Subject: Dumb duelists, dumber judges!


      I've just been to my first tournament ever, and already, I know the 
rules and the game better than the judges.  I was dueling against a Maho 
Vailo/weenie burner deck, when he tried to use a fissure on my only monster 
on my field.
     Naturally, I defended myself by using Imperial Order to counter the 
fissure, with my monster still standing.  The next turn, I decided to not 
pay the 700 life points to keep it in play and discard it.
     Imperial Order reads
     As long as this card remains face up on the field, negate the effects 
of all magic cards.  Pay 700 life points during each of your standby 
phases.  If you cannot, this card is destroyed.
     I was just about to discard the card to save myself some damage when 
my opponent disagreed to what I was doing.  For some odd reason, he thought 
the only way to remove Imperial Order, was if you had less than 700 lp to 
pay for it, but I said you can choose whether or not you want to pay to 
keep this card in effect.
     It specifically reads that I could do that on this website's FAQ, 
which I cited to my opponent.  He then took my Imperial Order, and showed 
it to the fat judge, who agreed to the kid.  He thought that I had no 
choice but to pay, even though it seemed he didn't even know what the card 
does in the first place.  He agreed to my loser opponent (I won't be naming 
names) and I lost the duel due to a gravity bind, and my own card leaching 
away at me.
     I had polymerazation, a Red-Eyes, and a Summoned Skull in my hand and 
Lord of D + flute of summoning dragon and powerful dragons.  If it weren't 
for that giant confused blob-of-a-judge, I would be doing major butt 
kicking in the entire tournament.
     If you ever go to a tournament for the first time like I have, bring a 
rule booklet and some controversial card rulings so that you would have 
proof to back you up on a confusing card and want to avoid an argument.
     This was more of a complaint than a tip, but if you have anything to 
say, e-mail me at
     <mailto:VinceMaster2000@msn.com>VinceMaster2000@msn.com
     Tip brought to you by VinceMaster