[EDITORS NOTE: This guideline was apparently a rough draft
of the "Official DCI Judging Penalty Guidelines". As such,
it is presented here for historical purposes only. Check out
the newly released (asof: September 1st) Penalty Guidelines
for the Official scoop.]
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Subject: Official DCI Judging Penalty Guidelines
Date: 16 Aug 1998 20:17:49 -0000
From: nobody@remailer.ch
To: webmaster@classicdojo.org
Official DCI Judging Penalty Guidelines
Version 1.0, July 1998
How to Use These Guidelines:
This document is organized by individual violations and their
suggested penalties. In accordance with the DCI's Enchanced
K-Value Policy, each offense has enforcement and penalty guidelines
at various levels of rules enforcement. Note that every violation may
not necessarily be applicable at every level of rules enforcement, and
so some levels of certain offenses will have "Not applicable" listed as
a penalty.
The definitions of the terms "caution," "notice," "warning," (and
its associated "double" and "triple" warning), "ejection," and
"disqualification" are the same as those in the October 1997 version
of the DCI Standard Floor Rules. "Next game" refers to the next game
which the player in question would normally play (even if that game
happens to be in a different match). "Current game" refers to the duel
currently in progress, if there is one. "Current match" and "next
match" are employed in a similar fashion.
1.0 The Player and the Tournament
1.1 Intent
All suggested penalties assume the judge feels the violation was
accidental, unintentional, or otherwise not highly disruptive to the
integrity of the tournament. In the event that the judge feels a violation
was willful and intentional, he or she may feel free to upgrade the
penalty, even on what would normally be a minor rules violation and
even at a lower level tournament.
1.2 The Benefit of the Doubt
The higher a tournament's level, the less inclined a judge should be
to believe that a violation is accidental rather than intentional. The
suggested penalties for each violation reflect this. In the event that an
offense at higher level tournament is clearly accidental or a mistake,
judges may certainly feel free to give a player "the benefit of the
doubt" and downgrade to offense.
1.3 Multiple Unrelated Warnings
Description: Sometimes, a player will commit multiple unrelated
violations and accrue three or more different warnings. In these
situations, an additional penalty ranging from loss of match to
disqualification should be enforced. As always, the judge should use
his or her discretion when adjudicating such situations.
Additional Penalty (for each warning beyond the second):
Levels 1 or 2: Loss of next game.
Level 3: Loss of next match
Level 4: Ejection
Level 5: Disqualification
1.3 General Incompetence
Description: This catch-all category covers any other disruptive
offense that does not clearly fit into another category. Examples
include losing a limited deck or sideboard, accidentally destroying an
opponent's cards, or misplacing or losing other items that prevent a
player from playing in the tournament normally.
Penalties:
All Levels: Any Offense: You may issue either a caution, notice, or
warning for General Incompetence. There are no associated
penalties for receiving multiple warnings for this offense, and they
should be treated via 1.3 above.
1.4 Deck Presentation
No penalties involving decks, decklists, and deck checks, should be
enforced until a player has "presented" the deck to his or her
opponent. "Presenting" a deck means that the player has completed
his or her initial randomization of the deck and given it to the
opponent so that he or she may choose to shuffle or cut it.
1.5 Tournament Level Characteristics
In accordance with the DCI's Enhanced K-Value Policy, tournaments
are described by five (5) different levels of rules enforcement. They
can be described as follows:
Level 1: Low level enforcement. Neither decklists nor limited deck
swapping required. Violations are assumed, in general, to be
mistakes. Examples of this tournament level would be an eight-player
booster draft at a Pro Tournament or a small tournament at a local
shop or club.
Level 2: Medium level enforcment. Decklists are required, but limited
deck swapping is not in effect. Violations are still assumed to be
mistakes most of the time, but players are expected to know and
abide by many of the basic tournament rules. Examples of this
tournament level would be a scheduled, non-cash side event at a Pro
Tournament or a 32-player event at a local shop or club.
Level 3: Standard level enforcement. Decklists are required, but
limited deck swapping is not in effect. Violations are assumed to be at
the standard level-that is, some are clearly mistakes while others are
clearly not. Players are expected to know all of the basic rules,
including those about legal decks, recording correct decklists, and the
like. Examples of this tournament level would be a cash event at a
Pro Tournament, a pre-release, or a 64-player event at a local shop
or club.
