13 minutes ago, drathbun said:

Short version: When I'm playing you, the most important activity is what's going on in front of you right now. I will treat you with the same respect.

Longer version: I don't mind if someone pulls out a phone to clarify a rule; that means we're both involved in the discussion. Do it, and put your phone away. If you get a call from your significant other, it's probably important and you need to take it. If you get a call from work, you probably need to take it. Other than that, leave your phone in your pocket. Or in your back pack so you're not distracted by random texts.

I play dominoes at work during lunch breaks. There is one person who keeps her phone out the entire time while she's playing, doing Instagram, FB, and whatever. Nothing to me shows more disrespect than showing that some random posting on the Internet is more important to you right now than what you're doing right in front of you. Put your phone away and play the game. Be social. I can honestly say I've never had the same experience playing X-Wing yet, but I imagine I would feel the same way. Put your phone away and interact with the person in front of you (me). Have a conversation. Talk about the game. Talk about your list. Ask questions. If you want to play a computer stay home and use an online game when nobody cares what you're doing in between turns.

there is that 'mutual respect' again. You keep using that word, but I don't think it means what you think.

different people have different gameplay expectations. Mutual respect is not being annoyed that your partner/opponent doesn't share your expectations but rather is respecting that they have their own expectations and having the decency to either 1) talk to them about yours, or 2) don't play with them if it is such disrespect in your opinion. Personally, I find it disrespectful when others assume I know their expectations and/or expect me to have the same by default.

tournament. My girl knows not to call. If she does. It's urgent important. I'm gonna answer it. Regular game. My girl calls I'm gonna answer it. Why? Because she gives "it" to me. Y'all don't. If y'all did then things whould be different. If you don't have someone. Seth green quote. Buy a bar of soap. It helps.

Hell, the amount it bothers people I'm going to be on my phone just to ruin your concentration because it's apparently very easily broken. When people get upset emotionally they tend to make more mistakes, and apparently I now know one that triggers a good deal of you. I usually set dials before the dice are done rolling in combat. This is a hobby, in large tournaments most people across from you can't focus on a conversation and the game so I tend to spend the time during planning phase reading up on something that is enioyable or changing the song (yeah I usually play with one headphone on cause it actually has been proven to make me play better) so not to rush the opponent. Is it out for me all the time? No, but if you want my attention, you better be going faster than a speedy drip off molasses in the middle of a Canadian winter or at least hold a conversation while playing, which from my 4 years of experience doesn't happen that often in larger tournaments (regionals-worlds)

If you don't verbally let your opponent know you are done with your turn, you are actually not playing the game correctly. I always announce turn rotation for the benefit of both players.

Edit: the only time it's an issue is when it slows down the game.

And if you don't want me to use my phone but are slow playing, I'll just stare you down or make running commentary on your slow play, I'll let you figure out which one is ruder.

Double edit: to the person saying you won't get phone calls for work on the weekend, in this day and age, it's VERY likely you can. Some people, like myself work most weekends. So that shows your limited scope of the world.

Then again I have spatial awareness so I know when to not be on my phone during a game.

1 minute ago, wfain said:

different people have different gameplay expectations. Mutual respect is not being annoyed that your partner/opponent doesn't share your expectations but rather is respecting that they have their own expectations and having the decency to either 1) talk to them about yours, or 2) don't play with them if it is such disrespect in your opinion. Personally, I find it disrespectful when others assume I know their expectations and/or expect me to have the same by default.

Your definition of "respect" is different than mine, that's what you're getting at?

That's fair. Let me guess, you're probably younger than me.

I personally think it's rude when people dismiss me - the person they're standing in front of - to interact with someone that's not even in the room. That email or text or Facebook "like" can wait until you're done interacting with me.

You may see it differently.

I like to present it this way when I'm teaching phone etiquette to my teenagers: Who has the power, you or the phone? If you are such a slave to your phone that you have to pull it out and check it every time it beeps or vibrates, the phone is controlling your life rather than just being a tool for you to use. If you can't go five minutes without wondering what's happening in the world, you need to reset your priorities.

My opinion. As noted, yours may vary.

I'm 4-1 at a system open, and I'm doing pretty good against this guy, without any dumb moves on my part or brilliant ones on his, I've got this game. He pulls out his phone and starts playing some mobile game. Okay, apparently he's done trying. He rolls his attack dice and looks down at his phone, I roll my defense and spend the focus to get two evades. The guy then looks up and looks confused, because he wasn't paying attention when I rolled my dice. Luckily there was someone watching who confirmed that I wasn't cheating. Sure, I rolled and modified when he wasn't looking, but am I supposed to wait for him to finish playing his game for us to play our game? If you need to make an urgent phone call or it's a casual game, sure whatever, when you're playing in a premier level event and are jockeying for position on day 2, maybe play the game your opponent paid good money for.

· Old-timers are curmudgeonly rifkinites who think that phones were better when they had wires, thank you very much. Upset that Star Wars is now Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Take those unresolved feelings out on youths and technology.

Whippersnappers are disrespectful brats who watch youtube and do kickflips on their skateboards while their opponent's trying to focus on the game. Speak incomprehensible slang and roll dice with a fidget spinner on each finger.

