The Judges of Rathe is the official judge program for Flesh and Blood. It is operated by Legend Story Studios with the help of many passionate judges around the world. The goals of the program are:
To create, educate, and certify a community of judges around the world for the game of Flesh and Blood.
To facilitate bringing people together in the flesh and blood through the common language of playing great games.
The program provides various services including:
- Platforms to communicate between Judges
- Certifications to recognize a judge's abilities and skill set
- Tools for Tournament Organizers to find judges and staff events
- Uniform for select events
- Facilitation of Judge education
- And much, much more!
What is a Judge?
Judges play a vital role in the Flesh and Blood community, supporting all sizes of events by ensuring fair play, assisting with rules and logistics, and fostering a welcoming atmosphere, for players and organizers alike. The Judges of Rathe program provides a clear pathway for individuals to develop the knowledge and skills needed to contribute meaningfully to organized play.
Whether judging at weekly Armory events or traveling to major tournaments around the world, judges bring consistency, professionalism, and community spirit. The program's certification framework helps maintain high standards across all events and gives tournament organizers confidence when selecting the right people for their teams.
At the local level, judges often become trusted figures in the community. They offer support beyond tournaments and help build a positive play environment. Some events like Pro Quest and Road to Nationals require a certain level of judge, and these judges work to improve the event structure, resolve disputes, and enhance the player experience.
At large-scale events, judges take on specialized roles, from rules enforcement to logistics coordination, ensuring smooth operations for tournaments with hundreds or even thousands of players. Their contributions are essential to the success of these major tournaments and events.
No matter the scale, every judge brings something valuable to the table. The Judges of Rathe program is here to support all judges - whether they stay close to home or take their skills on the road.
The Judge Program
Judge Certifications
A key part of the Judges of Rathe program is helping organized play by providing trained judges for Flesh and Blood events (especially competitive ones).
To support this, we use a level system for our core certifications:
- Level 0 (L0) - For people who want to learn more about the rules of Flesh and Blood and are starting their journey to become a Judge.
- Level 1 (L1) - For judges who enjoy running local or regional events, or those who want to take up supporting roles.
- Level 2 (L2) - For judges interested in working at larger competitive events, or those who want to take up leadership roles.
These levels are a guide to help everyone understand a judge’s experience and role. They outline the minimum expectation for each level, but many judges go well beyond what's required.
Want more details on the each of the levels and their requirements? See how to become a judge!
Judges also help at events in other ways, such as scorekeeping, logistics, and administration work. You don't need to be certified for these roles, but having judge training is always appreciated and highly valued.
Judge Education
Flesh and Blood events come in all shapes and sizes, from the casual Armory event to the professional Pro Tour. Each type of event has its own challenges, and the Judges of Rathe program continues to develop methods of education tailored to meet those needs.
Here are some of the resources available to judges at any level:
- Official Articles - The latest rules and policy updates that are discussed and published by Legend Story Studios. Check them out here.
- Judge Blog - Articles written by judges, for judges, covering insights, best practices, and personal experiences. Check them out here.
- In-Person Conferences – Held at major events such as Callings, Pro Tours, the World Championship, and select standalone weekends.
- Online Conferences – Offered during each Pro Quest, Road to Nationals, and Nationals season for remote learning and connection.
- Community Platforms – A variety of online spaces where judges can ask questions, share knowledge, and discuss rules or event procedures. Check out our Discord and Bluesky communities.
In addition to these, we also offer guidance for more specific certifications or roles like Learn-to-Play support and scorekeeping. No matter your focus, we're committed to creating meaningful ways for judges to learn and grow.
We're always working on new ways to support the judge community and excited to share even more in the future!
Judge Community
Running smooth, successful events is a key part of organized play. But we think it is just as important to build a strong, supportive community for the judges themselves.
The Judges of Rathe program aims to create an environment where judges feel welcome, valued, and connected to a global network of individuals who share a passion for this game. Whether you prefer to judge at local events or travel the world to support major tournaments, you're part of something bigger - a worldwide judge family with a common goal:
Bringing people together in the flesh and blood through the common language of playing great games.
Our community is already thriving across various platforms. Most notably, the official Judges of Rathe Discord is a great place to ask questions, share insights, or just hang out with fellow judges. You’ll also find active judge-run pages on Bluesky, Facebook, and X, where you can catch up on new articles, quizzes, and program updates.
And the connection doesn’t stop online—judges love gathering in person too! At events like Callings and Pro Tours, you’ll often find judges grabbing dinner together or playing late-night games in hotel lobbies. Conferences before major events—and standalone judge meetups—are also fantastic ways to meet new people and share knowledge.
Wherever you connect—online or face-to-face—we’re committed to fostering a positive, inclusive global community free from hate and discrimination. If you share our passion for rules, fair play, and the Flesh and Blood experience, there’s a place here for you. Come join us!
