This weekend, I will be HJinh a sealed PPTQ and as we all know the Top8 has to be done in draft format. It is quite shameful to admit that I have never participated in a draft at competitive REL and I'm not sure how I should proceed. I understand how I am to seat players during the draft and after the draft but the details of the draft itself elude me. I know that I have to time the picks but are there any set-in-stone commands I should know to communicate to players that, e.g. the time for picking is up, they should pass pack to the next player, they can now look at the pack etc. etc.

Any information would be helpful, thanks in advance!

Hi
I have to recall from my mind but these should be the commands i used in sequence
Open the pack (cards face down) remove the token
Count 15 cards
Pick up your cards you have xx sec. to choose
(Reminder at 15 and 5 sec)
Draft
Count 14 (x-1) cards to your left/right partner

At the end of booster
Review your picks you have x seconds

Hope these can help

Edited Michael Schöttke (March 25, 2015 04:09:41 PM)

additionally there is an appendix to the MTR here page 43 which gives you all the timings, although I would suggest using any of the judge apps (MTG: Judge Core App for android for example) to help with that.

Edited Christian Genz (March 25, 2015 04:33:56 PM)

Also you don't have to do a timed draft. That is certainly an option, but you can choose not to time it if you feel it's not nessessary.

At an event like a GP, timed drafts are important because you have multiple pods of 8 and you want them to all finish drafting at the same time so they can start building at the same time and only one clock is needed during that build. However only a single pod it probably isn't nessessary (though if you want to get some experience I would certainly encourage you to do it).

Hi Krzysztof,

how do you call a draft it's up to you. There are no “official” commands, but Michaels description is pretty much what you'd hear at a GP.

It's just important to tell the players what commands you're going to use and what you expect them to do on your commands.

I'd recommend you to call a timed draft - it's a good exercice for players and judges. So all of you get used to it and the next time a draft caller is needed you can help out ;)

Just as a reminder: DTK boosters have 14 cards to draft with (remove basic land), FRF boosters have 15 (instead of the basic land you have the 2-color land/fetch land). So be prepaired for that.

In case you use an app (that's what I'd recommend you - it's so much easier): Get used to it before you call your first draft. At the draft you should be familiar with it and know how to pause/continue the app, or how to skip/repeat a pick, etc.
Maybe you can make a test run at a FNM draft?

The two most important things during a draft are imo:
- Players have to keep all the draftet cards in a single face-down pile. Not doing so can cause confusion easely.
- Absolute silence during the draft - for players and spectators. And of course no peeking, no revealing of any information to other players.
Make the players understand the importance of theses two points, and your draft will be fine! ;)

I have a ‘cheat sheet’ from the days before smart phones. I'll send you a copy…

Good luck!
Oliver

Edited Oliver Tremel (March 25, 2015 11:36:01 PM)

Having done a handful of Top 8 drafts in the last 6 months or so I'll tell
you what I have found to work best.

Seat at table and pass out the packs.
Have players open the pack, remove the token and non-foil basic lands from
the packs.
Have players count the pack to confirm total contents.

(Now here is where my practice splits into two different options)

I will usually have asked at the beginning of the draft if there is anyone
who is unfamiliar with drafting procedure or if there is anyone who hasn't
drafted before. Unlikely but possible in the event they lucked into a top8
on a good sealed pool. If everyone is a fairly experienced drafter I will
usually let them zone draft (explained below for those who are
unfamiliar) and just nudge them along with anyone is being slow. Zone
drafting, in my experience, tends to go faster than a called draft if
people know what they are doing. On the other hand if we have newer people
or people who aren't particularly experienced I will tend to call the draft
to make sure that no mix ups happen while passing packs.

Zone drafting-
Explain to the players that while drafting their picks will not be timed
but they need to follow the highlander rule, “there can be only one”. One
pack in front of you to pick from, one pack between you and the next
person. If there is a pack there don't put another pack down and keep
stacking them up. That is what causes mix ups. You let the players draft
at their own pace (with some regard for how long picks are taking) and that
leaves you and your Top8 judges (if you have them) free to observe the
draft and watch for any out of the ordinary behavior instead of being tied
to a stopwatch.


It becomes about what you feel the most comfortable doing with the crowd
that you have. As long as everyone follows procedure properly everyone
should have a good time.

For local events, I usually ask the players if they want a called draft (because they're worried about one of the players being slow? or they want the experience?); if most do, then I'll follow the excellent advice above.

