The TO, Tim Shields, is a very smart and experienced man; I am confident that he has considered every option available to him and will do his best to make this unprecedented event the best experience possible for everyone involved.
I agree he's a guy who knows how to TO. However, apparently his expertise does not include PR. Writing a blog post which basically promises a cap at no less than 6k participants, then capping the event at 4.5k just seems horrible PR...
The line of thinking that is stupid is not the complaining itself, but the underlying reasoning of the complaining. People can complain about anything they want, it's their right. However, I could complain about there being laws against murder, and the line of reasoning that allows me to complain is just stupid. Similarly to the line of reasoning that leads to people complaining they can no longer receive free things (which isn't even 100% true).
As I see it - the point of discussion isn't that we "complain" about the "they took away our free stuff that we are entitled to".
We just can't see the reason why replacing promo cards with random swag is better for promoting our OP. Specifically, we can't see how newer players (who actually care about promo commons) would be happier with the items listed in the announcement than with promos.
I'm sorry if this isn't something discussed here, but...
Is there a recommended number of (non playing) judges/tournament officials per number of players in a sanctioned tournament?
Thanks.
EDIT: Maybe someone can tell me how they determine this in their store/region?
... I already guessed that Frightshroud Courier can't provide the bonus to two creatures at the same time, but sometimes things aren't this intuitive...
See, you provided the question yourself
Anyway, I personally don't know anybody (in person) who could read the entire comp rules document through without being bored stiff and if you're bored, you don't grok much of what you read.
Problem is, most cases don't come up during gameplay, but will be in the test for Rules advisor. So it's imperative to read em, and study them, even though I'd might as well read the phonebook.
Try to go about it as you'd go about my case: take Greensleeves:
You'd find her in the MTGS wiki. Be more interested in the background:
Which novels mention her? Check their wiki. Maybe read them? (if you're feeling up to it).
Related characters - maybe there's someone even more interesting around.
etc. etc.
Comp rules analogy:
Read up on the redirection effects - check damage prevention - does it differ? What about replacement effects? Many rules questions involve the difference between replacement effects and triggered abilities - read up on those. I can go on but you'd have to stop at some point to get some sleep (or you get a really bad case of real-life-itis).
You've just read a significant chunk of the rulebook and never had to go from rule to rule like a zombie (monkey?).
1. The answer to your question about "snow mana" is that there are a great lot of things in Magic that care about types of mana. If you made a "snow mana" type, you'd have to playtest a hell of a lot, maybe errata a bazzilion cards, and it would either affect power level of new cards of create very clunky wordings ("every mana type except snow"). They wanted to create this without it drastically affecting "the outside world of magic".
2. Reading the comp rules is kind of hilarious. It's like reading the encyclopedia - sure it's better than hanging around in the streets doing nothing, but the encyclopedia wasn't written to be read as a book. The comp rules are a reference: if you suddenly hear the name of Greensleeves (related to Magic) you go to the MTGSwiki and read up and if you want to know how redirection effects work you read up in the comp rules.
I find that it's much easier to assimilate rules knowledge when you're faced with actual rules questions. The MTGS ruling forum is a good place for this. Just make sure you really know the rules work and not how to answer a specific rules question.
How should playing with your hand beneath the table (unintentionally of course), be classified?
This occurs quite often at regular REL and I just remind people to keep their hands above the table.
I'm judging a competitive Nats.Q. with many of the same players and was wondering what should be done.
I also, would be very grateful if anyone could tell me what the "hot" Standard issues are right now. (Or point me in the direction of a discussion of this topic).
Thanks.
EDIT: sorry for the title - I don't know how to edit it (on'e->one's)
I remember a case, sometime ago when a player intentionally took an extra (foil) rare during a draft.
This is obviously a DQ (Fraud or MoGM?).
The TO then said that he wanted to ban the player from tournament play for a while (I didn't follow up on that so there are no other details).
With the new reprint policy, there seems to be only one solution, which will keep the Legacy format alive (and probably allow growth):
BAN ALL CARDS ON THE RESERVED LIST FROM LEGACY.
The cards will still be legal in Vintage. NO ONE made any promises about the cards being legal in any format other than Vintage (and not even there).
