Things are looking up. No, really.

After a couple of slow weeks, I'm starting to get back on track. We've got no less than five rip-snorting deck fixes for you to gaze at and ponder this week. No bashes, unfortunately, but that's life. At this point, it's more important for me to get a jump on the gigantic morass of decks in my inbox. As partial compensation, we should (finally) have a new set of poll questions up for you to answer.

You came here to see the letters, yes? I show you the letters.


>Subject:Chill out People
>
>Sheesh, after reading the 4/24 set of letters, I see why some people
>hate america. These people can at least be nice or explain their point
>instead of just saying 3 words with 16 exclamation points after them. I
>got the joke as I saw the whole list was just joking around anyway (but
>I found it extremely funny)So people, just go turn yourself in to a
>mental institution if your gonna be such a retard or maybe try to sell
>your cards( It'll take a real long time, I dare you to try to find
>someone to buy them, its a dare) Well, thats all I got to say for
>today,
>just chill out, thats all you need to know.
>
>P.S. I like those thoughts of the day, its just that everything else is
>so good too.


Preach on, muh brothah. Can I get an amen?


>To:spike@pojo.com
>
>In last weeks letters column, (5-8-00) , you said you wanted some
>constructive criticism.  Well, here it is.
>
>
>                    SUCK IT!!!!


Thank you for the kind offer, but no. Next letter!


>Subject:sorry
>
>I am sorry for taking that Digimon (hate to say that word) seriously. To me it is not a thing to kid about >(even if it is more underfunded than Sega).
> ~ Nintenfreak ~
>I am off to savethe world! *woosh*


Just giving the guy a chance to defend himself. And by the way, you need to relax.


>Subject:Re: TR Hypno and Bench Power Deck
>
>OK,
>    The Bench Manipulation deck that was posted last week, was
>well.....wrong.
>Unless i got some, Super-rare misprint Dark Hypno, or the guy that made
>the
>deck missed it, his attack does more damage for each of your OPPONENT'S
>benched pokemon.  So Challenge is kind of oblivious when using the 2
>together.  He IS the counter/anti cards used for Challenge and wiggly. 
>IT
>does damage for each benched poke'mon your opponent has, not yours. 
>Don't
>take it the wrong way, but I'm just your everyday, pojomanic surfing
>your
>garage.


Erm. You ARE aware that Challenge works both ways, right? Presumably, if your opponent accepts the challenge, he is going to load his own bench to the maximum. If he doesn't fill his own bench, well, then you just got a fully loaded bench for Wiggly and he didn't get as much out of it as he could have. Either way, you come out ahead.

Now, if somewhere in that fix I implied that Dark Hypno checks your OWN bench, then I misspoke and I apologize. But the strategy still works.


>Subject:Vulpix calamity
>
>    Dear Spike,
>        I am peterbed about your lose against the blastoise and
>vulpix's
>pokecenterization. So I am sending you a chansey. She is a licensed
>Poketician and know soft-boiled. She should have Vulpix up with in the
>next
>couple days. "Say bye to your friends Chansey, you get to ride the
>telephone
>jack.""Chanseey!!" ZiiiiP I hope chansey finds you in a few minute,
>some
>pokemon take a while to process. Now as for the Scott dispatching the
>Pokelady from Pojo service, is unusual even for Scott. Now I do know
>Scott,
>ask, I am an annoying one that has gotten several games, hehehe. Its
>fun
>watching him fidget when you got him and you see that he knows it.
>Chipmunk
>knows it aswell. Ahh, memories from the days he was in Texas. Can't
>wait till
>he returns, Wiggly has to get his grove back on. Now if you just think
>I am
>blowing smoke then talk to Scott, but that in itself is a little time
>consuming and I would just mention Tubby Top Decker and it would
>probably jar
>his memory. If you are wondering about that, I have the ability to top
>deck
>like no other and so does every Pokemon player in the family for that
>matter.
>hence the nick name Tubby Top Decker. But I digress. You Did ask for
>constructive criticism and I have a bit, Vulpix needs to be a little
>more off
>beat than tuned to you. Though that is a sign of a good trainer, it
>isn't as
>funny. But Vulpix is your pokemon. So have a good week and hope Vulpix
>feels
>better.
>Cyberdemon is a pimp and should smack that Pikachu like his daily
>b*tch.
>Pokemon, for ever... Hell naw just the TCG


1) Vulpix has already recovered, but thanks for the Chansey. Do you want her back?

