Should we whisper our opponents?

DewiMorgan · July 2022

What do you feel is the ideal etiquette, here?

I often whisper my opponents if they've made a good or interesting play, or the game was fun. But I do it with care to always remain positive about them and their play, stuff like:

Oof, well played! Not sure I can come back from that!
GG! You really played Rahjiin well there! I learned stuff!
Close game! That was a nail-biter right to the end!
Felt like the tavern had it in for you, didn't give you a single decent card all game.
Wow, that was a great catch-up at the end, I thought you had me!
Noooo, you got the Rally I was after! Well played, ya git!
You again? Oho, a rematch!

Basically: to congratulate, compliment, thank, or commiserate.

So far, every whisper I've had a positive response, and players seem to respond in a friendly fashion and to be in it for the fun. I've gained a few new friends-list entries, from ToT whisper conversations that became fun and started to discuss strategies and such.

I've had a few whispers started by others too: they've always been nice, and always appreciated. I'm not at all a social person, normally, but somehow I find on a losing streak, friendly whispers from opponents keep me going.

But I imagine that for some, unsolicited whispering can feel invasive.

I've noticed that for some opponents, my whispers disappear (like, don't even appear on my chat history). I suspect they are set up to auto-ignore opponents for the duration of a game? Maybe there's an addon for that? Might just be a bug, but I take it as declaring they'd rather not be whispered, and respect that, so don't try again.

So:

Do you dislike being whispered during/after a game? Or does a positive whisper make you happier?
Do you do it yourself, or avoid doing it? Why?
Do you block whispers from your opponents (or would you, if you could?)
Have you had negative whispers? I've seen a few people here and in zone chat mentioning some really off-putting whispers from their opponents. Would positive whispers help mitigate those, or just feel more invasive?

jaws343 · July 2022

Personally, I prefer not to have any communication with an opponent in the card game. I just don't see the need really.

kevkj · July 2022

I only whisper when I lose, to avoid any possibility of coming off as gloating. I only did it a couple of times when I got beat in a manner I did not expect/was completely crushed. Once I whispered mid-game just to ask my opponent if the tavern was glitched for them as well.

As someone else mentioned, I don't really feel the need to be more social.

redspecter23 · July 2022

I wouldn't mind if someone whispers me after a game. I'd be open to any sort of discussion, but I probably wouldn't respond during the game as the window doesn't open on its own if a whisper is received. I likely wouldn't even know I got one.

I do the courtesy of whispering my opponent if I encounter a bug, like if the board doesn't load or if I can't take an action on my turn and have to wait to time out just so they know I'm not intentionally stalling.

Peacatcher · July 2022

I assume text chat doesn't work mid game on console but haven't tried it.

I don't think I'd like the idea of getting messages during the game, too off-putting and some people would probably use it to troll.

Wouldn't mind a selection of canned responses after the game though so you could send a GG, well played, lucky draw etc.

SilverBride · July 2022

I've had a couple of players whisper me after a particularly fun game. The first time I had lost but I thought it was nice that my opponent complimented me on having played well.

I whispered an opponent once after we were paired up 3 games in a row. We found it amusing and wondered if we were the only ones playing.

One player whispered me during the game but I won't chat while playing. It is too distracting.

KefkaGestahl · July 2022

I've sent a few salty messages but nothing insulting. I'm really not somebody who thrives in a competitive environment but the game basically forces you to PVP if you want to upgrade your decks, since so many require PVP and PVP Is also the best way to get card leads since you get blue and purple boxes from PVP. So I would say you really shouldn't send messages, but sometimes people like to vent after a loss and if somebody complains about your luck you shouldn't take it personally.

DinoZavr · July 2022

The majority of players are in Offline mode (i can say this for sure, as i had attempted to message with "ty for the game" - and noticed most of them were Offline).
The whispers i received so far were few and with one or two exceptions - were unfriendly to put it mildly,
so i also think that playing in the Offline mode has its reasons.

EnerG · July 2022

If somebody whispers me reguardless of what was whispered its an auto ignore, thats cringe tbh.

Tuonra2 · July 2022

I whisper gg after and the occasional 'fml' when the stars seem to align against me.

But nearly all interactions have been positive, both on NA and EU. Have lots of new friends from ToT!

Jaclynn · July 2022

I don't usually send whispers, but don't mind getting them as long as they are pleasant, and not during the actual game. Rude remarks and I block. There are some really cool people playing ToT, and I've had some great chats about it.

