Thread: Judging Encyclopedia

Credit to Hushie

Here you will find anything and everything about judges and judging mechanics.

Quick Links (to open in separate window):

Official Judges
Judging Method
-> Judging Formulas, Move Type Compatibility, Crowd Meter & Judge Voltage
-> Appeal & Hearts, Appeal Order, and Contest Terms
How To Become A Judge
Judge Quiz

Head Judge
AmericanTreeFrog

Senior Judges
SLC04

Judges are listed with their corresponding AIM names.

Active Judges
AmericanTreeFrog - AmericanTreeF
Chainreaction01 - ChainreactionRPG
Mubz - Mubz96*
PichuBoy - magickid931
Siless - siless732
SLC04 - politoedprince
WebMaster - WebDragoon1337

Past or Inactive Judges

Ataro - sniperxpwnage
Ball - theball998
Buoysel. - buoyysel
DarkGardevoir - clockknight
Derian - derianurpg
Dog of Hellsing - ttartrainer
Eeveedude - eeveedude2240
Feng - cooldunsparce
Gmandiddy - gmandiddy*
Iridium - pokelordultimate
Jack of Clovers - dismssngrsux
JokesterJesse - JesseJKJesse
Mitsuzo-kun - jacksonpkmn
Monbrey - Monbrey
Morru Magnum - hypernoelixer@yahoo.com
Nitro - zinata360
ragnarok0422 - ragnarok0422
sheepskinfuton - sheepskinfuton
Shock64 - ShockNJ
Sec - Rainsecbow
SiberianTiger - SumerianRevenant
Xpedential - Xpedential101

Judge Testers
AmericanTreeFrog
Feng
JokesterJesse

Festivals
Anyone who has been a judge for less than a month cannot ref Festivals. Each judge is also limited to judging two Festivals per week. Please do make sure you've read about the details of judging a Festival in All About Contests (because it works a little differently from normal contests).

* Means B\W certified only.

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Information
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>> RSE Contest Mode Research Site

>> RSE Contest Moves List

>> DPP Contest Mode Research Site

>> DPP Contest Moves List

>> BW Contest Moves List
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Calculators
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While it is not required for judging (since judging uses simple math), a judge can still use any of the approved calculators if they prefer.

>> Excel Calculator made by SLCalamity, helps you to figure out Primary Rounds, Final Judging, and a little for Festivals

*Thanks to Jack of Clovers, May Norman, DarkGardevoir, AmericanTreeFrog, Ataro, Feng, JokesterJesse, and others for all of their help.

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Judging Formula
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• Primary Round for RSE/DPP Contest Modes
  
  Equation = ((B+C+F)/2)*S +A
  where:
  A = Primary attribute
  B and C = Secondary attributes
  F = Feel/Luster
  S = 1.1 if the Pokémon holds a Scarf associated with the contest's primary attribute; 1.05 if the Pokémon holds a Scarf associated with one of the contest's secondary attributes; 1 otherwise.
  
  
• Primary Round for BW Contest Mode
  
  Equation = ([(B+C+F)/2+A]*S) - (G+H)
  where:
  A = Primary attribute
  B and C = Secondary attributes
  F = Feel/Luster
  G and H equal incompatible attributes
  S = 1.1 if the Pokémon holds a Scarf associated with the contest's primary attribute; 1.05 if the Pokémon holds a Scarf associated with one of the contest's secondary attributes; 1 otherwise.
  
  
• Primary Round for RSE/DPP/BW Festivals
  
  Equation= {(A + B + C + D + E + F)/n}*S
  where:
  A = Cool attribute
  B = Beauty attribute
  C = Cute attribute
  D = Smart attribute
  E = Tough Attribute
  F = Feel/Luster
  n = number of attributes actually used. If an attribute is 0, then it isn't counted.
  S = 1.1 if the Pokémon holds a Scarf associated with the contest's primary attribute; 1.05 if the Pokémon holds a Scarf associated with one of the contest's secondary attributes; 1 otherwise.
  
  
• Final Judging for RSE/DPP/BW Contest Modes/Festivals
  
  Equation= ((Acting Score) * 2) + (Primary Score))
  
  Highest Score wins!

