Running Deck Verification Procedures

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Contents 1 Running Deck Verification Procedures 2 Before Counting and Sorting 3 Counting Decklists 4 Sorting Decklists 5 Player Count and Verification 6 Clean Up 7 Handling Issuing Penalties 8 References

This page is a part of the Tournament Operations, Professional and Competitive (Sphere).

Running Deck Verification Procedures

This page provides information for decklist counting and sorting. The article will cover steps involved, processes for counting, as well as additional info to keep in mind to help your process go smoothly.

Before Counting and Sorting

• Before the tournament begins, the Head Judge will generally have a short meeting at which time you will find out if you are floor team or paper team

• The first responsibility of the paper team is counting and sorting players' decklists

• Once beginning tournament announcements are given, all the judges will help collect decklists

• If there is an alphabetical player seating, make sure to collect and keep the decklists in order, this saves time when it comes down to sorting the decklists

• Once the lists are collected, the members of the paper team will begin counting decklists (covered in next section)

• Remember: counting and sorting deck lists takes a lot of counter space: make sure you have enough space for counting and sorting

Counting Decklists

• Counting decklists is a very tedious process, but it is very importantto keep a tournament running properly

• To count a decklist, count each card listed on the player's decklist, keeping a running total

• Judges have different methods for counting decklists, experience is the best way to learn what works for you

• Common counting techniques include:
  • "Chunking" - Counting cards a few at a time and keeping a written running total on the side of the list
  • Touch Points - A counting technique that involves using the written number to help keep a running total in your mind
  • Counting Apps - Smart phones have apps that allow the judge to count with the push of a button, having one-touch push access for 1, 2, 3, and 4 cards

• As you count, make sure to keep two running piles: good lists, and lists with possible mistakes (this will depend on the format)

• If you are unsure about a decklist, cannot read the list, or think there may be an error, have another judge check those lists to confirm your finding or help figure out the confusion

• Once you have confirmed a good list, be sure to mark the list with your official count and initial the list as "done"

• Make sure all judges use the same method of marking the decklists (judge initials, number of cards / sideboard at the same place on the list, truncated card names)

• Once you are done, be sure to go over the list of problem decklists with your team leader or the head judge

Sorting Decklists

• Once the decklists have been counted, the lists need to be sorted for storage and record keeping in the master file

• Similar to counting lists, each person will find their own method for sorting
  • Generally, a good way to start is to divide the lists into smaller sets: A-H, I-P, Q-Z (or something along those lines)

• Once you have broken the lists down into these first smaller piles, you can either begin to sort them alphabetically, or make smaller piles
  • E.g. A-D, E-H, I-L, M-P, Q-S, T-Z

• Eventually the piles will be small enough (about 15-20 lists) and alphabetical sorting will be very easy

• Once the lists are sorted, before you file them into the master file, do a player count and verification (see section 4 below)

Player Count and Verification

• Once the decklist sorting is finished, you and another judge need to do an official player count and check them against their registration

• Get a master list of players, sorted alphabetically
  • NOTE: Sometimes it could be useful having a second master list sorted by DCI #'s; in some countries players have many different and long names, so players might not be using the same name on the list as they have in the DCI Database.

• Go through each deck list, checking off each person’s name on the master list as their decklist is viewed

• This is to verify that each player has filled out a decklist and that there is no player unaccounted for

• Once each player's deck list is accounted for, take a total count, and file the decklists in the master file

Clean Up

• Once you are done sorting, make sure the master file is in an area where players will not be able to dig through it (usually a judges station or with the TO)

• Be sure to clear your area, you are responsible for keeping the store clean as are the players!

• Make sure to do one final check to make sure no lists are dropped

Handling Issuing Penalties

• If you have found a list with a Deck/Decklist error or Illegal Decklist error, and the list has been double checked by another judge, you will (in most cases) be issuing a penalty

• Normally this will happen at the beginning of round two (2); however if the tournament is over-booked or started late, this could happen in later rounds

• You want to aim for round two to issue initial deckcheck penalties

• Have the players in question report to your judge station, or before the players sit down seek them out individually and have them follow you to the judge station

• Ask the player about the error in question
  • E.g. If the player lists 3 Ajani Goldmane on his sheet and therefore only lists 59 cards in his constructed deck, ask them: "How many Ajani are you running today?"

• Confirm the contents of the player’s deck if necessary, this might require spreading the deck out on the table (see the deck sorting article)

• You will want to ask the players questions to determine if this is an honest mistake or something more "fishy"

• Once you have determined the penalty, simply issue them the penalty and explain what happens to them at the beginning of this round (stick to the script, do not elaborate)

• If a player has indeed committed a Deck/Decklist error or Illegal Decklist errors explain the following:

1. This is a game loss
2. The Deck and/or Decklist will be corrected
3. They will get a time extension for this round
4. When they return to their table, they will start game 2, they will have lost game 1
5. The player (the one you're talking to) gets to choosewhether he will play or draw first
6. The players may not sideboard

• Once completed and the player understands, mark their deck sheet with your correction, the error, a brief explanation and the fix, then sign it

• Once the player has returned to their table, be sure to appropriately note the penalty on their match slip and inform their opponent of what has happened (again, stick to the script, don’t embellish)

• Finally, remind both players to shuffle well and wish them good luck

References

• The Magic: the Gathering Infraction Procedure Guide
• The Magic: the Gathering Tournament Rules
• Magic: The Gathering Homepage

This page is a part of the Tournament Operations, Professional and Competitive (Sphere).