Y'all are being ridiculous.

I take pics here and there for fun. Sometime I see neat angles that I want to get that may be a bit creative for photography purposes. But the camera otherwise stays in my pocket. If it's vibrating a lot that means my wife is trying to get a hold of me and I'll check it quickly. If it's nothing major it can wait.

9 hours ago, Blail Blerg said:

Better than having something else out during the game.

Hey whipping out the range ruler is part of the game!

57 minutes ago, drathbun said:

Your definition of "respect" is different than mine, that's what you're getting at?

I mean, probably not. We probably just interpret how mutual respect is shown. My philosophy is- respecting someone means discussing your expectations if/when they are not meeting them. Not assuming they have the same expectations you have and being annoyed when they don't. Obviously different people have different ideas about responding to messages or looking at other information during gameplay. It is just as disrespectful to hold your opponent/partner to your expectations without discussing them as it is for someone to spend an inordinate time burried in their phone and ignoring the game. These are the same problem. If it annoys you for your game partner to use their phone and you say nothing and continue to play with them after they've ignored your statements that's on you. You have the agency to either- stop playing with that person, or change your expectations.

17 minutes ago, BlodVargarna said:

Hey whipping out the range ruler is part of the game!

Ummm. That's 50 shades of Wookiee. Me likiee.

I usually have my phone out in casual settings, to be honest. But I only really check it for non-X-Wing related things during down time while my opponent is setting dials etc and I shouldn't be talking to them anyway. If I accidentally end up replying to something over time and keep them waiting then I, of course, apologise.

I've had poor and acceptable experiences with phones at the table. The poor experience was a player who was on his phone continuously and didn't realize when it was time to progress to the next game phase and so forth. I chose the doormat approach and didn't remind him, hoping he would realize his phone habit was disrupting the game without me having to say anything. He was very polite, apologizing each time, but didn't realize this. After the game, someone asked him about his experience with his list (I think he was returning to the game after a break). He said it was okay, as in kind of mediocre. I had to wonder to myself if he would have enjoyed it more if he had fully engaged with the experience.

The acceptable experience was simply a player who stayed on top of the game state. I'm not going to question a player who does this, though if a player is doing so continuously, it may lead me to question whether they are finding the game I am giving them to be very interesting or a disappointing experience.

I have answered texts during games with my casual play partner, though. I hope it didn't disrupt the game, and I'm going to take greater care that it doesn't in future as a result of this thread.

Anybody that doesn't have a wife, kids, work, or any other important stuff going on that doesn't just stop being annoyed by this I get it, but otherwise either the phone is disrupting the game or it isn't. I'm not requesting permission to call or respond to my wife's text while hanging out at a game store playing with plastic ships and I definitely don't expect anybody to do so with me either. If I was playing someone that kept wasting my time playing around on their phone; I would just stop playing with them. I certainly wouldn't hold up or fail to interact with someone taking the time to play with me for unimportant stuff though.

I like to have pictures of my games.

Aside from looking up public game information I'm thinking the threshold could be "Would I quit this game just to be using the phone?"

There certainly are higher priorities in life than X-Wing. You phone could easily be the connection to those priorities. If those priorities do come up you should tell your opponent and if/when they disrupt the game you should be prepared to concede to deal with those higher priorities without the distraction of X-Wing.

I've seen some of the generational comments previously and think they have some merit. If you "live" on your phone then I really want you to make the effort to put it down and be "in the moment" for the game. Then you have those who may have a phone but only use it as a portable communication device. To over simplify dumb phones probably shouldn't be problem unless someone is on them constantly but smart phones certain could be an issue when they allow so many more distractions to the game; of course dumb phones probable don't hold a copy of the FAQ and such but that is an exception.

I prefer my opponents to not be actively looking at their phones during transitions between phases or during combat because that's when things really slow down. And I'll admit, I like the atmosphere better when we're razor focused on the life and death struggle of our pilots.

I only ever take my phone out during tournaments at the start of each planning phase because I'm documenting memories. I love looking back on photos of old tournaments to relive the exciting moments, and to learn from mistakes.

Gotta catch'em all! Sorry!

1 hour ago, Parakitor said:

I'll admit, I like the atmosphere better when we're razor focused on the life and death struggle of our pilots.

This statement really clicked with me. Man, when can I play X-Wing again?

Eh, its a game. Im usually playing with someone i know, so if their phone use is getting annoying, ill let them know. Otherwise, who cares?

22 hours ago, Blail Blerg said:

Better than having something else out during the game.

Use Extra Munitions. Then you can both have it out.

13 hours ago, drathbun said:

If you can't go five minutes without wondering what's happening in the world, you need to reset your priorities.

My opinion. As noted, yours may vary.

Sadly, a new study has shown that the average Millennial checks their phone very 4 minutes.

I think the general consensus is when playing a game the focus of both players should be on the game. For casual games phones can be used for list testing, experience augmenting (got a Soundbaord for X-wing), even assistance getting errata cards. For tournaments cellphones could be used for streaming/documenting even reference for errata/FAQs without having to carry around a whole FAQ in addition to your list. But those might be tools better for the TO.