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Move Type Compatibility
-------------------

1. Cool Contest
Compatible: Tough, Beauty
Incompatible: Cute, Smart

2. Beauty Contest
Compatible: Cool, Cute
Incompatible: Smart, Tough

3. Cute Contest
Compatible: Beauty, Smart
Incompatible: Cool, Tough

4. Smart Contest
Compatible: Cute, Tough
Incompatible: Cool, Beauty

5. Tough Contest
Compatible: Smart, Cool
Incompatible: Beauty, Cute

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Crowd Meter & Judge Voltage
-------------------

RSE Contest Mode
If a Pokemon uses a move of the Contest type, the Crowd Meter is increased by 1, and the appeal is increased by +1. When the Crowd Meter reaches 5: "Crowd goes wild!", the appeal is increased by +5. Then, the Crowd Meter returns to 0 again.

If a Pokemon uses a move of a compatible attribute, the Crowd Meter is neither increased or decreased: "Crowd looks on". If a Pokemon uses a move of an incompatible attribute, the crowd's excitement is decreased by 1: "X's [attribute] didn't go over well here...". The Pokemon's appeal isn't decreased by 1 however.

DPP Contest Mode
Unlike RSE Contest Mode, the Pokemon's appeal will not increase even if he performs a move of the Contest type. Also, the Crowd Meter is referred to as the Voltage here. The Voltage will increase when a Pokemon uses a move of the Contest type, and decrease when a Pokemon uses a move of an incompatible attribute. It will neither increase nor decrease if a compatible move is used.

There are three judges to appeal to in the DPP Contest Mode. Besides the two side judges which will increase your appeal by +5 if you max out their Voltage (Voltage: 5), there is also the main/lead judge, which will increase your appeal by +8 if you max out his Voltage (Voltage: 5).

Since you can only earn hearts by maxing out Voltages, there is also another way that helps to increase your appeals each turn. Each turn, each Judge will hand out extra hearts based on the number of appeals that they have viewed. 1 Appeal = +3 Hearts. 2 Appeals = +2 Hearts. 3 Appeals = +1 Heart. All 4 Appeals = No Hearts.

B/W Contest Mode
Unlike RSE and DPP mode, there are no contest attribute rounds. Instead, types are attributed to the type chart below. Compatibilities still apply as they did before in RSE and DPP. Instead of Voltage or a Crowd Meter a Pokemon has PP(Power Points). Each Pokemon starts with a base of 300PP. When a move is used the amount of PP required to use the move will be deducted from the Pokemon’s PP limit. The PP is subtracted by 10 when a Pokemon uses a move of the Pokemon Type, and will increased by 10 when a Pokemon uses an incompatible attribute. It will neither increase nor decrease if a compatible move is used.

Before the start of a contest, when you send which Pokemon are going to use you must pick which type it is to represent. Whatever type you choose the Pokemon will remain that type for the duration of the contest. The ribbon(s) you receive must also match the type of your Pokemon. However, if a fellow Pokemon was a different type then you can receive that type instead.

A Pokemon is considered Knocked Out when its health either reaches 0% or its PP points are reduced to 0. PP points for each move are determined by which tier it fall under. Tiers are found by this chart:

• Tier 1 - 10
  Tier 2 - 20
  Tier 3 - 30
  Tier 4 - 40
  Tier 5 - 50

Normal - Cute
Flying - Cute
Electric - Cute

Fighting - Cool
Dragon - Cool
Dark - Cool
Bug - Cool

Ground - Tough
Rock - Tough
Steel - Tough

Water - Beauty
Ice - Beauty
Fire - Beauty

Grass - Smart
Psychic - Smart
Ghost - Smart
Poison - Smart

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Appeals & Hearts
-------------------

When you are judging, you will constantly come across terms such as: appeal points and hearts. They are basically the same thing. To get appeal points simply multiple the number of hearts by 10. The maximum possible appeal a Pokemon can earn at once is 160 appeal points or 16 hearts.

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Appeal Order
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RSE Contest Mode
The voting score from the primary round determines which contestant can begin its appeal first (those with higher voting scores get to appeal first). In subsequent appeal rounds, appeal order is initially determined by the last round’s appeals (those with higher appeals get to appeal first). In case of a tie in scoring or determining appeal order, the Pokemon who wins the tie is determined at random.

DPP Contest Mode
The initial performance order is determined from the highest to lowest final scores in the primary round. In the next three turns, the performance order is then determined from lowest score to highest score in the previous turn. In case of a tie in determining performance order, the tie is broken at random.

