The document describes a scenario session for judges to practice handling nuanced game situations. It includes 6 sample scenarios for judges to work through, with details of the game state, actions taken, the desired outcome, and discussion points. The objective is for judges to discuss the scenarios and learn from each other's perspectives. Optional additional scenarios are provided as backups if time allows. An appendix lists all the specific cards required to fully recreate the scenarios.

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