Magic: The Gathering

Suggested multiplayer tournament rules


These rules have been compiled based on sealed deck tournaments for four people by
Scott Latham, Graham McNally, Simon Moore and Donald Taylor.
For more information on the excellent card game Magic:The Gathering click here.


PRELIMINARY

All players will receive an equal number of unopened packs. Each player must construct a deck of at least 40 cards consisting solely of cards from their packs and basic lands. There is no restriction on the cards or the number of any particular card that can be included.

Cards may be added or removed to decks after each round (this includes between opponents in individual rounds, but does not include between games against the same opponent). There is no time limit on games.


INDIVIDUAL ROUNDS

There will first be sufficient individual rounds for each player to play each other player.
A round consists of two games. Players toss for choice of start in the first game. Whoever goes first in game one goes second in game two. Whoever goes first in a game does not draw a card on their first turn.

Points will be awarded as follows:
Win - 1 point
Draw - 0.5 points
Loss - 0 points


TEAM ROUND

Next there will be a team round, where players compete in teams of two.

Team one shall consist of the player with the most points after the individual rounds and the player with the least points after the individual rounds (use a die or coin in the event of equal points.) Team two shall consist of the player with the second most points after the individual rounds and the player with the second least points after the individual rounds etc. Players should sit such that no two team members are adjacent.

Players roll a die for choice of start, with whoever rolls highest choosing who starts. Whoever goes first in a game does draw a card on their first turn. Play then moves clockwise. A team wins when it has one or more team members still in the game and no other teams have members still in the game.

Points will be awarded as follows:
Win - 1 point to each member
Draw - 0.5 points to each member (this will occur if all remaining teams are eliminated simultaneously)
Loss - 0 points to each member


MULTI PLAYER ROUND

Finally there will be a multi-player round, where players compete individually in one large game.

Players roll a die for choice of start. Whoever rolls highest chooses who starts. Whoever goes first in a game does draw a card on their first turn. Play then moves clockwise. Players should sit in the same positions as they sat for the team game.

Points will be awarded as follows:
Win (still in the game and no other players still in the game) - 2 points
Sole runner-up (one player eliminated so as to leave a winner) - 1 point
Joint runner-up (several players eliminated simultaneously leaving a winner) - 0.5 points to each
Draw (all players are eliminated simultaneously) - 0.5 points to each
Anything else - 0 points


GENERAL RULES

The tournament winner will be the player with the most points.
In the event of a tie the tournament winner will be whoever scored most points in the individual rounds involving the tied players. If this still does not produce a winner, the tournament winner will be whoever among those still tied scored most points in the multi-player round. If this still does not produce a winner, there shall be a play-off between remaining tied players.

Any player taking the competition too seriously will be disqualified.

In case of dispute, players should take a vote, with the most recent tournament winner present having casting vote!

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