Level 4: Title level enforcement. Decklists and limited deck swapping
are required. Violations are asssume to be intentional more often
than accidental. Players are expected to know all of the tournament
rules and most of the tournament procedures. Examples of this
tournament level would be a Pro Tour Qualifier or a Regional
Championship.
Level 5: Professional level enforcement. Decklists and limited deck
swapping are required. Violations are assumed to almost always be
intentional and only rarely accidental. Players are expected to know
all the tournament rules and procedures, most of the game rules, and
to comport themselves in a professional manner. Examples of this
tournament level would be a Pro Tour, National, or World
Championships.
2.0 Deck and Decklist Violations
2.1 Illegal Deck
Description: A player's deck does not conform to the construction
guidelines for the tournament format. This includes having fewer than
the minimum number of cards (40 for limited, 60 for constructed),
using cards not in a legal set, or using too many copies of a particular
card.
Notes:
This violation does not include those situations where the deck is
illegal due to cards lost or misappropriated by an opponent, nor does
it include violations involving only the decklist and not the actual deck
itself (Use 2.2, 2.3, or 2.9, as appropriate, instead).
This violation assumes the player has played or is playing a
game with the illegal deck (that is, the
player has presented the deck to his or her opponent).
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: First Offense: Double warning plus loss of next match.
The player must make the deck fully legal.
Second Offense: Ejection
Level 3, 4, or 5: Ejection
2.2 Illegal Decklist (Constructed only)
Description: The listed contents of the deck do not conform to
the construction guidelines for the
tournament format. This includes listing 59 or fewer cards in the main
deck, using cards not in legal sets, or using too many copies of a
card.
Note:
This violation does not include those involving the actual deck (use
2.1. instead).
This violation does not include listing a sideboard with an illegal
number of cards.
This penalty will only have multiple offenses if players are required to
complete multiple decklists during the same constructed tournament
(this excludes the final eight single elimination rounds of Modified
Swiss events.
Penalties:
Level 1: Not applicable. Decklists are not required.
Level 2: First Offense: Double warning plus loss of next match. The
player must make the decklist fully legal.
Second Offense: Ejection.
Level 3+: Ejection.
2.3 Illegal Decklist (Limited only)
Description: The contents listed in the "Used" column of the decklist
do not conform to the construction guidelines for the tournament
format. This includes listing 39 or fewer cards or marking cards as
used that do not appear in the "Total" column.
Note:
This violation does not include those involving the actual deck (use
2.1. instead).
This penalty will only have multiple offenses if players are required to
complete multiple decklists during the same limited tournament (this
excludes the final eight single elimination rounds of Modified Swiss
events), such as at a booster or Rochester draft tournament or a
multiday event.
Penalties:
Level 1: Not applicable. Decklists are not required.
Level 2: First Offense: Warning plus loss of next game. Player must
write cards into the "Used" column until the decklist is legal.
Second Offense: Ejection.
Level 3 or 4: First Offense: Double warning plus loss of next match.
Player must write cards into the "Used" column until the decklist is
legal.
Second Offense: Disqualification.
Level 5: First Offense: Ejection
2.4 Illegal Sideboard List (Constructed only)
Description: The listed sideboard contains a number of cards other
than zero or fifteen.
Note:
This violation does not include those involving the actual deck (use
2.1. instead).
This applies only to the sideboard list's card count. If the sideboard is
illegal in some other way (the listed main deck plus sideboard
contains more than four of a card, for example), use 2.2 instead.
This penalty will only have multiple offenses if players are required to
complete multiple decklists during the same limited tournament (this
excludes the final eight single elimination rounds of Modified Swiss
events), such as at a booster or Rochester draft tournament or a
multiday event.
Penalties:
Level 1: Not applicable. Decklists are not required.
Level 2: First Offense: Warning plus loss of next game. Player cannot
use his or her sideboard during this match and the next. Player must
modify the sideboard list so that it contains a legal number of cards.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next match. Player
cannot use his or her sideboard for the rest of the tournament.
Level 3 or 4: First Offense: Double warning plus loss of next match.
