Thursday, August 12th – Whether you know it or not, there is a good chance you want to be a judge. My experiences have shown me the tell-tale signs, and a lot of people that show these signs don’t recognize their potential.
Thursday, July 15th – As judges, we’re under careful scrutiny from the Magic public. I certainly don’t mind being held to a high standard, but it does present a very interesting circumstance in which, even when I’m not on the floor, judging can often dictate my behavior…
Friday, June 4th – I’m afraid to say this is not the revival of the old Chris Richter articles to solve your rules questions, but thankfully, the forums have a wonderful section for just that issue. No, this is a whole other kind of frequently asked questions. As a judge, I get a lot of questions that don’t involve the rules, or policy. Many players can be very social with us, and want to get to know us, and learn about what we do.
Wednesday, March 10th – A whole lot of articles written by judges will talk about the sandy beaches of Honolulu, the late night drafting, the interesting rulings at a PTQ, or a story of their first Grand Prix. However, that is not what I’m here to talk about. I’m going to tell you the stuff we don’t go around bragging about…
Thursday, February 11th – Talk to any judge that’s been in the game long enough, and he will probably tell you that the experience of wearing the stripes has changed him. In every instance I’ve heard of, this change has been for the better, but what exact effect the experience has on the person will always vary.
Monday, December 28th – When Judges talk about deviating from any of the rules, or policy documents, there is one phrase we always use: “Significant and exceptional circumstances.†One of the examples given in the Infraction Procedure Guide, and the one that most often comes up in conversation, is “a table falling down.â€
Thursday, November 19th – Most things Judges handle are rather routine. At every event I attend, there is always a common pattern of rules questions and penalties that occur. But, every once in awhile, we’ll get something that is worth of discussion at post-event dinners, on message boards, and even in articles…
Friday, October 23rd – To the surprise of many, it was announced a few weeks ago that people registered as a judge, TO, or scorekeeper in an event may also play in it. This means your next FNM opponent could be the Head Judge, the store owner/tournament organizer, or possibly both.
Monday, September 21st – DCI Certified Judges have a long list of responsibilities. If you had to sum it up in two words, I’d like to say it’s “kick butt.†In actuality, I think it can be summed up in a very obvious way. “Help Magic.†More or less, that’s our job.
Friday, August 14th – Any time someone approaches me with interest in becoming a judge, there is one thing I will always ask them: “Why do you want to become a judge?” I’ve gotten a wide range of responses, but one of the ones I hear more than almost any other is: “I want to know the rules really well.”
Friday, July 17th – In our society, you are innocent until proven guilty. But just how much proof do you need? I know that to be found guilty, there needs to be some very solid, concrete evidence that can prove for sure that the accused did it. A judge or jury can’t punish you without being sure you deserve the punishment. That’s not the way it works in the world of Magic.
Monday, June 29th – Wizards of the Coast did a survey to find out what players thought of the DCI, and they discovered that about 80% of tournament players like judges, and feel that judges are an integral part of a successful tournament. 80%, eh? So why isn’t that number at 100?
Thursday, May 21st – At the end of the first day of Grand Prix: Vancouver, head judge Seamus Campbell told the staff that a total of two Slow Play penalties had been handed out. He then asked us “how many do you think there should have been?†to which someone responded “a lot more.â€
Thursday, April 23rd – What exactly is a regular rules enforcement level event? In essence, it’s kitchen table Magic gone pro. Such events attract players from all walks of life, but they’re targeted at people that will probably never play in an event with a higher enforcement level.
Thursday, March 26th – Unfortunately, most of the penalties we give are to good, honest folk, the kind you really want to sit across from during a match, and they’re out there getting penalized for a simple mistake or misunderstanding. These penalties are necessary to keep the integrity and fairness of an event, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy handing them out. In an effort to save both players and judges from heartache, here are some of the most common and easily avoidable penalties.