BW Contest Mode
Turn order here only applies if the contestants are using DPPT rule sets, or any variation thereof. Turn order will be determined by the primary score (the contestant with the most points will choose to go first or defer). Ribbons will handed out here according to the number of Pokemon used divide in half and rounded down.
1-3 = 1
4-5 = 2
6-6 = 3

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Contest Terms
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There are a couple of contest terms that will be used frequently when judging. As a judge, you need to understand each of them and effects behind it. These terms refer to RSE Contest Mode only, since DPP Contest Modes was simplified and didn’t include these.

• Combo Moves
  These are a pair of moves that a Pokemon uses consecutively. The specific combo moves are listed in the RSE Contest Mode moves list. If a Pokemon completes a combo, the appeal effect in increased by the second; move’s unmodified appeal affect.
  
• Combo Standby
  This refers to the condition where the user uses a move that is the first part if a combo move, such as using Rest first. Certain moves ham Pokemon that are on Combo Standby for more points, while certain moves can cancel out any Combo Standby(s).
  
• Condition Star
  Condition points. Certain moves allow the user to gain condition stars, where each appeal after that will be increased by +1 for each condition point (or referred as condition star) the POkemon has. The Pokemon may only earn up to three stars in a contest. Stars may be removed during any turn by other Pokemon via moves that do so, Also, the more stars a Pokemon has, the less likely it will be Nervous.
  
• Jam
  These are negative points to startle other Pokemon (refers to the black hearts in the games). A Pokemon can either startle itself, or be startled by others.
  
  A Pokemon can startle itself by using a move consecutively, unless the move’s effect allows that. The penalty is calculated as minus 1 x (number of times the move has been repeated). For example, if Dragonite has used Dragon Dance three time consecutively, its penalty would be minus 1 x (3) = minus 3 hearts. When a Pokemon repeatedly uses a move even if it used a move of that contest type, it will not boost the Crowd Meter.
  Note that a Pokemon cannot choose the same move twice in a row at all in DPP Mode contests.
  
  A Pokemon can also be startled by others if it appealed before the Pokemon that used a jamming move. A Pokemon that is too nervous to move can become startled. If a Pokemon cannot appeal due to previous appeal move’s effect, it then cannot be startled or be a “previous appealer”.
  
  These message are shown when a jam effect is applied to an appealer. You can use the wordings as a general format for your contests, but it’s considered as optional.
  
  
  Appeal -0(avoid being startled): “X managed to avoid it seeing it.”
  Appeal -10: “X looked down out of distraction.”
  Appeal -20: “X turned back out of distraction.”
  Appeal -30: “X couldn’t help uttering a cry.”
  Appeal -40: “X couldn’t help leaping up.”
  Appeal <-40: “X tripped over out of distraction.”
• Nervous
  Your Pokemon has a 60% chance to not to make its appeal that turn. The more stars the Pokemon has, the less nervous the Pokemon will be.
  1 Star = 50%. 2 Stars = 40%. 3 Stars = 30%.

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Additional Points (B/W Mode)
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Besides earning points from the use of Moves there are a few other ways in which a trainer can add to their score.

Win: 100 points
Loss: 50 points
KO a tier 1 Pokemon with a tier 4: 50 points
KO the opposite team without losing a Pokemon: 200 points
Combo KO: #*10
A combo KO is where your Pokemon knocks out two or more Pokemon without fainting or switching out

You can also earn points by Koing Pokemon. Pokemon fall into four different tiers, and those tiers will are as follows. If a Pokemon runs out of PP it is out of the contest, by the the opposing trainer doesn’t earn points for its KO.

50 points: Tier 1 Pokemon
40 points: Tier 2 Pokemon
30 points: Tier 3 Pokemon
20 points: Tier 4 Pokemon

Pokemon Tier List

Although contests are not insanely popular, judges are still an important part of the URPG in order for Contests to function properly. Contests are a good source of income, both coordinators- and judges-wise. In fact, judging is considered as the easiest out of the four jobs in URPG (referee, grader, and ranger), and is generally considered the second fastest job to complete. Also, as a judge, you would be able to claim your pay immediately after you have finished judging a contest and posted your log. Talk about immediate rewards. This post will detail the steps to become a judge.

Note: Judges should be reasonably fast, accurate, have all the information in front of them, ready to answer any question, and most importantly, respectful of the contest. There is no favoring one coordinator over the other - that is cheating.

