From: delaval@gmail.com ("Mg" de Laval) Newsgroups: Standalone document, affliated with rec.games.board Subject: MTG: Wizards' Tournament Ddate: 22nd day of The Aftermath YOLD 3183 NNTP-Posting-Host: ftpcluster.loopia.se via n00bcon.com Sec2/5: @n00bcon.com; type 'orb' Posting-Software: gFTP 2.0.19 Organization: Team 0-2 Drop. Train People. Oslo Crew. Take your pick. Lines: 477 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + /\/\ __ _ __ _(_) ___ + + / \ / _` |/ _` | |/ __| + + / /\/\ \ (_| | (_| | | (__ + + \/ \/\__,_|\__, |_|\___| + + The Gathering|___/ + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE WIZARDS' TOURNAMENT I GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN "Worzel felt the telltale prickling at the back of her neck; her domain was being challenged! It's someone old, she thought. Someone I know. Thomil! It had been a long time since he had challenged her. Quickly, she called her vassals into action. She would need much mana for this duel, much indeed." ##################### # 1. INTRODUCTION # ##################### You are a planeswalker. A powerful wizard with the ability to craft the magic of the lands. And now is the time to test your strenght. Will the white wizard of the plains stand up to the dreaded quagmires of black sorcery? Can the cunning water mages of the islands defeat the Goblins in the fiery mountains? Only one wizard will be left standing after the THE WIZARDS' TOURNAMENT. Chose your arcane weapons well. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Tournament information 3. Deck Construction rules 4. Floor rules 5. Game rule clarifications 6. Specific Card Clarifications ############################### # 2. TOURNAMENT INFORMATION # ############################### ,;~;, /\_ ( / (() //) | \\ ,,;;'\ __ _( )m=(((((((((((((================-------- /' ' '()/~' '.(, | ,;( )|| | ~ ,;' \ /-(.;, ) ) / ) / // || )_\ )_\ WHAT: THE WIZARDS' TOURNAMENT is a competition in the Deckmaster Magic: The Gathering game. With over 300 different beautifully illustrated cards to chose from and a strategic depth unlike any card game, it has smitten a growing legion of savy spell slingers across the globe. WHY: In addition to glory, the master wizard will recieve a mysterious artifact of Dominia. Beautifully hand crafted, this unique piece of Magic lore will surely be a piece of pride in any collection. WHEN: March 29. Preliminary starting time 17:00. WHERE: We plan to host THE WIZARDS' TOURNAMENT at Rotary Pub in Gothenburg, but reserve the right to change the venue to an adjacent pub if needed. Any change in venue will be disclosed well in advance of the THE WIZARDS' TOURNAMENT. WHO: THE WIZARDS' TOURNAMENT is open to all skilled invokers who want to test their decks against the best. It is assumed that all participants are well versed in the rules of Magic, and have read this document in full to have a proper understanding of Magic tournament rules. ################################ # 3. DECK CONSTRUCTION RULES # ################################ _.--._ _.--._ ,-=.-":;:;:;\':;:;:;"-._ \\\:;:;:;:;:;\:;:;:;:;:;\ \\\:;:;:;:;:;\:;:;:;:;:;\ \\\:;:;:;:;:;\:;:;:;:;:;\ \\\:;:;:;:;:;\:;::;:;:;:\ \\\;:;::;:;:;\:;:;:;::;:\ \\\;;:;:_:--:\:_:--:_;:;\ \\\_.-" : "-._\ \`_..--""--.;.--""--.._=> " 3.1. As per floor rule 4.4, "fake ante" will be enforced in the tournament. Hence, any cards that state "Remove this card from your deck before playing if you are not playing for ante" must be removed from the deck before the tournament. 3.2. A second batch of Magic: The Gathering has more recently been released by Deckmaster. This printing has far sharper edges, and can hence easily be distinguised from cards in the original printing. If anyone has gotten their hands on cards from this batch, these cards ARE NOT ALLOWED to be played. Only cards with the original corners will be allowed in this tournament to avoid any chance of eagle-eyed players getting an unfair advantage. 