Player cannot use his or her sideboard for the remainder of the
tournament.
Second Offense: Ejection.
Level 5: First Offense: Ejection
2.5 Incorrect Decklist
Description: The contents of the actual deck do not match the listed
contents on the decklist; however, both the deck and the decklist are
legal in all other ways.
Note:
This penalty will only have multiple offenses enforced if players are
required to complete multiple decklists during the same tournament
(this excludes the final eight single elimination rounds of Modified
Swiss events), such as at a booster or Rochester draft tournament or
a multiday event.
Penalties:
Level 1: Not applicable. Decklists not required.
Level 2: First Offense: Warning. Player must adjust his or her deck so
it matches the decklist.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next match. Player
adjusts his or her deck so it matches the decklist.
Third Offense: Ejection.
Level 3: First Offense: Warning plus loss of next game. Player must
adjust his or her deck so it matches the decklist.
Second Offense: Disqualification.
Level 4 or 5: First Offense: Double warning plus loss of current
match. Player must adjust his or her deck so it matches the decklist.
Second Offense: Disqualification
2.6 Playing with Worn/Marked Cards (No pattern)
Description: During a deck check or judge's inspection of a deck,
some of the cards are determined to be marked or excessively worn
in a non-systematic way.
Notes:
Even though deck checks are not required at Levels 1 and 2, it is still
possible for a player or judge to notice marked cards in a player's
deck.
This penalty does not apply to cards which have clearly become
marked due to play use or the actions of an opponent or judge. In this
case, simply proxy the cards.
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: First Offense: Notice. Either the player has ten (10)
minutes to replace the cards or the judge may allow the player to
proxy the cards.
Second Offense: Warning. The player has five (5) minutes to
replace the cards. After this, loss of current game.
Third Offense: Ejection.
Levels 3, 4, or 5: First Offense: Warning. The player has five (5)
minutes to replace the worn/markedcard(s). After five minutes, loss of
the current game and the player has an additional ten (10) minutes to
acquire replacement cards. After this, loss of current match and the
player has until the beginning of his or her next match to acquire new
cards.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match. The player has
five (5) minutes to replace the worn/marked cards. After five minutes,
ejection.
Third Offense: Disqualification.
2.7 Playing with Worn/Marked Cards (Pattern)
Description: During a deck check or judge's inspection of a deck,
some of the cards are determined to be marked or worn in systematic
way. This includes marking schemes such as having all lands face
one way and all spells face another, or all cards of one color facing
one way and all cards of another color facing another way.
Notes:
Even though deck checks are not required at Levels 1 and 2, it is still
possible for a player or judge to notice marked cards in a player's
deck.
This penalty does not apply to cards which have clearly become
marked due to play use or the actions of an opponent or judge. In this
case, simply proxy the cards.
Penalties:
Level 1 or 2: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game. The
player has five (5) minutes to replace the cards. After this, loss of
current match and the player has until the beginning of his or her next
match to replace the cards.
Second Offense: Disqualification.
Levels 3, 4, or 5: First Offense: Double warning plus loss of current
match. The player has until the beginning of his or her next match to
replace the cards.
Second Offense: Disqualification.
2.8 Playing with Worn/Marked Sleeves
Description: This is the same 2.6 or 2.7 above (as appropriate),
except it involves the card sleeves rather than the actual cards. This
includes placing card sleeve holograms onto the backs rather than
the faces of the cards.
Penalties:
All Levels: As per 2.6 or 2.7, as appropriate.
2.9 Failure to Retrieve a Card
Description: A player accidentally loses one or more cards (dropping
it on the floor, etc.) or cards wind up in an opponent's deck.
Note:
This violation assumes the player has played or is playing a game
with the illegal deck (that is, the player has presented the deck to his
or her opponent).
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: First Offense: Caution. Return the cards to the
player's deck.
Second Offense: Warning. Return the cards to the
player's deck.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 3: First Offense: Warning. Return the cards to the player's deck.
