You could use those cards in response to the Undying trigger to stop the messenger from returning but since it already died it would not stop the Blood Artist's ability from triggering or resolving. You would need something that stops the creature from going to the graveyard entirely to prevent that.
so i plan on going to an upcoming star city tournament and my wife is going with me. her deck is close to completion, but she still wants to go down with me/ so the question is, would she be allowed to hang out with me while i play or is there a rule against that? i know there is assigned seating, but could she stand behind me?
Yes, she is most certainly allowed to join you at the tournament and spectate.
Note the following rules for spectating:
Quote from Magic Tournament Rules »
1.11
Spectators
Any person physically present at a tournament and not in any other category above is a spectator.
Spectators are responsible for remaining silent and passive during matches and other official tournament sections in which players are also required to be silent. If spectators believe they have observed a rules or policy violation, they are encouraged to alert a judge as soon as possible. At Regular or competitive REL, spectators are permitted to ask the players to pause the match while they alert a judge. At Professional REL, spectators must not interfere with the match directly.
Players may request that a spectator not observe their matches. Such requests must be made through a judge.
Tournament officials may also instruct a spectator not observe a match or matches.
Besides the main event there are plenty of side events available, you can find more information on the event's Fact Sheet so even if her deck isn't finished she can still play some Magic.
The StarCityGames.com dealer booth is also open starting at 8am if she'd like to purchase the cards she needs to complete her deck.
For Number 1 I thought that Vigor prevented damage and since Everlasting Torment says Damage can't be prevented that Vigor wouldn't be able to put counters on anything.
Correct and good catch, forgot that Everlasting Torment stopped damage prevention (RTFC fail).
I have been picking around about the Melira, Sylvok Outcast and Everlasting Torment combo, and I just need to chip away the specifics about it. I know it makes it so that damage basically doesn't work on your team (Damage is marked, but due to an inability to aplply the -1/-1 counters it just doesn't do anything) but I need to know how the trickier things work. A few off the top of my head making this a directed question:
1.) Vigor. If I, say, Pyroclasm my field, will Vigor stil see the damage, and replace it?
2.) Deathtouch. Again, as damage is still technicaly being dealt, I would assume this still creates lethal damage, am I corect?
3.) Death Pits of Rath. Same as above, I suppose, but just in case.
Thanks for your help, guys, I appreciate it.
Correct on all three. Wither just changes how damage works but does not replace the damage, damage is still being dealt it just doesn't do much normally.
I think it's only retailers that can't ship sealed product. If someone you know in the US buys a box, I don't think anything could stop them from sending it to you.
Correct, the restriction only applies to authorized online retailers. Private sellers can still ship sealed product internationally so e-bay is likely your best bet.
I own a couple of these alters and I do not really feel much of a difference in thickness. About the difference between a foil card and a non foil version of the same card.
I've encountered stickers like these at tournaments in the past; the cutout areas where the name, mana cost and rules text show through have noticeable ridges.
I imagine the actionable part for WotC was the fact that instead of hand altering cards this alterist was printing stickers containing copyrighted material and selling them.
Essentially, yes. Lazav will trigger when your opponent discards the Rampager to pay for bloodrush and the trigger will resolve before bloodrush does, this would all occur before the game moves to the combat damage step.
Both instances of extort will trigger and you will have the option to extort twice.
Yes, you are casting the copy of the card made by Cipher.
MTGS also has a Rules Q&A forum where you can get accurate answers to rules questions very quickly.
Yes, she is most certainly allowed to join you at the tournament and spectate.
Note the following rules for spectating:
Besides the main event there are plenty of side events available, you can find more information on the event's Fact Sheet so even if her deck isn't finished she can still play some Magic.
The StarCityGames.com dealer booth is also open starting at 8am if she'd like to purchase the cards she needs to complete her deck.
Correct and good catch, forgot that Everlasting Torment stopped damage prevention (RTFC fail).
No, you will not lose the game if you Impulse.
You only lose the game if you attempt to draw from an empty library and Impulse does not use the word 'draw'.
Correct on all three. Wither just changes how damage works but does not replace the damage, damage is still being dealt it just doesn't do much normally.
Correct, the restriction only applies to authorized online retailers. Private sellers can still ship sealed product internationally so e-bay is likely your best bet.
I've encountered stickers like these at tournaments in the past; the cutout areas where the name, mana cost and rules text show through have noticeable ridges.
I imagine the actionable part for WotC was the fact that instead of hand altering cards this alterist was printing stickers containing copyrighted material and selling them.