3.3. Some collectors have expressed concern over detoriating conditions on their cards after multiple duels. To adress this concern, players are allowed to protect their cards using baseball card sleeves on all the cards in their deck before shuffling up. If a player opts to use sleeves, it is highly recommended to use the "penny sleeve" version, as the top loader sleeve greatly inhibits shuffling the deck. #################### # 4. FLOOR RULES # #################### /||| /\ |||\ ||| | | ||| \||___--_______________| |_______________--___||/ "| |" /|\---______________--| |--______________---/|\ / | \ | | / | \ / | \ | | / | \ / | \ | | / | \ / | \ \ / / | \ / | \ \ / / | \ / | \ || / | \ / | \ / \ / | \ / | \ | | / | \ ------------------------- | | --------------------------- \_____________________/ .| |. \______________________/ | | | | \ / | | | | __| |__ ___---------- ----------___ |____________________________________| 4.1. This tournament will use a SWISS system to determine the players proceeding to the elimination rounds. The swiss portion pits players with the same winning record against each other until a group qualifying for the ladder bracket has been determined. The number of rounds in the swiss portion will be log_2(X)+1 rounded down to the nearest whole number, where X is the number of players (e.g. log_2(13)=3.7, +1 is 4.7, which rounds to 4, so 13 players will play 4 rounds, 16 players will of course play 5, etc). The elimiation rounds will then use a standard ladder bracket with an even factor of two players (4, 8, etc) using single elemination rules. 4.2. The tournament will be presided over by a Referee. The Referee may be required to interpret rules, to terminate an excessively long match, to interpret a Declaration of Forfeiture, or make any other adjudication as necessary during the tournament. The Referee is also responsible for maintaining the swiss and ladder charts, and only the Referee is permitted to write on the chart (e.g. listing advancing players on the bracket). 4.3. A duel is one complete game of Magic. A match is defined as the best two out of three duels for standard rounds, and the best three out of five duels for the final round of the tournament. A player may get 1 point in the tournament swiss portion after successfully winning one match, and reporting this victory to the Referee. In the elimination rounds, a player that successfully wins a match is advanced one step in the ladder bracket. 4.4. Players must use the same deck they begin the tournament with throughout the duration of the tournament. To avoid any deck metamorphosis during the course tournament, "fake ante" will be enforced. Players will remove a "fake ante" from their decks prior to dueling, using the same process as for real ante. Additionally any cards that require the either player to pay Ante also have to be removed from the decks before playing. "Fake ante" is not claimed by the winner; instead it is returned to the owner's deck at the conclusion of the duel. Players may ante additional cards or items from outside their decks in a "real ante" providing that both participants in the match give their consent. 4.5. Players may not have any outside assistance (i.e. coaching) during a match. Players in violation will receive one warning; any further infractions will be interpreted by the Referee as a Declaration of Forfeiture. 4.6. Failure to adhere to the above rules, or the general rules of Magic, or any indication of attempting to recieve a victory by any means other than playing a game of Magic, will be interpreted by the Referee as a Declaration of Forfeiture. ################################# # 5. GAME RULE CLARIFICATIONS # ################################# . | , \ _---_ / -_ .' `. _- __ : .---. : __ : \ / : -" `. | | .' "- / |`-'| \ ' ]"-_[ ` ]"-_[ "*" 5.1. Forced tapping Cards like Twiddle and the Ice Manipulator lets you tap any card on either territory. These cards will simply "shut down" the card tapped, prohibiting use until untapped. Tapping a card you don't control wont generate an effect at any time. Example: You use Ice Manipulator to tap Elves controlled by opponent during his or her attack phase. This does not make the Elves attack (nor generate mana for either player), but rather shuts them down until it's owners next untap cycle. This means that the Elves can't attack, block, or generate mana until untapped. 