Investigations philosophy

1. Kevin Desprez, L3
Florence 2016
INVESTIGATING

2. WARNING

3. • Yes, this seminar slides do contain a lot of
text.

4. • Yes, this seminar slides do contain a lot of
text.
• I know this isn’t recommended.

5. • Yes, this seminar slides do contain a lot of
text.
• I know this isn’t recommended.
• But not all of you speak fluent English.

6. • Yes, this seminar slides do contain a lot of
text.
• I know this isn’t recommended.
• But not all of you speak fluent English.
• So at least you can read even if you can’t
understand me.

7. • Yes, this seminar slides do contain a lot of
text.
• I know this isn’t recommended.
• But not all of you speak fluent English.
• So at least you can read even if you can’t
understand me.
• Because even if I’m aware that I should talk
slowly, sometimes I forget.

8. And I want you to take
the most out of this☺

9. FJ and HJ: Two very different roles

10. FJ and HJ: Two very different roles
• FJs identify issues and report them.

11. FJ and HJ: Two very different roles
• FJs identify issues and report them.
• HJs investigate and make decisions.

12. FJ and HJ: Two very different roles
• FJs identify issues and report them.
• HJs investigate and make decisions.
• Without the great work of a FJ, a HJ wouldn’t get
to know there is something to investigate.

13. FJ and HJ: Two very different roles
• FJs identify issues and report them.
• HJs investigate and make decisions.
• Without the great work of a FJ, a HJ wouldn’t get
to know there is something to investigate.
• HJs investigate, but FJs pre-investigate.

14. FJ and HJ: Two very different roles
• FJs identify issues and report them.
• HJs investigate and make decisions.
• Without the great work of a FJ, a HJ wouldn’t get
to know there is something to investigate.
• HJs investigate, but FJs pre-investigate.
• We both play an essential role in the Investigation

15. The FJ’s first actions

16. The FJ’s first actions
• Identify the situation
Simple Rules question or premise of a complicated investigation?

17. The FJ’s first actions
• Identify the situation
Simple Rules question or premise of a complicated investigation?
• Understand the situation
Do players agree with each other, is it confrontational?

18. The FJ’s first actions
• Identify the situation
Simple Rules question or premise of a complicated investigation?
• Understand the situation
Do players agree with each other, is it confrontational?
• If players disagree with each other, separate
them and talk to them one after the other

19. The FJ’s first actions
• Identify the situation
Simple Rules question or premise of a complicated investigation?
• Understand the situation
Do players agree with each other, is it confrontational?
•If players disagree with each other, separate
them and talk to them one after the other
This ensures the 2nd player cannot take advantage of the 1st player’s story

20. The FJ’s first actions
• Identify the situation
Simple Rules question or premise of a complicated investigation?
• Understand the situation
Do players agree with each other, is it confrontational?
• If players disagree with each other, separate
them and talk to them one after the other
This ensures the 2nd player cannot take advantage of the 1st player’s story
In private, players are keener on discussing strategics

21. You should be paranoid… not complicated

22. You should be paranoid… not complicated
• You must look so that you can touch
– Understand the game state (Illegal block, PT ATL)

23. You should be paranoid… not complicated
• You must look so that you can touch
– Understand the game state (Illegal block, PT ATL)
• I don’t think players like that much
– Know who’s up a game (Stalling, GP ATL)

24. You should be paranoid… not complicated
• You must look so that you can touch
– Understand the game state (Illegal block, PT ATL)
• I don’t think players like that much
– Know who’s up a game (Stalling, GP ATL)
• Heaven knows what players can do
– Know who’s up a match (Stalling, PT ATL)

25. You should be paranoid… not complicated
• You must look so that you can touch
– Understand the game state (Illegal block, PT ATL)
• I don’t think players like that much
– Know who’s up a game (Stalling, GP ATL)
• Heaven knows what players can do
– Know who’s up a match (Stalling, PT ATL)
• Heaven knows what you’ve got to prove

