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Last week, the Wizards staff held an in-house tournament to playtest the Prop15 format featuring Master Trainer Mike (MTM), Master Trainer Pat (MTP), Dark Master Trainer Mike (DMTM, their boss), Mike Elliot from R&D, Kiernan Chase from the DCI and lots of other tough WOTC Pokemon Trainers.  Here’s MT_Mike’s report from the weekly WotC Chat, along with a lot of other news this week including a bunch of cool info on Gym: Challenge.

WOTC IN-HOUSE TOURNAMENT REPORT:

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “As some of you may have heard, we held an internal tournament using a 15 trainer limit.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “One of the things we learned is that Ditto was the winningest card, meaning of the decks it was in, they won the most games. Of course, jiggly/wiggly ended up in half the decks and did ok.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “There are full results of this posted on the Pokegym web site at http://pokegym.thedojo.com/.”  [Chrisbo Note: http://pokegym.thedojo.com/articles/0919aa.shtml to be precise]

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “I wanted to share with you the 3 decks that tied for first though. Here you go.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “The first number is the number of 3 point wins (as in full wins within the time limit).”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “The second number is an out of time win, meaning you have taken more prizes when time runs out, that is worth 2 points.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “The third number is the number of draws (both players have the same number of prizes left) when time runs out, worth 1 point.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “And the last number is the number of losses, worth 0 points each.”

Kevin’s Deck 3-1-1-0, 12 points total :

2 Erika’s Dratini
3 Ditto
4 Jigglypuff
4 Wigglytuff
2 Chansey
4 Scyther
4 Mewtwo, promo #3 (aka “Movie Mewtwo”)
4 Professor Oak
3 Computer Search
2 Gust of Wind
2 Scoop Up
2 Misty’s Wrath
1 Nightly Garbage Run
1 Item Finder
4 Full Heal Energy
4 DCE
14 Psychic Energy

Kieran’s Deck 4-0-0-1, 12 points total  (Pojo Note:  I find ironic that I discussed taking tournaments seriously with Kieran at the Kids Super Trainer Showdown in Chicago last year (June of 1999), and he said that Pokemon is a kids game, and will always be a kids game, and that if people want a serious TCG environment, they should play Magic The Gathering.  Now Kieran is play testing Pokemon Prop 15 decks for the DCI. )

4 Jigglypuff
4 Wigglytuff
4 Ditto
4 Scyther
4 Mewtwo, promo #3 (aka “Movie Mewtwo”)
3 Energy Removal
3 Professor Oak
3 Rocket’s Trap
4 Computer Search
2 Item Finder
4 Rainbow Energy
4 DCE
17 Psychic Energy

Dark Master Trainer Mike’s “Evaporate or Whiskey a go go”

deck 4-0-0-1, 12 points total

2 Articuno, promo
4 Blaine’s Charmander
3 Eevee, promo
3 Dark Vaporeon
4 Dratini
3 Dragonair
2 Gust of Wind
2 Computer Search
4 Energy Removal
3 Super Energy Removal
3 Professor Oak
1 Narrow Gym
2 Full Heal Energy
4 DCE
7 Fire Energy
13 Water Energy

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #31 from Chrisbo:

So how did MT_Mike & MT_Pat fare in the in-house tournament? We want details!!

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “We tried some new stuff and got kicked to the curb”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “We tried to be clever and failed, I came in 12^th or so. Pat came right after me.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Although I did use Wigglytuff in my deck...”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “sigh.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat presents the speaker with question #50 from Mr_mystery:

Did Mike use Weedle in his Playtesting deck? :)

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Uhhh, no.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “It would have been too powerful :)”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat presents the speaker with question #113 from Meowth52:

What were some of the “original” decks you guys used?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “I tried an energy recursion deck with Movie Mewtwo and Lt Surge’s Pikachu’s and Electabuzzes.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Bill tried a Tickling Machine centered deck with Moltres to make you deck out (with Imposter Oak after the Tickling Machine makes you set your hand aside).”

