To all those who are thinking about becoming more of a judge than a player, you need to think long and hard before you make the commitment. First off, get to know your TO(s). MP Birch is a great guy, so he is one who you know will take care of you if you put the work in. Some TO's arn't like that. If that bothers you, then play, and you can ask "When are we gonna start the next round?" and in a draft "I need 13 water energy and 4 darkness!" as much as you want
But you guys need to know that Judging is often times (in fact, the vast majority of the time) a LOT of work with little reward. Like I said, Birch takes care of his people, and we always have a box to split when we're through. Now, for the work we do at these tournaments, we really should get a box per judge, but since POP stopped providing product support and came up with this somewhat cheesey Point Program thing, we'd be getting next to nothing. But Birch gives us basically out of his wallet when he doesn't have to, and I have so much respect for that that I keep quiet and continue to work, and will continue to work even if he should have to stop giving us what he can. And for the record, I agree that new professors need a chance, if nothing else then to give the constant Judges a breather
Before I get flammed on this, let me explain my point of veiw. The average CC or like event runs aproximatly 8 hours. About 30 min. of that we get for lunch, so let's just say that it takes 7 hours. Let's say you are at a job making about 10 dollars an hour, which is a decent job at a bookstore or something. So you work 7 hours, and boom, you make 70 bucks. After tax, it's a bit less, but it's still a bit of money. So when all POP offers up is a few points that, when saved up, can buy you a few packs or a couple of single cards, I say you're not getting much for your time. Problem is, if the experienced guys complain, they say "Well, screw that guy, he'll quit and an eager new professor will take it up for a year or two, then he'll realize he's getting screwed and move on, but then there will be some one else, and so on." It's classic corprate operation. And I know, "Business is business." but I sure feel shafted sometimes by all of this, and then they turn around and say "We care about our Professors" and no, I don't mean Scwimmer or Liesik or those guys, I have a high opinion of them. It's the suits, like it was at wizards, and they arn't willing to sacrifce a drop of profit to treat the professors right, because saddly, the almighty dollar always speaks loudest. You may call it greedy on my part, and tell me "If you don't like it then shove off" but I am a good, dependable judge and if I do it will only make it that much harder on people. Plus, I enjoy it. Just put yourself in this position: You may enjoy a job you have, but don't you want just compensation or payment for your time and effort? Let me also say that the Point Program is like so many things in the Pokemon TCG: a good idea that needs improvment. Two key things need to happen with the PP: One, professors who judge ANY SANCTIONED TOURNAMENT need to recieve points. Of course, a simple saturday afternoon 16 man event wouldn't get as many as National Championships, but no tournament should be work without pay. Second, there needs to be GOOD ITEMS available to spend the points on, and at a fair ratio (if you get 10 points for judging a CC, then don't make 6 packs 10 points). It's not much to ask. Really. Just a little fairness and curtosy show to those who wear themselves out for 7 hours answering questions, making rulings and walking around all day.
To all those thinking about judging, just understand a few things:
okeball: One: Don't do it only for the "prizes". If I were doing it for this, then I would have quit a month ago, because right now it ain't worth it. Do it for the game, because if your like me, no matter what company runs it, the GAME has been good to you and brought you so many friends and memories that you really almost owe it to the game to stick with it.
okeball: Two: Don't do it for respect. You won't get much. See the above reasons as well.
okeball: Three: Check yourself. Short tempers will only explode, because if you don't have a good handle on your emotions, things can get ugly when your asked for a thirteenth time "When are we gonna start the next round?" after the computer just crashed for the fourth time. And belive-you-me, it WILL happen.
okeball: Four: Take a break. Don't judge all the time. After you have judged a few events, it's time to let yourself in a tournament or two, and let someone else deal with the computer software (if you haven't worked with it, you just don't know)
okeball: Five: Personal feelings have no place here. Every tournament I judge has many friends as players. ALWAYS rule fair, like you should, and don't show favoratism. If somebody wants to borrow one of your decks, that's fine, but don't go scouting the competition or something like that. That's wrong.
okeball: Six: Find a good TO. Fortunatly, one found me, but if your working for a crum-bum, don't. Quit, and go back to playing. The rewards are much better anyway, and if your doing good work you don't need to take any crap from anyone.
That's about it. just to sum up, it's a lot of hard work, so if you don't think your up to the challenge, then don't even start. TO's want good, honest people who know their stuff and are DEPENDABLE. If this can't be you, stick to playing. TO's already have it hard enough. I'm 18 and have no intention of becomeing a TO, unless our current leader has to leave and I need to step in to keep it all going. Trust me, TO's have a really tough time and get screwed out of their pocket's a lot, so at least show them respect and be consistant and dependable.
The professor program is a good thing, but, like the game itself and everything and everybody (save God), it has flaws. One is judges rewards. So if your only after the rewards, look elsewhere. For those of you who love the game, don't care as much about the prizes and know what your're doing, come on in.
Whoa, sorry guys, didn't mean to get all passionate and write an article. But you know how I am
