![\"Patrik](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/10\/11088977_10153222427266613_1366871956_n.jpg\")
Name:<\/strong>\u00a0Thomas “Patrik” Fridland<\/a>\nLevel:<\/strong> 2
\nLocation:<\/strong> Malm\u00f6, Sk\u00e5ne, Sweden
\nJudge start date:<\/strong> L1 –\u00a0 2014-11-6; L2 – 2016-09-11
\nWhy did you become a\u00a0Judge?\u00a0<\/strong>It sort of just happened. When I had a relapse to Magic during Theros. I had been very involved in miniature wargaming for a few years and I wanted a card game back in my life, basically I wanted to be able to bring a game with me in my pockets, so I picked up a LCC but I didn’t have a draft system. And Theros had just came out and Greek mythology has always been something I loved as a kid. So I was just to do a few drafts for fun and nothing more… and the judge was Mikael Ristovski<\/a>
\nOccupation:<\/strong> In between jobs
\nFavourite card:<\/strong>\u00a0Hymn to Tourach<\/a>
\nLeast favourite card:<\/strong>\u00a0Guerrilla Tactics<\/a>
\nFavourite format:<\/strong> Draft
\nCommander General:<\/strong>\u00a0Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir<\/a>
\nFavourite non-Magic Game:<\/strong> Man \u2018o War<\/a>
\nBest tournament result:<\/strong> I won a Game day.
\nRandom fact about yourself:<\/strong> I have a bronze mermaid in my kitchen window.
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\n<\/span>Tell us your favourite Judge story.
\n<\/strong>My fianc\u00e9e and I have a saying \u201cMan f\u00e5r ha m\u00e5nga b\u00e4sta\u201d, roughly translated to \u201cOne is allowed to have lots of favorites\u201d. And I do have a lot a favorite Judge stories. But if for the sake of the article I had to pick one it would probably be GP Barcelona 2017. I often joke about me getting recruited to the Judge program cause of my vocal skills. I was head judging a side event that was held at a Regular REL.
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And during my player briefing I say with a clear and maybe somewhat loud voice.
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\u201cREGULAR IS ABOUT HAVING FUN! ARE YOU HAVING FUN YET?\u201d
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The players laugh, maybe a bit scared of the very tall Nordic person screaming at them. Then a while later I go online on a popular social media, and apparently my RC was close by and heard it all, and had commented it. I felt proud.<\/p>\n
How did you get involved in Magic in the first place? How has being a Judge influenced your non-Magic life? What motivates you to continue being a Judge? What is one tip you have for other Judges?<\/strong> What is your favourite non-Magic hobby?<\/strong> What\u2019s the biggest rule-breaking play you\u2019ve ever made as a player? What has been your favourite Magic event that you\u2019ve judged?<\/strong> What positive aspects has the Judge Program contributed to your everyday life? If you could chat with one person, real or fictional, dead or alive, who would it be and why? What would you be doing now if Magic no longer existed? How do you have fun during events? If you were a Planeswalker what would be your ultimate? If you were a creature what would be your creature type? What hobbies do you have outside of Magic?<\/strong> Proudest moment of your Judge life?
\n<\/strong>It started pre Ice Age at my cousins kitchen table. Seeing all these awesome fantasy cards really blew my mind as a kid.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>How I approach problems and how I engage with other people.<\/p>\n![\"Patrik's](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/10\/29258103_10156213606131613_1699056716898893824_n.jpg\")
You were nominated for being a cornerstone in the Malm\u00f6 community and for the energy, dedication and enthusiasm you put in this area. Can you tell us more about this?<\/strong>
<\/span>Short story: I care about others.
Long story: I have been an outsider a lot of my life. Not really fitting in. Felt outside and felt worthless. Seeing others, meeting others and building something drives me. I want people to not feel as I have felt. And Magic is really a great gateway to do that.
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I try to better myself always, not always because of the \u201cright\u201d reasons but I still try. Progression is something I strongly believe in and want, stagnation is a poison in my world view. And helping other better themselves and being there for them when they need help makes me feel great. I don\u2019t always succeed, but I try my best and failure is just a part of progression.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>People, it of course is more complicated than that but yes people. We meet so many awesome people when we do this(Judge). With one common factor, a love for a game that we all have a deep connection for, even if our connection is different, the love is still there.
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And on that we have so many that take care of others.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Smile. I often find that when I’m tired, worn out if I pass someone else and I give them a smile I get a smile back. And getting a smile give at least me a huge energy buff.<\/p>\n![\"Patrik](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/10\/17309767_10155079261866613_4856160266594031385_n.jpg\")
What’s the best part about your local community?
\n<\/strong>Passion and friendship. I\u2019m now a senior Judge locally and I have seen new members come in with such great passion and energy that drive me to even further try to better myself. I also made some close friends.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Right now pretty much all my hobbies except Magic is on the shelf since a few months when I became a father.
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But when I have the time I love to paint miniatures. Preferably historical stuff.<\/p>\n
\nWhat is your favourite non-judging moment that happened with other Judges?<\/strong>
<\/span>Ice-cream meet-up in Malm\u00f6 after GP Copenhagen this year. I had just become a father and I was not able to Judge that GP. So meeting my friends from around Europe in my hometown having Ice-cream was nice.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>I\u2019m a very distracted player, so special with newer spells I have a tendency to not fully read the card\u2026 so yeah sorceries in instant speed and that area is pretty common for me.<\/p>\n
<\/span>My first GP, GP Stockholm 2017. It was magical. So much buzz, so many things going on. On that I passed my L2 test, which was a stepping stone for me.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Making me feel good. Making me feel like I matter. I ,as so many others, struggle with depression and a low self-esteem. The Judge program helps me and I hope it helps others to feel important, a part of something larger than themselves. But mostly we are often really great at making other feel important, and I\u2019m very grateful for that.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>I really want to sit down and have a long conversation with Bo Hejlskov Elv\u00e9n about pedagogy, treatment of others.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>I don\u2019t know. To be honest. I have been playing on and off since I was 10ish and today I’m 34.
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What is the strangest card interaction you have seen in a tournament?<\/strong>
<\/span>All interactions with Chains of Mephistopheles<\/a>. It\u2019s always DEEP BREATH, one step at a time. Let’s do this slowly. We can do this. NOOO we messed up!<\/p>\n![\"Patrik](\"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/jotw\/files\/2018\/10\/41793817_10215245015412878_3684879990605742080_n.jpg\")
What is your favorite \u201cafter event\u201d story?
\n<\/strong>Probably GP Barcelona 2017. But I need to start from the beginning.
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My fianc\u00e9e and I went to Barcelona a few days prior to the GP to do some sight-seeing, have great food and good drinks. She went home Friday the same day the GP started. Which meant I had a large bed to myself. So I asked a Judge friend if he wanted to share it. As it would not cost me more and he could stay there for free. And during Sunday staff party he went back to the room before me. A few details here. We only had one key, there was no lobby (basically an AirBnB) He is supposed to put the phone on sound and so\u2026 well\u2026 he forgot to put on the WiFi…which ended with me standing outside for a few hours. I was not happy at the time. Now it\u2019s just a great war story. Lucky for me Barcelona is awesome.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Talk to people. Judges, players, bystanders an so on. I find people to be the main reason I do what I do. And there are so many great stories.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Take Two \u00a0extra turns after this one.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Ogre.<\/p>\n
<\/span>Miniature games has been a large part of my life even if not as much these days as I did in the past.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Being apart of the charity events we have done in Malm\u00f6. Bring awareness to a cause that I care about with the help of Magic was just amazing. And seeing staff and players raise to the occasion.<\/p>\n