Scenario session
- 1. Scenario Session Session Title GP Auckland Scenarios Level Expectation 1 & 2 Cards Required See Appendix Created 21/01/2015 Last Updated 03/03/2015 Author Simon Freiberg Reviewed By
- 2. Session Objectives The objective of this session is to introduce participants to scenario-based training as a concept, and expose both new and experienced Judges to nuanced situations. Their behaviour should spark discussion amongst the group, and lead to education and enlightenment. Note to instructors: Feel free to mess with the structure of the session and how you distribute the roles, while still understanding and maintaining the learning objectives of each individual scenario. Variants may include allowing one Judge to start the scenario, make some decisions and having a 2nd (and then maybe 3rd) Judge jump in to continue in their place (if you have large numbers). Alternatively you can pause the scenario at critical junctures and take a poll to determine the decision tree (like a “choose your own adventure”). Make sure the people you pick to be your players in the scenario do not improvise, as this may compromise the learning objectives of the scenario. Safety Guidelines “Safety is the top priority. All participants are to act carefully and be mindful of each other’s safety at all times. If at any time you feel unsafe or notice something unsafe is happening or about to happen, call “STOP” and bring it to the instructor’s attention. If you hear this call, freeze what you’re doing immediately. Any questions?” Introduction “Treat all situations as being played at Competitive REL unless otherwise specified.” If Judges are doing this individually: “You are the Head Judge for the event. Act as though you are working this event alone.” If Judges are doing this in pairs/teams: “One of you will be designated Head Judge for the event, everyone else is considered a Floor Judge. If a Floor Judge takes a call, they have the ability to confer with the Head Judge (and/or other Floor Judges as appropriate).”
- 3. Scenario 1 Setup: Hand In Play Graveyard Library Exile Player A Swamp Stain the Mind Swamp Forest Forest 1 x Wall of Mulch Empty An amount of random cards Empty Player N 2 x Wild Slash 4 x Mountain Empty An amount of random cards Empty Play actions: Player A casts Stain the Mind, naming “Stoke the Flames”. Player N reveals hand. Player A looks at it, looks at his board, and realises he doesn’t have enough mana to cast the spell (“I meant to play the land in my hand first”). N calls a Judge. Desired outcome: GRV for A, FTMGS for N. Discussion points: Whether or not to back up. It would be quite disruptive to allow A to name a new card once he’s seen the contents of N’s hand.
- 4. Scenario 2 Setup: Hand In Play Graveyard Library Exile Player A Empty 5 Forest Courser of Kruphix Empty 15 Mountain (top one revealed) Empty Player N Empty 3 Swamp Empty An amount of random cards Empty Play actions: A draws the card. Goes to flip the next card. “Draw for turn?” and draws the card without waiting for confirmation and without revealing it. N calls for a Judge. Desired outcome: DEC for A. Discussion points: Can we downgrade this infraction since we know the identity of the second card by a process of elimination?
- 5. Scenario 3 Setup: Hand In Play Graveyard Library Exile Player A Keranos Cancel Serum Visions Think Twice 15 Islands 7 Mountain Snapcaster Mages Empty 5 Island Empty Player N Pact of Negation Negate Island 5 Islands Empty 5 Islands Empty Play actions: A casts Keranos. N casts Pact of Negation targeting Keranos, and puts a dice on top of his library. A tanks for a bit and casts Cancel targeting Pact of Negation. A casts Serum Visions. N casts Negate. A casts Think Twice. A flashes back Think Twice. A attacks with Snapcaster Mage. A passes the turn. NAP untaps, removes the dice, taps his lands (to pay for the “pact trigger”), draws for the turn. He plays a land, and says “Go”. Desired outcome: GRV for not announcing mana? Rewind? Discussion points: Do we stop them doing something that’s legal?
- 6. Scenario 4 Setup: Hand In Play Graveyard Library Exile Player A X random cards Player N X random cards Play actions: Both players shuffling their libraries before the game. Player N turns to the Judge and says jokingly “Hey Judge, what’s my opponent playing?” Desired outcome: Outside Assistance? ML? Caution? Discussion points: How harsh should one be? Alternative Scenario: Players shuffling for Game 2, one has a big notepad that they’re using for tracking life, covered in data from previous matches/games including a list of cards in their opponent’s hand from Thoughtseize from Game 1.
- 7. Scenario 5 (with thanks to Riki) Setup: Hand In Play Graveyard Library Exile Player A 5 Islands Player N Cryptic Command 3 random cards 2 Islands Scalding Tarn Mountain X random cards Play actions: At the end of Player A's turn, Player N casts Cryptic Command bouncing A's Island and drawing a card. Cryptic resolves, and as Player N begins to untap his lands, he notices that one of the lands he used to cast Cryptic is a Scalding Tarn. You are called over. Desired outcome: GRV for N. FTMGS for A. No rewind (fetchland!) Discussion points: See if people realise the shuffle effect is relevant.
- 8. Scenario 6 Setup: Hand In Play Graveyard Library Exile Player A X random cards Player N X random cards Play actions: Players drawing their opening hands. A has 7 cards. N has 8 cards. Both players have looked at their hand. N calls the Judge. “I’ve drawn 8 cards”. ONLY IF ASKED do players confirm that N has mulliganed. Desired outcome: ID@SOG – put 3 back – shuffle them in – continue taking mulligan decisions. Discussion points: Did they ask the correct questions?
- 9. Optional Scenario 1 Setup: Hand In Play Graveyard Library Exile Player A Dig Through Time 3 random Blue spells 8 Island N/A Some random Blue spells Player N 5 Mountain 5 Mountain N/A An amount of random cards Play actions: A casts Dig Through Time, immediately drawing 2 cards. He then pauses. N calls a Judge. Desired outcome: DEC? GRV? OOOS? Discussion points:
- 10. Optional Scenario 2 Setup: Hand In Play Graveyard Library Exile Player A N/A N/A N/A An amount of random cards Player N Restoration Angel 3/3 Centaur Token 3 Plains 2 Forest Call of the Conclave An amount of random cards Play actions: N casts Restoration Angel. A calls a Judge: “Does A have to target the Centaur with the Angel’s trigger?” Desired outcome: “Yes” Discussion points: Let them mise?
- 11. Scenario Template Setup: Hand In Play Graveyard Library Exile Player A Player N Play actions: Desired outcome: Discussion points:
- 12. Appendix: Required Cards Stain the Mind 2 x Wild Slash Wall of Mulch Courser of Kruphix Keranos Cancel Serum Visions Think Twice Pact of Negation Negate Snapcaster Mage Cryptic Command Scalding Tarn Dig Through Time Restoration Angel 3/3 Centaur Token Call of the Conclave 3 x Plains 3 x Swamp 5 x Forest 15 x Mountain 21 x Island