ESCALATION TOURNAMENT VS. PLAY NETWORK EVENTS
The weekly Escalation events will also be entered into the Sorcery: Contested Realm Play Network system as individual Sealed Events, allowing players to receive any applicable official Play Network rankings or records.
However, the 6-week Escalation Tournament is a separate, locally run competition operated by Variant Vault Cards & Comics.
Two Separate Systems
Sorcery Play Network
Variant Vault Escalation Tournament
The official Play Network results and the Variant Vault Escalation standings are therefore separate and serve different purposes.
6 Weekly Play Network Sealed Events = 1 Variant Vault 6-Week Escalation Tournament
SORCERY: CONTESTED REALM — ESCALATION EVENT
Event Format
STARTING CARD POOL — WEEK 1
Each player begins with 6 booster packs: $30 + prize pool $30
Alpha is not included.
Players build their Spellbook and Atlas using only cards from their event card pool.
Deck Size — Weeks 1–3
WEEKLY BOOSTER ESCALATION $7 each week (5 for pack of the week and 2 to the pool)
Each Friday, every player who attends that week's event receives 1 additional booster pack.
Over the course of the 6 weeks, players will receive:
The specific set for that week's additional booster will be determined at the time of the weekly meeting.
A player who attends all 6 weeks will receive:
CARD POOL SECURITY
To ensure fairness and prevent cards from being added, removed, exchanged, or otherwise manipulated:
WEEKLY DECK CHANGES
Each Friday, players will have designated time to:
All deck changes must be made using only cards in the player's accumulated event card pool.
DECK SIZES
Weeks 1–3
Weeks 4–6
The final three weeks use the larger standard preconstructed deck sizes.
WEEKLY MATCHES
Each Friday, every player will play 3 matches.
There are no draws.
Every match must produce a definitive winner and loser.
POINT SYSTEM
Players earn points every Friday based on attendance and match results.
Attendance
Match Results
With 3 matches each Friday:
3 Wins: 10 points total
2 Wins / 1 Loss: 8 points total
1 Win / 2 Losses: 6 points total
3 Losses: 4 points total
Points accumulate throughout all 6 weeks.
Final Winner
At the end of Week 6, the player with the highest cumulative point total wins the tournament's top prize.
MATCH TIMING & NO-DRAW SYSTEM
There will be no draws.
Chess timers will be used to accurately track each player's time during matches.
Before matches begin each Friday:
If a match reaches the time limit, the following information will be recorded:
These statistics will be used as the tie-breaking system for individual matches so that every match produces a winner.
DROPPING FROM THE EVENT
Players may drop from the tournament at any point during the 6-week event.
If a player drops:
LATE ENTRY
Players may join the tournament after Week 1.
A late entrant must pay for:
Therefore, a late entrant begins with 7 boosters.
A late entrant receives:
They then participate in the remaining weeks under the same Escalation rules.
WEEKLY STRUCTURE
Every Friday (Top 3 players will receive one additional pack of the week to add to their pool)
CURRENT 6-WEEK PROGRESSION
Spellbook/Atlas
Week 1
24/12
Week 2
24/12
Week 3
24/12
Week 4
30/20
Week 5
30/20
Week 6
30/20
POINT TRACKING & REDEMPTION SYSTEM/ Point Tracking
(This does not include how people place each week or at the end)
All tournament points will be tracked using store punch cards.
Point Redemption
At the conclusion of the 6-week Escalation tournament, players who did not finish in 1st place may redeem their accumulated points for prizes.
Booster Packs
Single-Player Playmat
Players may save their points throughout the tournament and redeem them at the conclusion of the event.
Redemption Examples
The 1st-place player receives the main tournament prize and does not participate in point redemption
Weekly Sealed Event Only Entry
Players who do not wish to participate in the full 6-week Escalation Tournament may still participate in an individual Friday Sealed Event.
In short:
$40 Weekly Sealed Entry = 6 packs + weekly prize pool, but no Escalation participation.