Cadbury · July 2022

EnerG wrote: »

If somebody whispers me reguardless of what was whispered its an auto ignore, thats cringe tbh.

I agree. Talking to other humans in an online game is just so...

SilverBride · July 2022

I don't understand why anyone would be upset with their opponent because RNG was more in their favor. They didn't deal the cards or stack the deck. I would not appreciate it if someone approached me to complain about that.

Oddemus · July 2022

EnerG wrote: »

If somebody whispers me reguardless of what was whispered its an auto ignore, thats cringe tbh.

Oof, that's harsh! I've only had people say things like "gg" and tbh that's just good sportsmanship imo

Katheriah · July 2022

I'm not one to start a conversation, but the few convo's I had with people that whispered me during or after a match were pleasant. I gained some new friends and guildmembers.

I also understand that some people would not appreciate it, I guess that's why I won't usually start, but the convo's I had were nice.

Vaoh · July 2022

I don’t think it’s necessary and likely would lead to toxicity in ToT lol. This would mainly happen in high ranked games where Sorcerer-King Orgnum is present, since it becomes a mostly RNG win, with big consequence for a loss.

It might actually be a good idea to allow players to remain anonymous altogether or potentially using character names instead.

cyclonus11 · July 2022

I never see them until after the match lol

sharquez · July 2022

If you sat down at a chessboard in a park and played with some random stranger who sat down in front of you would you sit in steely silence or engage them in a friendly manner?
Now to be fair there is a difference in that it is more difficult to type to someone an indeterminant distance away than simply speaking to your opponent sitting in front of you with your mouth parts, But I like to talk about the game and will engage in a friendly manner if possible.

SilverBride · July 2022

sharquez wrote: »

If you sat down at a chessboard in a park and played with some random stranger who sat down in front of you would you sit in steely silence or engage them in a friendly manner?

I would sit in silence. Chatting would be too disruptive to my concentration. After the game I would chat with them about the game, though.

Hawkeye · July 2022

Well, I can say I am super super competitive. And I imagine I am on a few ignore lists. I have to keep my keyboard away from me or I can get ugly. I have never been the type to blow sunflower kisses at people. I guess I am just an old curmudgeon. Stay off my lawn!
Seriously what gets under my skin is the people who will set and hold their last card like it is some big dramatic surprise. All I have to do is click on the cards to see what it possibly is. So I find that stupid. And of course the ones who will set there all cocky and run the time down when they have a nice hand. Or are losing. Just play the game win or lose.

Anne13 · July 2022

"You won with Rng! Cards falling in your lap gg!"

"Op one patron spam! Gg!"

Loooool

tsaescishoeshiner · July 2022

Absolutely not. Only in rare cases. It either slows your turn down, or theirs. It's distracting. Most other card games I've played have some type of emote/gesture feature, not full-on chat.

Yeah, I've had nice messages with other players. Some of the ones you mentioned might be nice to get after a game. But we can't idealize people, and in general, being more personal will come with negativity, salt, and less focus on the match.

Plus, sometimes it's frustrating to lose a match. It's nice to not have to think about how to respond to someone in a polite and normal way when inside, you're feeling like "reeeee". It's just more to process.

I wish there was an emote-like feature—Elder Scrolls Legends had a great one, that was positive and interactive, without being overly personal or allowing salty messages. I had a lot of fun with that, and always said hello and good game every match.

koopdaville68 · July 2022

I play on XB, and it is difficult for me to chat, would take too much time. But I have sent messages to players after the game, mostly when I lose or if the game was great! I have lost some fun great games that went back and forth and was exciting to play. I do not think I am very good yet, but I have only played for the past few weeks and have learned a great deal. Trying to build my decks and learning the ins and outs.

But I am competitive and do not like losing, but I feel like I am a good sport when I get my lunch handed to me :-)

It is a card game after all, the RNGeezzus may be with you..... but it may be now where to be found!

netch_a_sketch · July 2022

I usually dont notice if I'm being whispered during a game. I did have someone I was paired up with twice in a row message me and they were very good and gave me some great tips.

Veryamedliel · July 2022

I wouldn't mind a whisper if said message was anything decent. GG and the like I can appreciate. What I don't appreciate are people threatening reports after you played your first hand (I won't name them here, tempting as it is). And I get that a lot more than a simple GG. So I prefer to remain offline while ToT-ing.

Should people eventually lose that PvP attitude I'll be happy to set my status back to online. I'm not holding my breath though.