{"id":3581,"date":"2014-09-18T09:31:56","date_gmt":"2014-09-18T13:31:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/?p=3581"},"modified":"2014-09-18T09:33:14","modified_gmt":"2014-09-18T13:33:14","slug":"david-truitt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/david-truitt\/","title":{"rendered":"David Truitt"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello there judges!<\/p>\n

This week our interview team made a stop in South Carolina<\/a> to catch this judge who has really impressed us with his community work. He is a devoted Elspeth and Star Wars fan with an excellent sense of humor and more than one odd story under his belt. Don’t miss this interview with David Andrew Truitt<\/a><\/span><\/span>!<\/p>\n

\"DT<\/p>\n

Name:<\/strong> David Truitt<\/a><\/span><\/span>
\nLevel:\u00a0<\/strong>2
\nLocation:<\/strong>\u00a0Wagener,\u00a0South Carolina<\/a>
\nJudge start date:<\/strong>
\nL1 by\u00a0Pierson Payne<\/a><\/span><\/span> 3\/3\/2012
\nL2 by Jason Reedy<\/a><\/span><\/span> 5\/11\/2013<\/p>\n

Why did you become a judge?<\/strong>
\nWhen I got back into the game with Scars\u00a0of Mirrodin<\/a>, the small store I played in had a newer player base.\u00a0Since I was the only one who understood the stack (from playing MTGO<\/a>\u00a0years before), I became the go-to rules guy. Then the store wanted\u00a0GPTs and well…stuff.<\/p>\n

Occupation:<\/strong> “Everything\/Odd jobs” this makes for decent stories.
\nFavorite card:<\/strong> Elspeth, Knight-Errant<\/a>
\nLeast favorite card:<\/strong> Soul Tithe<\/a>. When spoilers were up, I was so\u00a0happy because I thought it was a Mana Tithe<\/a> reprint.
\nFavorite format:<\/strong> Limited Sealed
\nCommander General:<\/strong> Reaper King<\/a>\/Progenitus<\/a> (same deck, just got the\u00a0Russian Progenitus<\/a> and haven’t made the switch)
\nFavorite non-Magic Game:<\/strong> Morrowind<\/a>\/Skyrim<\/a>
\nBest tournament result:<\/strong> 3-4 at a PTQ
\nRandom fact about yourself:<\/strong> I have a goat foot and I poke people with it.<\/p>\n

\"rsz_imag0689\"<\/p>\n

How did you get involved in Magic in the first place?<\/strong>
\nGoing\u00a0to middle\/high school, I had a friend on the bus and he had me keep\u00a0his cards because his parents didn’t care for the game (the classic\u00a0It's demonic!<\/a> bit). Finally I broke down and learned the game.<\/p>\n

How has being a judge influenced your non-Magic life?<\/strong>
\nYou\u00a0mean besides the busy weekends, countless friends, and meeting my\u00a0girlfriend (hi Marcie<\/a><\/span><\/span>!)? It’s forced me to step up into positions I\u00a0never thought I’d find myself (mentoring judges, teaching players, a leader in my community). I’m still my shy and quiet self though I’ve learned when to speak up (both in volume and when it needs to\u00a0be done). Oh and the crisis skills; it’s amazing how many crises are\u00a0in a card game…<\/p>\n

