Welcome back to Judge of the Week! This week we have for you a mild-mannered Chemical engineer by day, and a rock star judge by night and weekends! Say hello to Patrick Nelson!
Name: Patrick Nelson
Level: 2
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana USA
Judge start date : April 14, 2013.
Occupation: Chemical Engineer
Favorite card: Urza’s Mine, Urza’s Power Plant, Urza’s Tower
Least favorite card: Sensei’s Divining Top
Favorite format: Limited
Commander General: I have 12 in my mono-black deck to choose from at random, but if I had to choose one, Sheoldred, Whispering One.
Favorite non-Magic Game: Destiny
Best tournament result: 8th place at a Legacy Open in 2014.
Random fact about yourself: I was certified for L2 in Dan Stephens’ bedroom.
Why do you Judge?
I love the game of Magic, and want to do what I can to make it enjoyable for anyone who would like to. Keep it fair, keep it fun. The friends I have made while judging keep me coming back. I love to watch games and try to figure out the proper line of play and see what the players do. Keeps me involved in the game.
What are some tips you have for other Judges?
Don’t be afraid to fail, it happens to all of us. Learn from the mistakes you make, and you will be a better Judge for it.
Along those lines, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Whether it be to double check an active call, or help on a task, we are a community, we are here to help.
What is your favorite non-judging moment that happened with other Judges (or after event story)?
I was head judging a PTQ out of state, and all of my staff were in the same hotel room the night before. We spent a couple hours before falling asleep replacing parts of card names with bear. Ie. Deathrite Bear, Bear Guide, etc. It was so much fun, hard to sleep. At least the night before was fun. The event itself was crazy.
What’s the best part about your local Magic community?
The friendly community. My local players make sure that everyone is welcome and have a great time playing the game, whether new or experienced, and makes Friday night’s super easy for myself and the other L1s. Our community is pretty tight. This year we lost two of our magic community, and each time we have held a memorial tournament in their honor. I couldn’t be prouder of my Indiana family.
What is your favorite non-Magic hobby?
Playing Destiny for PS4 is what I do most when not involved in something Magic, but it is usually with other Magic Judges. I am my fireteam’s meat shield, usually the brunt of jokes when I keep dying over and over so they don’t have to. “Their TVs are broken”, they usually tell others. Looking at you Lee Henderson!
How did you get involved in Magic in the first place?
When I was in high school I played with a couple buddies casually for a while, just picking up cards from Meijer on my way home from school. It wasn’t until I was finished with college that I got into the game on a regular basis, first with a draft of Alara Reborn, then started attending FNM regularly.
If you were a Planeswalker what would be your ultimate?
Search for your library for a cards named Urza’s Mine, Urza’s Power Plant, Urza’s Tower, and Karn Liberated, and put them into play. I love me some Tron!
Proudest moment of your Judge life?
I successfully head judged a StarCityGames.com Premier IQ alongside the Open of the weekend in St. Louis in October 2015, through a concession stand fire no less. I impressed myself, both in the amount of pre-event work I put in, as well as the event itself. My staff was amazing, and made it super easy.
Two Truths and a Lie
Two of the following statements are true and one is false. Figure out which!
- I have been engaged twice.
- I main a Warlock in Destiny.
- I never played Felidar Guardian in a constructed match of paper Magic.
If there is a judge who is also doing something exemplary, please nominate a judge TODAY!