However, my default is what's often called “zone drafting”. During a draft, the “zones” are

1. cards you've drafted
   
2. cards you're looking at
   
3. cards you've passed left/right
   
4. cards passed to you
   

At no time should there be two sets of cards in any zone, and all zones must be kept very separate. It sounds very technical, but it really means “don't pass a 2nd pile until the next player has picked up your previous pass; never mix the piles”.

Also, since you may have players who are also new to Comp REL drafts, make sure they know they can't look at the cards they've drafted - can't even touch that pile! - except during the review period, between packs. Also, tell them that once they've put a card on the pile of their picks, it stays there; be certain before you commit to a pick, there's no take-backs at Comp REL.

And, even though you didn't ask about the Sealed/Swiss portion, I've found that it's good to be very clear about Comp REL rules for Sealed - i.e., you have to register a “main deck”, which is what you present for game 1 of each match. No “Continuous Construction”, like Regular REL allows. Remember, it's not just you that will be at your first Comp REL Limited event - many of your players will be, too.

Most of all - just because it's Comp REL doesn't mean it shouldn't still be fun!

d:^D

One word of caution in using Uncle Scott's approach of asking players
whether they want a called draft…

Asking your players about this aspect can present a bit of a peer pressure
situation or embarrassment issue for some players. This is particularly an
issue if you end up with a mix of very experienced players and a couple
people pretty new to top 8 or GP day 2 drafts. My experience is that the
grinders want to push the called draft to force newer players out of their
comfort zone, thinking this gives them an advantage.

If it's all grinder-type players who have all been there, then asking
directly is fine. Otherwise, you have two options make a decision yourself
(or with the TO) or us a “secret ballot” to keep some pressure off the
less-experienced in the group.

As Scott notes… just because it's a competitive event doesn't mean it
shouldn't be fun. :)



On Wed, Mar 25, 2015 at 9:52 AM, Scott Marshall <
forum-17068-f5aa@apps.magicjudges.org> wrote:

> For local events, I usually ask the players if they want a called draft
> (because they're worried about one of the players being slow? or they want
> the experience?); if most do, then I'll follow the excellent advice above.
>
> However, my default is what's often called “zone drafting”. During a
> draft, the “zones” are
>
> 1. cards you've drafted
> 2. cards you're looking at
> 3. cards you've passed left/right
> 4. cards passed to you
>
> At no time should there be two sets of cards in any zone, and all zones
> must be kept very separate. It sounds very technical, but it really means
> “don't pass a 2nd pile until the next player has picked up your previous
> pass; never mix the piles”.
>
> Also, since you may have players who are also new to Comp REL drafts, make
> sure they know they can't look at the cards they've drafted - can't even
> touch that pile! - except during the review period, between packs. Also,
> tell them that once they've put a card on the pile of their picks, it stays
> there; be certain before you commit to a pick, there's no take-backs at
> Comp REL.
>
> And, even though you didn't ask about the Sealed/Swiss portion, I've found
> that it's good to be very clear about Comp REL rules for Sealed - i.e., you
> have to register a “main deck”, which is what you present for game 1 of
> each match. No “Continuous Construction”, like Regular REL allows.
> Remember, it's not just you that will be at your first Comp REL Limited
> event - many of your players will be, too.
>
> Most of all - just because it's Comp REL doesn't mean it shouldn't still
> be fun!
>
> d:^D
>
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–
Ab ovo usque ad mala. – Horace

One other consideration: If you are the only judge present during the top
8, it's very hard to both call the draft and watch for peeking or other
issues. :)

When in doubt check the MTR, below is copied from Appendix B:

Booster Draft Timing
Individual booster drafts have the following default time limits for each pick:
Cards remaining in pack
Time allotted
15 cards
40 seconds
14 cards
40 seconds
13 cards
35 seconds
12 cards
30 seconds
11 cards
25 seconds
10 cards
25 seconds
9 cards
20 seconds
8 cards
20 seconds
7 cards
15 seconds
6 cards
10 seconds
5 cards
10 seconds
4 cards
5 seconds
3 cards
5 seconds
2 cards
5 seconds
1 card
N/A
The time for review after the first booster pack is 30 seconds. Each subsequent review period increases by 15 seconds

One thing I would like to recommend is to remind the players to shuffle the cards they have in hand before passing. You don't want to be in a situation where a player is “marking” his draft to a friend. Also, I want to +1 Oliver with his advice regarding Core Apps, get used to it before the draft :)

If you choose a called draft, I would recommend you to have a second judge watching over while you call it.

Thank you all for your excellent pieces of advice, I didn't expect to receive so many wonderful ideas :)

Edited Krzysztof Ciesielka (March 26, 2015 06:28:02 AM)