to the bathroom and time is called, is it out of the question to ask for a brief extension to make up for the time lost going to the bathroom? Would it be looked down upon to ask for an extension prior to allowing them to use the bathroom? Or should you just say no, and make them play it out.