The venue I go to regularly has a very tight knit group of regulars. The way we run events is we have an event organizer and moderator* and then everyone acts as a judge. What I mean is that if there is any sort of rules question, it is essentially put to a vote. The person with the "problem" presents evidence (often times found from Realms), brief discussion, counter articles, then vote. We also cite the PaC obviously and the core Rulebook, but as those get wordy it's often times easier to use Realms as most discussions include a series of examples for whatever the issue may be. This has worked great since we adopted it over 2 years ago and there's never been an issue. If need be, which is rare, Moderator makes a call one way or the other and we all search for answers later to avoid wasting time during an event.

Now, a new venue opened a couple hour drive away and we have tried to make it to a couple events to help them get started. The judge there is very new, has very little experience with the game, but is also very picky about where he gets his rulings from. He REFUSES to acknowledge HCRealms as an "official" rules site since it is a public forums site.

Since this new, inexperienced judge is also the guy teaching people how to play, the last time I went there for an event there was people outwitting TAs as if they were powers, stacking invincible and impervious, trying to make me breakaway when being TK'd, using charge/RS then CCE/RCE respectively. It's just chaotic. I was able to cite everything in the PaC or Rulebook because they were easy fixes, but it bugged me he was entirely against HCRealms.

So, finally, my question- how "official" is the HCRealms rulings page? I don't mean to offend anyone by asking that, as my whole play group abides by the HCRealms rulings page...

HCrealms was never "official" but several posters were in direct contact with WK and as such were able to get the "official" answer. Recently WK has made it known they want any and all ruling questions to be sent to their email , which is [email protected]. I would recommend using that for further inquiries, but the mods of this forum are getting a group of people from this forum together to compile the replies and hopefully post to a thread. Hope that helps.

Hcrealms is as official as you want it to be. Come here for answers as you like and with about a mins research in the core book or PAC (which is sometimes even referenced) you can quote for truth.

That being said this would be for basic rules (though these can answer most questions) something that isn't answered already on the forums and also cannot be verified by yourself in the handbooks you'll prolly wanna ask wizkids and be sure to let us know here when they answer...
BUT ALSO UNDERSTAND maybe this guy is playing HIS version of what HE thinks clix should be played like and he is allowed so long as it is at his store and the owner of his store approves, not much can be done about that.

The Comprehensive Tournament Rules spelled out that the Rules Arbitrator and Rules Deputies did convey official rulings from WizKids (see 1.0 General HeroClix Tournament Rules, §1.1.1), though they did neglect to update the names when the original four left their positions and others took over. I also recently had the following conversation (via email, of course) regarding the new email-only ruling policy.

Well you could try telling him you aren't going to be play by HIS version of the rules and take your business elsewhere. Sometimes that is the only option.

This isn't exactly correct.

The deputies were/are full-fledged WizKids volunteers, bound by a nondisclosure agreement and all. They were not just in contact with WizKids, they were direct representatives of WizKids, communicating official rulings.

Now, they mainly posted here, but they were allowed to post elsewhere, or communicate rulings elsewhere. This became the unofficial place for official rulings, but it wasn't the only place it could happen.

The current deputies are the ones answering your emails. They have changed the communication process. Instead of a public forum, you send your email in and they answer the question.

Though some of those answers maybe contrary to what previous deputies have ruled or contradict an email they sent to a previous user.....

I get it. It's how they want it to go but damn get it working first before you do a bss ackward system and confuse the gamers playing YOURgame. Ok rant done

I knew they were direct representatives, but didn't realize they were still doing their duty. Thank you for the heads up.

HCRealms isn't official in any capacity. It's basically just like your venue setup with a bunch of people chiming in on a debate. Within your own venue that's fine but understand that not everywhere is as rosey. The whole purpose of a judge is so that if a situation of contention arises there is one consistent person to make a decision how to resolve the problem so play can continue. Not saying your system doesn't work for you but halting play to hold a discussion would drive a lot of folks mad.

No one is disagreeing but if two players make valid points towards one rule in the judge has to decide which is the forum was a nice spot to come to discuss rules and the rules moderators would have the final say and a direct point of contact to game design

I really appreciate all of these replies. As far as this new judge playing "his game," he is -trying- to be as by-the-book as possible. But he ain't no readin' 2 good like you and me is.

After another discussion he is taking a few notes from our judge. All is well again in the Tundra.

More official than a Judge who makes consistent bad calls while making no attempt to improve his knowledge of how the game is supposed to be played.

Talk to the Judge and bring up your concerns. If that doesn't improve the situation, speak with the venue owner. If that doesn't help, stop playing there.

That's not how being a judge works though. A judge is present to make an on the spot decision, right or wrong, so that play can continue. Failing being able to find a definitive answer readily available a judge is supposed to make an educated guess. If the judge chooses to consult others afterwards that's fine (and encouraged) but halting an entire tournament to debate a single ruling on the Realms is impractical.