Card Quirks

[Dudecore]

I hate people who play Lands 1st. As in putting their lands in a row in front, then permanents and things behind.

That drives me nuts, too. What's up with that? Are that tapping their permanents for mana back there? They gonna block my creatures with their land? What the hell is going on?

Paulo Vitor Damo Da Rosa, on of the best players in the game says it because it's harder to cheat with your lands in front because you could see something like an inconspicuous mana elf or the FTV (or any, for that matter) {Dryad Arbor} that could be a potential game breaker. Another reason for this is because it was in the old rule book.

I know he does it. Do you have a link to him talking about it? I'm very interested.

[Bozo_Law]

I hate people who play Lands 1st. As in putting their lands in a row in front, then permanents and things behind.

That drives me nuts, too. What's up with that? Are that tapping their permanents for mana back there? They gonna block my creatures with their land? What the hell is going on?

Paulo Vitor Damo Da Rosa, on of the best players in the game says it because it's harder to cheat with your lands in front because you could see something like an inconspicuous mana elf or the FTV (or any, for that matter) {Dryad Arbor} that could be a potential game breaker. Another reason for this is because it was in the old rule book.

I know he does it. Do you have a link to him talking about it? I'm very interested.

He talked about it in his last mailbag article.

Why lands in front?

I've already written about this, but I get this question so often that I'm just going to quote my previous article:

"The reason I play with my lands before my spells is obviously because I was taught to play that way, and I've always played that way. Lately, though, some people have been vocal about it, which baffles me—you see, to me, this is not a factor at all and I would never have mentioned it if people weren't bringing it up—if my opponents play with their lands before their spells or otherwise, it makes absolutely no difference in how I play. I'm fairly certain that I have never lost a game because they played one way or another—the method itself is certainly not confusing.

The argument that the relevant cards are away from you is true, but so is the one that you're not going to miss anything relevant even it's far from you. In fact, I'd argue that, for this purpose, my method is actually better... you see, you're never going to forget their creatures—they are important. You don't need to constantly being reminded of them due to physical proximity, you are reminded of them because you interact with them. No one has ever attacked their 4/4 into a Shivan Dragon and said "oh, I forgot you had played Shivan Dragon, it's sitting on the back"—you can't forget Shivan Dragon. Now, that Celestial Colonnade your opponent played on turn one—that you can forget. The Llanowar Elves that was inconspicuously grouped with the lands on the back and jumps in for a surprise block? That you attack into. We often don't pay enough attention to lands—there are usually more lands than creatures, lands are way more similar among themselves than creatures, and lands are grouped way more closely than creatures, so it's easier to miss them, and by placing my lands before my creatures I'm actually helping you in this regard—yes, out of the kindness of my heart.

And that's not even to mention control mirrors... no one would honestly look to my face and say their Wall of Omens is more relevant than their lands in the 5cc mirror. I don't care about your stupid Wall, I want to see if you have Mana to play Cruel Ultimatum and Cryptic Command in the same turn.

And then there is cheating... you see, one of the easiest ways of cheating has got to be with your lands—casting a spell you can't cast, for example. If your lands are on the back, then it becomes harder to spot. No one is going to be like "tap my Merfolk Looter to draw a card... oh wait, it's a Delver, oops"—you know if they have a Looter or not and if they're using it. But with lands? It's very conceivable that someone goes "tap UGWW to play Wrath of God" but it's actually UGGW so that they keep 1W open for Celestial Purge, for example. Not taking damage from your pain land? Much easier if they're on the back, and so on.

So, does this mean I think my way is better? No, not really—as I've said, I think it doesn't matter and they're both the exact same. However, if you do believe that it matters, then I think there are some solid arguments to be made in favor of lands before spells been the "cleaner" one, and stuff that doesn't consist of " but I have to stretch my arm farther when I want to Doom Blade his creature!!!11!1" at that."

Source: http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/pvs-playhouse-mailbag/

[Dudecore]

Good find. +1.

Still don't agree, but I can understand that "that's how I learned" argument. Lots of bad habits from the learning period.

[Mikefrompluto]

Good find. +1.

Still don't agree, but I can understand that "that's how I learned" argument. Lots of bad habits from the learning period.

Such as "Beginning of my turn. Draw a card, untap." That is rather irksome to me.

[Pslider]

I hate people who play Lands 1st. As in putting their lands in a row in front, then permanents and things behind.

That's the way it was played when I started playing, I still play that way.

[Imdowd80]

Good find. +1.

Still don't agree, but I can understand that "that's how I learned" argument. Lots of bad habits from the learning period.

Such as "Beginning of my turn. Draw a card, untap." That is rather irksome to me.

I do this once in a while still, I was really bad at it at the start of my playing days. But I've gotten better now.

[Opticarrow8]

{Lingering souls} ... That card is the bane of my existance. Especially when used, then they wait until i lose creatures being blocked, just to flash it back. Troll cards 101 right there.

[Therobsta12]

I don't like when people ask to borrow my dice

[Wackaman9001]

I don't like it when people put all their lands in a gigantic stack. It's annoying because you can't figure out if they're able to cast their spells, even though I usually don't watch.

Now do you not like when they stack things that don't tap for different colors or so long as it is the same function it's ok?

[Bozo_Law]

Good find. +1.

Still don't agree, but I can understand that "that's how I learned" argument. Lots of bad habits from the learning period.

Why is it a bad habit? It is not bad at all, just a different play style. Maybe PV thinks lands in back is annoying.