Notification of Warnings

[Dante]

I'd always assumed that when a judge issued a warning, he told the player(s) being given the warning and explained it.

I ran into this situation last year at Gencon during the main event:

- My opponent [I think it was Michael Simister] casts Timetwister (he's playing Belcher [or maybe long if it wasn't michael]).  A few spells later he wins that game (game 1). 
- Shuffling in between games, I remember him playing his first spell off the new hand into an empty graveyard and think, "oh he shuffled it back in".  I point it out to him and he agrees, but we don't really think much of it (esp since we can't really prove it or anything like that).

I end up winning the match and when we go to sign the match slip, notice some illegible scrawl on it.  I ask the nearby judge and he says that we were given warnings for "failure to keep track of game state", but no one had informed either of the players.  If I hadn't asked, I would never have known....I'm assuming the judge should have told us this when he issued it....

Bill

[Komatteru]

At a PTQ this extended season, I forgot to process a Tangle Wire with one counter on it, while I had a Sapphire Medallion in play, and drew a card.  I heard an "uhh...." from a bystander and realized what I had done.  Now, I had already tapped it as part of the past few Tangle Wire triggers, so it was fairly clear that was going to just tap the Medal.  After I called the judge over and explained to him what had happened, he explained it (he didn't think it mattered too much given the current game state), and I was issued a warning for minor procedural error, with an upgrade to a game loss if it happened again that day.  He wrote the details on the back of the match slip, including the bit about the Tangle Wire, and such, so I can only assume that it was recorded somewhere in the tournament database.

So as far as I know, the judge is supposed to explain the reason for the warning and advise of what will be the penalty if it happens again that day.  That's been my experience when I've gotten one (and the example above is the only time I've gotten an official warning instead of merely a caution, which isn't officially tracked), and, as far as I know, what's supposed to happen.  I mean, a warning isn't much good if you don't know you have it.

[epeeguy]

Yes, the judge is required to tell you that they are actually giving you a penalty when they give it to you (whether it be Caution, Warning, etc.).  I always tell the player directly that I am giving them the penalty and what it is for (e.g., Procedural Error - Major would be a Warning).  Of course, it's possible the judge did say something, and perhaps wasn't as clear as they should have been about it (I've occassionally said something and the player didn't appear to hear me, so I addressed them more directly to get them to acknowledge that I was telling them this).

And yes, all penalties are recorded in DCI Reporter and are submitted to the DCI/WotC when the tournament results are reported.  So, there is a record kept of all penalties issued for that tournament, as well as for that player.

[Dante]

Of course, it's possible the judge did say something, and perhaps wasn't as clear as they should have been about it (I've occassionally said something and the player didn't appear to hear me, so I addressed them more directly to get them to acknowledge that I was telling them this).

No, he definitely didn't say anything to either of us....weird...maybe just one of those things...

[epeeguy]

No, he definitely didn't say anything to either of us....weird...maybe just one of those things...

That's unfortunate to hear then.  Sorry that it happened.