PROP 15 UPDATE:

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #176 from Tyais: So any groundbreaking discoveries on Prop15 decks? I hear Bench Destruction could be a formidable opponent. ;-)  (Pojo Note: Tyais!  Get to work on the Gundam Wing website.  You are not allowed to have fun.)  J

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Status effects mean more, energy denial works well. Some cool decks once challenge comes out.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Challenge takes the energy denial decks back down a notch though.(Rocket’s Zapdos is sooo wrong!)”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Games go a little longer and rely more on your choice of Pokemon and how you play them instead of just burning through 35 trainer cards. Even a weaker design deck has at least a few rounds to try itself out before it loses.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Wigglytuff is still very very strong in this format.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “People will play more of the Rocket special energy cards (almost like a trainer and an energy combined).”

INTERESTING DEBATE ABOUT PROMO “RARITY”:

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #81 from Rainbow_Trainer: You say that you don’t plan on doing Ultra Rare cards... but you did just that when you released a red cheek and yellow cheek version of the E3 Pikachu. When WotC re-releases the cards there should be some kind of variation...

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “The red cheeked Pikachu was a mistake and Nintendo forced us to stop making it. The E3 Pikachu was ALSO forced on us by Nintendo as was putting the Cool Porygon ONLY in the N64 bundle pack to begin with. We have ALWAYS stated that a promo card could be re-released again later. It was also Nintendo’s idea for the Pikachu World collection.  We will be re-releasing those cards through various ways. Check out our web site for details.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #93 from Rainbow_Trainer: When you re-release promo cards with no variations... Then... where is the value in collecting the TCG cards...?? When you re-released the Base /Jungle cards they had a variation to them by calling them Base set 2..

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Promo cards are still MUCH more rare than any other type of card. We try to release them fairly so everyone has at least a chance of getting one. The N64 bundle required people to pay $150 to get the card. This was not fair and not our idea. We want everyone to get their fair chance. But we do not just give them away, they still maintain a high level of rarity. Keep in mind that this is NOT made as a money making product, it is a game. As with any collectibles, the prices vary on the secondary market.

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #106 from Rainbow_Trainer:But you did give them away... personally I might add at the West STS. Now The one card that I obtained by spending $150 for is slowly but surely losing it’s value.. I guess all I’m asking is that WotC consider a variation when re-releasing Promo card

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “We gave away perhaps 20-30 of the cards, that is NOT enough to affect the secondary market. Also, you paid $150 for the N64 Stadium Bundle pack that happened to have a Cool Porygon in it. That was your choice (Stadium is a cool game btw). We do not and will not ever make super-rare cards. It is unfair to the players, casual collectors, and to the market. Consider it like the stock market, as the supply goes up, the value can sometimes go down. No secondary value is ever guaranteed.”

GYM CHALLENGE INFO:

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #41 from Meowth52:

Last week you mentioned using Gym Mewtwo in a deck... Does this mean Rocket’s Mewtwo will be in challenge?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Yup!!”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “It’s tough too.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #63 from Meowth52:

So if you know Rocket’s Mewtwo will be in challenge, you must know if Imakuni? and ___’s Chansey will be?* Master_Trainer_Mike says, “They are not in Challenge.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #34 from Chrisbo:

If a bench pokemon has some damage and a Defender on it, would Sabrina’s Gengar’s “Pain Amplifier” work on it or would Defender block it? The attack’s text says to “put a damage counter on”; is that considered “doing damage”?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Defender does NOT block placing damage counters. You will learn more from this type of attack in Challenge with Team Rocket’s Mewtwo and Sabrina’s Golduck. A tough combo.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #56 from Meowth52:

No matter what attack is done, you’re always going to be placing damage counters on the Defending Pokemon. Can you explain further please?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “If an attack states it does damage, then that is damage. If it states placing damage counters then it is counters for the purposes of Brock’s Rhydon, Weakness, etc. So attacks that place damage counters (Like Sabrina’s Golduck in Challenge) are NOT affected by Weakness, Defender, etc.). Just like moving counters with Damage Swap or Curse isn’t affected either.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “For instance, Rocket’s Mewtwo’s Juxtapose attack states: Flip a coin, if heads switch the number of damage counters on R.  Mewtwo with those of the defending Pokemon.

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #68 from Articuno21:

What does Juxtapose mean?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “To swap something between two people or objects. In this case it is an attack on the Team Rocket’s Mewtwo card in the upcoming Challenge set.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat presents the speaker with question #73 from Seraph_84:

What is the release date for Gym Challenge? And will it have ___’s Chansey and Imunki’s Doduo in it?