2) Scott should be back in Texas by now. If he's not, I shudder to think of where he went this time.

3) I have enough problems with that little fiery furball as it is.


>Subject:Infinite Card Combo
>
>I think that loser (I mean, PERSON) was talking about using Nightly
>Garbage Run to get another Nightly Garbage Run, and continue doing
>that.
>  Either he/she is a serious idiot or is using poor translations of
>fairly common US cards.
>
>Thank you for your time.
>
>P.S. When you said dress as James or Jessy depending on your gender, I
>was a little confused as to the meaning.  Now I've been thrown in jail
>wearing women's clothes! Thanks a lot!  Oh well, at least they let me
>keep the laptop with me....


Well, thank you for the clarification. Any other interpretations on the whole infinite card combo thing?

Hope you get out of jail soon...


>Subject:This so called Digimon...
>
> Dear Spike,
> I read your top 10 list and thought it was pretty funny. I went to "Spike's Shack" and read a lot of >articles saying "Digimon Sucks" for no apperent reason and without explanation. Not that I am a >Digimon Freak but I woud like to clear something up...
> I have seen the show ONCE.It is about as good as Pokemon, maybe better. (FYI At least they open >their eyes, not like Brock, and they don't have squigles on their cheeks like Ash.) It has a DECENT >story line and is probably about as easy to understand as Pokemon.
> On the card game: If POJO makes a magizine on it, then it is good enough.
>
>Keep in mind I do not LOVE Digimon but understand that if Digimon came before Pokemon, then >everyone would THINK that Pokemon copied and everyone would think that Pokemon was the worst.


Hey. There's nothing wrong with closing your eyes or having squiggles on your cheeks. Remember, stereotypes are the language of hate. I agree with your point on the magazine thing, though. All things considered... I will probably not be a Digimon fan anytime in the future, but there's no reason to bash it the way some people have been doing.

Oh yes... it's Spike's SHED, not Shack. Shack? Where do you people come up with this stuff?


>Subject:Dallas
>
>Is the pojo based in dallas? Is that why all the "employees" are from
>there? And, if you're not to tired of answering questions, is Scott the
>PoJoSama? If not, who?


The PoJo is not based in Dallas, even though there seem to be a hell of a lot of Pojo employees there. Personally, I'm from Kansas. In answer to your second question, the Pojosama is that guy in a robe who's always popping up all over the place. It's not Scott, let me tell you that.


>Subject:Hey...
>
>Hiya Spike,
>I was wondering about something... I have a belief that you should play
>only 1 evolution line per deck unless you must play more. Is it just me, or
>do you feel this too? Oh, and about that Blastiose guy, can you believe him? I
>mean, everyone knows a Vulpix can beat a Blastiose any day of the week!
>LoL... plus 2 vs 1, geeze he is soooooo fair (note sarcasm). Hm, well just my 2
>cents worth...
>Ash's Hitman
>P.S. - tell Vulpix hi:)


In my experience, up to 2 evolution lines in a deck is very workable. More than that is pushing it. It's just a matter of personal choice, plus the strategy you are going for and the Pokemon you want to have in your deck. Remember, the only golden rule is that there are no golden rules. Except, of course, always put searching in your deck or Spike will come and introduce you to his pet sledgehammer =)


>I am making a Turbo Arcanine deck with Scyther, Kangaskhan, and Magmar. 
>I was wondering if you could discuss the differences and uses between
>Base Set Arcanine and Promo Arcanine and your recommendation for a Turbo
>Arcanine.  
>Thanks.


Mmm. Arcy, one of my favorites. Base Set Arcanine just kicks ass. Insane amounts of HP and powerful attacks... what more could you want? Energy Removal can make life difficult for him, but you probably knew that already. Overall, in a deck such as you describe I'd use the Base Set incarnation. Promo Arcanine benefits from lowered retreat and a colorless attack (not to mention funky artwork) but Quick Attack is a bit weak and Flames of Rage is likely to be a one-trick pony as Arcy will probably have accumulated quite a bit of damage by the time you use it. Yes, I do have plans for a deck with Promo Arcanine, but I'm going to keep it a secret for now. Hope that helps.

Well, we've once again weaved our way to the end of the letters.

SPIKE'S RANDOM THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

I'd tell you about this really weird dream I had last night, but it ties into this week's poll questions, so I think I'll tell you about it when we answer those. So for now, no thought for the day. Unless what I just wrote counts.

-Spike
spike@pojo.com




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