1.
Tournament Format - The tournament is a 5-round Swiss tournament with Single-Elimination top-8. Lord Bolas wants to test the mettle of those who seek his audience, so the Top-8 Planeswalkers will have access to Sideboards.
Swiss Rounds - Lord Bolas allows any card that is currently available. This is best of 3 games, no sideboards. Recording/Streaming is not a requirement for the swiss rounds, though it is highly encouraged.
Top-8 - The top-8 players after the swiss rounds will play single-elimination based off their record for pairings. The Top-8 players will be allowed to utilize the 15-card sideboard for use with their deck. This is best of 5 games. Recording/Streaming is required for anyone who is in the Top-8 as this is when most people view the games, including the hoary wurm himself.
2.
Decklists - Decklist are open viewing. Each player will register decklists to me in secret via email and then published once all submissions have been received. Once you have settled on you decklist, send it in to me by sending me a PM/email. The timelines for decklist submittal are below:
60-card decklist (including sideboards) need to be turned in starting 15 May and are due no later than
20 May. This is what actually signs you up for the tournament.
The email to me needs to be in the following format:
Subject line should be "XXXXX tournament decklist for YYYYY", where XXXXX is the tournament you are entering and YYYYY is your the name you go by on your preferred system.
Your name (i.e., the name you want to go by in the tourney)
Your contact information (such as reddit info and/or NGA username, YouTube and/or Twitch.tv account information...your opponent needs a way to contact you!)
Decklist Name (example: Gruul Aggro, Monsters Inc., etc…)
The deck you are using (example below)...
2x Aethersphere Harvester
1x Nichol Bolas, Ruler of Amonkhet
4x Swamp
etc...
Decklist will be posted on the weekend of 20 May on MagicDuelsWikia. I will post on here when that happens.
**It is your responsibility as a participant to ensure the posted decklist matches the decklist you intend to play before the tournament commences, so check the player decklist link and ensure what is posted is correct.**
3.
Illegal Cards - The first penalty for playing an illegal card (otherwise known as a card NOT on your submitted decklist) is a game loss. The second penalty is a match loss. The third penalty is tournament expulsion. I suggest creating a special copy of your tournament decks and giving it a unique name so that you never modify it by mistake.
There is no statute of limitations on this, though it will not change results retroactively.
4.
Recording/Streaming - Streaming and/or recording games for the Swiss-rounds of play are not required for this tournament, though it is highly recommended in case there is need of Arbitration. Without a video to watch I cannot arbitrate the match, so if there are any discrepancies you will have to replay the games in question.
Streaming/Recording is required for Top-8 matches. Players unable to record/stream for Top-8 will be dropped and fed to the Manticores.The next eligible player will take their spot in the finals, at my discretion. Once the game is over, both players will send their videos so Bolas and his minions can critique your gameplay.
If you decide to record and/or stream, games can be recorded via 3rd party recording/streaming software (such as OBS or other suitable freeware) via Twitch using autoarchive, Beam, or you can use youtube streaming services.
If you do stream your match via Twitch.tv, Beam, or Youtube, I would prefer that you either minimize the chat window for the match, but no one is required to do so by any rules. I realize many players (and audience members as well) like to interact during the match, and that is great. However, if I feel there is a perception of coaching and/or cheating, the player will be punished accordingly.
Remember, this is a free, fun, tournament. Let the players play, stay out of your opponents Twitch stream, and stay out of their decision making.
5.
Disconnects - If there is a disconnect, we will assume that it was unintentional and replay the match UNLESS it is clearly obvious that one of the players had an insurmountable advantage and would have likely won. This needs to be agreed upon by BOTH players, and I need to know this via email that you both were in agreement. Otherwise, replay that game.
Remember this is a friendly tournament that aims to promote a fun and competitive tournament environment. Don't be a dick...that’s my job as the ever-faithful servant of Bolas. But also, don’t be afraid to call an issue to my attention; just be respectful.
6.
Bugged Cards - A lot of these have been corrected, some have not, and some might be new. Instead of going over individual cards, here's the basic rule: You, the player, will have (hopefully) been practicing with your deck for some time and know any buggy interactions that occur with the cards you have selected for your deck.
