1. The Perfect Judge(and Her Community) DCI Judge Conference Indianapolis, June 3rd 2011Bernd Buldt, L1Fort Wayne, IN

2. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/11Overview1.Warm-Up: Three scenarios2.Introductory remarks: Two judge personalities3.The Educator: Profile, strengths & weaknesses4.The Punisher: Profile, strengths & weaknesses5.The Punicator: the perfect judge6.The Punicator and her community7. Wrap-Up: Three scenarios 3. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/111. Warm-Up: Three scenarios Scenario 1Laura, who regularly plays FMN at a small store in a nearby town, plays for the first time in one of your events; it is a GPT. At the beginning of Round 1 youre called over by Chris, one of your regular player. Chris reports that after deciding to take a mulligan, Laura drew seven cards. There is no dispute as to facts. Laura insists, however, that according to the posted house rules at her regular FNM location the first mulligan is always free. You call the store and find out that this house rule does indeed exist. What do you think is the infraction (if any) and what the appropriate penalty (if one is applicable)?1. The infraction is GPEImproper Drawing at Start of Game. Since Laura was actingin good faith, however, you give no penalty but let her know what the rules actuallysay. You then remedy the situation according to the IPG.2. The infraction is GPEImproper Drawing at Start of Game and Laura receives awarning, no matter what house rules are in place at the store she usually plays at.You let her know what the rules actually say and then remedy the situation accordingto the IPG.3. The infraction is CheatingManipulation of Game Materials and Laura receives a DQsince she did something intentionally against the rules to gain an advantage.4. None of the above. 4. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/111. Warm-Up: Three scenarios Scenario 2An Urzas Block Sealed is run as a side event at a PT. Mary, a L2 judge currently off- duty, participates in the event as a player. When players get confused about some card interaction at the table right next to her, Mary leans over and provides players (who dont know she is a judge) with a detailed and thorough explanation. Noticing that somethings going on, the HJ of the Urzas Sealed event approaches and inquires. If you were the HJ, what would your reaction be?1. There is no infraction on either side. You thank Mary for her help, wish all playersgood luck, and leave the table.2. Although no infraction occurred, you advise Mary and the players involved to call overa judge next time a rules question pops up.3. You determine that Mary was providing outside assistance and give her a ML.4. None of the above. 5. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/111. Warm-Up: Three scenarios Scenario 3You run a Grand Melee which draws many players youve never seen at the store before, among them many young players. During the first turn you watch one of the new players, maybe 12 years old, to look at his hand during the ending phase of his turn, to briefly hesitate, and then to pass the turn marker. Standing right behind him, you notice that he kept eight cards in his hand. What do you think is the appropriate approach here?1. Considering the age of the player and his presumed inexperience, you educate him onthe rules and make him discard one card from his hand. Since this is a causal, non-rated event, you dont issue any penalty.2. The players behavior qualifies as General Unwanted Behavior according to theJudging at Regular REL document. You make him discard one card from his hand,give him a stern chat about what is expected at your store, and warn him that nexttime this will result in a DQ.3. The infraction is FraudIntentionally Violating Rules and constitutes a SeriousProblem according to the Judging at Regular REL document. You DQ the playerand ask him to leave the venue.4. None of the above 6. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/111. Warm-Up: Three scenarios Quick PollOption1 2 34Scenario 1 -17--17Scenario 2 116--17Scenario 3 14 1 -217(We shall return to this little exercise towards the end) 7. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/112. Introductory Remarks: Two Judge Personalities a) While were on the floor, we seem to talk about rules and policies, but what we really bring to the conversation are our views informed by what beliefs and values we cherish. CR: not much room to deviate or to discuss MTR/IPG/JAR: much room to discuss and judgesbring personal views, beliefs, and values to thetable why this can be a very gratifying experience 8. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/112. Introductory Remarks: Two Judge Personalities b) Discussions on judge-L exhibit the same pattern CR: not much room to deviate or to discuss MTR/IPG/JAR: much room to discuss and judgesbring personal views, beliefs, and values fromoutside Magic to bear on the judging issues (why this can be a not so gratifying experience) 9. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/112. Introductory Remarks: Two Judge Personalities c) Summarizing my experience lead me to condense it all into two stereotypes: The Educator and the Punisher Not exhaustive: Melvin, the cocky player-judge, etc. Disclaimer: As unscientific/controversial as most stereotypes we know from personal psychology, but still useful, I shall suggest, for its limited purpose 10. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/112. Introductory Remarks: Two Judge Personalities d) The two stereotypes serve a similar function Timmy, Johnny, and Spike serve for Magic R&D, ie, Understanding the player community to make a good (better) product vs. understanding the judge community to become a more valuable member of it After numerous years, weve come to the conclusion that there are three basic types of Magic players. The fancy term for these categories is "psychographic profiles." A psychographic profile separates players into categories based on their psychological make-up. What motivates that player to play? What kind of cards do they like? What kind of things encourages that player to keep on playing? Very few players fall into one specific psychographic profile. Most players have elements that overlap numerous profiles.