Forum:Should there be a rule to determine who goes first in a Duel?

Hey, everyone! Montechristo95 and I have been debating the topic of how to decide who goes first in a duel. The debate so far can be seen here under the Deck Masters heading. Basically, he thinks there should be an actual rule for figuring out who goes first. I think that a rule would be a bit much and it should be up to the people dueling to figure it out.

So, please feel free to give your opinion on the matter, and if you think there should be a rule, please take some time to suggest what the rule should be.

All opinions are welcome! Skullvarnish (talk • contribs) 22:39, August 27, 2010 (UTC)

Okay, here is how me and my friends used to do it, the plus side of this is that is completly up to luck, and no one argues over "I want to call the coin!!" After we shuffled our decks we would flip them over, and whoiever had the higher card on the bottom got to choose, Spell beats Trap, Monster beats Spell, and whoever has the highest level of Monster would win, if it was a tie, we would look at the next card and so on and so forth... until someone could pick the order. We then re-shuffled our decks and DUEL!--BassNettoHikari2 (talk • contribs) 22:47, August 27, 2010 (UTC)

Yes, but do you think there should be an actual rule? That's the piont of this forum. Skullvarnish (talk • contribs) 22:49, August 27, 2010 (UTC)

So yeah...
Just like Skullvarnish said above we were discussing whether or not should a rule be enforced that determines who gets to go first in a duel. Rolling a dice or flipping a coin are far too outdated methods wouldn't you say? Personally I believe that everyone should follow the rule Kaiba used for 1 and only duel right before the semi-finals or the Battle City tournament. For those of you who don't remember the rule goes as follows: Each player chooses a monster card and shows it to his/her opponent. The player whose monster has the higher attack points goes first. BUT the chosen monster cannot be used during the duel. What do you say? Not too bad eh? In any case folks a rule has to be created for this matter; it's far too important to be left to chance... -- M  ontechristo95  talk •  contribs 22:51, August 27, 2010 (UTC)

Yes, I do think there should be an actual rule (although the rulebook says you flip a coin to see who goes first). I agree that a coin is too old fashioned lets come up with something new. However, the one problem with the idea you explained above is that then everyone will add in a DMK/FGD/MPD in their deck so that they can go first, and since they won't use it in a duel, it won't affetc their startegy at all. I think the idea I proposed above could be a good solution.--BassNettoHikari2 (talk • contribs) 23:02, August 27, 2010 (UTC)


 * I didn't know there was a "flip a coin" rule. Geez couldn't they come up with something better? But anyway mate, your way although inspirational relies on chance as well. I say that we eliminate this factor. -- M  ontechristo95  talk •  contribs 23:06, August 27, 2010 (UTC)

Well the thing is that, if its not chance, then both players would have to come to a consent on who goes first. And if they both want to then, well you have a problem. I know that if you're in a tournament, than you have matches, so both players will get what they want (although one will only get one if they both want the same thing). Thing is, Yu-Gi-Oh! is a game of chance, anyone can draw a horrible hand, to where they can't do anything (dang, I drew 6 monarchs!!!)... While it would be nice to get rid of chance, I don't think that's possible...--BassNettoHikari2 (talk • contribs) 23:13, August 27, 2010 (UTC)


 * It is possible. I admit that chance plays a big role in the game. But what we are talking about here takes place before the beginning of the game. There is therefore no need to strenghten the afore-mentioned luck's role by resorting to it one more time while we can do something alternate for a change. -- M  ontechristo95  talk •  contribs 23:19, August 27, 2010 (UTC)


 * Again, if two players want to go first (or second), than what happens? Again tournaments slightly deal with this, by alternating who goes first in the second and third round of the match. Even taking card out of your deck is still some luck. That was the point of the post. --BassNettoHikari2 (talk • contribs) 23:24, August 27, 2010 (UTC)


 * But I'm not saying that you pull a random card. You get to choose whether you are willing to sacrifice a powerful monster in order to go first. You can pick a useless card and keep your strategy safe. -- M  ontechristo95  talk •  contribs 23:27, August 27, 2010 (UTC)


 * Okay then, like I said before, I'll just add in a Malefic Paradox Dragon so that way I can just throw it away and I can go first. That would be abused... Your strategy would be safe, and you would get your way...


 * True that would be an abuse of the rules. However it wouldn't happen very often. Some decks have so delicate balance that even a single card cannot be wrong. Besides it gets rid of the factor of chance. -- M  ontechristo95  talk •  contribs 23:46, August 27, 2010 (UTC)


 * If the said card that you show your opponent is taken out of the duel, than even if and it needed perfect balance, it still would be, since the said card would be taken out of the duel, keeping the deck's balance. Or you could even side the said cards...--BassNettoHikari2 (talk • contribs) 23:50, August 27, 2010 (UTC)

I don't think the factor of chance can be eliminated, because it's no longer fair at that point. As stated above, everyone would just use a MPD. And then when both players pick that, what next? Make them ditch another card? Skullvarnish (talk • contribs) 23:52, August 27, 2010 (UTC)

Exactly, the only way I can think of a way without chance is for both players to agree, which may become hard...--BassNettoHikari2 (talk • contribs) 23:54, August 27, 2010 (UTC)

But, I do think that a coin flip is too outdated and generic. Skullvarnish (talk • contribs) 23:56, August 27, 2010 (UTC)


 * @BassNetoHikari There can be a deck's balance that consists of exactly 40 cards. In that case the player cannot include a wrong card.
 * @Skullvarnish Well in that case the two cards could simply be... returned to the deck and they choose another card. -- M  ontechristo95  talk •  contribs 23:57, August 27, 2010 (UTC)

Okay, but if I have a deck that is already at a disadvantage, I don't want to ditch one of my best cards just to go first. And, what if I were using Fortune Ladies? They all have ? ATK, which is usually treated as 0. Skullvarnish (talk • contribs) 00:07, August 28, 2010 (UTC)


 * For a guy who doesn't want ot ditch a card he can always give up the first turn to his opponent and skip that whole procedure. As for the fortune ladies I don't really get the question. Since they have 0 ATK the opponent goes first (if he has a stronger monster). Simple as. -- M  ontechristo95  talk •  contribs 00:12, August 28, 2010 (UTC)

My point was that someone who uses Fortune Ladies can never go first even if he wants too. Skullvarnish (talk • contribs) 00:15, August 28, 2010 (UTC)

Now if they are returned to the deck, than that's a different story. True, some decks would never go first, possibly ruining their strategy. This new idea would have to be balanced for such decks that don't emphasize attack, but then again, you could ditch a synchro/Fusion Monster, Majestic Red, Five God, or DMK could be shown or thrown away due t their high attacks--BassNettoHikari2 (talk • contribs) 00:16, August 28, 2010 (UTC)


 * @SkullVarnish Too bad for him then.
 * @BassNetoHikari Side Decks could be excluded. -- M  ontechristo95  talk •  contribs 00:18, August 28, 2010 (UTC)

Okay, I'll agree we need a new way...
...but can we think of a way other than yours? Going first can make all the difference and it wouldn't be right to make it so certain decks don't even get the chance. Skullvarnish (talk • contribs) 00:23, August 28, 2010 (UTC)


 * Yeah that's kinda the whole point you know. Blocking the path of OTK decks. But I can't think of another way. -- M  ontechristo95  talk •  contribs 00:29, August 28, 2010 (UTC)