Regardless of what you can do, don't do anything that is contrary to the rules of the cards/game as written. If the game forces you to do something that is contrary to the rules, make it right (ie, if you get away with casting/doing something for free and there should have been a cost, add the appropriate mana to your mana pool and let it drain at the end of the current phase).
If there are any questions or something happens mid-game, finish the game and send me video of the event, if you have it...I’ll make the rules call. If there is no video available from either player and you have a rules issue, replay the game.
If a card causes a disconnection, before the next match starts, Lord Bolas will allow all players will have the option to replace the card(s) in question if it is in their original decklist for the rest of the tournament. If players do not change the card out, any further bugged interaction caused by that card, either by the original player or others in the tournament, will cause that player to receive a game loss.
7.
Arbitration - Nicol Bolas’ servant, Kryder, is the judge for this tournament. All rules, arbitration, prize distribution, demerits, etc...will be conducted by him for the entirety of the tournament and all decisions are final as Bolas does not concern himself with mere mortals.
If you are recording/streaming and there is need for arbitration, FINISH THE GAMES AND MATCH and send it to me with details including time stamps so I can arbitrate the issue as fairly as possible.
If you and your opponent are not recording/streaming and you require arbitration you need to replay that game as I have no means of arbitrating. It pays to record/stream.
8.
Cheating - Don't cheat. Pretty much that simple. This includes stream sniping, taking advice from your audience while on twitch (also known as coaching), someone else watching your opponents gameplay and feeding you information, etc...penalty for cheating, whether it is defined in the rules as written or defined at a later date, is immediate DQ and ban from the tournaments at my discretion.
If you think it could be cheating, you probably shouldn't be doing it. If you have questions about it, PM me soonest.
If you think your opponent is cheating or has an illegal decklist, if you are recording/streaming send me the video with the timestamp of the occurrence. If you are not recording/streaming, try and take a screenshot of the offense and send it to me.
9.
Leaving the Tournament - The tournament takes a long time from start to finish to wrap up, and we can’t see the future. Things happen; real-life syndrome gets the best of us, and that’s to be expected from time to time. But, I want to make exiting a bit more standardized.
The drop point for the tournament is after the 3rd round has been played. After that time, contact me and I will gladly drop you from the tournament, no problems.
If you have to leave prior to the end of the 3rd round, contact me and let me know you are leaving due to real-life issues.
If you have to leave in the middle of a round, contact me AND your opponent letting us know you are conceding and dropping from the tournament.
The major takeaway is when someone leaves the tournament, any opponents that person has played will have a harder time having a chance getting into the top-8. If you can, play for glory, play your matches, and give your opponents the best shot you can.
10.
Sideboard - A sideboard is a group of additional cards the player may use to modify his or her deck between games of a match. The sideboard will consist of no more than 15 cards. The player may use these cards in his or her main deck during all games after the first one in a match during the top 8, final 4, and final match.
Before the beginning of the second or subsequent game in a match, players may change the composition of their
deck by exchanging cards from their deck for cards in their sideboard. This is a one-for-one exchange, meaning if you started the match with a 60-card deck and a 15-card sideboard, after sideboarding your deck will still have 60-cards.
Players are not required to reveal how many cards they have swapped from their main deck to their sideboard.
The deck must each be returned to their original compositions before the first game of each match.
If a penalty causes a player to lose the first game in a match before that game has begun, neither player may use cards from his or her sideboard for the next game in the match.
11.
Wheaton's Law - Don't be a dick. Seriously. Only those deemed worthy by Nicol Bolas himself have that privilege, and only if it's absolutely necessary. Your job is to have fun and try not to get turned into a zombie. If you have a problem with the gameplay, getting together with your opponent, the way something went down in the game...whatever the problem, the correct answer is to let me know and I will deal with it.
If any play, interaction, bug, etc...gets under your skin, puts you on tilt, gets you salty, whatever...stop and give yourself 5 minutes between a game to chill and get your head on straight. This is a friendly competition, so treat everyone with respect (including yourself).
One last thing...
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