Naming cards and short cuts

[jandax]

Let's say Player A casts a Meddling Mage or Phyrexian Revoker, both good examples because they're creatures with an ability that happens outside of the stack in a different game zone. Let's say this is a sanctioned game setting, REL Casual/Competitive, and I'm interested in Professional as well.

Player A resolves a Mage/Revoker, they name a card using a pseudonym or short cut reference, for example a Mage on Stoneforge (instead of Stoneforge Mystic) or a Revoker on LED (Instead of Lion's Eye Diamond). Does Player A's opponent still get to play/activate those cards or does the name count correctly?

[Anen]

This long thread (http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?27369-Cavern-of-Souls) on Cavern of Souls should answer your question :)

[cdr]

TL;DR version:
- You have to name something legal. Slang names are acceptable as long as it's clear what they mean. If your opponent names something with slang and it's not clear to you what they mean, you need to ask them to clarify.
- As in the thread above, if you use an slang name that happens to match an official name, you may be held to the official name depending on if your opponent is a jerk and other circumstances. Best avoid the ambiguity of unofficial names that match official names.

As far as RELs, there are three RELs: Regular, Competitive, Professional. The rules for Regular are quite different and forgiving, and fit on a single sheet of paper (http://www.wizards.com/ContentResources/Wizards/WPN/Main/Documents/Magic_The_Gathering_Judging_at_Regular_REL_PDF1.pdf). Competitive and Professional are nearly identical though, there's very few instances where anything's different.

[Tammit67]

As far as RELs, there are three RELs: Regular, Competitive, Professional. The rules for Regular are quite different and forgiving, and fit on a single sheet of paper (http://www.wizards.com/ContentResources/Wizards/WPN/Main/Documents/Magic_The_Gathering_Judging_at_Regular_REL_PDF1.pdf). Competitive and Professional are nearly identical though, there's very few instances where anything's different.

Out of curiousity, in what instances are they different? I know spectators cannot interrupt at Professional and that players are held to a higher standard, but beyond that?

[cdr]

Out of curiousity, in what instances are they different? I know spectators cannot interrupt at Professional and that players are held to a higher standard, but beyond that?

IME in practice, spectators have always been able interrupt at Professional - though it's less encouraged and somewhat more difficult since players are often cordoned from spectators at Professional. I'm not sure why that rule is still in there. IMO it never served much purpose.

Professional was originally significantly distinguished from Competitive in terms of penalties etc but the two have been homogenized over time. This is all the IPG has to say about Professional: "Professional level events offer large cash awards, prestige, and other benefits that draw players from great distances. These events hold players to a higher standard of behavior and technically correct play than Competitive events." AFAIK it's pretty much just used as a way to remind players that a higher standard of play is expected at certain events.

It's been my personal opinion for a long time that Professional REL should be done away with. That and judge levels.