For some time now, I have been thinking about the “I also had all these”-sentiment or phrase or whatever it should be called. If you have been playing Magic, you have almost certainly met it. Maybe not with the exact words, but some iteration of it.
“I also had all these” happen when a player, after a game, feels the need to tell their opponent that they still had great cards in hand. Or that they could have done something cool or great, if they had just had one or several more turns than what the game actually had.
It is known to happen both when a player has won the game or lost. It is very much up to the player and the situation.
“I also had all these” has become a bit of a derogative term – kind of a meme – in the magic community, and I must admit, that I have also found it to be very annoying and unnecessary to make your opponent aware of all the great things you could have done – whether you lost terribly or won like a king.
But for the last couple of months I have been thinking about it. I was wondering why it annoyed me – and apparently many other Magic players throughout the world – so much. Why couldn’t I just ignore, or even enjoy what could have been with my opponent? And why do some Magic players feel the urge – or even the need – to end a game with “I also had all these”? Where does it come from?
What is it?
As mentioned, I have experienced opponents saying some version of “I also had all these” both after they had won without breaking a sweat, while stuffing my head down the toilet, and after they had lost terribly without ever being even slightly close to amassing any threat to me.
I am not sure what annoyed me the most. In both situations it just feels somewhat awkward.
If you win, and say “I also had all of these” it can easily be perceived as rubbing it in. That is not exactly great winning behavior, but if you lose and say “I also had all of these,” it is almost even more confusing. I mean: “Okay but you’ve just lost horribly. I acknowledge that you have great cards in hand, but if you haven’t had the chance to play them, either you have built a bad deck or you have been up against a bad matchup. Or do you just think I was lucky to win?”
It is not a reply, I would suggest, you ever say out loud.
Mostly, I just find the situation – or the specific phrase – very difficult to respond to. I always have some trouble replying: What do I say? I mean, sure, great, you still had a lot of awesome cards. I would anticipate no less. We are playing an awesome game. And yes, of course, if the game had continued for several more turns, you would probably have played several more cards amassing more synergies or even combos.
Sometimes I have felt like the opponent almost wanted me to react negatively saying something along the lines of “well yeah, I would imagine! You have been very lucky the entire game, and I have only drawn lands and the wrong answers at the wrong time.” But first of all, I always try to avoid going down that road – it never really amounts to anything good and I don’t believe in luck. Second of all, I am pretty sure, that is not the reaction my opponent wants!
Of course, my reaction is very different depending on the situation and the opponent in question. If I am playing against an old fart like myself with 25+ years of experience, it always takes me by surprise, and I get a bit annoyed. At least if I am playing the more competitive formats I play – Canadian Highlander and Vintage Draft Cube.
If I am playing against someone with less experience, I don’t get as annoyed. In those situations I guess I let the opponent’s lack of reps count in as an excuse for the awkwardness of “I also had all of these.”
But why even get annoyed? Why even think of all the negative responses I could answer with? Why not just ignore the whole thing and say “Good games – you sure had a lot of great cards! I hope we can play again at some time!”
I figured the main reason why I found it annoying has something to do with it being childish or unprofessional or non-competitive or something.
Yes, childish!
Once I formulated this thought, it immediately humbled me because of the stupidity of it: I am playing a cardboard game, and I get annoyed when my opponent does something I think is childish. Jesus Christ, Emil! Get over yourself. And also, Emil, please remember that you are not a very competitive person, and you are very much not a very professional person – at least not when it comes to playing Magic.
I found that more or less the whole reason why I dislike “I also had all these” is that I don’t think it makes sense for a grown up in a somewhat serious setting to say that. Why not just talk about the game and how fun or cool it had been?
Because people are different.
And that is what made me think about it and change my view on the phrase.
Just do it – at least against me
The other thing that hit me – as hinted above – was that I never (or very rarely) let myself get annoyed with “I also had all these” while playing Old School. Why? Because Old School is very non-competitive for me. I think some of my more competitive-minded opponents would actually say that I myself sometimes indulge in a “I also had all these” after a game.
But whatever format we are talking about, I don’t think I have ever experienced a player that said “I also had all these” in a negative manner; in a way that ridicules the opponent. When I think about it, it has always been out of pure thrill. They had been waiting to play that favorite card of theirs; they had hoped to finally assemble their four-card-combo; or they had just simply pumped themselves up throughout the game, and now it all ended, and they would really just like to play some more Magic. Or – at least in the Old School context – it is just about showing and sharing what cool cards are in their deck.
That is a sentiment that one really shouldn’t scoff at. Being happy and having fun playing Magic is precisely what it is all about. Being excited and dreaming of doing some epic shit are what many of our dreams are made of.
Also when playing Canadian Highlander or Vintage Draft Cube. Yes, they are way more competitive formats. Yes the games are sometimes even more lob-sided. But no, that does not give one the right to be annoyed at someone else’s joy.
Joy is almost always best shared. Also in this case; and so, I will try to be more welcoming and ignore my own idiotic sentiments when I meet my next “I also had all these.”
Have a great night, enjoy the game and the cards, and have fun!
No Responses