A full crew of judges worked the Learn to Play booth at GenCon 2026, across the Expo Hall demo tables and the scheduled events in the main hall. In this article, Émilien Wild catalogues their experiences, joys, and even frustrations. All of the accounts are something one of them lived through at a table this August, with a stranger, a demo deck, and about ten minutes.
“Too advanced.” “Not for me.” “I prefer playing.” These are the just some of the reasons judges give for not pursuing Level 2. Most of them are wrong. Here is what L2 actually requires, why the bar is more reachable than you think, and why the time to find out is right now.
Flesh and Blood Organized Play is growing faster than the judge program’s current L2 base can support. This is the introduction to the Europe Feedback & Mentoring Team: who we are, what we are building in 2026, and why the work ahead will require the whole community.
Pro Tours are exciting for players, whether competing or watching from home, and for judges as well. The highest-stakes events put our policies to the test, expose edge cases, and drive meaningful improvements to our documentation. This weekend has led to one such change.
A practical guide to the new World Tour Mentor role: why it exists, what to expect on-site, and how to make the most of it as a Floor Judge, Team Lead, or Head Judge. Written from the perspective of Émilien Wild (Europe Lead, Mentoring & Feedback Team) based on early implementations, and intended as a shared baseline for the experimentation phase as the role evolves.
One year in, the Learn to Play certification has grown into a global program: 1,300+ judges have earned Basic, and 19 have achieved the aspirational Advanced. This update reviews 2025 highlights, what we learned from Advanced submissions, the eight L2P articles published this year, and what to expect in 2026—faster checklist turnaround, monthly articles, and a restructured team with new regional and content coordination roles.
Discover how to introduce new players to Flesh and Blood in a fun, natural, and effective way. From choosing the ideal teaching materials to smoothly guiding first-time players through their initial games, this guide offers practical tips to ensure a rewarding first experience.
Effectively addressing Slow Play is essential for judges aiming to ensure fair, timely, and enjoyable Flesh and Blood tournaments. This comprehensive guide provides clear definitions, outlines structured penalty approaches for both casual and competitive events, and offers practical advice for detecting and managing Slow Play. By understanding the philosophy and context behind this infraction, judges can confidently maintain smooth tournament operations and foster a positive play environment for everyone involved.
Online discussions—especially those fueled by strong emotions—are rarely productive venues for clarification. Even well-intentioned rule explanations can be twisted, misquoted, or used against you or others. But, when a controversy happens, players will instinctively look to judges for guidance and assurance. What should you do in these situations? Émilien Wild offers his thoughts and reasoning behind choosing when and when not to engage.
The L2P Advanced certification recognizes judges who excel in teaching, engagement, and teamwork at Learn to Play booths. This article explains the certification process, the difference between Basic and Advanced, and what it takes to earn a recommendation. Ready to level up your Learn to Play skills?