Progression in game

[formal barn]

I am playing wizard (Blaze, Firemind) in a ProQuest+.

My opponent very quickly calls judge to witness the pace of the game. He knows that we will finish with like 20 minutes left on the clock and he admits that. He just wants "progression in the game". As I am very familiar with the player, I do know that his reason is that he knows he can make me make mistakes, if he forces me to play quicker than I want to, i.e. making me uncomfortable and stressed while playing. The player also plays internationally top level MTG and this is just part of the game for him.

I am just wondering if this is okay in the same way in FAB?

I am aware that there needs to be progression in the game. I don't want to stall. But wizard just have a few very key decision moments in the game and we still finish with 15+ minutes left of the round. Is it okay to stress the opponent in that exact moment when there is absolutely no risk for timing out in the round?

Can I somehow clarify with words for the judge that this is what he is trying to do? I did not know how to respond to the situation...

(The judge handled it perfectly. He just watched the game from then on and the 4-5 minutes, it lasted. Furthermore, I don't think it made me make an error in the situation and I lost fair and square, but I just felt it like a dirty and unsportsmanlike move)

[formal barn]

I can add that at the time he called the judge, I was at 2 and opting to see if I should combo. We had more than 25 minutes left and the game would end in a turn or two.

He was playing Briar

[clever jay]

Slow Play and Stalling are different things. You might take a look at 5.7 and 6.6 in the TRP

Briefly though: Stalling is abusing the clock with regards to end of round. But Slow Play doesn't have anything to do with how long is left in the round. Gameplay is expected to move at a reasonable pace no matter how long is on the clock

I'm not going to speculate on your opponent's motives. But I will say, having a judge there is probably the best way to handle it anyway. If you suspect your opponent of unsportsmanlike conduct, the judge should be able to recognize and handle it

In theory, "weaponizing" a judge to stress out your opponent should never really work. The judge is there to make sure the game is played correctly and fairly, so there should be nothing to worry about. I know, in practice, it can sometimes be a little unnerving to have one of us hovering on your match - but try to remember that our main purpose is to make sure everyone has a good game

[formal barn]

So, the answer is that it is okay for him to use this in this manner.

I felt uncomfortable and stressed (and see myself as a veteran player in TCG). It made me do decisions faster before I had thought things though. In hindsight I do not believe that it led to mistakes, but it was very likely that it would have. For non-veteran players it likely would have had an even higher impact.

As well-meaning and friendly judges are (I agree that they did a very good job), then this is a psychological effect that will occur. Some players know this and use this. I am convinced that I can ask my opponent now and he will say that it is a tool within the rules, so why not use it. He will not hide it as he believes it is perfectly okay (even though he will not verbalize it while playing)...

I am sad to hear that the answer is to just change my psychology and not stress. That I am the problem ☹️

I would be okay with it if it was to ensure that we finish the game. He knows me very well though and in the past we have even talked about me having 700 tournament games in blitz with 500 games of Kano and only ever had one drawn game (against a hungover Oldhim player). I have never had anyone else do this before (not even while playing Kano at Worlds). This game here was also very well progressed and would end with possibly more than 25 minutes on the clock, but definitely more than 20 minutes.

I know that this is not meant as a weapon and judges will not see it like that - but the psychological effect makes it a weapon - even if it is not intended... And the player knowingly uses it that way.

Thank you for your answer though. I definitely still feels like it is abusing a rule and some sort of unsportsmanlike conduct. But I guess it is a move within the rules. I will just have to accept it. Fwiw I could use it myself when playing against wizard. I just don't think that I could bring myself to do that ☹️

[clever jay]

I didn't say you were the problem. I didn't condone what your opponent did. I specifically said that I cannot speak to what they did or didn't do

[formal barn]

But it is okay to do it...

That's sad, but thank you for your answer.

I apologize for my rant ☹️

[clever jay]

I feel compelled to, again, reiterate that I said nothing of the sort

[formal barn]

Ahh, so it is more of a 'it depends on the situation' - kind of thing?

You would have to be there to determine it.

I understand.

But that leads me back to my initial question.

What would I have to say in the situation if I feel that this is what my opponent is doing. That he is being unsportsmanlike and using the rule with the sole purpose to stress me out and make mistakes?

I guess I should just say it like that... Maybe I answered my own question...

[maiden wind]

Just say the judge what's your feeling about the situation (apart if you need it). It will probably help you to reduce your stress and help the judge to do his job correctly.

[vocal crest]

If your opponent keeps calling Slow Play in his matches and the judges keep finding no evidence of slow play, they will pick up on what he is doing and will speak to him.

[quiet stump]

Slow play is very contextual in Flesh and Blood and with it judges have a lot more leeway in interpreting based on game state.

In a generic example, judges will acknowledge that Wizards will inevitably be "in the tank" or thinking during a crucial turn (especially when low on life). This does not mean the player is allowed to take 20 minutes to make a decision, but more than a moment may be necessary. This is contrasted to the middle of an aggro matchup where typically neither player blocks until necessary and even then it may be contextual (i.e. Zen - Transverse the Universe, having a Chi or not having a Chi).

As already stated, if a player makes frequent judge calls that may not be warranted, a judge may need to perform an investigation upon that behavior and whether it coincides with the mission of playing great games.

Also note that judges are not mind readers and can only act upon presented information, knowing a player's intent for a judge call requires an investigation by the judge versus hearsay.