24
votes
Accepted
Why is there no ruling to offset Mandatory Loops?
There is no reasonable way to eliminate all mandatory loops, so this rule would still be needed for loops that can't be eliminated. For simplicity, it's better to just have the one rule.
The biggest ...
- 82.6k
13
votes
Accepted
How did Andrea Mengucci receive a game loss for incorrectly registering his card on arena?
The player (Andrea Mengucci) wrote a wrong card to his decklist after the draft. This constitutes as a decklist problem. The fact that the tournament is partly played on MTG Arena, doesn't matter here....
- 1,802
13
votes
Why is there no ruling to offset Mandatory Loops?
The rule is necessary. Limiting purely mandatory loops to a certain number of repetitions is impractical, especially for paper Magic, and it is potentially game-distorting.
Magic the Gathering is ...
- 51.6k
11
votes
Accepted
In what category of information are timestamps?
There is a simple answer here that resolves all of the conflicts: timestamps are free information if and only if it makes a difference to the current game state. Otherwise, it is private.
The Magic ...
- 82.6k
11
votes
Accepted
What happens if I lose a match due to time in a single-elimination game, but I have a Platinum Angel on the battlefield?
First a small disclaimer: I'm not a judge. This answer is combined from information I found from Platinum Angel's rulings, comments of MTG judges from the Internet and common sense. For example a head ...
- 1,802
10
votes
How did Andrea Mengucci receive a game loss for incorrectly registering his card on arena?
Andrea Mengucci clarified this on his twitter just a few minutes ago:
People at home. I don’t have 2 Archon of Sun’s Grace. I have 2 of the uncommon Archon. That was the mistake in deck ...
- 24.5k
10
votes
Accepted
Adam Logan vs. Ben Schoenbrun (2023 Canadian Scrabble Classic): where can JUN be placed?
Looks like it's in the top right, hooking onto PI to make PIN.
His opponent would responding with SIJO on the top row over the triple word score.
- 299
9
votes
What number is so large that one would never wish to have named a larger number?
There isn't one.
The question you're asking is a bit like asking this:
My friend and I can both eat infinite numbers of hotdogs. What number of hotdogs do I have to eat such that my friend can't then ...
- 24.5k
8
votes
Accepted
How are bridge hands chosen, at top tournaments? What's the motive?
All bridge players "know" that the hands are cooked. They all have their own ideas how. Each person's ideas are different. They're all wrong. Mostly this is because humans, and bridge ...
- 3,173
6
votes
Accepted
What requires MTG players to remind their opponents of “may” parts of effects?
The Magic Judge Blog version of that IPG section has a more detailed description of why those examples are problematic:
In each of these examples, a player takes an action or fails to take an ...
- 82.6k
4
votes
Can I look up the text of my foreign cards on my phone in MTG tournaments?
At Regular REL, you might get permission from the Judge, at any higher REL it is forbidden.
2.12 Electronic Devices
At Competitive and Professional Rules Enforcement Level
during drafting, deck ...
- 865
4
votes
What activity is there in Computer Go tournaments?
The Computer Go Server1 is currently a very active test bed for bots. The Computer Go page at Sensei’s Library refers, under Competitions, to various competitions including the Computer Go Server, ...
- 1,448
4
votes
Accepted
Brackets for tournament in a three player game
It's virtually identical to 2-player games, except there are two "loser" brackets instead of one, and an extra game could be needed because you can get into a situation where everyone lost twice.
...
- 47.7k
4
votes
Accepted
Missed State-Triggered Abilities
This situation is so narrow and unusual that it is not addressed by the Infraction Procedure Guide, and the handling would be up to the judge's discretion.
State-triggered abilities are unusual, and ...
- 82.6k
3
votes
Accepted
Intentionally Not Announcing Triggered Abilities Until Just Before They Would Be Considered Missed
This would not qualify as cheating.
In the example, Tower of War's Exalted trigger creates a continuous effect that modifies Bear Cub's power and toughness. These are not visible changes, so they are ...
- 82.6k
3
votes
Accepted
What number is so large that one would never wish to have named a larger number?
There is no number in general
While there are really big numbers, most of those are likely not allowed under tournament rules because they cannot be explained to the average opponent in a reasonable ...
- 17.9k
3
votes
What number is so large that one would never wish to have named a larger number?
There isn't a specific number that generally applies, or a way to phrase it, other than "high enough".
Assuming player B has a non-infinite combo which they will fire after/in response to ...
- 9,251
3
votes
Accepted
What should I prepare for a Star Wars X-Wing tournament?
According to the current X-Wing Tournament Regulations (as of now, that's Version 1.2.1, effective November 1, 2016), you must have the following items:
Ship models
Bases
Pegs
Pilot cards (all from ...
- 1,057
3
votes
What should I prepare for a Star Wars X-Wing tournament?
UPDATE: So I finished my first tournament last Saturday (1:3 W:L, Place 9 out of 14). Here is my experience regarding the things I brought:
Too much copies of the build, three are enough (one for the ...
- 183
3
votes
What board and card games have full-time professional players?
Duplicate bridge certainly has full-time professional players who earn their living playing, although most of them are also teachers, and play with students for pay. There at least used to be ...
- 1,197
2
votes
What board and card games have full-time professional players?
There are a number of Magic: the Gathering players who derive all their income from the game, whether that be:
A direct contract from Wizards of the Coast, given to the players with the best ...
- 10.7k
2
votes
Would hypnotizing your opponent be against the Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament rules?
From a link on the page that ConMan so helpfully provided:
Penalties are carried out in the event of rule violations which may cause hindrance to others and/or disruption of the event.
Please ...
- 12.5k
2
votes
Accepted
In what way are cards simultaneously milled by multiple players?
It is option 1.
Rule 101.4 is what governs this:
101.4. If multiple players would make choices and/or take actions at the same time, the active player (the player whose turn it is) makes any choices ...
- 74.9k
2
votes
Accepted
Additional Official Rule Sources For Monopoly
I have found this Monopoly World Championship rulebook and accompanying FAQ. I am unclear on whether or not this was written or endorsed by Hasbro, but these rules seem as good as any until a more ...
- 155
1
vote
Accepted
Would illegally moving cards during a game from the sideboard to the hand/library or vice-versa be a Hidden Card Error or a Deck Problem?
I would say that "Game Play Error — Hidden Card Error" is a better fit for these kinds of mistakes.
While a game is ongoing, the sideboard is really the set of cards "outside the game&...
- 82.6k
1
vote
Season's champion
I propose a system where each game night has 20 points to allocate. You divide the points between the number of times you play that game. (e.g. You play a game 2 times, 10 points for each game).
The ...
- 11.1k
1
vote
Would hypnotizing your opponent be against the Yu-Gi-Oh! tournament rules?
The main parts of the Tournament Rules and Guidelines that may be applicable in an official match, as far as I can tell, are:
During the duel, all actions taken by either duelist must be made clear ...
- 11.7k
1
vote
Accepted
Warhammer 40k: Do 'decurion' style detachments comprised of multiple formations still count as one detachment for ITC purposes?
“Decurion Style” Detachments comprised of multiple sub-detachments count as 1 detachment towards the 3 detachment limit.
Source: ITC 2017 FAQ and Format Guidelines (linked from ITC2017 FAQ, Format ...
- 1,164
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible