This week we are travelling to Pennsylvania, to feature a carpenter that also loves to blacksmith and to bake! Meet Adam Jaekel in this edition of Judge of the Week!

Name: Adam Jaekel Level: 1
Location: Milford, Pennsylvania
Judge Start Date: March 5, 2016
Why did you become a judge? I always had a big interest in the complexity of the rules when I was learning to play Magic. I met some cool people at the old PTQs and they seemed like some pretty cool people.  After playing the game with the same group of people for almost twenty years and being the de facto judge of the group they pushed me to make it official.  I can assuredly say becoming a judge has shown me that we are more than just the people who know the rules of the game and that it’s an awesome community to be a part of.
Occupation: Carpenter! I’m one of those oddball judges who does manual labor for a living.
Favorite Card: Thoughtseize Least Favorite Card: Blue Cards, but really only ones that have “counter” and “spell” on them.
Favorite Format: Limited
Commander General: Skullbriar, he just has such a neat ability.
Favorite non-Magic Game: Hard to choose just one game as a favorite, but Vampire the Masquerade is way up there.
Best tournament result: 7-2
Random fact about yourself: back in junior high school I was nationally recognized for my grasp of the French language. (I can’t speak it well at all now)

How did you get involved with Magic in the first place?
When I was around 8 years old my family was walking around a flea market and my brother had spotted a Fifth Edition starter at one of the stalls there and was excited and convinced my parents to buy it.  I have been hooked ever since.

How has being a Judge influenced your non-magic life?
Having worked in several GPs now, as operations and side events judge, has really helped me in being able to handle high stress events without getting overwhelmed.  Handling a small group of people at work is easy compared to wrangling hundreds of players.

You were nominated for demonstrating advanced knowledge, expertise and skill at a Super IQ recently. Are you aware your qualities are above average? Do you seek to become Level 2?
First off, thanks for whoever nominated me, I always take pride in doing my work so it’s comforting to hear people see it as exceptional.  I was not aware my qualities were above average, I have received comments from other Judges before but I just assumed I was doing my job like everybody else.  As far as becoming Level 2, it’s something I have been trying to get for a while now.  After running into an issue on the paperwork side when I went to take my test last year and not being able to judge for a while because of a car accident my prerequisites have lapsed so I am back to the start of the process.

What motivates you to continue being a Judge?
Enjoying being a Judge is all the motivation I need.  I like traveling to and working at events, hanging out with cool people, and being out on the floor fielding calls. As long as that stays fun, I’ll keep being a Judge.

What is one tip you have for other judges?
Read the cards! I know I am not the only Judge who thinks they know what a card says and then decides how an interaction works but was wrong on what the text on the card says.  Taking the time to read all the cards involved in a Judge call can give you time to work it out and maybe make you catch something on a card you forgot or didn’t know it said.

What’s the best part of your local magic community?
I would have to say it’s the willingness to help each other.  In the group of players I am part of we have pretty much every competitive deck and have no qualms with sharing with one another or sitting down to play test, or even just hang out and play magic.

What’s your favorite non-magic hobby?
It is hard to choose just one! I enjoy baking, wood working, playing my guitar. Pretty much anything where I get to use my hands is pretty high on the list.

If you could chat with one person, real or fictional, dead or alive who would it be and why?
I would say Richard Feynman, the famous theoretical physicist. I love science, physics especially, and how Feynman would “refuse to cheat” when explaining things, meaning he wouldn’t use scientific terms to explain things, fascinated me. Being able to discuss the nature of the universe with someone who can communicate in both the lay terms and scientific would be a treat.

What would you be doing now if Magic no longer existed?
Probably devoting more time to video games.

How do you have fun during events?
Well, besides having fun being on the floor as a Judge or player, I like seeing friends who share a love of the game but I do not get to see in person often, and if I am with other judges, playing judge tower and swapping judge stories.

If you were a creature what would be your creature type?
Uncle Istvan.

What hobbies do you have outside of magic?
Too many to count, Woodworking, baking, blacksmithing, playing guitar, video games, comics, movies to name some.

Two Truths and a Lie