Art and Legality

[Sanguine Voyeur]

How legal would this be in a sanctioned tournament?
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb242/Sacul_Kamadaka/MirrodinsEmptyCore.jpg
I think that it would be, because of;
204.1 The illustration is printed on the upper half of a card and has no game significance. For example, a creature doesn't have the flying ability unless stated in its rules text, even if it's depicted as flying.However, I'm not positive, I remember reading somewhere that there were problems relating to cards with altered art.

[Machinus]

I've seen people play with everything on the card inked out except the words. That would be legal.

[calosso]

legal, as long as you can either clearly read the name of the card or the word box of the card, then it is legal.

[Anusien]

From the Universal Tournament Rules:

Cards used in a tournament may not have writing on their faces other than signatures or artistic modifications. Modifications may not obscure the artwork so as to make the card unrecognizable. If modifications to a card are deemed by the Head Judge to constitute outside notes or unsporting conduct, the player using such cards will be subject to the appropriate provisions of the DCI Penalty Guidelines.

Probably not allowed, but it depends on the head judge. Artistic modifications are allowed, which means getting sharks drawn on Underground Seas or giving words to the Thirst for Knowledge guy* are probably fine. However cards have to be identifiable by the art. There are no clear-cut rules for "artistic modification", but some general rules of thumb: don't cover mana cost, don't cover P/T, don't modify art beyond recognizability. Because it's inherently a judgment call, it depends on the ruling of the head judge. If you get a chance, politely ask the head judge to take a look at the modifications before the tournament, and have un-altered copies on hand to swap them out with if the HJ doesn't allow it. And just because one HJ allows it does not mean another will.

* And by "giving words to the TfK guy" I mean having him say, "Knowledge is delicious!". Any sort of modifications that would include notes or constitute outside assistance are of course, Cheating. All modifications must be inoffensive and not constitute outside assistance. This means marking what cards in your deck are MB versus SB is cheating.

[Sanguine Voyeur]

I don't like that. That's what the rules text and name are for. Not all cards are identifyable by there art. I wouldn't identify this (http://magiccards.info/jr/en/5.html) Counterspell by the art alone. This (http://magiccards.info/jssp/en/13.html) Shard Phoenix isn't to common. This (http://magiccards.info/jr/en/16.html) Armageddon is very similar to Wrath.

[The Rack]

Is there any way we can appeal this rule? It doesn't seem necessary and a little contradictory. People should have the power to have awesome looking drawings on their cards. My 2 cents.

[Sanguine Voyeur]

What if the art was still recognizable, as in this person's (http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=35297) signature?

[Anusien]

What if the art was still recognizable, as in this person's (http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=35297) signature?
I can't say for certain; it's always up to the discretion of the Head Judge.

[Sanguine Voyeur]

That's bull crap.

The legality of my card hangs on the discretion of one person. It might not even be the same person each time. I don't care for that. How many Legacy tournaments are sanctioned anyway?

[Nihil Credo]

I believe you do not risk being left without a legal deck for the event. In case the HJ decides your cards are unfit to be played (for example, because they are way too ruined), you should be issued "judge proxies". AFAIK, it's the only time proxy cards are allowed in sanctioned play.

[Anusien]

I believe you do not risk being left without a legal deck for the event. In case the HJ decides your cards are unfit to be played (for example, because they are way too ruined), you should be issued "judge proxies". AFAIK, it's the only time proxy cards are allowed in sanctioned play.
Untrue. They will not issue a proxy based on an illegally modified card. It is up to you to replace it.


The use of proxy cards is not permitted except under the following conditions:
If a card becomes accidentally damaged or excessively worn through play in the current DCI-sanctioned tournament, the Judge may provide a proxy replacement card at his or her discretion or require the player to sleeve all of his or her cards before play continues.
If a card opened out of sealed product for use in a Limited tournament is misprinted, miscut, or otherwise damaged in a way that would cause the card to be marked, the Judge may provide a proxy replacement card at his or her discretion.

[Nightmare]

That's bull crap.

The legality of my card hangs on the discretion of one person. It might not even be the same person each time. I don't care for that.
That's the rules, not bullcrap. Ultimately, the HJ has the final word on legality of any modifications to your cards. Check with them BEFORE the event if you think anything is questionable. Generally speaking, however, as long as either the picture or the words are clearly readable (and the modding isn't too distracting), most HJ's allow modded cards.

Proxies will only be issued from a Judge if the card becomes damaged through normal play throughout the tournament.


How many Legacy tournaments are sanctioned anyway?Almost all of them.