I'm not sure if this is where this is supposed to go but what is not acceptable to write on a playmat? It's competative and I'm not talking about writing swearwords or the such.

I was looking at a playmat contest on an MtG site and noticed that one of the designs had stated a lot of cards (cards you might want to remember) and the first three steps of a turn. This wasn't really severe but I'm just curious to what point this isn't considered cheating.

It is difficult to give an absolute answer without actually seeing the playmat myself.

As a general rule, it is at the discretion of the head judge in a tournament to forbid the use of such a playmat or not.

If you are a floor judge in an event and you see this playmat or a player brings it to your attention, you should get the head judge involved to handle the situation.

Originally posted by Linda Johansson:

I'm not sure if this is where this is supposed to go but what is not acceptable to write on a playmat? It's competative and I'm not talking about writing swearwords or the such.

I was looking at a playmat contest on an MtG site and noticed that one of the designs had stated a lot of cards (cards you might want to remember) and the first three steps of a turn. This wasn't really severe but I'm just curious to what point this isn't considered cheating.

In regards to the cards shown on a playmat, recall that players may refer to Oracle text at any time (provided they do so publicly or privately with a judge's assistance), so personally, I'm not too bothered by the idea. The head judge will have the final say.

As far as having the steps of a turn on a playmat, we are typically okay with indirectly-provided minor strategic information. Who determines what is minor? This is at the discretion of your head judge. If you encounter a playmat or artistic modification to a card that you think is questionable, feel free to run it by the head judge. Alternatively, you can encourage players with such materials to check with the judge staff at the events they play in (which is always a good idea IMHO when using altered cards).

The steps of the turn are not strategic, they're simply the rules. That part's easy; the card references require some context & specifics.

If the card references are simply Oracle text, it should be fine. If it's the cards where you need to save your removal, that's strategic advice. If it's the correct sequence for your combo? also strategic advice. I think y'all get the idea?

d:^D

Originally posted by Eric Paré:

It is difficult to give an absolute answer without actually seeing the playmat myself.

Well, recently this playmat showed up on Facebook, we had a chat in the Italian Judge team and we think it's legal to use.

Wow, that's a great playmat!! :D

I don't think any part of it could be illegal, but, of course, this is a decision of the HJ. Best practice is always checking with him :)

Originally posted by Stefano Ferrari:

Well, recently this playmat showed up on Facebook, we had a chat in the Italian Judge team and we think it's legal to use.

My only concern with a mat like that one is that it enforces the bad habit of having the exile zone and graveyard as a single pile whereby indication of zone is by turning the cards one way or the other. Sure many players like to do this because it is easy, but it is unclear and sloppy. Exile and graveyard should be two separate piles for clarity, sometimes the small things like that matter.

Edited Nicola DiPasquale (April 7, 2014 11:21:43 AM)

Originally posted by Stefano Ferrari:

Well, recently this playmat showed up on Facebook, we had a chat in the Italian Judge team and we think it's legal to use.

I agree that this is a really cool playmat! I feel like things like this should be allowed because it helps players learn the game and its rules and structure. Casting a spell and the layers I feel are important for players to get a little knowledge on.

I also agree with Nicola - sometimes having exile under the graveyard can get a little messy and can become an issue. If they modified it to have a separate exile pile, I would think about picking one up myself!

So, that may be the most awesome playmat I have ever seen! “Attack - this way!!” and “Draw Big or Go Home”

Gotta love it! And I would definitely let him play with it. The only issue one could raise, I think, is whether the rules help ius derived info. I think it is, but it's not really strategy related, so I'd be ok with it, though I could see the strict argument against it.

Eric Shukan
—– Original Message —–
From: Stefano Ferrari
To: eshukan@verizon.net
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2014 11:37 AM
Subject: Re: Unacceptable playmats (Competitive REL)



Eric Paré
It is difficult to give an absolute answer without actually seeing the playmat myself.

Well, recently this playmat showed up on Facebook, we had a chat in the Italian Judge team and we think it's legal to use.


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I love the “strategic advice” of the life points: Don't lose them

I've seen some debate over whether “Pay Attention to the Cards you Draw” is strategic, but I think it's more tournament advice than strategic advice.

Not-so-secretly, it's a piece of advice we'd like to see gain more traction with Magic Players.

I see a difference between advice that makes one legal plays instead of illegal plays versus that strategic advice that makes you good plays instead of bad plays.

Drawing additional cards is not a bad play, “attacking yourself” is also not a bad play. Mixing up phases is not a bad play. They're illegal plays.

Personally if I saw a playmat like that I would carefully read it to scan for any strategic advice.
However in its current state I must say I'm a huge fan, players reminding themselves not to commit GPEs can't be a bad thing.

Where does it define “Strategic Advice”?

I did a quick search and the only time it is mentioned, that I can find, is under the IPG Tournament Error - Outside Assistance, the MTR - Authorized Cards and the JAR- General Unwanted Behavior.

The IPG gives two examples of Outside Assistance, neither of which the linked playmat would fall under. It does go into “visual modifications” but specifically mentions cards, but I would infer that it would transfer equally to a playmat. It says “Visual modifications to cards, including brief text, that provide minor strategic information or hints are acceptable and not considered notes.” So the linked playmat, I could not see being even close to a violation of this. If the player was using his playmat as a notebook throughout the tournament - I could see a case being brought up. ESPECIALLY if he was going around taking notes on his opponents prior to the current match-up.

The MTR only says that the modification to cards cannot contain “substantial strategic advice”.

The JAR only mentions it when soliciting advice during a match or draft.

So, the phrase “strategic advice” is being used, but I cannot see a clearly defined definition. I would have never even thought that the linked playmat would even be CLOSE to a violation of the spirit of this rule. It, to me, seems like a funny, yet informative, playmat. If I were to say “Untap, Upkeep, Draw” every turn, would that be a violation? Maybe I'm too new to see it…

Darren the strategic advice that someone might put on a playmat may fall
under section 3.2 of the IPG: TE - Outside Assistance, based on the
following clause

“Notes made outside the current match may only be referenced between games,
and must have been in the player's possession since the beginning of the
match.”

As the notes on a playmat would be done outside of the match currently
being played they would be OA by that definition.

Edited Patrick Cool (April 9, 2014 02:45:48 PM)