Greetings once again! This week’s Judge of the Week is Adena Chernosky, L2 hailing from Jackson, Wyoming. Adena tested for L1 at GP Salt Lake City in March, 2012 and ascended to L2 in June, 2013.
Why did you become a judge? I’ve always been fascinated by the technical aspect of the rules and corner cases. Originally, I only ever played magic online, so I understood the stack and priority and illegal targets, etc. better than many beginning players. I started listening to JudgeCast back when Riki and Sean
first started it, and I thought it sounded interesting. Not only did I become interested in judging, but also in podcasting. After meeting Riki at Worlds, I went home that night and took my Rules Adviser test.
Occupation: Hotel Management
Favourite card: Doubling Season
Least favourite card: Anything with the words “counter target spell” in the rules text!
Favourite format: Sealed Deck
Commander General: Doubling Season. (OK, technically Ghave, Guru of Spores, but my deck is built as though Doubling Season is my general.)
Favourite non-Magic Game: Blood Brothers (android game)
Best tournament result: #1. Undefeated. Oh, did you want the specific tournament? Worldwake prerelease, Avacyn Restored prereleases, and a Game Day event.
Random fact about yourself: I moved to Jackson, WY in order to snowboard every day, and I had a snowboard blog for several years.
Tell us your favourite judge story.
At an event I was judging, 2 players with identical sleeves called for a judge (not me). When the judge arrived at the table, the player said “I need you to tell me which deck is mine.” After shuffling, neither player could remember which deck was which.
Tell us an embarrassing story that you’re not afraid of everyone knowing.
When I was at GP Vegas on one of my judge breaks, I wandered past the coverage booth just as Marshall Sutcliffe was walking out. I decided to introduce myself, since we had communicated before on Twitter and Facebook, and HoN (Horde of Notions, my podcast) had been trying to get him to be a guest on our cast for some time. As I stood there talking to him, another guy came up and joined the conversation. He spoke to me as if I knew him already and since I’d traveled to events through Wyoming and Idaho, as well as SLC and L.A., I knew a lot of people from a lot of different places. And with the chaos of the event I really couldn’t place everyone. I asked him “Do I know you?” He replied, “Are you f’ing kidding me? I’m ON YOUR PODCAST!” It was William Blondon, from HoN, who I had been texting throughout the weekend and who apparently had said hi to me already several times (although technically we had never met before in person and he didn’t actually ever introduce himself.) I will never live it down. Marshall said it was the best story of the entire weekend. Hopefully it has amused you as well.
How did you get involved in magic in the first place?
In the early 90’s, I played a CCG called Overpower, based on comic book superheroes and villains. Some friends tried to teach me to play Magic, and I thought it looked interesting but I was a fiend about collecting cards and building decks, and I didn’t want to get involved in more than one card game. Now I have a whole pile of totally worthless Overpower cards instead of boxes of extremely valuable Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited cards. So that’s the story of how I didn’t get involved in Magic. Here’s the story of how I did:
I had a roommate who taught me how to play. My first deck building experience was building a deck specifically crafted to play against what he was playing. We then got into a rules argument about Disintegrate, based on the actual text printed on the 5th edition version of the card, which said “if the creature is dealt lethal damage this turn, remove it from the game.” I insisted that even though an indestructible creature wouldn’t die to the lethal damage, that creature had, in fact, been dealt lethal damage. He said it wasn’t “lethal” unless it actually killed the creature. The entire argument was irrelevant, since the card had oracle text that made the exiling a creature a replacement effect that replaced the “going to the graveyard” with “exile it.” But I was right about the game definition of “lethal damage”.
How has being a judge influenced your non-Magic life?
I’ve been to lots of cities I wouldn’t have visited otherwise, and I know more about frequent flyer benefits than I did before. Also, explaining things in technical detail when giving rulings has helped me to be more precise when trying to explain things to my employees.
You were nominated by Riki Hayashi because you participate in several podcasts. Which ones are you involved with? Could you tell us more about them?