Step 1:
You should have a general understanding of how contests work in the URPG. Having experience of how Contest work in R/S/E, D/P/P and B/W contests in the games is a plus point.

Step 2:
You should familiarize yourself with the information in All About Contests and the Judging Encyclopedia. You should be able to use your resources. Use the Contest Moves List (R/S/E Mode) or the Contest Moves List (D/P/P Mode) or the
Contest Moves List (B/W Mode)[ when you need to know how each move works when appealed.


Step 3:
Familiarize yourself with the judging formulas, move type compatibility, crowd meter/judge voltage, appeal orders, and contest terms. Most judges know the following, or at least the crux of these so they can judge accurately and at a relatively fast speed.

Step 4:
Try practice judging by looking at forum contests and see if you can get the same results as the judge. You can also see if you get the same thing as the judge in your own contests.

Step 5:
Take the Judge Quiz.

Step 6:
After you pass the Judge Quiz, you can take the RSE|DPP Judge Test. In the Judge Test, you will have judge a contest given by a Judge Tester. All you have to do is contact any Ref Tester on AIM to be tested. If you fail the Judge Test, you must wait at least one week (168 hours) before taking it again.

If you want to take the B/W Judge Test you must have passed the Judge Quiz first and be a ref. Contact any Ref Tester on AIM to be tested. If you fail the Judge Test, you must wait at least one week (168 hours) before taking it again.

If you have any questions about anything about judging or becoming a judge, feel free to contact the Head Judge or any of the Senior Judges.

Before you are able take the Judge Test, you must pass the Judge Quiz. There are 27 questions on the Judge Quiz. You must answer 17 out of the 24 short answer questions correctly, at least a RSE mode contest scenario out of the two correctly, and also get the DPP mode contest scenario correct.

Once you pass, the Judge Tester will guide you through the answers you did not get. You must PM your answers to an available Judge Tester. He/she will then send you back the answers that are incorrect. You then respond with your revision of those incorrect answers, and keep doing so until you pass. Nobody except a Judge Tester is able to help you on the Judge Quiz, and you are not able to discuss the Judge Quiz with anyone except a Judge Tester. Any questions about it should be done through PM with one of the Judge Testers.

You will send all answers via PM to any of the following people. Please include question and answer. Only PM to one of the judge testers.
*AmericanTreeFrog: Not Available
*SLCalamity: Available

RSE/DPP Mode

1. Calculate the appeal points of a Musharna holding a Cute Scarf (Luster 186, Cool 202, Beauty 59, Cute 95, Smart 270, Tough 10) in the Primary Round of a Smart Contest.

2. Both RSE and DPP Contest Modes have 5 rounds for the participants to appeal. True or False? Explain why.

3. Name five things that RSE Contests have that DPP Contests don't.

4. A Milotic managed to appeal a total of 22 hearts in a round, but the judge reduced the amount of hearts to x hearts. Explain why, and find out x.

5. What happens when there is a tie in determining the performance order?

RSE Mode

6. In a Beauty Contest, a Blaziken appealed with Blaze Kick, while a Marowak appealed with Bonemerang. Both moves have no additional effect and they both appealed for +4. However, why did Blaziken still earn more appeal points than Marowak at the end of the turn? Please also state the total appeal points/hearts that they have received at the end of the turn, without taking into account of any stats before this turn.

7. A Blastoise with two condition stars had appealed with Yawn previously. This turn, it appealed with Rest in a Cute Contest. How many hearts will he receive with that appeal? Crowd Meter is at 4 currently.

8. An Electivire managed to appeal first in the second round of a contest. List three possible reasons to that.

9. Audino had used Substitute thrice in a row in a Smart Contest when the Crowd Meter is placed at 4. How much negative appeal hearts is the penalty for that? Will Audino max the Crowd Meter and receive the +5 bonus?

10. Blissey had also used Hidden Power thrice in a row, but she doesn't get penalty. Why is that so?

11. Togekiss had used Baton Pass and made all of the Pokemon appealing after it nervous. Serperior is one of them and it already has two condition stars. What is the chances of Serperior being too nervous to move?

12. A Zangoose with three condition stars had used Rock Smash in a Tough Contest. How many hearts will it earn?

13. A Geodude used Magnitude in a Cute Contest when the Crowd Meter is at 3. How many appeal hearts did it earn?

14. If a Pokemon goes second in a RSE Contest and uses Attract, all the other Pokemon become Nervous. True or false? Explain why.

