Using a electronic device for a random event is a really bad plan. Electronic devices are not random. Secondly, it is really simply to make your own app that can give you an unfair advantage. I will call a judge anytime an opponent tries a random event with an electronic device.
Why are you wasting a judge's time on this?
The DCI requires you to come up with a mutually-acceptable method for a random result. This update now allows players to use an app if they decide that's acceptable. It does not force you to use an app, just makes it a possibility. Please bring an alternate method (or do something smart, like have the non-app owner call odd/even and push the button) if this is not acceptable to you.
If the two of you are unable to come to an agreement over a random method to use, then you should call a judge.
Plus, if it's actually an emergency, you're going to get a text message 10 seconds later that says "Jonny fell down a well, come quick." Or whatever. They aren't just going to say, oops he didn't answer, I give up.
However, it's would be so incredibly easy to cheat, and you can't do anything about it. You enter your buddies phone number into your phone as "My Wife" or something. Your buddy walks around the event hall and casually glances at your opponents hand. Your opponent won't even notice because there's likely dozens of people walking around the event hall. You get a phone call, and show your opponent the phone and say "my wife is calling". You answer and say "hey honey." Your buddy says "your opponents hand is 2 lands solemn, primeval titan, and slagstorm". You say "sorry I'm at a Magic tournament, can I call you back in 30 minutes?"
I know right? Imagine if they received a text saying, "George fell down two stairs onto the cats" I mean, that could be in no way coded to say "Gtitan 2 lands, slag". Making sure they don't answer any calls will definitely keep them from receiving coded info... or say, learning sign language (I know the alphabet, which is enough to discern PT from ST, FT, GT and IT) and do it very underhandedly.
They were basically using specialized sign language in Vegas to cheat Blackjack by the MIT team. Phone calls are really the least of your worries.
The amount of uncontrollable whining about not being able to take phone calls during a match is laughable. It's virtually the same thing as movie theaters (and other events) that require you to turn off your phone. If you absolutely cannot be out of touch for an hour, there are some things in life you just don't get to do. Tough.
The amount of uncontrollable whining about not being able to take phone calls during a match is laughable.
In what way is agreeing with the ruling that DCI has made whining? I also fail to see why you believe it to be uncontrollable.
It's virtually the same thing as movie theaters (and other events) that require you to turn off your phone. If you absolutely cannot be out of touch for an hour, there are some things in life you just don't get to do. Tough.
If I am in a theater I can step out and take a call or return a message, then return to the viewing experience. When you grow up and have people that are dependent on you for their basic needs, then we can have this conversation. Until then you not what you are objecting to.
The amount of uncontrollable whining about not being able to take phone calls during a match is laughable. It's virtually the same thing as movie theaters (and other events) that require you to turn off your phone. If you absolutely cannot be out of touch for an hour, there are some things in life you just don't get to do. Tough.
This is pretty close to the most ignorant statement I've ever read. Flame warning accepted.
@Toshimo. I think Dr Worm covered it. I would have my phone on silent at a theatre and answer outside. This is not something I can do at a tournamnet mid-game. I will in most cases not answer my phone at a tournamnet but there are exceptions. Belgareth is right in regards that those calls are more important than magic and I can accept there are floor rules and I could take the loss. Thems the breaks and I accept it.
You are welcome to call a judge if in the very rare circumstance I do. You don't know me from Jack and if you suspect me of cheating you should call the judge but it won't change that my work requires me to be in contact and that my phone should be on and with me whenever possible.
I see both sides to this. If my mum was in and out of hospital and I got a call from her it could be to say hi (I wpouldn'ttell her about every tourney I o to) or it could be more serious. I make the decision to take the call and hope that my opponent and the judging staff will be understanding. if it is to say hi. If it's the other circumstance yeah I don't care about the match.
I have no issues with the rules. Chances are they will never affect me even with my job. That said I ask the people who fear the cheats to bear in mind your opponent is likely not a cheat and has a life. Bear it iin mind but of course protect yourself if you suspect foul play.
