1. Getting Started on Magic-League
Q. I want to play on Magic-League. How can I do that?
A. The Getting Started on Magic-League guide contains all the information you need to get yourself ready to play on Magic-League!
Q. What do you guys use to play on Magic-League?
A. Wikipedia contains a list of Magic: The Gathering games and software. We allow players to use whatever play application they wish. The most commonly used application to play on Magic-League is currently Magic Workstation.
Due to legal reasons, we unfortunately cannot provide players with downloads for specific applications.
Q. I'm not sure how to use the play application I downloaded. Help me!
A. Due to legal reasons, we cannot provide specific help or guides for users. Magic: The Gathering forums often have sections dedicated to guides and help with play applications. Similarly, searching engines such as Google and the websites of the play applications themselves often have guides to help users set up their play applications.
2. IRC
Q. What is IRC?
A. IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. It is the medium through which Magic-League's chat rooms operate. Most people connect to an IRC network through an IRC client. Magic-League allows for users to connect to the IRC network Magic-League resides in without the need of an IRC client.
Q. What is an IRC client?
A. An IRC client is a program designed specifically for connecting to IRC networks. Although some people may use web-based clients to connect to a network to begin with, many people over time choose to move to a dedicated IRC client for functionality. With a dedicated client you have a wider range of options at your disposal, from setting what your client does on connecting to a network to specialized scripts to extend a client's functionality.
3. Tournaments
Q. I see an announcement for an open tournament on IRC. How do I join it?
A. Refresh the Magic-League home page. If registration is still open for a tournament, there will be a panel in the middle of the page allowing you to join the tournament. Clicking on it will take you to a page where you can enter your details and provide a decklist (if the format requires one).
Once you submit your details you will be taken to a page with your registration details, along with security codes for your decklist if you provided one. It is important that you check that the security code in the play application of your choice matches the code listed on the website. If it isn't, you should join #judges4you immediately and ask a judge to help you resolve your issue.
Q. I joined a sealed tournament. Where do I build my deck?
A. When the Deckbuilding Round is announced in #magic-league, refresh the home page. Underneath the panel that appears for you to enter the result of your match, there will be a link that says "You can build your sealed deck by clicking here". Clicking it will take you to the website's sealed deck generator, where you will be able to build your deck.
Once you build your deck and submit it, you will be given your decklist that you can import into the play application of your choice.
Q. I tried importing my sealed deck but I was told there were errors in importing it. What do I do?
A. First, check that your security code in your play application matches the security code listed on the Magic-League website. If it doesn't, join #judges4you and have a judge help you resolve the issue.
Q. I'm in my first tournament and the first round started. What do I do?
A. Undertake the following steps:
- Contact your opponent. You can do this via private message with the command /msg nickname
- Decide with your opponent on the play application being used and the method of connection
- Connect to your opponent and play!
Q. My match is over. How do I report the result?
A. Refresh the Magic-League home page. There will be a panel in the middle of the screen for you to enter the results of your match with your opponent.
Q. When does Magic-League run tournaments?
A. Magic-League tournaments can be categorised into two types of tournaments based on when they run:
- Pre-scheduled tournaments are scheduled in advance by our Tournament Planning Director. A list of tournaments that are scheduled along with the times they are scheduled to start are available via the Calendar.
- Unscheduled tournaments are tournaments that are run by judges, and can be run at any time judges wish to run them.
4. Magic-League Judges and #judges4you
Q. What is #judges4you?
A. #judges4you is Magic-League's judge channel, where Magic-League's judges reside. Players join this channel to ask rules questions and have issues in their tournament matches resolved.
Q. Are Magic-League's judges official Magic: The Gathering judges?
A. Magic-League runs its own judge program separate to that of the DCI (Magic: The Gathering's official judging body). However, many of Magic-League's judges also choose to become DCI-certified.
Q. I want to run tournaments. How can I become a judge?
A. People who wish to become judges should check out the Become a Judge page on the Magic-League website.
Q. Something happened during a tournament match I was playing with my opponent. What do I do?
A. If something happened in your match (whether it be a game rule was broken, the play application crashed, or something else), you should proceed through the following steps:
- Record as much information as you can about the issue. Take a screenshot of your play application's window and save log files if you can. A judge may not need all the information you have at hand, but it speeds up the process of resolving your issue if you have the information ready to provide judges if they need it.
- Join #judges4you, and make sure your opponent does too. If they don't, politely ask them via private message to join the channel.
- Explain your issue in #judges4you. Provide as much detail as you can about your issue.
Q. I asked a question in #judges4you but got no response. What's up with that?
A. Although there are always a number of judges in #judges4you, they are not always at hand to ask questions (a number of judges leave their computers on 'idling'). If nobody answers initially, please be patient. A judge will answer your question when they see it.
Q. I got kicked out of #judges4you with a message of 'No Idling Please'. Why did I get kicked?
A. Magic-League has a script that automatically kicks users from the channel after five minutes of 'idling' (no words being spoken in the channel). If you do get kicked, simply rejoin!
To avoid being kicked, you can type something as simple as "." in the channel every 3-4 minutes.
Q. I don't agree with the ruling a judge has made. What can I do?
A. If a player disagrees with a judge's ruling, players have the option of appealing the ruling. To appeal, you can simply say, "I would like to appeal" in #judges4you. If a judge of a higher level is around to handle the ruling, they'll handle the appeal for you.
Note: A ruling made by a level 4 or higher judge (which can be identified by the & next to their names in the channel) cannot be appealed.
5. Magic-League Staff
Q. Who are the Magic-League staff?
A. Magic-League is run by a team of volunteer staff members who oversee different areas of Magic-League's operation. A list of league staff can be found on the Contact Us page.
Q. I have a question/complaint/issue about some part of Magic-League. Who do I talk to?
A. The Contact Us page has a list of staff as well as the areas they are responsible for. If you a question or complaint, please use the staff member's email address to contact them.
Miscellaneous Questions
Q. I see a 'Teams' link on the Magic-League homepage. What's that about?
A. Magic-League allows players to register a team. Players on teams accumulate points for their team by performing well in tournaments. Many players choose to join a team so that they have a regular group of friends to work on decks with, as well as test ideas out with. Top-ranked teams earn Byes at Master tournaments.
If you would like more information, check out the Team Rules link.
Q. Some players don't seem as friendly as others. Why is that?
A. Because Magic-League's members come from places around the world, there a lot of cultural and linguistic differences between players. Often, what feels like unfriendly behaviour simply comes down to cultural differences.
However, there are some things all players can do to overcome this and help develop positive interactions with their opponents:
- Emotes go a long way to conveying positive feelings, even if you don't speak the same language as your opponent. A simple :) if you're unsure does a lot in helping your opponent understand you have positive intentions :).
- Saying 'Good luck!' at the beginning of a match and 'Thanks for the games!' at the end of a match is often considered common courtesy.
- If a game rule is broken or an issue arises in a match, ask politely for your opponent to join #judges4you. Bringing an issue to the attention of judges can be stressful for some players, so being polite and saying something along the lines of, 'can you please join #judges4you so we can solve this issue?' can help alleviate any tensions that arise from bringing an issue to the attention of judges. Emotes (mentioned above) can also go a long way to alleviating any stresses you or your opponent may have.
Something Missing from the FAQ?
If you feel that there is something worthwhile to be added to the FAQ that was missed, please contact the Website Content Director by emailing weedmonkey@magic-league.com.