If a previous opponent has begun a game with the card in his or her
deck, warning to that player as well.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current game. Return the
cards to the player's deck. If a previous opponent has begun a game
with the card in his or her deck, warning to that player as well.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Levels 4 or 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Return the cards to the player's deck. If a previous opponent has
behun a game with the card in his or her deck, warning plus loss of
current game to that player as well.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
3.0 Tournament Procedure Violations
3.1 Failure to Desideboard/ Illegal Sideboard Use
Description: The player has neglected to reset his or her deck to its
original configuration prior to beginning the first game of a new match
or he or she attempts to sideboard prior to the first game of the
match. This may include misconfigured decks discovered during a
deck check.
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: Not applicable. Decklists not required. If a player has
clearly failed to reset a deck (such as during a constructed event),
enforce Level 3 below.
Level 3: First Offense: Warning. Player must reset his or her deck to
its proper configuration and cannot use his or her sideboard for the
rest of the current match.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match. Player
must reset his or her deck to its proper configuration.
Third Offense: Ejection.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game. Player
must reset his or her deck to its proper configuration and cannot use
his or her sideboard for the rest of the current match.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game. Player
must reset his or her deck to its proper configuration and cannot use
his or her sideboard from the rest of the current match.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
3.2 Misplaying the Play/Draw Rule
Description: Includes all violations of the play/draw rule, including a
player looking at his or her hand prior to deciding whether to play or
draw, the playing player drawing an eighth card, or any player
attempting to sideboard after the play/draw decision has been made.
Penalties:
General: Whenever a player misplays the play/draw rule, if that player
incorrectly drew an eighth card when playing, choose a card at
random from the player's hand and shuffle it into his or her deck.
Level 1: First Offense: Caution
Second Offense: Warning.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 2: First Offense: Notice
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 3 or 4: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Third Offense: Ejection
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
3.3 Misplaying the Standard (all land/ no land) Mulligan Rule
Description: This penalty includes all violations of the regular mulligan
rule except taking a mulligan out of turn (see 3.5 below), including
attempting to mulligan without having drawn all land or no land, or
taking a mulligan without revealing the hand to the opponent.
Penalties:
Level 1 or 2: First Offense: Notice. If that player shuffled and redrew
already, loss of current game as well.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 3 or 4: First Offense: Warning. If that player shuffled and redrew
already, loss of current game as well.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
3.4 Misplaying the Optional (Paris) Mulligan Rule
Description: Includes all violations of the optional mulligan rule except
taking a mulligan out of turn (see 3.5 below), including attempting to
take an opponent's mulligan, drawing too many cards after a
mulligan, and attempting to mulligan after previously declining to do
so.
Penalties:
General: Whenever a player mulligans and draws too many cards,
choose cards at random from that player's hand and shuffle them into
his or her library until that player holds the proper number of cards.
Level 1 or 2: First Offense: Notice. The player may not mulligan again
this game.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 3 or 4: First Offense: Warning. The player may not mulligan
again this game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
3.5 Taking a Mulligan Out of Turn
Description: Under any mulligan rule, a player attempts to declare a
mulligan when it is not his or her turn to do so.
Note:
This does not include attempting to declare a mulligan after
previously declining to do so (Use 3.3 or 3.4, as appropriate, instead)
Penalties:
Level 1: First Offense: Caution. The player must wait for his or
her turn to mulligan.
Second Offense: Warning. The player must wait for his or
her turn to mulligan.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 2: First Offense: Notice. The player must wait for his or
her turn to mulligan.
Second Offense: Warning. The player must wait for his or
her turn to mulligan.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 3: First Offense: Warning. The player must wait for his or
her turn to mulligan.
Second Offense: Waring plus loss of current match.
Third Offense: Ejection
Level 4 or 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
3.6 Misrecording a Decklist (Limited)
Description: In an event with deck-swapping, the recording player
mismarks one or more cards in the "Total" column.
Notes:
This penalty will only have multiple offenses if players are required to
complete multiple decklists during the same constructed tournament
(this excludes the final eight single elimination rounds of Modified
Swiss events.
Penalties:
Levels 1, 2, or 3: Not applicable. Deck-swapping is not required.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next match.
Third Offense: Disqualification
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
3.7 Receiving a Misrecorded Decklist (Limited)
Description: In an event with deck-swapping, the player who will play
the deck recives a misrecorded decklist in which one or more cards
are mismarked in the "Total" column.
