If you haven't wandered over to metagame.com recently then here's something worth looking at.

I find that this article is very well put together and offers some real insight into the nature of the testing system UDE currently employs. Though it seems to focus on Yugi I can tell you that the VS systems tests are similar, however, with VS being a much more challenging game, and the need for PC/PCQ judges to be far more accurate and accountable, just take everything they say about Yugi and make it x2.

The article does offer one point of advice that I must comment on. Here's a quote:
Though this piece of advice is true enough, it doesn' really offer the reality of the current tournament scene as well as the nature of UDE's presence at these events. I was lucky to be in attendance at GenCon Indy this last July and was one of many that took the VS level 2 test at the small desk behind the big setup for the PC. I had spent the past three days on eight hour shifts at UDE's promotion booth giving Demos of VS to the countless thousands in attendance. So not only was i exhausted both physically and mentally but I had spent the whole of the last three days trying to simplify the rules of the game into something that could fit into a 7-15 minute demo. Needless to say I failed, though in my case not as bad as I thought. For the level 2 VS test one need not only know the general order of play, and specific card rulings, but also the order in which these events happen. An example being that one needs to not only know that a character is only summoned during the recruit step of the build phase, but also the order in which events must transpire in order to summon a character. The idea that one could attend one of these premiere events and first actually have the time to take the test after either having played in the event, or judging it. So you should in fact explect to have to take the test in an exhausted state. This is the real test of the judge....to make good calls even after you've been standing on your feet for the last ten hours, and using your mind almost constantly in a judging capacity. i would say that you should try to attend an event with the sole purpose just to take a judge test, but the idea sounds more and more ridiculous as it rolls around in my brain. I mean if I'm going to a VS event it just too alien an idea not be playing or judging that event.

My attempt to take the Level 2 VS test also brought to light the nature of what it means to be a judge. It was as I walked my way back through my mistakes with the proctor(Ray Powers), that he offered up some sage observations on the people that take the VS Level 2 test, and indeed the two kinds of people that make up the VS community. There are players who think like players, and players that think like judges. It is impossible to be a judge that thinks like a player, as you are constantly focusing on how to play a card or whether to play a card, instead of whether the card is playable or how it will interact with the current game state. That said, to be the most effective judge in the VS system possible, one cannot be an active player in the VS community. I have found to be a really effective judge one must focus on the rules aspect of the game and not the play aspect, and trust me when I say that it isn't easy. To be a judge means you should really love the game of VS and want to further its reach and scope, yet you must also resolve to play as little as possible(at least as far as premier events are concerned).

You must sacrifice your own time and energy to make the game more enjoyable for others.

It is the true nature of the judge.

How did u take the test? Was it at Pastimes? Were u at Pastimes last Saturday? I dont know if u can answer this, but is any of the test multiple choice? Thanx!:cool:

Also, what do u get for judging an event? All the judges Ive asked said they get like a box or a lot of packs.:cool:

Ya, yugioh is very easy, ill soon become the 16th level 3 judge. Ill probably only pass the level 1 VS test though. Is there an age limit?

I took the test at GenCon, I took the level two Yugi test at WW Chicago. The compensation for judging varies from place to place. Also it depends on how well attended an event is and with pastimes how long you have been a judge and how close your relationship with the owner(Alan) happens to be. It usually runs 1/2 to 1 box per event, and usually a copy of any promos being handed out. And there is usually lunch provided and free drinks all day for the staff.

My comp for doing Demos at GenCon for four days was two boxes of DC, the batman extended art promo, the joker extended art promo, the children of the atom extended art promo, a hotel room, and $150 for parking and food and stuff. But UDE can afford to be more generous with the compensation then your local tournament location. Its like how the government doesn't feel bad about spending money since they are the ones printing it. :p

oh yeah and the test is part multiple and part T/F

No Essay questions?

Thats laughably easy.

The Score Ent questions, while nothing too difficult, are all essay.

Hehe.

This is going to be cake when they mail me an ID.

yeah I'm sure your "the answer is C" stratagey will really pan out.

I tried the only answering "C" approach, they looked at me quite funny when it came to the T/F section, but I just forged right ahead.

You have passed the level 2 VS Humor test! Congratualtions!

I love a good chuckle thanks ;-)

I can only hope I get to be the one who tests you.

This is very true. Yes, indeed it is.

I came into VS, after spending 1 and 1/2 years judging and running Yugioh at one of the local shops. The time spent reading the rules and keeping up on the Judge List was very time consuming. For that I played very little. I am also coming to this realization with VS. For I really suck playing this came. LOL. I still have that "Judge" mentality. I always see that line. It is so straight and narrow for me.

I am going to SoCal to help out UDE, with their demos and what others. I have spent very little time playing, for I have been reading and rereading and looking for trends on any kind of rules. The Level 2 Judge Test will be a deciding factor, if I stay a player or if I start up again with the Judge Life.

In any rate, hope to see all of you guys at SoCal.

Johnny C

That is the one thing I regret most about Indy, I really wanted to take my level 2 Judge test. Ah well, I can only hope that I get knocked out of the PC on Day one this time around. :p

You can start with a few of these:

1. What type of Pie has Aunt May made? Any dessert?

2. X-Men #127 was famous for the introduction of which famous Sea Monkeys ad?

3. With great power comes great responsibility. But what comes with great Burritos?

4. Who is Dr Dooms preferred Medical Insurance provider?

5. In FF#365, Johnny Storm left the Fantastic Four because of creative differences with Reed Richards. He formed a new group in the late 70's. What was it called and what was the name of their first album?

6. Despite legend, Bruce Wayne actually got the nickname Batman, from his time with the MLB team, Gotham Knights, were he served as a Pinch hitter for 2 seasons. The Knights won the Series both times after which he was traded to the Yankees. Name that curse?

7. How Super is Superman?

8. Ras Al Ghul and Sen Al Gore. Coincidence. I think not. Explain.

9. What happened to the Old Gods?

10. What were President Lex Luthors key states during his race and why?

80% pass rate required.

I'm game!

:cool:
P

Evilbaby - often the best way to approach a con from a judge-testing perspective is to indeed go there with testing being your first priority. You can then stick to side events for the rest of the weekend, so you still get to play. I've seen aloooooot of people take the L3 Yugioh, and it's usually those who only do light judging or playing in side events that can muster the brain power to pass it.

There are a few exceptions, including the author of the article, who got the highest score on the original L3 (which was just... disgustingly difficult) in a japanese steak house while the chef banged knives against the metal cooking table for an hour and a half. o_o Still though, Julia isn't the norm: the best way to pass one of the more challenging ude tests is to really prioritize testing for whatever event you're at.

I'm not really sure if the Vs L2 is tougher than the Yugioh L3 though... You have to remember that Vs. doesn't have many arbitrary calls, while Yugioh is riddled with them. Timing issues are actually a lot less complicated in Vs, too. I think you're right in stating that Vs is overall a more challenging game, but for high-level rulings Yugioh is an incomparable nightmare. :D

-JD