Navigating a Trading Environment Full of Challenging and/or Newer Players

Human beings are most often motivated by Fear: The Fear of not getting what they want, or the Fear of losing what they already have. Social constructs are created to alleviate these fears.

At the outset of the Card Game introduction, April 1, 2018, I had an accidental advantage given my long history of creating satellite nations representing different points and interests in my NationStates life. The result was a top 10 finish despite me having little-to-no clue as to what were suitable tactics at the time.

When the Card endeavor returned in the winter, the limitations and isolation of my existence, in what Sedgistan has labeled a “backwater” region, magnified my ignorance as I tried to engage in the Market. As such, I participated willy-nilly with the goals of maximizing bank, obtaining valuable cards, and transferring unimpeded - without any regard to other nations’ desires.

Thus, for the first three months of card play I was known to be a notorious Heister and Penny Bidder - bringing me ill-will and retaliation by a group of card players. After a few combative conversations with Frisbeeteria I was invited to join a card-related Discord server (to the chagrin of many).

It was via this Discord that I was able to evolve out of my initial game-play approach and begin focusing on a more, community-considerate style of play. I ceased being a Heister and minimized my Penny Bidding tactics while simultaneously giving respect and acknowledgement of fellow card traders. Nevertheless, I have been guilty of numerous antagonistic conversations as I slowly evolved as a trader.

This summer past, in 2022, a Nation posted on the NationStates Forums indicting me for all sorts of mean and nasty actions within the Card universe. A review of all my Sent Telegrams over the previous year exonerated me of any rule violations. But even so, it is my experience that no matter how right I may be in any interaction, if the other person perceives such interaction differently, then I should investigate their point of view to see where I can improve on my part of the engagement.

I therefore decided to take inventory of my interactions. Whereas I was no longer the heister and penny bidder, I had become antagonistic toward other heisters and penny bidders - taking the moral high-ground and claiming that these tactics were annoying (a position many within the Card Discord community agreed with at the time). Many of my actions were filled with arrogant entitlement, a far cry from my peace flag and motto of “Love Conquers Fear.” The reality was that I was often not a conduit of a community-welcoming card game experience.

In order to change this behavior, it became helpful to better understand the nature of some of the more annoying tactics a trader may take. Most of these practices I’ve documented have come from newer players:

When a new Nation joins the Card Market, there are no directions for them on how to build success via creation of puppets, farming, and safe bank transfers. Instead, with limited funds, it is quite natural for newer players to want to build bank by heisting a trade where even a 0.50 profit adds value. Likewise, having a limited amount of bank contributes to penny bidding when one truly desires a card. The newer player does not yet recognize that some card values are inflated (due to transfers) and are not about to sell on the open market for the inflated price.

Being antagonistic towards a new player via telegrams and/or heisting is counterproductive in the long run as players may quit the endeavor. Understanding and emphasizing with the new trader can enhance the community and create more activity in the market. It takes three to four weeks for one Nation to earn 4.00 bank (assuming no legendaries were obtained and an average pack value of 0.15-0.20 was generated). Heisting a new player's bank is demoralizing. Play Nice Rule 1: If you do not like getting heisted, then do not heist others. (This ties in to the Golden Rule of “treating others the way you want to be treated.”) Instead, invite the new player to the Cards Discord or Card Gardens (the latter being a popular card organization and Discord server for many players) and help develop their experience.

But this isn’t the only rule for experienced players to ideally follow. There are several more to take into consideration:

Play Nice Rule 2: Do not take yourself too seriously. According to page 62 of the Big Book, I am by nature Selfish and Self-centered. Chuck C. claims that it is this attitude that set me apart from rather a part of the universe. Recognizing that every other individual player has the same rights, desires, and motivations that I have in the card market makes for friendlier interactions.

Play Nice Rule 3: “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz has much wisdom, with the second agreement being “Don't Take Anything Personally.” The point of this agreement is that individuals’ actions have nothing to do with us. Rather, they are motivated by self-interest. Reacting emotionally often creates greater animosity and errors in play. This rule is especially more difficult given the “challenging” player.

[The “challenging “ player is that player who knows better and yet still utilizes annoying tactics to antagonize another trader. They often try to make auctions personal, which may include doing things such as antagonistic communications via telegrams and Discord. Inevitably, they are not the more successful of traders from a market standpoint. They seemingly get their enjoyment via the emotional negative attention they receive from other players. ]

Play Nice Rule 4: Treat the “challenging” player as if they were sick, but not evil. From page 67 of the Big Book: “Though we did not like their symptoms and the way these disturbed us… show them the same tolerance, pity, and patience that we would cheerfully grant a sick friend.” This rule continues to present the greatest challenge, but when successfully evoked, I get greater serenity in the game.

Overall, navigating the Card game has never been easy. Besides the multitude of technical changes that have occurred since I first started out, simply going about my daily business in card trading has (and rightfully so) caused some friction to my fellow traders. But even so, I’ve learned from these experiences. What I have provided above serves as a potential guide if you wish to avoid the same uncomfortable moments I have personally caused or received. (After all, the Cards game is ultimately all about fun.) Should one choose to play nicely and possess a fair modicum of patience toward other players, then their time as a card trader will be a much more positive one to reminisce about. Thank you.