Notes:
The rationale behind this violation is that, in many cases, it cannot be
clearly determined whether the error came about as a result of the
recorder or the player. In all such situations, therefore, enforcing a
penalty against both players is deemed to deter cheating.
This penalty will only have multiple offenses if players are required to
complete multiple decklists during the same constructed tournament
(this excludes the final eight single elimination rounds of Modified
Swiss events.
Penalties:
Levels 1, 2, or 3: Not applicable. Deck-swapping is not required.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Third Offense: Warning plus loss of next match
Level 5: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Third Offense: Warning plsu loss of next match.
3.8 Taking Too Much Time to Shuffle (Pregame/Midgame time
limits)
Description: A player takes more than five (5) minutes between
games to shuffle and/or sideboard or takes more than one (1) minute
to shuffle in the middle of a game.
Notes:
If the time limit violation is clearly a stalling tactic, enforce 4.5 (either
instead or in addition to this penalty).
Penalties:
General: In all cases, the judge should ensure that the shuffling is
completed as soon as possible and award extra time as required.
Level 1 or 2: First Offense: Caution.
Second Offense: Warning
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 3: First Offense: Notice
Second Offense: Warning
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match.
Third Offense: Ejection.
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
3.9 Illegal Shuffling and/or Cutting
Description: A player attempts to cut or shuffle his or her deck after
an opponent has performed his or her final shuffle/cut and presented
the deck.
Notes:
Remember, if an opponent elects to shuffle the deck, the player may
then cut it. If the opponent only opts to cut the deck, the player may
not touch it at all.
Penalties:
General: After any illegal touch, the opponent should be allowed to
shuffle or cut (opponent's choice) again; however, the player may not
further touch the deck.
Level 1 or 2: First Offense: Caution
Second Offense: Warning
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 3: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Third Offense: Ejection.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match.
Third Offense: Disqualification
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
3.10 Failure to Provide a Life Counter
Description: A player is playing without a visible means of tracking his
or her life. Optionally, at an event where the judge or organizer has
specified a particular life-keeping device must be employed, the
player is using an illegal life counter.
Notes:
Unless it is pen and paper, judges should never require the use of a
specific life counter. Do not try and force all players to use dice,
Duelist counters, or the like.
Penalties:
Level 1, 2, or 3: First Offense: Notice. The player has two (2) minutes
to acquire a suitable life-keeping device. If he or she does not, loss of
the current game, and the player has an additional ten (10) minutes to
acquire a life counter. After that, loss of current match and the player
has until the beginning of his or her next match to acquire a conter.
Second Offense: Warning. Time scheme as above.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning. Time scheme as above.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match. The
player has until the beginning of his or her next match to acquire a life
counter.
Third Offense: Ejection.
Level 5: First Offense: Warning. Time scheme as above.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
3.11 Failure to Sufficiently Randomize/ Shuffle a Deck
Description: The player has not performed sufficient actions to
suitable randomize his or her deck prior to presenting the deck to an
opponent.
Notes:
At the judge's discretion, this violation may also be enforced against
players who shuffle their decks face up.
This penalty does not include clear-cut cases of deck-stacking or
manipulation. In these cases, enforce 4.13
Penalties:
Level 1 or 2: First Offense: Warning. The player must sufficiently
randomize his or her deck.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match.
Third Offense: Disqualification.
Level 3: First Offense: Warning. The player must sufficiently
randomize his or her deck.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
Level 5: First Offense: Double warning plus loss of current match.
Second Offense: Disqualification.
3.12 Failure to Appear for a Match in a Timely Fashion
(Tardiness)
Description: A player is not in his or her assigned seat when the
current round begins.
Notes:
The player must be "in" his or her seat (that is, sitting down and
getting ready to play). "Nearby" or "touching" the seat does not count.
Penalties:
Levels 1, 2, or 3: Any Offense: Loss of the first game of the match.
After ten (10) minutes, the player loses the second game of the match
and is automatically dropped from the tournament.
Level 4: First Offense: Loss of the first game of the match. After ten
(10) minutes, the player loses the second game of the match and is
automatically dropped from the tournament.
Second Offense: Warning and as above.
Third Offense: Ejection.
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of the first game of the
match. After ten (10) minutes, the player loses the second game of
the match and is automatically dropped from the tournament.
Second Offense: Ejection.