(Mark Rosewater) After fewer years and less research, Ive come to the conclusion that there are two basic types of Magic judges based on their psychological make-up. What motivates someone to become a judge? What kind of tasks or roles does she like? What kind of things keep a judge hooked? What influences her overall attitudes and concrete decisions when policies leave her with some wiggle room? (me) 11. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/11 Disclaimer Any resemblance to any judge living or dead is purely coincidental. No similarity to any person either living or dead is intended or should be inferred. 12. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/113. The Educator: Profile, strengths & weaknesses Profile Motto: KIFKIF (Keep it fair keep it fun) Anthropology: All magic players are good kids who want to have a good time Preferred posture: Squatting next to the table while giving the ruling Greatest accomplishment: Considerably improved turn-outs at 3 local stores Ethics: Female (briefly explain Carol Galligans different voice of care) Outlook on Life: Life is good and were all one big family Color Alliances: White-Green Speculations as to individual causes 13. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/113. The Educator: Profile, strengths & weaknesses Strengths (as identified during an open-ended brainstorming session) Judge-Player Interactions stronger at REL Reg: educating, explaining, building community, not alienating players good qualities to have at side events at REL Comp and Pro as well, for the reasons mentioned same applies to GPTs and PTQs, since here is where most players learn how play at REL Comp, while many players at store level OP are perfectly happy with kitchen table Magic and its rules Judge-Judge/TO Interactions good qualities to have for building community among judges and TOs as well better for self-development since these attitudes encourage continuous interactions with other judges (more willing to learn, less likely to insist on being right) more charismatic? at least making fellow-judges more at ease 14. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/113. The Educator: Profile, strengths & weaknesses Weaknesses (as identified during an open-ended brainstorming session) Judge-Player Interactions propensity to be less vigilant propensity to delay events by taking too much time for educating players potential to be pushed and be taking advantage of by players potential of disservice by deviating and being overly accommodating potential to get more easily frustrated (lot of investment with little in return) more likely to be overwhelmed when a situation asks for harsh penalties Judge-Judge/TO Interactions 15. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/114. The Punisher: Profile, strengths & weaknesses Profile Motto: Cheaters of the world: well get you! Anthropology: All magic players are naturally born cheaters Preferred posture: Watching the floor with arms crossed before the chest Greatest accomplishment: DQed 3 players within 15min at her first tournament Ethics: Male (justice and rule-based) Outlook on Life: Life is struggle and everyone is on her own Color Alliances: White-Black Speculations as to individual causes 16. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/114. The Punisher: Profile, strengths & weaknesses Strengths(as identified during an open-ended brainstorming session) Judge-Player Interactions making experienced players more at ease b/c improved perception of fairness dispensing justice and over-the-top self-confidence creates feelings of assuredness less likely to delay a tournament faster decisions (not necessarily better ones, though) has no problems with DQs and other harsh penalties Judge-Judge/TO Interactions better role model for inexperienced judges by instilling confidence raising the performance bar for everyone on staff 17. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/114. The Punisher: Profile, strengths & weaknesses Weaknesses(as identified during an open-ended brainstorming session) Judge/Player Interactions potential for being perceived as intimidating by players might miss the line between enforcing and punishing (magic judges are not cops cracking down) might miss the line between being right and being righteous To such a punishing hammer everything a player does might look like an infraction nail Judge-Judge/TO Interactions potential for being perceived as intimidating by other judges less likely to listen and learn from others 18. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/115. The Punicator, the perfect judge Is there such a thing as the perfect judge? are we frustrating ourselves by raising the bar too high fallacies that come with nave notions of perfect; multidimensionality and irresolvable conflicts the perfect judge, if she exists, probably is the judge community Idea and reality, growth and goals the function ideals may have in identifying areas for growth The Puni(sher/Edu)cator The Punicator as combing the strengths of both the Educator and thePunisher while avoiding their weakness by compensation (Es strengthsnullify Ps weaknesses and vice versa) an ideal that defines a limit point, while trying to extend and to maximizeones toolkit as judge 19. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/116. The Punicator and her community Bias and performance Professional ethics vs personal ethics Community: Input and feedback as remedies Talk, talk, talk (sapere aude & gnoti seauton) Role of shadowing and reviews 20. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/117. Wrap-Up: Three scenarios Free mulligan Why its considered cheating, [0]-ruling on judge-L Off-duty judge and OA Happened at Worlds 2008, where a judge wanted to DQ a fellow-judge forthat offense. (I dont know, though, what actually came out of it.) Kid at Grand Melee Happened at GenCon 200?, where this little kid turned out to bea real menace later by playing an (almost) infinite turn combo deck, stallingthe whole Grand Melee for hours and hours with all the turn markers pilingup to his right 21. Bernd Buldt: The Perfect Judge (and her community) Judge Conference, Indianapolis, 06/03/11Thank you!PS: I wish to extend my sincere thanks to an incredible responsive group of judges, ranging from L0 to L4. I hope to provide the full contents in form of a judge article anytime soon.