Change Log - Procedure and Penalty Guide

2 February 2024 [current]

1.3. Types of Procedures Added counter correction to list of partial fixes.

2.6. Shuffling Error Fixed by adding missing phrase “strategic advantage”.

13 October 2023

Removed Chapter 2 (previously Casual - Infractions) and updated names for previous Chapters 3, 4, and 5.

Bolded the single sentence definition for each infraction.

Reformatted procedure/penalty section for each infraction to follow a new format.

Moved each infraction philosophy to be after the procedure/penalty for all infractions.

Minor grammar and spelling corrections.

1.3. Types of Procedure Added a paragraph about not using irrelevant procedures in place of penalties to restore equity.

1.3. Types of Procedure > Partial Fix Rephrased when partial fixes are appropriate to apply.

1.4. Types of Penalties > Match Loss Added additional clarification that some infractions may apply to the next match even if the player is not between rounds.

2.1. Game Rules Violation Updated procedure to prefer partial fix before considering a full backup. Made explicit reference to how the game state should be fixed or left alone.

2.3. Missed Trigger Updated procedure to prefer partial fix before considering a full backup. Clarified that no further actions should be taken if a partial fix or backup is not appropriate. Made the procedure more explicit for missed triggers specifically.

2.4. Looking at Extra Card Added an additional clause to differentiate against Hidden Card Error infraction. Explicitly added a fix for 5+ cards instead of pointing to shuffling error infraction.

2.5. Hidden Card Error Added an additional clause to differentiate against Looking at Extra Card infraction.

2.6. Shuffling Error Updated examples. Removed upgrade to IP3 for professional REL.

2.7. Presenting Cards Error Moved to be a gameplay infraction, to differentiate it from tournament procedures such as having a decklist or a matching card-pool. Added a clause that the infraction only applies after the decklist and card-pool are correct. Added specification for double-faced cards having the correct orientation along with a downgrade.

3.1. Tardiness Removed the distinction between competitive and professional. Merged minor and major infractions. Downgrade to warning available for 0-1 minute tardy. Added late decklist submission as an explicit infraction under tardiness. Clarified time extensions.

3.4. Decklist Error Removed one of the upgrades to Disqualification for significant difference between decklist and card-pool, allowing for the Cheating infraction to cover malicious cases of abuse instead.

3.5. Card-Pool Contents Error Updated procedures and penalties to be more specific regarding cards in the card-pool that don’t match the decklist. Added an upgrade to match loss and disqualification for cases where there is a significant difference or the player has gained a significant advantage.

Appendix A: Updated Quick Reference Table

Appendix B,C,D: Added new Quick Reference Tables with upgrades and downgrades for each category of infraction.

July 14, 2023

1.3. Updated and expanded partial fix explanation and added a list of typical partial fixes.

1.4. Removed reference to IP3 for intellect penalties.

3.1. Fixed grammar.

3.3. Missed trigger procedure updated to use rewinds and partial fixes (similar to GRV) with an upgrade path for when the procedure can not remove a significant advantage.

4.1. Reduced IP3 to IP2 for tardiness penalties.

4.8. Fixed grammar.

5.9. Fixed an example that ended mid-sentence.

A. Quick Reference Table

  • Collapsed Missed triggers into a single entry with Caution penalty
  • Updated IP3 to be IP2 for Tardiness

March, 31, 2023

General Overall terminology, spelling, and grammar update.

1.4. Updated links to the DQ forms for the DQ penalty

3. Updated language clarifying subsequent infraction upgrades. The third time a player commits an gameplay infraction of the same type (except FTMGS), it is upgraded by 1 severity level.

3.1. Updated Game Rules Violation to remove opponent choice. The judge now decides what is the best way to fix the gamestate, either rewind or partial fix.

3.3.1. Updated grammar in Beneficial Missed trigger, added a few more examples to the definition.

3.3.2. Updated Detrimental Missed Trigger to clarify that if part of a trigger is detrimental, then the entire trigger is Detrimental. Also added a few more examples to the definition.