3.13 Failure to Keep Cards Elevated Above the Table
Description: The player allows some or all of his cards in hand
to fall below the level of the table.
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: First Offense: Caution
Second Offense: Notice
Third Offense: Warning
Fourth Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Fifth Offense: Ejection
Level 3: First Offense: Notice
Second Offense: Warning
Third Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Fourth Offense: Ejection
Level 4: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current game
Third Offense: Disqualification
Level 5: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match
Third Offense: Disqualification
3.14 Playing with Non-Approved Proxy Cards
Description: A player uses proxy cards which have not been approved
by a judge.
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: First Offense: Double warning plus loss of current
match. The player has until the beginning of his or her next match to
replace the proxies with genuine Magic cards.
Second Offense: Disqualification
Levels 3, 4, or 5: First Offense: Disqualification
3.15 Replacing Cards Without Notifying a Judge
Description: In a limited event, a player attempts to replace a marked,
worn, or factory-damaged card without notifying a judge. In a
constructed event where the optional rule is in force, a player
attempts to replace any of his or her deck's cards without notifying a
judge.
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: Not applicable. We do not recommend enforcing this
penalty at this level. If enforced, use Level 3.
Level 3: First Offense: Notice.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
3.16 Misplaying the Desleeving Rule
Description: A player attempts to force an opponent to desleeve after
a match has begun or a player refuses to obey an opponent's request
to desleeve.
Penalties:
General: If a player is illegally requested to desleeve, he or she need
not do so.
If a player refuses to desleeve when legally asked to do so, he
or she must desleeve.
Levels 1, 2, or 3: First Offense: Warning.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss current game.
Third Offense: Ejection
Levels 4 or 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Second Offense: Ejection.
3.17 Illegal Sleeve Use
Description: When the optional rule is in force, a player attempts to
play with card sleeves. This violation also covers using sleeves or
other protective devices which have not been approved by the DCI.
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: First Offense: Notice. The player must desleeve.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current game. The player
must desleeve.
Third Offense: Ejection.
Level 3: First Offense: Warning. The player must desleeve.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match. The
player must desleeve.
Levels 4 or 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game. The
player must desleeve.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
3.18 Misplaying the Intentional Draw Rule
Description: Players attempt to declare an Intentional Draw after a
match has begun.
Notes:
This penalty does not include violations where a player attempts to
coerce an opponent into taking or not taking a draw, or otherwise
provides or receives advice about Intentional Draws to or from other
players. In these cases, enforce 4.3 or 4.4, appropriate.
Penalties;
Levels 1, 2, or 3: First Offense (for each player): Warning to both
players. The players must complete the match normally (Judge
oversight recommended).
Second Offense (for a single player): Double warning plus
disqualification.
Level 4: First Offense (for each player): Double warning to both
players. The players must complete the match normally (Judge
oversight recommended). Loss of next match for each player (even if
this match is in the single elimination rounds).
Second Offense: Disqualification
Level 5: First Offense (for each player): Disqualification for both
players (enter the match result as a draw).
3.19 Playing for Ante
Description: Players play for any sort of ante (cut ante from
tournament decks, or set, predetermined ante or for money).
Notes:
This penalty does not apply to agreements to divide or split
tournament prizes.
Penalties:
All Levels: First Offense: Warning.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
3.20 Early Tournament Withdrawl (Limited)
Description: A player attempts to withdraw/ drop from the tournament
prior to the completation of his or her first match.
Penalties:
All Levels: Loss of the current match and then the player is dropped
from the tournament normally.
3.21 Drawing Extra Cards
Description: A player draws more cards than he or she is entitled to or
a player sees cards from his or her deck which could not normally be
seen.
Notes:
If the drawing is excessive, flagrant, or clearly cheating, enforce 4.13
instead.
Penalties:
General: Whenever a player actually draws extra cards, shuffle those
cards (or random cards, if the correct cards cannot be determined)
back into the player's library.
Whenever a player accidentally sees one or more extra cards,
the opponent chooses to leave that card where it is or shuffle the
player's library.
Levels 1, 2, or 3: First Offense: Caution.
Second Offense: Warning.
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match.
