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Competitive REL » Post: How to answer a players question

How to answer a players question

Sept. 21, 2014 10:40:54 AM

Michael White
Judge (Uncertified)

Canada - Eastern Provinces

How to answer a players question

I thought this might make for a fun discussion question:

You get called to a table by Nnnnnn. They ask to speak to you away from the table. They explain to you that Aaaaa has a Bloodfire Expert on the battlefield, and has just cast Savage Punch targeting their Expert and your 2/4 creature.

They explain that Aaaa hasn't don't anything to indicate that they've remembered their Prowess trigger, and want to know what will happen if they let the Savage Punch resolve without taking any action.

How would you answer their question (Competitive REL)?

Edited Michael White (Sept. 21, 2014 10:51:52 AM)

Sept. 21, 2014 11:28:07 AM

Jeff Morrow
Judge (Uncertified)

USA - Pacific West

How to answer a players question

“If, when Savage Punch resolves, your opponent says that your guy dies, it dies.”

If N then says something like “but A hasn't pointed out his Prowess trigger”, I would reply “he doesn't need to yet”.

This is also a teaching moment (although maybe for after the match). I would explain to N that this is exactly the type of situation the IPG refers to when it says “If an opponent requires information about the precise timing of a triggered ability or needs details about a game object that may be affected by a resolved triggered ability, that player may need to acknowledge that ability's existence before its controller does.”

Sept. 21, 2014 11:37:54 AM

Michael White
Judge (Uncertified)

Canada - Eastern Provinces

How to answer a players question

Maybe I should rephrase his question for more interesting discussion….if his question were "Do I need to cast my Awaken the Bear to keep my guy alive?"

Would that change how you answer it?

Sept. 21, 2014 12:08:49 PM

Chris Nowak
Judge (Level 2 (Judge Academy))

USA - Midatlantic

How to answer a players question

It even changes IF I answer it… “Sorry, that's more of a strategy question than a rules question. Is there a specific interaction you would like to ask about?”

Sept. 22, 2014 01:35:03 PM

Eric Paré
Judge (Level 2 (Judge Foundry))

Canada - Eastern Provinces

How to answer a players question

Originally posted by Michael White:

what will happen if they let the Savage Punch resolve

"What will happen is the Bloodfire Expert and the 2/4 creature will each deal damage equal to their power to the other when the Savage Punch resolves.

Originally posted by Michael White:

“Do I need to cast my Awaken the Bear to keep my guy alive?”

“I can't answer that one. I'm not allowed to give you my opinion on your play decisions because that's strategy advice, not a rules question.”

Edited Eric Paré (Sept. 22, 2014 01:35:37 PM)

Sept. 22, 2014 05:02:18 PM

Emilien Wild
Forum Moderator
Judge (Level 3 (International Judge Program))

BeNeLux

How to answer a players question

Originally posted by Michael White:

You get called to a table by Nnnnnn. They ask to speak to you away from the table.
I'm not sure to understand why both players would ask a judge to speak to him or her away from the table.

Sept. 22, 2014 06:10:20 PM

Bradley Morin
Judge (Uncertified)

Canada - Western Provinces

How to answer a players question

'They' is being used as a singular pronoun in this case.

Sept. 23, 2014 12:21:29 AM

Scott Marshall
Forum Moderator
Judge (Level 4 (Judge Foundry)), Hall of Fame

USA - Southwest

How to answer a players question

I think Jeff summed it up very nicely.

A concept that Toby has emphasized in more than one of his Missed Trigger blog posts, is that you will sometimes have to assume the player won't forget the trigger, before you can act, or take the chance they will remember the trigger … and be willing to lose that risk/reward situation.

d:^D