I apologize for my comment. I didn't intend for the comment to be interpreted in the way it has. I'm far too used to playing with people who constantly get phone calls for meaningless conversations. It tends to get on your nerves after a while, especially to one as paranoid as I am.
I'm a little surprised at how hot some emotions are running in here. Anyways...
Would you be fine with allowing a random bystander, whom you do not know, to go up to your opponent and whisper something in his or her ear so that only they can hear it? Essentially, that is what you're saying okay to when you let someone take a phone call in the middle of a match.
I can't fault anyone for not wanting their opponent to do that, especially in a more important match (and it's up to the person to decide what's important to them). They can't know who the caller is or what they have to say. They might not have any reason specifically to suspect their opponent of cheating, but the probability of misbehavior skyrockets once you let people take secret messages from unidentifiable sources.
The argument that cheaters are going to cheat anyway is a poor argument. It's significantly harder to learn sign language and communicate that way than it is to make a phone call, or just come up and whisper in someone's ear. That barrier of difficulty makes a difference. A really determined cheater will cheat anyway, sure, but not everyone is so determined.
People bring up families, children especially, who depend on you. Tough. But it's your family and your responsibility. If your life situation is such that you cannot arrange to attend a tournament without your behavior potentially giving an outside observer greater cause to suspect cheating, then don't attend tournaments. It's a shame to have to do that, but those are the kinds of priorities and sacrifices you have to make when you're a parent.
To really use this to cheat, you would need to get a tip, what, every two or three turns? So if your opponent is getting a call every 2 or 3 turns, yeah, I have no problem say "No, I'm calling a judge." Even if it's happened once a game where things look close, I'm fine with saying no in that second or third game and telling the judge.
Even let a judge know, "Hey my opponent used his phone. You might want to keep track of that." They'll notice an overwhelming trend if your opponent keeps it up.
But that's COMPLETELY different from receiving ONE phone call, maybe at the beginning of the game. To say that "150% of the time" you'll say no, just suggests your uncaring to the needs of others.
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I'm a little surprised at how hot some emotions are running in here. Anyways...
Would you be fine with allowing a random bystander, whom you do not know, to go up to your opponent and whisper something in his or her ear so that only they can hear it? Essentially, that is what you're saying okay to when you let someone take a phone call in the middle of a match.
I can't fault anyone for not wanting their opponent to do that, especially in a more important match (and it's up to the person to decide what's important to them). They can't know who the caller is or what they have to say. They might not have any reason specifically to suspect their opponent of cheating, but the probability of misbehavior skyrockets once you let people take secret messages from unidentifiable sources.
The argument that cheaters are going to cheat anyway is a poor argument. It's significantly harder to learn sign language and communicate that way than it is to make a phone call, or just come up and whisper in someone's ear. That barrier of difficulty makes a difference. A really determined cheater will cheat anyway, sure, but not everyone is so determined.
People bring up families, children especially, who depend on you. Tough. But it's your family and your responsibility. If your life situation is such that you cannot arrange to attend a tournament without your behavior potentially giving an outside observer greater cause to suspect cheating, then don't attend tournaments. It's a shame to have to do that, but those are the kinds of priorities and sacrifices you have to make when you're a parent.
The real difference between this and a bystander coming up and whispering to you is that the phone call is not necessarily coming from someone that knows you're at a tournament and are playing. The family thing is a bit extreme - it's not any player's responsibility to avoid the suspicion of cheating, as you seem to be implying in the last paragraph here. It is of course their responsibility to not actually cheat. An opponent's suspicions can be resolved with a judge and are not the responsibility of the player acting "suspiciously".
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You are a cynic. Perhaps children will try to use it to cheat, but more likely it will be used as indicated and your saying "no" will be a disrespectful power-trip.
And your over-dramatizing.
