In top cut, Player A counts his deck from the top down, reversing the order of the cards. His stated intent was to play a Colres next and he was counting to assure himself he would not deck out. The judge ruled it a shuffle without the use of a card effect and issued a prize card penalty.
Now, the gameplay error was completely reversible as the cards could just be recounted from the top down restoring the original order. Further, the subsequent Colres would make the whole point moot.
Is the prize card penalty appropriate given there was no damage to the gamestate? Could you consider this a minor error or is shuffling without the use of a card effect always major and the single prize penalty was at the low end of the penalty due to the lack of consequences to the gamestate? Interesting, though not relevant, the 12 year old opponent declined to take the prize card, feeling it was a bad ruling.
Now, the gameplay error was completely reversible as the cards could just be recounted from the top down restoring the original order. Further, the subsequent Colres would make the whole point moot.
Is the prize card penalty appropriate given there was no damage to the gamestate? Could you consider this a minor error or is shuffling without the use of a card effect always major and the single prize penalty was at the low end of the penalty due to the lack of consequences to the gamestate? Interesting, though not relevant, the 12 year old opponent declined to take the prize card, feeling it was a bad ruling.