This will effectively kill the Reserved list for all but Vintage players and collectors. Everyone should be happy, except maybe the people hoarding the reserved Legacy staples for financial gain and I don't think anyone (including WoTC) cares for them much.
If WoTC make this move, even people like me could consider getting into Legacy.
We're trying to host a local 2HG tournament and have an odd number of players. One of the players offers to play for both heads. I know it's against the rules, but what's the major obstacle - why wouldn't this be fair?
I agree he's a guy who knows how to TO. However, apparently his expertise does not include PR. Writing a blog post which basically promises a cap at no less than 6k participants, then capping the event at 4.5k just seems horrible PR...
As I see it - the point of discussion isn't that we "complain" about the "they took away our free stuff that we are entitled to".
We just can't see the reason why replacing promo cards with random swag is better for promoting our OP. Specifically, we can't see how newer players (who actually care about promo commons) would be happier with the items listed in the announcement than with promos.
Is there a recommended number of (non playing) judges/tournament officials per number of players in a sanctioned tournament?
Thanks.
EDIT: Maybe someone can tell me how they determine this in their store/region?
BTW episodes 1 and 2 are available at:
http://slavewagestudios.com/podcasts/podcast1.mp3
http://slavewagestudios.com/podcasts/podcast2.mp3
See, you provided the question yourself
Anyway, I personally don't know anybody (in person) who could read the entire comp rules document through without being bored stiff and if you're bored, you don't grok much of what you read.
Try to go about it as you'd go about my case: take Greensleeves:
You'd find her in the MTGS wiki. Be more interested in the background:
Which novels mention her? Check their wiki. Maybe read them? (if you're feeling up to it).
Related characters - maybe there's someone even more interesting around.
etc. etc.
Comp rules analogy:
Read up on the redirection effects - check damage prevention - does it differ? What about replacement effects? Many rules questions involve the difference between replacement effects and triggered abilities - read up on those. I can go on but you'd have to stop at some point to get some sleep (or you get a really bad case of real-life-itis).
You've just read a significant chunk of the rulebook and never had to go from rule to rule like a zombie (monkey?).
Hope this is helpful
1. The answer to your question about "snow mana" is that there are a great lot of things in Magic that care about types of mana. If you made a "snow mana" type, you'd have to playtest a hell of a lot, maybe errata a bazzilion cards, and it would either affect power level of new cards of create very clunky wordings ("every mana type except snow"). They wanted to create this without it drastically affecting "the outside world of magic".
2. Reading the comp rules is kind of hilarious. It's like reading the encyclopedia - sure it's better than hanging around in the streets doing nothing, but the encyclopedia wasn't written to be read as a book. The comp rules are a reference: if you suddenly hear the name of Greensleeves (related to Magic) you go to the MTGSwiki and read up and if you want to know how redirection effects work you read up in the comp rules.
I find that it's much easier to assimilate rules knowledge when you're faced with actual rules questions. The MTGS ruling forum is a good place for this. Just make sure you really know the rules work and not how to answer a specific rules question.
Again, good article, best of luck in both.
This occurs quite often at regular REL and I just remind people to keep their hands above the table.
I'm judging a competitive Nats.Q. with many of the same players and was wondering what should be done.
I also, would be very grateful if anyone could tell me what the "hot" Standard issues are right now. (Or point me in the direction of a discussion of this topic).
Thanks.
EDIT: sorry for the title - I don't know how to edit it (on'e->one's)
I remember a case, sometime ago when a player intentionally took an extra (foil) rare during a draft.
This is obviously a DQ (Fraud or MoGM?).
The TO then said that he wanted to ban the player from tournament play for a while (I didn't follow up on that so there are no other details).
With the new reprint policy, there seems to be only one solution, which will keep the Legacy format alive (and probably allow growth):
BAN ALL CARDS ON THE RESERVED LIST FROM LEGACY.
The cards will still be legal in Vintage. NO ONE made any promises about the cards being legal in any format other than Vintage (and not even there).
This will effectively kill the Reserved list for all but Vintage players and collectors. Everyone should be happy, except maybe the people hoarding the reserved Legacy staples for financial gain and I don't think anyone (including WoTC) cares for them much.
If WoTC make this move, even people like me could consider getting into Legacy.
Any suggestions for a solution to such a problem?
Thanks
That is just precious! Pasgoyf, you excel yourself!:D