Hi again everyone.  I promise one day I will post these on time.  Today we have another silver question so if you are L3+ please wait until Thursday to chime in.  In honor of US Eternal Weekend this weekend we have a little legacy action to think over.  Best of luck and feel free to discuss!

 

You are the Head Judge for a Legacy 1K run at competitive REL. While doing a deckcheck in round 4 you notice Alice has a copy of Urza’s Saga with the text "GET SHADOWSPEAR" written across its front. Her opponent, Nancy has a copy of Pithing needle with the text "GET ME ASAP on Shuko vs Cephalid Breakfast" written across its front.

 

What do you do?

 

Based on the wording of the question, I assume that these are not marked cards; that would make this a much easier question. Written on the face of the card, in a way that doesn't interfere with the card name, mana cost, or rules text.

Found what I was looking for in the Outside Information section. From that section:

"Visual modifications to cards, including brief text, that provide minor strategic information or hints are acceptable and not considered notes. Detailed instructions or complex strategic advice may not be written on cards."

This is a very subjective line. It includes examples of:

• putting dots on your sideboard cards so you can quickly un-sideboard
• putting "attack with me" on a Ball Lightning because you are playing a red deck and forgot what red decks are supposed to do
• Drawing a picture of the artifact you want to search for on a Trinket Mage

For Alice, I would consider "get shadowspear" to be a short and simple enough message to match the second example, and be the "I can't draw" version of the third example. For Nancy...that's not a simple instruction, it involves matchup-specific information. Nancy receives an Outside Interference penalty.

As for the penalty, this would be information that is available between games, since Nancy can look at their deck. They could also look at notes, read a sideboard guide or a primer, etc. This downgrades the penalty to a Game Loss. Additionally, Nancy should swap the Pithing Needle out for an unmarked one.