Cranial Insertion: Everybody Wants to Rule the Rules

[Moko]

This thread is for the discussion of my latest article, Cranial Insertion: Everybody Wants to Rule the Rules. We would be grateful if you would let us know what you think, but please keep your comments on topic.

[jokalhaups]

"Q: What's the penalty if my opponent fails to shuffle my deck at a Competitive REL event?

A: While this is a violation of UTR 21, it doesn't fall under any of the infractions defined in the current Penalty Guide. Because it's an uncategorized minor infraction, a penalty issued for it would almost certainly be a talking-to.

It's important to note that your opponent is required to shuffle your deck only at the start of the game. In the middle of a game, only a cut is required."

I wasn't even aware that you were required to shuffle your opponent's deck at the start of a game. Wow, I'm going to start doing that! Good ol' UTR 21!

As for the Saproling token question (last question of the day), wouldn't using a torn in half Saproling token still represent a 1/1? Wouldn't you need something that actually stated it's power/toughness was 1/2/1/2? Basically a piece of paper or a token... I'm not sure if you could use the Saproling card.

[burek]

The last question is a U rules question, so he can't be expected to give a reasonable answer.

No idea who to vote for, loved 'em both!

[Shadowlord]

Originally Posted by jokalhaups

As for the Saproling token question (last question of the day), wouldn't using a torn in half Saproling token still represent a 1/1? Wouldn't you need something that actually stated it's power/toughness was 1/2/1/2? Basically a piece of paper or a token... I'm not sure if you could use the Saproling card.

But you don't get a 1/2/1/2 token, you get half a saproling token

Both writers seem to be good, but i'll have to go with Rutabaga, i think his style fits better with CI.

[Zerin Karamoff]

Rutabaga has my vote.

Un-set questions are always tricky because fun answers (in the spirit of the set) generally aren't the "most accurate" answer in holding to the normal rules. Ripping a token in half is awesome.

For accuracy you're better off to either proxy a 1/2/1/2 Saproling token... or to carefully cut the 1/1 in half then cut the remainin card in a manner that the two resulting peices have equal surface area (so it's really 1/2 of a normal Saproling!).

I'll take just ripping my token in half, thanks.

[Joe Cross]

wonder if you could just
B.F.M. (Big Furry Monster)

the half tokens together

[wcsae]

Originally Posted by Joe Cross

wonder if you could just
B.F.M. (Big Furry Monster)

the half tokens together

That's what I think. You get a half token now which does nothing since it's only half a token, then when little girl hits again, you get the other half and can make a whole saproling token.

Or you know you could just play double cleave and get the whole token right away.

[MadMageQc]

Both writers are quite good and I wouldn't mind having any of them as the new author. I needed a small, nitpicky reason to decide between the two, so I settled on this one :

Originally Posted by Rutabaga

Sure. The Canonist is screaming "I AM THE LAW!" only while he's in play. Once he's dead, he can't stop you from playing nonartifact spells, and you don't get a chance to play Rift Bolts #2 or #3 until after #1 has resolved.

If Ethersworn Canonist is actually a guy, then that means he used his etherium infusing process to undergo a sex change at the same time. That'd be a nice way to kill two birds with one stone ! Seriously, that creature really looks like a woman to me. Altough I won't get mad at anyone for that (very frequent) kind of gender mistake about a creature card, it does annoy me a little. I mean, if you are not gonna care about the flavor of a card, I think you should use "it", not "he".

So my vote is for Pamplemouse. I think I like his style a little more too, but it's not clear, just my current gut feeling. As I said, I really wouldn't mind seeing Rutabaga as the new author, and him calling every creature a "he" wouldn't stop me from enjoying his articles.

[Drop And Die]

Both authors seemed to fit the spirit of CI for me, but I enjoyed Rutabaga a mite more. Rutabaga's idea on the saproling question just struck me as hilarious.

[zipmaster]

I voted Rutabaga because of this

Q: Can Lord of the Undead pull up a Nameless Inversion or only a Zombie creature card?

A: Lord of the Undead allows you to dig up a Zombie card, which means any card with the subtype Zombie. Since Nameless Inversion has all creature types in all zones, it is a Giant Insect Mutant Angel Zombie card in your graveyard and it is therefore a legal target for the Lord's activated ability. Go get that Inversion and make your opponent very sad!

Who cares if it's a Giant, Insect, or Angel? The more important types here are that it is a Mutant Ninja Turtle Zombie.

[Mouse_Crouse]

voted Rutabaga for the "saw this happen... but not in magic" line.

[bateleur]

I'd honestly be happy with either, both of 'em were good.

Voted for Pamplemouse because I want to find out if he/she is really a mouse! (Or if someone can't spell pamplemousse.)

[XxTaLoNxX]

Voted Rutabaga, because his style seemed free-flowing and less strained.

[Grumbler]

Both are pretty good, but I voted for the fruit because fruits are sweet and because one of the vegetable's answers confused me just a bit.

"An activated ability of a card in the graveyard! That's not an elemental unless it's in play! Haven't you read rule 200.9?"

Quote:
200.9. If a spell or ability uses a description of an object that includes a card type or subtype, but doesn't include the word "card," "spell," or "source," it means a permanent of that card type or subtype in play.

I *think* I understand the point, which would be that Hell's Thunder has no type in the graveyard and thus cannot be considered to be elemental at this point. Am I missing something?

What confused me however is that the rule quoted seems irrelevant to me. We are trying to determine if the creature in the graveyard has a type and we see a rule that talks about Smokebraider being only usable on spells and triggered abilities since she *does* specify her preferences.

[azngenius]

I felt that both players were trying a little too hard to emulate the "CI style", making the jokes a little painfully obvious, but props for not sounding like Chris Richter

In the end, I chose Pamplemousse because his comedy was a little more subtle, and I liked how he handled the "linked" planeswalker questions. (Is it unfair that rutabaga didn't get to answer a linked question, or did he simply choose not to?)