I don't think rules interpretation should be left open to "common sense," considering how much that differs from person to person. In fact, there shouldn't be any interpretation at all. It's a shame that X-Wing is still the band-aided mess it was when I stopped playing, and I certainly wouldn't use it as a point of comparison over Magic's comprehensive rule book.

I have a lot of respect for the quality of product that FFG routinely churns out, but it's always seemed to me that they deliberately ignore what everyone else in the market is doing. If you know that there's a company with 20+ years of successful game-building and you don't put in the time and energy to study their habits, then at best you're making a half-assed effort to create and promote your own product. Establishing a judge program now certainly would be putting the cart before the horse, but only because there isn't anything worth adjudicating at present. The BRB is what, 20 some-odd pages? Let FFG print something more comprehensive and then we can talk about implementing a judge program. Or, you know, they can just tack on an FAQ entry explaining how layers work...

An ongoing court case that may completely alter how Wizards, and by extension everyone else, has to handle their Judges is not in anyway an "old controversy". It's an outstanding issue that will heavily influence how FFG would have to implement such a program. FFG may very well be waiting for a ruling to come down in regards to that suit before implementing a program that could be completely upended if the courts rule that MtG Judges are employees and not Independent Contractors, and that very well might happen.

You keep saying you're an MtG Judge, and as such we should trust you on the subject, but you've made a number of posts that do not garner confidence that you fully understand your own relationship with Wizards. They do certify your status and level and they have the ability to suspend you, that TOs have to negotiate compensation with you directly instead of through Wizards doesn't mean you're really independent.

Buy I whole heartedly agree that FFG needs some sort of program to ensure events are ran consistent with policy. The weakest point of their Organized Play program is the lack of floor rules and consistent adjudication of their rules in general. You travel to a Regional or SC, and you have no guarantee that the people running the event know what they are doing. It's more of a problem with the smaller games then the larger ones, but is absolutely an issue overall. You don't know event to event how certain issues of player ettiquite will be handled because there are no clear guidelines on the subject to begin with and no system in place to ensure those running the event know those guidelines.

This will be especially true of Destiny in its first SC and Regional season. Stores will get events that have no business running events.

Having played games with Registered judges that have to take test to qualify and what not you run into the exact same discrepancies, at the end of the day this is a hobby and unless you are having full time fully trained judges running tournaments then there will be inconsistency (hell even then there will be inconsistency look to any professional sport).

I just want to see some Tournament Guidelines already.

I don't think rules interpretation should be left open to "common sense," considering how much that differs from person to person. In fact, there shouldn't be any interpretation at all.

It's a ******* game mate. A game set in a universe with space wizards and laser swords.

Sounds like you'd rather be playing high stakes poker in vegas or something.

No, I just don't like arguing over rules and poorly templated cards.

I don't think rules interpretation should be left open to "common sense," considering how much that differs from person to person. In fact, there shouldn't be any interpretation at all.

It's a ******* game mate. A game set in a universe with space wizards and laser swords.

Sounds like you'd rather be playing high stakes poker in vegas or something.

It also isn't exactly a cheap game to play. It should have a well constructed and regulated ruleset to go with it. Common sense is a useless distinction in gaming.

FFG uses it's own OP employee's as judges + local people for large events. Usually all you have to do is apply. That's how I became a National's judge at Origins last year.