2018-11-16 D&A Modern FNM Judging

This past FNM, I judged the event rather than participating. The night began with an unfortunate announcement that the store would no longer be running their FNMs (and accompanying YGO event) due to low attendance. Modern ended up firing with 13 people, standard with 10, and YGO with... 44? Crazy numbers. In the glory days, the store would get 100+, enough that the fire marshal would show up and warn them for exceeding capacity (because the room only had one means of egress/exit door, never mind that it was a store room with a friggin' garage door)

I can't say I was surprised by the news. They've always run a very generous prize structure even after adding the $5 entry fee. In fact, the payout guarantees that the event operates at a loss, hoping to make it up elsewhere. So after paying the entry fee, each player receives one free booster pack ($4 MSRP, but to the store it costs more like $2). Then depending on overall record, the prize structure looks like this:

• 4-0: 45 cash, or 60 credit
• 3-0-1: 30 cash, or 40 credit
• 3-1: 15 cash, or 20 credit
• 2-2: free entry into future event

So average players only need a 2-2 match record to go infinite. If 16 players show up, that results in only four players who need to pay in again next week (assuming no extra draws). In addition, the amount of payout is 1 x $45 + 3 x $15 for a total of $90 (or 120 in credit). So assuming that 16 players pay in, the store is already losing 10 bucks from the start, has given out 16 packs ($32), and we haven't even considered next week or overhead (upkeep, wages).

Now, on to some of the questions/situations I fielded.

• Chalice of the Void: If a player controls a Chalice, opponents can cast spells (that would be countered) into it hoping that their opponent forgets the trigger. However, the controller of Chalice cannot allow their own spells to resolve through Chalice, which would be considered cheating. This is due to a couple different elements of trigger policy: players are not required to remind their opponents of their (beneficial) triggers thereby helping their opponent beat them, and you are not allowed to forget detrimental triggers (which it is, if you control the Chalice & are casting a spell that would be countered).
• X is 0 everywhere except the stack. Relevant cards that interact with this: Abrupt Decay, Spell Snare, Eidolon of the Great Revel, Engineered Explosives, Chalice of the Void, Ratchet Bomb, and all the other X cost artifacts.
• Nullhide Ferox, then illegally casting noncreature spells. At regular REL, this could probably have been fixed? but was a pretty huge error. Kind of a similar thing to casting your own spells through Chalice.

Reflections:

• Judging is way more fun and interesting when people call you over.
• I wouldn't want to judge 100% of the time and play 0%, which is what most judges seem to do. Judges are usually... all judge all the time, and I think it's more fun to just play some sweet Magic
• Probably won't be judging again at this store, since they're only holding two more Magic events. Pretty unsure about when I'll next get the opportunity???