However there are disruptions to the game, taking non important social calls, texting or facebook browsing (not posting your game pictures, and a general not focus on the game are things that should be prohibited. As I said in casual games, threaten to or even go ahead and scoop. Let them know if they are not interested in playing the game, then you are not interested in playing with them. As for tournaments, call a TO for slow play.

In short, cellphones can be both good or bad for the game if used properly, it is up to the players to do that.

I don't care if my opponent has their phone out. I always have mine out. I got a wife and kids at home and sometimes emergencies happen. Sometimes it's less than an emergency, like she'll text me and need to know where I put the peanut butter.... I'm always gonna answer her. That sort of thing is important enough to warrant my attention for a moment during an hour long game, and it's also rare enough that I don't think it's a problem.

I won't, however, be on my phone the whole game. I enjoy playing. I'm typically focused on the game and nothing else.

I like to have my own round timer going, so I have a vague idea how much time is left in the round.

My phone is available during a game; I'll set it to vibrate if I'm in a competitive setting, or just let the ringtone go in a casual setting. (Not like the Imperial March is terribly disruptive to a Star Wars game, anyway.) Of course, I rarely receive calls. Most people if they are trying to reach me on my cell phone do so with a text. When I receive a text, I'll probably take a moment to glance at it and determine the urgency. If its urgent, I'll deal with it immediately, notifying my opponent that its urgent, and offering at least a general description of why; "family emergency" or something of the sort. The only thing that changes about that part depending on competitive or casual is that I'll typically be more descriptive in a casual game because I'm playing with people whom I know. In either setting, if the text is not urgent, I won't reply or deal with it any further until the game is concluded.

I'd consider using it to reference the FAQ or some such thing, but I'd really try to avoid that. I try my best to be familiar with the rules of any game before I sit down to play, including FAQ and errata in the cases where such things are going to be a part of the play experience. (I've also been known to ignore errata when playing games casually, especially if playing with others who are so casual that they don't keep up with errata. I have an objection to letting disputes over the current state of the rules disrupt the flow of a game.) Typically, if there is a degree of doubt between my opponent and I on how to interpret something, if the opponent offers a plausible explanation/interpretation, I'll just go with that. If we can't agree on a plausible interpretation, then I'll either consult the rules/FAQ by way of my phone or consult a judge at an event.

Otherwise, I consider it a simple matter of respect on my part to pay attention to the game and to my opponent while the game is in progress. All that I ask of my opponent is that he or she be paying enough attention to understand the state of the game and not force me to wait for extended periods of time for them to participate while they finish doing something utterly unrelated on their phones. If they can text and keep up with the game, fine. If they can play on Facebook or Twitter and keep up with the game, fine. Just don't get so wrapped up in your phone that you have to ask me what's going on on the table, or prevent the game reaching a meaningful conclusion (in the case of timed matches) simply because you can't be bothered to pay enough attention to keep the game moving.

If I am playing in a tournament and delays caused by cell phone use prevent my winning a match or improving my MOV, then the phone user has done me a very unsportsmanlike discourtesy. Therefore, of course, the definition of "extended periods" of phone activity is naturally context sensitive. So long as the game is moving along enough for everyone to continue enjoying it, in a casual game it doesn't matter as much if there are delays. In competitive games, the standing of both players in the overall tournament will be impacted by delays, particularly if the delays cause the game to go to time.

As mentioned earlier, we all have different ideas of respect, but setting should be considered when deciding what conduct is respectful and what is not. I personally find cell phone use at concerts highly distasteful. I feel like it puts a barrier between myself and the live show, making it more like watching the concert YouTube. Therefore, I don't use my phone during a concert. I do not, however, criticize others who feel differently and want to record the show on their phones, take selfies, and all that stuff. Likewise, as long as everybody who has invested in a game, be it X-wing or Arkham Horror or whatever else, is able to get into the game and enjoy it, I think its up to each of us to enjoy it in the manner best suited to our own tastes.

If you don't like phones at the table, ask your opponents if they'd mind leaving their phones on vibrate and mostly out of sight/out of mind for the duration of the game. If you feel the need to put every turn up on your Twitter feed, ask your opponent if that's okay. Tabletop games are social games, and as such you should expect from the start to communicate with other players and engage with them, knowing full well that some of what you do is different from what they do. If that's unacceptable, you can always just play with yourself.

Very interesting reactions here. My suspicion is that most of the "no phones allowed grrrr" posters are either older or less tech savvy. Not 100% sure but that would be my gut feeling.

I'll pull my phone out and check forums/Facebook group chats/whatever depending on what's happening in the game. If it's an opponent I'm not engaged with socially particularly well or they're just thinking hard and there is a large lull where I'm doing nothing, why not? I have the capability to be attentive to their body language and keep an eye on their activity while also doing 'phone stuff'.

Another point is is your argument about phones (regardless of xwing) ever includes something about "blahblahblah Facebook likes blah blah narcissism" you're just silly. I talk to all my friends on Facebook messenger, why would it be bad for me to be social with people I like to be social with? Just because I'm not talking out loud to another person doesn't mean I'm not being social.