The IPG
The IPG has 3 big categories. What category upgrades with the third offense and could be described as ~“Players have a problem, but are still basically playing Magic.”
What is Game Play Error?
My team lead came to me to show me a match slip, which had a penalty I had given out the round before. With just a glance at this penalty description, they knew I had messed up, because I gave this - and only this - infraction.
What is Failure to Maintain Game State?
Player Alex arrives at their table 4 minutes late. This is something that could determine whether Alex gets a game loss or not.
Did Alex speak with a judge?
These two sections of the IPG most directly address deckcheck things.
What are Deck Problem and Decklist Problem?
This used to be a little loosey-goosey, but is now codified in Tardiness as amount of time someone can be late without getting a game loss.
What is One Minute?
The IPG has 3 big categories. This category upgrades with the second offense and could be described as ~“Players have a problem, outside the scope of normal gameplay.”
What is a Tournament Error?
A player asked me if they could pause their match to go to the bathroom, and I said Yeah, Of Course. The player came back 17 minutes later and was very upset to learn they were getting a match loss. This is something I should have mentioned to avoid this awkwardness.
What is "you have up to ten minutes."
You are judging at an RC, on the late shift. You drop your things in the judge room and head into the main hall to get your bearings when you are interrupted by a match. The players tell you that they're just beginning the match. AP's first turn was Forest, Go, and NAP was about to draw when they realized they never put a card on the bottom after muliganing.
What is the REL of this event / What event is this?
If a player has presented a deck of 58 cards and left 17 cards in their deckbox when decks are collected for a deckcheck, they will likely receive this infraction.
What is Deck Problem?
These are the three big categories of infractions in the IPG.
What are Game Play Errors, Tournament Errors, and Unsporting Conduct?
When a player isn’t involved in the game going astray, but they could+should have stopped it, they may receive this penalty.
What is Failure To Maintain Game State?
I gave a ruling at a match and a player wished to appeal. I got another judge to sit on the match, went and got a Head Judge, briefed them on the situation, and they agreed with my decision. I knew how long it had been since I took the call. However, I forgot one important thing, which ended up turning this call into a disaster.
What is - forgot the table number?
During a deckcheck at an RCQ, a player is found to have an extra card stored with their sideboard.
What was the card / was the card the promo?
If a player has extra cards stored in their deckbox that are found in a deckcheck, what might they have done that would get them out of a penalty?
What is presented their sideboard?
There are five Partial Fixes in Game Rule Violation. What are three of them?
What are untap permanents, illegal choice for static ability, didn't draw/discard, wrong zone, (fake) damage assignment order
Hatebears, Narset/Karn, and Blood Moon are examples of cards that could lead to this infraction being given to both players.
What is Game Rule Violation?
When HJing a Lorcana side event at a large con with many games, a player had marked cards and needed to be given some ink-only cards (in Magic terms, turning some marked cards into basics). I grabbed several Swamps from the land box and got the player playing Lorcana again. This was the big thing I didn't think of.
What is ~Don't cross the beams!
Players miscommunicate, and NAP starts their turn when AP was not actually finished with their turn. When you arrive at the table, you see NAP is holding five cards in their left hand, and one card in their right.
What is, did the card join the hand?
During a round 5 deckcheck, a player is found to be playing 4 Misty Rainforest, but their decklist says 2 Misty Rainforest 2 Scalding Tarn. This would tell us whether this is a Deck Problem or a Decklist Problem.
What is: the player's intent at the start of the event?
AP casts a Thoughtseize, targeting NAP, then uses a Mishra's Bauble to see the top card of AP's library. They pass the turn. NAP's sleeves stick together and they accidentally draw two cards. This is the appropriate infraction, penalty, and fix.
What is Hidden Card Error, Warning, shuffle away the one unknown card.
These are two possible reasons an error that at first appears to be Hidden Card Error might not be.
What is some combination of
Card was seen but not added to the set
Opponent acknowledges the action
Opponent controls the continuous effect modifying the game rule that made the action illegal
Card identity was known
AP controls a Grafdigger's Cage, and NAP controls an Abhorrent Occulus. What happens as AP begins their upkeep? (Reminder for BGD show cards).
What is: AP mills two cards?
A player in your event is found to have multiple fake cards. They say they did not know they were fake. What are Two other things you might think to ask?
Where did they get the cards?
How long have they been playing?
There are three upgrades to Deck Problem. This is a good explanation of all three of them. (Don't give me a summary - explain all three individual upgrades)
What is (lots of words)?
While not technically a partial fix as laid out in GRV, this fix from the Missed Trigger section, sure feels like a partial fix.
What is: if the triggered ability is an Enters trigger of an Aura that affects only the enchanted permanent, resolve the ability immediately.