There are those that look at an article like this and ask, “Why?” Easy, this is for the new players. I want to show the players coming into this game what to expect and what is expected of them. So what do you expect when you sit down to your first game of Star Wars: Destiny? Here are a few things to be aware of and some other thing not to do.
Is that a mousepad?
A lot of players are using mats to for their cards to lay. This isn’t just a “mousepad” and can be anything from a cheap knockoff to a beautifully crafted piece of art. Where you go to get these are up to you. There are even some that you can win at special tournaments. Those are the ones that may mean the most to you, the ones won are sweeter than the ones bought.
With the playmat, you want to make sure that you have enough room to play everything that is in your deck. Also take the time to keep your play area neat; there is nothing more nerve-wracking than trying to figure out if something is a support or if it is an upgrade. We must always be aware of the way we lay our cards so there is no confusion on where the board state is.
For the new person, no you do not need a playmat, but it is nice. When you roll your dice, the play-mat will not only keep the rolling quieter but will also help to protect those dice. When some of the Rares and Legendaries are hard to come by, protecting our assets is important. Another tip is that some of your FLGS (Friendly Local Game Shops), or another player, may have ones that they will loan out. Make sure, if you do use a borrowed one, that you take very good care of it. You are responsible for the playmat you borrow.
Dice Trays and Towers
Just because there is a dice tray or dice tower on the table you are playing at doesn’t mean it is for public use. Most players, me being one of them, that have a dice tower are more than kind enough to allow you to use it also. That is until the tower starts treating you better than it’s master, lol. But make sure that you ask for permission before just dropping your dice in the top of the tower. As I have said before, the community we live in is sting and nice-they are willing to give if that means that the game experience is better for all.
Dice trays may be a little different. With these you need to set up the ground rules ahead of time. For example: what is done if a die is cocked against the side of the tray wall? Of course you would reroll it, but being clear at the beginning causes less strife in the middle of a hotly contested game. Also what happens if a die pops out of the tray and rolls on the table? Especially if that die lands on a favorable side (to either player)? This is why setting the ground rules upfront makes life easier in the long run. If a die pops out – you automatically roll it again – it takes the questions away and allows you to concentrate on the game.
Make sure, when using either a tray or a tower, that you give your opponent ample time to see what sides are shown on the dice. This allows for there to be no questions on whether a die was inadvertently flipped. It also allow for the opportunity to remember what sides are shown in case a die is dropped and it needs to be put on the proper side. Always trying to be above board, and above scrutiny is something we should all strive for, but having these measures in place will be a godsend when questions do arise.
New players, for you, I would recommend getting used to rolling dice before going with a tower. It is really cool hearing the dice hit every divider, and the anticipation of seeing them come out the bottom is exhilarating. But it is one more thing that may take your mind off the game at hand. Being there with all the gadgets is great, but remember that you need to concentrate on the game. As for a dice tray, however, I have a different perspective. I think that everyone should use a dice tray. Even now there are some stores that have built trays right into the table where you are playing. The T3 Gaming team have a great video on this process. Take a look and see how easy it can be.
Neatness is Not a Weakness
It is incumbent on the players to have a neat play area. Know where your damage and shield tokens go on a character. Do they go on the card, above it, or beside it? If it is beside, which side is it displayed at? One of the reasons that people are coming up with some really good products is because of neatness. The character boards, like at Vindicator Designs, is just the perfect illustration of this. When you can see how much damage/shields are on a character, plus it has a spot for 5 dice as well? That is clear and clean board state etiquette right there.
You don’t need a character board to do that, though. You just need to be aware of the surroundings. Keep an eye on where things are laying on your side of the board. By being responsible for your side, you may keep things more clear in your head as to your objectives.
Another thing is, if you have multiple supports and/or upgrades of the same name, reroll them separately. This keeps the two Crimelords (CV49) separated and less confusing. For example your opponent has 2 Villain Yellow characters both with Crimelord on them. You have 2 ranged damage showing, which could kill either character but you, nor your opponent knows who’s Crimelord is showing special. It just makes things more clear if you do it one at a time and set it in front of the proper character.
Another idea that you can use is to use different dice for each support. An example of this is something I do with my Megablaster Troopers (CV31): I will use Awakenings First Order Stormtrooper (AW2) dice for one of the supports and Convergence First Order Stormtrooper (CV20) dice for the other. There isn’t a one way fits all, but there is a way to keep your board clear of possible confusion. Nothing is worse than losing because your opponent showed 10 damage on a character because when you killed the other character a 1 damage token was picked up by mistake – putting it at 11.
Did You Wash Your Hands?
People can be finicky about their investment. Let’s be honest, to some, that is exactly what this game is. The masses are in this game because of what other CCGs have done. People buy a $3-3.50 pack of cards hoping to hit the lottery. The best example would be the prices in the Awakening set. When it first came out, and demand was huge, people were spending huge money for the cards they wanted. Players were carefully opening the packs and double sleeving the cards to keep their value.
So when we sit down at a game we must respect that investment. Both of the cards and the dice. If you are unsure of what a specific card does, ask to read it – don’t simply grab the card. Tell your opponent which dice you are going to mitigate, don’t touch their dice, unless you’ve been given permission. There may be a few players that have no issue with someone touching their cards and dice; but it is always better to be safe and ask first.
This brings me to the idea of cutting the deck. At the casual tournaments I go to, at Card Table Republic, there are plenty of times where I’ll cut if my opponent does. This isn’t the preferred way – people will tell you, “you should always cut.” While I don’t disagree entirely with this, there are exceptions. If you are playing at a $5 store event for a promo card and some packs, I play differently. Now if we are in a regional, I cut every time. It is how you cut that is important. There are some that say you should shuffle cut your opponents deck. I can see the argument for that, but I just don’t like the idea of shuffling someone else’s deck. You can to the spread shuffle where you do 5 piles of 6 each in random order – I have done that. Or the simple cut where you take about half the cards on top and move them to the bottom.
No matter how you cut, do it like you would want someone to cut your cards. People invest in this game, and we do not want to ruin their investment. Most of all, you want to play by the Golden Rule of “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
As always, though, accidents happen. If something happens by accident, own up to it and try and make it right. It will go a long way for your opponent to see the sincerity of your apology if you are able to make amends somehow. At the end of it all, this is a card game that should bring the community together, and being together will make our community stronger.
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