I attended a tournament on 11/18 in West Hartford run by Rom and gained a lot of insight into some things that most first time tournament goers and new players may not know. I’ve worked with Rom for a long time and have found him to be a superb Ambassador and TD, so I want none of what I present here to reflect on him, but contained herein are some things every player should know and try to observe when they attend a tournament.

    First, remember that if you are attending your first tournament or are a new player, then you more than likely do not know many of your opponents. Star Trek is a game that spans many different ages; I have had opponents ranging in age from 8 to 42, so you may be faced with someone much older or younger than yourself. It is extremely important to show a certain level of courtesy and respect to your opponent whether you enjoy their company and the game or not. Some of the most common problems I’ve encountered come from where you choose to focus your attention.  Most players do not appreciate it if you stop in the middle of a game and yell across the game room to someone else that “My Borg ship blew up his Enterprise and a whole mess of people.” there will be plenty of time to discuss the effectiveness of your deck after the round. By pausing in the middle of a turn you insult your opponent by focusing your attention elsewhere and then by announcing to others that he is not playing well. Focus also comes into play when players choose not to monitor the game and then end up questioning legitimate moves their opponent made during the turn. A good example of this came at this last tournament when my opponent turned to inform a friend of his that he was winning and came back to find that I had executed several actions. My opponent then asked for me to repeat the actions he had missed and I refused stating that, “I gave you ample time to respond to those actions but you chose to talk to someone next to you.” It is a simple courtesy that you pay attention to the game you are involved in at all times and not ask your opponent for clarification because you failed to pay adequate attention. If you pay attention to your games you will not have to ask for actions to be repeated, not have to ask if its now your turn, and show your opponent that this game is as important to you as it is to him or her.

    Further to the issue of attention, no player should ever interrupt a game unless the TD has allowed him to. The TD knows what kinds of occurrences interrupt games (I’m missing a card from my last game, My previous opponent accidentally took one of my cards, etc.) and will interrupt a match if that should be needed.  Reasons like “Are you winning?” “What’s the score in your game?” and “My Borg ship blew up his Enterprise and a whole mess of people”, are not valid reasons to interrupt a game, not to mention that many players may be playing strategies that are new creations or have a surprise element, and by interrupting their game you have just “scouted” them and learned something you are not entitled to know.

    Remember that when you attend a tournament for the first time, even if you have played for a good long while with friends, that there may be rulings or cards that you do not understand or that work differently than they have in the past. The TD is here for that very reason; he can answer your questions and set things straight. There is no point in discussing the matter with your opponent or getting into an argument, simply request the TD’s attention and ask him or her to settle the matter. I have witnessed a great deal of arguments between players because they did not immediately involve the Td when a ruling question arose. As a TD myself, I am very forth coming that I may not be fully knowledgeable about each and every rule and may need to request a clarification during a game I am playing in. No one is perfect so utilize the tools given to you and don’t be afraid to ask for assistance.

    Finally, and most importantly, keep up the pace of the game. If you do not have any actions to perform, please draw and end your turn. Stalling only causes frustration for your opponent and causes him or her to question your sportsmanship. For new players this may be difficult. There may be times where you are not sure if you have a valid action available to you. You can best combat this by practicing your deck against friends before the tournament or by thoroughly reading the rules. Another time saver comes if you understand the uses of your cards before you sit down to play in your first tournament, so it is a good idea to be familiar with the cards you are playing (you never know what your opponent will play so that is difficult to prepare for). Stopping in the middle of a turn to read exactly what Q the Referee does is not prudent and will inevitably cause your opponent to question your sportsmanship. Not to mention some decks simply implement slower than others, so an opponent may need that valuable time in order to be fair to you and offer you an adequate number of turns.

    Of course, the simplest remedy for each of these problems is to work with a more established player or to attend a demo run in your area before you play in your first tournament. I have been a member of the Maquis since its inception here in Betazed and one of the things we agreed we wanted to promote was encouraging new players, but lately new players have not observed these simple guidelines and it has caused some problems in our area and angered a good deal of the more established players. The best advice is to go in and enjoy yourself but remember that your opponent is there to enjoy himself too so if you keep your attention focused on the game you’re playing, avoid interrupting other players’ games, be flexible and do not be afraid to ask the TD for a ruling if you think your opponent is breaking a rule or is challenging an action you have just performed, and keep a steady pace. Following these very simple guidelines will make the tournament experience more enjoyable for both yourself and your opponent and you may find that no matter who wins the game, you feel good about having played and can walk into your next round with a cheery attitude.