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Is it rude to casually glance at an incoming text to see if it's an emergency. I let my wife know my phone is on me and if she needs anything to text me. During a game I'll keep the phone on the table to the side. If I get a text I'll casually glance at the phone and see if it's an emergency, if not I ignore tell after the game. If the phone rings I'll silence it so it's not blaring out in the whole store. Certain people will call just to shoot the breeze and I know if certain others call its important. If its something that's important I'll apologize and reply.

So I'd like to have a disscusion on what is considered acceptable behavior. How do you deal with emergancy text/phone calls during a game. I know their are those who think no intrusion is acceptable, but I disagree with this idea. Sometimes things just happen and they need to be felt with right away. I'd don't get to play games much but when I do I'd rather not be rude on accident.

Besides the phone text thing what other area's should we look out for?

I know that I'm extremely nervous about picking up other peoples models. I'm not rude person at least I try not to be. I was playing a game at lgs and some of the guys had come in with pop eyes chicken. For anyone who doesn't know what that is its a restraunt that serves fried chicken. So while their eating on of them comes over and starts to pick up my models that I just finished painting the day before. I'm not exactly sure how to describe the feeling. Horror I guess would be the best word. I didn't say anything and just kept talking to him, but inside I was staring sadly at my model think please put him down.

Cell Phones: It's fine to have it and to check a message. Many gamers have wives and kids they need to keep in touch with. Just don't spend 30 minutes talking to your buddy John about a hockey game while I'm playing you, please.

Food and drink can be OK, but if your hands are or look messy, I won't hesitate to tell you to wash your hands. When I played the Star Wars CCG at game stores, I had to do this often.

I would understand a quick glance to check if it was an emergency text, and so should most people. Unfortunately, I've had to play against people who start playing games on their mobiles (Cell phones) during my movement, and when I say "Take these armour saves" it's taken repeated nagging just to get them to roll the fething dice.

Anyway, for the guy picking up your models, just politely ask for him to put it down. If he refuses, ask him again. If he still refuses, demand that you get your model back. If he still refuses, well, just get staff to kick him out. If you want to hold somebody's models, ask them. If they say no, that means no. If they say yes, remember it's still their model. Treat with as much care and respect you would use to handle your own, and place it on the table or, preferably, give it back to the owner and thank them.

Generally, i agree with you... my wife is pregnant (and rather close to D-Day), so i almost have to answer any call that i get from her... but generally,if my phone goes off i look and ignore.... in general i try to keep the game somewhat flowing and free from nongame related stuff.


In your chicken situation, i probably would have said something..at least wipe/clean your hands off before handling another persons minis!! In general...well really at all, its best to ask before handling another persons models (if they also have terrain in the game..i think terrain is slightly different, but i'm still going to treat it with care and respect).

Personally, foos/drink on the actual gaming surface is a no-go, but nearby isnt a problem (just make sure to abide by shop/house rules and whatnot), we don't want gamer fuel to get all over something.

I also try to ensure to shake my opponents hand after a game...its just good sportmanship, and i make sure to do that win or lose..no matter how great or poorly the game went.

If it's the other person's turn, I usually don't have a problem with sending short replies to txts or checking for new messages. It's easy enough to do that and still keep one eye on the game. What really gets me is when the person decides that it's the perfect time to call their girl friend and walks away in the middle of the game. In that case, we have a standing rule that any bystander gets to start rolling for you unless you said something before hand (i.e. "Hey guys, Mom's going to call at 3pm but it won't take too long.") or it's an emergency.

When it comes to touching other people's models, I usually don't without a good reason (like we're in a hurry to finish or I tripped and knocked a whole building full of models to the floor (which happens about once a game)). I'm very superstitious about people touching my stuff, especially my tape measure.

looking at your phone is okay. eating in the store (as long as it is okay with onwership.) is okay. Picking up models without washing you hands before is a no-no.

I admit i am guilty of this but it doens't exscuse it.

so to the op. Yes it is fine.

Reading a text is fine anytime, making a text shouldn't be on your turn, answering the phone is only acceptable if it's an emergency.

I don't have a problem with people checking a text or answering their phone... but as should be the case in any social situation, unless it's an emergency, come back to it later.

Somewhere along the line as mobile phones became more prevalent, it started becoming 'normal' for people to ignore the people they are currently spending time with in order to chat on the phone for 20 minutes, or to sit there texting while supposedly carrying on a conversation. Bugs the hell out of me. Whatever happened to 'Hey, I'm in the middle of something, but I'll call you back later...'?

txts are completely fine imo, if its your turn fine to read it, or keep your phone out in case you have hte need especially if you have kids/wife. I personally will read a txt on my turn but not respond but if my opponent needs to respond to a txt or two no big deal imo. talking on the phone would be pretty rude though without at least an "excuse me this is a bti of an emergency" or even a "do you mind if i take this call" i'll say sure go for it and relax a bit while you do what you gotta do then we can finish our game or if it is a signifigant emergancy and you have to leave I'll help you pack up if you want help, life doesn't revolve around minatures and I understand that

Do it quick. Tell them you'll call them back and you're busy right now.

We've got a code of conduct (unofficial but understood) it is as follows.

Texts are fine, just not during dice rolling.

Please wait for the BIO breaks (every hour or two) to take calls.

Please keep your hands clean and your food/drink on a prep table, and away from minis.

I would basically just let your opponent know beforehand if you are checking in case of emergency (like in the case of a pregnant wife/girlfriend) I'm sure most reasonable people would understand.
As long as it isn't seriously hampering the flow of the game, I'd be just fine with it.