Third Offense: Disqualification
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Second Offense: Disqualification
4.0 Player Interaction Violations
4.1 Scouting
Description: A player watches another match in progress and/or
attempts to acquire information about another player's deck.
Notes:
If scouting is excessive, flagrant, or widespread, enforce 4.13 instead.
Penalties:
Levels 1, 2, or 3: First Offense: Caution
Second Offense: Warning
Third Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Fourth Offense: Ejection.
Level 4: First Offense: Caution
Second Offense: Warning
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 5: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
4.2 Taking Notes
Description: A player takes notes about the contents of an opponent's
deck, his or her play strategy, and/or sideboard while a match is in
progress.
Penalties:
General: Confiscate any illegal notes.
Levels 1, 2, or 3: First Offense: Notice
Second Offense: Warning
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
4.3 Providing Outside Assistance/ Coaching
Description: A player provides advice, either verbal or written, to
another player concerning play or sideboarding strategy, a player's
deck contents, or otherwise unavailable information (including
whether or not taking an Intentional Draw is prudent).
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next game
Third Offense: Disqualification
Level 3: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
Level 5: First Offense: Double warning plus loss of current match.
Second Offense: Disqualification.
4.4 Receiving or Soliciting Outside Assistance/ Coaching
Description: A player asks for or otherwise actively seeks out advice,
either verbal or written, from another player, a judge, or a spectator
concerning play or sideboard strategy, a player's deck contents, or
otherwise unavailable information (including whether or not taking an
Intentional Draw is prudent).
Notes:
This violation includes consulting prewritten strategy or sideboarding
notes written by the player him- or herself.
Penalties:
Level 1 or 2: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Third Offense: Disqualification
Level 3: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification
Level 5: First Offense: Double warning plus loss of current match.
Second Offense: Disqualification
4.5 Stalling/ Taking Too Much Time
Description: A player does not take his or her turns in a timely
manner, or does maintain an acceptable tempo of play, or otherwise
attempts to "waste" or manipulate the time limit to his or her
advantage.
Notes:
See 4.6 below for more notes on stalling.
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: First Offense: Warning. Grant an appropriate amount of
extra time.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match.
Third Offense: Disqualification.
Levels 3: First Offense: Warning. Grant an appropriate amount of
extra time.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
Levels 4 or 5: First Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
4.6 The Three Turn Rule
Description: Whenever there is a borderline case of stalling or taking
too much time, and the judge cannot say for certain whether stalling is
occurring, or it is merely a case of slow play, enforce this rule.
Notes:
This rule was created by Jeff Donais in order to give judges
something to enforce in between stalling and not stalling.
Penalty:
All Levels: Any Offense: Each player is granted a full extra three turns
after the time limit has expired. These three turns shall be untimed
and monitored by a judge. Plus as below, based on number of times
this rule has been enforced against a particular player:
First Offense: No additional penalty.
Second Offense: Warning.
Third Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Fourth Offense: Disqualification.
4.7 Misrepresentation
Description: This catch-all category includes all cases where a player
willfully or accidentally misrepresents public information (such as life
total or number of cards in hand), misplays a card (under- or
overpaying mana, misdescribing a card's function), or otherwise
misrepresents some aspect of the game or rules to an opponent or
judge.
Notes:
If more than one turn has elapsed, it is generally better to let the
current game situation stand (despite the error), rather than
exacerbate it by trying to correct something.
Penalties:
Levels 1 or 2: First Offense: Notice. Correct the mistake if feasible.
Second Offense: Warning. Correct the mistake if feasible.
Third Offense: Warning plus loss of current match.
Fourth Offense: Disqualification.
Level 3: First Offense: Warning. Correct the mistake if feasible.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match.
Third Offense: Disqualification
Levels 4 or 5: First Offense: Warning. Correct the mistake if feasible.
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
4.8 Playing the Wrong Opponent
Description: One or more pairs of opponents play against the
wrong opponent in a match.
Penalties:
Levels 1, 2, or 3: First Offense: Warnings to all players. Each proper
pair of opponents has the option of 1) Allowing the match to stand as
a draw or 2) Attempting to play out the match in the time remaining (if
any).
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
Levels 4 or 5: First Offense: Double warnings to all players. Each
proper pair of opponents has the option of 1) Allowing the match to
stand as a draw or 2) Attempting to play out the match in the time
remaining (if any). Each player then loses the first game of his or her
next match.