5.2 Enchantments Enchantments can broadly be divided into two subtypes: local enchantments and global enchantments. Local enchantments can be placed on any card in play that shares a type with the enchantment. Global enchantments are the cards that simply read "Enchantment" on the type line, and unlike local enchantments they can only be placed on your side. If a global enchantment affects only one player, you have to chose yourself unless it explicitly states otherwise. Example 1: Flight is a local enchantment with "Enchant Creature" that turns a creature into a flying creature. You may place Flight on any summon or artifact creature in play, regardless of owner. You are still considered to own Flight even if you place it on an opposing creature. Example 2: Crusade is a Global Enchantment giving all white creatures a +1/+1 bonus. As this doesn't say anything about players, this affects all white creature in play, regardless of owner. You are still considered to be the sole owner of Crusade even if it affects creatures on both sides. Example 3: Lich is a global Enchantment that turns a player into a zombie that discards cards in play when suffering damage. If you cast Lich, you have to chose it to affect yourself, you are not allowed to play it on the opponent's territory to turn him or her into a zombie. Lich may still be benefitial to caster as zombie is immune to normal life loss and may generate additional card draws. 5.3 Upkeep payments Some cards require you to pay an upkeep cost. Upkeep costs containing colored mana is usually written using capital letters representing the colors of mana. Any card requiering upkeep maintenance cannot be used in a turn until after the upkeep cost has been satisfied. Example: Demonic Hordes has the ability to tap to destroy one land as a fast effect. The Demons also require a payment of "BBB" each turn lest they turn on their summoner. "BBB" means "Three black mana from you mana pool", B being shorthand for Black. You cannot use the fast effect of the Demons before you have payed tribute with black mana each turn. 5.4 Special costs In the card text, a mana symbol preceding an effect should be read as "For each (mana) spent...". You can spend as many mana as you want in this way, unless the special cost includes tapping the card. Remeber that mana enhanced power or thoughness on creatures only last for the remainder of the turn. Example 1: You can pay two generic mana to Circle of Protection: Blue to prevent the damage from two different blue creatures during a single a attack. Example 2: Celestial Prism is a mono artifact that reads "2: Provides 1 mana of any color. This use can be played as an interrupt". You may not pay four generic mana to provide two mana of any color, as the Prism is a mono artifact and taps as a part of use. 5.5 Timing Timing spells is usually pretty easy, but occasionally multiple fast effects will try to affect a card at once. If that happens, the player who created the last effect decides in what order the effects are applied. If one or more of the effects is played with the speed of an interrupt, the other effects will be reviewed after all interrups have done their job. Example 1: You active Dwarven Soldiers ability to make your 0/1 Froze Shade unblockable this turn. The opponent responds by casting a Lightning Bolt to kill the Shade. You then active the Shade's +1/+1 ability three times to help it survive the Bolt. As you created the last effect, you get to decide in which order they will apply. The best outcome here would hence be for you to chose to first make the Dwarven Soldier ability apply, then the three +1/+1 abilities, and finally the Lightning Bolt, to make your Shade survive as a 3/4 unblockable until the end of the turn. Example 2: You want to deal one damage to the opponent using your Prodical Sorcerer's tap ability. Your opponent responds by casting Red Elemental Blast on the Sorcerer. As the Elemental Blast is an interrupt, the Sorcerer will die before it gets the chance to zap the opponent and the effect will fizzle. ################################### # 6. SPECIFIC CARD CLARIFICATIONS # ################################### o O /`-.__ / \·'^| o T l * _|-..-|_ O (^ '----' `) `\-....-/^ O o ) "/ " ( _( (-) )_ O /\ ) ( /\ / \( ) | \ o o \) ( / \ / |( )| \ / o \ \( / \ __.--' O \_ / .._ \ //|)\ , (_) /(((\^)'\ | | O ) ` | | / o___ / / / _.-''^^__O_^^''-._ / .' / -''^^ ^^''- \--'^ .' .`. `'''----'''^ .`. \ .' / `'--..____..--'^ \ \ / _.-/ \ \ .::'_/^ | | `. .-'| | `-. _.--'` \ / `-. / \ / `-._ `'---..__ `. .´_.._ __ \ ``'''`. .' `'^ `''---'^ `-..______..