Judging at Regular

How to apply the JAR at Regular REL events:

What are proper solutions, when to rewind and when to deviate?

Michel Degenhardt

Dustin de Leeuw

Judging at Regular*History of JAR

*Fixes per the JAR

*Deviation: When and How?

*Scenarios

*Discussion

History of JAR

● Up until 2010: Regular used to be part of IPG– Too complicated for judges– Too strict for players

● 2010: Fixing Common Errors at Regular– Focus: play naturally

● 2011: JAR– Focus: players and non-Judge TO's

Common Fixes

● Triggers● Looking at Extra Cards● Drawing Extra Cards● Deck problem (No Decklist! :p)● Other Errors

Missed Triggers

A player forgets a triggered ability (one that uses the words “when,” “whenever,” or “at the beginning” usually at the start of the ability's text).

Missed Triggers cont.

● These abilities are considered missed if the player did not acknowledge them in any way at the point that it required choices or had a visible in-game effect. If the ability includes the word “may,” assume the player chose not to perform it. Otherwise, add it to the stack now unless it happened so long ago that you think it would be very disruptive to the game - don’t add the ability to the stack if significant decisions having been made based on the effect not happening! Unlike other game rule errors (which must be pointed out), players are never required to point out their opponent’s missed triggered abilities, although they may do so.

Looking at Extra Cards

A player sees a card in a library that he or she shouldn’t have seen

This is easily fixed by shuffling the card seen into the unknown portion of the library. Make sure to check if any player knows of any cards in the library (because an effect sent them to the bottom, for example), and ensure your fix preserves those cards.

Drawing Extra Cards

A player accidentally draws more cards than he or she was supposed to

If the identity of the card(s) were known to all players, return them to their proper location. Otherwise, determine how many extra cards have been drawn, take that many cards at random from the player’s hand and place them on top of the library. If the extra cards were drawn while drawing the opening hand, shuffle the extra cards back into the deck instead and allow the player to continue making mulligan decisions.

Deck Problems

A player has illegal, insufficient, or another player’s cards in his or her deck

Remove any cards that shouldn’t be there and put back any cards that should. Then, if the deck or sideboard have insufficient cards, add basic lands of the player’s choice to bring it to the correct size. Any cards that are added to the deck should be shuffled directly into the library. If the error was discovered during a draw effect, have the player complete the draw effect after the deck is fixed and shuffled. Encourage players to count their deck and present their sideboard (face down) to their opponents before starting a game.

Other Errors

A player makes an in-game error not mentioned above

This will cover the bulk of player errors, and we will usually leave the game as it is. Fix anything that is currently illegal (e.g. an Aura enchanting an illegal permanent) and continue the game. If the error was caught quickly and rewinding is relatively easy, you may choose to undo all the actions back to the point that the illegal action happened. This can include returning random cards from the hand to the library to undo card draws (though don't shuffle the library if you do this) and reversing various other actions (such as untapping permanents and declaring attackers or blockers). Don't go crazy with this!

Deviation: When and How?

● Toby Elliott: “Deviate like hell!”– Customer Service > Consistency– If both players agree, it's correct– Rules lawyers, go home– IPG? Never heard of it...

● Often multiple fixes available● Choose what you think is best for this specific

event and/or these players

Scenario: Jitte in the Void

● “Last turn, I played an Umezawa's Jitte, but I controlled a Chalice of the Void set to two (Whenever a player plays a spell with converted mana cost equal to the number of charge counters on Chalice of the Void, counter that spell).”

● How do we fix this Missed Trigger?

Jitte in the Void (2)

● Leave as is● Rewind completely (Jitte in hand)● Just put Jitte back in hand● Put Jitte in Graveyard● ...

More Scenarios...

● 20 minutes for discussion● Have fun!

Convicted of Defeat

● Alex has True Conviction (Creatures you control have double strike and lifelink), 3 Squires, and is at 1 life.

● Nadine has a tapped Air Elemental and is at 7 life.

● Alex attacks with everything, then states “You take 3, I gain 3, and then I'm dead.”

– Nadine calls for a Judge, what do you do?

– Nadine asks “So you concede”, then Alex calls for a Judge

– Nadine says OK, picks up her cards, and a spectator calls you over

The Attentive Attendant

Norbert has a Soul's Attendant (Whenever another creature ETB, you may gain 1 life). Alex casts and resolves a Runeclaw Bear, then advances to combat. Spectator Sammy walks by and says to Norbert: “Hey, you're supposed to gain 1 life for that cute little bear”.– Alex explodes and calls you over to have Sammy

DQ'ed.– Norbert shrugs and says “nah, don't need that life”– Norbert says “thanks, I completely forgot”

Post Mortem

After a very complicated combat phase, both Aldwin and Nicky agree that Nicky is dead. They scoop up their cards, but then start to talk about the specific rules interactions. They call you over to check, and indeed, it seems that they misunderstood some rules and that Nicky should still be alive and would for sure have won next turn. Both players seem very unhappy about this “stupid” outcome.– Good luck solving this!

Combat Wrecking Ogre

Anastasia attacks with her Wrecking Ogre (3/3 double strike), Nicholas blocks with his 3/3 Centaur token and his 1/1 Soldier token. Neither player says anything, then they both put all creatures into their graveyards. You happen to stand by and observe this happening.– What do you do, if anything at all?– When (if at all) would you explain about Damage

Assignment Order?

Thanks!

Insert appropriate remark for this specific situation ;)