26. You must look so that you can touch
I don’t think players like that much
Heaven knows what players can do
Heaven knows what you’ve got to prove

27. The FJ’s Goals

28. The FJ’s Goals
• Gather facts or players’ initial claims
This is the closest-to-truth story you’ll ever get

29. The FJ’s Goals
• Gather facts or players’ initial claims
This is the closest-to-truth story you’ll ever get
• Get a committing statement from players
Something that the HJ will be able to build their investigation from

30. The FJ’s Goals
• Gather facts or players’ initial claims
This is the closest-to-truth story you’ll ever get
• Get a committing statement from players
Something that the HJ will be able to build their investigation from
Keep in mind if a player is trying to avoid answering the questions

31. The FJ’s Goals
• Gather facts or players’ initial claims
This is the closest-to-truth story you’ll ever get
• Get a committing statement from players
Something that the HJ will be able to build their investigation from
Keep in mind if a player is trying to avoid answering the questions
• Start with general questions
The more you let players talk, the more you will learn relevant
information

32. The FJ’s Goals
• Gather facts or players’ initial claims
This is the closest-to-truth story you’ll ever get
• Get a committing statement from players
Something that the HJ will be able to build their investigation from
Keep in mind if a player is trying to avoid answering the questions
• Start with general questions
The more you let players talk, the more you will learn relevant
information
Precise questions are only useful for clarification of grey areas

33. The FJ’s Goals
• Gather facts or players’ initial claims
This is the closest-to-truth story you’ll ever get
• Get a committing statement from players
Something that the HJ will be able to build their investigation from
Keep in mind if a player is trying to avoid answering the questions
• Start with general questions
The more you let players talk, the more you will learn relevant
information
Precise questions are only useful for clarification of grey areas
• Fetch the HJ (yourself!)
Have another judge stay at the table while you get the HJ.

34. The HJ’s Goals

35. The HJ’s Goals
• Get the initial picture from the FJ

36. The HJ’s Goals
• Get the initial picture from the FJ
• Listen to both players

37. The HJ’s Goals
• Get the initial picture from the FJ
• Listen to both players
• Is it worth investigating?

38. The HJ’s Goals
• Get the initial picture from the FJ
• Listen to both players
• Is it worth investigating?
• Identifying lying

39. The HJ’s Goals
• Get the initial picture from the FJ
• Listen to both players
• Is it worth investigating?
• Identifying lying
• Evidence VS certainty

40. The HJ’s Goals
• Get the initial picture from the FJ
• Listen to both players
• Is it worth investigating?
• Identifying lying
• Evidence VS certainty
• Make a timely decision

41. The HJ’s Goals
• Get the initial picture from the FJ
• Listen to both players
• Is it worth investigating?
• Identifying lying
• Evidence VS certainty
• Make a timely decision
• Reporting a DQ

42. Getting the initial picture

43. Getting the initial picture
• Understand before reaching the table
Don’t do this while walking to the table

44. Getting the initial picture
• Understand before reaching the table
Don’t do this while walking to the table
– Harder to listen to each other in a room

45. Getting the initial picture
• Understand before reaching the table
Don’t do this while walking to the table
– Harder to listen to each other in a room
– Feeling of a « deadline » and some elements can be missed

46. Getting the initial picture
• Understand before reaching the table
Don’t do this while walking to the table
– Harder to listen to each other in a room
– Feeling of a « deadline » and some elements can be missed
• Mandatory elements to gather from the FJ:

47. Getting the initial picture
• Understand before reaching the table
Don’t do this while walking to the table
– Harder to listen to each other in a room
– Feeling of a « deadline » and some elements can be missed
• Mandatory elements to gather from the FJ:
– What happened? (Facts)

48. Getting the initial picture
• Understand before reaching the table
Don’t do this while walking to the table
– Harder to listen to each other in a room
– Feeling of a « deadline » and some elements can be missed
• Mandatory elements to gather from the FJ:
– What happened? (Facts)
– Do players agree? If they don’t, what do they disagree on?

