Outside notes are generally not allowed during a tournament, including during the card construction step.
Edited for actual rules quote, from the MTR:
Players and spectators (exception: authorized press) may not make notes while drafting or registering a card pool.
However, they are allowed to do so when constructing a deck.
Unfortunately, that section does not specifically mention outside notes. I would recommend consulting your Head Judge regarding acceptable policy at that tournament. From the MTR:
The Head Judge is the final arbiter on what cards and notes are acceptable for a tournament
Thus, even if one tournament might allow something, it could be disallowed by a different Head Judge, so you should always check.
Not for draft. From the IPG:
2.9 Taking Notes
Players are allowed to take written notes during a match and may refer to those notes while that match is in progress. At the beginning of a match, each player’s note sheet must be empty and must remain visible throughout the match. Players do not have to explain or reveal notes to other players. Judges may ask to see a player’s notes
and/or request that the player explain his or her notes. Players may not refer to outside notes during games. This includes notes from previous matches.
Between games, players may refer to a brief set of notes made before the match. They are not required to reveal these notes to their opponents. These notes must be removed from the play area before the beginning of the next game. Excessive quantities of notes (more than a sheet or two) are not allowed and may be penalized as slow play. Players and spectators (exception: authorized press) may not make notes while drafting or registering a card pool. However, they are allowed to do so when constructing a deck. Artistic modifications to cards that indirectly provide minor strategic information are acceptable. The Head Judge is the final arbiter on what cards and notes are acceptable for a tournament.
Emphasis mine. You may not make or consult notes while drafting. You COULD bring the sheet with you to consult before you start your draft, but I doubt you'd be able to consult it during the draft, partially because it would slow down the draft.
Of course, as the last sentence says, it's all up to your Head Judge. I'd say go ahead and print it out, or write it up, and bring it with you; before you even start the draft, though, talk to the Head Judge and ask if they're okay with it. Worst-case scenario, they aren't, and you just throw the list away, or put it away and 'study' it before the draft. Best case, they don't care, and you can use it. Personally, I wouldn't allow it, just because I think it would make things super really slow.
The MTR actually fails to specify, but the IPG is rather clear on the issue:
Tournament Error — Outside Assistance
Penalty
Definition Match Loss
A player, spectator, or other tournament participant does any of the following:
• Seeks play advice or hidden information about his or her match from others once he or she has sat for his or
her match.
• Gives play advice or reveals hidden information to players who have sat for their match.
• During a game, references notes made before the official beginning of the current match, including Oracle
text that has not been provided by a judge.
These criteria also apply to any deck construction and draft portions of a limited tournament. Additionally, no notes
of any kind may be made during a draft. Some team formats have additional communication rules that may modify
the definition of this infraction
Obviously that document does not directly apply to most prereleases, but it is clear that the intent is you're not supposed to do it. Obviously it's a little bit strange since you're free to reference your notes and completely rebuild your deck between matches 1 and 2 at most prereleases, but sometimes things are indeed a bit strange.
The IPG does not apply at Regular REL which is what Prereleases are held at.
The Judging At Regular(JAR) is the document of reference in this case and makes no mention that notes during deck construction are disallowed. As always the HJ is the final arbiter for check with him/her first.
The reasoning behind no notes during deck construction at a Competitive+ Level event is that these events use Decklists and do not allow maindeck modification. This means the deck you build is the deck you must present for game 1 of every match.
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"To face death, that's nothing much. But to feel really stupid when you die, well, that would be insufferable." -Nafai, The Ships of Earth
Ever wanted to know what guidelines Judges use to make rulings? Find out at the DCI Document Center.
You can also find the latest Comprehensive Rules here.
I think due to the screwy nature of the deck construction rules at a Pre-release event you could get away with it but I think the correct answer remains ask your head judge.
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Multiplayer:
MonoBlack
Mono-Red
Cycling
Crush of Wurms
Zoo
Immortal Coil
Control
Reanimator
Mono-G
Cruel Ascension
Landfall
Esper Spirits/Tokens
Phantom Vigor
Not Explicitly Multiplayer:
Allies
Bant
Artifacts
Edited for actual rules quote, from the MTR:
Unfortunately, that section does not specifically mention outside notes. I would recommend consulting your Head Judge regarding acceptable policy at that tournament. From the MTR:
Thus, even if one tournament might allow something, it could be disallowed by a different Head Judge, so you should always check.
Multiplayer:
MonoBlack
Mono-Red
Cycling
Crush of Wurms
Zoo
Immortal Coil
Control
Reanimator
Mono-G
Cruel Ascension
Landfall
Esper Spirits/Tokens
Phantom Vigor
Not Explicitly Multiplayer:
Allies
Bant
Artifacts
2.9 Taking Notes
Players are allowed to take written notes during a match and may refer to those notes while that match is in progress. At the beginning of a match, each player’s note sheet must be empty and must remain visible throughout the match. Players do not have to explain or reveal notes to other players. Judges may ask to see a player’s notes
and/or request that the player explain his or her notes. Players may not refer to outside notes during games. This includes notes from previous matches.
Between games, players may refer to a brief set of notes made before the match. They are not required to reveal these notes to their opponents. These notes must be removed from the play area before the beginning of the next game. Excessive quantities of notes (more than a sheet or two) are not allowed and may be penalized as slow play. Players and spectators (exception: authorized press) may not make notes while drafting or registering a card pool. However, they are allowed to do so when constructing a deck. Artistic modifications to cards that indirectly provide minor strategic information are acceptable. The Head Judge is the final arbiter on what cards and notes are acceptable for a tournament.
Emphasis mine. You may not make or consult notes while drafting. You COULD bring the sheet with you to consult before you start your draft, but I doubt you'd be able to consult it during the draft, partially because it would slow down the draft.
Of course, as the last sentence says, it's all up to your Head Judge. I'd say go ahead and print it out, or write it up, and bring it with you; before you even start the draft, though, talk to the Head Judge and ask if they're okay with it. Worst-case scenario, they aren't, and you just throw the list away, or put it away and 'study' it before the draft. Best case, they don't care, and you can use it. Personally, I wouldn't allow it, just because I think it would make things super really slow.
The latest Comprehensive Rules are also good, and can be found here.
Obviously that document does not directly apply to most prereleases, but it is clear that the intent is you're not supposed to do it. Obviously it's a little bit strange since you're free to reference your notes and completely rebuild your deck between matches 1 and 2 at most prereleases, but sometimes things are indeed a bit strange.
The Judging At Regular(JAR) is the document of reference in this case and makes no mention that notes during deck construction are disallowed. As always the HJ is the final arbiter for check with him/her first.
The reasoning behind no notes during deck construction at a Competitive+ Level event is that these events use Decklists and do not allow maindeck modification. This means the deck you build is the deck you must present for game 1 of every match.
Ever wanted to know what guidelines Judges use to make rulings? Find out at the DCI Document Center.
You can also find the latest Comprehensive Rules here.