I have a wife and children, but I can't believe people can't wait after the current game to callback to know what is happening. Again, I will reiterate that people have been too addicted to ther electronic toys, to think that nothing can possibly wait 15 minutes.
Personally, I can't wait to see the live top 8 pro tour coverage... Kibler vs. Finkel... game 5... the key moment arrives, both players on the edge of their seats...
Then BRRRRRRRRRRR. "Hold on a sec Jon, I have to take this call".
@Judges: you don't need a rule to cover non-game scenarios like this. Are pagers cool? What about checking email on their tablet? Judges, DO YOU HAVE A RULE FOR CALLING HOME TO CHECK YOUR VOICEMAILS DURING A MATCH???? THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS, OUR RULEBOOK IS NOT COMPLETE YET.
You guys remind me of Congress, making rules because you can, not because they are needed or relevant to what you should be caring about.
- it's not any player's responsibility to avoid the suspicion of cheating, as you seem to be implying in the last paragraph here. It is of course their responsibility to not actually cheat. An opponent's suspicions can be resolved with a judge and are not the responsibility of the player acting "suspiciously".
THIS...
IF there is ONE thing regarding cheating/morals/social acceptance/whatever etc that we can blame the players for, and thus not WotC, it is this mindset.
Sure, the Judges/DCI/TOs is the ultimate party/parties to hold responsible when cheating gets out of hand, but if that kind of mindset is what goes then structured mtg-play dont have much potential for developing (except for starting to use cameras in general, cameras with no commercial purpose).
Although mostly from regular REL (but when wotc start talking about having players use apps Im tempted to say this has relevance outside regular REL too):
- I take 4 ?
- yeah..
* quickly hits minus4 on app (or tilting dices/d20) WITHOUT giving opponent the chance to see what number that app/those dices showed BEFORE doing minus4, (and thus the opponent dont really know if he minus 4'ed, but perhaps minus 3'ed).
---> potential quarrel starts...
It absolutely should be any players' responsebility to avoid suspicion of cheating.
However, the DCI could imo do more to show that they expect this from their players, and the introduction of accountable Life Pads is one step on that way.
App is/seems contradictatory to this, but I think the reality will be that 90percent of the established crowd never will use apps at competetive level, and in cases where the last 10 percent end up in quarrels they will loose against pen&paper. And there will be some corner cases where app is up against app which will bring the judge a major headache (which will amuse the 90 percent share of established players =)).
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- This is, honestly, a grotesque advantage.
Noah Weil on scouting, an attorney from Seattle with 20 Pro Tour appearances.
I like the turbonerd lothar posts peppered throughout the thread going "heh, maybe if you could put down your ELECTRONIC TOY (also known as a phone) and play this COMPLETELY SERIOUS CARDBOARD GAME you would have no problem with this :smugbert:". life doesn't go on hold while you sling cardboard to feel like you're the ****.
ps: if you tell some guy he can't answer a call from his wife/work/insert-important-thing-here then you are completely worthless and have absolutely no concept of priorities or courtesy.
Take your monoblack deck, then set aside 14 swamps. Add 4 Creeping Tar Pits, 4 Darkslick Shores, 4 Drowned Catacombs, and 2 Jwar isle Refuge and add 4 Jace, the Mindsculptors. Your monoblack deck is instantly better. Better yet, drop those refuges, throw in some islands and some mana leaks, and lo and behold, you're now playing a real deck. Congratulations. Welcome to the world of competitive M:TG.
But how is a judge going to resolve this? They have no way of knowing who called and even if they did, that still doesn't prove somebody was cheating. I've called people at a GP because I'd lost track of them and we were supposed to drive home together, so even getting a call from somebody inside the venue is quite possibly legit.
To be honest, I think the only way to avoid headaches here is to simply disallow use of mobiles during high level matches. If you miss a call, you can call back at the end of the match and if you have to be reachable 24/7 and can't afford to be away for 50 minutes, then sorry, but maybe you shouldn't be playing high level events.
