The PokeProblem




First Off, let me say what others Think, and Say, with sympathy to the
People who JUST DO NOT GET IT.    1st turn kills are B-O-R-I-N-G. Buzz,
Chan, Scyther, Ditto, Chansey, Tuff and Movie Promo mewtwo are getting OLD.
It's an OK addition, but when everybody starts using it, it's just not fun
anymore. There are decks with these Pokemon as the Main idea. IT'S TIME FOR
A CHANGE. I'm not asking for a new set of totally broken cards, I want to
see something ORIGINAL. Now, with that said, I will give you my solution.

 The solution: How to build an ORIGINAL deck. (Don't think I can't hear
those Gasps of horror)

First, put on your fins and Goggles, plug your nose and jump into the pool
of originality. (This pool is rarely visited nowadays) Look at what it has
to offer. There are THOUSANDS of forgotten Bulbasaurs, Seels and Gastlys.

Dig back into that Shoebox and/or Rubbermaid tub and grab some basics, even
if you officially labeled that card "Useless."  Sure, a few of them, such
as the Karp, deserve that title, but they Rarely do. Always remember that
each card has potential and can Thrive in at least one deck. The thing is,
YOU have to make that deck.

Take a look at that card. No, I don't mean stare at the font and attack
name for hours, I mean jump into the watery depths and see WHY that attack
was there in the first place. EVERY card has a setback, yet some cards are
still used way more often. Take Seel, for instance. Take a look at it.
Good, Solid HP, a good Retreat Cost, But that Attack thing just ain't gonna
cut it.  There's that setback I was talking about. The Seel Solution: Plus
power. There. 30 damage. Don't worry, it'll take it's toll. Understand what
I did? Let's try another. *Fishes around in Shoebox*   Ah! Zubat! a
long-forgotten player that is just starting to make a comeback. Let's
analyze this little Bat.:  40 HP. Well, A Defender might do the trick. No
retreat cost, making this able to Bench easily. Weakness: Movie Promo
Mewtwo will Thrash this thing. Ouch. Now, in Seel's case, it had Buzz to
make it shudder. At least, in Zubat's case, Chan's jab isn't going to do
anything, Thanks to a wonderful little thing named RESISTANCE. Now it's
time to see those little Attacks of his. Supersonic needs a Double
Colorless. Ouch. To add insult to injury, You have to flip for it to do
anything. And even if you do make it that far, all it's going to do is
Confuse your Enemy's Pokemon. That attack's not gonna help anything. NEXT!
 Okay. Leech Life. One plant Energy, one Colorless. if you actually did
attach that DCE for Supersonic, you still have to scrounge up a plant. It
does 10 damage, or a nice 30 with Plus Power. Now the juicy part. You get
to heal up to 30 damage from your Sickened Bat. Well, the main problem I
see with this Bat is the Energy cost. Owie. The Solution: Add some
Recycles, etc., to your deck to help out Zubat. Seel and Zubat could be
playable together, if You had Plus Power and Defender. I'll check out TWO
MORE CARDS for slow learners.
*pulls out Bellsprout and Oddish* Alright. Let's do this Quickly. First,
the Sprout. 40 HP is OK, but two Jabs are going to spell D-O-O-M for this
Plant. Try a Defender. (Qwik Fix) It has a one energy Retreat cost, wich
could slowly whittle down those Energy in your hand that you were going to
use for your lonely little Nidoran Male, sitting on your bench, rendered
Helpless. Use that Recycle that you've been holding on for 6 turns. It has
a weakness for fire, but luckily, unless your opponent has a full line of
Blaine's Hot-tempered Beasties, shouldn't be too big of a problem, but
still be careful. Now, Attacks. =^.~= Only one plant energy for both
attacks?!??! My God! whoever made ths card must have been insane or
something.Bellsprout is certainly proving to be an Oddball. =@.@= Well, at
least it won't take up that much energy for attacks as the Bat. Vine Whip
does 10 right away, but a Pluspower will make this card actually, for the
first time, decent. Heck, it might even be GOOD. *Shudders at the thought
of how powerful it may soon become* Okay... the second "Attack", Call for
family, lets you round up those Sprouts hiding in your deck. With a few
changes, This could be a godsend. Well, not exactly, but pretty close. Now
the Weed. oddish has 50 HP. That's Great for a basic. It has a One-energy
retreat, like Sprout, But you won't have to retreat as much. Again, the
Flame Weakness. Oll well. Grin and bear it. Interesting, "Sprout" is the
same as "Call for Family", but costs 2 plant instead of one. Maybe so that
the card didn't get too broken? That will remain to be seen. Stunspore is
like a better Vine Whip. Same retreat cost, and a definite 10 damage. 30
with You-know-what-card. If you win the coin flip, your opponent's
Electabuzz is Paralyzed. =^.^= That's always a plus. It doesn't really need
Defender, but give it to him if you want. Bellsprout and Oddish ARE
splashable, even together. There. I won't do anymore, if you're an Idiot
and still don't get it, you'll have to read this all over again. But, 97.4
% of you aren't, so I'll continue.

Now that I have Opened you to reality, I hope you decide to be DIFFERENT. A
pioneer in the new world. Make a deck with a solid strategy that can have a
chance at the Gold, no matter Who you're up against. Wether it's some Kid
using the Blaine deck created by Clefairy doll, or some old Hippie who was
in a cave for the last 2 years and is STILL using Raindance, make sure your
deck is still playable. Break free from Wigglytuffs that do a terrible Wave
at a Baseball game, or Those Scythers that are'nt very flexible and were
only made to do one thing. Who knows? you might actually save Pokemon from
the clutches of being "Just a fad" and will bring back those who were
disgusted and went to bask in the Rays of Magic: The gathering. You might
be able to make the game still PLAYABLE.
So, jump in the pool of originality. The water's fine.

  ~OV
Questions, comments, and concerns may go to  sailorsaturn@doglover.com,
    and all hatemail can go to  loser@noonecares.net