Once you’ve passed that Level 1 judge test, you gain access to one of the best resources that Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG judges have: the judge email list. There, you can read the answers to questions other judges have asked, and send in your own questions on rulings you don’t quite understand. Upper Deck’s best rulings are there to answer those questions. Kevin Tewart, Dan Scheidegger, Curtis Schultz, Steve Okagawa, and Justin Reilly all take part in addressing any concerns, and getting judges the answers that they need.
In order to get the most out of this resource, you should keep a few things in mind. If you come up against a ruling that you aren’t clear on, you should first search the FAQ on Upper Deck’s website, and then the judge list archives before sending in a question. You can often find the answers there. If one of the rulings gurus has to answer a question that’s already been covered, it takes time away from questions that haven’t been answered . . . and it can be understandably frustrating to keep giving out the same information time and time again. If you don’t find your answer at the FAQ or the list archives, then go ahead and send in your question, but make sure you phrase it in a clear and efficient manner.
Here’s exactly what you should do to make sure you get the information you need.
1) Check the Upper Deck rulings FAQ.
This is a compilation of individual card rulings, alphabetized for your convenience. It’s updated when a new set is released, but it doesn’t contain all the answers. Still, you’d be surprised how many judges never bother to check here before posting their questions! Don’t forget to read over the gameplay FAQs that are posted on the Upper Deck site, as well as the rulebook. These will often tip you off to mechanics-related questions as well.
If you don’t find the information you need there, then your next step should be . . .
2) Search the judge list archives.
Many judges never realize that a huge number of their questions have already been answered at the online archive of the judge list. Most of the time, the ruling you’re looking for can already be found there. Instant gratification! You can view the latest questions that have been posted, or use the search engine to look for a specific ruling. You’ll have better luck with the search engine if you cut back on the information you use as a keyword. Typing in the full name of the card can generate a swarm of useless results. Instead, pick a word in the name of the card that is less likely to appear as card text (such as “enemy” when searching for a ruling on Enemy Controller, since the word “controller” is also used in the effect text of a card). Don’t be afraid to try out different keywords and see if that alters the search results. Make sure you’re spelling the word correctly, too! Monster names, in particular, can be tricky. It might seem like a lot of work on your end, but it helps out the people who have to answer all these questions, and aids them in getting the information you need much more efficiently
If you’ve checked the FAQ, and you’ve made what you consider a determined effort to search the archives, and you still can’t find your answer, it’s time to open up your email program!
3) Ask your question, but put some thought into it!
First, you need to remember that the answer you receive should not only benefit you, but also every other judge on the list. It becomes part of the archive. Since you’re speaking to posterity, you need to help make that information understandable. State the question clearly and concisely in the body of the email, not just as the title. The rulings gang can follow it much more easily when the entire question is there in one place. For instance, if you want to know how Enemy Controller would interact with Deck Devastation Virus, then state that as a question in the body of your email. Don’t just use, “E-Con vs. DDV” as an email subject line and then launch straight into a description of what happened at the tournament. Instead, ask the question straight-up: “Can my opponent use Enemy Controller to prevent me from tributing my Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World with Deck Devastation Virus?” in the body of your email.
Type up your email with care.
Use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation! You aren’t posting on a forum, so resist the urge to include online shorthand and slang. Too many judges send in questions with no capitalization, punctuation, or clear grammatical structure, mixed in with odd internet vernacular. It can be extremely difficult for others to understand what they’re talking about. Use the full name of the cards you are asking about, and not nicknames. A clear email can mean the difference between getting the answer you want, having your question sit in the queue while they decipher your request, or getting an answer to a question you didn’t actually ask.
Include a scenario, especially if it makes it easier to express your question.
Scenarios make it much easier to see what exactly you are asking. Just keep it straightforward and concise, and resist the urge towards theatricality. Something like this works well:
Player A summons (insert first monster here, 1500 ATK)
Player B activates Bottomless Trap Hole
Player A chains Call of the Haunted, targeted (insert second monster here, also 1500 ATK)
Chain Resolves: Call, then Bottomless.
Question: I know that the first monster will be removed by Bottomless Trap Hole. Will the second monster be removed as well?
This is clear and easy to follow, and it doesn’t include any irrelevant information.
Keep rulings questions separate.
It’s all right to ask similar questions involving the same cards in one email, but don’t send a laundry list of multiple, unrelated questions. If the person responding can’t answer all of the questions right away, they have to let the whole thing sit in the inbox, which will keep you waiting. Use a separate email for separate questions. After all, they aren’t charging for individual emails yet.
Don’t send a blizzard of emails when you don’t get your answer right away.
Sometimes the rulings gurus have to consult with other people to verify their answers, so it can take a while. If you don’t get your answer right away, don’t assume that they’re just ignoring you. Take a look at the question you sent and read it objectively. Were you clear? Can the reader understand what you’re asking? If you turned the email in as a writing assignment in school, would you receive a decent grade on it? If you think the problem was poor initial communication on your behalf, go ahead and rewrite the question (taking care to use proper grammar and form), then send it back in. Otherwise, you’re better off waiting. Continuously asking and re-asking the same question is very frustrating for the rulings gurus, and never makes the process move any faster.
There you go—a quick enrichment course on how to get the most out of the judge mailing list. The rulings team works hard, and without them, we’d often be at a loss when judging at an event. Use the information they’ve provided us, and don’t hesitate to add to the rulings by asking your own researched, well-stated questions. We all benefit from new information, so do what you can to make sure we get it.