15. Snorlax had just finished performing Double Edge, but is jammed by the next appealer's move; Luster Purge. How many hearts is Snorlax jammed for?

16. Wobbuffet had just finished performing Destiny Bond. The next appealer uses Leech Seed, which is a jamming move. How many hearts is Wobbuffet jammed for?

17. Slowbro is the last appealer for this round, and the total appeal hearts for the previous appealers are as shown. Starmie = 10 Hearts. Chandelure = 2 Hearts. Excadrill = 5 Heart. Slowbro then appeals with Skill Swap in a Smart Contest. How much appeal points does he earn?

18: Smeargle is the second appealer and appeals with Sketch in a Tough Contest. However, the first appealer is a Bibarel who has 3 black hearts (jams). How much appeal points does Smeargle earn for performing Sketch?

19. In a Cool Contest, the first appealer appeals with Doom Desire, while the second appealer then appeals with Payback. Will the Crowd Meter increase and award an additional appeal heart to the second appealer for performing a move of the contest's type? Explain.

20. This is the third round of a R/S/E Contest, displaying both the total appeal points that the Pokemon has already received, and the hearts that it had just received for the turn (in no particular order). Asterisks represent condition stars. State the order in which they will perform for next turn, along with any explanation (if any).

Scyther 130 PTS (+10 this turn)
Feebas 150 PTS (+4 this turn)
Skitty 60 PTS (+6 this turn) (**)
Castform 120 PTS (+11 this turn)

DPP Mode

21. How many judges are there in a contest and how much do they give individually, when the Voltage is reached at 5?

22. In a Smart Contest, Alakazam is the first appealer and appealed with Psychic. The Voltage is placed at 2 currently and throughout the turn, no one else but Alakazam appealed towards the lead judge. How many appeal hearts did Alakazam earn?

23. A Magmortar managed to appeal first in the second round of a contest. List two possible reasons to that.

24. This is the third round of a D/P/P Contest, displaying both the total appeal points that the Pokemon has already received, and the hearts that it had just received for the turn (in no particular order). State the order in which they will perform for next turn, along with any explanation (if any).

Chimchar 130 PTS (+5 this turn)
Caterpie 150 PTS (+7 this turn)
Chingling 70 PTS (+4 this turn)
Charmander 100 PTS (+2 this turn)

Scenarios
Judge out the following scenarios and give the round results as if you were judging a real contest. You should be able to provide a neat judging format and stats, along with any side status or conditions in the stats, such as Combo Standby, Condition Stars, or 'X' for not being allowed to perform. You may roll for a nervous chance, but all Pokemon must complete their appeal.
Crowd Level (CL) / Voltage will be given as well.[*] = 1 Condition Star. [**] = 2 Condition Stars. [***] = 3 Condition Stars.

25.
Rules: R/S/E Cool Contest
Stats:
1st: Porygon2 100 PTS
2nd: Raichu 80 PTS
3rd: Alakazam 60 PTS (*)
4th: Starmie 40 PTS
Crowd Meter is at 2.

Appeals: Porygon2 - Lock On; Raichu - Encore; Alakazam - Skill Swap; Starmie - Hyper Beam

26.
Rules: R/S/E Smart Contest
Stats:
1st: Gengar 80PTS (Combo Standby: Endure)
2nd: Starmie 50PTS (*) (Combo Standby: Surf)
3rd: Milotic 30PTS
4th: Venusaur 0 PTS (Used Giga Drain for two times consecutively already)
Crowd Meter is at 4.

Appeals: Gengar - Destiny Bond; Starmie - Dive; Milotic - Hypnosis; Venusaur - Giga Drain

27.
Rules: D/P/P Cool Contest
Current Voltages:
Lead Judge, Dexter [Voltage = 4]
Second Judge, Ash [Voltage = 3]
Third Judge, Giovanni [Voltage = 0]
Stats:
1st Blaziken 60 PTS (Used Focus Energy before this)
2nd Scizor 60 PTS
3rd Charizard 100 PTS (Used Outrage before this)
4th Kangaskhan 100 PTS (Used Rage before this)

Appeals: Blaziken - Sky Uppercut on Ash; Scizor - Quick Attack on Ash; Charizard - Outrage on Dexter; Kangaskhan - Dizzy Punch on Giovanni