I don't think there is much of an argument for high level events. At PTs, I would never let someone take a call, but I also don't think anyone would take a call. But the vast majority of players play at FNM, or weekend tournaments. In those cases, saying that you won't ever let someone take a call is just stupid.
Honestly, if you're at a Regular event and you refuse an opponent's call just because you're feeling a little bruised about your Magic-playing ability, then I'd even be erring on the side of Unsporting Conduct in some circumstances. It's a Regular event with emphasis on fun and education, not the top tables of the PT. Sure, stopping someone during a GPT is morally a bit on the nose, but you'd be entirely within your rights to do so, and I'd have no problem with that.
For the (multiple?) people going "HURR JUDGES NEED RULES FOR EVERYTHING DERR FURRPEDERP"; Judges often need to make rulings. If some player gets tilted out because we make one particular ruling outside of the bounds of a document, then that memory's going to stay with them and they're going to dislike Judges for a long time.
If we have as many rules detailing these things as possible, sure it increases complexity, but the vast majority of those rules aren't there for you, they're there for Judges; when we make the ruling that you tilt out at, i.e. "If your opponent says no, you can't take the call", there's a line on a bit of official paper backing us up that can stop the Judges appearing as the bad guys.
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[box][box][size=3][b]CARDNAME[/b][/size] [float=right][mana]MANACOST[/mana][/float][/box]
[box][b]TYPE — SUBTYPE [float=right][color="RARITYCOLOUR"]{RARITY}[/color][/b][/float][/box][box]RULES TEXT
[i]FLAVOUR TEXT[/i][/box][float=right][box=50][b][SIZE="3"]P/T[/SIZE][/b][/box][/float][/box]
Another change that was brought up that was not listed it seems involves altered cards at tourneys:
Artistic modifications are acceptable in sanctioned tournaments, provided that the modifications do not make the card art unrecognizable, contain substantial strategic advice, or contain offensive images. Artistic modifications also may not obstruct or change the mana cost or name of the card.
So basically, now there is no more Snoopy Alters allowed on goyfs, or poxy lands on cards you plan to play in a tournament. This change also appears to kill any alters other than border/art extensions and small modifications.
Although mostly from regular REL (but when wotc start talking about having players use apps Im tempted to say this has relevance outside regular REL too):
- I take 4 ?
- yeah..
* quickly hits minus4 on app (or tilting dices/d20) WITHOUT giving opponent the chance to see what number that app/those dices showed BEFORE doing minus4, (and thus the opponent dont really know if he minus 4'ed, but perhaps minus 3'ed).
---> potential quarrel starts...
...you do realize that most of the lifecounting apps keep a history, right? So it's pretty easy to look at the screen and see exactly how much damage you took each time, same as with pencil and paper.
Another change that was brought up that was not listed it seems involves altered cards at tourneys:
So basically, now there is no more Snoopy Alters allowed on goyfs, or poxy lands on cards you plan to play in a tournament. This change also appears to kill any alters other than border/art extensions and small modifications.
Snoopy alters on a Goyf would almost always be disallowed by the HJ at a Competitive REL event.
I also believe that the official statement in the past has been that the 5 basic lands are so well-known (and with so many hundreds of differing arts) that fully customising the art on them is allowed, but I've seen several HJs agree or disagree with that one.
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[box][box][size=3][b]CARDNAME[/b][/size] [float=right][mana]MANACOST[/mana][/float][/box]
[box][b]TYPE — SUBTYPE [float=right][color="RARITYCOLOUR"]{RARITY}[/color][/b][/float][/box][box]RULES TEXT
[i]FLAVOUR TEXT[/i][/box][float=right][box=50][b][SIZE="3"]P/T[/SIZE][/b][/box][/float][/box]
Snoopy alters on a Goyf would almost always be disallowed by the HJ at a Competitive REL event.
I also believe that the official statement in the past has been that the 5 basic lands are so well-known (and with so many hundreds of differing arts) that fully customising the art on them is allowed, but I've seen several HJs agree or disagree with that one.