Second Offense: Disqualification.
4.9 Failure to Agree on Reality
Description: Two opponents disagree on a central fact of the game,
such as life total, mana in mana pool, what someone said, etc. and
the truth cannot be successfully determined.
Notes:
The judge should always first try to reconstruct the actual events
using whatever means are available (player testimony, cards on the
table, recollections of other judges and/or spectators). If the players
agree on what happened or the judge successfully demonstrates the
reality, do not invoke any penalties unless the judge feels one or both
players were intentionally provoking the incident (in this case, use
4.11).
Penalties:
General: In all failure to agree situations, the judge determines who is
correct using whatever means he or she sees fit.
Levels 1 or 2: First Offense: Notice.
Second Offense: Warning
Third Offense: Double warning plus ejection.
Level 3: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current game.
Third Offense: Disqualification.
Level 4: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of current match.
Third Offense: Disqualification.
Level 5: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
4.10 Failure to Obey the Instructions of a Judge
Description: A player ignores, attempts to sidestep, or otherwise
disregards a ruling or direct instruction from a judge or tournament
staff member.
Notes:
In excessive cases, 4.11 may additionally enforced.
Penalties:
Levels 1, 2, or 3: First Offense: Notice
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next game.
Third Offense: Double warning plus disqualification.
Levels 4 or 5: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqulification.
4.11 Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Description: This catch-all includes all acts by one player against
another player, a judge, or a staff member as well as generally
unacceptable behavior. Examples include but are not limited to
excessive profanity, physical or mental intimidation, use of pejorative
terms or slurs, loudness, and rudeness.
Notes:
In the case of clearly excessive and ridiculous offenses (such as
fighting, tirades, physical intimidation, and the like), automatic
disqualification is appropriate.
Penalties:
All Levels: First Offense: Warning
Second Offense: Double warning plus disqualification. Include a
detailed report to the DCI, as such penalties may lead to DCI
sanctions.
4.12 Collusion
Description: One or more players attempt to alter the outcome of a
game, match, or the tournament via an illegal means. Such means
include but are not limited to, bribing opponents, judges, or
tournament officials, rigging drafts by agreeing in advance on what
colors or card types to play, purposefully throwing games or matches
to help another player in some way (either directly or indirectly).
Penalties:
All Levels: First Offense: Disqualification. Include a detailed report to
the DCI, as such penalties may lead to DCI sanctions.
4.13 Flagrant Cheating
Description: This includes any violation of another rule in an
excessive and obviously intentional way, as well things such as
deck-stacking, life total alteration, and the like.
Penalties:
All Levels: First Offense: Disqualification. Include a detailed report to
the DCI, as such penalties may lead to DCI sanctions.
5.0 Draft Violations
5.1 Standard Draft Violations
Description: A player commits any of the common offenses during a
draft, including but not limited to talking or otherwise communicating
with another player at the table, loud or emotional outburts, drafting
out of turn (Rochester draft), drafting early or late (Rochester draft), or
touching both drafted cards and booster at the same time (booster
draft).
Penalties:
All Levels: First Offense: Draft warning (treat as a caution in the
tournament).
Second Offense: Draft warning. If this warning is for the same
thing as the first, the player is disqualified from the draft (enforce 5.3
below).
Third Offense: Draft warning plus the player is disqualified from
the draft (enforce 5.3 below).
5.2 Excessive Draft Violations
Description: A player commits a major draft offense, such as drafting
multiple cards from the same booster, "exchanging" a card from a
booster for a previously drafted card, manipulating the draft (seating,
communication, who is drafting what, etc.).
Penalties:
All Levels: First Offense: Draft disqualification (enforce 5.3 below)
plus enforce any other penalties from the appropriate section.
5.3 Draft Disqualification
Description: A player is disqualified from a draft due to receiving too
many draft warnings or committing an excessive draft violation.
Penalties:
All Levels: First Offense: Warning plus the player must play with only
cards he or she had drafted prior to being disqualified from the draft.
Second Offense: Warning plus loss of next match. The player
must play with only cards he or she had drafted prior to being
disqualified from the draft.
Third Offense: Disqualification.