Let's begin this with quoting the current policy for alterations:

Artistic modifications are acceptable in sanctioned tournaments, provided that the modifications do not make the card art unrecognizable, contain substantial strategic advice, or contain offensive images. Artistic modifications also may not obstruct or change the mana cost or name of the card.

With these “guidelines”, would you allow the following alterations:
Exhume 1: (Exhumierung is the german name of Exhume)
https://i.imgur.com/g1P2duc.png
Exhume 2:
https://i.imgur.com/hsNjUKn.png
Reanimate 1: (Reanimate is the german name of Reanimate)
https://i.imgur.com/s5cXu0b.png
Reanimate 2:
https://i.imgur.com/xHwjeCZ.png
Flusterstorm: (Wirrsturm is the german name of Flusterstorm)
https://i.imgur.com/Z7aPr19.jpg
Brainstorm: (Gedankenwirbel is the german name of Brainstorm)
https://i.imgur.com/pdCbwq5.jpg
Swamp: (Sumpf is the german name of Swamp)
https://i.imgur.com/ybLRO5d.jpg
Island: (Insel is the german name of Island)
https://i.imgur.com/MCtq0np.jpg
Underground Sea: (Unterirdischer See is the german name of Underground Sea)
https://i.imgur.com/p1f0cGc.jpg
Leovold, Emissary of Trest: (sorry for quality)
https://i.imgur.com/fwiEkJ4.png
So, which of those alters would you guys allow? Please decide this before you read on.


And now let us go with the guidelines above and what is not clear about them:
If you go with the guidelines, you have to disallow every single one of them, except the Underground Sea. And now you don't know why? Because of the word “obstruct” and the wording “Artistic modifications also may not obstruct or change the mana cost or name of the card”. None of those cards linked above was printed in that edition in german. If we go a step further, there is no foil printing in german of flusterstorm. The graveborn deck also got never released in german.

So, what does “obstruct” mean in this context?
Obstruct has 11! different translations into german, going from hinder, impede to block, restrain etc. And as you can see, they got quite a different meaning. Is altering the name into a different language obstructing the cardname? Is partially painting over the cardname obstructing it?

These alters were played on several GPs and other international events, but also got declined at those events, so this policy gets interpreted in way too many different ways, so a clarification would be really appreciated.

I have labelled this as a discussion, not as a request for an O' because in my eyes Policy is a living thing, many people can work on, and give ideas to improve it.

Edited Johannes Wagner (March 21, 2018 11:23:53 PM)

The only subjective parts of this rule are “make the card art unregognizable”, “contain substantial strategic advice” and “contain offensive images”. The requirement to not obstruct or change the mana cost or name of the card are not subjective at all.

The more deviation Head Judges make on the artistic modifications rules the more frustrated players will get because they will never know for each different event whether their cards are going to be allowed or not.

It has been pointed out that “may not obstruct or change the mana cost or name of the card” is not as clear to non-native English speakers.

“May not cover part or all of the mana cost or name of the card” is what “may not obstruct” means.

I'll add, hopefully to help with understanding: “obstruct” means, in this usage, “make it hard to see”.

And, for what it's worth, my opinion: No to the Exhume and Reanimate examples - I think the names are obstructed; No to Flusterstorm, Brainstorm, Sumpf and Insel - the original card name is obscured with artwork, even though that artwork purports to represent the original name, making me question the card's authenticity; Maybe for Underground Sea, but it could be hard to confirm that it's not a counterfeit card, esp. because the text box isn't the original printed text, but again, artwork that obscures that text.

A simple interpretation of the rule - and this has been stated, multiple times in similar threads - is that a judge observing the match should be able to recognize everything on the battlefield or in hand; opponents should be able to recognize cards on the battlefield. While many of these examples seem recognizable, they still cross over the lines in policy, and I'd probably rule as stated, above.

d:^D