Game Play Error: Game Rule Violation: Tendrils of Agony

[Jeff Kruchkow]

This situation came up a few weeks ago and I was just wondering how it should have been handled. Basically, a storm player cast tendrils for lethal on his opponent but only had 3B in pool instead of 2BB. This is a Game Rule Violation, but neither play had noticed it until the non-storm player had conceded the game, which means it was far too late to back up. I'm pretty sure that in this case both players get a warning and the game is still a win for the storm player, but the store owner instead had them nullify that game and just replay game 1, which I'm sure is 100% wrong but it was his call.
Anyway, I'd appreciate it if cdr or another mid-level judge could clear this up for me

Also, just to clear this up for me, if a spectator offers outside assistance to a player and the advice is unsolicited, obviously the spectator is dq'd from the tourney if participating and likely asked to leave, however, does the player who received the advice also get a game loss?

[cdr]

This situation came up a few weeks ago and I was just wondering how it should have been handled. Basically, a storm player cast tendrils for lethal on his opponent but only had 3B in pool instead of 2BB. This is a Game Rule Violation, but neither play had noticed it until the non-storm player had conceded the game, which means it was far too late to back up. I'm pretty sure that in this case both players get a warning and the game is still a win for the storm player, but the store owner instead had them nullify that game and just replay game 1, which I'm sure is 100% wrong but it was his call.

I assume this was a regular REL store event? The HJ (and I assume the store owner was HJ) at regular has large leeway to fix problems, but re-doing a game is certainly not supported by the JAR. As a rule mistakes should be left as-is at regular (aside from resolving illegal gamestates) unless it would be very simple to back up to the error.

If the NAP had already scooped up his cards/made it impossible to fix the game state, the concession should stand. If the NAP just verbally conceded and then realized that the just-cast Tendrils was illegal, the Tendrils should be un-done and the game continued.

I would also hope that the HJ satisfied himself that the 3B Tendrils was an honest mistake and not cheats.

There are no captial-W Warnings at regular, just verbal cautions.


Also, just to clear this up for me, if a spectator offers outside assistance to a player and the advice is unsolicited, obviously the spectator is dq'd from the tourney if participating and likely asked to leave, however, does the player who received the advice also get a game loss?

A player does not receive a penalty for unsolicited advice at any REL. That would just be silly.

At regular, outside assistance gets a caution - assuming it was unintentional or the person didn't know it was against the rules. After the first instance the HJ can issue a game loss or harsher penalty at their discretion.

At competitive or professional, OA is a match loss.

At either if there is intent to cheat - ie knowledge that it's specifically against the rules but deliberately done anyway - it's a DQ.

Juding at Regular (http://www.wizards.com/ContentResources/Wizards/WPN/Main/Documents/Magic_The_Gathering_Judging_at_Regular_REL_PDF1.pdf)
Infraction Procedure Guide (http://www.wizards.com/ContentResources/Wizards/WPN/Main/Documents/Magic_The_Gathering_Infraction_Procedure_Guide_PDF2.pdf)