I got my start in podcasting when Monday Night Magic had a live call-in show for its 250th anniversary. I was one of the callers and the regular hosts enjoyed talking to me and invited me to come back as a regular host. I was on MNM for a few months, but then my schedule changed and I wasn’t available on Mondays anymore. Meanwhile, Chris Lansdell contacted me on Twitter and asked if I wanted to do a podcast with him, which was the beginning of Horde of Notions. HoN focuses on deckbuilding, mainly for FNM level, but also for those wanting to start attending bigger events. HoN has also interviewed numerous pro players including Jon Finkel, Patrick Chapin, and Brad Nelson. I’ve been a guest host on a few other casts – Serra’s Angels, WeBeGeeks, and the Theros Prerelease edition of JudgeCast North. I also participated in a Monday Night Magic video put together by Marcel at 2011 World’s in San Francisco. I shot a good deal of the footage, but near the end there’s a blip of me that Marcel shot. I also interviewed lots of pros for Horde of Notions. And most importantly, I met Riki Hayashi
and passed my rules adviser test that weekend.
What motivates you to continue being a judge?
Seeing the other judges I have met and working with them again, and meeting new judges. I enjoy playing, but I enjoy being on the other side of event organization and making sure that events run smoothly.
What is one tip you have for other judges?
There’s no such thing as “it’s not my job.” If it needs to get done, it’s your job.
What’s the best part about your local Magic community?
Although subtle discrimination against women has significantly decreased, due to increased awareness and female pro players / podcasters / high level judges, at big events you still hear the occasional “you got beat by a girl.” In my community, people don’t see it that way. I’m much likely to get a “Oh, crap, I got paired with YOU? Should I just concede right now?” than an insult. Although I am often one of the only female players, I am not seen as a “girl” I’m seen as a formidable opponent.
What is your favourite non-magic hobby?
Snowboarding
What is your favourite non-judging moment that happened with other judges?
Playing Cards Against Humanity at the judge party after GP Vegas.
What’s the biggest rule-breaking play you’ve ever made as a player?
Recently I was playing in a 3 person game, free format, casual. One of my opponents had a Channel Fireball combo deck, with Platinum Angel and equipment that gave it shroud on the board. I had attacked him down to 1 life when he drew the final piece of his combo and killed us both. I scooped my cards and as I was putting them away I went to take back the 20-sided die I had lent him as a life counter. I noticed it was at 1, and realized that I totally allowed him to pay life he did not have in order to cast his lethal fireball. Oops.
What has been your favourite magic event that you’ve judged?
GP Vegas, which was also my first non-LGS event. It was insanely busy and could have been disastrous, but was actually a blast. The organizers had everything so well planned, and the team leaders were on top of their game.
What would you be doing now if Magic no longer existed?
Snowboarding and blogging about it. I’d also have a lot fewer frequent flyer miles and a lot more money.
What is the strangest card interaction you have seen in a tournament?
Chains of Mephistopheles. And anything.
What is your favorite “after event” story?
See “favorite non-judging moment with other judges” question.
How do you have fun during events?
How does anyone NOT have fun at events?
If you were a creature what would be your creature type?
Human Beserker.
What hobbies do you have outside of Magic?
Life outside of Magic does not exist. I used to snowboard a lot, but now I prefer to play magic. I have been known to read sci fi, fantasy, and YA vampire romance novels as well.
Proudest moment of your Judge life?
Graeme Hart, the first judge I mentored, passed his L1 test
What character in Magic (real or fictional) represents you the best, and why?
Radha, Heir to Keld. Because who doesn’t carry a severed head with them wherever they go? And because of the braids.
Two Truths and a Lie
Two of the following statements is true, and one is false. Figure out which!
- I lived in Philadelphia and graduated from Drexel University in 1995.
- I have worked as a professional actress and model.
- I placed 2nd in a USASA Halfpipe Competiton at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort