Judge Call Podcast

A little later than usual, and a little shorter than usual. Despite our best intentions, real life caught up with both of us and made it difficult to record a full-length episode on schedule. So this time we're using the opportunity to catch up and share what we've been up to recently. Bartłomiej talks about his trip to the World Premiere in Seoul, we mention the latest Prerelease events and the Pro Quest season currently in full swing. For our mini main topic, we briefly touch on the Usurp the Shadow Throne updates to the Comprehensive Rules, Tournament Rules, and policy documents. We don't have enough time to dive into the details this episode, but we wanted to make sure the changes are on your radar. We finish with a look ahead, as Bartłomiej prepares to head off on vacation, ending his trip at Calling Kyoto. We'll be back once he's returned and recovered from the journey. --- Episode related links --- Comprehensive Rules change log: https://fabtcg.com/rules-and-policy-center/change-log-comprehensive-rules/ Procedure and Penalty Guide change log: https://fabtcg.com/rules-and-policy-center/change-log-procedure-and-penalty-guide/ Tournament Rules and Policy: https://fabtcg.com/rules-and-policy-center/change-log-tournament-rules-and-policy/ Viserai Lore story: https://fabtcg.com/articles/unbound/ --- Judge program links --- Learn more about Judges of Rathe program: https://fabtcg.com/judges/ Explore articles written by other Judges: https://blog.judge.fabtcg.com/ Take Judge Exam and become part of the Judges of Rathe: https://judge.fabtcg.com/ Join worldwide community at Judge Discord: https://discord.gg/z66msctUVv --- Contact --- Reach us at: [email protected] See us both soonest: World Championships Paris See Bart soonest at: Calling Kyoto

Episode 15 is a summer‑conference special recorded live at the Judge European Georegion Conference in Berlin. For this milestone episode, we sit down with Gwen De Schepper, our own Judge Community Manager, The interview explores Gwen’s journey in the program, her day‑to‑day responsibilities, and the broader impact of her work across regions. Listeners get a closer look at how she approaches community building, supports judges at all levels, and steers the ongoing development of the program. It’s a chance to understand not just the role, but the person behind it — her motivations, her perspective on the current state of the judge ecosystem, and her hopes for what comes next. Alongside the interview, the episode captures the unique energy of the Berlin conference: judges gathering, learning, connecting, and shaping the future together. It’s a snapshot of the program at its best — collaborative, evolving, and full of people who care deeply about the game and each other. --- Judge program links --- Learn more about Judges of Rathe program: https://fabtcg.com/judges/ Explore articles written by other Judges: https://blog.judge.fabtcg.com/ Take Judge Exam and become part of the Judges of Rathe: https://judge.fabtcg.com/ Join worldwide community at Judge Discord: https://discord.gg/z66msctUVv --- Contact --- Reach us at: [email protected] See us both soonest: World Championships Paris See Bart soonest at: World Premiere Seoul, Calling Kyoto

Episode 14 is packed with event energy. We kick things off with a recap of what’s been happening lately — especially our time at Calling Hamburg, where Bartosz took on a brand‑new role as Experience Coordinator. We break down what that role means, why it matters, and how the weekend went from the inside. Spoiler season is in full swing, so we talk about the hype around the newest reveals before diving into the main topic: the Mastery Pack: Warrior release notes. Expect highlights, judge‑focused insights, and practical examples that help make sense of the new mechanics. We wrap not with a listener question this time, but with a call straight from Calling Hamburg, tying the episode back to where it started. --- Episode related links --- Mastery Pack Warrior release notes - https://fabtcg.com/rules-and-policy-center/release-notes/mastery-pack-warrior/ --- Judge program links --- Learn more about Judges of Rathe program: https://fabtcg.com/judges/ Explore articles written by other Judges: https://blog.judge.fabtcg.com/ Take Judge Exam and become part of the Judges of Rathe: https://judge.fabtcg.com/ Join worldwide community at Judge Discord: https://discord.gg/z66msctUVv --- Contact --- Reach us at: [email protected] See us both soonest: Europe Georegion Conference in Berlin, World Championships Paris See Bart soonest at: World Premiere Seoul

We’re back from summer and back in our home “studio”, and we’re jumping straight into one of the spiciest judge topics out there: replacement effects. They’re everywhere, they’re tricky, and they love showing up exactly when players least expect them. In this episode, we unpack how replacement effects actually work, why they matter, and how to navigate them without getting lost in the rules jungle. Expect lots of examples, lots of nuance, and probably a few moments where we ask ourselves whether we’re making this more complicated than it needs to be. We also catch up on life, judging, events, and the latest FAB news — including the Mastery Pack Warrior and new articles on the FAB TCG website. --- Episode related links --- Rules and Policy - Flesh and Blood | Rules and Policy --- Judge program links --- Learn more about Judges of Rathe program: https://fabtcg.com/judges/ Explore articles written by other Judges: https://blog.judge.fabtcg.com/ Take Judge Exam and become part of the Judges of Rathe: https://judge.fabtcg.com/ Join worldwide community at Judge Discord: https://discord.gg/z66msctUVv --- Contact --- Reach us at: [email protected] See us both soonest: Calling Hamburg

A summer special episode with two cities, two countries, and a lot of community insight. The main segment was recorded in Montreal, Canada, where Bartosz sat down with Kelsie Tandubuana — a fellow judge and admin he previously worked with during the World Premiere in Prague. Kelsie shares her path through judging and event administration and how the Montreal scene has grown into one of the most welcoming and competitive communities in Canada. If you’re planning a visit, Kelsie also gives a rundown of where to play in Montreal, what local stores offer, and what makes the city’s TCG culture unique. The intro and outro were recorded later in Edinburgh, right after the final day of calling. Bartosz and Bartłomiej recap the latest results, share a quick update on judging plans for the summer. A cross‑continental episode with stories, practical insights, and a look at judging from two perspectives. --- Judge program links --- Learn more about Judges of Rathe program: https://fabtcg.com/judges/ Explore articles written by other Judges: https://blog.judge.fabtcg.com/ Take Judge Exam and become part of the Judges of Rathe: https://judge.fabtcg.com/ Join worldwide community at Judge Discord: https://discord.gg/z66msctUVv --- Contact --- Reach us at: [email protected] See us both soonest: Calling Hamburg