Nope, according to the new wording, art has to be recognizable, which is basically gonna kill full customization on the basics as well.
Nope, according to the new wording, art has to be recognizable, which is basically gonna kill full customization on the basics as well.
It's impossible to recognise the art for every single basic ever. Even if you customised the art on a Mountain to be an Island, the pinline would still be red, it would still say "Mountain" and it would still have the mana symbol/type line in its box.
I have made exceptions for customised basics (i.e. blanking the art box, printing on custom art) before, since it's a Basic; noone could ever mistake a Basic, not even the full-art ones from Zendikar or the Un-Sets, since they say "MOUNTAIN", "FOREST" etc.
I'm almost certain that this is an example of a little too little wording, a glitch not unlike the fact that the MTR had "must be a proxy issued by a Head Judge" on the list of things that cards MUST be in order to be playable.
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[box][box][size=3][b]CARDNAME[/b][/size] [float=right][mana]MANACOST[/mana][/float][/box]
[box][b]TYPE — SUBTYPE [float=right][color="RARITYCOLOUR"]{RARITY}[/color][/b][/float][/box][box]RULES TEXT
[i]FLAVOUR TEXT[/i][/box][float=right][box=50][b][SIZE="3"]P/T[/SIZE][/b][/box][/float][/box]
Regarding the phone thing, I don't usually mind if my opponent receives a phone call during the match, as it doesn't really bother my line of play. I also assume that if my opponent must answer the phone during the game, it must be an important call. However, it is disrespectful to answer the phone during a tournament game if the call is not very important, just as it is disrespectful to answer your phone in a library, during a movie, classical music concert, standup comedy show or what have you.
It's a matter of respect. Respect your opponent's right to answer important calls and assume that if they're taking a call, then it must be important, but also respect your opponent by turning your phone off if you're not expecting anything important.
Also, is it so hard to take note of life total changes by paper and pencil? I think there can be a slew of annoyances avoided if paper and pencil became the norm. Unless I'm missing something that doesn't boil down to specific preferences, what is the possible downside of requiring all players to tally both players life at all times through writing and verbal communication?
I remember at GP Orlando, one of the side events was a TCGPlayer sealed event (even more memorable because a judge announced "Attention SCG Players" LoL). Anyways, the guy had a cell phone call during a match. He was really adamant about taking this call. The judge asked him a few questions, and after a discussion coming to the conclusion it was not to be taken. Obviously the guy appeals to the head judge. More questions were asked, I think some were like "Are you active military or medical personnel? Is the call a life or death situation?" etc.
By now this guy is getting really upset, as his answers are not helping his cause. He also didn't want to reveal the nature of the call. In the end, the head judge came to the same ruling as the previous judge not to take the call. Afterwards, not sure about how it went down, but he ended up going to the restroom and I'm assuming took his call in there.
Anyways, I can understand not wanting to reveal your personal stuff, but I can also see how the questions were relevant in the acceptance of the phone call. I do like the new rules updates. Guess I'm going to have to go over everything just to make sure I don't miss anything now.
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Why are you wasting a judge's time on this?
The DCI requires you to come up with a mutually-acceptable method for a random result. This update now allows players to use an app if they decide that's acceptable. It does not force you to use an app, just makes it a possibility. Please bring an alternate method (or do something smart, like have the non-app owner call odd/even and push the button) if this is not acceptable to you.
If the two of you are unable to come to an agreement over a random method to use, then you should call a judge.
You must be a really horrible player to have to be so anal about something so minor.
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someone doesnt have any responsibilities or anything more important to do than magic. obviously does not have kids...
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I know right? Imagine if they received a text saying, "George fell down two stairs onto the cats" I mean, that could be in no way coded to say "Gtitan 2 lands, slag". Making sure they don't answer any calls will definitely keep them from receiving coded info... or say, learning sign language (I know the alphabet, which is enough to discern PT from ST, FT, GT and IT) and do it very underhandedly.