49. Getting the initial picture
• Understand before reaching the table
Don’t do this while walking to the table
– Harder to listen to each other in a room
– Feeling of a « deadline » and some elements can be missed
• Mandatory elements to gather from the FJ:
– What happened? (Facts)
– Do players agree? If they don’t, what do they disagree on?
– What does the FJ think?
(Subjective impression based on the pre-investigation)

50. Listening to players

51. Listening to players
• If both players agree on facts, summarize
them to confirm the issue.

52. Listening to players
• If both players agree on facts, summarize
them to confirm the issue.
• If they disagree, or are not sure they agree,
separate them (again?)

53. Listening to players
• If both players agree on facts, summarize
them to confirm the issue.
• If they disagree, or are not sure they agree,
separate them (again?)
(This prevents a player from adjusting their story based on the other’s)

54. Listening to players
• If both players agree on facts, summarize
them to confirm the issue.
• If they disagree, or are not sure they agree,
separate them (again?)
(This prevents a player from adjusting their story based on the other’s)
• Let them both tell you their side of the story
(If you listen to both, they can’t say you’re biased – Life totals, GP PIT 2011)

55. Listening to players
• If both players agree on facts, summarize
them to confirm the issue.
• If they disagree, or are not sure they agree,
separate them (again?)
(This prevents a player from adjusting their story based on the other’s)
• Let them both tell you their side of the story
(If you listen to both, they can’t say you’re biased – Life totals, GP PIT 2011)
• Have the FJ with you to highlight any
discrepancy in a player’s story.

56. Are they Cheating?

57. Are they Cheating?
• It is Cheating if an infraction was committed:

58. Are they Cheating?
• It is Cheating if an infraction was committed:
a. Intentionally

59. Are they Cheating?
• It is Cheating if an infraction was committed:
a. Intentionally
b. Knowingly

60. Are they Cheating?
• It is Cheating if an infraction was committed:
a. Intentionally
b. Knowingly
c. To gain an advantage

61. Are they Cheating?
• It is Cheating if an infraction was committed:
a. Intentionally
b. Knowingly
c. To gain an advantage
• Players don’t do illegal things for no
advantage

62. Are they Cheating?
• It is Cheating if an infraction was committed:
a. Intentionally
b. Knowingly
c. To gain an advantage
• Players don’t do illegal things for no
advantage
• Ask yourself: Do they have a reason to cheat?

63. Are they Cheating?
• It is Cheating if an infraction was committed:
a. Intentionally
b. Knowingly
c. To gain an advantage
• Players don’t do illegal things for no
advantage
• Ask yourself: Do they have a reason to cheat?
• If you can’t find which advantage they may
gain from the infraction, they likely did not

64. Is it worth investigating?

65. Is it worth investigating?
• If the quest for Truth is very important to the two players
involved, tournament timing matters for all. (GP BOS 2012)

66. Is it worth investigating?
• If the quest for Truth is very important to the two players
involved, tournament timing matters for all. (GP BOS 2012)
• Do you have the slightest chance to find out what really
happened?

67. Is it worth investigating?
• If the quest for Truth is very important to the two players
involved, tournament timing matters for all. (GP BOS 2012)
• Do you have the slightest chance to find out what really
happened?
– “I said/He said” situations often can’t be solved with certainty.

68. Is it worth investigating?
• If the quest for Truth is very important to the two players
involved, tournament timing matters for all. (GP BOS 2012)
• Do you have the slightest chance to find out what really
happened?
– “I said/He said” situations often can’t be solved with certainty.
– The more time passed, the less interesting players’ stories are.

69. Is it worth investigating?
• If the quest for Truth is very important to the two players
involved, tournament timing matters for all. (GP BOS 2012)
• Do you have the slightest chance to find out what really
happened?
– “I said/He said” situations often can’t be solved with certainty.
– The more time passed, the less interesting players’ stories are.
• If you can’t think of a reasonable approach to gather the
elements you’re missing, it’s safer to shorten the
investigation and make a decision with the elements you
have.

