Change Log - Penalty Guidelines

July 14, 2023 [current]

1.3. Updated and expanded partial fix explanation and added a list of typical partial fixes.

1.4. Removed reference to IP3 for intellect penalties.

3.1. Fixed grammar.

3.3. Missed trigger procedure updated to use rewinds and partial fixes (similar to GRV) with an upgrade path for when the procedure can not remove a significant advantage.

4.1. Reduced IP3 to IP2 for tardiness penalties.

4.8. Fixed grammar.

5.9. Fixed an example that ended mid-sentence.

A. Quick Reference Table

  • Collapsed Missed triggers into a single entry with Caution penalty
  • Updated IP3 to be IP2 for Tardiness

March, 31, 2023

General Overall terminology, spelling, and grammar update.

1.4. Updated links to the DQ forms for the DQ penalty

3. Updated language clarifying subsequent infraction upgrades. The third time a player commits an gameplay infraction of the same type (except FTMGS), it is upgraded by 1 severity level.

3.1. Updated Game Rules Violation to remove opponent choice. The judge now decides what is the best way to fix the gamestate, either rewind or partial fix.

3.3.1. Updated grammar in Beneficial Missed trigger, added a few more examples to the definition.

3.3.2. Updated Detrimental Missed Trigger to clarify that if part of a trigger is detrimental, then the entire trigger is Detrimental. Also added a few more examples to the definition.

3.4. Updated Looking at Extra Cards to accommodate for previously known cards (through opt and reveal), and increased the threshold for looking at extra cards (leading to shuffling the deck) to 5.

4. Updated language clarifying subsequent infraction upgrades. The second time a player commits an tournament infraction of the same type (except Tardiness), it is upgraded by 1 severity level.

4.1. Updated Tardiness to clarify that tardiness starts when the round timer begins.

4.5. Updated name and descriptions from Deck Contents error to Card-Pool Contents Error. Rephrased a few points to align with the new TRP.

4.6. Fixed example list for Presenting Cards Error to be consistent with rest of the document.

4.6. Updated references from sideboard to inventory to be consistent with changes.

4.10. Update Outside Assistance to incorporate giving game losses to spectators for their next game instead of their current one, and removing them from the play area.

4.10. Added Communication Violation

4.7.1 Update example about looking at drafted cards to be more specific to non-review periods.

5.9. Updated wording to include conceding up to and including when time is called to align with policy set out in the Tournament Rules and Policy.

June 27, 2022

Missing

February 11, 2022

Whole document: Updated IP5 penalties to become IP4 penalties to reduce the insurmountable odds presented as opposed to a straight game loss.

Whole document: Updated to use non-gendered pronouns in various examples.

Quick Reference Table: Fixed, removed row about communication until future revisions define it specifically, and updated penalties to correct values.

September 24, 2021

1.1 Correction: Updated Correction to Caution to be consistent with terminology used in the rest of the document.

1.3 Intellect Penalty - Minor (IP2) / Major (IP5): Modified how IP penalties work for the players starting second at the beginning of the game. IP counters are reduced by one whenever you draw to the hero’s intellect (except the very first draw during the start of game procedure (section 12.8 of the Comprehensive Rules.)).

1.4 Game Loss: Added result of a game loss penalty for both players.

2.1 Missed Trigger: Rewritten and reformatted the section to be easy to read and navigate. Clarifications on what is considered a missed trigger, especially regarding rule-sharking.

2.3 Hidden card error: Expanded section to cover alternative cases of hidden card errors, such as picking up arsenal or intimidated cards. Changed the fix for both Casual and Professional.

2.4 Games Rule Violation: Changed turn cycle, to “same turn” or “not the same turn” to avoid ambiguity with the definition of turn cycle.

2.5 Failure to maintain game state: Minor grammar fix.

3. Tournament Errors: Fixed list of contents.

3.8 Insufficient shuffling: Removed Pile Shuffling as process for sufficiently randomizing a deck. Change pronouns to be gender neutral.

3.19 Rules Sharking: Added new section detailing Rule Sharking examples and penalties. This was previously covered under Unsportsmanlike Conduct, but now has its own section.

July 16, 2021

2.1) Missed Trigger:

  • Updated to clarify that a Missed Detrimental Trigger is considered to be a Games Rule Violation.
  • Updated to clarify that a player cannot intentionally miss a trigger with a beneficial effect.

2.4) Games Rule Violation: Updated Casual and Professional Fix wording for clarity (no functional change).

May 24, 2021

3.18) Conceding: Added to clarify what to do when a concession is requested or offered during a match.

December 1, 2020

Tournament tier table - Updated with new programs.

February 10, 2020

3.5) Presenting an illegal deck: Added to clarify what to do if an illegal deck is presented at the beginning of a game.

3.9) Improper shuffling: Added to clarify what to do if a deck has been shuffled when it shouldn't have been.

February 5, 2020

1.3) Intellect Penalty - Minor (IP2) / Major (IP5): Updated to clarify how IP penalties work when issued before a game begins . "If an IP penalty is issued to a player before a game begins, the number of cards that player starts the game with in their hand, will be affected by the IP penalty."