They were basically using specialized sign language in Vegas to cheat Blackjack by the MIT team. Phone calls are really the least of your worries.
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If I am in a theater I can step out and take a call or return a message, then return to the viewing experience. When you grow up and have people that are dependent on you for their basic needs, then we can have this conversation. Until then you not what you are objecting to.
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This is pretty close to the most ignorant statement I've ever read. Flame warning accepted.
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You are welcome to call a judge if in the very rare circumstance I do. You don't know me from Jack and if you suspect me of cheating you should call the judge but it won't change that my work requires me to be in contact and that my phone should be on and with me whenever possible.
I see both sides to this. If my mum was in and out of hospital and I got a call from her it could be to say hi (I wpouldn'ttell her about every tourney I o to) or it could be more serious. I make the decision to take the call and hope that my opponent and the judging staff will be understanding. if it is to say hi. If it's the other circumstance yeah I don't care about the match.
I have no issues with the rules. Chances are they will never affect me even with my job. That said I ask the people who fear the cheats to bear in mind your opponent is likely not a cheat and has a life. Bear it iin mind but of course protect yourself if you suspect foul play.
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To really use this to cheat, you would need to get a tip, what, every two or three turns? So if your opponent is getting a call every 2 or 3 turns, yeah, I have no problem say "No, I'm calling a judge." Even if it's happened once a game where things look close, I'm fine with saying no in that second or third game and telling the judge.
Even let a judge know, "Hey my opponent used his phone. You might want to keep track of that." They'll notice an overwhelming trend if your opponent keeps it up.
But that's COMPLETELY different from receiving ONE phone call, maybe at the beginning of the game. To say that "150% of the time" you'll say no, just suggests your uncaring to the needs of others.
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The real difference between this and a bystander coming up and whispering to you is that the phone call is not necessarily coming from someone that knows you're at a tournament and are playing. The family thing is a bit extreme - it's not any player's responsibility to avoid the suspicion of cheating, as you seem to be implying in the last paragraph here. It is of course their responsibility to not actually cheat. An opponent's suspicions can be resolved with a judge and are not the responsibility of the player acting "suspiciously".
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And your over-dramatizing.
I have a wife and children, but I can't believe people can't wait after the current game to callback to know what is happening. Again, I will reiterate that people have been too addicted to ther electronic toys, to think that nothing can possibly wait 15 minutes.
Then BRRRRRRRRRRR. "Hold on a sec Jon, I have to take this call".
@Judges: you don't need a rule to cover non-game scenarios like this. Are pagers cool? What about checking email on their tablet? Judges, DO YOU HAVE A RULE FOR CALLING HOME TO CHECK YOUR VOICEMAILS DURING A MATCH???? THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS, OUR RULEBOOK IS NOT COMPLETE YET.
You guys remind me of Congress, making rules because you can, not because they are needed or relevant to what you should be caring about.
Thx.
IF there is ONE thing regarding cheating/morals/social acceptance/whatever etc that we can blame the players for, and thus not WotC, it is this mindset.
Sure, the Judges/DCI/TOs is the ultimate party/parties to hold responsible when cheating gets out of hand, but if that kind of mindset is what goes then structured mtg-play dont have much potential for developing (except for starting to use cameras in general, cameras with no commercial purpose).
Although mostly from regular REL (but when wotc start talking about having players use apps Im tempted to say this has relevance outside regular REL too):
- I take 4 ?
- yeah..
* quickly hits minus4 on app (or tilting dices/d20) WITHOUT giving opponent the chance to see what number that app/those dices showed BEFORE doing minus4, (and thus the opponent dont really know if he minus 4'ed, but perhaps minus 3'ed).
---> potential quarrel starts...
It absolutely should be any players' responsebility to avoid suspicion of cheating.
However, the DCI could imo do more to show that they expect this from their players, and the introduction of accountable Life Pads is one step on that way.