70. Identifying lying

71. Identifying lying
• Does one of the players lie?
– It’s not because two players disagree that one lies

72. Identifying lying
• Does one of the players lie?
– It’s not because two players disagree that one lies
– Both players may be lying, or at least “making a slightly better story”
(Card touching hand, GP LIL 2012)

73. Identifying lying
• Does one of the players lie?
– It’s not because two players disagree that one lies
– Both players may be lying, or at least “making a slightly better story”
(Card touching hand, GP LIL 2012)
• Discrepancies: Helping or misleading?
– A player saying different things at different times may be lying.

74. Identifying lying
• Does one of the players lie?
– It’s not because two players disagree that one lies
– Both players may be lying, or at least “making a slightly better story”
(Card touching hand, GP LIL 2012)
• Discrepancies: Helping or misleading?
– A player saying different things at different times may be lying.
– However, if you ask the same question again and again, players will
naturally try to add details or end up being confused.

75. Evidences and Feelings

76. Evidences and Feelings
• Very few situations rely on “hard” facts.

77. Evidences and Feelings
• Very few situations rely on “hard” facts.
• Evidence or not, you’ll need to make a
decision.
– Judging is about making decisions on what’s the most probable.

78. Evidences and Feelings
• Very few situations rely on “hard” facts.
• Evidence or not, you’ll need to make a
decision.
– Judging is about making decisions on what’s the most probable.
• Certainty decreases with time as players’
stories will become better

79. Evidences and Feelings
• Very few situations rely on “hard” facts.
• Evidence or not, you’ll need to make a
decision.
– Judging is about making decisions on what’s the most probable.
• Certainty decreases with time as players’
stories will become better
• You’ll realistically almost always make a ruling
based on your feelings.

80. Making the decision

81. Making the decision
• As soon as the investigation stops progressing,
it’s time to make a decision (GP LIL12)

82. Making the decision
• As soon as the investigation stops progressing,
it’s time to make a decision (GP LIL12)
– Looping is worse than useless, it’s confusing

83. Making the decision
• As soon as the investigation stops progressing,
it’s time to make a decision (GP LIL12)
– Looping is worse than useless, it’s confusing
• If it’s unclear who’s lying, don’t go with
Cheating but make a ruling.

84. Announcing the decision

85. Announcing the decision
• If your conclusions indicate a DQ, talk to the
player apart, as this also prevents spectators
from putting indirect pressure on you. (GP
BRU 2009)

86. Announcing the decision
• If your conclusions indicate a DQ, talk to the
player apart, as this also prevents spectators
from putting indirect pressure on you. (GP
BRU 2009)
• If your decision is based on a feeling, mention
it to players before making the actual ruling.

87. Reporting the decision

88. Reporting the decision
• Print the DQ FAQ and give it to the player

89. Reporting the decision
• Print the DQ FAQ and give it to the player
• Encourage the player to write or email a
statement. It can only be beneficial to them.
Collect a readable email address

90. Reporting the decision
• Print the DQ FAQ and give it to the player
• Encourage the player to write or email a
statement. It can only be beneficial to them.
Collect a readable email address
• If they choose to email, take their email
address nevertheless

91. Reporting the decision
• Print the DQ FAQ and give it to the player
• Encourage the player to write or email a
statement. It can only be beneficial to them.
Collect a readable email address
• If they choose to email, take their email
address nevertheless
• Enter it in the Judge Center.
On-site is better if you can find time.

92. Reporting the decision
• Print the DQ FAQ and give it to the player
• Encourage the player to write or email a
statement. It can only be beneficial to them.
Collect a readable email address
• If they choose to email, take their email
address nevertheless
• Enter it in the Judge Center.
On-site is better if you can find time.
• Describe facts AND give your opinion.

93. Thank you!

94. Thank you!
Questions?