July 2018
This month we saw the return of a Magic: the Gathering staple: the Core Set! Along with this return to form, we also saw some updates to the draft policy and the WPN policies on alcohol and age restrictions. Add to that some new Judge foils and our regional conference, and July was a content rich month. Let’s all catch up together!
Banned & Restricted List
The only format to see any changes in the latest update to the banned & restricted list was Legacy. After a lengthy period of format dominance, Deathrite Shaman and Gitaxian Probe can add Legacy to the list of formats in which they are banned. Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.
New Judge Foils!
Beginning with Exemplar Wave 13, two new Judge foils will be rotating into the foil packets. Say hello to Vampiric Tutor with new, piratey art and Nin, the Pain Artist with the new legendary frame treatment!
Policy Update
When drafting M19, the guidance provided regarding what to do with checklist cards has changed slightly. Historically, checklist cards, tokens, non-foil basic lands, and tip cards would be removed from booster packs prior to drafting from them. With M19 the token or tip card would still be removed prior to drafting. However, the basic land slot in M19 booster packs will contain either a non-foil basic land, a non-basic two-color land, or the checklist card for the double-faced Nicol Bolas. As such, all of these cards are draftable!
In short, when drafting M19, instruct the players to leave the non-foil basic lands, non-basic two-color lands, and checklist cards in their packs! (Or in short, any card with a normal Magic card back and Nicol Bolas, the Ravager. ed.)
Perhaps that was enough nuance to make you say, “Geez, I could use an adult beverage right about now.” Well, the recent updates to the WPN policy may have you covered there. First, at the discretion of the TO, events may now be restricted by age. And secondly, WPN policies no longer prohibit serving or consuming alcoholic beverages at sanctioned events – including in play spaces.
There is a lot to unpack in these changes. Please read the full releases, linked below.
M19 Set Digest
The highly anticipated set digest for M19 is now available over at Judging for the Win! For those who may not be fully aware of these set digests, David Elden and his team create a MASSIVE Q&A for each set that is released. These digests feature deep dives into scenarios using the specific cards and unique mechanics from their respective sets.
If you are looking for a way to stay current with rules and policy changes, you would be hard-pressed to find a better source than Judging for the Win’s set digests.
Changes to the Level 2 Certifications
Change is coming to the L2 certifications. Specifically, the L2 Tester (L2T) certification is being removed. Moving forward, the Regional Coordinator may empower any L2 to administer the L2 exam on a case-by-case basis.
The L2 Team Lead Certification (TLC) is also being phased out, though over a longer period of time. Replacing this certification is the Team-Lead-in-Training Position (TLTP), which will replace the TLC requirement on the L3 checklist. It is expected that those apply to test for the TLTP are far along on their road to L3 and will be sitting before the L3 panel within the 6-to-12 month period after receiving the TLTP.
Judge Anniversaries
There were no Great Lakes Judges celebrating 5, 10, or 15 year anniversaries this month. But there are still roughly 270 Judges doing great work in this region every day. Let’s all keep up the excellent work that makes this program great!
Great Lakes Regional Conference
For those who attended our annual regional conference in Ft. Wayne, Indiana this month, what an excellent gathering and display of camaraderie! For those who could not attend, fear not! The Conferences Project has you covered! A team of Judges recorded many of the panels and workshops, which are presently available on Judging for the Win’s YouTube page.
Do you want to see a deep analysis of the layers of continuous effects? Now you can! Looking to learn more about presentational speaking or community building? You’re covered! Do you want to watch a series of both staged and randomly generated scenarios handled in real-time by our Judges? That’s there, too! And as an added bonus, the closing remarks from the RC and project leads are also available!
Level 2 Promotion
We would like to extend a hearty congratulations to Stephen Brown on his promotion to Level 2!
Closing Remarks
One of the notable traits of a great Judge is keeping up-to-date in an environment of frequent change. This month saw changes to the banned & restricted list, WPN’s alcohol and age-restriction policies, and the M19 draft procedure. And let’s not forget that a new core set was released. So hop in a hammock as the summer rolls on and treat yourself to some fun and thought-provoking scenarios in the M19 set digest, linked above.
Pass turn.