How must players keep track of their life totals?

Players must indicate their method of tracking life totals clearly and visibly to ensure transparency throughout the game. This requirement allows all participants, including opponents and judges, to see how the life totals are being maintained, preventing confusion and disputes about the current state of the game. By having a clear and visible method, such as using dice, counters, or writing on paper, the players contribute to an environment where everyone can verify the life total information easily.

In contrast, keeping life totals private or hidden would lead to a lack of accountability and could create conflicts if one player believes there is a discrepancy. Allowing only one player to track totals would unfairly limit the awareness of both players, as it would not provide equal opportunity for both players to confirm their life state. Lastly, randomly announcing changes without keeping a consistent record is disorganized and would inevitably lead to misunderstandings regarding the life totals, hindering gameplay.