That's right--it's another "Spike Speaks." Mainly because after helping Vulpix do the polls and fixing five decks, I can't quite summon up the inner reserve of energy that would allow me to answer some letters. You all will just have to wait a while longer. But never the less, there's some good stuff in this update.

I told myself at the beginning of this update that I was NOT going to fix any deck that remotely resembled a haymaker or that contained a Pokemon whose name ended in the letters U-F-F. I've got about a zillion of those in my mailbox, and I knew if I tried to fix yet another one, my remaining strands of control would snap and I would go on a psychotic rampage. Thankfully, that didn't happen.

In case you can't tell, I'm hinting that I'd like to get more original decks. Most of the archetypes have been gotten down to a science by now and shouldn't really need a mechanic to do more than brush the dust off and apply a coat of paint, so to speak. I won't turn anybody down, but still...

What else is in the news these days? Well, there's Gym Heroes, which will be released on the 6th, the 7th, the 9th, the 12th, the 14th, the 16th, or some other day, depending on the phase of the moon, the zodiac sign of the Wizards regional manager for your area, and most of all the size of the bill that you slip the card store owner under the table. Then when you finally get your hands on the pack and tear through the foil, you pull a Misty's Goldeen, which is inexplicably a rare this time round. Funfun fun. Seriously though, there are some good cards here, and I'll start looking to use them in my fixes. Feel free to send me decks with Gym cards, too--the spoiler is out, so I guess the set's as good as released as far as a Deck Mechanic is concerned.

Anyway, see you all around. I hope you enjoy what I have for you this week.

-Spike
spike@pojo.com


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