fbpx

AuthorSheldon Menery

Magic Judge Hall of Famer Sheldon Menery was one of the most influential judges in the history of the game. He pioneered Commander and was a founding member of the Commander Rules Committee. After a seven-year battle with cancer, Sheldon passed away in 2023, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and respect, turning acquaintances into friends, and friends into family. “I count myself in nothing else so happy as in a soul remembering my good friends.” - William Shakespeare, Richard II

FINAL JUDGEMENT: The Combat Phase

First of all, thanks to everyone for the positive feedback on previous columns. Thanks also for all the kind personal comments, save those from Mr. WH of Fort Lee, New Jersey. I’m flattered and all, sir, but I draw the line when we get to the barnyard. Since the discussion on State-Based Effects generated so…

FINAL JUDGEMENT: The State-Based Effects

Want to make a casual Magic player go "Huh?". Just say "State-based effect". You might as well have aliens crawling out of your belly. But I’m here, Sigourney Weaver-like, to banish that all away. State-based effects (SBEs) are a special set of rules that are applied whenever a player is going to receive priority, prior…

FINAL JUDGEMENT: Survival Of The Smartest, Part II

Last time, we focused on what other players might try to do to you. Today, we’ll talk about your own behavior at a sanctioned tournament. You can go a long way to helping your own cause, both with the other players and the tournament staff. We DCI reps will do our best to help you…

FINAL JUDGEMENT: Survival Of The Smartest, Part I

StarCityCCG’s lovely and talented editor (and my dear friend since 1958) has asked me to write a Judge column. He even dreamt up a catchy name for it (although I dropped that icky "The"). The idea is for ME, who knows lots of stuff about the rules, to educate YOU, who hear "The Stack" and…