So what does "Organized Play" mean anyway?
That's a very good question. When most people first hear about Organized Play ("OP") they assume it just means tournaments, where players square off in one-vs-one matches until a winner is determined.
Although tournaments are an important part of OP, it's just part of the organization. OP also covers:
So why do we do all this work? The goal of Organized Play is to make sure players have fun, and can expect a consistent, well-run event. A player from Austin, TX can go to Paris, France and know they're going to play in a tournament run the same way it is back home.
If you're a new player, your next question is likely "I've never played in a tournament before. How do I start, and what can I expect?"
There are two OP programs specifically targeted at new players. The two best are Sneak Previews and Release Celebrations. These happen each time a new expansion is released, and are fun and friendly tournaments. They both use the Sealed format, which means you don't have to bring a deck or party, as you will open sealed boosters and choose what to play from these new cards.
By clicking on the links above you will be taken to a page listing dates, prizes, entry fees and locations. You can click on a location to get more specific information, including a phone number or email you can contact if you have any questions.
Before the tournament you should look through the Tournament Policy and Comprehensive Rules. These documents look very daunting, and they provide the structure that guarantees consistency across the world. For tournaments like Sneak Previews they're rarely needed, but it's a good idea to know they exist and what they cover, especially as you start to play in more competitive events.
When the day of the tournament rolls around, you should probably show up 15-30 minutes to sign up. Don't be worried about letting the registration staff know that this is your first tournament, as they'll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
At a tournament there are two specific roles - the tournament organizer ("TO") and the head judge ("HJ"). Larger tournaments may have one or more floor judges helping the head judge run the tournaments, while at smaller tournaments the TO and the HJ may be the same person.
The tournament organizer is responsible for making sure that all players registered to the tournament are entered into MANTIS, the tournament software used by all Upper Deck games. After the event, the TO uploads the tournament results to Upper Deck so that your play history, ratings, and rankings are updated.
The Head Judge role is to make sure that the games are played correctly, and to handle any questions that arise. If you have a question at any time during a game you can raise your hand and say "Judge!" to get help. The judges are there to help you with rules, card interactions, or even when you or your opponent makes a mistake that needs to be fixed.
At the end of each match you will report to the winner to the TO. When everyone is done, the TO will announce the new pairings. Most tournaments are run using "Swiss" pairings, which means that players with similar records will play each other each round. You can keep playing as long as you want, and if you want to to drop out just let the TO know before you leave.
The biggest thing to keep in mind at your first tournament is to make sure you have fun. Most of your opponents are happy to meet new people, so let them know that it's your first event.
As you get more experience, you can move into more competitive tournaments such as Regional Qualifiers, Realm Qualifiers, and Darkmoon Faire Championships. Successful players at these tournaments will get invited to their National Championships, where they can earn an invite to the World Championship held each fall which features over $250,000 in cash and prizes!