Altered illustrations in tournaments?

I need an official answer, are the cards with altered illustrations legal in tournaments? The card name, disciplines, cost and the text are unchanged, only the illustration is different.

I believe a tournament rules 4.1 and 4.5 are answering your question: All cards in a player's deck must be genuine Vampire: The Eternal Struggle or Jyhad cards or official V:EKN issued cards from the only authoritative source www.vekn.net as listed here… … every proxy card must be a color-copy of the original card, on standard paper…

Legion is right about "custom" cards (ie. cards that you completely craft yourself, or custom cards ordered on DriveThruCards): they are never legal. You need genuine VTES cards or legal proxies if the tournament allows proxies (and in that case, yeah, a print on standard paper). Note National and Continental tournaments cannot allow proxies. But I think your question might have been larger: what about genuine VTES cards with modified illustrations (ie. "alter", like expanded illustration, added pop-ups, etc.) For altered cards, I would advise to check with the organisers and/or their head judge. Signed cards are usually accepted (so I don't see why alter would not be) as long as: 1. The support is a genuine VTES card 2. The card text, title and icons are all still readable 3. The back or border of the card is not altered, or the deck is sleeved (card is not "marked" as per tournament rules)

I apologize if I was unclear, I meant the modified illustrations on the genuine cards (no proxy, no DriveThru). Thanks for the answers, you confirm my opinion, but I would like to hear an official viewpoint on this. The illustration would be modified beyond recognition but within the space of the existing illustration. Other parts of the card would not be modified. Here's what it's about. I have an irrational fear of radiation. The Creeping Sabotage shows the sabotage of the nuclear power plant. At first, this didn't bother me, but the longer I played with this card, the anxiety started to trigger. I can't imagine my minions doing something so stupid, and destroying a nuclear power plant is not something that can be fixed with simple single action. Yes, I know it sounds funny, but this still bothers me. I like the card, and I want to play it, but I still want to imagine my minions sabotaging something else (banks, blood banks, exhibitions, parties, business centers, private mansions...).

> Palamedes wrote: > I apologize if I was unclear, I meant the modified illustrations on the genuine cards (no proxy, no DriveThru). Thanks for the answers, you confirm my opinion, but I would like to hear an official viewpoint on this. > Yes, as long as: the card can't be differentiate while face down or in the deck (due to extra thickness* of different shape) the artwork is still recognizable (no heavy modification) it doesn't contain anything offensive Signed cards for instance should be ok. *Extra thickness should not apply to PDF cards. It's of course up to the head judge to decide whether the card is acceptable or not. > Palamedes wrote: > The illustration would be modified beyond recognition but within the space of the existing illustration. > No, because it has to be recognizable by other players. > Palamedes wrote: > Other parts of the card would not be modified. > > Here's what it's about. I have an irrational fear of radiation. The Creeping Sabotage shows the sabotage of the nuclear power plant. At first, this didn't bother me, but the longer I played with this card, the anxiety started to trigger. I can't imagine my minions doing something so stupid, and destroying a nuclear power plant is not something that can be fixed with simple single action. Yes, I know it sounds funny, but this still bothers me. I like the card, and I want to play it, but I still want to imagine my minions sabotaging something else (banks, blood banks, exhibitions, parties, business centers, private mansions...). > If the powerplant is replaced by something else and the creeping figure in the foreground kept as is, it should be ok (as the powerplant is a detail in the background). (magicalter.com/are-mtg-alters-illegal-in-tournaments/ is a good source of inspiration) Prince of Paris, France Ratings Coordinator, Rules Director

I know the question is broader, but in this particular case you can feel safe: wet cooling towers are used in many different industrial applications not limited to nuclear power plants, it's more of a media cliche.

I can back up smeeag's statement. It's more likely a thermal power station than a nuclear power plant. Worry not, Nosferatu is known to be careful and responsible anyway NC of Hungary ///

No, please don´t open up this can of worms. Just use the normal cards please (or proxies for those when allowed). "My strategy? Luck is my strategy, of course."

> Ankha wrote: > > Yes, as long as: the card can't be differentiate while face down or in the deck (due to extra thickness* of different shape) the artwork is still recognizable (no heavy modification) it doesn't contain anything offensive > Signed cards for instance should be ok. > *Extra thickness should not apply to PDF cards. > > It's of course up to the head judge to decide whether the card is acceptable or not. > Thanks for your reply. I was hoping that heavy modifications would be possible, but I understand that the recognizable part should remain. > smeeag wrote: > I know the question is broader, but in this particular case you can feel safe: wet cooling towers are used in many different industrial applications not limited to nuclear power plants, it's more of a media cliche. > Heh, I didn't know that, thanks for the info, but it doesn't change much in this case. > Ashur wrote: > No, please don´t open up this can of worms. Just use the normal cards please (or proxies for those when allowed). > For casual play, I'll stick to modified proxies for now, and probably skip my deck with Creeping Sabotage for tournaments.

> Ashur wrote: > No, please don´t open up this can of worms. Just use the normal cards please (or proxies for those when allowed). > You could make a ruling about this, the same way Magic has done. Key part is that the card should always be recognizable for what it is. Thus minimum the name should remain unchanged, and probably enough of the art to recognize it plus artists name. If in a tournament somebody complains about the altered art, then the decision whether or not the card is legal should be the judges decision, case by case basis. The text box is less important, if for no other reason that the misprinted cards from.. was it anthology?.. that have no cardtext are legal to play already. Bottom line should always be that the card is recognizable if you take it in your hand. Smoking craters tell no tales. —Tex talks Battletech

It is rather handy to be able to read the actual card too. I think the bottom line is: Try to make the game experience as pleasant for everyone as possible. That means: Bring readable cards and cards that can be recognized in play. I don´t understand what the point with any other attitude is. "My strategy? Luck is my strategy, of course."