-' *************** * 6.1 Balance * *************** Creatures with protection from white are not affected by Balances destruction abilities, but you still have to count them when assessing the fairness of the game state. Example: Opponent has one creature in play, you have a Sengir Vampire and a Black Knight (immune to white magic). This still counts as you having one more creature than the opponent, and you'll have to discard the Vampire. If opponent has zero creatures in play, you of course also have to discard the Vampire, but still get to keep the Black Knight. *************** * 6.2 Channel * *************** You will permanently lose any life converted to mana; the "is not considered damage" text simply clarifies that you can't avoid the payment of life using a Circle of Protection or similar to prevent it. Your life total will still change. You cannot pay more life than you currently possess. ********************** * 6.3 Cyclopean Tomb * ********************** This is a very strange Artifact, similarily to Jade Statue in uniqueness. Cyclopean Tomb is the only non-land card without mana cost, which is not the same as having a zero mana cost. Cyclopean Tomb is not considered a land (in the same manner as Jade Statue is not considered a summon), but you may not play any land cards the turn you play the Tomb. Tomb can be countered like a normal Mono Artifact when played. **UPDATE 9/30**: Cyclopean Tomb has recieved official Deckmaster errata. It is to be played as having a mana cost of four generic mana, with no constraint on playing lands the turn you play it. ************************** * 6.4 Disrupting Scepter * ************************** Opponent may chose which card he or she wishes to discard to the scepter. Note that the card may be discarded from hand rather than from play if desired. ************ * 6.5 Fork * ************ Fork looks easy to understand, but occasionally it will create some timing issues if the opponent has fast effects available. Rather than simply considering Fork as doubbling the effect of an instant or sorcery, it should be seen as a sort of Clone for spells. The Fork becomes a additional instance of the card played. The only difference between playing two Unsummon spells and playing one Unsummon and Forking it is that the second Unsummon will be red and is played with the speed of an Interrupt. ******************* * 6.6 Goblin King * ******************* Goblin King is considered to have two affiliations, he is both a 'Goblin' and a 'King'. As one of the Goblins, he is affected by cards like Goblin Balloon Brigade and (perhaps most significantly) himself. ************************ * 6.7 Illusionary Mask * ************************ Illusionary Mask can create som tricky situations for the opponent. If the mask makes the opponent make an illegal play or an illegal block, the spell or block will fizzle. A spell that fizzles will be placed in owner's graveyard. At end of game, you have to show what cards you hid under the mask to verify that you didn't make illegal plays. Example: You cast Juggernaut (a 5/3 Artifact Creature for (4) that must attack each turn) paying (2)(U)(U)(R) into the mask to hide what it is. Opponent cast Spell Blast with X=5, trying to counter it. As Juggernaut in fact has total mana cost 4, Spell Blast will fizzle and be placed in opponents graveyard without effect. If opponent then tries to destroy the hidden Juggernaut with Terror, Terror will also fizzle as it can't target Artifact Creatures. If you forget to attack with Juggernaut during your turn (when opponent still can't see it and have no chance of reminding you), the Referee will interpret that as a Declaration of Forfiture. *************************** * 6.8 Red Elemental Blast * *************************** This card was accidentally printed with the wrong type. It should be played as an interrupt rather than an instant. **************** * 6.9 Unsummon * **************** Unsummon should be read "Return creature to owner’s hand, enchantments on creature are discarded. Unsummon cannot be played during the damage-dealing phase of an attack." ************** * 6.10 Wards * ************** Protection granted by wards doesn't affect the wards themselves. E.g. if a creature in play is enchanted by White Ward, the protection from white magic doesn't remove the ward, neither is a Blue Ward turned blue by e.g. Thoughlace discarded from play.