If it is an emergency and you need to answer, or even.leave, I doubt that would be a problem. I don't think anyobe would here you scream.into the phone "The baby is coming!" and fly across the table, pin you to the floor and growl "Roll your saves."

If it's a friendly environment and you can talk and play, then by all means answer your phone (but don't take an age), otherwise make it a "I'm busy at the moment, is it urgent?" or don't answer it at all.

Texting i'm not fussed about at all unless it's a tournament and it's having a visibly detrimental effect on the flow of the game.

wowsmash wrote:I didn't say anything and just kept talking to him, but inside I was staring sadly at my model think please put him down.

I feel this way every time the 5 year old who comes into GW (you all know the one) who decides Terminators can.fly, Bolters make a "pah-choo" sound and my dead pile looks like fun.

Well, I figure if you've got time to have a quick chat with your buddy who wandered over to see how the games going, or to answer a rules query from the guy at the next table over, theres no difference between that and shooting off a quick text.

Personally I use my phone all the time during the opponents movement phase. But once it gets to rolling dice no phone whatsoever. Obviously I'll check texts or calls but typically ignore them till next opp. Movement. I usually have to leave to smoke a butt/make a call once or twice a game. but I always ask for a break first and have never been told no. So I've never given an opponent guff about using there phone unless it interrupts the flow of game during turns. This is a social game so who cares? Unless you aren't paying attention to what's happening in shooting/assault.

I know a lot of the younger players don't understand, but real-life trumps game-time. It sucks, but it does. Too bad, deal with it

Now that doesn't mean that you can have a verbal or texting conversation with someone over the phone like an asshat while your opponent waits on you. You made a commitment to him/her for the duration of the game to pay sole attention to them, even during their turn. The game is social for a reason, and if you can't function that way, play something over vassal. Even if a buddy needs to get ahold of me, if it's not urgent, they take backseat to my opponent.

But if you need to have a cellphone on you for quick updates/contacts with the real world (significant other/work/etc), that's an unfortunate necessity that takes precedent over plastic and metal army men.

I don't have a problem with it, i do it myself, so long as it's just checking and you say if its important if it is, then it's fine.

NOm

I didn't know this was an issue...

Most of the people I play with are friends and they wouldn't be so rude as to abandon the game for overly long periods out of courtesy.

I have no problem with someone answering a phone it's a given that this may happen once or twice during a game. When things like this become an issue it's a matter of courtesy and I'd avoid games with these people in the future.

Unfortunately, there are a great many people drawn to table-top gaming that have little or no social skills. The world revolves around them and you are simply a bit player in the movie about their life.

Last game I played in 40k.. We proxied a can of pop as a Mycetic Spore.... Needless to say the can we also being used by me =]

Dual purpose models.


As for a cell phone.. If im moving, shooting or whatnot Im not too fussy about it since the game takes forever to move and shoot in really... Whoevers turn it is should be concentrating on the game...

Deadshot wrote:

wowsmash wrote:I didn't say anything and just kept talking to him, but inside I was staring sadly at my model think please put him down.

I feel this way every time the 5 year old who comes into GW (you all know the one) who decides Terminators can.fly, Bolters make a "pah-choo" sound and my dead pile looks like fun.

i know that feeling all to well. at my local GW i was playing a massive planetstrike game when a guy bought in his toddler who then took my Valkyrie from in reserves. the kid then started to pretend it was a toy plane, running around the store, flying it around. i felt extremely uncomfortable thing it back as his dad was twice my size.

back on topic. i don't mind a person having their phone out, just as long as they are not on it all the time and just been totally disconnected from the game.

Only one of the people I play against does things with his phone. It's mostly irritating, because it'll be in the middle of my turn while I'm trying to make decisions, he whips his phone out, looks up a movie trailer or something on youtube, and tries to get me to watch it.

I don't mind this gak if I'm sitting around drinking. I don't even play that seriously. But since it always happens in the middle of my turn, it just feels like he's doing it to distract me.

Checking texts is acceptable, answer (if you must) in your opponents turn. Phonecalls I would answer but tell the person to call me back if it wasn't important.

I only touch other peoples models when asked, like removing casualties that are near me but across the board from them. I don't mind people touching my models provided they are careful and their hands are clean. Food and drink are fine around the table, provided they are out of the way and not likely to be knocked over.

I do check my texts (during my opponent's turn) but I try and keep it to a minimum. I try and never, ever touch an opponent's models. If I ever do, I always ask first. I don't have a problem with people touching my stuff, unless they didn't ask, in which case I get very irritated.

The "touching models" thing came up in a thread a few months back relating to breaking other peoples models.

Some guy was mad that he got a low sportsmanship score because he elbowed some guys Stormraven off of the table and he believed him saying "sorry" was enough to compensate a shattered model.

So, yeah, don't touch other peoples models unless they ask. Oh and don't elbow them off of tables.

Checking a text is fine, If you get a call, "I'll call you back" is acceptable, Any more than that is not.
As for food, Not at the games table, and if you're eating, absolutely no touching other peoples models.

Depends on how much attention you give to the phone. Some people hardly pay attention to the game and text instead of paying attention. Food is ok but it can be distracting and it can cause a mess. It's ok but don't touch models without washing hands.

The way I see it is that if you can check a text in a manner that doesn't upset the game, go for it. I usually don't have any problems with this at my LGS.

I do, however, have a problem with smokers calling timeout every turn to go light up. A couple guys at my store will regularly go light up together and have a 5-10 minute conversation while the rest of us are standing there holding dice.

-cgmckenzie

I agree with the general sentiment of the thread.
Texts are fine, but don't delay the game too much. I check texts from certain people, and ignore others during a game.