Hi Mike,

Big fan of the column and second time writing in.

I’ll get right into it. We have a relatively new player in our pod. He’s a good guy, very friendly, but being so new his turns take a loooong time. Even in the early turns with only one or two mana to spare, he somehow seems to agonize about which spells to play, which should tell you how long later turns can take.

A lot of us in the pod didn't start playing until a few years ago. Our rookie days aren’t that far in the past so I do try to make space for that, but it can be frustrating. On top of that, he has a tendency to make panicked decisions when he realizes how long he’s taking that often end up with king making.

For example, a few weeks ago we were playing a riveting game. I was playing Hazel of the RootbloomHazel of the Rootbloom, the new guy was playing Cloud, Midgar MercenaryCloud, Midgar Mercenary, the guy opposite me was playing Szarel, Genesis ShepherdSzarel, Genesis Shepherd, and the other guy was playing Raggadragga, Goreguts BossRaggadragga, Goreguts Boss. Raggadragga and Cloud struggled in the game from a lack of resources and going aggro a little too early. Szarel had really popped off and, during the final turn of the game, they were about to overwhelm us with a bunch of pumped creatures.

I had quietly amassed a large amount of token artifacts and creatures, but had kept a low profile. That said, Szarel could tell I was a threat, so he swung a few smaller creatures to take out the other two players, but sent a large host of creatures my way. With trample, I was going to die to combat damage. But I had anticipated this and used Hazel's ability to tap my tokens to play ArachnogenesisArachnogenesis.

By sparing the other two and having Szarel with their shields down on my next turn, I would have all I needed with my new Spider tokens to swing the game in my direction. But wouldn’t you know it, making an impulsive and panicked play, the kingmaker countered my ArachnogenesisArachnogenesis with a Mana TitheMana Tithe. I try to point out to him that countering me effectively kills him, but he just wanted to counter the spell and play a new game. I’m frustrated, but okay, he’s unfamiliar with kingmaking so I cool off and we get back to another game.

The next time we meet, it happens again but not to me. I do remember chuckling and pointing out that he kingmade again and he sheepishly just says he saw a big spell popping off and wanted to counter it, not fully understanding what it would mean to the game. Again, we move on.

And then last week, we’re playing a game and my Valgavoth, Harrower of SoulsValgavoth, Harrower of Souls deck has been burning people gradually but now I’m ready to turn up the heat. I have a Zulaport CutthroatZulaport Cutthroat and a Blood ArtistBlood Artist out so I cast a Blasphemous ActBlasphemous Act to make a huge dent in the life totals at the table.

I have a full grip of cards from Valgavoth and my opponents are all low on resources. The spell will take one of the better players out and severely drain the other. The kingmaker won’t get hit with any of the death triggers because they’ll die to my Mogis, God of SlaughterMogis, God of Slaughter on their upkeep, no matter what. But he counters my spell with a NegateNegate. I ask why, pointing out that he will be dead either way and this will prolong the game. He shrugs, my spell is countered, and he dies on his upkeep.

That was a lot so I’ll keep this brief: Am I the Bolas for this rookie kingmaking driving me up the wall? At what point is he the Bolas for constantly making his most impactful play a CounterspellCounterspell on his way out of the game for no other reason than he just wants to play a spell?

Thanks,

Jundly Sprunklesbry

(If you don't leave a pseudonym, I'll just give you one.)