Welcome back to Judge of the Week where we would like to introduce you to our latest nominee. She was not only acknowledged for her strengths at judging events but was especially lauded for her engaging storytelling in both tournament reports and in mentoring. Sometimes we are the Protagonist, sometimes the Mentor or the Sidekick, and even sometimes we find ourselves to be the Villain. But in the end, we are all Stories. So join us as we appreciate the artistry and storytelling of our very own Tobias Vyseri.
Name: Tobias Vyseri
Level: 2
Location: British Columbia , Canada
Judge start date: L1 Cert. 07 February 2014 // L2 Cert. 18 September 2016
Occupation: Graphic Designer & Illustrator
Favorite card: Delver of Secrets
Least favorite card: Boil
Favorite format: Legacy
Commander General: Sakashima the Impostor
Favorite non-Magic Game: Currently, Darkest Dungeon
Best tournament result: 1st at a PPTQ
Random fact about yourself: I draw things.
Why do you Judge?
Because I love Magic & I love its players.
Tell us your favorite Judge story.
Running the Legacy Showdown (a huge CompREL side event) at GP Toronto I get a call and walk over to the table,
TV: “What’s up?”
Player : “Judge, there was a Null Rod in play but we don’t know where it went”
TV: “Er, what?”
Player: “Well there was a Null Rod right here…” the player points to an empty spot on the battlefield “then I cast this spell, cracked this fetch and then we looked back and it was gone”
I look to his opponent
TV: “can you confirm there was a Null Rod in play?”
Opponent: Nods, “Yeah, it was definitely right there a minute ago”
After some investigation, we realized he had accidentally shuffled it into his library while fetching somehow. We pulled a Null Rod out of his library and put it back into play issuing a GRV.
What are some tips you have for other Judges?
Be kind and be confident. If you do those two things players probably won’t even notice when you’re wrong.
What is your favorite non-judging moment that happened with other Judges (or after event story)?
While driving to a conference, we determined that if we were able to demonstrate a loop that generated money to the CRA, the government should just issue us infinite money. (We are going to have make you choose an arbitrarily large amount here. -edit)
Who have been some of your biggest mentors in the Judge Program, and what did they teach you?
Todd Bussey – He is a living encyclopedia of the Comprehensive Rules, I am constantly impressed by his ability to answer complex rules questions as cleanly and succinctly as he does.
Michael Nixon – Socially adept, intrepid and a great sense of humor, I admire his flexibility and confidence.
Niko Skartvedt – Calm, dauntless and deeply intelligent. I have always felt like Niko
very wholly encapsulates what it means to be a truly great Judge.
What positive aspects has the Judge Program contributed to your everyday life?
I owe a lot to the Judge Program, the confidence and opportunities it has given me are incredible. Before becoming a Judge I had a very hard time finding employment and was frequently turned down for jobs and apprenticeships. I was beginning to think that perhaps I was completely unemployable. The confidence I got from being able to work at game stores and Grand Prix and then be asked back was amazing. Being a Judge has allowed me to believe in myself in a way I never thought was possible. I truly do not think I would be appreciating as much success in the other areas of my life if it weren’t for Judging.
What’s the best part about your local Magic community?
The players! I love them so much! They are kind and understanding and some of the best people in the whole world!
What is your favorite non-Magic hobby?
Drawing.
How did you get involved in Magic in the first place?
I remember this pretty clearly…
It was a super hot summer day, and I had somehow bricked all the computers in the house (two laptops and a desktop) and they were all in various stages of reinstalling either Windows or Ubuntu.
It would be another few hours before I could play on any of the machines, and me and my partner were both super bored. Then I remember asking him, “Wait, don’t you have a few boxes of cards for that one game you used to play? Magic? Why don’t you teach me while we wait for the computers to finish?”
And that’s how and why I learned to play magic with a few boxes of Ravnica commons and uncommons.
If you were a Planeswalker what would be your ultimate?
Take an extra turn, skip your next combat phase. You can’t activate Planeswalker abilities on your next turn.
Proudest moment of your Judge life?
Every time a player smiles.
What character in Magic (real or fictional) represents you the best, and why?
Ertai, Wizard Adept, because I feel like I used to be an arrogant BLEEP. But after some trying experiences, have mostly figured stuff out and am much more tolerable now.
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A Resounding Roar of thanks to Tobias Vyseri for sharing her stories, artwork and passion for Judging with all of us. Here is where we would let you go, but we would be in Complete Disregard if we did not get one last thing…
Two Truths and a Lie
- I still sleep with a Giant Stuffed Owl Plushie.
- I once was uncertain of how many Islands to play at a GP so I threw a few extra in my wallet. That was 5 years ago and they are still in there.
- I made and have worn a Jace Beleren costume.