Deck Checks (for Constructed Events)

By Kush Singhal Level 2 Judge

Lake Grove, NY

Judge Conference at Ice Imports, Connecticut September 6th, 2014

Overview

• Philosophy

• Deck Lists

• Deck List Counting

• Notes/Tips

• “The Swoop”

• General Deck Check Process

• Mid-Round Deck Checks

• Fixes, Remedies, and Penalties

• Deck Check Wrap-up

• Other Notes/Tips

Philosophy

• Players must play with a legal deck and sideboard throughout a tournament

• Deck lists are used to ensure that decks are not altered

• Deck checks are required for Competitive and Professional REL tournaments

• 10% of participants

Useful Sections in the IPG: 3.4, 3.5, 3.8 http://wpn.wizards.com/sites/wpn/files/attachements/mtg_ipg_18july14_en.pdf

Useful Sections in the CR: 103.1, 701.16 http://media.wizards.com/images/magic/tcg/resources/rules/MagicCompRules_20140601.pdf

Useful Sections in the MTR: 2.8, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.10, 3.11, 3.15, 6 http://wpn.wizards.com/sites/wpn/files/attachements/mtg_mtr_en.pdf

Deck Lists

• Alphabetical player meeting - Makes judges’ lives much easier

• Player count and verification - 1 list per person

- Quickly identifies missing lists

- Pre-registration attendees

Deck List Counting (not required)

• Goal: Finish counts in Round 1

• Skim list for card names - Card legality

- Number of copies in 75 less than or equal to 4

- Incorrect/Incomplete names

3 Jace 2 iasdfghj

1 GW Temple 4 Black Lotus 12 Pack Rat

Deck List Counting (continued)

• Numbered count - Get a counting app!

- 60+ cards in maindeck

- 0 to 15 cards in sideboard

- Write initials on lists after they’ve been approved

• Problems? Deck check to verify!

• Alphabetize lists

• Store out of reach of players

Notes/Tips

• Get a partner - One person to swoop

- Second person pulls lists and runs interference

• Round 1 deck checks are important!

• Apply deck list counting penalties in Round 2

• Assign table away from the players, but still overlooks the event

• Players can request that they come along when you check them

• Goal: deck checks should take 5 mins, hard cutoff at 7 mins - Olivier’s presentation

“The Swoop”

• Stand inconspicuously in general area

• Partner should run interference

• Watch for any odd actions or strange shuffling

• Note time when you act – for time extensions

• Be LOUD!

• Jump in after they present, but before they cut

• Ask for names, decks (obviously), and match slip

General Deck Check Process

• Check sleeve edges

• Two schools of thought for speedy checks - Start with sideboard first

- Start with maindeck first

• Sorting – color, CMC, and/or spell types

• Sufficiently randomized? - Mana weaving

- Perfect distribution of all spells

- Clumping

General Deck Check Process (continued)

• Check backs of sleeves - Should all be identical (Section 3.10 in MTR)

- Distinctive markings and/or scuffs (pattern might suggest more serious issue)

- Maindeck vs sideboard sleeve wear

- Opaque sleeves

General Deck Check Process (continued)

• Other cards in deck box? - Extra deck - Unsleeved cards - Token printouts backed by magic cards - Replacements for altered cards

• Marked cards? - Damaged (creased) cards - Foils which are excessively warped - Non-uniform (double) sleeves

• Alters? - Require Head Judge approval (Section 3.3 in MTR)

Deck Check Wrap-Up

• Return decks to players

• Fix any issues away from opponent

• Explain any penalties – don’t mention specific cards

• Instruct players to randomize and double check they’re presenting legal decks

• Answer any questions

• Give time extension +3 minutes

• Once DC completed, mark on the deck list - The error + brief explanation - The fix - The round of the deck check and your initials

• Look for mid-round deck checks!

Mid-Round checks

• Find a table where both players are shuffling, look at match slip

• Using table number, pull the deck lists

• Be careful! - Don’t change contents of presented deck

• Start with sideboard first

• Ask the players to double check deck legality

• Guideline: 35 minute cutoff

Fixes, Remedies, and Penalties

• Contents of the deck should match deck list - If there’s a problem, change the list so it matches the deck

• Marked sleeves - Find replacements - In the interest of time, can request the player change after the match

• Marked, missing, and/or lost cards - Find replacements - If replacement not found, use basic land (note on deck list) - Can’t change back to original card once replaced - If cards are missing from a sideboard, make a note of this but issue no penalty

(IPG section 3.5)

Fixes, Remedies, and Penalties (continued)

• Check with Team Lead/Head Judge when delivering Game Losses

• Head Judge for any investigations, upgrades, or downgrades

• Game loss penalty - Current game ends, next game (if any) begins

- If game loss applied for game 1, players can’t sideboard for game 2

- Person who lost gets to choose play/draw in next game

- Simultaneous double D/DLP game losses offset (IPG section 3.5)

Other Notes/Tips

• Too slow when swooping? “ If a player has drawn an opening hand and potentially made mulligan decisions, the contents of the hand will be preserved unless a game loss is issued as a result of the deck check.” (MTR section 2.8)

• Understaffed? - 1 “real” DC

- 1 sleeves and sideboard check

• Game Losses – check with Team Lead/Head Judge

• Upgrades/Downgrades of penalties – check with Head Judge

• Cheating investigations – get Head Judge involved immediately

Thanks for listening!

Any questions or comments?