App is/seems contradictatory to this, but I think the reality will be that 90percent of the established crowd never will use apps at competetive level, and in cases where the last 10 percent end up in quarrels they will loose against pen&paper. And there will be some corner cases where app is up against app which will bring the judge a major headache (which will amuse the 90 percent share of established players =)).
Noah Weil on scouting, an attorney from Seattle with 20 Pro Tour appearances.
ps: if you tell some guy he can't answer a call from his wife/work/insert-important-thing-here then you are completely worthless and have absolutely no concept of priorities or courtesy.
I don't think there is much of an argument for high level events. At PTs, I would never let someone take a call, but I also don't think anyone would take a call. But the vast majority of players play at FNM, or weekend tournaments. In those cases, saying that you won't ever let someone take a call is just stupid.
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For the (multiple?) people going "HURR JUDGES NEED RULES FOR EVERYTHING DERR FURRPEDERP"; Judges often need to make rulings. If some player gets tilted out because we make one particular ruling outside of the bounds of a document, then that memory's going to stay with them and they're going to dislike Judges for a long time.
If we have as many rules detailing these things as possible, sure it increases complexity, but the vast majority of those rules aren't there for you, they're there for Judges; when we make the ruling that you tilt out at, i.e. "If your opponent says no, you can't take the call", there's a line on a bit of official paper backing us up that can stop the Judges appearing as the bad guys.
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So basically, now there is no more Snoopy Alters allowed on goyfs, or poxy lands on cards you plan to play in a tournament. This change also appears to kill any alters other than border/art extensions and small modifications.
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...you do realize that most of the lifecounting apps keep a history, right? So it's pretty easy to look at the screen and see exactly how much damage you took each time, same as with pencil and paper.
Snoopy alters on a Goyf would almost always be disallowed by the HJ at a Competitive REL event.
I also believe that the official statement in the past has been that the 5 basic lands are so well-known (and with so many hundreds of differing arts) that fully customising the art on them is allowed, but I've seen several HJs agree or disagree with that one.
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Nope, according to the new wording, art has to be recognizable, which is basically gonna kill full customization on the basics as well.
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It's impossible to recognise the art for every single basic ever. Even if you customised the art on a Mountain to be an Island, the pinline would still be red, it would still say "Mountain" and it would still have the mana symbol/type line in its box.
I have made exceptions for customised basics (i.e. blanking the art box, printing on custom art) before, since it's a Basic; noone could ever mistake a Basic, not even the full-art ones from Zendikar or the Un-Sets, since they say "MOUNTAIN", "FOREST" etc.
I'm almost certain that this is an example of a little too little wording, a glitch not unlike the fact that the MTR had "must be a proxy issued by a Head Judge" on the list of things that cards MUST be in order to be playable.
Level 1 Judge
It's a matter of respect. Respect your opponent's right to answer important calls and assume that if they're taking a call, then it must be important, but also respect your opponent by turning your phone off if you're not expecting anything important.
Also, is it so hard to take note of life total changes by paper and pencil? I think there can be a slew of annoyances avoided if paper and pencil became the norm. Unless I'm missing something that doesn't boil down to specific preferences, what is the possible downside of requiring all players to tally both players life at all times through writing and verbal communication?
Standard
BR Zombies RB
Modern
W Death and Taxes W
EDH
BUR Thraximundar, Stax is fun, DUR! RUB
GWB Doran, The Pimp Tower BWG
By now this guy is getting really upset, as his answers are not helping his cause. He also didn't want to reveal the nature of the call. In the end, the head judge came to the same ruling as the previous judge not to take the call. Afterwards, not sure about how it went down, but he ended up going to the restroom and I'm assuming took his call in there.
Anyways, I can understand not wanting to reveal your personal stuff, but I can also see how the questions were relevant in the acceptance of the phone call. I do like the new rules updates. Guess I'm going to have to go over everything just to make sure I don't miss anything now.