Hey all, it's been a while since I've started writing here at Pojo, and even longer since I've done an N.'s End article. I guess I just haven't been inspired or anything. Odd, I know. But now I'm getting back to things the way they used to, and I'm going to start writing on things other than decks.

The first thing that I saw that really came to my attention was on my recent trip out of state for an event, in which for the first time in a while, I was a player again instead of a judge. I guess it was nice seeing it from the other end, but it got me thinking: Do players really think about the judge's role in a game like this? That's really what I want to focus on here, that side of the equation. Every game has judges, but for the most part, they're brushed off to the side as necessary evils, the things we need just to play, but they serve an important role in the game at the professional level. They tell us what we can and can't do. But people don't really see the effort that goes into that, expecting always correct rulings and spot on timing from them. I've heard many a tale of players complaining that they lost due to judges, that they weren't professional enough, or other such problems. Yeah, if Mike the judge didn't understand X card's effect well enough, he shouldn't try to make a ruling, but there are times where you just have to go with what you think is right. It won't always be right, but it's what's needed. Another thing I've been seeing is a lack of respect for judges.

Too often people meet one bad judge and learn to hate them all, seeing them as a pack of cheaters and easily bribed tools, even arguing with them and bullying them to try and change a decision. That kind of thing really sickens me; they're out there for free trying to help you play your game, and you treat them like morons and try to intimidate them. I'm not saying it happens all the time, or that anyone specifically does it, but it leads to a problem of authority and sportsmanship, a trait that seems lacking in the players of today. I do play around a lot of YGO players though, so that's probably not helping. There's a lot of responsibility when you allow yourself to judge a game, and I have to admit, there are some people who aren't up to the task. It's easy enough to become a judge in this game, but actually acting as one is an entirely different thing, one that should be treated with respect. God knows that there's plenty of bad judges out there like the ones that you should fear, but I'd like to think that they're in the minority.

For the most part, a judge is just another player who decided to enjoy the game in a different way. I myself love Naruto, and with each new set I get everything I need for my deck and play around with it (even heading to other shops when I can), but I'm a judge before I'm a player, and with that, I try my best to keep on top of rulings, erratas, and other such things. I'll still be playing this game for a while, but just like my players, I love this game. The decline in sportsmanship towards these people has been bugging me for the longest time, and it seems like it's not going to get better as long as it goes unnoticed, but myself personally hope that players and judges can get along and just enjoy the game that brought them together in the first place.

Well, that's N.'s End. I'm hoping to start doing these on a more regular basis, mixing in deck fixes, interviews with players and Bandai staff, and other such things. Send me an e-mail at n.jolly@ymail.com if you have a deck you want looked over (I'm going with block, so keep that in mind), think you have a good opinion to share about something important, or think you can add something to the articles. Until then, I'm Mr. N. Jolly signing off!