3.4. Updated Looking at Extra Cards to accommodate for previously known cards (through opt and reveal), and increased the threshold for looking at extra cards (leading to shuffling the deck) to 5.

4. Updated language clarifying subsequent infraction upgrades. The second time a player commits an tournament infraction of the same type (except Tardiness), it is upgraded by 1 severity level.

4.1. Updated Tardiness to clarify that tardiness starts when the round timer begins.

4.5. Updated name and descriptions from Deck Contents error to Card-Pool Contents Error. Rephrased a few points to align with the new TRP.

4.6. Fixed example list for Presenting Cards Error to be consistent with rest of the document.

4.6. Updated references from sideboard to inventory to be consistent with changes.

4.10. Update Outside Assistance to incorporate giving game losses to spectators for their next game instead of their current one, and removing them from the play area.

4.10. Added Communication Violation

4.7.1 Update example about looking at drafted cards to be more specific to non-review periods.

5.9. Updated wording to include conceding up to and including when time is called to align with policy set out in the Tournament Rules and Policy.

June 27, 2022

Missing

February 11, 2022

Whole document: Updated IP5 penalties to become IP4 penalties to reduce the insurmountable odds presented as opposed to a straight game loss.

Whole document: Updated to use non-gendered pronouns in various examples.

Quick Reference Table: Fixed, removed row about communication until future revisions define it specifically, and updated penalties to correct values.

September 24, 2021

1.1 Correction: Updated Correction to Caution to be consistent with terminology used in the rest of the document.

1.3 Intellect Penalty - Minor (IP2) / Major (IP5): Modified how IP penalties work for the players starting second at the beginning of the game. IP counters are reduced by one whenever you draw to the hero’s intellect (except the very first draw during the start of game procedure (section 12.8 of the Comprehensive Rules.)).

1.4 Game Loss: Added result of a game loss penalty for both players.

2.1 Missed Trigger: Rewritten and reformatted the section to be easy to read and navigate. Clarifications on what is considered a missed trigger, especially regarding rule-sharking.

2.3 Hidden card error: Expanded section to cover alternative cases of hidden card errors, such as picking up arsenal or intimidated cards. Changed the fix for both Casual and Professional.

2.4 Games Rule Violation: Changed turn cycle, to “same turn” or “not the same turn” to avoid ambiguity with the definition of turn cycle.

2.5 Failure to maintain game state: Minor grammar fix.

3. Tournament Errors: Fixed list of contents.

3.8 Insufficient shuffling: Removed Pile Shuffling as process for sufficiently randomizing a deck. Change pronouns to be gender neutral.

3.19 Rules Sharking: Added new section detailing Rule Sharking examples and penalties. This was previously covered under Unsportsmanlike Conduct, but now has its own section.

July 16, 2021

2.1) Missed Trigger:

  • Updated to clarify that a Missed Detrimental Trigger is considered to be a Games Rule Violation.
  • Updated to clarify that a player cannot intentionally miss a trigger with a beneficial effect.

2.4) Games Rule Violation: Updated Casual and Professional Fix wording for clarity (no functional change).

May 24, 2021

3.18) Conceding: Added to clarify what to do when a concession is requested or offered during a match.

December 1, 2020

Tournament tier table - Updated with new programs.

February 10, 2020

3.5) Presenting an illegal deck: Added to clarify what to do if an illegal deck is presented at the beginning of a game.

3.9) Improper shuffling: Added to clarify what to do if a deck has been shuffled when it shouldn't have been.

February 5, 2020

1.3) Intellect Penalty - Minor (IP2) / Major (IP5): Updated to clarify how IP penalties work when issued before a game begins . "If an IP penalty is issued to a player before a game begins, the number of cards that player starts the game with in their hand, will be affected by the IP penalty."