The Spite Scooping Discourse: Round XVII

[DirkGently]

It's been a while since this perennial discourse got reignited, so let's check in to see where everyone is at with it. Particularly since it has come up a couple times on Shut Up and Play. Hopefully these options do a good job of covering possible opinions on this issue.

All positions assume that scooping is fine when necessary for a real-life situation. I think that should go without saying.

An example to clarify about the first couple options, because I think this aspect is one that the "scoop at sorcery speed" position ignores:

It's currently player 3's turn. He has a 10/10 unblockable which he just swung at player 1, bringing them to 10 life. Player 2 doesn't currently have a way to deal 10, but he might draw one on his next turn (his deck has 15 copies of searing wind, don't ask). Player 1 has no interaction and can kill either player 2 or player 3 on their next turn, but not both. Player 3 logically assumes he will be killed first, so he scoops on his turn after combat, at sorcery speed. He's not denying triggers or anything like that, but his concession does effectively deny player 3 the chance to draw an out, because now player 1 can kill player 3 instead of spending his turn killing player 2.

If you think it's fine for player 3 to scoop, choose option 3. If you think it should be avoided but only when an obvious issue like this is created, choose option 2. If you think it should always be avoided in case of potentially unforeseen issues, choose option 1.

As far as scooping as a strategic threat, the idea is to use the threat of scooping to motivate the attacker to not swing for lethal, and thus potentially survive an otherwise unsurvivable situation. "With precedent" meaning that the group has given prior permission for this type of maneuver, "without precedent" meaning that they haven't.

I didn't include an option for "scooping to deny someone's triggers without warning is fine, but only if you think they're a dick". Maybe I should have, though, feel free to discuss.

[Lifeless]

Frankly I'm a take your lumps kind of guy and I don't spite scoop, even if my opponent is a jerk and does it themselves. I'm more about modelling the behavior you expect from others and then ripping them a new asshole if they don't fall in line.

[Wanli]

Very happy to report that scooping is extremely rare with my regular playgroup. It pretty much only happens if
- there are only two players left, one of them with a clearly superior boardstate, the other one with no answers;
- somebody has to leave earlier, in which case we'll usually know before we start the game.
It's a game night among friends, so please no temper tantrums and some time in the limelight for everybody. If your situation is hopeless, chat with the others, enjoy some crisps and hope for a miracle.