I have a question regarding tournaments. Are you allowed to keep a notepad/pen handy and take notes? Is nothing allowed on your table other than your deck/life-counter/dice?

I would like more to note play mistakes, combo ideas, etc. But not sure if it is not allowed because of the potential of writing someones decklist, etc

Thanks

Smazzurco said:

Yes you can write what ever you want as long as your not stalling the game to your opponents if your taking more time writting then playing the game . But that is ultimately determined by your scout.

Most of the time the only time you have a pad and pen on your table is to keep track of each others vitality, whether it's vitality loss or vitality gain..

I've never seen anyone use a pad to jot down cards in there opponents deck.. Although I'm not saying it's wrong but it's not right either..

you are allowed to take notes, on whatever you wish. maybe jotting down amount of blocks in hand after a bitter peek, etc.

but whatever you do, you have to be quick about it, since it can be construed as stalling. (maybe jot down notes when in between turns or when it won't hold up your playing)

thanks, just wanted to make sure i wouldn't be "penalized" for having a notepad on the table during regionals/PotM etc

Ya, i hate "stalling". I usually rifle thru my opponents discard (if i am gonna olcadans) during their turn if possible, etc.

I try to use my "thinking time" while the opponent is thinking.

Thats a big part of why i want a notepad. I make hasty play mistakes sometimes, and want to record my mistakes.

Would also be handy to record things that shut me down, things i was able to shutdown, etc.

Smazzurco said:

Ya best thing to do is to do it during your opponents turn and just let them know if you have responses when they do something.

Even though you can take notes, please make sure to realise that it dosent always mean it's going to be accepted. Collusion is technically against the rules, if you write down combos and decklists and such and then share with the next opponent that player faces you run a **** fine chance of getting kicked out the event for unsportsman like conduct. Not saying you would do that, just in general.

I used to always take relatively detailed notes for the tourney report afterward. But I've never really had any complaints since I write quickly and it never slows the game.

But that was back in the days of YGO. Nowadays...it'd be nice to take notes. I just always forget to.

I always take notes when playing in major events.

Things I keep track of in short hand.
My life (what did the damage)
Thier Life (again, what did damage)
Their hand if revealed via Bitter rivals or some similar effect, or if they are slip up and show me a card. Or if I added cards to thier hand via lord raptor, or I amy's assistance and they draw the top card.
My momentum, if I know whats in my momentum for effects like chain throw, lord of the makai, billiard player, Kabuki Artist or other momentum related cards.
Thier momemtum in certain cases when they may try to use it, so I know what I'm dealing with.
And I'll number my Lynnette's shops and thier lynette's shops so that I won't ever forget what they are, and so that they don't pull a fast one on me like switching targets during gameplay. (Ei, switch program for chester's backing or something crazy like that).
For example, I may put CT for chain throw, or BP for bird of prey, or KS for Kasumi Suzaku. I won't write down the whole name as that will take too much time and my pad is public knowledge if they may ask to see it (which no one ever does) and they may not understand what I wrote down.

PS, I won't do that for casual games, but I always bring the pad for major events.

Protoaddict said:

Easy answer to that is to, after the match is over, give whatever paper you've been using to record the opponent's details to the opponent.

Cascade said:

I am pretty sure you can read what ever their writting during the match as well.

I did it at both UK Nats, but only so it helped when I reported the event on the forums.

I'll just share that it is illeagle in the rules to mark your momentum, so no taking notes to remeber what order your momentum is in . Otherwise keeping track of life totals, damage done, what stuff is copying what should be fine, but you may want to talk with the scout before the event and tell him what you want to do, talk with your opponent too before the match would also be a good thing if your taking notes on the match.

Umigame

Umigame said:

Are you sure about not being able to write it down? I know you cant place it in special ways (like a different pile of stuff to remember) but I dont see why you cant write down whatever you want

u definitely can. u can also stack it how u like (orderwise that is) u just cant like turn ur attacks sideways and such to mark it. but ur more than allowed to write it down. Dave ruled it at 2007 Worlds at least.

by "marking" it was meant that your momentum had to be in an orderly pile, with no way to differentiate 1 card from the others. ex: 1 card jutting out past the rest, or in a separate pile, or upsidedown, etc.

you most certainly can make notes on a separate medium.

GouHadou said:

you can also discard any momentum for an efect. so you can discard the botom card of your momentum if your using andrew olexa's hack and want to give the check -6 rather then -4.