While reading through the articles here on Pojo,
someone mentioned how different Magic is from it's
original format. Well, Magic is the game that
jumpstarted the entire industry, and it's still
popular and being played. How many other games can
claim to have been around for so long and still have
such a strong following? Wizards has a chance with
Pokemon to be just as popular for so long, since there
are so many possible cards (251 Pokemon * 100 levels
each = 25100 different cards, not including such cards
as "Brocks This" or "Blaine's That" or "Dark
Anything"), and even with just 6 sets released (not
including Base 2), look at all the strategy and
gameplay. To keep the game fresh though, changes have
to be made over time, since some cards will come out
that we can twist to our mad thinking and abuse.
First off, though this was already started in Neo,
many Pokemon are one or two different types in the
game. So why don't some of the Pokemon have cards in
different types? For example, Charizard is
Fire/Flying. Why not have a Colorless Charizard with
normal attacks (he can learn fly and gust)?
Second, HMs and TMs are absent from the card game. So
what about a new type of card, which would REALLY be
useful now, based around HMs and TMs? Think about it.
A card has a move listed on it, and you could attach
it to a Pokemon, who could then use that move.
Different requirements would be on each HM/TM, such as
only Stage 2 may use it, or only Pokemon Level XX and
higher, or even just a listing of Pokemon Numbers,
with only those Pokemon able to use it, or they could
only be used so many number of times. HMs could be
discarded and a new move placed, but TMs were
permanent, and that TM card wouldn't be able to be
discarded until the Pokemon was knocked out.
Third, different formats have helped Magic survive so
long. The same could be done for Pokemon. There's two
different formats that I could think of, with 3
modifiers. These are:
Formats
Limited Format
As the game is now, with 4 of each Pokemon allowed,
unlimited number of trainers, yadda yadda.
Extended Format
I like this format, I've let my kids use it in the
League I run. In it, any Pokemon can evolve into any
other Pokemon in the line once. For example,
Charmander can evolve into Blaine's Charmeleon, but
you must then use a Blaine's Charizard to evolve the
Blaine's Charmeleon. Or you just evolved an Oddish
into a Dark Gloom, but (since you followed the normal
rules for evolution) you can evolve that Dark Gloom
into Erika's Vileplume, or even a normal Vileplume.
Kinda understand? It's easier to understand when
shown, trust me. This format opens up thousands of new
strategies and combos.
Modifiers
3 Your deck is limited to only 3 of any Pokemon.
T The infamous 15-Trainer limit.
2 Only 2 Trainers may be played in one round.

If this system was used, the East Coast games would be
labeled like this:
Limited 3T

Face it, Pokemon is going to be around for a long
time, and Wizards can extend the length of the game
forever. New formats and rules actually keep a game
fresh, and older cards that have lost their usefulness
are suddenly useful again. If anyone has any questions
about these, like you want to use then for a local
tournament, I have sheets made up explaining them
better. Give me a mail at DougDinneen@Yahoo.com. Happy
Gaming!
-DougD