You were nominated by Michael F Grimsley<\/a><\/span><\/span> because of \u00a0your awesome skills at being a\u00a0<\/strong>leader and a mentor. How do you see these qualities<\/strong> relating to building a solid training process for L1 candidates?<\/strong>
\nThe\u00a0biggest thing is it goes past the L1 test and I feel that’s the\u00a0program’s biggest weakness<\/a> at the moment. We have “how to become a\u00a0L1” and “how to become a L2 (with new updated requirements<\/a>)” but not\u00a0much in my experience on “how to be a better L1 (or even just\u00a0“judge”).” When I tested for L1, Pierson<\/a><\/span><\/span> quit judging like three\u00a0weeks out. And the only other judge I knew at the time decided to\u00a0take some time off from judging. I didn’t meet another judge until\u00a0October for States and I knew nothing about the online community<\/a>. So\u00a0for me, continuing to mentor and help my judglings (and those I’ve\u00a0adopted) is key to making them better. It takes being at an event to\u00a0give decent feedback<\/a> instead of just hearing about it after the fact.\u00a0It takes answering those weird draft questions over the phone at two\u00a0in the morning. To bring it back to L1 candidates, it\u00a0 truly does\u00a0take working at least a couple events before knowing the person well\u00a0enough to see if they’ve got what it takes and that’s the perfect\u00a0opportunity<\/a> to show<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0them that there’s at least one person that cares about them doing well (plus it’s a bonus that they’re close instead of being hours away like a RC might be or the L2 from a GP who tested them).<\/p>\n

What motivates you to continue being a judge?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_134800270683422\"<\/p>\n

Hearing that\u00a0one player say “this event was better than the last one” or something like that.\u00a0In the very end, it’s all about players’ happiness. On an almost\u00a0equal point, continuing to help my local judges get better as both\u00a0judges and people in general (not saying they’re bad people to start\u00a0with…but “do better” is always a good goal to set).<\/p>\n


\nWhat is one tip you have for other judges?<\/strong>
\nFeedback<\/a>. I know\u00a0everyone is pushing for written reviews<\/a> and my RC Justin Turner<\/a><\/span><\/span> is\u00a0doing a blog<\/a> now on not just face to face feedback but all types of feedback.\u00a0Give it, listen to it, use it, do better. Don’t be afraid to tell\u00a0another judge “this was awkward” or “this was bad” (but give the\u00a0details too!). We’re each one brain but together we’re 5000+ brains;\u00a0someone will see or think of something you didn’t (or vice versa); use\u00a0it.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the best part about your local Magic community?<\/strong>
\nAll\u00a0the different personalities, locations, and desires. Yeah, it can\u00a0be a headache (or a nightmare<\/a> sometimes) but it’s also so interesting to\u00a0watch these people come together.<\/p>\n

What is your favorite non-M<\/strong>agic hobby?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reading. It used to\u00a0be Star Wars games but judging has taken my free time…that X-Wing game<\/a> though is rather pretty….<\/p>\n

\"ok_1407255119679\"<\/p>\n

What is your favorite non-judging moment that happened with<\/strong> other judges?<\/strong>
\nNo one favorite event, but it seems that after local\u00a0event wrap ups, we end up spending at least three hours in the parking\u00a0lot “getting ready to leave after this one story.”<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the biggest rule-breaking play you’ve ever made as a\u00a0<\/strong>player?<\/strong>
\nIt wasn’t rules-breaking per se because I never let it happen\u00a0but years ago I was in the finals with a really good friend. I had\u00a0been drawing nothing but land in a mono blue deck so I just held them.\u00a0I’m at three life and he goes “Lightning bolt?” to which I respond\u00a0with “Pay two life and redirect it to your Spellskite<\/a>” with the only\u00a0time in my life I didn’t crack a smile when lying.\u00a0 I see him thinking\u00a0“You…you can do that?” It was a full 30 seconds before I smelled\u00a0the smoke and offered the handshake.
\n
\nWhat has been your favorite Magic event that you’ve judged?<\/strong>
\nThe next one! ;-P The only one that’s really sticking out is my first\u00a0SCG Open which was in DC and that’s because we were floor team and at\u00a0the end of one of the middle rounds, I went to get a table and Jeff\u00a0Darran<\/a><\/span><\/span> was in charge of it. Each judge in front of me got one table;\u00a0on my turn Jeff<\/a><\/span><\/span> gave me three I believe while his partner helping was\u00a0like “He’s a new L1, really?” and Jeff answered with “Truitt<\/a><\/span><\/span> can\u00a0handle it.” I think that was the confidence boost that got me where I\u00a0am now…<\/p>\n

