{"id":1065,"date":"2016-05-25T11:52:41","date_gmt":"2016-05-25T11:52:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/reports\/?p=1065"},"modified":"2016-05-25T11:53:11","modified_gmt":"2016-05-25T11:53:11","slug":"the-shadows-over-innistrad-experience-a-pptq-report-from-2016-04-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.magicjudges.org\/reports\/2016\/05\/25\/the-shadows-over-innistrad-experience-a-pptq-report-from-2016-04-17\/","title":{"rendered":"The Shadows Over Innistrad Experience – A PPTQ Report from 2016-04-17"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"John<\/a>

John White, Level 1, Arlington, Texas, United States<\/p><\/div>\n

It was a dark and stormy night. Rain pelted the roof as I peacefully slept.<\/p>\n

BOOM!<\/p>\n

Startled Awake<\/a>, I jolted upright and frantically searched for my watch, knocking stuff off the side table. Was I late?<\/p>\n

No. It was 7:30 and the tournament wouldn’t start until 11:00. I wrestled with my Inner Struggle<\/a> of going back to sleep or getting up. Noises coming from the window urged me out of bed, but it was Just the Wind<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I stumbled into the bathroom and a Crawling Sensation<\/a> came over me. A shadowy figure moved across the room, amber eyes pierced me from the darkness.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet off the counter, Pikabu.\u201d I swatted our black cat from her perch, laughing about how well the kitten who was too scared to do more than peek over the edge of the box we’d brought her home in, now had a knack for scaring people. She was Always Watching<\/a> from the shadows.<\/p>\n

After getting ready, I headed out into the Biting Rain<\/a>. In the shelter of my car, I adjusted my mirrors. A Creeping Dread<\/a> rolled over me. I only had the name of a store in a neighboring city. I had no clue exactly where it was. After a quick online search, I plugged the address into Waze, ready to Confront the Unknown<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>As I made my way out of my neighborhood, I noticed a car tailing me. I took the less traveled way at the Fork in the Road<\/a>. The car followed. Worried, I sped up, merging onto the slick highway. Staying in the slowest lane, I let the other drivers speed by me. I checked my rear view mirror once and couldn’t spot the other driver. Suddenly, brake lights lit up across the road. Everyone slammed on their brakes approaching a treacherous curve. My heart racing, I managed to keep my car in the lane. Traffic stopped. Slowly we single-filed past a fire truck blocking two lanes. In its shadow lay the remnants of a Runaway Carriage<\/a>. A Shard of Broken Glass<\/a> seemed to show a Crow of Dark Tidings<\/a>, so I cautiously made my way to the store.<\/p>\n

Just after 10:00 am, I arrived. Spotting a car matching the one I’d thought was following me in the parking lot, a Dead Weight<\/a> settled into my stomach. Through the Insidious Mist<\/a>, I saw the head judge, Jason Daniels<\/a><\/span><\/span>, inside the front window, the unmistakable color of blood all over the wall behind him.<\/p>\n

I cautiously approached the entrance, worried my Elusive Tormentor<\/a> might be waiting in the shadows. The door creaked as I opened it. Quickly, I scanned the room spotting the owner at the counter.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi, Rob. I like the red walls. Very fitting for Crimson Hobbies.\u201d<\/p>\n

At nearby tables players were already settling in. I knew most of them, but none of them drove the mysterious car. After chatting with the Indulgent Aristocrat<\/a> for a minute, I greeted Jason and we had a brief meeting Behind the Scenes<\/a> about how he wanted the tournament to go. He wanted me on the floor so the appeal process would be maintained whenever possible. We discussed deck checks and Jason was ecstatic I already knew the Polish deck check method.<\/p>\n

At 11:00, we began and a quick player meeting ensued. As I collected and counted the decklists, Triskaidekaphobia<\/a> gripped me. Jason explained to the players with Fevered Visions<\/a> of victory that their fate would be decided after just five rounds of Swiss. The bottom nine would be cut away with the precision of a Murderer’s Axe<\/a> and only four would continue. The last three would be eliminated over the final two rounds. Only one player would be allowed to leave\u2026 with the RPTQ slot.<\/p>\n

<\/p>The tournament began and I took my place as the Silent Observer<\/a>. I saw Eldrazi sending things to exile, werewolves transforming, and fire burning and doubling through a pair of goggles. I even saw an angel save her flock, then murder them all after one was killed! Despite all of that, the Bant Company dominated the scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cJudge!\u201d<\/p>\n

The calls trickled in through the rounds, mostly rules questions.
<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

If Player A has to discard to hand size during the cleanup step, can she use the Madness ability of the card?<\/p>\n

Yes. Whenever a card with Madness would be discarded, regardless of the reason, it will be discarded and placed into exile, where the owner will have the opportunity to cast the spell for its Madness cost. If she doesn’t, it will be placed into her graveyard.<\/p>\n

**<\/p>\n

In the scenario above, does that count as a spell cast during the turn for the werewolf transform abilities?<\/p>\n

Yes. The cleanup step is the final step of the end phase of each player’s turn, therefore it is still that player’s turn and will count as a spell played during that turn.<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

If two creatures fight, does lifelink still cause the creature’s controller to gain life?<\/p>\n

Yes. Lifelink happens whenever the creature deals damage, no matter the circumstance.<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

<\/p>If I have two Sylvan Advocate<\/a>s and six lands, do they pump each other?<\/p>\n

No. When a creature uses its name in the text box, it should be treated as though it says \u201cthis creature.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

Player A moves to combat and Player N responds by tapping a potential attacker. Can Player A activate the ability of a land, turning it into a creature, and declare it as an attacker?<\/p>\n

Yes. As long as attackers have not been declared, we are either in the pre-combat main phase or the beginning of combat step (depending on when the tap effect was played). Regardless, both players will receive priority before attackers are declared, so Player A will have the opportunity to activate the ability of his land before declaring attackers.<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

There was also one penalty issued.<\/p>\n

A player drew his opening seven cards and realized he forgot to de-sideboard after his last match. He immediately called me before any game actions were made. This situation allows for a deviation from the TE-D\/DLP penalty of a Game Loss, but only the head judge can authorize the downgrade to a warning with forced mulligan. I quickly involved the head judge and he authorized the downgrade.<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

<\/p>Player N cast Collected Company<\/a> at the end of Player A’s turn, putting a Reflector Mage<\/a> in play. Can Player A re-cast the creature on her next turn?<\/p>\n

Yes. Reflector Mage<\/a> says \u201c\u2026until your next turn\u201d which will begin shortly after Reflector Mage enters the battlefield.
<\/p>\n

\u2014<\/p>\n

There were some initial problems connecting the computer to the TV, but the deft skills of the head judge resolved them while I was on the floor. In the meantime, pairings were printed out and posted next to the TV, so disruption to the event was minimal.<\/p>\n

When pressed about his solution, I believe he said, \u201cI didn’t do anything.\u201d He was probably being modest.<\/p>\n

At the end of five grueling rounds, it was time for the top four to face off. Three of the decks were Bant Company, and a lone RG Ramp deck rounded out the group. Ramp quickly dispatched the first of the Bant challengers but had to wait 40 minutes to find out which of the other Bant decks he would have to face. In the end, it took Ramp only 30 minutes to dispatch his final opponent and earn the right to compete for the right to play in the Pro Tour!<\/p>\n

Jason and I walked out together, \u201cDo you know whose car that is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s my car.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought I saw a car like that following me away from my house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere do you live?\u201d<\/p>\n

He lives just down the street from me!<\/p>\n

Players Meeting: 11:00 – 11:05<\/p>\n