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Oct. 7^th is what they’ve told us. No, Imakuni and ____’s Chancey aren’t in there”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat presents the speaker with question #97 from Supra:

Is there an uncommon and rare holo Misty’s Golduck in challenge?

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “There’s a Misty’s and a Sabrina’s Golduck in Challenge. They are both rare.”

[Chrisbo Note: doesn’t say if they’re holo or not though...]

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “I will say that Challenge has some very cool cards coming up in it. It should help shake up the tournament environment a bit.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Chaos Gym can make the game pretty wacky too.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “So far we’ve seen quite an effect on testing when we add Gym Challenge cards in.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Yup, takes me longer to lose :)”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Of Course, the same Pokemon keep showing up...”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #130 from Meowth52:

What’s Chaos Gym?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “A tough Stadium card coming out in Challenge.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #138 from Scrye_Fung:

What Challenge cards do you think will impact the metagame greatest?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Koga’s Pidgey.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Chaos Gym”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Rocket’s Zapdos”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Sabrina’s Goldduck”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Rocket’s Mewtwo”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Masterball”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Blaine’s Charizard is a bit confusing but a good card.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Brock’s Ninetails.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Lots of good cards.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #196 from Tyais:

Alright, favorite cards from Heroes and Challenge (if you can do Challenge).

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “We already listed Challenge cards.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “From Heroes, Misty’s Poliwag”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Rocket’s Trap”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Rocket’s Scyther of course.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Erika’s Dratini”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Rocket’s Hitmochan”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “No Removal Gym (I hate energy removal)”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Energy Flow can be fun.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “alot of debate about Misty’s Wrath”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Blaine’s Moltres”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Erika’s Victreebel”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “lots of good cards”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat presents the speaker with question #159 from Articuno21:

Will there be anything done to restrict the Brock’s Ninetails/Blastoise/Charizard combo?

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Bubble Bursting coming up...stop reading if you like the way the Japanese version works. The English Brock’s Ninetales does not allow the use of Pokemon Powers.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #161 from Zapdos1:

Can you tell us if Brock’s Ninetails can use Pokemon Powers from the pokemon it evolves to?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “As Pat stated, it does NOT allow you to use Pokemon powers from the Pokemon you evolve the Ninetails into. Only the attacks and resistance, weakness, hp, etc.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “It’s still cool, just not overpowered.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat presents the speaker with question #166 from Paokkk:

Sorry for that but I heard that there is going the be a Max Revive holo in the gym 2 set. Is that right?

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Max Revive is an uncommon, so I doubt it.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #174 from Chrisbo:

Can you tell us if the upcoming Sabrina’s Kadabra has an attack called “LifeDown” and what does the attack text say?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “It’s attack is called Life Drain.  Can’t give out card text until it is released though, sorry.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #169 from Supra:

Do you know what set will be after Challenge?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Nope.”

OTHER ASSORTED NEWS:

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #18 from Mr_mystery:

Any new info on Neo, Gym 2, etc.?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Nope.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “But as DMTM says, 2001 will be a great year for Pokemon. (hint hint).”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “hee hee hee”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat presents the speaker with question #19 from Mr_mystery:

Any new info on the Vending Drawing Contests?

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “No, that article was very premature. We have nothing to announce yet.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat presents the speaker with question #38 from Mr_mystery:

Will the Imakuni cards be a Promo for the League?

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “I don’t think so, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “Not many folks here know who or what Imakuni is?”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #84 from Articuno21:

Imakuni is in the GB TCG. Why won’t you make his cards?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “Imakuni is a Japanese pop icon and a member of Creatures Staff. We do not have the rights to translate his cards here.”

·        Master_Trainer_Mike presents the speaker with question #180 from Chrisbo:

Will it be possible for stores to continue holding Pokemon League after Season 9 finishes (and until Year 2) if they want to?

·        Master_Trainer_Mike says, “No, the league officially ends in October. Need to take a break for the holidays.”

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “I think the stores could still hold events, just not the Leagues.”

FINAL NOTE:

·        Master_Trainer_Pat presents the speaker with question #101 from gooman:

Are you guys going to be at the STS qualifier this weekend? If so how can I find you, I want a battle :)

·        Master_Trainer_Pat says, “I’ll be at the Spring Hill Mall in West Dundee, IL all day Sat and Sun. They usually have us sit in the League area. Show up and throw down your best deck. I’ll battle old-school or prop 15.”

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