If you could chat with one person, real or fictional, dead or\u00a0<\/strong>alive, who would it be and why?
\n<\/strong>Fyodor Dostoyevsky<\/a>. Besides the\u00a0whole favorite author thing, his ability to get into the human\u00a0condition is amazing and to learn from that would be epic.<\/p>\n

What would you be doing now if Magic no longer existed?<\/strong>
\nI\u00a0really don’t know. So many steps have lead me to this point that I’d\u00a0just assume if the game stopped tomorrow, the next adventure would be\u00a0there waiting for me to grab it.<\/p>\n

What is the strangest card interaction you have seen in a\u00a0<\/strong>tournament?<\/strong>
\nIt was a side event Commander game. One player had\u00a0Timesifter<\/a> out and someone else played Time Stretch<\/a> and wanted me to\u00a0figure out the turns for them. It’s the one time I’ve walked away\u00a0from a question without giving a decent answer.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_540871872140044\"<\/a>
“I bought my goat foot at an auction and it just amuses me”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How do you have fun during events?<\/strong>
\nJudging. It is quite\u00a0fun…but beyond that, I’ll usually start doing some weird and small dance just to stay active in the later rounds.<\/p>\n

If you were a Planeswalker what would be your ultimate?<\/strong>
\n“Put\u00a0an ‘Elspeth, Knight-Errant<\/a>‘ Planeswalker token into play.” Granted,\u00a0that might be better as my +1…(along with “Ignore the Planeswalker\u00a0uniqueness rule”).<\/p>\n

<\/em>Proudest moment of your judge life?<\/strong>
\nHaving judges on my\u00a0team\/event tell me afterward that they appreciated the time I took with them after the event\/near the end with giving them feedback and\u00a0making sure they were taken care of. I <3 my judglings (and full\u00a0grown judges).<\/p>\n

What character in Magic represents you the\u00a0<\/strong>best, and why?<\/strong>
\n

<\/p><\/p>\n

Elspeth<\/a> (notice any trend here?). I’ve always seen\u00a0her character as asexual (the Daxos<\/a> romance is not cannon; Xenagos<\/a>\u00a0displayed the ability to control minds and I blame the whole\u00a0“relationship” on that) and her desire to just find some place where\u00a0she can live happily and in peace speaks volumes to me. Oh and the\u00a0whole running away when things hit the fan…<\/p>\n

Is there anything else you\u2019d like to add?<\/strong>
\nJudging is a hobby\u00a0for a game, yeah but in the end, It’s about doing the best you can and then doing better. It’s about becoming a better person for it and at larger events, it’s about doing the best you can for those who\u00a0didn’t get on staff. Always do better.<\/p>\n

Two Truths and a Lie<\/strong>
\nTwo of the following statements are true and one is false. Figure out which!<\/p>\n

1.- I can speak (all very rusty though) Spanish, German, and Russian.
\n2.- As a Star Wars<\/a> fan, I enjoy the Prequel movies.
\n3.- I believe a Russian Elspeth Tirel<\/a> does not exist (as it’s the only Russian PW I’m missing).<\/p>\n

[expand title=”The answer to the last Two Truths and a Lie…”]Seacat’s favorite character is not Rafiki<\/a>! Obviously it’s\u00a0Bucky the Squirrel<\/a>![\/expand]<\/p>\n

Many thanks for those awesome judge moments, David.<\/p>\n

For all the other judges, keep on sending more judge stories, we appreciate being able to give recognition to judges all over the world, nominate a judge today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hello there judges! This week our interview team made a stop in South Carolina to catch this judge who has really impressed us with his community work. He is a devoted Elspeth and Star Wars fan with an excellent sense of humor and more than one odd story under his belt. Don’t miss this interview […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"language":[],"class_list":["post-3581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-judge-of-the-week"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/78"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3581"}],"version-history":[{"count":67,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4061,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3581\/revisions\/4061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3581"},{"taxonomy":"language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/language?post=3581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}